Reporting on Doreen Erbert
UPI Archives
Reported coverage offers a concise introduction.
1984 · San Jose, California
Doreen Erbert
Partners & family
Doreen Erbert was killed at her California home on Halloween in 1984 by her former husband William Michael Dennis, who arrived in disguise. Her pregnancy also ended in the attack, while her daughter survived by hiding. Dennis was convicted in the case.
EXPLORE THE CASE
The Story
When1984
WhereSan Jose, California
In this collection33 resources
Start here.
Choose a book, screen story or audio episode from this case’s collection.
Snapped — Michael Dennis (S26 E7): case preview
Oxygen
Explore this screen title and its source details before choosing a service.
Murder: True Crime Stories — Halloween Murders 2: Doreen Erbert
Apple Podcasts
An audio option for exploring this case while listening.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon buttons marked “paid link” may earn us a commission. Affiliate disclosure
Where are they now?
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
Nicknames & media names
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Blogs & Essays
Read our articles here and explore outside perspectives, credited to their writers and publications. See this case in the Journal →
From the journal
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
Blogs & essays
1 itemsAbout these sources
Outside essays and reading guides reflect their authors’ perspectives. Compare claims with reported and primary sources.
Bonnie’s Blog of Crime
Doreen Erbert: case resources
A blog resource post gathers reporting about Erbert’s murder and the prosecution.
Outside CommentaryAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
EXPLORE THE CASE
Books
CONTINUE YOUR READING
Search this case on Amazon · paid linkSearch results may include unrelated titles. Check the author, edition, and case connection before purchasing.
Explore Reading & Streaming Options · Our case guides are free.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon buttons marked “paid link” may earn us a commission. Affiliate disclosure
Books
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Movies & TV
Movies
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
TV & documentaries
2 itemsAbout these sources
Episodes, documentaries and title listings. Season and episode numbers follow the linked catalog and can differ by service. Air dates are separate from crime dates. Playback availability varies by service and region.
Oxygen
Snapped — Michael Dennis (S26 E7): case preview
Broadcaster clip or preview for this case’s episode. This link may show an excerpt rather than the full program.
Screen TitleAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Search Amazon · paid linkViewing options & episode details
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
IMDb · TV episode
Snapped — William Dennis (2019)
IMDb episode reference connected to the Doreen Erbert case. Listed release: 2019. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
Screen TitleTitle Details · Not Playback
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Search Amazon · paid linkCredits & title details on IMDb
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Audiobooks
An audiobook edition has not been confirmed for this case yet. You can check the audiobook catalog or explore the case’s podcasts.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon buttons marked “paid link” may earn us a commission. Affiliate disclosure
EXPLORE THE CASE
Fiction Work
Fiction Work
Browse all →Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
No verified fictional adaptation or inspiration has been identified in this collection. Nonfiction coverage is listed in the other media sections.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Podcasts
Podcasts
15 itemsAbout these sources
Audio episodes and oral histories. Personal recollections are attributed perspectives; some services require sign-in.
Apple Podcasts
Murder: True Crime Stories — Halloween Murders 2: Doreen Erbert
Direct episode page for this case or its screen adaptation. Open it for listening options and the publisher’s episode notes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Residue: A True Crime Podcast
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf: The Halloween Murder of Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released July 16, 2024. About 36 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Crimeatorium
The Halloween Murder of Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released June 4, 2026. About 29 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
California True Crime
San Jose Halloween Murders: Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released January 17, 2019. About 78 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Crimeatorium True Crime
A Halloween Tragedy: The Brutal Murder of Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released November 9, 2020. About 33 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Killer Instinct
Doreen Erbert : Hacked To Death By Man In Wolf Mask | HalloWeek 2022
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released October 24, 2022. About 33 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Show 9 more podcasts
Lady, You’re Scaring Us
Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released October 31, 2023. About 21 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Wicked and Grim: A True Crime Podcast
The Big Bad Wolf Murder - Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released June 6, 2025. About 56 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan
The Halloween Murder of Doreen Erbert and her Unborn Son | THE BIG BAD WOLF
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released October 21, 2024. About 43 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Never Light Up A Room Podcast
Episode 083: The Murder of Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released October 29, 2025. About 46 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
United States of Murder
California: Julie Kibuishi, Sam Herr, and Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released March 1, 2021. About 78 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Aren't You Worried?
The Murder of Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released March 27, 2026. About 65 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Reverie True Crime
138. Halloween 1984: Machete Murder of Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released October 31, 2022. About 58 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Mortal Musings Podcast
108. The Murder of Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released October 29, 2025. About 55 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
They Will Kill
A Halloween Treat from the Patreon Archives: The Terrifying Murder of Doreen Erbert
Podcast coverage of the Doreen Erbert case. Released October 31, 2020. About 44 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
EXPLORE THE CASE
Social Media
BRING YOUR PERSPECTIVE
Where would you start?
Choose your reading route, then share a question with your community.
Your choice stays on this page. No vote is submitted or counted.
Talk about sources and storytelling with care for the people affected. A documentary, a book and a court record serve different purposes.
EXPLORE THE CASE
News & Reading
More Reading & Audio
0 sourcesExplore book records, previews, library audiobooks and selected documents. Access labels distinguish free material from library loans and paid subscriptions.
No additional case-specific reading source was confirmed in this review. The reporting and original summaries elsewhere on this page remain available.
Reading Access Notes
Search reviewed 2026-09-16. Sources searched: Google Books, Internet Archive, Open Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atavist Magazine, Google Books (case/title search), Scribd, Everand, OverDrive and hoopla (combined title search). Search indexing is incomplete; this is not an exhaustive list of the web. Access can change by edition, country and library membership. Library loans may require sign-in or a wait. Everand titles may need a paid subscription; a trial is not permanent free access. Scribd documents are third-party uploads, with uploader details noted where checked. We link to source pages and write our own descriptions rather than reproducing copyrighted books.
A separate Texas Monthly search was blocked by the publisher’s automated-access rules and could not be verified.
News & reporting
1 itemsUPI Archives
Reporting on Doreen Erbert
Linked reporting or commentary. Read the source date for its historical context; access may require a subscription.
JournalismAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Newspaper clippings
2 itemsFeatured newspaper clipping
Read our original summary below. The archive link opens the newspaper’s own clipping viewer.
The Peninsula Times Tribune · 1984-11-02 · Page 12
Police investigate the Halloween attack on Doreen Erbert
Investigators examined the killing of Doreen Erbert and her unborn child after William Michael Dennis's arrest.
Continuation of an early investigation report. Contains graphic descriptions of violence.
Newspaper ReportingAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Read the original at Newspapers.com. Access and subscription requirements are set by the archive.
Open full clipping at Newspapers.comMore from the newspaper archive
Continue with these dated reports on Newspapers.com.
The Peninsula Times Tribune · 1988-07-23 · Page 3
Witnesses testify in the Erbert murder trial
A coworker, relatives and officers gave evidence as the prosecution examined the history preceding the Halloween killing.
Trial testimony and allegations; includes disturbing descriptions and unrelated page material.
Read this article on Newspapers.comKeep following the newspaper trail.
Search original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.
Explore more on Newspapers.comNewspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.
Internet Archive
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Court & Files
Court records & documents
1 itemsAbout these sources
Documents are labeled by type and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. This collection is not the complete case file.
Court opinionArchive copy
Dennis v. Broomfield — federal habeas opinion
The Ninth Circuit reviewed William Dennis’s federal habeas claims following the prosecution for the attack that killed Doreen Erbert and her unborn child.
- Court / agency
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Document date
- May 28, 2024
- Case / citation
- 18-99008
- Hosted by
- Justia
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
EXPLORE THE CASE
Positive Outcome
Positive Outcome
0 itemsAbout these sources
Documented laws, advocacy and reforms. Listing a change does not claim it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific reform has been verified for this collection yet.
Social Media
11 itemsAbout these sources
Case-specific posts, videos and communities. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting. Platforms may require sign-in.
Murder With My Husband
Catching The Big Bad Wolf - The Murder of Doreen Erbert
Video from Murder With My Husband covering the Doreen Erbert case. Length: 39:21.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Crimeatorium
The Disturbing Case of Doreen Erbert
Video from Crimeatorium covering the Doreen Erbert case. Length: 33:11.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
California True Crime
San Jose Halloween Murders: Doreen Erbert
Video from California True Crime covering the Doreen Erbert case. Length: 1:18:18.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
British royal family news
Even Horror Movies can't be THAT BRUTAL. Unbelievable Case of Doreen Erbert .True Crime Documentary.
Video from British royal family news covering the Doreen Erbert case. Length: 17:45.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Residue: A True Crime Podcast
35: Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf: The Halloween Murder of Doreen Erbert
Video from Residue: A True Crime Podcast covering the Doreen Erbert case. Length: 32:15.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Killer Instinct Podcast
HALLOWEEK EPISODE 1: The Double Homicide on Halloween
Video from Killer Instinct Podcast covering the Doreen Erbert case. Length: 30:56.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Show 5 more social media
Reddit · r/TrueCrimeDiscussion
Discussion: A Dad in Wolf’s Clothing (Doreen Erbert Case)
Public community discussion connected to Doreen Erbert. Posts and comments are reader perspectives, not independently verified reporting.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Facebook · Creator channel
California True Crime — Facebook page
Linked by this creator in the episode notes for “San Jose Halloween Murders: Doreen Erbert.” This creator channel covers multiple cases. The matching case episode is linked below. The platform may ask you to sign in.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Facebook · Creator channel
Wicked and Grim: A True Crime Podcast — Facebook page
Linked by this creator in the episode notes for “The Big Bad Wolf Murder - Doreen Erbert.” This creator channel covers multiple cases. The matching case episode is linked below. The platform may ask you to sign in.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
TikTok · Creator channel
Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan — TikTok channel
Linked by this creator in the episode notes for “The Halloween Murder of Doreen Erbert and her Unborn Son | THE BIG BAD WOLF.” This creator channel covers multiple cases. The matching case episode is linked below. The platform may ask you to sign in.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Facebook · Creator channel
Reverie True Crime — Facebook page
Linked by this creator in the episode notes for “138. Halloween 1984: Machete Murder of Doreen Erbert.” This creator channel covers multiple cases. The matching case episode is linked below. The platform may ask you to sign in.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)