Buried Bones - a historical true crime podcast with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes The Shooting of the Century PT 1
18 snips
Mar 11, 2026 A 1955 Long Island murder at a wealthy estate fuels a detailed crime-scene breakdown. Photographs, maps, and ballistics are scrutinized to question the official story. Home-security concerns, odd handling of the body, and inconsistencies in the shooting narrative set up a deeper look into motives and relationships.
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How Estate Layout Enabled Undetected Intruders
- The Woodwards lived on sprawling Gold Coast estates where dense landscaping and multiple outbuildings created many private, easily accessed hiding places.
- Kate describes Sunken Orchard as 60 acres with formal gardens, a 25-acre Playhouse parcel, and thick vegetation that could conceal intruders.
Squatter Behavior As A Warning Sign
- Multiple pre-incident signs suggested an active prowler: broken garage window, open cans of food, and shoe prints near the main entrance.
- Paul links this behavior to transient burglars who may escalate into violent crime or opportunistically attack residents.
Reassess Security After Repeated Squatter Signs
- When multiple properties show signs of squatting and burglary, treat it as an active threat and reassess physical security immediately.
- Paul recommends recognizing squatting can precede escalation and notes investigators should consider overlapping crime types.
