This podcast may contain adult language and situations, graphic, gory details, and other

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I'm Ashley, and I'm Lacey, and this is United States of murder.

This week we're in West Virginia discussing the lonely hearts killer.

Then we'll talk about an amateur scientist and inventor.

So buckle up and join us on this dark and twisted ride through the mountain state.

Long before there was Tinder or even Match.com or plenty of fish, there were places where men and women who were too shy or too busy to meet face to face could find romance.

These were called matrimonial bureaus. Sounds very fancy.

They were commonly known as Lonely Hearts Clubs. They were 20th century matchmaking organizations

that flourished by offering lonely individuals, especially post-war, chances to meet

through mail order lists and ads, usually for a fee. They frequently targeted widowers, widows,

and those seeking companionship, especially after World War II, when many women were looking for love.

And all the guys were so hot in World War II.

I have pictures of my paw ball in his uniform, and I'm like, that's why my grumble had nine kids.

No lies.

While aiming to connect lonely souls, some became notorious for scams and risks, leading to sensationalized criminal cases.

That we know of, at least 19 killers have used want ads, personal ads, including Craigslist, or matrimonial bureaus to contact their victims.

So that's where my case is going today. Did you ever read those Craigslist's Misconnections?

I'm 175. I read the ads that people used to put in the paper.

Yeah.

Well, that's what I'm going to be talking about.

I loved it.

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