The Babysitter Ad: The First Craigslist Killer

Settle in, friends, because today's story starts with something that should have been completely ordinary: responding to a babysitting ad.

In October 2007, Katherine Ann Olson met a mom named Amy in Savage, Minnesota. Amy needed someone to watch her 5-year-old, and Katherine said yes.

She told her roommate Amy seemed a little strange. She went anyway.

The next morning, a purse turned up in a park trash can, and a suburban police department started pulling on a thread that led somewhere nobody in Minnesota was ready for.

This is the story of who Katherine really was, who was actually behind those emails, and how her case gave the internet a brand new and terrible nickname.

🖤 FOLLOW PRETTY WICKED

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Instagram: @prettywickedthepodcast

If you loved this episode, leaving a review means the world and helps other listeners find the show.

Pretty Wicked is written, researched, and hosted by Megan Alda.

🖤 SOURCES & FURTHER READING

Here is everything used to research this episode.