Episode notes
After more than 67 years, a fresh tip comes in, which leaves Laura wondering whether police had another suspect on their radar back then. Also, throughout the series, Laura & Shauna have been pushing for the release of 'The Dead File.' In this episode, the case for and against opening up cold cases to the public. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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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S2 · E9 · 2 Oct 2026 · 39 min
S2 E9 An Empty Cage
Ten years after Everet Jones disappeared, his mother, Myra reflects on the son she has spent a decade searching for. And now, a new tip raises fresh questions about what happened to Everet after he walked away that chilly February morning. Note: The voices of the confidential sources have been altered to protect their identities. If you have information about Everet’s case, contact the North Cowichan Duncan RCMP 250-748-5522. If you can’t contact them, talk to me. [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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4 Sep 2026 · 18 min
Update Summer of 2026
In this update, Laura takes a road trip around Vancouver Island from Bamfield and Pacheena Bay to Alert Bay, Port Hardy and beyond. Along the way, she reflects on the places, people and stories that make the Island Crime journey so meaningful. She also shares behind-the-scenes updates on cases she's been working on this summer, including Lisa Marie Young, Michael Dunahee, and a few new leads that could lead somewhere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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S9 · E9 · 7 Aug 2026 · 1 hr
S9 E9 The Investigation Continues
A newly released prison file offers the clearest picture yet of Joseph Phillips—and confirms he was intensively questioned by the RCMP about the murders of his in-laws. Meanwhile, Laura and Shauna receive significant news in their battle to uncover the long-hidden police file, raising new questions about what remains secret nearly 70 years later. Note: Joseph's prison file was too long and too dense to include in its entirety in the episode. I have posted it on the Island Crime Facebook page if you want to see it in full. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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S9 · E7 · 3 Jul 2026 · 36 min
S9 E7 The Murder House
In this episode, Shauna steps inside the infamous murder house in South Wellington, where the unsolved 1959 murders of her great-great-grandparents Curly and Lizzie Kostyniuk, took place. The new owners learn about the house’s dark history and its connection to Shauna's family tragedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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S9 · E6 · 26 Jun 2026 · 41 min
S9 E6 The Paper Trail
After months of searching, the police file on the 1959 murders of Curly and Lizzie Kostyniuk has finally arrived, but it's not what Shauna and I hoped for. Over 100 pages of heavily redacted administrative paperwork instead of the real investigative file. Still, buried inside: new names, hints of an undercover operation, and a suspect who may have still been alive years later. Retired RCMP homicide detective Garry Rodgers joins host Laura Palmer to break down the crime scene, the killer's behaviour, and why this case may not be as cold as it seems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for…
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S9 · E5 · 19 Jun 2026 · 43 min
S9 E5 Bad Grandpa Part 2
Janet Piper is the great-granddaughter of the victims, Lizzie and Curly Kostyniuk. In this episode, she speaks publicly for the first time about the man she believes committed the murders, a man who was her grandfather. A man who went to jail twice. A man who terrorized three generations of women and children. The episode delves into the intergenerational trauma of abuse, secrecy, and justice. Featuring survivor testimony and expert insights, it highlights the importance of uncovering hidden truths for healing and justice. Note: This episode contains discussion of incest and other forms of…
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S9 · E4 · 19 Jun 2026 · 41 min
S9 E4 Bad Grandpa
A double murder. A robbery motive that doesn't add up. And a family theory that's been passed down in whispers for decades. In this episode, host Laura Palmer digs into the suspect, Shauna's family calls "Bad Grandpa" Joseph Charles Phillips, a convicted predator with a grudge, a motive, and, according to someone who knew him, sudden money after the killings. Through long-buried psychiatric records, jailhouse letters, and a remarkable conversation with an 85-year-old who knew both the victims and the suspect, the story of who may have killed Andrew "Curly" and Lizzie Kostyniuk comes into…
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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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