Welcome to Just curious media. This is that's a crime. I'm Jason Connell.
And I'm Sal Rodriguez.
All right, Sal, we are back for another crime and our first on YouTube Live.
Yes. And for anybody who saw our promotional video, for lack of a better term, I am wearing the same shirt.
You are. You look great. In fact, when we first came on you had a mask on which I was scared
I did. I was wearing adjacent mask because I don't have a Michael Myers mask. Oh, so I'm wearing adjacent mask but it doesn't really work with the headphones. I mean, Jason doesn't look good in headphones really?
Now the Jason mask is it not a William Shatner mask inside out?
No, no, that's the Michael Myers Yeah, that's my other Michael Myers mask was originally a William Shatner Star Trek mascot they painted. Yeah, my understanding the trivia for Halloween is they added the mask kind of last minute as an impromptu. Not unlike Miyagi is headband for Daniel in the Karate Kid, you know, a similar concept. So I like those bits of trivia especially. Here we are as it relates to Halloween. Yeah,
and I misspoke I should not have gotten that wrong. Jason of course always had a hockey mask and my name being Jason I go on growing up. So yeah, I misspoke, but I knew what I was saying. I just said it incorrectly.
Well, you know, Jason, not to give any any spoilers but if you watch the recent Halloween movie, I have not seen it yet. Okay. It's not a spoiler. Okay, but let's put it this way. Michael Myers is becoming more like Jason. Yeah. You said that. Yeah, he is. So look out for that. So the day will come where we will probably see the spin off. Michael Myers versus Jason.
Yeah, I pay to see that one. But it is almost Halloween. It's a couple days away. So we wanted to, as we said on our promo, perhaps do a Halloween murder, or, you know, a crime of some sort. And I found one. And so that's what we're covering today. And we are breaking down the True Crime Story of the trick or treat murder in 1957.
Well, I have never heard of this Jason.
Nor had I before today. Wow. I'm ready. But it's interesting. It's obviously very relevant. Yes. And here we go. So we almost need the music playing doo doo doo doo doo doo the John Carpenter classic score. But on Halloween night, Thursday, October 31 1957. Peter and Betty Fabiano doorbell rang around 11pm or just after? So Peter went downstairs to answer it and was overheard asking, isn't it a little late for this sort of thing? Because now this is kind of a late trick or treater?
Oh, yeah, because trick or treating usually ends. Nine o'clock it's done. Maybe a few teenage stragglers by 10. But that's it. Absolutely done by nine or 10.
Absolutely. Now sow is he encountered a taller trick or treater with a garishly painted face wearing a domino mask? You know what a domino mask is? No, no, it's kind of the Lone Ranger mask. Oh, it's a little black mask. So I looked it up. I didn't have a domino mask was but that was I did not know either. No. And the person was wearing men's clothing, blue jeans, khaki jacket and red gloves. And they were also holding up a paper bag that concealed a gun. Now the stranger answered no to Peters question, and then shot him in the chest. Brutal, very brutal, scary. Oh, yeah. I started thinking about this. Like, you know, back in the day, you get a knock on the door. Someone rings your doorbell. It's like, Oh, yeah. That's like such a blatant move now like, How dare someone knock on my door ring? When's the last time someone just knocked on your door in the middle of night?
I don't take that lightly. Well, for one thing exactly. Growing up, Jason, our house had a gate around it. So really, no one was knocking. If anybody was knocking on our door, there was a problem because they went through the gate. So they either had a key or they climbed the gate. Right now a little bit easier for someone to knock on my door. And guess what? I'm not comfortable with it?
No. And nor should you be. It's this we have changed. But you know, 11 o'clock. He's going to scurry downstairs see what's going on at Halloween. Bam, shot in the chest. Now hearing the shot Betty his wife runs downstairs to find Peter sprawled out on the ground and heard a car speed away. So she saw nothing. Well. Now this is the 1950s and this must have sent shockwaves through the community. And ironically, the Fabiano home was located at 13 236 Community Street, Sun Valley, California. 91352. You familiar?
I know Sun Valley. Okay, I figured you were Sun Valley is in the San Fernando Valley. Yeah.
I've actually been there before too. And, you know, drove around. I went to some auto parts store to get something for an old Land Rover. And so when I was driving there, I was like, this looks just like a scene from Pulp Fiction. and they go to the junkyard, and when Harvey Keitel and I told the guy that I was like this. This reminds me of it's like, oh yeah, they found that at two junkyards over, so, so sunvalley has got the junkyard, and obviously has this
crime. And by the way, Jason, for you local enthusiast out there. sunvalley. Not to be confused with Sunland. Yeah. Also in the San Fernando Valley, you have Sunland and sunvalley.
So sadly enough, Peter Fabiana would die shortly thereafter. What we know about him was that he was 35 years old, so young, and a successful owner and operator of a local hair salon. So Sal, since this murder seemed to be random, and the Fabiana was weren't robbed. As far as we know. Where do you think investigators began searching?
Well, traditionally, you start with those closest to you. Family Friends work. Right business. Yep. So you know, you go poking around the immediate people first before you go, you know, driving 10 miles away trying to find somebody?
Yeah. So you're right. The beauty salon was definitely a point of emphasis. And within two weeks, the police had a person of interest. And that was 40 year old Joan rebell. Oh, and here's where it gets interesting. Joan had worked at the salon, and was also good friends with 36 year old red hair beauty named Betty Fabiano Peter's wife. They were such good friends, that when Betty had problems with her marriage to Peter, she stayed with Joan for a short while. Now Peter grew jealous of their relationship and forbid Betty to see Joan or even mentioned her name and his presence. Yeah, the plot thickens here. So
his suspicions were maybe Correct.
Maybe indeed, again, this is the 1950s this sounds like more like a current crime. But you know, this is like old school. You're thinking like sock hop days innocence. But this is far from that.
But then I'm also thinking of shampoo. Which remember, remember that movie was in the 70s, though? No, but I mean, that was no murder. No, no, no. But listen, that type of environment where you have maybe the male hairstylist who's you know, having a great time with his own clientele? Well, yeah, sure. Are other people in the salon.
In this instance, it's Peter's wife, Betty who's having a great time. Yeah, allegedly.
Okay, so what we've learned, though, is by this case, and the movie shampoo is a lot of scandals going down in hair salons.
Yeah. And your example of two or I want to believe, yeah, so having been arrested on suspicion of murder, Joan rebell denied her involvement. And she said, her car and her were home that night. But a friend of hers admitted to loaning Joan her car that same evening, which she put 37 miles on. Now that's interesting sound. Do you count the miles when you loan someone your car?
i It's not a regular practice, but I have done it.
Have you? What kind of reminds me of Cameron's dad from Ferris Bueller? But again, that was a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California spider. So I get it.
Well, Jason, you know when I'll do it, sometimes I just like catching people in lies. That's it. Yeah. I catch a person in a lie. I don't confront. I just I put that away. I put it away. I'll file it. No, you know, I like filing people's stuff away. Just to kind of reference it later. Is that weird?
No, no. To each their own. I said. So anyway, Joan admitted that she did borrow their car to get groceries. With no hard evidence. Police had to let her go. There was not much more there. They're poking around. You know, the investigation continues on and on and on. But then Sal a month later, an anonymous tip was called in about a lockbox in a department store. That should be checked. Random. Yeah, I didn't know there was locked boxes in the department stores. I guess it's like at the bus depot. Yeah, they're sealed lockers you see in movies all the time. Anyway, when officials followed up on the tip they found a 38 caliber gun which ballistics later confirm match the weapon used to kill Peter Fabiano, by the way was
this just one shot? Or was there multiple shots? wasn't specific about that? While because yeah, I'm just imagining one shot with a 38 caliber to the chest if it gets right to the heart.
Yeah, probably very close that range 38 caliber gun. Yeah. So who does the gun belong to? You might ask?
Well, also going back to the 50s How do they trace guns? It was a some sort of master ledger. I wonder how do you how do you trace the sales lineage of a of a gun now let alone back in the 50s
Yeah. Wow. All I do know is that there Your cell records, and it was confirmed that the gun belonged to a 43 year old Goldeen Pizer, a lab technician at a Los Angeles Children's Hospital. Hmm, no. Goldeen was a meek woman and almost immediately confessed to the shooting. Whoa. So it just falls into place. They get the records they find out this person's immediately confessing Yeah, however, she's insisting it wasn't her fault, and that someone had put her under a spell. Oh, now that person will turn out to be none other than Joan Rebelle. That's right.
Yeah, what kind of spell a voodoo hex? Yeah, Santa Maria. I don't practice Santa Maria.
Yeah, I'm not sure what that is, but she admits it immediately and quickly points the finger at Joan. So now Joan and Goldeen had been good friends, possibly lovers for a few years. Now, Joan's hatred of Peter Fabiano became an obsession, and soon their favorite topic of discussion. This led to talk of murder. And despite Golding having never met Peter, she began to hate him herself and even purchased the gun with John's money.
You know what I never understood, Jason are these people who they want to help someone kill their spouse, right? But then you have to think well, if this person is willing to kill their spouse,
who am I? Yeah,
why wouldn't they do the same to me? I don't know why these people don't think that way.
Well, so I'm unclear what the motive is here at all is Joan does she want to kill Peter so she and Betty and maybe even golden can all be together? Are she claiming he Peter ruined her career? Like what is the motive? Besides hatred?
Well, because you have the relationship of the wife and the former employee of the salon. But the shooter went what? Yeah, where did this lady come from?
I want him dead. Will you do it for me? You know, yeah, it's very bizarre.
I want to know more about those spells, what kind of spells would make them
so now on the night of the murder, golden would act alone. As Joan would stay in the car. They chose Halloween so a disguise wouldn't look suspicious. They arrived at the Fabiano home around 9pm and waited for over two hours for the lights to go out. Now Sal, that's plenty of time to change your mind. I mean talk about premeditated they sat there in the driveway or adjacent down the street sitting for two plus hours. You know plenty time to say this is ridiculous. But now they saw it through
and I bet you while they're sitting in the car for those two hours, probably having snacks I bet like a stakeout Yeah, yeah, that's what you do have some at least some mixed nuts. pistachios. Yeah. If if not a burger. I mean, if you're a hardcore detective, you would have you know, you eat the cheeseburger as you're on the stakeout. But these ladies you know, maybe they're a little more delicate. So but but at least some sort of snacks as are in the car.
Okay. Well, after killing Peter, Joan kissed Goldeen when she came back to the car and said, Thank you. Then after dropping the car off, Joan told her forget you ever knew me? And then they parted ways and walked different directions.
Oh, very interesting.
So, Joan rebell pleaded guilty and Goldeen Pizer pleaded insanity. And then they accepted a plea deal for second degree murder and were sentenced five years to life in prison.
Jason question question for the court. Second Degree. Why Why would this only be second degree? Yeah, I don't know. As opposed to murder in the first. Again, there's
not a ton of detail.
This is the information that we have at our fingertips.
Yeah. Kind of Thelma and Louise here. Yeah.
No, I respect it. I respect to people fall in love. And then but you know what? Hey, Mr. Fabiano, I would like to divorce please. But then again, the 50s times were different. Heck, I understand. My grandmother used to get chastised in the neighborhood for riding a motorcycle and wearing jeans in the 50s. See, exactly so a different era then.
Well, as for Betty Fabiano, she sold the beauty salon after Peter's death and appears to have remarried in 1966. She would pass away in 1999 at the age of 81 in Palm Desert, California, which actually made her 39 At the time of Peter's death, not 36 Small technicality
also for the people who like a lay of the land and are unfamiliar with California. Palm Desert is a nice place to retire. Now it is I mean, it's hot. It's absolutely hot. But it's a beautiful, retired resort community.
About an hour and a half from Los Angeles I'd say without traffic. Yes, yeah. Now Goldeen pies or was released from prison and by 1971 was an officer and the Miracle Mile chapter of the professional Woman's Club. Wow, she actually went and did something rehabilitated herself, and was an active member in society. And then in 1998, she died at the age of 83.
interesting tale. I love it.
Now, as for Joan rebell, you ask? Yes, there's absolutely no trace of her since prison.
How does that happen? There's no trace of her poof, gone. Kaiser. So say, no trace of her.
I read multiple articles, and there was nothing from her after being sentenced. Maybe she died in jail?
Well, not no. You know, we all know about the witness protection program. Right? Do they have something like that for people from maybe notorious cases or famous cases? Post prison, they want to start a new life, they'll get a new identity. Does that happen?
I don't know. So I don't know enough about that. Okay, because
yeah, I wonder if maybe there's, we know about the witness protection program after maybe hiding from the mob or hiding from the Mexican Mafia or Ms. 13 or something. But if you're just wanting to start a new life, could they possibly, you know, give you the goods to make that happen?
Probably could. But she could have just either died in prison, and there's no more records of her. She could have changed her name when she got out. I mean, who knows? Who knows? She was a mystery lady. Her entire life, it seems.
Well, you know, one thing I think is certain, though, Jason, I would say after all the crimes that we've covered, yep. From a misdemeanor to a murder. I would say that these suspects probably have the best hair. Probably so their hairstyles are probably on point. You they probably had those hair dryers that you know, those helmets that would sit there. Yeah, that era in the 50s. That's the what the grease era beauty school dropout? Yeah, I can picture the trap.
Oh, yeah. Actually, there's photos of them online. You could definitely Google them. Oh, I want to just look up the pair. All of them. The two killers are Fabiana was just a couple. And it was definitely looks very 1950s. But But yeah, I mean, just a spooky thing. A knock or a doorbell in the middle of the night on Halloween. You go downstairs to answer it. And bam. You know you did someone wrong in life. And it came full circle on Peter, rest in peace. And very sad and tragic. I mean, also didn't talk about the fact that Betty had kids from a previous marriage, two kids, and I don't know if the kids were in the home at the time of the murder. But she was raising these two kids. And I don't think they had a kid between them. Yes, Peter and Betty, but yeah, very spooky. I mean, imagine Betty, you know, ding dong. Honey, wait, I'll go get this. This pie some kids and you hear a fire alarm go off. Surprise. She went downstairs and not just hid somewhere upstairs. Oh, yeah. It's very, very scary. And it's easy to gloss over because we're just talking about a crime but tragic. Yeah. And putting someone under a spell. Oh, and taking them there and having them do the killing for them. Yeah, we're very bizarre.
I think the main moral of the story is, do not just go opening your door. No, I'm telling you. I do not lay in my door. Unless I absolutely know that it's who I think it is. And even then, I want to make sure nobody's standing behind them with a gun to their back. So I'm just not looking for a familiar face. I'm looking behind them making sure nobody else is with them. The
only people ringing the doorbell or knocking on my doors like UPS or Amazon. And I even say you don't have to do that. I go on my account. Yeah, you tell them but occasionally they'll do it because it just fires up Nico. Yeah. So it's rare rare that that ever happens. But it happened the middle of the night, Sal. I in answering it?
Oh, yeah. The later it is like I think we thought there was the doorbell about 430 in the morning. We just thought we heard something. Yeah, I went to the door. You just reminded me. I went to the door. Nobody. Nothing. Nobody. But we both thought that we heard the doorbell. That's great. So that was just this morning. That was this morning. Yeah. Yeah, that's why you reminded me I just, you know, I guess I put it out of my head. But yeah, that just happened this morning. 430 we thought we heard the doorbell went to go check didn't open the door. Well, you know, I'm not one of these guys. Who What do you do? No, no, I don't know Who the hell's happened.
So that's super quiet that time of night or time in the morning. It could have been a neighbor's doorbell. Just
yeah, I thought about that, too. I thought it could have been a neighbor's Well Who the hell's Why is somebody ringing the neighbor
that a light knock? Or how about a text?
How about a text? Let me in how about a phone call?
I act that way with phone calls. Now. It's like who's calling me now? Text me? This is aggressive. So yeah, knocking and ringing the doorbell. But anyway, that is the story of the trick or treat murder. Yeah, that is the Halloween edition and it's our first YouTube Live crime app. Episode. It's fun for sound AI to try new things and test new waters and reach more people hopefully. But a lot of fun so
yeah, I enjoyed this one. I would like more information I definitely want to see their photographs. I want to see what all these people look like. Yes, definitely want to do that. And yeah, senseless death and rest in peace. Mr. Fabiano?
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