Crime News Insider

N. Leigh Hunt - Author of "I Don't Like Mondays"

Episode Summary

Author N. Leigh Hunt discusses his book "I Don't Like Mondays: The True Story Behind America's First Modern School Shooting". This book uncovers key details behind the 1979 school shooting at Cleveland Elementary School, in the San Carols community of San Diego, CA.

Episode Notes

Author N. Leigh Hunt joins the podcast and talks about his book "I Don't Like Mondays: The True Story Behind America's First Modern School Shooting". This book uncovers key details behind the 1979 school shooting at Cleveland Elementary School, in the San Carols community of San Diego, CA.  

On the morning of January 29, 1979, 16 y.o. Brenda Spencer shot several elementary children and adults, killing principal Burton Wragg and custodian Mike Suchar, who both died trying to help the children. Spencer infamously said "I don't like Mondays" when asked why she committed the murders. Spencer pled guilty to two counts of murder and assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 35-life in prison. The Boomtown Rats released a song in July 1979 with the title "I Don't Like Mondays" which was very controversial and still popular in the UK. 

N. Leigh Hunt spent years researching and uncovering shocking details from officers, investigators, and lost police dispatches. He has interviewed people who were on the scene and local reporters who spoke with the perpetrator directly after her shooting spree. Hunt has even cultivated an unlikely rapport with the killer and shed light on previously unknown details about her upbringing and influences.

Click here to purchase the book from Amazon (we do not receive any money for this referral). 

Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books and quiz the panelists to see if they can guess which law is fake. 2 are real, 1 is fake--can you guess which one is the fake? The theme this episode is the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 section 54 – nuisances by persons in the thoroughfares (in the London Metro area).

A. It’s illegal to slide upon ice or snow to the common danger of the passengers.

B. It’s illegal to use insulting words or behaviour during the time of divine service.

C. It’s illegal to ring a door-bell without lawful excuse.

Thank you to all of our listeners! We sincerely appreciate all of you and thank you for listening to our show. Please be sure to leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DAs Association nor the District Attorney.

Questions and comments can be emailed to crimenewsinsider@gmail.com.

Featured in the Top 10 San Diego Podcasts!

Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!

Website: https://sdddaa.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/

Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr@SanDiegoDDAs

Instagram: @sandiegoddas

Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"

Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.