THE MINDS OF MADNESS

Episode 52 – Helle Crafts

On November 18th, 1986, thirty-nine-year-old Helle Crafts was dropped off at her house in Newtown, Connecticut by her co-workers. She was exhausted after fulfilling her flight attendant duties on a long haul from Frankfurt to New York. Helle was happy to have made it home before the impending storm and looking forward to tucking in her three children. As Helle’s co-workers watched their friend enter her home, they didn’t realize it would be the last time they would ever see her again.

Music Credits:

The Minds Of Madness Theme Music – Duncan Foster

The Funkoars – Feel The Madness

Used with Permission – http://goldenerarecords.com.au/ge/funkoars/

Please check out this episodes sponsors and help support our podcast:

BetterHelp: If you’ve been wanting to talk you can get started right now, go to betterhelp.com/MADNESS listeners get 10% off your first month!

THIRD LOVE: Go to THIRDLOVE.com/MADNESS now to find your perfect-fitting bra… and get 15% off your first purchase!

Research & Writing:

Christine Penhale

https://thetruecrimefiles.com/

Featured Podcasts:

Azka’s Mystery Podcast https://soundcloud.com/user-404863201

https://www.npr.org/local/309/2019/04/16/713984800/5-year-old-azka-publishes-her-first-mystery-podcast

Looking for extra content?

If you would like to support the show and get some extra perks including extra content, including early release/ad-free episodes, Go to: https://www.patreon.com/MadnessPod

Website – https://mindsofmadnesspodcast.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/themindsofmadness/

Twitter – @MadnessPod

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/themindsofmadness/

Don’t forget to Subscribe, Like, Review, and Share. Please help listeners find this show more easily, by taking the time to review on iTunes. Thank you

Sources:

“Helle Crafts: Winter of the Woodchipper.” Forensic Files Now, September 7, 2018.

https://forensicfilesnow.com/index.php/tag/richard-crafts/

“The Wood Chipper Murder – Helle Crafts.” Morbidology, December 22, 2017.

https://morbidology.com/the-wood-chipper-murder-helle-crafts/

“You Won’t Sleep After Hearing About the Real Murder That Inspired Fargo.” Popsugar, April 20, 2017.

https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Fargo-True-Story-34660331

“Woodchipper Murder Case From 30 Years Ago Was Pivotal for Forensic Scientists.” Eyewitness News 3, November 17, 2017.

https://www.wfsb.com/news/woodchipper-murder-case-from-years-ago-was-pivotal-for-forensic/article_2a473c33-283f-5893-89b2-ad37227da774.html

“Forensic Files – Series Premiere: The Disappearance of Helle Crafts.” YouTube, May 5, 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwkYk9IyN-s

“Analysis of Experimental Wood Chipper Trauma on Bone.” MA Thesis George Mason University, 2012.

http://mars.gmu.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1920/7858/Domenick_thesis_2012.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

“23 Years Ago, Richard Crafts Was More Willing to Part With His Wife Than His Money.” New Times, November 18, 2009. Web.

https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/23-years-ago-Richard-Crafts-was-more-willing-to-256633.php

“Green Beret Indicted for Murder.” History.com, November 13, 2009.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/green-beret-indicted-for-murder

“Rodgers v. Crafts.” September 7, 2000.

https://casetext.com/case/rodgers-v-crafts-no-cv87-0293694-s-sep

“Ten Years Ago, the Crafts Murder Case Was a Pivotal Experience For Many.” The Newton Bee, August 10, 1999.

https://www.newtownbee.com/date-fri-31-jul-1998-23

“Crafts Loses Appeal for a New Trial.” Hartford Courant, July 7, 1993.

https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1993-07-07-0000007613-story.html

“State of Connecticut v. Richard B. Crafts.” July 6, 1993.

https://www.leagle.com/decision/1993463226conn2371451

“The Job Is Murder–Solving ‘Perfect Crimes’: Forensics: Expert Uses Science And Technology to Unravel the Most Baffling Whodunits. Most of His Cases Involve Homicides.” Los Angeles Times, March 29, 1992.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-29-mn-305-story.html

“Sensational Case In Spotlight Again Second ‘Wood Chipper Murder’ Trial Scheduled This Month.” The Orlando Sentinel, September 3, 1989.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1989-09-03-8909034758-story.html

“The Lady Vanishes, and a Woodchipper Leaves Just a Shred of Evidence.” People, August 1, 1988.

https://people.com/archive/the-lady-vanishes-and-a-woodchipper-leaves-just-a-shred-of-evidence-vol-30-no-5/

“Dentist Identifies Tooth Fragments as Dead Wife’s.” UPI, May 12, 1988.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/05/12/Dentist-identifies-tooth-fragments-as-dead-wifes/2333579412800/

“Richard Crafts Murder Trial Begins.” AP, April 5, 1988.

https://www.apnews.com/b51f1e9feb7bfa0e5537637ffea937f6

“Parts of Wife’s Body Turn Up Around Lake; Pilot Held.” Los Angeles Times, January 14, 1987.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-01-14-mn-3454-story.html

“Richard B. Crafts.” Murderpedia, n.d.