Dec. 24, 2025
116. Marion Parker: The Infamous 1927 Los Angeles Kidnapping and Murder
In this special Christmas episode of Hard Times and True Crimes, we examine one of the most disturbing crimes in American history: The kidnapping and murder of Marion Parker in Los Angeles in 1927.
In December 1927, Los Angeles was rocked by the kidnapping and murder of Marion Parker, a crime so horrific it dominated national headlines and left a permanent mark on American true crime history.
This episode explores the details of the crime, the historical context of 1920s Los Angeles, and why the Marion Parker murder continues to haunt true crime history nearly a century later - especially during a season associated with family, innocence, and hope.
Listener discretion is advised.
Sources:
Photo Credit: Marion Parker. Photo from the Parker Family - UCLA Library Archive, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Book: Taylor, T. (2017). I Want To Come Home Tonight: The Haunting Story of Marion Parker. Whitechapel Productions. Narrated on Audible by Charles Huddleston
Where you can purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/Want-Come-Home-Tonight-Haunting/dp/1892523833
Music credit: Music used in this episode appears courtesy of the audiobook narrator of I Want to Come Home Tonight: The Haunting Story of Marion Parker by Troy Talor and is used with permission.
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Narrator of episode: Curtis Hildreth