Mugshot Mysteries
A true crime history podcast that starts with a mugshot and unravels the unexpected story behind it. Hosted by Kathryn and Gabriel, Mugshot Mysteries dives into forgotten crimes, strange criminals, and the twisted psychology that turned faces into headlines.
Mugshot Mysteries
Episode 01 — Bertha Liebbeke: The Nebraska Siren
The Nebraska Siren – Bertha Liebbeke
She looked like the girl next door. Polite, well-dressed, maybe a little flustered. But behind the lace gloves? A master manipulator who pulled off some of the slickest thefts in Gilded Age America...without ever brandishing a weapon.
In our first episode, we dig into the story of Bertha Liebbeke... con artist, charmer, and one of the most fascinating women ever to grace a mugshot. We break down her origin story, her best-known scams, and the psychology that made her so effective. Plus, Gabriel joins Kathryn for an interview-style dive into the criminal mind.
🕵️♀️ Show Notes & Sources:
- "The Nebraska Siren," Omaha Bee, 1891–1894
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn99021999/ - "A Beauty with a Taste for Deception," The Inter Ocean (Chicago), 1893
Available via Newspapers.com archives - Captured & Exposed – Fainting Bertha
https://capturedandexposed.com/2017/02/20/fainting-bertha/ - Old Spirituals – The Nebraska Siren
https://oldspirituals.com/2016/06/01/bertha-liebbeke/ - Nebraska State Historical Society
https://history.nebraska.gov - Inflation Calculator (for crime value comparison)
https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm - Mugshot Mysteries - Youtube Episode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_rTN61F_IQ&t=4s
🖼️ Bertha Liebbeke’s Mugshot
https://capturedandexposed.com/2021/03/19/fainting-bertha/
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