This podcast details true crime cases. It contains adult themes and may contain descriptions of violence.

It is not intended for children.

Listener discretion is advised.

Thank you for joining me for today's episode of Once Upon a Crime.

In this final episode in the series Final Curtain Call, a young girl leaves her hometown in Ohio

for the bright lights of Broadway.

Catherine Woods was enjoying her life as a single

20-something living and working in Manhattan when an obsessed love interest

decides that if he can't have her, no one will. Paul Vincent Cortez disapproved of his ex-girlfriend's lifestyle

and appointed himself judge, jury, and executioner

when Catherine refused to allow him to control her.

This is fatal obsession, the spring of 2005. On the other end of the line

was a young man he did not know. He said his name was Paul and he was calling

about Dr. Woods's daughter, Catherine.

Catherine had been living in New York City for about three years

and was a dancer who aspired to perform on Broadway.

Paul told Dr. Woods that Catherine had been involved in an incident the previous evening

when she was drinking at a club called privilege. She had set her drink down the young

man said and after returning to it and taking a sip she soon felt woozy as if she'd been drugged.

He'd taken her to the hospital, where he left her with another friend.

The man went on to provide more details to the concerned father.

His daughter had been overindulging in alcohol and drugs, he claimed.

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