Love Marry Kill

In January 1897, a young bride, Zona Shue, was found dead on the floor of her home in the mountains of West Virginia. The doctor called it an everlasting faint — an old fashioned term for a sudden, unexplained death from natural causes. Days later, Zona’s mother woke in the cold, dark night to find an apparition standing at the foot of the bed. It was Zona, back to tell the story of how she really died. But would a jury buy it?

Today’s snack: Candy corn popcorn balls

Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lovemarrykill 

Sources:
Anderson, Belinda. "Greenbrier Ghost, Zona Heaster Shue." Experience Greenbrier Valley, Greenbrier County Convention & Visitors Bureau, https://greenbrierwv.com/editorials/the-greenbrier-ghost 
Calvert, Kris. "Zona Heaster Shue and the Greenbrier Ghost: The 1897 West Virginia Murder That Became Legend." Hitched 2 Homicide, 30 Sept. 2025, https://www.hitched2homicide.com/ 
Deitz, Dennis J. "Greenbrier Ghost." e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia, West Virginia Humanities Council, 18 Sept. 2026, https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/entries/2104 
Demitry, Nicky. "The Greenbrier Ghost." Virginia Law Weekly, University of Virginia School of Law, 29 Oct. 2025, https://www.lawweekly.org/front-page/2025/10/29/b4nz0yz4betrskt1myor79tdf9jhdv
"Greenbrier Ghost." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 July 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenbrier_Ghost
McCrumb, Sharyn. Discussion Questions for The Unquiet Grave. 2017
Rodgers, Garry. "How a Ghost's Evidence Convicted a Murderer – True Crime Story!" The Kill Zone, 16 Dec. 2021, https://killzoneblog.com/2021/12/how-a-ghosts-evidence-convicted-a-murderer-true-crime-story.html
Sibray, David. "The Full Tale of West Virginia's Remarkable Greenbrier Ghost." West Virginia Explorer, 20 Jan. 2024, https://wvexplorer.com/greenbrier-ghost-zona-heaster-shue-west-virginia-wv/ 
Tabler, Dave. "The Greenbrier Ghost." Appalachian History, 23 Jan. 2018, https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2018/01/greenbrier-ghost.html 
Weekley, Dave. "The Greenbrier Ghost is an Odd West Virginia Tale." WV MetroNews, West Virginia MetroNews Network, 21 July 2026, https://wvmetronews.com/2026/07/21/the-greenbrier-ghost-is-an-odd-west-virginia-tale/

On paper, they looked like the perfect couple — a Harvard-educated law professor and a passionate immigration attorney, both brilliant, driven, and devoted to their two little boys. But behind closed doors, their differences were driving them apart. Throw in a mother-in-law who needed to control everything, and a protective older brother with a tough-guy image, and it was a recipe for things to get very ugly. Eventually, it would end with murder. But would there ever be justice?

Today’s snack: Snoop Dogg Rolls Royce PB Chocolate Chip Cookies

Join our Patreon to listen to part 3 today: https://patreon.com/lovemarrykill

On paper, they looked like the perfect couple — a Harvard-educated law professor and a passionate immigration attorney, both brilliant, driven, and devoted to their two little boys. But behind closed doors, their differences were driving them apart. Throw in a mother-in-law who needed to control everything, and a protective older brother with a tough-guy image, and it was a recipe for things to get very ugly. Eventually, it would end with murder. But would there ever be justice?

Today’s snack: Assorted Taiwanese snacks (thanks Grace!)

Join us on Patreon to hear parts 2 and 3 today!

Sources:
Alas, J. "Donna Adelson Convicted of Murder: What Did She Do and What Was the Sentence?" International Business Times UK, 5 Sept. 2025, https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/donna-addelson-convicted-murder-what-did-she-do-what-was-sentence-1743191.
"Can Wendi Adelson's Limited Immunity In The Dan Markel Case Be Broken?" Audioboom, True Crime Today, 6 June 2026, https://audioboom.com/posts/8912858-can-wendi-adelson-s-limited-immunity-in-the-dan-markel-case-be-broken.
CBS News / AP. "Donna Adelson Sentenced to Life in Prison for Orchestrating 2014 Murder of Ex-Son-In-Law, FSU Professor Daniel Markel." CBS News, 14 Oct. 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/donna-adelson-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-in-2014-murder-for-hire-of-ex-son-in-law-fsu-professor-daniel-markel/.
"Charlie Adelson Prosecutor Delivers Intense Closing Argument in Hitman Conspiracy Murder Trial." YouTube, uploaded by Law&Crime Trials, Nov. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wQeZF4lnpA.
"Charlie Adelson Tells His Story of Dan Markel's Murder." YouTube, uploaded by Court TV, Nov. 2023.
Dan Markel Case Archive — Trial Transcripts. Leon County Circuit Court, Court Daemon, https://markel.courtdaemon.com/.
"Dan Markel's Divorce Attorney, Stephen Webster, Reveals Motive for Why Adelsons Planned Dan's Murder." YouTube, uploaded by Surviving The Survivor, 2023.
"Dolce Vita Recording Exposed: Charlie Adelson's Panic After FBI Contact." YouTube, uploaded by Justice Is A Process!!!!, 2024.
"Donna Adelson Sentencing Dramatic, Defiant, Remorseless: Body Language Analysis." YouTube, uploaded by Dr. G Explains, Oct. 2025.
Epstein, Steven. Extreme Punishment: The Chilling True Story of Acclaimed Law Professor Dan Markel's Murder. Rowman & Littlefield, 2021.
"FL v. Donna Adelson | Trial Day 2 - Wendi and Rob Adelson Testify." YouTube, uploaded by Emily D. Baker, Aug. 2025.
Laidlaw, Katherine. "Murder-in-Law: The Twisted Story of a Domestic Contract Killing." Toronto Life, 14 Sept. 2026.
Lat, David. "The Dan Markel Case: Charlie Adelson, Convicted." Original Jurisdiction, Substack, 7 Nov. 2023, https://davidlat.substack.com/p/the-dan-markel-case-charlie-adelson-95d.
Lat, David. "The Dan Markel Case: Wendi Adelson Finds A New Job." Above the Law, 21 July 2017, https://abovethelaw.com/2017/07/the-dan-markel-case-wendi-adelson-finds-a-new-job/.
Lat, David. "The Murder Of Dan Markel: Wendi Adelson Speaks (Part 3)." Above the Law, 9 June 2016, https://abovethelaw.com/2016/06/the-murder-of-dan-markel-wendi-adelson-speaks-part-3/.
Schorsch, Peter. "Charlie Adelson Trial Day 3 Part 1: Accomplices Tell the Truth." Florida Politics, 30 Oct. 2023, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/641942-charlie-adelson-trial-day-3-part-1-accomplices-tell-the-truth/.
Schorsch, Peter. "Dan Markel Trial: Katherine Magbanua Gets Life + 60 Years; Charlie Adelson Trial Early 2023; Tara Kawass Opens Up." Florida Politics, 29 July 2022, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/542700-dan-markel-trial-katherine-magbanua-gets-life-60-years-charlie-adelson-trial-early-2023-tara-kawass-opens-up/.
State of Florida. Summary of Offense and Probable Cause Affidavit: Donna Sue Adelson (Case No. 2023CF3226A). Leon County Circuit Court, 13 Nov. 2023.
The ABA Journal. "'Bump' Operation Led to Phone Calls, Restaurant Meeting, Jurors Told in Trial for Murder of Law Prof Markel." ABA Journal, American Bar Association, 1 Nov. 2023.
The ABA Journal. "Prosecutors' Pursuit: A Timeline of the Dan Markel Murder Trials and Convictions." ABA Journal, American Bar Association, Aug. 2025.
"The 8-Minute Call That Proves Donna Adelson's Guilt | Wire Evidence." YouTube, uploaded by Justice Is A Process!!!!, 2024.
"The 'UNREDACTED' Interview of Jeffrey Lacasse." YouTube, uploaded by True Crime Metrix, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab_9BORwlJc.
"Top Five Reasons Wendi Adelson Could Be Charged Next." Apple Podcasts, Hidden Killers / True Crime Today, 8 Oct. 2025, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-five-reasons-wendi-adelson-could-be-charged-next/id1724041714.
"Undercover Agent Reveals THE BUMP That Ended Donna Adelson." YouTube, uploaded by Justice Is A Process!!!!, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io1AvDVXwjE. 
"UNEDITED & UNINTERRUPTED: Wendi Adelson's Full Police Interview Hours After Dan Markel's Murder." YouTube, uploaded by Surviving The Survivor, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7n8CkJfUMA.
Wikipedia Contributors. "Dan Markel." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Markel.

In August 1995, Mark Winger called 911 from his Springfield, Illinois home. His wife, Donnah, had been brutally attacked by an intruder brandishing a hammer. Mark intervened, shooting the man dead. Police ruled the shooting a justifiable homicide. The case was closed, and Mark was labeled a hero. There was little reason to question what had happened inside that house. But years later, the thoroughness and credibility of that investigation would be called into question.

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Today's snack: Oreo brownies

In August 1995, Mark Winger called 911 from his Springfield, Illinois home. His wife, Donnah, had been brutally attacked by an intruder brandishing a hammer. Mark intervened, shooting the man dead. Police ruled the shooting a justifiable homicide. The case was closed, and Mark was labeled a hero. There was little reason to question what had happened inside that house. But years later, the thoroughness and credibility of that investigation would be called into question.

Listen to Part 2 today on Patreon

Today's snack: Horseshoe sandwich

Sources:
https://widbroward.org/donate/donnahs-fund/ Donate to Donnah’s Fund
Zimmerman, Gail Abbott. (2008). Invitation to a Murder: A 48 Hours Mystery. Pocket Books. 
https://www.disneyplus.com/play/6e97ad69-2376-4080-b67d-d3a5f4b62bc8 20/20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v36N6KzSTlQ 48 Hours
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1320398215/?match=5&terms=Mark%20Winger%20Donnah&search-id=64058766-15f5-4a37-a8cc-f9ee0b8bdcbe&search-rank=1
https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/realestate/article/FDRs-grandparents-home-for-sale-in-Newburgh-16792142.php Sara Jane’s old home
https://patents.justia.com/inventor/robert-saul-brown
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167032390/donnah_ellen-winger/photo#view-photo=143000701
https://medium.com/@grantbjork92/mark-winger-imitation-hero-a2cd12c079a2
https://abc7.com/post/mark-winger-case-abc-2020-the-perfect-lie-rebecca-simic/10522876/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1321518778/?match=14&terms=Mark%20Winger&search-id=c605f23f-5100-45d4-9e65-35edcc85afca&search-rank=1
https://www.alexander-levittfunerals.com/obituaries/ira-drescher/obituary
https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Resources/e703b7f7-994b-456b-96f2-6c90d09bd3ca/4131113_R23.pdf