SERIAL KILLER: The Midnight Assassin Pt. 1
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Hi, listeners, it's Vanessa. Before today's episode, I want to tell you about another show I think you'll love. Crime House and A&E are teaming up on the podcast version of the famous true crime series, The First 48. Each week, Carter Roy takes you inside a landmark homicide case. The interrogations, the dead ends, and the breakthroughs in the critical first 48 hours. Listen to and follow The First 48 every Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
This is Crime House. Nobody likes to feel unprepared, whether it's a big exam, an important meeting, or even just figuring out what's for dinner. We usually feel better when we have a plan. Unfortunately, it's not always possible to think ahead. But most of the time, the consequences are manageable. Sometimes, though, our lack of preparation can lead to urgent and even dire outcomes. This was the case for law enforcement in Austin, Texas, in the mid-1880s, when a brutal and sadistic killer roamed the streets at night. Each time, the killer slipped back into the darkness, completely unseen. The police never saw it coming, and they never knew how to catch the person, or people, terrorizing their city.
In the end, the lack of investigative resources paved the way for multiple violent deaths, and the people of Austin were left to wonder if they'd be protected or if they were next.
The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love, and hate. But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable. This is Killer Minds, a Crime House original. I'm Vanessa Richardson.
And I'm forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Ingalls.
What was Austin, Texas like in 1884 when the Midnight Assassin attacks began?
Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history, analyzing what makes a killer.
Crime House exists because of listeners like you. Want even more? Join Crime House Plus and get both parts of every story dropped on the same Monday, completely ad-free. No waiting three days for part two, plus Crime House bonus episodes every month. To join, go to crimehouseplus.com, or if you listen on Apple Podcasts, tap Try Free at the top of the Serial Killers and Murderous Minds page. Before we get started, be advised this episode contains discussion of murder and sexual violence against women and minors, so please listen with care. Today we begin our deep dive on the Midnight Assassin, an unidentified serial killer who terrorized the city of Austin, Texas for years, shedding light not just on deep racial prejudice, but inadequate investigative resources.
The case of the Midnight Assassin, also known as the Servant Girl Annihilator, remains a haunting mystery. And nowadays, people wonder if the killer may have actually been one of the most gruesome in the world.
As Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like what certain aspects of extreme violence may reveal about an offender's psyche, how circumstantial evidence can create bias in an investigation, and why some violent offenders break patterns in their M.O.
And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a killer? In 1884, the city of Austin, Texas was booming. A new state capitol building was under construction, and the University of Texas had recently opened its doors. People were moving into the city at high rates, looking for opportunity. At the same time, it had been less than 20 years since slavery was outlawed. Racism was still deeply woven into everyday life. Austin's Black residents were often pushed into low-paying domestic jobs, while wealthy white families held most of the city's power and influence. Not only that, but local police struggled to keep up with the city's rapid growth, which meant they weren't prepared for the horrific and sudden events of December 30, 1884.
That night, Austin was in the midst of a brutal cold snap. Snow blanketed the ground as 25-year-old Molly Smith returned home from a long day. She was a cook for a wealthy family, the Halls. Molly was African American. Like many Black women in Texas at the time, she worked as a domestic servant and lived in a small apartment behind her employer's family home.
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Chapters
3 chaptersSpeakers
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