Murderous Roots

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Episode 36: Deadly Friendship

Image Credit: Kirk Thornton @kirkthornton

Betsy Faria thought she made a good friend at work; one who showed support and love during one of the most trying times in her life. She didn’t realize, until it was too late, that her friendship with Pamela Hupp would be more deadly than her terminal cancer diagnosis.

In this episode, Zelda and Denise discuss the murder Pam Hupp was convicted for as well as the other two murders she has been accused of committing. Then we dive into a fascinating family tree that leads to encounters with immigrant ancestors, Joseph Pulitzer, slavery, and even more murder.

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Episode 36: Deadly Friendship Murderous Roots

Pamela Hupp mug shot
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 28 Aug 2016

Pamela Hupp, today
Source: Missouri Department of Corrections

The day of Pamela’s arrest was caught by local TV reports.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 24 Aug 2016

Betsy Faria made the mistake of trusting Pamela Hupp
Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch, 9 March 2014

Russell Faria fought to prove he didn’t kill his wife, Betsey.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9 Mar 2014

Russell and Betsy Faria at an event in 2009; one year before Betsy’s cancer diagnosis and two years before her murder.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9 March 2014

High school photos of Pamela Marie Hupp, née Neumann. Pam was on the Pom Pom squad in high school (left)
Source: Riverview Gardens High School Yearbooks. Left: 1975-1976, Right: 1976-1977 (her senior picture)

Pam’s mother, Shirley Mae Russell Neumann (1935-2013). Pam is a suspect in her mother’s death.
Source: Find a Grave

Pam’s father is in the top right photo as a high school senior.
Source: Soldan-Blewitt High School Yearbook, 1950

The second Victor Neumann (Sr) worked with the Mayor of St. Louis to fix the problems with the sewer.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 24 August 1946

The elder Victor Neumann, the Austrian immigrant, was a member of this organization and had leadership roles in it.
Source: The St. Louis Star and Times, 28 Oct 1932

Victor Neumann (1864-1952) and his wife Anna Deuschitz (1879-1963) on their wedding day , Jul 1898.

The wedding announcement for the double wedding of Fabian Teuschitz to his bride Theresa Millerschitz and his sister Anna Teuschitz to Victor Neumann (Sr, Sr). And yes, it is all in German.
Source: Westliche Post, 21 Jul 1898

Fabian Deuschitz (1874-1936) and Theresa Millerschutz (1878-1960) on their wedding day, Jul 1898.

Anna Deuschitz (1901-1924) was the daughter of Paul Deuschtiz, brother of Anna Deuschitz Neumann. She was Pam’s first cousin, twice removed.
Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch, 22 December 1924

Young model Anna Teuschitz’s life was cut short in a most shocking way.
Source: The St. Louis Star and Times, 22 December 1924

A very “entertaining” profile of Malinda Caroline Lewis Russell (1845-1938) who still held a grudge over the Confederacy losing the Civil War.
Source: The Tennessean, 4 November 1936

The letter to the editor in full written by Charles Jones in 1863 regarding Emancipation of slaves.
Source: The Daily Missouri Republican, 3 Apr 1863

The will of wealthy slave owner, Charles Jones (1823-1876), Pamela’s 2nd great-granduncle. Toward the bottom of the first page is where Charles bequeaths money to those he enslaved.

Charles Edward Jones (1906-1944), Pam’s granduncle, was murdered by Amos Gilmer, a story we discuss on this latest episode.
Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch, 7 Aug 1944

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DISCLOSURE: Murderous Roots is listener-supported. Some of the links below include Amazon affiliate links that may bring us a small commission to help support the podcast, at no additional cost to you.

Recommended Reading

Bone Deep: Untangling the Twisted True Story of the Tragic Betsy Faria Murder Case by Charles Bosworth and Joel Schwartz

The St. Louis HIgh School quiz

Want to find out what high school you should have attended in St. Louis? Then take the quiz! In the comments, let us know your results!

SOURCES

Shadows of War, Library of Congress
Bellefontaine Neighbors on Neighborhood Scout
Hyde Park Neighborhood, St. Louis City Talk
Hyde Park Neighborhood, City of St. Louis
Tournament Continues Decades-Old Tradition by Frank Carroll
St. Louis Printers Baseball Team

Wikipedia

We use a multitude of resources when researching a family tree up to an including census records from 1800-1940, marriage records in various states, draft registration cards, newspaper articles, and more. If you would like more specific details on where information was obtained, please email us and we’ll respond in a timely manner.