Episode notes
The aftermath of Bree’s murder reveals more than just the tragedy of her death; it speaks volumes about the life she led. And may also reveal something about the circumstances surrounding her murder. Thank you to Bree's musical collaborators, Willem Weiss and Don Vaillancourt, for allowing me to use songs they created with Bree in the series. 'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account . Bree's vocals on 'Wash Me Away' appear in this episode. You can hear the full song on Don's Soundcloud account 'Fields of…
Podcast
Island Crime
Laura Palmer · True Crime · English
Each season of Island Crime delves into an unsolved murder or missing person case on Vancouver Island. Host/Producer Laura Palmer updates the cases when she finds new evidence or fresh perspectives. Original journalism, leaving no stone unturned. Season 9: 'The Dead File' The unsolved double stabb
More from Island Crime All episodes →
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S9 · E3 · 12 Jun 2026 · 37 min
S9 E3 What Wasn't in the Newspapers
In 1959, South Wellington residents Andrew “Curly” Kosteniuk and his wife Lizzie are found stabbed to death, and the killer is never caught. Host Laura Palmer reexamines the case through archives and family memories. New details from Margaret Kostyniuk’s psychiatric records suggest escalating family conflict and a key suspect connected to secrets that never made the papers. This series includes original news reports from the time, presented as radio news stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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S9 · E2 · 5 Jun 2026 · 42 min
S9 E2 What the Bodies Revealed
In June 1959, newspapers pile up outside the Kostyniuk home in South Wellington until neighbours find the house ransacked, the phone line cut, and the bodies of Andrew “Curly” and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Kostyniuk in the bedroom. Police back then suspect robbery, but the coroner’s inquest and autopsies suggest a more complex story. I've posted the full Coroners Inquest report, including autopsies, on the Island Crime Facebook page. And if you'd like to learn more about Dr. Crossland's life's work, check out his book: http://www.deathcalls.ca/ This series includes original news reports from the…
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S9 · E1 · 29 May 2026 · 39 min
S9 E1 They Should Have Felt Safe
In the summer of 1959, Andrew and Elizabeth Kostyniuk, known to everyone in South Wellington, BC, as Curly and Lizzie, were stabbed to death in their own home. The case was never solved, and for 67 years, their names faded into silence. Now, their great-great-granddaughter, Shauna, has asked host Laura Palmer to take on her coldest case yet. In this first episode, Laura travels to South Wellington to learn about the world Curly and Lizzie lived in, a quiet, close-knit Vancouver Island community where doors were left unlocked, and everyone knew everyone's business. On the night of June 26th,…
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S9 · 15 May 2026 · 3 min
S9 Trailer: The Dead File
Island Crime Season 9: The Dead File — In 1959, Curly and Lizzie Kostyniuk were stabbed to death in their rural home near Nanaimo, BC — a double murder that was never solved and virtually forgotten for over six decades. Now, host Laura Palmer is reopening the case, chasing paper trails and reexamining evidence with the help of the victims' descendants, who have long suspected the truth is darker than the official robbery theory. This is her oldest cold case yet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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S7 · E7 · 9 Jan 2026 · 38 min
S7 E7 A Bug in Pitch
Jeff Ingram discusses his experiences with dissociative amnesia, where memory loss leads him to wander, unable to recall past events. Dr. David Spiegel provides insights into the disorder's link to trauma. Gloria, whose husband Ian Indridson is missing, wonders if Ian may have experienced this kind of episode on the morning he disappeared. She shares her ongoing hope and emotional struggle as the episode marks 4 years since Ian vanished in January 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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S8 · E6 · 5 Dec 2025 · 48 min
S8 E6 Hot Shot
On her final night alive, Bree was with her friend Sara. In this episode, you’ll hear Sara’s account of what happened the night of the murder and why I now believe I know how Bree died. Plus, an expert reveals her chilling take on what she calls “the perfect weapon.” 'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account . Bree's closest friends shared messages and texts she sent them in the years leading up to her death. The messages help inform Bree's victimology and also allow Bree herself to play a more direct role in…
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S8 · E5 · 28 Nov 2025 · 32 min
S8 E5 Soul Mate?
This episode contains mature themes and content related to domestic abuse, which some listeners may find disturbing or triggering. Please take care while listening. Three weeks after Bree’s murder, police descended on the home she once shared with her boyfriend, Darren. TV news cameras rolled as Darren appeared outside in handcuffs, his knees pressed to the pavement. To friends, Bree had once described Darren as her soul mate. Their relationship had stretched over years; tumultuous, breaking apart, then coming back together again. Several friends and relatives told me Bree had confided in…
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S8 · E4 · 21 Nov 2025 · 35 min
S8 E4 Chicas
Bree's friendships were deep and profound. She sometimes called her girlfriends her 'Chicas'. In this episode, some of Bree's closest 'gal pals' reflect on the good times, even as they wrestle with the side of Bree she kept hidden from them and why. Thank you to Bree's musical collaborators, Willem Weiss and Don Vaillancourt, for allowing me to use songs they created with Bree in the series. 'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account . If you have information, please get in touch with the Vancouver Island…
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S8 · E3 · 14 Nov 2025 · 30 min
S8 E3 An Open Heart
“After the pain of this disappointment, her heart once more stood empty, and the succession of identical days began again.” ― Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary How does a restless, hard-partying city girl end up on Vancouver Island? And how does her fiery temperament shape her most profound relationships? Through the eyes of Bree’s former partner, we see a woman yearning for something deeper, an ache for connection that may ultimately hint at her tragic fate. 'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account . Bree's…
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S8 · E2 · 7 Nov 2025 · 35 min
S8 E2 Rumbero
Bree Gamble was known for her passion, fearlessness, and vibrant energy—a woman who seemed to live life in full colour until her tragic murder in 2021. The daughter of acclaimed Colombian filmmaker Jorge Lozano, Bree carried her Latin roots and artistic identity through everything she did. Central to her story is the rumbero spirit —a distinctly Colombian way of embracing joy and music even amid hardship. In this episode, I explore how that spirit shaped Bree — and how her early experiences and her culture influenced the choices she made in the time leading up to her murder. Thank you to…
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