Once I was in Walmart alone and noticed two BIG men following me around. I’d leave one aisle, go to the next, and seconds later they’d be there too. They’d stare and give creepy smiles. They continued following me all throughout the store. Finally, in front of everyone, I LOUDLY yelled, “Will you stop following me?!?!” They left me alone after that…until I noticed, when passing by the doors to go check out, that they were outside their vehicle just waiting & lingering. They were on their phones occasionally looking up and looking around. Before going outside, I asked for someone to escort me out. I got in my car, locked my doors, and drove away as quick as I could. It was truly so scary but I am SO glad I put the “nice girl” narrative away and took a chance on “hurting their ego” for my safety. Always be alert, ladies. It’s a sick world we live in.
I am so sorry the world that women live in, it truly is a man's world and it fucking sucks. I'll never empathize what struggle you go through, but I can sympathize with it. I hope for a day where women can feel safe walking alone at night, and I hope you never have to experience that again. I get what women feel as to why it's more comfortable to cover their drinks at clubs and what not. I'm at my own apartment currently dealing with a gnat infestation and am currently covering my wine with plastic wrap. It truly crushes my heart that women have to cover their drinks to feel safe when wanting to have a good time with their friends in public.
Something similar happened in my town (also Walmart), but they were trying to grab a shopping cart that had a toddler in it. They followed a woman through the entire store, waiting until she looked away. She turned away for just a minute looking at clothes or something and the men approached the cart. Another woman was watching them and called them out, along with calling police.
The Beauty Queen stalker story genuinely scared me. The way she changes the way she walks, all hunched over, just to keep pace with OP had me picturing the Other Mother from Coraline....
That first story has me thinking. Why aren't all police officers required to provide DNA when they get their job because we obviously have way too many instances of stuff like that
i believe, it is a requirement now and there's a database. at least in the us🤔 maybe the investigation was calling for the dna of all of the retired officers?
I appreciate/respect the fact that even after you were criticized for victim blaming you took the time to edit your response to the criticism owning the bad in your words and not taking it completely out. I have SOOOO much respect for you not just deleting it but identifying what you did wrong and letting it stay there.
I’m so sorry to hear about your SA. I personally didn’t think you were victim blaming, you were just pointing out the ways in which she could have been safer, a lot of women need to know these things. It’s unfortunate that we have to go through this and it is the attackers fault in the end, yes, but that won’t stop these things from happening unfortunately. Loved this episode!!
I agree! I honestly never thought of some of the things she recommends trying for these situations. It’s a scary world and sadly this type of advice really is important
yeah especially in this case girlie had NO self preservation I would have been on the phone with my mom and describing them the first time and this girl is basically saying "oh yeah it's just attempted kidnapping this happened all the time" like?? I've lived in a bad neighborhood too but I'm MORE paranoid about this kind of stuff rather than super passive like nothing bad can happen... that's the kind of arrogance that comes with thinking you're impervious to bad things happening
Completely know what Morgan is saying. A woman’s world is different than a man’s. Constantly thinking being kidnapped when I’m out in public and trying to come up with a plan in case something does happen. Checking your backseat, under your car, being extra aware, putting your key inbetween your fingers in case you have to fight someone off. Even a suspicious looking man in the same aisle as you can make you anxious. The harsh reality of being a woman unfortunately. Of course, this can always happen to a man too, but I feel as women we’re raised to be suspicious. 😕
The last sentence is what got me.. we were raised to be aware and that this is the world we live in.. while men are raised as what? They have to learn THEMSELVES what harassing someone is. And it scares me because WOMEN raised these men
It’s unfortunate that we have to raise girls to be afraid of the world, learn to fear certain situations and develop strategies to be safe (whistle, key between fingers, self-defense classes, apps for the phone, telling friends your location, and on and on). And yes, we should be raising boys/men to respect women. As a teacher, I taught for a while in a community where traditional gender roles and macho behavior from boys and men were prevalent. I felt like I was constantly deprogramming the boys. They would put down the girls and express clearly that they felt superior to them through their language and actions. So, I created a zero tolerance policy for these behaviors and was quite blunt with their parents or guardians about how that behavior has no place at school and greater society (I avoided saying anything about their homes). It was quite sad that I had to focus specifically on this in 4th and 5th grades. I’m sure most of them went right back to their misogynist habits in middle school and beyond. I also taught overseas and saw firsthand how boys and men are praised just for breathing and get all of the advantages while girls have to maintain more traditional roles or work ten times harder to achieve their goals.
Totally. This evening i walked to the store. I don’t drive so i always walk. We are not allowed to carry papperspray or tazers here. So tonight i walked with my keys between my fingers. And i always text my mom severall times. Like now i am here, now i am here, i am at the store, i am leaving the store. So if i go quiet she can get me help and know where i was a few minutes ago. I was followed by a man on a motorsycle before. I was walking home from the store. He was driving walking speed behind me. I started looking behind me and wonder what the f he was doing. I went off on a path, he turned around and drove off. I thought, oh he was probably lost. But then he turned up on the road that went pararell to the path. We could see eachother but there was a ditch with lots of brush between us. He was driving back and forth slowly on the road. Then he placed him self where the path meets the road. I stood still on the path. No way in hell i was going to walk to where he was. I started calling my mom over and over, but she didn’t pick up. I had no faith the cops would turn up. They have not helped when i needed them before. He saw i was on the phone and he finally drove off. He probably thought i was on the phone with the cops. My mom finally called me back and stayed on the phone with me untill i was home behind a locked door. It was after that i have been more worried then i was. I always thought about things that could happen and have done what i can to stay as safe as posible. But it was after the dude on the bike that made me hold something i can defend my self with when i am out walking by my self. I wish we where allowed to carry pepperspray or something. Ofcourse we should not be allowed to spray just anyone. But it is scary to be in a dengerous situashion and not have anything to give us a bigger chanse of getting out of it unharmed.
The handful of times I’ve called, they’ve been soooo nice and reassured me that I was right to call. I’ve only ever hit a deer once in my life and I realized I had no clue what to do when it happened. I called 911 and said, “I’m so sorry if this isn’t right, but I don’t know what to do. I’m not hurt, but the dead deer is still in the road and I don’t know if this counts as an accident I need to report.” She was so nice and told me in future I could just call patrol (duh- why does panic make us dumb?) but that it was the right choice since I didn’t know.
My dad was a first responder and multiple friend's dads were cops. I was always told that in the best situation I wasted their time. My dad said he'd rather his time wasted than stand their comforting a family because a call wasn't made in time.
Really great you guys included that side note in there. Sometimes when we hear stories like this you just want the person to be safe so bad that you think about all the things that the person could have done differently because they are the only thing they can control in the situation. However, the real blame falls on horrible people doing horrible things. I thought this episode was great. Don't shy away from talking about difficult topics. Getting out of comfort zones is how we learn and grow. It's okay to fumble a little in the process.
Thank you! After doing research on the whole concept of victim blaming what we actually did is called hindsight bias. We think about all the things we/they could have/should have done as a way to rationalize the situation. It’s a way to distract our brains from the real issue/not fall down the rabbit hole/self destruct over the fact that nothing would change the situation.. people are just that horrible sometimes.
please don't stop reviewing the "Lets Not Meet" subreddit. I enjoy experiencing the stories with two hot takes. :(( they are some of the most intresting stories.
I second that! People really need to learn how to not engage with content they dislike. They all handle their thiughts with care and nuance. They're doing greatl. Even if I see things from a different perspective, I know they come from a genuine place.
I also agree. I see why people reacted the way they did (I don’t really agree) but you’ve done those stories before without anything that could have been considered “victim blaming” and I think those stories are important to tell to keep us all on our toes. Now I have that “live streaming” trick in my bag and I’m grateful for the knowledge.
II second this! And I also appreciate the fact that y'all have great and comforting speaking voices, even if the content is an atrocity lol (in an interesting way, else I wouldn't be watching, obvi!)
On the topic of her asking her bf if he's been worried about getting kidnapped, my current BF said him and his roommates frequently left their front door open, once someone even came in and sat on their couch with them for a while and tried to sell them weed. I couldn't even imagine living like that I constantly keep my door locked even when I'm home and when I leave for the day. Same with my car. I had an ex who's family always had their front door unlocked and it creeped me out. I told my boyfriend I could never leave my door unlocked and he said it wasn't a big deal, but I really don't think he realizes how different it is for a woman living alone to leave her door unlocked versus a few guys living alone leaving their door unlocked.
That's so true, is different for us woman to live alone, I would not risk my life leaving my door open , not even for a million dollars is so scary to even think about it
Yes it's definitely different for women but I gotta be honest..everyone should lock their door. Just because you're a guy doesn't mean you're bullet proof or invincible.
I had friends in college that left their cars unlocked WITH the KEY inside in a “hidden” spot. It bewildered me. One of them even got their car stolen (duh) but didn’t even bat and eyelash because her parents could just buy her a new one. I could never in a million years man…
i don’t live alone and am a guy but my current front door has the system that as soon as it closes, it’s locked from the outside the only time it’s locked from the inside as well is when we manually use our key on it good system in general but shit when you forget your keys
Not only was my husband someone who had a party pad in his 20's, so he always left his door unlocked, he's also not super mindful. I'm pretty sure he only remembers to lock the doors because I have asked him to do it so much that he just mostly just wants to avoid hearing me ask. But whatever works. He will still usually only lock one (either the knob or the deadbolt), but it's better than nothing. I still usually have to ask him to lock the doors after we get in the car (I sit in the back with our autistic son), but he's finally started getting used locking them after he gets home from work at night. That one isn't so much about safety, though, as it is about not making a thief's job easier. It just surprises me what isn't a concern to him.
I'm glad you added the bit about victim blaming. I get what you said as far as protecting yourself, but when watching it I was still taken back a little because you really do get used to being followed by creeps and it doesn't usually last that long. You have to trust your intuition. What's fucked is that as women we're told we're dramatic and conditioned to ignore our instincts. Our instincts are our greatest safety tool.
I know this is a little late for a reply but 100% agree! I do the same thing (when I’m reading about stuff like this I am always like “how TF aren’t you seeing how sketchy this is” and am a little blamey in my head) , but in reality I am 100% just as desensitized. I work in downtown LA, can’t drive due to medical issues and deal with situations like this daily. I’ve gotten very used to yelling f*ck off etc and just going on with my business BUT I have also taken precautions (I have a a security app where I can personally be in contact with a security agent if I ever feel unsafe w/a touch of a button, someone always has my location, i carry a legal weapon, never have earphones in etc)…. and admittedly, I could do more, but I am very desensitized and yet still a lil judgy so I get both sides lol. I was thrown off too but in hindsight I don’t think she was victim blaming, just wasn’t as neutral as she is normally and since she has been assaulted in the past (I have as well) I totally get reading other peoples’ scenarios and seeing where it could go so so wrong after you’ve personally been in that worst case scenario, I do the same thing. Hopefully that makes sense lol
I get that too. I was definitely taken back by the comments they made, even as someone who is used to it but still never takes my guard down. But with the added context that she has been assaulted in that way & he is aware of that, it makes sense that no matter how "used to it" she gets, her guard will never go down again & what happened to her probably never leaves her mind, especially on a walk. Knowing that's the perspective their coming from, it makes sense why they reacted that way.
For the first story, he wasn’t actually sorry, he killed himself because he was going to get caught, not because if he was actually sorry he would’ve turned himself in to face his crimes, he robbed his victims of the ability to have the final word, to see him as low as he made them feel and he killed innocent women and girls and effected many families, and none of them actually got to tell him to his face what harm he did to them, he wasn’t sorry, he just thought that because he stopped meant that he had a second chance at life and to turn it around but the moment he had to face his past he ended it so he wouldn’t have to suffer the way he made his victims
As a police officer, he knows very well what happens to child rapists and murderers in prison. Plus he’s a police officer, the prisoners would have a field day
I strongly suspect he didn't admit to his 90s crimes to protect his family narrative. He probably got married or had kids around his claimed crime retirement and pretends he quit when he found a family/love. That makes him seem human on some level. The crimes (at least that specific approach) stopped when France started a national registry of fingerprints and DNA. Up until then the forensic evidence was region-locked. Saying that makes him sound like the scum he was so he pretended to stop due to the love of his wife/kids instead. And still it blames other women/girls for getting attacked by him because they "refused to show love." Allegedly.
Personally as a woman who got "use" to harassment I understand her, I live in the city don't drive so usually take the train to get around. Men constantly have followed me and said disgusting comments but again I've been dealing with this since I was a preteen 21 now. Once got followed by a creep at about 14, the guy kept circling the block looking for me tried to bribe me to get in. Thankfully was on a busy street,I stopped wearing shorts all together.It's shit and it makes me upset but all I can do is be ready for anytime I need to defend myself. I do believe everyone should always trust their gut and locations in case of anything. This was a great episode I do hope you bring true crime back!
@@DM-fp8rr It definitely doesn’t. I started wearing what I wanted a few years back but it felt like a defense mechanism like “they won’t bother me now they can’t see my body”. I do agree they know as we get older we become more aware and on guard unlike a young vulnerable girl. Glad to hear that you were able to catch that stalker before anything bad happened to you. I hope you have healed and never experience something like that again.
Yeah, I was gonna say in big metropolitan cities, this is very normal. Yes women get used to it but never comfortable with it. It’s just the shitty world we have to adjust to and learn to live in unfortunately.
I am so sorry to hear about your experience Morgan. This podcast is so special to me. I listen every week and absolutely love everything you do. Stay safe and sending love.
The Original Night Stalker did end up being a police officer (the first story was originally written 5 years ago, before he was actually caught and he was only caught in 2018)
Definitely like the "let's not meet" more than true crime! Please don't stop doing it! Victim blaming is saying it's the victims fault for being antagonized in the first place. Going back and looking at what they could've done better honestly helps people learn how to avoid bad situations.
The most difficult thing about the case of the beauty queen stalker is that two things can happen that in any moment she could spiral out and could harm the family or that the husband in a moment of despair, he could harm her so she will leave them for good because I can’t imagine the pressure of knowing that your family will never be safe and that in part it is because of you, it can greatly affect the mental state of the husband.
Waiting for the day when Two Hot Takes goes viral. Absolutely love the videos and how open everyone is to express their perspectives and theories of every story.
I’d love to hear a stalker episode it’d bring attention to the lack of preventative measures taken by law enforcement and lack of laws set in place when it comes to stalking
I can relate to the lady not thinking to call emergency services. I had a very close call almost a year ago where a man tried to get me in his car during my run. I had the mindset to send a description and plate numbers to my mom but never once considered calling the police until I got home and she told me I have to make a report. Turns out he had a gun in the car and had just gotten out on bail from attempted murder a few days before. The police woman who helped me told me I did everything right accept not calling the police, but I can’t explain why I didn’t think to do so. Obviously I knew there was danger. I think maybe for some people, especially women like in the last two stories, when being afraid of being attacked is constantly on your mind or you’ve experienced harassment a lot in your life, you almost downplay the situation to an extent. It’s certainly a weird feeling afterwards realizing you’ve ignored the one thing every adult told you to do growing up if a stranger tries to get you in their car.
So glad you're okay and were able to get enough info to make a report! Thanks for sharing! Justin and I had a similar conversation after all of this about the little things we live as children.. "dont talk to strangers.. call the police if someone is following you.. dont get in strangers cars" and then when it happens as adults we just dont/or forget.
There’s many cases where the police downplay scary incidences, so much so that I think people sort of lost faith over time that they would be believed and protected. Hopefully that trust can be gained back somehow
The one with the dead person in the space under the desk area: Is it possible that he tried to hide in there but the murderer found him? That way the person wouldn’t have to drag him in there.
@@beanstew3566 Yeah I understand that, I was trying to explain what I thought world wide ugly meant, there's no way the desk or rug could have been covered up if he had tried to hide in there
People make fun of me and think I’m crazy for carrying around tasers, but I’ve never related more when Morgan said “women think about getting kidnapped at least once a day” that made me cry knowing I’m not alone in feeling that.
I just want to tell you as a fellow woman, I feel the same as you. It makes me so mad that I can’t leave my car running next to the four other running cars if I’m in the gas station parking lot. It’s not fair. I have my back seats “down” so that they don’t leave room for hiding. I don’t tint my windows for fear of not noticing/seeing someone who happened to get into my car. I look to see the underside of my car when I’m about 20 feet away in case someone is waiting under it. I turn off my music and take out AirPods anytime I’m approaching my car after 10 minutes. We, women, are not safe. It’s not fair, and it’s ridiculous to feel so unsafe in 2024, but this is our reality. STAY safe. Carry your taser. You are being precautious, not silly/stupid/paranoid.
Giving people advice on how to protect themselves from harm is not victim blaming. And putting yourself in risky situations is…. Risky. So you need to know what situations are dangerous and how to limit your exposure to danger.
I think there were some parts where her wording sounded a lot like victim blaming, but the side note helped mitigate that. Most people don’t mean to victim blame, they are just concerned, but it is important to talk about.
The Irish dentist murderer, Colin Howell, is super interesting. It’s crazy that he got away with it for so long! There is a great drama based on it called The Secret. It’s a British show and great for anyone interested in the story.
I appreciate how you always address and own up to your fuck ups on here. Whether it’s ignorance, just not being correctly informed or you outright messed up and came off insensitive - you always are the bigger person and address it immediately which is why I have so much respect for you. So many other UA-camrs will find someone to blame, make up excuses and never take accountability, or they make bullshit apology videos that are beyond in-genuine. Just want you to know you’ll always have my respect , you have a good heart and always mean well💕 can’t wait for more let’s not meet stories they’ve become my favorite and you guys did such an awesome job with this true crime video ❤️
Thank you for adding the disclaimer: we can't really judge people for not acting the way "you're supposed to", you don't know it until you find yourself in that situation. And yes, there's a bit of male privilege - naturally - in Justin's lack of concern about being assaulted or kidnapped every time he's walking alone.. lucky for you! As for the tracking apps, some people have privacy concerns; unfortunately, a dear friend of mine was among them. He went for a hike by himself, fell to his death and was only found 3 weeks later. This just happened a month ago, and if only he had a location sharing app on, at least with his wife, the search would have been much faster. So be safe and prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best ❤️
@@purplepixie274who’s to say he didn’t? She said the search would have been much faster… it’s possible to let someone know you are going for a hike and still go missing… 🤦🏽♀️
As someone who has been dealing with a stalker for 3 years I relate to that story so hard. Our government does little to nothing to protect victims. I was pulled into court last week again as my stalker tried to terminate the PPO. It makes life hell, I truly wish there was a better system in place to protect victims.
Two commenters obviously didn't listen to the podcast and have never smelled a dead body. Ain't no amount of cat litter hiding that smell. And yes, OP I also don't get how that's possible. Maybe Morgan didn't remember a crucial part of the story.
He was discovered in a small space behind a bunch of coolers in a grocery store- in 2009… the store closed in 2016, and they found him in 2019… workers had complained about the smell, but nobody made the connection…
In my college sociology class we had to "witness a murder" by watching someone get stabbed in a train as it flew. We then had to recount what we just witnessed - I.e what they were wearing. None of the people in my class, including myself got all of the details correct and we just watched the video before answering. My prof wanted to show us how unreliable witnesses are.
if you guys like crime junkie i would definitely recommend “something was wrong” !! so good basically seasons of let’s not meet but with the real victims being interviewed and sharing their stories. season 1 is my favorite so far but they also did james town survivors and others. all about something being wrong with someone in their lives and we follow the journey of them finding out what’s wrong/the lies (:
I feel so torn because as a woman I never really know what to do to keep me safe. In some cases (like they talk about here), engaging with the person staring at you and "playing nice" can be better for you, but in other cases I think it can make it even worse. The fact that is kind of unpredictable makes me sick to my stomach. I know it isn't for everybody but I really appreciate this episode! I definetly agree that we should do our best to keep us safe, I feel like that's why some people even share this type of stories in that sub-reddit in the first place.
You’re second to last video reminds me of something I went through about 2 years ago. My boyfriend and I were renting a house in an area that was a pretty safe residential area. If you went down a few miles the closest main road way you would pass an interstate entrance and further down it turns into one of the most dangerous/bad areas in my city. For a while we put off buying a washer and dryer. We would go to the laundry matt that was near the interstate entrance. We would go pretty late and there was usually 2-4 other people/families when we went. One night my boyfriend had friends over and I decided to go alone to wash a couple baskets. I got there about 11pm and I couldn’t believe I was completely alone. (If I remember correctly I got there when the only other people were leaving) I start to do laundry and would hang out in the very back of the laundry matt where seating was watching UA-cam videos and would occasionally go outside and smoke. When I finally got the laundry in the dryers I went for a smoke break. I noticed a white Nissan Altima pass on the main road. Next thing I know the car is pulling into the parking lot. A guy alone slows down and rolls his window down and tries to hit on me. I say “no thank you” I put my cigarette out and walked back in assuming he would drive off. I got a bad feeling as I made it to the back of the establishment. I look at the parking lot and he has parked and walks back to where I’m at. My heart was beating so fast and I was texting my boyfriend telling him to come down there. The guy asked why I was rude, starts telling me I should let him take me on a date and pulls out a wad of money. When he pulled the money out of pocket I noticed a gun in his pants. I told him I have a boyfriend and he says “well where’s your boyfriend” and starts looking around. It got really uncomfortable and he finally ends up leaving after lots of awkward silence from me. As soon as he pulls out, I grab my purse and run out to my car and lock the door. It took 15 minutes for my boyfriend to get there. During that time I am keeping an eye out and staying on the phone with my bf until he gets there. I looked behind me and across the street and the white Altima is sitting at the closed Weigels gas station. When my bf and his friends pull in I look again and he was leaving the gas station. My bf and friends grabbed the laundry while I went home. We bought a washer and dryer that week. I’ll never forget the feelings I felt when the man was walking in and we were completely alone late at night.
There's a huge difference between victim blaming and offering advice from bad experiences given. There's a time and a place when to give advice and usually you can just feel the room. Not trying to shame anyone just need people to educate themselves on topics they aren't well versed in.
The one of the guy dying "behind" the fridge was about a guy climbing ontop of the fridges area where a few of his coworkers liked to hide and take breaks at the grocery store he worked at and he ended up falling in a really tight space between them and died cause he couldn't get out. I'm not sure but I think he also fell in upside down. Edit, timestamp 16:00
i work at a warehouse and i’m listening to you guys and i was right at justin’s story where the guy was peeping into the windows and my coworker tapped me , i swear to you guys my soul left my body i froze omg
I had some guy try to kid nap me by trying to get me to go to his car cause he said “he locked his keys in his car” I asked his where it was and he said “oh around back.” I stopped right at the door of my job and said I’m I’ll call a tow truck. He politely declined I told him I wasn’t going around back, he tried three more times to have me “go look if my hand could fit” threw the gap that he left his window cracked after I told him I would call the cops and and started dialing the numbers he was patted himself down “oh look theirs my keys” and he left a couple weeks later it came out that there was a guy the cops caught and arrested for kid napping and connected to a sex traffic ring down in Mexico. I’m so glad I went with my gut and stopped at the doors of my work and didn’t go try to “help” him.
Also add to it, it was the guy that tried to get me to his car when they published his picture threw the local news my heart fell out my butt thinking to myself I could have been one of those unlucky women that were taken, now if I park in parking lots or anywhere dark I don’t like it at all or I will completely avoid it and go a different day.
Morgan, you should have listeners write their scary anecdotes and you can read and discuss them on a future podcast. I once thought I was going to get kidnapped by two Ford mechanics, it was the most frightening moment I've ever experienced.
I've been binge listening, so I'm really late on this one, but you were definitely not victim blaming, and recording creeps has worked for me every time.
I just looked up the Canadian beauty queen and she has been released from old city hall bail court. The news article I read was publish January 13,2020
Good episode. I love that you took the time to address that you were victim blaming. Easy to give our input on what we think we would do in certain situations. It's nice that you acknowledge that it really is circumstantial
I don’t want to make anxiety worse for some people, but if you get cameras for in home security, do your research. There are TOO MANY reported cases of cameras being hacked. People can remotely watch you in the privacy of your own home. In some cases, they can access the speakers as well and actually talk to you/your family. Be safe cuties❤️
Coming from a smaller town in BC CANADA, I know we often leave cars unlocked, doors unlocked, windows open, phone and valuables in the car in plain sight or just nonchalantly thrown in the trunk. These stories just reminded me that not everyone is to be trusted and even though myself or anyone else I know have ever had anything remotely serious happen we should be careful because you don’t need to wait until something happens to take precautions.
I really enjoy these episodes! The scary/let’s not meet/true crime episodes and the advice you give after gives me good ideas for personal safety. It also reminds people to always be curious and not feel too safe!
Those type of people feed from fear it’s a wearied thing. Be brave is the only thing you can do, don’t be scared. Buy anything to protect yourself and your family. Cameras, voice recordings, guns... etc but whatever you do, do not show fear.
Yessss perfect timing! I’m waiting to get my covid booster shot rn and the line is insaneeee. Thanks for giving me something to listen to while I wait!! :)
Loved this episode. The story with the beauty queen. I honestly feel that they would have to move and change their names as she doesn’t seem like she will ever stop. I would hope she goes to jail for a few years so they have a chance to move without her knowing. Being in court should have been a huge reality check for her. Like snap out of it as now it is serious in the legal sense. But if she’s still acting out I don’t think she’s going to stop any time soon.
I don't feel safe in my area. to the point where I stopped riding my bike, walking outside and even going to my favorite thai tea place. ( a guy in a large white van with blue text on it was chasing me in circles in and out the parking lot of the tea place, which is not far from my home). That's the scariest incident but not the only sketchy thing that's happened since I moved here. I already have PTSD, this has made my hypervigilance way worse, I always keep an eye out for the van now.
I think it’s also fair to mention that the wife to the man who had the beauty queen stalker was also crowned Miss India in 2010 alongside crazy beauty queen who was Miss Canada! Look up Miss India from 2010, she’s also STUNNING!
I've had it ingrained in me since I was a little girl that this world isn't safe for me and there will be people out to get me. Whenever I get in my car I immediately lock the doors, I keep a pocket knife in my car, I have a hunting knife by my side when at my apartment. I keep myself situational aware at all times.
Specifically my worst nightmare is the last story about running a bath and someone comes in !!!! GOD NO I legit think about this every time I take a shower or bath home alone.
I had a very similar experience to the van story, except it was in broad daylight in my neighborhood. I was 13 (I’m 17 now), walking my dogs like I usually did. I noticed what looked like a maintenance van kept driving past me. The window was rolled down so I could see the man. He was old, probably 60-70, and wearing a baseball cap. Every time he would drive past me, he would slow down and stare at me. The third time I saw him pull in and out of a driveway in front of me and slowly started driving towards me again. I panicked and called my mom, she didn’t answer, so I called my dad. I was hysterically crying and I guess since the guy saw that I was on the phone with someone he got scared and drove away. Probably the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me.
My niece fears being kidnapped and I feel so bad. She's 23 but literally 5'2 and looks so young🥺... I couldn't imagine living like this and wish I can ease her mind but this world is so scary😩💔.
hi, i’m 20 yrs old, 5 foot and i have a 1 yr old son. anytime I leave my house alone or with my son I am always thinking about my safety getting kidnapped. how much of an easy target I can be has deterred me from leaving the house sometimes to get groceries until my husband gets home from work later in the evening. it has become such a part of my life that i can’t even take my son to the church play ground near our home without a male or at least two more females with us. the city we live in is know for human and especially child ST. i did not worry about it as much before i had my son, partly because i wasn’t as aware but now that i’m responsible for my sons life it is all i think about most times. so no morgan you are not alone in that. love your videos thank you for posting! (sorry this isn’t written very well, i’ve never been good at writing)
Small story but when my husband and I first moved into our new home, we would go to bed with our windows unlocked. Now for context this area is one of the safest ones in my city, and we’ve never heard much about crimes in the area. About a month after we moved, our friend came over and told us that her friend lived a few blocks down from us, and her home had been broken into about a month prior. Right when we had moved in … we had been sleeping with all of our windows unlocked, anyone could’ve easily broke in… we now lock all of our windows and try to to take all the necessary precautions for our safety. This was such a reality check for us because we were so stupid thinking “it’s a safe area, nothing is going to happen to us”. Don’t be like us people.
I don’t listen/watch true crime because I really do live on edge being a women about day to day stuff but I’m glad not only did it give me insight on some reactions. The story with the life 360 saving that womens life wow what an amazing tool I will for sure be looking into!
As someone who has been SA’ed as well as followed home, telling people how to help them stay safe is not victim blaming. Bad things happen and people should know how to protect themselves if they need too.
I need a light hearted episode after this XD Ive been a victim and going through therapy and psychiatry recently, because I feel that anxiety anywhere I am and its hard to "live normally"x.x
You guys are amazing! I feel like I’m at a meet up with my friends. 💚💚💚Don’t stop reading different Reddit stories no matter commentary! Love the content and continue doing amazing work.
I’m glad you added the bit about victim blaming. I understood where you were coming from about taking it more seriously more quickly but I was taken back by your tone and wording when you said a little late lady…. I think it’s important that we all remember that we have never walked in another person‘s shoes and do not understand the dynamics of their life, reality, or places they grow up what is normal to one person is terrifying to another.
Adding that - it’s important for us all to remember that reading the stories or hearing about them after the fact while we have time to think critically is not the same as heart racing blood pumping in the thick of it reactions.
The man under the desk… My theory is that Larry would store antiques (maybe specialties, or ones waiting to be certified) in his crawl space, the man who Sandy named could have come over maybe to pick up items to bring to his store… He could have brought someone with him to help commit the murder and once Larry was down there the two of them (or more likely the friend of the named man) attacked him. That fits with two people being involved to help move the desk back, also explains why the blood and hair didn’t match the other man, as well as the time line assuming that Larry never called Sandy back because he was murdered. Love the podcast! Keep up the great work! Edit: As for motive money can make people do crazy things, we already know he was selling things after Larry was gone, if Larry did store antiques in the crawl space the man could’ve known the value of some thing and decided it was worth killing over
you may have young listeners and I think them hearing ways to protect yourself as a woman or lgbtq person that can be invaluable! not everyone gets this kind of advice - i don't think it was victim blamey but rather like 2 adults feeling super stressed given your history about street safety as a woman and it's coming from a good faith place. im glad you shared your story.
i cant ever find any good true crime podcasts. they all are like acting them out and I like when people just talk and give their opinions as well just like these guys.
i heard that staring or making conversation with someone who is staring at you who’s making you uncomfortable or who wants to do harm makes you seem confident and not weak. majority of men who want to do harm try to find woman who look insecure or scared to speak up. def something woman should practice doing to be safe!
The Larry story makes me sad for deryl because he lost his son Tom but he must have been close to Lary to let him stay in the house which he still owned and for him to be the one who found Larry’s body it must have been like he lost a son all over again
It is for Two Hot Takes, you just have to ask questions more than you give opinions if you're worried about other people's opinions. Your tone of voice while asking questions will let us know how you feel without you saying it. It's tricky. You're doing amazing, keep going!!❤ you'll find your sweet spot :) I enjoyed this.
This is why I keep my bear mase, and stun gun on me and I’m getting my concealed carry permit. I’m absolutely terrified of get kidnapped because it happened to my aunt in the 80s and she’s lucky she escaped because I guess she was in a sex trafficking ring. Stay safe loves ❤️
OMG, thank you SO MUCH for the disclaimer you made before doing the “let’s not meet” stories at the end. I needed that explanation of where y’all were about to be coming from, because even after hearing the disclaimer i felt LIVID by the two of you (but only as an instinctual reaction). I rewinded that segment as I’m typing this, thinking i was about to say something larger and relevant, but i need to pause it because i actually can’t think straight hearing this. Ugh, well…. Super appreciate y’all have someone else to (proof watch? Like proofread :p) y’all’s episodes. I still enjoy the podcast
I have been obsessed with Crime Junkie for years! And this is a really good video, you did so good and I like the way that you set it up. It’s just really good in general
Third story reminds me of when I was 15 or 16 and was at the gym with my younger sister. There was this man there who kept staring and as a silly teenager I smiled at him. This continued pretty much the whole time. I left with my sister waiting for my mum to pick me up. My sister wanted to wait inside but I wanted to wait outside for fresh hair as the pools chlorine was annoying me. I went outside only at the entrance when the man earlier approached me only with a friend who was over 6foot and super muscular and he kept insisting on driving me home and I quickly ran inside to my sister so scared 😟 obviously not as bad as the lady who nearly got abducted
I’m so so sorry to hear that u were assaulted! It’s awful having gone through something myself and it’s things that we/u have to work through everyday. Love ur show!!!
Once I was in Walmart alone and noticed two BIG men following me around. I’d leave one aisle, go to the next, and seconds later they’d be there too. They’d stare and give creepy smiles. They continued following me all throughout the store. Finally, in front of everyone, I LOUDLY yelled, “Will you stop following me?!?!” They left me alone after that…until I noticed, when passing by the doors to go check out, that they were outside their vehicle just waiting & lingering. They were on their phones occasionally looking up and looking around. Before going outside, I asked for someone to escort me out. I got in my car, locked my doors, and drove away as quick as I could. It was truly so scary but I am SO glad I put the “nice girl” narrative away and took a chance on “hurting their ego” for my safety. Always be alert, ladies. It’s a sick world we live in.
Ughhh. Terrifying but so smart to start yelling and ask someone to walk you out. So glad you made it home safe ❤️ thanks for sharing!
Ive heard several stories about Walmart creepers… this is ridiculous
I am so sorry the world that women live in, it truly is a man's world and it fucking sucks. I'll never empathize what struggle you go through, but I can sympathize with it. I hope for a day where women can feel safe walking alone at night, and I hope you never have to experience that again. I get what women feel as to why it's more comfortable to cover their drinks at clubs and what not. I'm at my own apartment currently dealing with a gnat infestation and am currently covering my wine with plastic wrap. It truly crushes my heart that women have to cover their drinks to feel safe when wanting to have a good time with their friends in public.
Something similar happened in my town (also Walmart), but they were trying to grab a shopping cart that had a toddler in it. They followed a woman through the entire store, waiting until she looked away. She turned away for just a minute looking at clothes or something and the men approached the cart. Another woman was watching them and called them out, along with calling police.
Yesss, you don't have to be polite if you're feeling uncomfortable or in danger.
So happy you're okay, you're super brave!
The Beauty Queen stalker story genuinely scared me. The way she changes the way she walks, all hunched over, just to keep pace with OP had me picturing the Other Mother from Coraline....
I also got Other Mother vibes. Like, that’s what I imagined.
The beauty Queen in this story is Elena semikina if anyone was curious
@@makennaharness5427very curious thank u sm ❤
@@makennaharness5427I was very curious thanks
Literally tho. As soon as she mentioned the black eyes and crazy smile I went straight to other mother from coralline
That first story has me thinking. Why aren't all police officers required to provide DNA when they get their job because we obviously have way too many instances of stuff like that
right? i teach and i was required to give mine
Wait…. This should be a requirement. Drug test and give your dna
@@TwoHotTakes right? Like, why aren't they in the database.
i believe, it is a requirement now and there's a database. at least in the us🤔 maybe the investigation was calling for the dna of all of the retired officers?
With this, Cara Knott, and many many more cop killer cases... yes.
I'm cracking up at Justin being so shocked and Morgan being like, yeah being a woman is terrifying
This comment right here. Fact
I appreciate/respect the fact that even after you were criticized for victim blaming you took the time to edit your response to the criticism owning the bad in your words and not taking it completely out. I have SOOOO much respect for you not just deleting it but identifying what you did wrong and letting it stay there.
I’m so sorry to hear about your SA. I personally didn’t think you were victim blaming, you were just pointing out the ways in which she could have been safer, a lot of women need to know these things. It’s unfortunate that we have to go through this and it is the attackers fault in the end, yes, but that won’t stop these things from happening unfortunately. Loved this episode!!
Thank you for your kind words and sharing. I’ll never forget the guys face it’s just so messed up.
I agree! I honestly never thought of some of the things she recommends trying for these situations. It’s a scary world and sadly this type of advice really is important
yeah especially in this case girlie had NO self preservation I would have been on the phone with my mom and describing them the first time and this girl is basically saying "oh yeah it's just attempted kidnapping this happened all the time" like?? I've lived in a bad neighborhood too but I'm MORE paranoid about this kind of stuff rather than super passive like nothing bad can happen... that's the kind of arrogance that comes with thinking you're impervious to bad things happening
Completely know what Morgan is saying. A woman’s world is different than a man’s. Constantly thinking being kidnapped when I’m out in public and trying to come up with a plan in case something does happen. Checking your backseat, under your car, being extra aware, putting your key inbetween your fingers in case you have to fight someone off. Even a suspicious looking man in the same aisle as you can make you anxious. The harsh reality of being a woman unfortunately. Of course, this can always happen to a man too, but I feel as women we’re raised to be suspicious. 😕
The last sentence is what got me.. we were raised to be aware and that this is the world we live in.. while men are raised as what? They have to learn THEMSELVES what harassing someone is. And it scares me because WOMEN raised these men
It’s unfortunate that we have to raise girls to be afraid of the world, learn to fear certain situations and develop strategies to be safe (whistle, key between fingers, self-defense classes, apps for the phone, telling friends your location, and on and on). And yes, we should be raising boys/men to respect women. As a teacher, I taught for a while in a community where traditional gender roles and macho behavior from boys and men were prevalent. I felt like I was constantly deprogramming the boys. They would put down the girls and express clearly that they felt superior to them through their language and actions. So, I created a zero tolerance policy for these behaviors and was quite blunt with their parents or guardians about how that behavior has no place at school and greater society (I avoided saying anything about their homes). It was quite sad that I had to focus specifically on this in 4th and 5th grades. I’m sure most of them went right back to their misogynist habits in middle school and beyond. I also taught overseas and saw firsthand how boys and men are praised just for breathing and get all of the advantages while girls have to maintain more traditional roles or work ten times harder to achieve their goals.
@@alybanana415 not you blaming women for men being predators.
@@izzy9646 I don’t think she’s blaming women. It’s more so a comment on how society causes these people to raise men like that
Totally. This evening i walked to the store. I don’t drive so i always walk. We are not allowed to carry papperspray or tazers here. So tonight i walked with my keys between my fingers. And i always text my mom severall times. Like now i am here, now i am here, i am at the store, i am leaving the store. So if i go quiet she can get me help and know where i was a few minutes ago. I was followed by a man on a motorsycle before. I was walking home from the store. He was driving walking speed behind me. I started looking behind me and wonder what the f he was doing. I went off on a path, he turned around and drove off. I thought, oh he was probably lost. But then he turned up on the road that went pararell to the path. We could see eachother but there was a ditch with lots of brush between us. He was driving back and forth slowly on the road. Then he placed him self where the path meets the road. I stood still on the path. No way in hell i was going to walk to where he was. I started calling my mom over and over, but she didn’t pick up. I had no faith the cops would turn up. They have not helped when i needed them before. He saw i was on the phone and he finally drove off. He probably thought i was on the phone with the cops. My mom finally called me back and stayed on the phone with me untill i was home behind a locked door. It was after that i have been more worried then i was. I always thought about things that could happen and have done what i can to stay as safe as posible. But it was after the dude on the bike that made me hold something i can defend my self with when i am out walking by my self. I wish we where allowed to carry pepperspray or something. Ofcourse we should not be allowed to spray just anyone. But it is scary to be in a dengerous situashion and not have anything to give us a bigger chanse of getting out of it unharmed.
Time stamps:
1st story) 2:01
2nd story) 17:13
Oak Essentials & Butcher Box promos) 29:33
3rd story) 33:04
Victim blaming side note) 56:35
4th story) 59:47
5th story) 1:11:17
thank uuuu
I love you
you’re a god and i love you
Thank you
Thanks this is great😁
Former 911 dispatcher (Hennepin county for reference) trust me we'd rather get "I'm not sure but can police come out" versus a missing person call.
My motto is when I doubt call. ❤️ thanks for all you do! Hennepin county definitely sees it all
The handful of times I’ve called, they’ve been soooo nice and reassured me that I was right to call.
I’ve only ever hit a deer once in my life and I realized I had no clue what to do when it happened. I called 911 and said, “I’m so sorry if this isn’t right, but I don’t know what to do. I’m not hurt, but the dead deer is still in the road and I don’t know if this counts as an accident I need to report.”
She was so nice and told me in future I could just call patrol (duh- why does panic make us dumb?) but that it was the right choice since I didn’t know.
My dad was a first responder and multiple friend's dads were cops. I was always told that in the best situation I wasted their time. My dad said he'd rather his time wasted than stand their comforting a family because a call wasn't made in time.
Really great you guys included that side note in there. Sometimes when we hear stories like this you just want the person to be safe so bad that you think about all the things that the person could have done differently because they are the only thing they can control in the situation. However, the real blame falls on horrible people doing horrible things. I thought this episode was great. Don't shy away from talking about difficult topics. Getting out of comfort zones is how we learn and grow. It's okay to fumble a little in the process.
Thank you! After doing research on the whole concept of victim blaming what we actually did is called hindsight bias. We think about all the things we/they could have/should have done as a way to rationalize the situation. It’s a way to distract our brains from the real issue/not fall down the rabbit hole/self destruct over the fact that nothing would change the situation.. people are just that horrible sometimes.
@@TwoHotTakes wow! thanks for sharing that bias! it's good to be aware of how our perceptions are affected.
please don't stop reviewing the "Lets Not Meet" subreddit. I enjoy experiencing the stories with two hot takes. :((
they are some of the most intresting stories.
I second that! People really need to learn how to not engage with content they dislike. They all handle their thiughts with care and nuance. They're doing greatl. Even if I see things from a different perspective, I know they come from a genuine place.
I also agree. I see why people reacted the way they did (I don’t really agree) but you’ve done those stories before without anything that could have been considered “victim blaming” and I think those stories are important to tell to keep us all on our toes.
Now I have that “live streaming” trick in my bag and I’m grateful for the knowledge.
I’ve been so tempted to post my story on there it’s so creepy
II second this! And I also appreciate the fact that y'all have great and comforting speaking voices, even if the content is an atrocity lol (in an interesting way, else I wouldn't be watching, obvi!)
Aaa
It’d be great to see one of these with Alejandra and Lauren- that would make it feel like a spooky sleepover lol. Can’t wait for more spooky content!
Or her new friend from her previous video about the MIL and SIL trying in the dress. It would be cool to get all the girls.
I agree!! I love Alejandra
Yes agreed!!
Whenever lauren is in a podcast im just staring at her pretty face lolol
Lauren is too sacred for one like this haha
On the topic of her asking her bf if he's been worried about getting kidnapped, my current BF said him and his roommates frequently left their front door open, once someone even came in and sat on their couch with them for a while and tried to sell them weed. I couldn't even imagine living like that I constantly keep my door locked even when I'm home and when I leave for the day. Same with my car. I had an ex who's family always had their front door unlocked and it creeped me out. I told my boyfriend I could never leave my door unlocked and he said it wasn't a big deal, but I really don't think he realizes how different it is for a woman living alone to leave her door unlocked versus a few guys living alone leaving their door unlocked.
That's so true, is different for us woman to live alone, I would not risk my life leaving my door open , not even for a million dollars is so scary to even think about it
Yes it's definitely different for women but I gotta be honest..everyone should lock their door. Just because you're a guy doesn't mean you're bullet proof or invincible.
I had friends in college that left their cars unlocked WITH the KEY inside in a “hidden” spot. It bewildered me. One of them even got their car stolen (duh) but didn’t even bat and eyelash because her parents could just buy her a new one. I could never in a million years man…
i don’t live alone and am a guy but my current front door has the system that as soon as it closes, it’s locked from the outside
the only time it’s locked from the inside as well is when we manually use our key on it
good system in general but shit when you forget your keys
Not only was my husband someone who had a party pad in his 20's, so he always left his door unlocked, he's also not super mindful. I'm pretty sure he only remembers to lock the doors because I have asked him to do it so much that he just mostly just wants to avoid hearing me ask. But whatever works. He will still usually only lock one (either the knob or the deadbolt), but it's better than nothing. I still usually have to ask him to lock the doors after we get in the car (I sit in the back with our autistic son), but he's finally started getting used locking them after he gets home from work at night. That one isn't so much about safety, though, as it is about not making a thief's job easier. It just surprises me what isn't a concern to him.
I'm glad you added the bit about victim blaming. I get what you said as far as protecting yourself, but when watching it I was still taken back a little because you really do get used to being followed by creeps and it doesn't usually last that long. You have to trust your intuition. What's fucked is that as women we're told we're dramatic and conditioned to ignore our instincts.
Our instincts are our greatest safety tool.
Never doubt your instincts. Our brains, nervous systems, and gut is wired to protect us 🙌🏼
@@TwoHotTakes agreed. I'm training myself to listen more and trust my instincts. They've literally NEVER steered me wrong. But ignoring them has
I know this is a little late for a reply but 100% agree! I do the same thing (when I’m reading about stuff like this I am always like “how TF aren’t you seeing how sketchy this is” and am a little blamey in my head) , but in reality I am 100% just as desensitized. I work in downtown LA, can’t drive due to medical issues and deal with situations like this daily. I’ve gotten very used to yelling f*ck off etc and just going on with my business BUT I have also taken precautions (I have a a security app where I can personally be in contact with a security agent if I ever feel unsafe w/a touch of a button, someone always has my location, i carry a legal weapon, never have earphones in etc)…. and admittedly, I could do more, but I am very desensitized and yet still a lil judgy so I get both sides lol. I was thrown off too but in hindsight I don’t think she was victim blaming, just wasn’t as neutral as she is normally and since she has been assaulted in the past (I have as well) I totally get reading other peoples’ scenarios and seeing where it could go so so wrong after you’ve personally been in that worst case scenario, I do the same thing. Hopefully that makes sense lol
I get that too. I was definitely taken back by the comments they made, even as someone who is used to it but still never takes my guard down.
But with the added context that she has been assaulted in that way & he is aware of that, it makes sense that no matter how "used to it" she gets, her guard will never go down again & what happened to her probably never leaves her mind, especially on a walk. Knowing that's the perspective their coming from, it makes sense why they reacted that way.
For the first story, he wasn’t actually sorry, he killed himself because he was going to get caught, not because if he was actually sorry he would’ve turned himself in to face his crimes, he robbed his victims of the ability to have the final word, to see him as low as he made them feel and he killed innocent women and girls and effected many families, and none of them actually got to tell him to his face what harm he did to them, he wasn’t sorry, he just thought that because he stopped meant that he had a second chance at life and to turn it around but the moment he had to face his past he ended it so he wouldn’t have to suffer the way he made his victims
As a police officer, he knows very well what happens to child rapists and murderers in prison. Plus he’s a police officer, the prisoners would have a field day
What a coward.
I strongly suspect he didn't admit to his 90s crimes to protect his family narrative. He probably got married or had kids around his claimed crime retirement and pretends he quit when he found a family/love. That makes him seem human on some level.
The crimes (at least that specific approach) stopped when France started a national registry of fingerprints and DNA. Up until then the forensic evidence was region-locked. Saying that makes him sound like the scum he was so he pretended to stop due to the love of his wife/kids instead. And still it blames other women/girls for getting attacked by him because they "refused to show love." Allegedly.
@@cloudysunsetsThis is a more US thing... that's not as common in Europe.
Personally as a woman who got "use" to harassment I understand her, I live in the city don't drive so usually take the train to get around. Men constantly have followed me and said disgusting comments but again I've been dealing with this since I was a preteen 21 now. Once got followed by a creep at about 14, the guy kept circling the block looking for me tried to bribe me to get in. Thankfully was on a busy street,I stopped wearing shorts all together.It's shit and it makes me upset but all I can do is be ready for anytime I need to defend myself. I do believe everyone should always trust their gut and locations in case of anything. This was a great episode I do hope you bring true crime back!
@@DM-fp8rr It definitely doesn’t. I started wearing what I wanted a few years back but it felt like a defense mechanism like “they won’t bother me now they can’t see my body”. I do agree they know as we get older we become more aware and on guard unlike a young vulnerable girl. Glad to hear that you were able to catch that stalker before anything bad happened to you. I hope you have healed and never experience something like that again.
Yeah, I was gonna say in big metropolitan cities, this is very normal. Yes women get used to it but never comfortable with it. It’s just the shitty world we have to adjust to and learn to live in unfortunately.
I am so sorry to hear about your experience Morgan. This podcast is so special to me. I listen every week and absolutely love everything you do. Stay safe and sending love.
The Original Night Stalker did end up being a police officer (the first story was originally written 5 years ago, before he was actually caught and he was only caught in 2018)
The netflix documentary on this is awesome
@@orangepeel_er I will have to watch it, I watched the Cecil hotel documentary and it was good.
The one by Michelle McNamara is outstanding! "I'll be gone in the Dark". It's a book as well as a show on HBO Max.
Definitely like the "let's not meet" more than true crime! Please don't stop doing it!
Victim blaming is saying it's the victims fault for being antagonized in the first place. Going back and looking at what they could've done better honestly helps people learn how to avoid bad situations.
Please don’t stop reading the Let’s Not Meet Again subreddit. I enjoy hearing your opinions about different situations. ❤️
The most difficult thing about the case of the beauty queen stalker is that two things can happen that in any moment she could spiral out and could harm the family or that the husband in a moment of despair, he could harm her so she will leave them for good because I can’t imagine the pressure of knowing that your family will never be safe and that in part it is because of you, it can greatly affect the mental state of the husband.
Just get a hitman at that point lol legal system won't help you 😅 (joking, do not report but fr wtf can anyone do?!?)
Waiting for the day when Two Hot Takes goes viral. Absolutely love the videos and how open everyone is to express their perspectives and theories of every story.
and now this video has over 250,000 views!!! So proud of @twohottakes🥺😍
I’d love to hear a stalker episode it’d bring attention to the lack of preventative measures taken by law enforcement and lack of laws set in place when it comes to stalking
I can relate to the lady not thinking to call emergency services. I had a very close call almost a year ago where a man tried to get me in his car during my run. I had the mindset to send a description and plate numbers to my mom but never once considered calling the police until I got home and she told me I have to make a report. Turns out he had a gun in the car and had just gotten out on bail from attempted murder a few days before. The police woman who helped me told me I did everything right accept not calling the police, but I can’t explain why I didn’t think to do so. Obviously I knew there was danger. I think maybe for some people, especially women like in the last two stories, when being afraid of being attacked is constantly on your mind or you’ve experienced harassment a lot in your life, you almost downplay the situation to an extent. It’s certainly a weird feeling afterwards realizing you’ve ignored the one thing every adult told you to do growing up if a stranger tries to get you in their car.
So glad you're okay and were able to get enough info to make a report! Thanks for sharing! Justin and I had a similar conversation after all of this about the little things we live as children.. "dont talk to strangers.. call the police if someone is following you.. dont get in strangers cars" and then when it happens as adults we just dont/or forget.
Plus calling the police is just not a good option for a lot of people, for various reasons.
@@gray_7 ntm you all are leaving out that 90% of the time the police don't give a fuck and won't do anything.
There’s many cases where the police downplay scary incidences, so much so that I think people sort of lost faith over time that they would be believed and protected. Hopefully that trust can be gained back somehow
I couldn't help but laugh at the "this story is brought by butchers box" right after talking about murder
The one with the dead person in the space under the desk area: Is it possible that he tried to hide in there but the murderer found him? That way the person wouldn’t have to drag him in there.
Yeah, but who placed desk on top of it back?
@@worldwideugly3753 the killer duh
@@glaciumm I think they meant, if he would have gone in there to hide, who would have put the rug and desk back over the space so the door was hidden
@@AylaFreakinSummer I would assume it was not placed back on it, hence how the killer found him (if this theory was true).
@@beanstew3566 Yeah I understand that, I was trying to explain what I thought world wide ugly meant, there's no way the desk or rug could have been covered up if he had tried to hide in there
People make fun of me and think I’m crazy for carrying around tasers, but I’ve never related more when Morgan said “women think about getting kidnapped at least once a day” that made me cry knowing I’m not alone in feeling that.
I just want to tell you as a fellow woman, I feel the same as you. It makes me so mad that I can’t leave my car running next to the four other running cars if I’m in the gas station parking lot. It’s not fair. I have my back seats “down” so that they don’t leave room for hiding. I don’t tint my windows for fear of not noticing/seeing someone who happened to get into my car. I look to see the underside of my car when I’m about 20 feet away in case someone is waiting under it. I turn off my music and take out AirPods anytime I’m approaching my car after 10 minutes.
We, women, are not safe. It’s not fair, and it’s ridiculous to feel so unsafe in 2024, but this is our reality.
STAY safe. Carry your taser. You are being precautious, not silly/stupid/paranoid.
Giving people advice on how to protect themselves from harm is not victim blaming. And putting yourself in risky situations is…. Risky. So you need to know what situations are dangerous and how to limit your exposure to danger.
I was thinking the same thing. She was being honest, not victim blaming.
I think there were some parts where her wording sounded a lot like victim blaming, but the side note helped mitigate that. Most people don’t mean to victim blame, they are just concerned, but it is important to talk about.
The Irish dentist murderer, Colin Howell, is super interesting. It’s crazy that he got away with it for so long! There is a great drama based on it called The Secret. It’s a British show and great for anyone interested in the story.
True crime on THT? Mixing my podcast preferences here 😁
Pressure was real on this one 🙈 Deff not my strong suit
@@TwoHotTakes I loved it!
@@TwoHotTakes Please do more true crime I love you and Justin’s hot takes on them!!!
I appreciate how you always address and own up to your fuck ups on here. Whether it’s ignorance, just not being correctly informed or you outright messed up and came off insensitive - you always are the bigger person and address it immediately which is why I have so much respect for you. So many other UA-camrs will find someone to blame, make up excuses and never take accountability, or they make bullshit apology videos that are beyond in-genuine. Just want you to know you’ll always have my respect , you have a good heart and always mean well💕 can’t wait for more let’s not meet stories they’ve become my favorite and you guys did such an awesome job with this true crime video ❤️
Thank you so much for your kind words 🤍 always learning and just trying to do my best
Thank you for adding the disclaimer: we can't really judge people for not acting the way "you're supposed to", you don't know it until you find yourself in that situation. And yes, there's a bit of male privilege - naturally - in Justin's lack of concern about being assaulted or kidnapped every time he's walking alone.. lucky for you!
As for the tracking apps, some people have privacy concerns; unfortunately, a dear friend of mine was among them. He went for a hike by himself, fell to his death and was only found 3 weeks later. This just happened a month ago, and if only he had a location sharing app on, at least with his wife, the search would have been much faster. So be safe and prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best ❤️
He could have told his wife where he was going for a hike also, just sensible.
@@purplepixie274who’s to say he didn’t? She said the search would have been much faster… it’s possible to let someone know you are going for a hike and still go missing… 🤦🏽♀️
As someone who has been dealing with a stalker for 3 years I relate to that story so hard. Our government does little to nothing to protect victims. I was pulled into court last week again as my stalker tried to terminate the PPO. It makes life hell, I truly wish there was a better system in place to protect victims.
I'm so sorry to hear that... Stay safe!
The guy was missing for 10 years, and was found dead behind a fridge.... HOW DID THEY NOT SMELL HIM??!!
Depends, water can smell super duper gross. Dead fish and all I think. Haven’t gotten yet but still
Kitty litter also can hide the smell of a dead body. Especially if the body is enclosed.
Two commenters obviously didn't listen to the podcast and have never smelled a dead body.
Ain't no amount of cat litter hiding that smell.
And yes, OP I also don't get how that's possible.
Maybe Morgan didn't remember a crucial part of the story.
@@vanessaultimo1926
Yeah but I- I don’t think many people have smelled a dead body
He was discovered in a small space behind a bunch of coolers in a grocery store- in 2009… the store closed in 2016, and they found him in 2019… workers had complained about the smell, but nobody made the connection…
In my college sociology class we had to "witness a murder" by watching someone get stabbed in a train as it flew. We then had to recount what we just witnessed - I.e what they were wearing.
None of the people in my class, including myself got all of the details correct and we just watched the video before answering.
My prof wanted to show us how unreliable witnesses are.
if you guys like crime junkie i would definitely recommend “something was wrong” !! so good basically seasons of let’s not meet but with the real victims being interviewed and sharing their stories. season 1 is my favorite so far but they also did james town survivors and others. all about something being wrong with someone in their lives and we follow the journey of them finding out what’s wrong/the lies (:
I feel so torn because as a woman I never really know what to do to keep me safe. In some cases (like they talk about here), engaging with the person staring at you and "playing nice" can be better for you, but in other cases I think it can make it even worse. The fact that is kind of unpredictable makes me sick to my stomach. I know it isn't for everybody but I really appreciate this episode! I definetly agree that we should do our best to keep us safe, I feel like that's why some people even share this type of stories in that sub-reddit in the first place.
You’re second to last video reminds me of something I went through about 2 years ago.
My boyfriend and I were renting a house in an area that was a pretty safe residential area. If you went down a few miles the closest main road way you would pass an interstate entrance and further down it turns into one of the most dangerous/bad areas in my city. For a while we put off buying a washer and dryer. We would go to the laundry matt that was near the interstate entrance. We would go pretty late and there was usually 2-4 other people/families when we went. One night my boyfriend had friends over and I decided to go alone to wash a couple baskets. I got there about 11pm and I couldn’t believe I was completely alone. (If I remember correctly I got there when the only other people were leaving) I start to do laundry and would hang out in the very back of the laundry matt where seating was watching UA-cam videos and would occasionally go outside and smoke. When I finally got the laundry in the dryers I went for a smoke break. I noticed a white Nissan Altima pass on the main road. Next thing I know the car is pulling into the parking lot. A guy alone slows down and rolls his window down and tries to hit on me. I say “no thank you” I put my cigarette out and walked back in assuming he would drive off. I got a bad feeling as I made it to the back of the establishment. I look at the parking lot and he has parked and walks back to where I’m at. My heart was beating so fast and I was texting my boyfriend telling him to come down there. The guy asked why I was rude, starts telling me I should let him take me on a date and pulls out a wad of money. When he pulled the money out of pocket I noticed a gun in his pants. I told him I have a boyfriend and he says “well where’s your boyfriend” and starts looking around. It got really uncomfortable and he finally ends up leaving after lots of awkward silence from me. As soon as he pulls out, I grab my purse and run out to my car and lock the door. It took 15 minutes for my boyfriend to get there. During that time I am keeping an eye out and staying on the phone with my bf until he gets there. I looked behind me and across the street and the white Altima is sitting at the closed Weigels gas station. When my bf and his friends pull in I look again and he was leaving the gas station. My bf and friends grabbed the laundry while I went home. We bought a washer and dryer that week. I’ll never forget the feelings I felt when the man was walking in and we were completely alone late at night.
Wow. So so glad you were okay. Thank you for sharing 🤍
There's a huge difference between victim blaming and offering advice from bad experiences given. There's a time and a place when to give advice and usually you can just feel the room. Not trying to shame anyone just need people to educate themselves on topics they aren't well versed in.
The one of the guy dying "behind" the fridge was about a guy climbing ontop of the fridges area where a few of his coworkers liked to hide and take breaks at the grocery store he worked at and he ended up falling in a really tight space between them and died cause he couldn't get out. I'm not sure but I think he also fell in upside down. Edit, timestamp 16:00
i work at a warehouse and i’m listening to you guys and i was right at justin’s story where the guy was peeping into the windows and my coworker tapped me , i swear to you guys my soul left my body i froze omg
Thank goodness! I really needed to deep clean my house. I was waiting for this to come out so I could listen to yall while I clean. 🥰🥰
haha this is also what i do
I had some guy try to kid nap me by trying to get me to go to his car cause he said “he locked his keys in his car” I asked his where it was and he said “oh around back.” I stopped right at the door of my job and said I’m I’ll call a tow truck. He politely declined I told him I wasn’t going around back, he tried three more times to have me “go look if my hand could fit” threw the gap that he left his window cracked after I told him I would call the cops and and started dialing the numbers he was patted himself down “oh look theirs my keys” and he left a couple weeks later it came out that there was a guy the cops caught and arrested for kid napping and connected to a sex traffic ring down in Mexico. I’m so glad I went with my gut and stopped at the doors of my work and didn’t go try to “help” him.
Also add to it, it was the guy that tried to get me to his car when they published his picture threw the local news my heart fell out my butt thinking to myself I could have been one of those unlucky women that were taken, now if I park in parking lots or anywhere dark I don’t like it at all or I will completely avoid it and go a different day.
Holy. Shit. Thank god you trusted yourself.
@@TwoHotTakes yes, my gut has never let me down and I’m thankful that I was thought to listen to it.
Morgan, you should have listeners write their scary anecdotes and you can read and discuss them on a future podcast.
I once thought I was going to get kidnapped by two Ford mechanics, it was the most frightening moment I've ever experienced.
I literally wait for these full episodes to come out
I've been binge listening, so I'm really late on this one, but you were definitely not victim blaming, and recording creeps has worked for me every time.
I just looked up the Canadian beauty queen and she has been released from old city hall bail court. The news article I read was publish January 13,2020
I looked it up too!
Good episode. I love that you took the time to address that you were victim blaming. Easy to give our input on what we think we would do in certain situations. It's nice that you acknowledge that it really is circumstantial
I’ve been waiting for this, true crime stories are horrifying yet so interesting!
I don’t want to make anxiety worse for some people, but if you get cameras for in home security, do your research. There are TOO MANY reported cases of cameras being hacked. People can remotely watch you in the privacy of your own home. In some cases, they can access the speakers as well and actually talk to you/your family. Be safe cuties❤️
Coming from a smaller town in BC CANADA, I know we often leave cars unlocked, doors unlocked, windows open, phone and valuables in the car in plain sight or just nonchalantly thrown in the trunk. These stories just reminded me that not everyone is to be trusted and even though myself or anyone else I know have ever had anything remotely serious happen we should be careful because you don’t need to wait until something happens to take precautions.
i love playing your podcasts in the background while I do work and I have an essay to write so thank you for this
The first story, the killer has been caught. He even appeared in a French television in a game.
He has been caught this year.
I really enjoy these episodes! The scary/let’s not meet/true crime episodes and the advice you give after gives me good ideas for personal safety. It also reminds people to always be curious and not feel too safe!
Those type of people feed from fear it’s a wearied thing. Be brave is the only thing you can do, don’t be scared. Buy anything to protect yourself and your family. Cameras, voice recordings, guns... etc but whatever you do, do not show fear.
Yessss perfect timing! I’m waiting to get my covid booster shot rn and the line is insaneeee. Thanks for giving me something to listen to while I wait!! :)
Loved this episode. The story with the beauty queen. I honestly feel that they would have to move and change their names as she doesn’t seem like she will ever stop. I would hope she goes to jail for a few years so they have a chance to move without her knowing. Being in court should have been a huge reality check for her. Like snap out of it as now it is serious in the legal sense. But if she’s still acting out I don’t think she’s going to stop any time soon.
She'll be able to find him because he's a doctor now.
I wonder who this is
What is the name of the beauty queen? I'm just curious to know as a person who follows pageants
@@lalalalalaladeguzman3366Elena semikina
I LOVE THAT PAINTING IN THE BACKROUND
I don't feel safe in my area. to the point where I stopped riding my bike, walking outside and even going to my favorite thai tea place. ( a guy in a large white van with blue text on it was chasing me in circles in and out the parking lot of the tea place, which is not far from my home). That's the scariest incident but not the only sketchy thing that's happened since I moved here. I already have PTSD, this has made my hypervigilance way worse, I always keep an eye out for the van now.
I think it’s also fair to mention that the wife to the man who had the beauty queen stalker was also crowned Miss India in 2010 alongside crazy beauty queen who was Miss Canada! Look up Miss India from 2010, she’s also STUNNING!
I don’t know where that came from- drew Taylor’s wife Jennifer was not crowned miss India from what I can see??
I've had it ingrained in me since I was a little girl that this world isn't safe for me and there will be people out to get me. Whenever I get in my car I immediately lock the doors, I keep a pocket knife in my car, I have a hunting knife by my side when at my apartment. I keep myself situational aware at all times.
Specifically my worst nightmare is the last story about running a bath and someone comes in !!!! GOD NO I legit think about this every time I take a shower or bath home alone.
I literally refuse to bathe if my boyfriend isn't home specifically because of this fear
THE LITTLE PUMPKIN IN THE INTRO I LOOOOOOVE OMG
I had a very similar experience to the van story, except it was in broad daylight in my neighborhood. I was 13 (I’m 17 now), walking my dogs like I usually did. I noticed what looked like a maintenance van kept driving past me. The window was rolled down so I could see the man. He was old, probably 60-70, and wearing a baseball cap. Every time he would drive past me, he would slow down and stare at me. The third time I saw him pull in and out of a driveway in front of me and slowly started driving towards me again. I panicked and called my mom, she didn’t answer, so I called my dad. I was hysterically crying and I guess since the guy saw that I was on the phone with someone he got scared and drove away. Probably the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me.
Glad you're okay !
My niece fears being kidnapped and I feel so bad. She's 23 but literally 5'2 and looks so young🥺... I couldn't imagine living like this and wish I can ease her mind but this world is so scary😩💔.
That last story tho.. Literally sounded like she walked into a Scream movie. Was half expecting the guy to burst through the glass she saw him through
hi, i’m 20 yrs old, 5 foot and i have a 1 yr old son. anytime I leave my house alone or with my son I am always thinking about my safety getting kidnapped. how much of an easy target I can be has deterred me from leaving the house sometimes to get groceries until my husband gets home from work later in the evening.
it has become such a part of my life that i can’t even take my son to the church play ground near our home without a male or at least two more females with us. the city we live in is know for human and especially child ST.
i did not worry about it as much before i had my son, partly because i wasn’t as aware but now that i’m responsible for my sons life it is all i think about most times.
so no morgan you are not alone in that. love your videos thank you for posting!
(sorry this isn’t written very well, i’ve never been good at writing)
Thank you for sharing 🤍 your little nugget is lucky to have you.
I love hearing the crime stories, please do not stop! We need to hear other perspectives whether there is agreement or not.
Halfway through the beauty queen stalker story my phone randomly pinged almost had a heart attack
Small story but when my husband and I first moved into our new home, we would go to bed with our windows unlocked. Now for context this area is one of the safest ones in my city, and we’ve never heard much about crimes in the area. About a month after we moved, our friend came over and told us that her friend lived a few blocks down from us, and her home had been broken into about a month prior. Right when we had moved in … we had been sleeping with all of our windows unlocked, anyone could’ve easily broke in… we now lock all of our windows and try to to take all the necessary precautions for our safety. This was such a reality check for us because we were so stupid thinking “it’s a safe area, nothing is going to happen to us”. Don’t be like us people.
and most of kidnapping/unliving stories is from people going outside so that’s why i don’t go outside and many other reasons
I don’t listen/watch true crime because I really do live on edge being a women about day to day stuff but I’m glad not only did it give me insight on some reactions. The story with the life 360 saving that womens life wow what an amazing tool I will for sure be looking into!
As someone who has been SA’ed as well as followed home, telling people how to help them stay safe is not victim blaming. Bad things happen and people should know how to protect themselves if they need too.
I need a light hearted episode after this XD Ive been a victim and going through therapy and psychiatry recently, because I feel that anxiety anywhere I am and its hard to "live normally"x.x
I can't even explain how excited I am to watch this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Morgan!!!
After that break in story I’m locking my window even tighter tonight
You guys are amazing! I feel like I’m at a meet up with my friends. 💚💚💚Don’t stop reading different Reddit stories no matter commentary! Love the content and continue doing amazing work.
Loving the little pumpkin in the neon lights intro🎃
OMG YES I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A NEW PODCAST + TRUE CRIME
I’m glad you added the bit about victim blaming. I understood where you were coming from about taking it more seriously more quickly but I was taken back by your tone and wording when you said a little late lady…. I think it’s important that we all remember that we have never walked in another person‘s shoes and do not understand the dynamics of their life, reality, or places they grow up what is normal to one person is terrifying to another.
Adding that - it’s important for us all to remember that reading the stories or hearing about them after the fact while we have time to think critically is not the same as heart racing blood pumping in the thick of it reactions.
WHERE ARE THE DOGS?! Lol
The man under the desk… My theory is that Larry would store antiques (maybe specialties, or ones waiting to be certified) in his crawl space, the man who Sandy named could have come over maybe to pick up items to bring to his store… He could have brought someone with him to help commit the murder and once Larry was down there the two of them (or more likely the friend of the named man) attacked him. That fits with two people being involved to help move the desk back, also explains why the blood and hair didn’t match the other man, as well as the time line assuming that Larry never called Sandy back because he was murdered.
Love the podcast! Keep up the great work!
Edit: As for motive money can make people do crazy things, we already know he was selling things after Larry was gone, if Larry did store antiques in the crawl space the man could’ve known the value of some thing and decided it was worth killing over
you may have young listeners and I think them hearing ways to protect yourself as a woman or lgbtq person that can be invaluable! not everyone gets this kind of advice - i don't think it was victim blamey but rather like 2 adults feeling super stressed given your history about street safety as a woman and it's coming from a good faith place. im glad you shared your story.
i cant ever find any good true crime podcasts. they all are like acting them out and I like when people just talk and give their opinions as well just like these guys.
Bailey Sarian is my favorite. Her dark history podcast is great and so is her Monday stories
Hi! Stephanie Harlowe and her podcast Crime Weekly are perfect for this. She doesn’t act anything out.
Generation why and true crime all the time are very good
i heard that staring or making conversation with someone who is staring at you who’s making you uncomfortable or who wants to do harm makes you seem confident and not weak. majority of men who want to do harm try to find woman who look insecure or scared to speak up. def something woman should practice doing to be safe!
killin these podcasts, as always! Thanks for the frequent uploading 🥺🥰
The Larry story makes me sad for deryl because he lost his son Tom but he must have been close to Lary to let him stay in the house which he still owned and for him to be the one who found Larry’s body it must have been like he lost a son all over again
"I thought it was our girl Wanda" OMG Justin cracked me up 😂😂😂
It is for Two Hot Takes, you just have to ask questions more than you give opinions if you're worried about other people's opinions. Your tone of voice while asking questions will let us know how you feel without you saying it. It's tricky. You're doing amazing, keep going!!❤ you'll find your sweet spot :) I enjoyed this.
This is why I keep my bear mase, and stun gun on me and I’m getting my concealed carry permit. I’m absolutely terrified of get kidnapped because it happened to my aunt in the 80s and she’s lucky she escaped because I guess she was in a sex trafficking ring. Stay safe loves ❤️
Wow thank god she got away. Thank you for sharing ❤️
OMG, thank you SO MUCH for the disclaimer you made before doing the “let’s not meet” stories at the end. I needed that explanation of where y’all were about to be coming from, because even after hearing the disclaimer i felt LIVID by the two of you (but only as an instinctual reaction). I rewinded that segment as I’m typing this, thinking i was about to say something larger and relevant, but i need to pause it because i actually can’t think straight hearing this. Ugh, well…. Super appreciate y’all have someone else to (proof watch? Like proofread :p) y’all’s episodes. I still enjoy the podcast
NOOOOOO I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE BEAUTY QUEEN STALKER SO I GOOGLED AND TURNS OUT SHE’S FROM MY CITY SKDJSKJDKAA IM MOVING
Already listened to it on spotify but I had to see you both and like the video hahaha amazing as always ♡♡♡
I love these so much. PLEASSSEEE can you guys do more scary stories, paranormal or true crime? I love those sm
Just found your channel I dig it. Please keep sharing warnings to women because they don’t listen most times
I have been obsessed with Crime Junkie for years! And this is a really good video, you did so good and I like the way that you set it up. It’s just really good in general
Yesss I am excited for true crime! Morgan has that perfect story telling voice too
Third story reminds me of when I was 15 or 16 and was at the gym with my younger sister. There was this man there who kept staring and as a silly teenager I smiled at him. This continued pretty much the whole time. I left with my sister waiting for my mum to pick me up. My sister wanted to wait inside but I wanted to wait outside for fresh hair as the pools chlorine was annoying me. I went outside only at the entrance when the man earlier approached me only with a friend who was over 6foot and super muscular and he kept insisting on driving me home and I quickly ran inside to my sister so scared 😟 obviously not as bad as the lady who nearly got abducted
As a True Crime Junkie I really enjoyed this episode!
I’m so so sorry to hear that u were assaulted! It’s awful having gone through something myself and it’s things that we/u have to work through everyday. Love ur show!!!