The Lipstick Killer: Chicago's Most Controversial Murder Case

In this episode of Murder: True Crime Stories, Carter Roy investigates the Lipstick Killer, the case that gripped Chicago in 1946 and has never stopped raising questions. Three people were murdered on the city's North Side, and a message scrawled on a wall in a victim's own lipstick sent the entire city into a panic. William Heirens eventually confessed to all three murders. He went to prison for the rest of his life and died there at 83, still insisting he was innocent. The fingerprint that broke the case didn't meet the FBI's own standard for a match, the handwriting evidence pointed away from him, and one of the victim's own daughters didn't believe he did it. Was William Heirens the Lipstick Killer? Or did Chicago's desperation for answers send a teenager to prison for crimes he didn't commit? If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Murder True Crime Stories to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Murder True Crime Stories is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow us on Social Instagram:   / crimehouse   TikTok:   / crimehouse   Facebook:   / crimehousestudios   YouTube: ‪@MurderTrueCrimeStories‬ Chapters: 0:00 Welcome to Murder: True Crime Stories 1:13 The Heirens Family 2:47 Bill’s Headaches 3:24 Bill Starts Breaking In 5:04 First Arrest 6:05 St. Bede Academy 7:41 Josephine Ross 10:02 Bill’s New Interests 11:27 Frances Brown 12:51 The Lipstick Killer 13:40 Alter Ego 14:42 Suzanne Degnan 18:22 Custodian Arrested 18:50 Bill Gets Caught 20:08 Bill Becomes Suspect 20:57 State Attorney William Tuohy 22:33 Forced Confession 25:15 Spinal Tap 26:20 Police Search 27:41 Tuohy’s Deal 30:23 New Evidence 32:02 Press Conference Confession 32:58 Reenactment 34:27 Plea and Sentencing 36:19 Doubts and Fabrications 38:00 Bill’s Life in Prison 38:48 Case Breakdown