Case 287: Half & Susanne Zantop
Added 2024-06-03 21:55:19 +0000 UTCWhen Half and Susanne Zantop were found brutally stabbed to death in their Etna, New Hampshire home, friends, colleagues and investigators were all at a loss to understand it. The married couple were both beloved professors at Dartmouth College, and no one could think of a reason why someone would want to harm them. But a crucial clue left at the crime scene would lead investigators directly to some unlikely suspects: two high school students with a deadly plan…
Team:
Anonymous Host - narration
Erin Munro - research, writing
Milly Raso - creative direction
Mike Migas - production, music
Andrew D.B. Joslyn - music
Comments
This is similar in a way to Rope by Hitchcock. Worth watching if you haven't seen it, about 2 very arrogant young men who murder someone they consider worthless in order to commit the 'perfect crime' as they are superior to others
Ali
2024-11-12 09:36:22 +0000 UTCOk, this is interesting but this exact same case was on another popular true crime podcast this week! Told from a completely different angle, it still converged the same way. Did you know this was happening?
Jacqueline
2024-06-11 01:52:13 +0000 UTCHi there, after listening to this episode, it brought to mind another similar case. This happened in BC, but two Aussies were killed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Northern_British_Columbia_murders
Jacqueline
2024-06-10 04:32:37 +0000 UTCThat episode will be shared again soon. I can't imagine that they would have shared that one by mistake and then not share it eventually.
brenna flint
2024-06-09 09:33:22 +0000 UTCThank you for speaking on the juvenile offender laws. Interesting to hear their daughter’s take on everything as she has grown up. No doubt her education and profession have given her a different insight into everything with the loss of her parents. I worked for my state’s parole board at one time. I didn’t see any juvi cases but saw plenty of other inmates. At one point before I left we had a similar resentencing law passed which meant we got to see lots of people we normally wouldn’t because they would never technically be eligible and our DOC gave them the opportunity. Any who, I know I’ve seen my share of kids or, what’s classed as an *adult* in the system, who made horrible, life-altering mistakes. And I’ve seen some scary, scary individuals. It’s wild all around to see everything that comes into play in these situations. Thank you for another great episode!!
B-randy D
2024-06-08 18:19:33 +0000 UTCI appreciated that Casefile added a discussion of juvenile sentencing to this case, because it's a subject i feel pretty strongly about despite being very much in the minority, i think. But i think as vicious as this case is, it's one where you can very clearly see *why* juveniles shouldn't be sentenced as adults. Their brains just aren't developed yet. They lack an adult's impulse control, they lack the ability to fully comprehend meaningful long-term consequences, and they're more easily influenced by fantasy and wish-fulfillment. Nothing about this case was rational or rooted in any kind of adult understanding of reality. And i do think this is one situation where the teens showed guilt and would have a chance of successful rehabilitation as they got a taste of consequences and, well, grew up. They were absolutely not adults, and even though this is a terrible double homicide case, I'm glad the teens who did this will at least be considered for parole. I'm grateful the victims' family seems to recognize that as well; it's rare, but so important.
AR
2024-06-08 10:07:59 +0000 UTCDon't hassle the Half.
Iain Strachan
2024-06-08 09:44:53 +0000 UTCMy gosh, those details at the end were so incredibly upsetting. Senseless and tragic deaths.
Mandy G
2024-06-04 18:04:27 +0000 UTCCame here to say this. It also reminded me of the Cassi Jo Stoddart case. Just absolutely pointless crimes fueled by narcissism.
Amber
2024-06-04 17:11:38 +0000 UTClol rip
Green Thumb
2024-06-04 16:20:51 +0000 UTCThis is vintage casefile. Great writing. So soothing. Thank you.
Green Thumb
2024-06-04 16:19:11 +0000 UTCMany parallels with Leopold and Loeb. And like those two professed geniuses, they were despicable idiots. Tragic and fascinating.
Michael Brodie
2024-06-04 10:26:59 +0000 UTCI'm disgusted, frustrated,and saddened to hear that both now men have been granted parole. One of the Zantop's daughters is a psychiatrist and like her parents, a remarkable person. I can't even imagine her feelings on this. I can't imagine how I would feel as a child of these victims or better yet, a parent of James and Robert. How could you reconcile on either side?
Turd Mcfurgason
2024-06-04 06:00:14 +0000 UTCFinally Casefile comes to Vermont. I remember when this happened, I never delved into the details of this case but my brother was briefly classmates with one of the kids in Barre VT.
Abigail Treis
2024-06-04 03:39:33 +0000 UTCThese kids thought they were smart 🤦🏼♀️
Katie McGhee
2024-06-03 23:10:10 +0000 UTCI was in the middle of the other one when it was deleted, when can I finish that episode??
Katherine Cummings
2024-06-03 22:48:56 +0000 UTCI just read the other comment oh
Ben Barnes
2024-06-03 21:58:18 +0000 UTCTwo episodes in one week?
Ben Barnes
2024-06-03 21:57:46 +0000 UTC
