Murder Episodes

In this eye-opening episode of the Prison Pen Pal Podcast, Big Steve shares the story of William Leverett, who confessed to killing Melissa Millan, a 54‑year‑old senior vice president at MassMutual, while she was jogging at night in Simsbury, Connecticut. William had gotten away with the crime for four years, but ultimately confessed to the crime. Once he got to prison, he wondered whether anyone would ever be willing to write to him. We first heard from Mr. Leverett on episode 16 of our podcast...

In the 1990s, DeWayne Lee Harris was responsible for the tragic deaths of multiple women, earning infamy in the Seattle, Washington area under chilling monikers such as Chilly Willy, The Seattle Jungle Killer, and The Seattle Shoelace Slasher. His heinous acts included tying up victims like Denise Marie Harris and Antoinette Jones with their own shoelaces, ultimately strangling them with a belt. His third known victim, Olivia Smith, met a similarly grim fate, being stabbed to death. Disturbingly...

In 2011, Will Leverett stabbed 54-year-old Melissa Millan as she jogged alone at night on a trail in Simsbury, Connecticut. The case went unsolved for over four years. Overcome with guilt and shame, Will confessed his crime, first to a good female friend of his, and then to some members of his church. Soon after, they walked with him to the police station, providing moral support as he confessed to the crime. Will, now a member of PenPals.Buzz, hopes to meet an understanding and open-minded pen pal who would be willing to write him letters and emails. He loves animals, the outdoors, and hopes to travel one day, after completing his 35-year sentence. Later in the episode, we chat with Tennessee inmate Luis Paz. Luis, who has written blogs for PenPals.Buzz, explains why giving real support to an inmate has nothing to do with money. He also talks about ways to make genuine connections with your pen pal. Spoiler alert -- it doesn't involve love letters or romance. He reminds us a…

Angie Dodge was raped and murdered by Brian Dripps in 1996. The location of the murder? Her bedroom in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The cause of death? Stabbing (and near decapitation). But Brian Dripps wasn't arrested until 2019 -- 23 years after the crime occurred. Another man, Chris Tapp (completely unrelated to the crime) was wrongfully convicted and served 20 years in prison until he was finally exonerated due to advances in DNA testing. Dripps has been interviewed by Dateline, 48 hours, and 20/20, but claims that due to editing, he was never able to tell his true story. Until now, that is. Join PenPals.Buzz founder Big Steve as he interviews Brian Dripps about the Angie Dodge murder and his feelings during the 20+ years that the wrong man (Tapp) was incarcerated for the crime. Was Dripps afraid, each and every day of his "freedom," that the truth would finally come out? Did he panic every time he saw a police car between 1996 and 2019? How did his kids feel when they found out that their…

In this episode, Big Steve discusses the differing views in society regarding high-profile inmates and their humanity (or lack thereof). If someone committed a horrific crime, are they still deserving of being treated with kindness and dignity? Or, as many think, are they simply "monsters" that should be discarded and forgotten about forever? Big Steve shares some reasons why starting a pen pal correspondence with high-profile inmates is good for some, and bad for others. He then looks deeper into two high-profile members of PenPals.Buzz. One received a 16-year sentence for selling an ounce of marijuana. The other is better known as the "Yuma Killer," and he was sentenced to 50 years. Learn more about their backgrounds, their life stories, their crimes, and decide for yourself if either of them would make a good pen pal for you.