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Episode 634: Michael and Suzan Carson: San Francisco Witch Killers

2025/1/6

Morbid

AI Deep Dive AI Insights AI Chapters Transcript

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Alayna

Ash

Topics

Ash: 本集讲述了旧金山女巫杀手迈克尔和苏珊·卡森的案件。这对夫妇因其独特的个性和案件的悲剧性而引人注目。他们犯下多起谋杀案，并声称自己是穆斯林战士，奉命清除女巫和其他邪恶势力。他们的案件涉及多起谋杀案，受害者包括卡伦·巴恩斯、克拉克·史蒂文斯和约翰·赫利尔。调查人员面临诸多挑战，因为受害者和嫌疑人大多与世隔绝，不愿与警方合作。迈克尔和苏珊在法庭上表现出极度不合作的态度，并试图利用媒体关注来宣传他们的宗教信仰。最终，他们被判犯有多项谋杀罪，并被判处长期监禁。 Alayna: 本案中，受害者卡伦·巴恩斯被发现死于公寓中，死状凄惨。凶案现场诡异，墙上有很多儿童涂鸦，其中一个签名是“苏珊”。调查人员通过走访卡伦的朋友和熟人，逐渐了解到迈克尔和苏珊的背景和行为模式。他们自称穆斯林，但实际上并非如此，而是从不同宗教中挑选部分内容，并歪曲这些内容，形成一套独特的宗教信仰。他们对现代社会持否定态度，拒绝使用现代设施，并经常谈论女巫和巫术的危险。许多人认为迈克尔和苏珊患有精神疾病，并且很危险。他们利用毒品控制周围的人，并对那些与他们发生冲突的人进行威胁和恐吓。卡伦的单纯和信任让她成为他们的受害者。迈克尔和苏珊在逃亡期间，继续犯下多起谋杀案，并最终被捕。在法庭上，他们表现出极度不合作的态度，并试图利用媒体关注来宣传他们的宗教信仰。最终，他们被判犯有多项谋杀罪，并被判处长期监禁。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What led to the arrest of Michael and Suzan Carson in 1983?

Michael and Suzan Carson were arrested after a high-speed chase following the murder of John Hellyer. They had shot Hellyer, who had offered them a ride and shelter, claiming he was a 'witch' and a 'demon.' The chase involved multiple police departments and ended when they crashed into a ditch.

Why did Michael and Suzan Carson target individuals they believed were witches?

Michael and Suzan Carson believed they were 'warriors for Allah' tasked with eradicating witches and demons. They claimed their victims, including Karen Barnes and Clark Stevens, were practicing witchcraft or were demonic forces that needed to be eliminated.

What was the outcome of the trials for Michael and Suzan Carson?

Michael and Suzan Carson were found guilty of multiple murders, including Karen Barnes, Clark Stevens, and John Hellyer. They were each sentenced to 25 years to life for each murder, with their sentences running consecutively. Their pleas of not guilty and claims of diminished capacity were rejected.

How did Michael and Suzan Carson’s mental health contribute to their crimes?

Michael and Suzan Carson exhibited signs of severe mental illness, including schizophrenia and shared psychosis. Their delusions, exacerbated by drug use, led them to believe they were on a divine mission to kill witches and demons. However, their ability to cover up crimes and manipulate situations suggested they were also aware of their actions.

What was the role of Susan Carson in the murders committed by the couple?

Susan Carson was often the instigator, convincing Michael to carry out the murders. She accused victims of being witches or demons and manipulated Michael into killing them. During trials, she openly admitted to ordering the killings and showed no remorse.

Chapters

The discovery of Karen Barnes' body in a San Francisco apartment sets the stage for a chilling investigation. The scene is peculiar, with a lack of furniture, the presence of incense, and crayon drawings on the walls. Initial leads prove sparse, but the name "Susan" emerges as a possible connection.

Karen Barnes found murdered in her San Francisco apartment
Unusual scene: lack of furniture, incense, crayon drawings
Signature "Susan" on a drawing
Karen's secretive lifestyle and Southern origins

Shownotes Transcript

On January 12, 1983, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a frantic driver who reported they’d just witnessed a shooting on the side of the side of the road in Fulton, California and the shooters had fled the scene a pickup truck. Deputies quickly located the truck and were led on a forty-five minute high-speed chase through Sonoma and Napa counties before finally being apprehended and identified as Michael and Suzan Carson.

The Carsons were held on a charge of murdering the truck’s original owner, Jon Charles Hellyar, but they refused to say a word to police. In time, however, Michael and Suzan Carson began to talk and eventually held a press conference during which they revealed a great deal about themselves and even went so far as to make ambiguous confessions to other recent murders in Northern California.

In the months that followed their arrest, Michael and Suzan Carson reveled in their notoriety and the media attention their statements captured. In addition to the murder of Hellyar, they would also be convicted of two other murders, claiming themselves to be Muslim warriors on a mission to rid the world of witches and other practitioners of dark magic, earning them the nickname “The San Francisco Witch Killers.”

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Associated Press. 1983. "Couple complains their trial didn't get enough publicity." The Californian, April 28: 29.

Brewster, Rod. 1983. "Carsons claim their killings were 'will of God'." Petaluma Argus-Courier, May 4: 1.

—. 1983. "Carson's preliminary hearing on murder stats." Petaluma Argus-Courier, March 4: 2.

Daily Beast. 2020. "Daughter of serial 'witch kiler': if he goes free, 'someone else will be dead'." Daily Beast, May 27.

—. 2015. "Witch-killers' family: Keep them in Jail." Daily Beast, December 3.

Manes, George. 1983. "Probe of suspects widens." Press Democrat, January 30: 1.

Napa Valley Register. 1983. "Chase probe continues." Napa Valley Register, January 18: 2.

Navarro, Mireya. 1984. "'Good witch' to the rescue." San Francisco Examiner, May 30: 11.

—. 1984. "Remorseless 'witch-killers' get 25 to life." San Francisco Examiner, July 2: 15.

Reynolds, Richard D. 1988. Cry for War: The Story of Suzan and Michael Carson. San Francisco, CA: Squibob Press.

Saludes, Bony. 1985. "Carson says trial unfair." Press Democrat, June 19: 2.

San Francisco Examiner. 1984. "Carson comptent for trial." San Francisco Examiner, January 9: 14.

Sharpe, Ivan. 1983. "Couple boasts to police of killing 3 'witches in holy war'." San Francisco Examiner, April 28: 24.

United Press International. 1984. "Guilty verdict in 'witch' murder." Petaluma Argus-Courier, June 5: 2.

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