Chapters
Shownotes Transcript
This is Dr. Joy Harden-Bradford from Therapy for Black Girls. Reading books gives you feelings. I mean, that's what they do. And with millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling for everyone. Like there's an awestruck, whoa, feeling you get when you read about a dragon flying across the sky. But that's different from the surprised, whoa, you get when you read that the best friend did it. And that's totally different than the hubba hubba, whoa.
Whoa. When the stable boy becomes a stable man. And Amazon's got all the woes. Amazon Books. That reading feeling awaits. What does a therapist do when her family is the one who needs a little help? Seek therapy, of course. Don't miss the new season of the Hulu comedy Unprisoned starring Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo.
With a father out of prison, a son with growing anxiety, and a therapy practice in serious trouble, Kerry Washington's page needs to pull her family back together by any means necessary. Get ready for a new season of raw comedy and heartfelt connection on Unprisoned. All episodes are now streaming, only on Hulu.
Does money stress you out? Let Facet flip your financial chaos into clarity. We feel way more confident and secure in our finances. And with that comes a sense of freedom. Financial planning from Facet is here to help you improve your life today, tomorrow, and every day after that. Facet was really the place where we saw all of the tools and the people coming together. Visit facet.com, F-A-C-E-T.com to learn more. This ad is sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth is an SEC registered investment advisor. This is not an offer to buy or sell securities, nor is it investment, legal, or tax advice. These testimonials are from current Facet members who are not competent.
Hey, listener. In this episode, we'll talk a lot about acts of extreme violence, including murder. We'll mention serial killers, and we'll speak about drug use and sex work. But also, we'll hear our very own Dr. Detective Mindy Shapiro get the chance to spar with a real-life police detective.
If you feel impacted by any of the themes while listening, I encourage you to check out our charity partner, DNA Doe Project. They work with law enforcement to identify Jane and John Does using genetic genealogy in the hopes of reuniting the bodies of unidentified people with their families. You can find them at dnadoproject.org. And you already know, you're probably going to hear some swear words from me. I'm passionate. What can I tell you?
Do you mind if I send a text? Yeah. I might get something right away. What? Who do you know? In the last episode, you heard producer Anna and Raul Montero, our New York citizen sleuth, zeroing in on one killer in particular, Joel Rifkin. Shortly before Anna went to visit Raul, she got her hands on a book, not just any book,
It's called From the Mouth of a Monster, which is written by someone who attended college with Rifkin. In the book, Rifkin confesses to 17 murders between 1989 and 1993. His first victim was a sex worker named Susie, who he killed in March of 1989. He told the book's author about her murder and what he did with her remains.
Holy shit. Rifkin dumped Susie's torso in the East River? And you know where the East River opens up into? The Bay.
which flows directly towards Front Street, Pier 3, Staten Island. I'm Carol Fisher, and from the teams at Novel and iHeart Podcast, this is The Girlfriends, Our Lost Sister, Episode 4, Desperately Seeking Susie. ♪♪
Am I taking us the wrong way? I don't know. Yes. That must be that way. That way.
I'm with Mindy and producer Anna in Alphabet City on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Oh, I still gotta have two short-legged people here. Come on, Goliath. We're here because we've been mining from the mouth of a monster for more information. In the book, Rifkin described picking up a sex worker named Susie in Alphabet City. Back in the 80s, this block was one of New York's red-light districts. It feels, um...
We're walking towards Tompkins Square Park. It's a natural meeting point in the area and was a popular hangout for sex workers. But according to our resident New Yorker, Mindy, it has a radical past going back much further.
It was kind of the place where people stood on their soapboxes and expressed dissenting views in the 17th and 1800s. But then in the 60s and 70s, it sort of became a free speech, revolutionary place. That would be the sound of a pneumatic drill. New York is such a peaceful place.
In the 70s and 80s, it became sort of like a needle park. And then it got devastated during the AIDS epidemic. The police kept on trying to clean it up. And there were like riots here. I remember seeing, as a kid, police on horseback and, you know, with...
At the time, there were clashes between the police and locals protesting against the gentrification of the park and homeless people being pushed out. But ultimately, the police won. The Tompkins Square Park that we're in today is where trendy moms push around expensive strollers while sipping oat lattes.
We sit down on a bench and Anna pulls out a copy of the book from the mouth of a monster. I've got an excerpt from the book where Joel confessed to killing Susie. And I was wondering if maybe also you'd want to read it because he talks about her. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, because reading in slaloms is not good for a podcast.
We're reading this book because we're longing to learn whatever we can about this woman who could be our lost sister.
She said her name was Susie. After they negotiated a price for her to accompanying him to Long Island, the relationship quickly deteriorated and his blood began to boil. Before leaving the city, she wanted to make a few stops for drugs. First, we stopped at her girlfriend's house, recalled Joel contemptuously, because you always have to take care of their narcotic need.
She's in this girl's bathroom like for hours as she chatted and smoked with her friends. We're not going to read out the whole passage. It goes into graphic detail about Susie's violent death. But there is one moment that, for us, gives a small but powerful insight into who this woman was. It happened just after Rifkin attacked her and thought she was already dead.
To his horror, Susie suddenly popped up on the couch in a last-ditch effort to salvage her life. She tore into her assailant, an out-of-shape man with all the strength she could muster. She even bit my finger, almost to the bone, Joel said. How do you feel, Carol? I'm a little in shock, actually.
I'm just a little bit in awe of her strength to get the shit kicked out of her and then to kind of rise again and try to, you know, set herself free. She must have been an amazingly strong woman, not just physically, but emotionally. Yeah, it's just horrible. It's just horrific. Yeah, I mean, nothing living, nothing living should die like that.
The three of us contemplate what we've just heard as we watch the other people in the park pass by. People who are probably doing something much more normal with their days. And we wonder, where do we go from here? We know that when the book, From the Mouth of a Monster, was published in 2001, Susie's torso was still missing. But it's been over 20 years since this book was written, and we're wondering, was she ever found?
We put in a freedom of information request to Hopewell Police Department, who handled the criminal investigation into Susie's murder. And luckily, unlike our usual track record, we don't need to wait very long for a response. It's more info than we bargained for. So I call up Mindy and ask her to talk me through it.
Oh, you don't even really want to know. Oh, God, your tone doesn't sound good. Yeah, well, I've gotten a whole bunch of information. I'm trying to be kind. This is kind of difficult information. Really? Yeah. It's bad? Yeah. Like really bad? I read it and had an emotional reaction to it. So hearing it might be difficult. Oh, boy.
Mindy's not wrong. It was difficult to hear. So I'll cut to the chase. We told you before that Susie's torso was never found, but some of her other remains were. In March of 1989, Susie's head was discovered on a golf course in Hopewell Township, New Jersey, 55 miles down from New York. A short while later, her legs were discovered in a wooded area 65 miles away.
Nobody could understand such a senseless killing. And at the time, nobody could figure out who Susie was. But in these documents, we see the great lengths the police went to in trying to identify her.
They did nationwide requests asking for information on any missing person that would fit the description of the murdered woman. They put out flyers, held press conferences. They did canine searches, had divers dredge lakes, and a helicopter did an aerial search of the golf course where her head was found.
The police spoke to the FBI about building a psychological profile of the killer. They conducted interviews with parents of missing women who believed her remains could be their daughters or sisters. After this initial flurry of activity, the case went cold. But then in 2001, From the Mouth of a Monster came out. And in the book, Rifkin admits to killing a woman he knew as Susie.
He then admits to dumping her head on a golf course and her legs in a wooded area. It was clear he was talking about the same case the Hopewell cops had been investigating for 12 years. But when they put the name Susie or Susan into the missing person's databases, nothing came up. Another dead end. Until... She looks at it and she says, yeah, I think you're right. I think that's your girl.
Oh, hey, we're invited to the Johnson Summer Pool Party this Saturday. I said we'd bring our famous potato salad. Oh, Saturday? But that's when the Blinds guys come in to give us a quote. Those appointments take forever. Oh, yeah, I meant to tell you. I already found everything we need at Blinds.com. They're totally online, so we don't have to wait around all day just to get a quote. I talked to a Blinds.com designer, and they're sending us free samples.
Oh, Blinds.com? I've heard of them. Yeah, they've been around for over 25 years. But not everyone knows they can also handle the measuring and installation for a fraction of what the other guys charge. Plus, they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Well, Blinds.com sounds like a no-brainer. Guess I'll cancel. Already done. That gives you time to make the potato salad. Yes, dear.
Shop Blinds.com now for summer savings up to 40% off site-wide. Up to 40% off at Blinds.com. Blinds.com. Rules and restrictions may apply. Is getting gas at Chevron burning a hole in your wallet? Get the Drop app. With Drop, you can earn free gift cards just by filling up your tank. Download Drop now. Use code DROP77 to instantly receive $5 in points. Hey!
Hi, this is Nikki Glaser from the Nikki Glaser podcast. Say yes to summer and get cash back on many of your favorite brands with PayPal, which let's face it, comes in very handy during the summertime. Everyone is ready for summer activities, which is why using PayPal is a great way to say yes to summertime fun.
Say yes to those concert tickets to go see that band you were into back in high school. Say yes to that bikini that you are too scared to try in at the store because the lighting might be bad and you might get discouraged, but that you know you'll look amazing in when you try it on for the first time at the resort when you get there.
You can also send money to friends via PayPal, which means going halfsies with your best friend when she visits this summer. With even more cash back in your pocket when you pay with PayPal, saying yes to summertime fun just got a whole lot easier. Make sure to download the PayPal app. An account with PayPal is required to send and receive money. Redeem points for cash and other options. Terms apply.
Hi, Stephen. It's wonderful to talk to you transcontinentally across the U.S. Hi, Mindy. I'm in Northern California. Where are you? I'm actually talking to you from Monmouth County, New Jersey. I know it well. I grew up across the river. Oh, okay. All right.
Mindy speaking to Captain Stephen Urbanski, who in 2013 was Detective Urbanski. Back then, he was working in the Missing Persons Unit, and he was the guy you called when you wanted help getting to the bottom of a case. I was called by two detectives from Hopewell Township Police Department. They called me for some advice, and they want to get my personal opinion on what we can do more with the case.
The Hopewell cops pass on all of their case files to Urbanski. But the thing that stands out the most is the book where Rifkin describes the first time he killed a sex worker. He said that he could only remember her name as Susie, but he didn't have a last name. He didn't know anything about her. So now we're looking at a girl named Susan. That's all we have, right?
The first thing you do when trying to identify someone is look at the missing person's databases for a match. But when nothing turned up, Urbanski suggested trying something else, looking at arrest records of New York sex workers from the 80s and 90s.
and we pulled all the girls that were named Susan. There was one that I was able to look at. It was a girl by the name of Susan Spencer. That's kind of something that stuck out to me. We also noticed after her last arrest, she kind of went off the map. Urbanski was able to obtain an arrest photo of Susan Spencer. In it, he sees a pale woman with long, light brown hair and blue eyes.
Her face is covered with marks, the kind you'd associate with a heavy drug user. But other than the photo, Urbanski struggled to find any other information in the system. We couldn't find any reports on Susan being missing. I think I went home that night after a long, long day of trying to look through pictures and doing interviews, you know, eating dinner, and right away opened up my laptop computer and I start looking at different websites.
Detective Urbanski starts combing through New York and New Jersey databases. He's hoping to match the arrest photo he has with the missing persons report. A picture came up. Believe it or not, I actually get my wife involved and she comes over yelling at me because I have these pictures throughout on my, on top of my table and I'm trying to review it. But she looks at it and she says, yeah, I think you're right. I think that's your girl. But the missing woman's name isn't Susan Spencer. Her name is...
is Heidi Balch. The missing persons report for Heidi Balch was filed in 2001 by her Aunt Robin. At the time, Robin lived in New York, so the detectives decided to pay her a visit.
Pulling up to New York City, it's a lot going on, there's a lot of traffic, you know, people walking by, and we pull up to this high-rise building. It was more of an apartment complex. I don't know how to explain how I felt that day, but I'm definitely excited, like, is this it? Is this going to be the person that we're looking for? Is this the answer?
An answer that the Hopewell Police Department had been searching for for 24 years. I remember knocking on the door and an elderly lady answered the door. And I think just her face alone was like that total shock. You know, is this about Heidi? Urbanski and his colleagues try to find out more information about Heidi from her aunt.
She kind of talked her up, saying that she was a good kid growing up, and she just got involved with the wrong people and got involved with drugs, and she just went down the wrong avenue during her, you know, upbringing, and that it kind of brought her to dark places. The next stage in the investigation was to find Heidi's parents and get their DNA tested against the head and legs found in New Jersey. ♪
The detectives send local police to Heidi's father, who lived in Florida, while Urbanski and two Hopewell cops make the drive to Baltimore to track down Heidi's mother. And after a two-hour journey, they pull up to Heidi's mom's house. They knock on the door. She lets them in. And then they tell her, we think we found your daughter's remains.
She was very quiet when we told her. She looked like it was maybe ready to cry. Like, you know, she didn't really have any questions for us. She gave us, you know, the background of a daughter being involved with the prostitution and the drugs. And she said she had some problems back then herself since then got her life together. So I explained to her about the DNA, how we're going to compare it to the head that was found on the golf course and the legs. She was more than willing to give her DNA. She was very cooperative at that point.
They take a swab from the inside of her cheek, they pack it away in a sterile container, and then they haul ass back to get it tested. There was a 100% match. It was definitely Heidi. Finally, 24 years after Heidi's murder, her case was solved. But when Heidi's DNA profile was entered into the system in the spring of 2013, there was another match for a torso.
a torso that was buried on Heart Island.
Hi, this is Nikki Glaser from the Nikki Glaser podcast. Say yes to summer and get cash back on many of your favorite brands with PayPal, which let's face it, comes in very handy during the summertime. Everyone is ready for summer activities, which is why using PayPal is a great way to say yes to summertime fun.
Say yes to those concert tickets to go see that band you were into back in high school. Say yes to that bikini that you are too scared to try in at the store because the lighting might be bad and you might get discouraged, but that you know you'll look amazing in when you try it on for the first time at the resort when you get there.
You can also send money to friends via PayPal, which means going halfsies with your best friend when she visits this summer. With even more cash back in your pocket when you pay with PayPal, saying yes to summertime fun just got a whole lot easier. Make sure to download the PayPal app. An account with PayPal is required to send and receive money. Redeem points for cash and other options. Terms apply.
It's Lee Kum Kee. Welcome back to the Lee Kum Kee request line. Ready for something with a kick that's still smooth? Talk about a hot time at dinner time. This is America's number one spicy mayo and non-GMO verified sriracha. It's the sriracha slide coming at you from Lee Kum Kee. Sriracha slide on over to srirachalove.com to check it out. Sriracha real smooth.
Okay, listener. So if you're anything like me, you've probably been listening to this while putting dinner in the oven, driving to work, and getting your nails done all at the same time. So let's recap what we know so far because it's a lot. Joel Rifkin killed his first victim in March of 1989 and confessed to dumping her torso in New York's East River. We now know that her name was Heidi Balch.
24 years later, in 2013, detectives investigating Heidi's case located her torso on Heart Island. And why does all this matter to us? Well, because we know that our lost sister's torso was disinterred from Heart Island in 2013.
We've said before that the only reason our girl would have been removed from her grave on Heart Island is because she was identified or because her body became part of a criminal investigation or both. Could the torso of our lost sister and the torso of Heidi Balch be one in the same? Mindy pitches our theory to Captain Urbanski.
In 1989, we knew that a torso had washed up on shore on Staten Island and that it was identified as the torso of Gail Katz. And the family buried the remains of that torso in a cemetery in Queens. Yes. The torso, 1999 or 2000, somewhere around there, is the torso of Gail Katz.
It was exhumed and oops. That's Mindy dropping her headphones. Way to play a cool detective, Shapiro.
And the remains were basically buried on Heart Island. So we got actually the records from Heart Island and saw that the body was exhumed in 2013. It all seems to add up to us. There's a lot of questions because there's so many bodies there. You might have another torso that's in Heart Island. I know for a fact you'd have a couple bodies.
We can't deny that he's right. At this point, our theory is still just a theory. But a reality check is not all Urbanski gives Mindy. He also has some much appreciated advice for his fellow detective about what really matters in an investigation like this. If my sister, my mother, or somebody, my wife went missing, I would want somebody putting their heart and soul into it.
So do your job, basically, and do it with compassion. Do it with hard work. Do it with an open mind and do it as if it was your own child. That's so beautiful. You know, the team here and my girlfriend, Carol, they have dubbed me a dog with a bone because I'm just so persistent about this. I frankly have not really found that term endearing before.
But speaking to you and your persistence, it makes me feel like that's not such a bad term after all. I knew you'd come around eventually, Mindy. Despite Urbanski's doubts, we really believe that Heidi Balch is our lost sister.
There are just too many similarities, like the estimated date of death in early 1989 and the year of disinterment from Heart Island in 2013. But we need absolute, undeniable proof. More than that, we need to learn her story. And the best way to do that is by reaching out to Heidi's family in the hopes that they might have something, anything, that could prove the connection.
After a bit more internet sleuthing, producer Anna manages to track down one of Heidi's cousins who lives in Maine. Dear Anne, I'm sorry to email you about this so out of the blue, but I've been searching for you for over a year. My name is Anna Sinfield. I'm a journalist and radio producer from the UK. It's funny, I remember getting one of these emails from Anna myself before this crazy journey started.
In the email, Anna tells Anne all about our investigation, that we think there's a link between our lost sister and Heidi, that we want to bring her cousin's story to life and make sure she's not just a plot point in Gail Katz's murder. I come with absolutely no judgment of the way she lived or how life happened to her. I would just love to know more about her as a person. All the best, Anna S.
Anna sends off the email, and we hope and pray that Heidi's family are interested in speaking with us. For now, we wait. This whole journey has been one crazy ride.
We'd been to the medical examiner. We trawled the archives at New York's biggest public library. And I'd like all information that I can find about that torso.
We spoke to private investigators, criminal profilers, DNA experts. We went to the biggest public burial ground in the USA and trailed around the city and beyond looking for leads. Hundreds and hundreds of hours have gone into this investigation, but our love and friendship have gone into it too. Not to mention copious amounts of food and wine. And now it all comes down to this.
One last shot in the dark. Hello? Hi, is this Anne? It is. That's next time on The Girlfriends, Our Lost Sister. The Girlfriends, Our Lost Sister is produced by Novel for iHeart Podcast. For more from Novel, visit novel.audio.
The show is hosted by me, Carol Fisher, and our chief investigator is Mindy Shapiro. To find me on social media, search Carol A. Fisher. That's Carol with an E. The season is written and produced by Anna Sinfield and Lee Meyer. Our assistant producer is Madeline Parr. The editor is Joe Wheeler. Max O'Brien is our executive producer. Our
Thank you.
Original music composed and performed by Louisa Gerstein and produced by Louisa Gerstein and Nicholas Alexander. The series artwork was designed by Christina Limcuhl. Story development by Anna Sinfield. Willard Foxton is creative director of development. Our executive producers at iHeart Podcast are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Etorre.
Special thanks to Leona Hamid, plus Allie Cantor, Carrie Lieberman, and Will Pearson at iHeart Podcast, as well as Carly Frankel and the whole team at WME. And a special shout out to Vince Hayward, who's my life partner in true crime, for taking on the role of girlfriend's confidant and lead tech support. Novel.
Does money stress you out? Let Facet flip your financial chaos into clarity. We feel way more confident and secure in our finances, and with that comes a sense of freedom. Financial planning from Facet is here to help you improve your life today, tomorrow, and every day after that. Facet was really the place where we saw all of the tools and the people coming together. Visit facet.com, F-A-C-E-T.com to learn more. This ad is sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth is an SEC-registered investment advisor. This is not an offer to buy or sell securities, nor is it investment, legal, or tax advice. These testimonials are from current Facet members who are not competent
For 25 years, Brightview Senior Living Associates have been committed to creating a vibrant culture and delivering exceptional services, making Brightview a great place to work and live. If you're looking for a rewarding opportunity to serve your local community and grow, we want you to join our team.
Brightview Senior Living is growing and actively seeking vibrant associates to join our community teams, including directors, health care, activities, hospitality, and dining. Apply today at careers.brightviewseniorliving.com. Equal employment opportunities. Text BVJOBS to 97211 to apply. Whether you're a newborn baby with delicate, dry skin, or a fully grown adult whose skin is a little parched,
Everyone loves the feeling of being hydrated. That's why the makers of the world's purest baby wipes created their all-new Hydrating Clean Wipes. Water Wipes Hydrating Clean Wipes are made with over 99% water and beneficial botanicals, proven to clean, protect, and hydrate sensitive skin. So your skin gets to enjoy that feeling. Pick up a pack of Water Wipes Hydrating Clean Wipes today at Walmart.
