Episode 232

full
Published on:

11th Mar 2026

Why Zach Bowen Jumped: The True Story of New Orleans' Most Notorious Case

On October 17, 2006, in New Orleans and on top of the Omni Royal Hotel, a man walked to the edge and jumped.

In his pocket, police found a note and keys. This note led them to an address on Rampart Street. When they arrived, they found pots on the stove and a roasting pan in the oven but he wasn't making dinner.



00:00 Zach & Addie

01:48 The Suicide Note & The Confession

03:42 The Heros of the Quarter

07:26 A Soldier and his Breaking Point

09:19 Addie's Trauma

10:34 The King & Queen of the Quarter

12:09 Addie Ends the Relationship

13:02 The Crime (Warning: Graphic)

16:32 The 12-Day Ghost Period

19:38 The Apartment Confession

22:59 The Exploitation of Zach & Addie


If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. You are not alone.


Veterans Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-8255


Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988 (in the U.S.)


SOURCES


The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/09/us/nationalspecial/holdouts-on-dry-ground-say-why-leave-now.html


ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2588147


CBS News / Associated Press https://www.cbsnews.com/news/womans-head-found-in-pot-limbs-in-oven/


The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/murder-most-mysterious-the-house-of-horror-in-new-orleans-420791.html


NOLA.com (The Times-Picayune) https://www.nola.com/news/article_c3ce800a-d335-5dc2-a310-1499c634a5cb.html


Gambit Weekly (Q&A with Ethan Brown) https://www.nola.com/gambit/news/the_latest/article_3914a1a6-897b-568b-9457-30c85c28e2d.html


A&E Real Crime https://www.aetv.com/articles/6-notorious-crimes-in-new-orleans-history


Historic Mysteries https://www.historicmysteries.com/major-crimes/zach-bowen-addie-hall-murder/


Ghost City Tours Investigative Blog https://ghostcitytours.com/new-orleans/ghost-stories/zack-addie/


Where Y'at New Orleans https://www.whereyat.com/the-tragic-tale-of-zach-addie


Crime Museum https://www.crimemuseum.org/2014/01/24/truly-chilling/


International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aps.1865




#TrueCrime #New Orleans #ZachAndAddie #HurricaneKatrina #CaseStudy #DeepDive #FrenchQuarter #InvestigativeResearch

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Kristine W

Lover of true crime, scary stories, horror films, and ghost hunting. Kristine is a down-to-earth, opinionated, smart-mouthed Gen X'er who enjoys sharing these stories with you.