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Once Upon A Crime

Final Curtain Call: Theatre of Pain - The Murders of Daniel Wozniak

Once Upon A Crime

Esther Ludlow

Truecrime, History, True Crime, Crime, Criminals, Criminology, Society & Culture

4.65K Ratings

🗓️ 18 July 2022

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week’s episode details a murder that, at first glance, appears to be a cut-and-dried case of a lover’s quarrel turned deadly.  Upon investigation, it is discovered to be a much more thought-out and sinister plan.  When authorities uncover the real killer he turns out to be an actor who attempted to parlay his skills as a performer to pull off “the perfect crime”. Sources: “Actor is held in double slaying.” Los Angeles Times, 29 05 2010,    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104583077/actor-is-held-in-double-slaying/. “Actress convicted of lying to police about ex-fiance's double murder pleads innocence in  interrogation tapes.” ABC News, 30 May 2019,  https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/actress-convicted-lying-police-fiances-double-murder- pleads/story?id=63234575 . Accessed 4 July 2022. “As coldblooded as a murderer gets.” Los Angeles Times, 09 01 2016,  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104976453/as-coldblooded-as-a-murderer-gets/. Berg, Tom. “Justice delayed: Why it took more than 5 years for trial of Daniel Wozniak, accused  of killing 2, beheading one victim.” Orange County Register, 7 December 2015,  https://www.ocregister.com/2015/12/07/justice-delayed-why-it-took-more-than-5-years- for-trial-of-daniel-wozniak-accused-of-killing-2-beheading-one-victim/. Accessed 4 July  2022. “Brother of double killer is arrested.” Los Angeles Times, 24 12 2016,  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105002079/brother-of-double-killer-is-arrested/. “Death Penalty for OC Killer.” Los Angeles Times, 12 01 2016,  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104977538/death-penalty-for-oc-killer/. “Neighbor beheaded and his friend killed.” Modesto Bee, 29 05 2010,  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105001017/neighbor-beheaded-and-his-friend-killed/. Pelisek, Christine. “Daniel Wozniak Murders Re-examined in New Podcast | PEOPLE.com.”  People, 28 August 2018,  https://people.com/crime/daniel-wozniak-rachel-buffett-murders-in-new-podcast/.  Accessed 28 June 2022. “Prosecutors will seek death penalty.” Los Angeles Times, 26 05 2012,  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104951198/prosecutors-will-seek-death-penalty/. Sclafani, Julia. “Double murderer's ex-fiancée is sentenced to jail as accessory after slayings.”  Los Angeles Times, 8 November 2018,  https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-buffet-sentencing-20181108- story.html. Accessed 4 July 2022. “This community theater actor's final performance was a chilling confession to double murder.”  ABC News, 29 May 2019,  https://abcnews.go.com/US/community-theater-actors-final-performance-chilling- confession-double/story?id=63181588. Accessed 4 July 2022. “Woman pleads not guilty in beheading.” The Californian, 05 12 2012, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104945493/woman-pleads-not-guilty-in-beheading/. The following music was used for this media project: Music: Cinematic Background Sad by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8181-cinematic-background-sad License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://cemmusicproject.wixsite.com/musiclibraryfiles   Stay The Course by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5048-stay-the-course License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Edge Of Forever by Tim Kulig Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8488-edge-of-forever License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license    What Lurks In The Dark by Dave Deville Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8233-what-lurks-in-the-dark License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This podcast details true crime cases.

0:03.0

It contains adult themes and may contain descriptions of violence.

0:07.0

It is not intended for children.

0:09.0

Listener discretion is advised. Thank you for joining me for today's episode of Once Upon a Crime.

0:20.1

This month I'm detailing crimes

0:24.8

which were perpetrated by or against actors. Thespians if you will. In this

0:30.0

episode a case that upon its surface appeared to be a cut and dried case of a lover's quarrel turned

0:35.2

deadly, turns out to be a much more thought out and sinister plan.

0:40.1

When authorities uncover the real killer, he turns out to be an actor, who attempts to

0:45.2

parlay his skills as a performer to get away with the perfect crime.

0:50.7

This is Chapter 2 of Final Curtain Call, Theater of Payne, the Murders of Daniel Wosniac. On May 21st, 2010, Steve Hare was looking forward to a weekend visit from his son Sam.

1:16.1

However, by the time most of Saturday had come and gone with no word from his son,

1:20.7

Steve decided to drive to his apartment in Costa Mesa, California.

1:25.0

Sam Herr was a 26-year-old veteran and a student at Orange Coast College.

1:30.0

When Steve arrived at his son's apartment, he found the body of Sam's good friend, Julie

1:35.3

Kibuishi.

1:36.7

She had been shot in the head, and the circumstances in which the body was found, partially

1:41.5

clothed and hanging off the bed, suggested that she had been raped.

1:47.0

Julie, 23, was often described by friends and family as vivacious.

1:52.0

She was a petite girl who had been dancing since she was barely

1:55.0

old enough to walk. As she matured into a young woman, it was clear she had talent along with the love of

2:00.9

performing. She'd entered Orange Coast College to study

...

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