Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This episode covers the deeply disturbing and mishandled series of killings known as the Stamford bra murders, which targeted several young women—many of them Black sex workers—in Stamford, Connecticut, starting in the late 1960s. The hosts detail how law enforcement initially dismissed the disappearances and murders due to systemic bias, before ultimately pursuing a vulnerable psychiatric patient named Benjamin Miller, who gave a coerced confession while delusional. Despite Miller's wrongful conviction and subsequent 16-year confinement, a local man named Robert Lupinacci was caught red-handed attempting to strangle another Black sex worker in the exact same area, yet police inexplicably failed to connect him to the active serial killer case. The hosts explain how later investigations and revelations from Lupinacci's own son and a local author strongly point toward Lupinacci as the actual perpetrator, exposing a staggering level of institutional failure and police negligence.
- Review local investigative files for overlooked suspects who were caught committing similar crimes nearby. 42:37
- Remain highly critical of confessions extracted from individuals suffering from severe mental illness or psychosis. 58:44
- Recognize how systemic bias and discrimination can severely degrade the quality of police investigations into vulnerable communities. 28:38
Chapters
- 0:01Podcast Intro and Advertisements
The episode opens with a mix of promotional content for various products and services, setting a casual tone before the hosts transition to the main story.
- 7:15Hosts Introduce the Stamford Bra Murders
The hosts pivot from light banter to the serious topic of the Stamford Bra Murders, explaining the setting and initial victim background.
- 9:23First Victim: Donna Roberts and Early Investigation
Details of Donna Roberts' discovery, forensic findings, and the police’s initial struggle to identify her or the killer are recounted.
- 11:23Second Victim: Gloria Khan and Renewed Interest
The second body is found, leading to renewed media attention and the first hint that the murders may be connected.
- 47:42Miller’s Trial and Insanity Acquittal
The court acquits Benjamin Miller of the bra murders on insanity grounds after psychiatric testimony.
- 50:11Post‑Trial Murders Spark New Suspicion
Three new strangulation murders in Stamford raise questions about Miller’s guilt.
- 51:28Confession Controversy and Appeal Filing
Miller’s lawyer argues the confession was tainted, prompting a petition for a new trial.
- 55:17Court Denies New Trial, Legal Battle Rages
A Superior Court denies the new trial, leading to a prolonged appellate fight.
- 57:26Federal Review and Release Order
A federal judge rules double‑jeopardy bars retrial, freeing Miller after nearly twenty years.
- 58:03Miller’s Post‑Release Struggles
Miller is released into a shelter, reflecting on his coerced confession and continued innocence claim.
- 1:03:22Re‑examining the Bra Murders: Lupinacci Theory
Investigators and reporters suggest Robert Lupinacci may have been the true perpetrator.
- 1:07:33Unresolved Questions and Final Reflections
The episode concludes with the case remaining officially unsolved and a call to listeners.
Highlights
- 9:48
Discovery of Donna Robertsstory
A Stamford patrolman finds the body of 22-year-old Donna Roberts with her bra wrapped tightly around her neck, marking the beginning of a terrifying pattern along the Merritt Parkway.
- 14:03
The Chilling Anonymous Phone Callstory
An anonymous caller contacts the Stamford police department simply stating another body is up there, leading officers to the skeletal remains of Rosalynn Pasta.
- 37:16
Police arrest 42-year-old Benjamin Franklin Miller, a self-styled street preacher undergoing inpatient treatment for schizophrenia, as their prime suspect in the bra murders.
- 42:03
Outcry From The Communityinsight
A group of Black citizens in Stamford writes an open letter expressing extreme indignation over the sluggish, apathetic police response compared to crimes involving white victims.
- 55:43
Withheld Evidence Revealedinsight
A federal circuit court rules that the prosecution violated Benjamin Miller's rights by withholding critical evidence concerning another suspect, Robert Lupinacci.
- 1:04:18
Incriminating Trunk Evidencestory
Lupinacci's own son and a local author reveal that police found hairs from a Black person and a missing queen of hearts playing card in Lupinacci's trunk.
Quotes
“The scene really only had few clues, though, as to how Donna ended up there.”
Unnamed speaker · 10:02 “The bra murders just disappeared from the papers again.”
Unnamed speaker · 16:22 “We black citizens find it inconceivable that no solution has been found to any of the five cases involving black young women during the past three and a half years.”
Unnamed speaker · 29:04 “Benjamin Miller was returned to the hospital for a more extensive evaluation after he was arrested and went through the arraignment.”
Unnamed speaker · 39:57 “The suspected killer was forty-two-year-old Benjamin Franklin Miller, a, quote, "white mailman and self-styled minister," who detectives believe had met the victims while, quote, and this is a quote, "preaching in the black churches and ghetto street, uh, street corners of Stanford and Norwalk."”
Unnamed speaker · 37:16 “"divine mission to convert young black women whom he considered to be sinners and to punish them if they remained sinful."”
Unnamed speaker · 48:09 “"Miller continues to be a danger to himself and others and requires further hospitalization and is not likely to show improvement in the foreseeable future."”
Unnamed speaker · 49:21 “"John Williams told reporters, 'I'm glad at long last, some justice has been done in this case.'"”
Unnamed speaker · 55:55 “"Now, the case against him, like we just said, rested heavily on a confession that he gave while he was severely symptomatic, paranoid, and delusional."”
Unnamed speaker · 58:44 “"The confession he made to police, like I just told you, occurred under duress, under threat, and under threat of physical punishment."”
Unnamed speaker · 59:52
Sponsored segments
- State Farm 0:50–1:08
- Old Spice 1:21–1:59
- Pantene 24:01–25:04
- BetterHelp 45:04–46:00
- Renewal by Anderson 1:10:19–1:10:33
About this episode
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Stamford, Connecticut was terrorized by a killer who was strangling women and leaving their bodies by the side of the parkway. After four years and five confirmed victims, police arrested a local self-proclaimed preacher named Benjamin Miller, bringing the murders to an end and closing the case on what the press had dubbed the Bra Murders—or so they thought. From the moment Miller was arrested, there were some in the community who questioned whether the police had arrested the right man or if they’d simply chosen Miller as a scapegoat. Among other things, Miller had a long history of mental illness and, although he had initially confessed to the murders, he eventually recanted his confession and claimed that detectives had manipulated him into confessing. To this day, many Connecticut residents still wonder whether Benjamin Miller was really responsible for the Bra Murders, or if the real killer was allowed to walk free.
Transcript
13,048 words · 3 speakers
Topics
- Stanford
- Connecticut
- Stamford
- New York
- Merritt Parkway
- Prime Video
- Rogue Town
- Den Road
- New York Circuit Court
- Mount Vernon
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