"See, they wanted me to break down. They wanted me to grieve, not for the sake of my children, but for them the police. I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction. They were my kids. Nobody was out to see who killed my kids. They were just interested in making me break." — Alice Krimmens
"To this day, I know it's weak. I don't know if she did it. It still seems unlikely. I can't believe it." — Prosecutor
"The prosecution compared Alice to a rotten egg. And he does this whole analogy, basically saying that the egg is one of the most pristine, beautiful shapes in nature. And when you look at it from the outside, you just expect the inside to be beautiful as well. And what you can't see until you crack it open is that sometimes you get a putrid rotten one. And he said that was Alice." — Narrator
This episode of Crime Junkie recounts the complex and controversial case of Alice Krimmens, accused of the 1965 murders of her two young children, Eddie Jr. and Missy. The narrative highlights how the investigation was immediately marred by the lead detective's personal animosity towards Alice, a woman who defied societal expectations of the era. Initial findings at the crime scene, such as the hook-and-eye latch on the children's door and undisturbed dust on a bureau, were interpreted by the detective as evidence of Alice's guilt, despite alternative explanations. The podcast details the questionable handling of the crime scene and the autopsies, including a shifting timeline for the children's deaths, which ultimately supported the prosecution's case.
The prosecution built its case primarily on the testimony of a witness, Sophie, whose account evolved over time and was corroborated by a revised medical examiner's report. The episode scrutinizes the trial process, particularly the jury composition and the prosecution's strategy, which heavily focused on Alice's personal life and sexual relationships. Despite the defense's attempts to present alternative theories and highlight inconsistencies, Alice was convicted of manslaughter in the first trial and later, murder in the first degree for both children in a second trial. The podcast notes that even the prosecutor later admitted to the weakness of his case.
The episode concludes by exploring other potential suspects, including Alice's ex-husband Eddie and a troubled teenage boy, whose cases were largely overlooked by investigators. It also touches upon the lasting impact of the case, the societal shifts that influenced perceptions, and the lingering questions about Alice Krimmens's true involvement, or lack thereof. Alice was eventually paroled in 1977, having served time for Missy's manslaughter.