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
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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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.