The Murder of Patricia Lonergan | Morbid | Podcast

On the morning of October 25, 1943, the body of twenty-two-year-old Lion Brewery heiress, Patricia Lonergan, was discovered in a locked room in the New York apartment she shared with her infant son. Patrica was nude and had been bludgeoned with a candelabra. Suspicion quickly fell on her estranged husband, Wayne Lonergan, who had fled the country to Canada, where he was serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Wayne Lonergan was apprehended a few days later and returned to New York, where he was charged with the murder and two days later confessed to killing Patricia in a jealous rage. Despite his confession, Lonergan’s case went to trial and quickly became one of the most sensational trials of the decade. While the murder itself was a terrible tragedy, the extensive press coverage and intense public interest was on Wayne’s sexual identity and the supposedly scandalous lives of the two high society figures at the center of the case.
Wayne was ultimately found guilty of the murder and served more than two decades in prison, after which he was deported back to Canada, where he resided until his death. Few people ever doubted that Wayne had indeed killed his wife; however, to this day many have questioned whether his sexuality and the couple’s nontraditional marriage biased the jury against him and led to an unfair trial.
Thank you to the incredible Dave White (of Bring Me the Axe and 99 Cent Rental Podcasts) for research!
References
Anderson-Minshall, Diane. 2021. Did this queer man kill his wife? March 24. Accessed June 18, 2024. www.advocate.com/crime/2021/3....
Buffalo News. 1943. "Boats grapple for vanished RCAF uniform." Buffalo News, October 28: 1.
Dunne, Dominick. 2001. "The Talented Mr. Lonergan." Vanity Fair, July 01.
Levine, Allan. 2020. Details Are Unprintable: Wayne Lonergan and the Sensational Cafe Society Murder. Guilford, CT: Lyons Press.
New York Times. 1944. "35 years to life given to Lonergan." New York Times, April 18: 1.
-. 1942. "Husband is held for questioning in heiress' murder." New York Times, October 26: 1.
-. 1944. "Lawyers rebuked in Lonergan case." New York Times, February 17: 20.
-. 1944. "Lonergan choked wife, Grumet says." New York Times, March 23: 21.
-. 1944. "Lonergan confession read; tells of bluedgeoning wife." New York Times, March 28: 1.
-. 1944. "Lonergan defense is ended abruptly." New York Times, March 30: 1.
-. 1944. "Lonergan guilty in second degree of slaying wife." New York Times, April 1: 1.
-. 1943. "RCAF cadet's wife slain in home here." New York Times, October 25: 1.
-. 1944. "State asks death in Lonergan case." New York Times, March 31: 1.
Connect with Wondery
wondery.com/shows
/ wonderymedia
/ wonderymedia
/ wonderymedia
#wondery #morbid #podcast #truecrime #truestory

[@ACEVERYLASTPART]

It’s been a little while since I’d listened to you guys. My wife and I just broke up last night and well here I am. There’s something so soothing about y’all’s oodcsst. Thank you for always being around getting me through all the hardest parts of life.

[@paloma2674]

Same. Not for your break-up, my condolences, but for the hard times in life. I hit a deer during dusk and now my car's on the side of the highway where I hit it until I can get a tow-truck out in the morning. It was my first real accident and I'm still in shock. It's kinda crazy that such a morbid topic can be so comforting to listen to during times like these. Ash and Alaina really have become my comfort people.

[@HannahGraceTea]

You’ve got this. It might be hard right now, but you can get through this.

[@miss-kat]

"If you ain't first your last" - Ricky Bobby LOL

[@juanettejames1242]

I am new to your podcasts and am listening to your archives. Some of the episodes are missing, particularly the Black Dahlia episodes. Are the removed episodes available somewhere?

[@feliciacooper6263]

* you’re -- EVERY THIRD GRADE TEACHER

[@NiuqelaNavi]

5:19 start

[@KerrieKruegner]

So vile that peoples sexuality is put on trail as well as their potential guilt of a crime This is so often seen with woman and of course gay individuals Even probs more shocking is when a victim of crime s sexuality is used to condone the vilolence or blame the victim

[@tiffday6991]

So u Have a Bird Perched on a Cleaver , on ur Cover?? Jw. 💯🥰

[@user-bf7xq8sc4z]

🤦‍♀️ I don’t think you can dismiss some things as “sign of the times” And “it was the 40’s” and then also get outraged at people viewing homosexuality badly when “it was the 40’s” either get outraged at every outdated opinion, or none of them. OR better yet, you’re getting mad at the news people focusing on this man’s sexuality instead of the victim…but YOU are doing the exact same thing. Present the case, quit belly aching and give more info on the victim if you’re that upset that everyone is focused on his homosexuality.