Solved Murders - True Crime Stories - Burlington Widow’s Betrayal A Deadly Romance of Greed, Lies, and Cold-Blooded Murder PART1 #88

Episode Date: December 16, 2025

#horrorstories #reddithorrorstories #ScaryStories #creepypasta #horrortales #truecrime #deadlyromance #greedandlies #coldbloodedmurder #realhorrorstories  Part 1 of Burlington Widow’s Betrayal introduces the shocking story of a wealthy widow whose trust is exploited by a manipulative lover. What begins as a seemingly innocent romance turns into a tale of greed, lies, and deadly intentions, culminating in a shocking murder that shakes the entire community. This chapter sets the stage for a gripping true crime narrative of love gone tragically wrong.  horrorstories, reddithorrorstories, scarystories, horrorstory, creepypasta, horrortales, truecrime, deadlyromance, greedandlies, murdercase, coldbloodedcrime, betrayalstory, manipulativepartner, shockingtruth, victimstory, realcrime, darkrelationships, tragicending, communityshock, realhorrorstories

The Burlington Case, A Story of Charm, Greed, and Betrayal. Chapter 1, A Town That Slept Peacefully Burlington, Vermont, 2013 If you've ever been there, you know it's the kind of place where people leave their doors unlocked, neighbors wave when you walk your dog, and the loudest drama you'll usually hear about is a moose wandering too close to the highway. It's not the kind of town where you expect murder, betrayal, and lies to sneak in like a cold draft. But that year, something happened that shook Burlington in a way nobody saw coming.

The whole community would soon be whispering about a strange love story gone terribly wrong, about a widow who had everything money could buy but nothing money could fix, and about a young man who walked into her life with a smile so convincing that it almost looked holy. The crime itself was shocking, but what made it unforgettable was how ordinary it all seemed at first, Just two people who looked like companions, maybe even like lovers, until the curtain was pulled back and the rotten core of greed and manipulation was exposed. And at the center of it all. Loretta Whitmore

Chapter 2 The Widow on the Hill Loretta was 65 when everything began. She had the kind of life many envied, a huge house with polished wood floors, art on the walls, a Mercedes parked in the driveway and enough financial security to never worry about the price of groceries or heating bills in Vermont's brutal winters. Her late husband, Harold Whitmore,

had been a real estate mogul. The guy had an eye for property deals back when Burlington wasn't trendy, scooping up apartment buildings and commercial spaces that grew in value year after year. When Harold died, he left Loretta a financial fortress, luxury rentals downtown,

a healthy investment portfolio, and a bank account that seemed to refill itself. But money doesn't keep you warm at night. After Harold's death, Loretta's days became painfully predictable. She'd host brunches with her small circle of equally well-off friends, attend charity galaes where people smiled too wide, and wait for the occasional visit from her daughter, Rebecca, who lived in Boston and was busy carving her own path as a corporate lawyer. to the outside world loretta looked composed elegant untouchable but behind her carefully styled hair and pearl necklaces she was lonely really lonely and loneliness can make even the sharpest people blind to danger

chapter three enter the tenant the turning point came when one of her downtown apartments got a new tenant his name at least the one he was using was Eli Warden. Twenty-three years old. Handsome in that polished, magazine ad kind of way, pressed suits, perfect smile, and a voice that carried both charm and confidence. He introduced himself as an entrepreneur, the kind of digital whiz kid who had made a fortune through cryptocurrency investments. Now, in 2013, crypto wasn't the household word it is today. For most people, it sounded like tech gibberish, which only made Eli's story more impressive. Loretta, who barely checked her email without help, was dazzled. Here was this young man, worldly and ambitious, living in her building and paying top dollar for a luxury unit. What she didn't know was that

Eli Warden wasn't his real name. He'd been bouncing from city to city, always just long enough to pull small scams on older people who mistook his slick politeness for sincerity. No paper trail, no past anyone could easily find. Just a string of half-truths and carefully rehearsed lies. And Burlington? Burlington was supposed to be his next jackpot. Chapter 4 The Accidental Meeting Their first real encounter wasn't planned, at least not by Loretta.

One winter morning, the heating system in the building malfunctioned, and rather than send a property manager, she decided to swing by herself. Eli opened the door with that flawless smile. Mrs. Whitmore, right? Please, come in. Coffee. It was classic conman theater. He acted like meeting her was a delight, like she was the only person in town worth impressing. And Loretta, who hadn't had a man look at her with genuine attention in years, was

hooked within minutes. They sat in his living room, sipping coffee out of mugs that looked far too stylish for a 23-year-old tech investor and chatted like old friends. Eli listened, laughed at her stories, asked thoughtful questions. He knew exactly how to make her feel seen. From that day on, their paths crossed more and more. At first, just friendly chats when she checked on the building. lunches, then dinners. And before long, people around town started whispering about the

unlikely pair, the glamorous widow and her dashing young tenant. Chapter 5, Rebecca's uneasy feeling. Rebecca Whitmore didn't think much of it at first. She was busy in Boston, grinding long hours at her law firm. When her mother mentioned Eli on the phone, Rebecca assumed it was just a casual friendship, maybe even a distraction from grief. But then the spending started. Loretta, who had always been careful, even frugal at times, suddenly began splurging on expensive gifts. Designer suits, Rolex watches, fancy dinners.

And all for Eli. Rebecca raised an eyebrow. Mom, are you serious? This guy's young enough to be your son. What do you even know about him? But Loretta wouldn't hear it. She insisted Eli was special, that he made her feel alive again, that people just didn't understand their connection. He's not just some boy, Rebecca, Loretta said, her voice firm.

He's, he's wonderful. He makes me laugh again. He makes me feel like I'm 30. To Rebecca, it sounded like a midlife crisis mixed with a hallmark movie gone wrong. But her instincts told her something darker was at play. Chapter 6. Eli's Real Game For Eli, this wasn't romance, it was strategy. The moment he realized how wealthy Loretta really was, he started plotting.

The watches, the dinners, the constant compliments, they weren't spontaneous gestures of affection. They were investments. Eli knew the long game required patience, if he could convince Loretta not just to love him, but to trust him more than anyone else, the rest would fall into place. And the rest, in his mind, meant one thing, Loretta's will. Being her boyfriend wasn't enough. He wanted to marry her, cement his position legally, and become the sole heir to her fortune. But he could couldn't push too fast. He needed her to believe that the idea of marriage came from her heart, not his scheming. So he dripped it into conversations. Isn't it funny how

life surprises us? Sometimes I feel like we were meant to find each other. Marriage is just a piece of paper, but sometimes, it makes people feel secure. Loretta, lonely and flattered, didn't see the strings he was pulling. Chapter 7. Isolation. Rebecca, though, started noticing changes in her mother. Their phone calls grew shorter. Loretta avoided certain topics when Eli was around. She stopped going to her usual charity luncheons, stopped spending time with her friends. It was as if Eli had become the center of her world. And that was exactly what he was. wanted. Eli suddenly planted the idea that Rebecca was being controlling, that she didn't want her mother to be happy with someone younger. Your daughter doesn't get it, he whispered one

night. She's used to having all of your attention. She doesn't like sharing you. But I love you, Loretta. I don't want to take you away from her, I just want us to be happy. It was manipulation, classic and cruel. Loretta, blinded by affection, started pulling away from the one person who truly cared for her. Chapter 8 The Will The final straw for Rebecca came when she stumbled across something unsettling. While going through old family documents during a visit, she noticed a copy of her mother's will from the previous year. At that time, Rebecca had been the sole heir. Everything,

properties, investments, savings, was meant to go to her. But when she casually brought up the will to her mother, Loretta became evasive. She brushed off Rebecca's questions, changed the subject, even got defensive. Rebecca's stomach sank. Something had changed. She didn't have proof, but her instincts screamed that Eli was behind it, that he was pushing Loretta to rewrite her will in his favor. So she decided to investigate. Chapter 9. No Past to Find

Rebecca dug into public records, databases, anything she could access. She was a lawyer, research was her bread and butter. But when she searched for Eli Warden, she hit a brick wall. No property records. No tax records. No high school transcripts. Nothing in Vermont, nothing in Massachusetts, nothing anywhere. It was as if Eli hadn't existed before arriving in Burlington.

And that, of course, was the biggest red flag of all. Rebecca realized she wasn't just dealing with a young boyfriend with questionable motives. She was dealing with a ghost, a man with no past, no paper trail, no proof that his stories of success were anything but smoke and mirrors. Her mother was in danger And she needed to act fast Chapter 10 Digging Deeper Rebecca couldn't shake the feeling that she was racing against time

Every call with her mother left her more unsettled Loretta sounded different, less sharp, less independent Almost like she was repeating phrases Eli had fed her One night, sitting in her Boston apartment surrounded by case files from work, Rebecca decided to treat this like a legal case. If Eli was lying about who he was, then there had to be breadcrumb somewhere. She pulled up her laptop and started combing through every database she could access. Property records, business registries, bankruptcy filings, even college alumni lists. The name Eli Warden came up empty.

again and again. Finally, she widened the net, searching for possible aliases, using the birth year he had casually mentioned once over dinner with Loretta. After hours of digging, she found a small lead, a police report from New Jersey, filed under a different name but with a matching birth date. The crime? A misunderstanding, involving forged checks and a complaint from an elderly landlord. Rebecca's pulse quickened. This wasn't just a charming young boyfriend. This was a predator. Chapter 11, The Warning

Rebecca decided to confront her mother. Mom, listen to me, she said during their next call. I don't think Eli is who he says he is. I did some digging, and his name doesn't exist in any public records. Nothing. Doesn't that seem strange to you? Loretta bristled. Rebecca, you've gone too far.

You had no right to snoop into his past. He's been nothing but kind to me. You don't know him like I do. Exactly, Mom, that's the problem. Nobody knows him. Because he's hiding something. Stop it, Loretta snapped. You're just jealous because I've found happiness again.

You can't stand that I'm with someone. who makes me feel alive. I won't let you ruin this for me. It was like talking to a stranger. Rebecca hung up the phone, her chest tight, realizing Eli had already sunk his claws deep. Chapter 12, Eli tightens the net. Meanwhile, Eli was playing his role flawlessly.

He showered Loretta with compliments, always knowing the right words. You're ageless You're more beautiful than anyone I've ever met People wish they had what we have, they're just jealous When Loretta worried about what others thought of their age gap, Eli brushed it off Love doesn't check IDs, Loretta You're my partner, my everything

Who cares if people gossip? He was careful never to prove pushed too hard. But slowly, he started steering the conversations toward the future. You know, marriage isn't about age. It's about commitment. Sometimes I think about how perfect it would be to wake up every day knowing we belong to each other. To Loretta, these didn't sound like manipulations, they sounded like dreams she had secretly wished for. Chapter 13, the first slip. For all his charm, Eli wasn't perfect. One evening, Loretta invited him to a dinner with a couple of her old friends.

They were women her age, sharp-tongued and perceptive. Over wine, one of them asked Eli about his family. He smiled easily. Oh, my parents live overseas. I don't get to see them much. Where overseas, she pressed. He hesitated for just a second too long. A.

Switzerland. Later, the same friend whispered to Loretta, something about that boy doesn't sit right with me. Be careful. Loretta brushed it off, but the seed of doubt flickered, only to be smothered by Eli's practiced reassurances. Chapter 14, Rebecca Strikes Back Rebecca wasn't giving up. She hired a private investigator, a grizzled man named Charles who had seen his fair share of scams. Within two weeks, Charles had a folder thick with Eli's past.

Different names, different cities, the same pattern, befriending older women, draining their accounts, then disappearing. He'd never stayed long enough to face serious consequences. This guy's a professional leech, Charles told Rebecca. He knows how to make people fall for him, then he bleeds them dry. If your mother's rewritten her will, he's aiming for the big prize this time. Rebecca's hands shook as she flipped through the photos and documents. She needed to get her mother away from him, but how? Loretta wouldn't listen to her.

She decided she'd have to expose Eli in front of her. her. Chapter 15, The Confrontation Rebecca drove up to Burlington unannounced one Saturday. She found her mother and Eli together in the living room, sipping wine like they were in some glossy lifestyle magazine. Rebecca, Loretta said, surprised. What are you doing here?

I came to talk, Rebecca said firmly, her eyes locked on Eli. And I'm not leaving until I do. She dropped the folder from Charles onto the coffee table. Photos, documents, arrest records spilled out. This is who he really is, Mom. Not Eli Warden. His name changes every time he moves. He's been scamming people for years.

He's not in love with you, he's after your money. Loretta's face drained of color. She looked at Eli, desperate for reassurance. Eli leaned forward, calm as ever. This is ridiculous. Rebecca, you're attacking me because you can't stand the idea of your mother being happy. These are lies, doctored papers. You do anything to push me out of her life.

Loretta's eyes darted between them. For a moment, Rebecca thought the truth was breaking through. But then Loretta showed her. her head, tears forming. I don't know what to believe, she whispered. And that was all Eli needed. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, glaring at Rebecca with a smile that was pure triumph. Chapter 16, The Breaking Point

From that night on, things spiraled. Rebecca called less often, frustrated and hurt. Loretta clung tighter to Eli, tighter to Eli, convincing herself he was her only ally. And Eli, sensing victory, began pushing harder. He encouraged Loretta to update her legal documents. It's just practical, he said smoothly. Life is unpredictable. Don't you want to make sure the person you love is taken care of? Loretta hesitated, but eventually gave in. Lawyers were contacted. Papers were drafted. Papers were drafted. Eli's name appeared where Rebecca's once stood alone. The trap was almost

complete. Chapter 17, The Storm Before the End. By late fall, Burlington's leaves had turned gold and red, and Loretta was more isolated than ever. Friends stopped calling, they were tired of being brushed off. Rebecca visited less, too drained by the constant battles. It was exactly what Eli wanted, Loretta all to himself, surrounded only by his voice, his influence. But greed has a way of overreaching. Eli wasn't satisfied with waiting for inheritance. He wanted more, faster. And that impatience would set the stage for the brutal ending nobody in Burlington could have imagined.

To be continued.