The Horrifying Murder of Alzada Pauline Young

Murder, She Told

Kristen Seavey

True Crime, Society & Culture, Documentary

4.9 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 18 October 2022

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

1940 - Rockland, Maine. It was Halloween night, and 16-year-old Alzada Pauline Young wanted to go out. Her younger siblings were trick-or-treating, and on their way to a party. Why was she being punished? In the height of an argument, she drew a knife in a threat against her step-father, John Phelps, who was the only thing standing in her way. In what he claimed was self defense, he hurled the closet weapon at her—a hammer—killing her instantly. What happened next, was one of the most heinous and horrifying attempts at a cover up in Maine history. John cut up her body under the cover of darkness, disposed of each part in burlap bags, and made sure all trace of Pauline was removed… The teenager did have a habit of staying away from home. He’ll just tell her mother she ran off to get married… But little did he know, somebody had been listening. Neighbors were growing suspicious, and his secret would only stay buried for so long. Was this a terrible and tragic accident? Or a man who killed his wife’s daughter in a homicidal rage because he wanted her gone? Detailed sources can be found on murdershetold.com Connect on Instagram @murdershetoldpodcast Support the show here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This is Murder She Told, true crime stories from Maine, New England and small town USA.
0:19.0	I'm Kristen Ceevy.
0:20.8	You can connect with the show at MurderSheTold.com or on Instagram at MurderSheTold Podcast.
0:30.5	This episode contains descriptions that are graphic in nature and also describes attempted suicide.
0:37.0	If this is a trigger for you, please listen with care.
0:41.4	It is undoubtedly the most hideous and dastardly crime I have ever known.
0:47.2	The medical examiner Dr. Weissman said, as he left the autopsy room.
0:52.4	Sheriff Ludwig agreed, it's the worst thing that's happened in Knox County while I've been here.
1:00.8	Leaves crunched under his shoes and the sun's last rays pried their way into his squinted eyes,
1:07.2	as John walked down Crescent Street. He had an errand to run. John and Albert lived on the
1:12.9	same street. Nearly its name changed as you crossed Maine Street. John knocked on his neighbor's door.
1:19.6	He had gotten fed up with his stepdaughter's long absences. It had been a week since he'd seen
1:24.9	Pauline. Albert came to the door and John asked for her. It's time to come home, Pauline.
1:31.6	She was just 16 years old but had a mind of her own and John was growing impatient with her.
1:37.3	She obliged and they walked home, their backs to the setting sun. It was Halloween night.
1:43.7	When they arrived home around 5.30 pm, John asked his daughter, Rachel, who was 11, to call
1:50.7	his wife at work and let her know that Pauline was back. Rachel got her on the line and Thelma
1:56.9	asked to keep Pauline at home until she could get there at 7 pm. Then the kids, Rachel and her younger
2:03.2	brother Bernard went out trick-or-treating, leaving Pauline and John alone. John in his authoritarian way
2:10.8	said that her days of staying overnight away from the house were over and that her wings were getting
2:16.0	clipped. She was livid. She said that she was going back to Albert, saying, to hell with supper,
2:22.4	to hell with you and to hell with mother. John locked all the doors, daring her to try and leave.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Kristen Seavey, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Kristen Seavey and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.