Episode 240

full
Published on:

18th May 2026

▓▒░ They called it a school. Something darker was there.

Grab a coffee, or whatever your favorite true-crime drink might be, and let’s get into the details of Willowbrook and what followed. I’ve been digging into the details…let’s listen.

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In 1971 a reporter named Jane Kurtin did a set of newspaper articles after she visited Willowbrook - a locked state institution. What she found inside set off a chain of events that would eventually expose the horrors happening inside. And is a pre-cursor to part two where we talk about the monster that was let inside.

Episode 2 drops next Tuesday.

0:00 - Willowbrook

2:54 - About Willowbrook

5:50 - Inside the Cages

17:57 - Photos inside Willowbrook

29:37 - Help Wanted

35:08 - Willowbrook's "Silly Rules"

38:56 - Bernard, the success story

43:01 - Building 29

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Sources:

College of Staten Island Willowbrook Archives: library.csi.cuny.edu/archives/willowbrook

Atlas Obscura — Willowbrook State School: atlasobscura.com/places/willowbrook-state-school

Staten Island Advance, 1971–1972 — investigative series by reporter Jane Kurtin and photojournalist Eric Aerts

Geraldo Rivera — "Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace" (1972) https://www.geraldo.com/willowbrook-the-last-great-disgrace/

"Unforgotten: 25 Years After Willowbrook" (1996) — available free on Tubi

The Weekly, FX/Hulu — "The Promise" Season 1, Episode 27 (2020)

#truecrime #truecrimedocumentary #willowbrook #truecrimecommunity #truecrimefm

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TrueCrime.FM
What Actually Happened. From Start to Finish.
TrueCrime.fm is a weekly true crime podcast focused on one thing—what actually happened.

Every case is researched, written, and broken down from start to finish using verified information. No guessing, no added theories, no drawn-out storytelling.

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About your host

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Kristine W

Hi! Hello! I’m Kristine.
You might know me from Beach House 34, but the podcast/vodcast is evolving. Welcome to TrueCrime.fm.

I’ve always done the heavy lifting and the deep research, but the old name just wasn't cutting it anymore. This new name fits the mission. Don't you think?

No fluff, no theories—just the facts, from start to finish. I’m glad you’re here for the next chapter. I’ll see you soon.