The Railroad Killer – Part 1 | The Making of a Monster

He moved through the country along the railroad tracks, leaving behind a trail of violence, unanswered questions, and lives forever changed. Known as the Railroad Killer, Angel Reséndiz would become one of the most notorious serial killers in American true crime history. But how did he get there?

In Part 1, we go back to the beginning.

We explore Angel’s birth, childhood, and early life, tracing the experiences and circumstances that shaped the man he would become. As we follow his path into adulthood, a disturbing pattern begins to emerge—one marked by criminal behavior, repeated encounters with law enforcement, and a growing trail of violence.

But despite his run-ins with authorities, Angel continued moving from place to place, often using the railroad system to travel across borders and evade detection. With his identity, movements, and crimes becoming increasingly difficult to track, a terrifying question begins to take shape: How many warning signs were missed before his violence reached a devastating turning point?

Then comes the case that brings this first chapter to its darkest moment: the brutal attack on Christopher Maier and Holly Dunn.

What began as an ordinary day would end in unimaginable tragedy, leaving a family shattered and a community searching for answers. As we uncover the events surrounding their attack and the murder of Christopher Maier, we reach a chilling turning point in the story of the man who would become known as the Railroad Killer.

This is the beginning of a case that exposes not only the devastating consequences of one man's violence, but also the frightening reality of how a killer can slip through undetected for far too long.

And this is only Part 1.

🎙️ Remember... it's not just true crime. It's Pure Malice.

📌 Don’t forget to:

💬 Comment and tell us your thoughts about the case.

🔔 Follow for more true crime & paranormal deep dives.

Pure Malice is hosted by Riane Nix, Taylor Lynch and Britni Burks.

© 2026 Pure Malice/Nix.

All Rights Reserved. Music licensed through Artlist.

✨ Want to be our partner in crime… officially as a sponsor?

If you’re ready to team up with Pure Malice and put your brand in the spotlight, we’d love to collaborate. Reach out to puremalicepodcast@gmail.com and let’s plot something unforgettable together.

👻 Have a close call with a killer… or a spine-tingling paranormal encounter?

If you’ve brushed shoulders with the unexplained or narrowly escaped something sinister, we want to hear your story. Email puremalicepodcast@gmail.com for a chance to have your experience featured on the podcast.

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Lizzie Borden: The Real Story Behind Netflix’s Monster

Lizzie Borden has been one of America’s most infamous murder suspects for more than 130 years. On August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally murdered inside their home in Fall River, Massachusetts. Their daughter Lizzie was eventually arrested, tried, and acquitted — but the questions surrounding that shocking case have never truly disappeared.

Now, with Netflix bringing the Lizzie Borden story back into the spotlight with Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, Pure Malice takes a fresh look at the real events behind one of history’s most notorious murder cases.

What actually happened inside the Borden house that morning? Where was Lizzie when her father and stepmother were killed? Why did her answers change? What did the household servants see and hear? And what did witnesses like Bridget Sullivan, John Morse, Alice Russell, and Dr. Seabury Bowen tell investigators?

In this episode, we go beyond the familiar “40 whacks” story and dig into the details that can get lost in the legend — the inquest, the investigation, Lizzie’s conflicting accounts, the physical evidence, the circumstances surrounding the murders, and the testimony that would eventually become part of the prosecution’s case.

We’ll also take a closer look at the world Lizzie lived in: Victorian mourning customs, Fall River society, the Borden family home, and the strange circumstances surrounding the days leading up to and immediately following the murders.

More than a century later, the question remains:

Did we ever really know what happened inside the Borden house?

The legend of Lizzie Borden has been told countless times. This time, we're going back to the evidence, the testimony, and the historical record — and taking a fresh look at a classic case.

This is the real story behind Lizzie Borden, Part 1.

Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story has brought this infamous case back into the spotlight—but the real courtroom story is even more dramatic.

In Part 2 of Lizzie Borden: The Real Story Behind Netflix’s Monster, Pure Malice follows Lizzie from her arrest and indictment through her sensational trial, shocking acquittal, and the life she lived afterward.

By the time Lizzie entered the courtroom in New Bedford, the public had already formed strong opinions about her guilt or innocence. But what would the prosecution actually be able to prove?

What did Lizzie’s statements reveal? How did Alice Russell’s testimony about the burned dress become such a damaging piece of evidence? What did the medical experts say about the wounds, the suspected hatchet, and the absence of blood evidence connecting Lizzie to the murders?

We’ll examine the prosecution’s case, the defense strategy, the testimony of key witnesses, and the dramatic physical evidence presented to the jury—including the moment Andrew Borden’s skull was brought into the courtroom and used to demonstrate the size of the weapon that may have caused his fatal wounds.

We’ll also take a closer look at the all-male jury that ultimately decided Lizzie’s fate, the public reaction inside the courtroom, and the moment the foreman delivered the words, “Not guilty.”

But Lizzie’s acquittal did not end the story. It only changed the questions.

After the trial, Lizzie and Emma left the murder house behind and moved into Maplecroft, a grand mansion in Fall River’s wealthy Hill neighborhood. There, Lizzie attempted to build the high-society life she had always wanted—hosting lavish parties, surrounding herself with theater people, traveling, supporting charitable causes, and creating a new identity for herself.

But public suspicion followed her everywhere.

We’ll explore the strange post-trial rumors, Lizzie’s controversial friendship with actress Nance O’Neil, the devastating estrangement between Lizzie and Emma, the later theories about Lizzie’s sexuality, and the harassment she endured from neighbors, church members, and children who turned the murders into a playground rhyme.

More than a century later, Lizzie Borden remains legally acquitted—but permanently trapped inside the court of public opinion.

Did the prosecution fail to prove that Lizzie was guilty? Did the jury believe she was innocent? Or did they simply decide that the evidence was not strong enough to send her to prison for life?

The legend of Lizzie Borden has been told countless times. In Part 2, we’re going beyond the verdict and into the courtroom shadows, the unanswered questions, and the life Lizzie lived after the world decided it already knew the truth.

This is the real story behind Lizzie Borden, Part 2.

🎙️ Remember... it's not just true crime. It's Pure Malice.
📌 Don’t forget to:💬 Comment and tell us your thoughts about the case.
🔔 Follow for more true crime & paranormal deep dives.

Pure Malice is hosted by Riane Nix, Taylor Lynch and Britni Burks.

© 2025 Pure Malice/Nix.
All Rights Reserved.Music licensed through Artlist.

✨Want to be our partner in crime… officially as a sponsor?If you’re ready to team up with Pure Malice and put your brand in the spotlight, we’d love to collaborate. Reach out to ⁠⁠⁠puremalicepodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ and let’s plot something unforgettable together.

👻 Have a close call with a killer… or a spine-tingling paranormal encounter?If you’ve brushed shoulders with the unexplained or narrowly escaped something sinister, we want to hear your story. Email ⁠⁠⁠puremalicepodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ for a chance to have your experience featured on the podcast.

Don’t miss out on all things Pure Malice!
Patreon: @puremalice
Instagram: @puremalicepodcast
Facebook: puremalicepodcastTikTok: @puremalicepodcast
YouTube: @puremalicepodcast