Victor Feguer lured a doctor to a boarding house, kidnapped him, and shot him point-blank in a cornfield.
The episode begins with Kiki and Martha, the bilingual hosts, sharing personal updates, including Martha's new job transition and a celebration of the podcast reaching 4.2 million downloads. They remind listeners that they are not professionals but enthusiasts who research true crime cases, using Spanglish and humor. The main case covers Victor Harry Feguer, born in Michigan in 1935, who experienced neglect after his mother's death and father's abandonment, leading to juvenile delinquency. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Feguer engaged in criminal activities for attention. In the summer of 1960, he moved to Iowa, staying in a boarding house and using a phone book to find victims. He called Dr. Edward Bartels, claiming a medical emergency, then kidnapped and shot him point-blank in Illinois. Feguer was arrested in Alabama when trying to sell the doctor's car, and he confessed to the murder. The crime became federal due to crossing state lines, leading to FBI involvement. Feguer was found guilty and sentenced to death, with appeals denied, including a clemency request to President John F. Kennedy. He was executed by hanging on March 15, 1963, at the Iowa State Penitentiary. His last meal request of a single olive with the pit, hoping an olive tree would grow as a peace symbol, became infamous. After execution, the olive pit was found in his pocket. The episode notes Feguer was the last person executed in Iowa, with the state abolishing the death penalty in 1965, though federal executions continued. Hosts discuss the morbid public spectacles of executions and reflect on learning methods, comparing paper-based to digital learning. They end with thanks to listeners and promotional reminders.
