The Murder of Jane Stanford

# Stuff You Should Know: The Mysterious Death of Jane Stanford

In this riveting true crime episode, Josh and Chuck dive into one of America's most compelling unsolved murders: the death of Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University. The hosts explore how Jane and her husband Leland Stanford built their wealth through questionable railroad dealings before creating one of the world's most prestigious universities in memory of their deceased son, and then investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding Jane's death in Hawaii in 1905 — complete with a suspicious first poisoning attempt and an alleged cover-up by the university's president. It's a fascinating look at Gilded Age ambition, academic politics, and whether justice was truly served or buried under institutional prestige and a powerful man's influence.