
Before He Wakes: A True Story of Money, Marriage, Sex and Murder
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Narrated by:
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Kevin Stillwell
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By:
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Jerry Bledsoe
About this listen
The true story of Barbara Stager, a devoted mother, loving wife, and dedicated church leader who committed an almost perfect crime.
By all accounts, Stager seemed to lead the perfect life in her community in Durham, North Carolina. After her husband, popular high school coach Russ, died tragically, the police were inclined to believe her story - that she accidentally shot him. Suspicions rose when the police discovered that Stager's previous husband had died similarly 10 years prior. Detective Rick Buchanan searches for the truth and finds a string of compulsive lies, obsessive spending, and sexual promiscuity. Ever shocking new discovery unraveled Barbara Stager's impeccable image more and more.
Russ left a damning piece of evidence behind that reveals the shocking nightmare truth about his wife.
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Story
In 1911 two British heiresses, Claire and Dora Williamson, read a brochure about a revolutionary fasting treatment that promised a lifetime of good health. The sanatorium in the village of Olalla, west of Seattle, was surrounded by a beautiful forest, sparkling waters and fresh air. The sisters agreed it sounded perfect and exactly the restorative holiday they needed. But within a month of arriving, under the supervision of Doctor Linda Burfield Hazzard, Claire and Dora began to realise the frightening truth – they were not patients but prisoners at the isolated sanitorium.
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Excellent true crime story!
- By Colleen T. Mizeres on 01-26-23
By: Gregg Olsen
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A Hunger to Kill
- A Serial Killer, a Determined Detective, and the Quest for a Confession That Changed a Small Town Forever
- By: Kim Mager, Lisa Pulitzer - contributor
- Narrated by: Jennifer Blom
- Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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On September 13, 2016, in the small town of Ashland, Ohio, emergency dispatchers received a 911 call from a terrified woman who claimed to be kidnapped. The man holding her hostage was Shawn Grate, a serial killer whom the press later dubbed “The Ladykiller.” A key to his conviction and death sentence were Grate’s extensive recorded confessions—all extracted by one woman: Detective Kim Mager.
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Turned into a sermon.
- By Victor Naranjo on 01-29-25
By: Kim Mager, and others
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Monster
- By: Steve Jackson
- Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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On a snowy winter evening in 1982, 21-year-old Mary Brown accepted a ride from a handsome stranger in the resort town of Breckenridge, Colorado. The trip ended with her brutally beaten and raped. Mary survived, but her predator's violence had only just begun. After 10 years in prison, Tom Luther was released a far more vicious criminal. Soon, from the Rockies to West Virginia, like Ted Bundy, Luther enticed a chain of women into his murderous trap.
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Riveting....harrowingly so.
- By Klh23 on 07-24-20
By: Steve Jackson
What listeners say about Before He Wakes: A True Story of Money, Marriage, Sex and Murder
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 11-18-21
Murder most evil
How cheap life has become. We all have two faces one we present to the world and the other to our families. We are all guilty of things but hopefully not murder. Our justice systems all over the world seem to favor the perpetrator and condemn the victim.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Susie Q
- 09-11-19
Good story almost ruined by awful narrator
This narrator drove me nuts. He had a habit of putting emphasis on the wrong syllables over and over until I was ready
to scream! And his use of the word PO lice almost made me stop listening.
However, I didn't stop listening. Jerry Bledsoe is a superior crime writer. I really liked the book. It's very detailed which is what I like.
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1 person found this helpful
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- deborah
- 06-19-15
Wow!
This story had me glued to my headphones. I couldn't wait to hear what was going to happen next. Truly a sad commentary on the power of greed and its devastating results. Excellent narrator as well. Highly recommend this for all of the true crime fans out there.
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8 people found this helpful
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- R. O. Miller
- 06-27-21
Michigan murder
Found the story sad that it took so long to bring justice to the families
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- Placeholder
- 05-26-16
Kept Me Listening!
I already knew a bit about this case so I was interested in knowing more. I couldn't have asked for a better listen! The story was well told and the presenter was clear, had a lot of expression, and really gave a picture to the words!! What a great choice this book was!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Thelma And Lou
- 12-12-17
Very good true crime book- sub-par narration
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I'd recommend the book, not necessarily the audio book
Who was your favorite character and why?
Doesn't apply
Did the narration match the pace of the story?
The narrator's voice is very pleasant; however, he reads many sentences and phrases with odd or awkward emphasis, and almost reminded me of a small child reading to the end of a line, then pausing, and then taking up the next part of the sentence as if it was a new sentence, if that makes sense. Also pronounced words like "pillow" as "pillah" and "window" as "windah" - seemed odd to me, though the action takes place is the south, so, not sure if that's intentional.
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- Michelle Tackabery
- 01-01-23
Southern fried homicide never sounded so good.
A fascinating tale famous in North Carolina. This book includes details never revealed at trial, but beyond that, it's an investigative classic.
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- amy
- 08-06-15
OK book
What did you like best about Before He Wakes: A True Story of Money, Marriage, Sex and Murder? What did you like least?
It seems to be well researched
Any additional comments?
Narration is good but the book kind of bores me...I don't know why...
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1 person found this helpful
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- Kattia
- 04-16-18
Intriguing
I will never understand how some people plan somebody else's death to get money and cover their shopping sprees. Heartbreaking cautionary tale. Beware who you marry, get to know them before you tie the knot.
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- Judy
- 05-24-16
Black Widow
This tale makes one wonder what detectives think about when they investigate suspicious deaths. Yes, they have to be careful, yes they have to proceed with caution in order to ensure that the perpetrator doesn't escape on a technicality, but doesn't a second "accidental" shooting of a sleeping husband cry out for an aggressive investigation?
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