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[The Dark Secrets Beneath: From Rhode Island Highways to the Pig Farm of Horrors]-[Episode 275: Susan Monica]

Morbid · B2 · 2021-11-01

True crime
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📋 Summary

Uncovering the Hidden Dead: The Rhode Island Highway Mystery

The podcast opens with a chilling revelation regarding the Route 37 highway in Rhode Island. A listener brought to the hosts' attention that between 800 and 1,000 bodies are buried beneath the highway. The investigation into this mass grave began when Maria de Grasa spent over a decade searching for the final resting place of her great-great-grandfather, Antonio Coelho. Coelho was a prominent historical figure—the first person from Cape Verde in Rhode Island to purchase a packet ship in 1891. Despite his success, discriminatory laws forbade him from owning the ship in his name, leading to a financial downward spiral. His remains, along with hundreds of others from the State Institution Cemetery No. 3, were moved to an unmarked mass grave (State Institution Cemetery No. 2) in 1975 without notifying the families. The hosts express outrage at the lack of respect shown to these individuals, noting that Rhode Island officials were aware of the situation, dismissing it as a relic of "lax" laws, yet failing to properly rectify the indignity.

The Farm of Horrors: The Case of Susan Monica

The second, more macabre segment focuses on Susan Monica, a woman who operated a 20-acre farm in Weimar, Oregon. Monica, who transitioned and served in the Navy before becoming an engineer, hired Robert Haney as a handyman in 2013. Haney, a "jack of all trades" and a devoted father, lived in a camper on her property. By December 2013, Haney had vanished. When his children went to the farm to investigate, they were immediately struck by the "eerie" atmosphere and the fact that he had left behind his dog and tools—items essential to his life.

Upon investigation, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office discovered the farm in a state of "squalor," filled with hazardous waste and debris. Monica initially claimed Haney had left after a distressing phone call, but investigators soon discovered her using Haney’s EBT card at a Walmart. This led to a search warrant where police found a severed human leg in a catchment pond. Monica’s story shifted multiple times: she first claimed her pigs had eaten Haney alive and she shot him to "put him out of his misery," then later alleged she pushed him into the pen during an argument. Forensic anthropologist Veronica Vance confirmed Haney had been shot three to four times in the head and his legs had been severed with an axe.

A Pathological Narcissist and the 'Sweetest Murderer'

The investigation took an even darker turn when Monica drew a map for investigators, marking an 'X' where they found the remains of another handyman, Steve D'Alessino. Monica offered conflicting accounts for his death as well, ranging from accidental shooting during a struggle to self-defense. Most disturbingly, she claimed there were 17 other bodies on the property. While a massive search found no other human remains, investigators did uncover a shed filled with "dozens and dozens of pairs of shoes," drawing chilling parallels to the farm of serial killer Willie Pickton.

Throughout the trial, Monica’s behavior was erratic. She was removed from the courtroom multiple times for outbursts, laughed during testimony about the search for victims, and once signed a birthday card to a cellmate as "the sweetest murderer in Jackson County." Her defense attorneys attempted to argue that her strangeness did not equate to guilt, but the physical evidence—including the severed remains and her own incriminating statements—was overwhelming. In 2014, Monica was found guilty on all counts, including two counts of first-degree murder, and sentenced to 50 years to life without parole. The judge famously remarked, "You valued pigs more than you valued people." The case remains a haunting example of how a supposed "handyman" service can mask a horrific reality of violence and disregard for human life.

🎯Key Sentences

1
let's just get right into it, guys.
2
This is like blowing my brain apart.
3
Now we're like, what is going on?
4
It's so wild.
5
It makes absolutely no sense.
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📝Key Phrases

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dive into
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lurks around every corner
3
make ends meet
4
a jack of all trades
5
piece together
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📖 Transcript

Hey weirdos, before we dive into today's twisted tale, let me tell you about a place where the darkness never ends.
Wondery Plus. It's like stepping into a haunted mansion where the floorboards creak with ad free episodes and early access to new episodes lurks around every corner.
So come join us if you dare. Morbid is available one week early and ad-free only on Wondery+.
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