Alan Canty spent most of his lunch breaks rendezvousing with an 18-year-old sex worker named Dawn Spens in the seedy streets of downtown Detroit. His wife Jan Canty had no idea he was living a double-life.

A real-life Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde saga

Alan Canty was a prominent psychologist but to Dawn, and her pimp John “Lucky” Fry, he was known as Dr. Alan Miller. He developed an alter ego in order to protect his two worlds from colliding. However, secrets can’t last forever. One day, Alan Canty’s love affair came to a tragic end. 

Dawn Spens and John Fry being led by detective Marlyss Landeros to their arraignment on murder and mutilation charges. (Credit: Edwin C. Lombardo, The Detroit News.)
Dawn Spens and John Fry being led by detective Marlyss Landeros to their arraignment on murder and mutilation charges. (Credit: Edwin C. Lombardo, The Detroit News.)

Listen to part one of the Sugar Daddy here.

Subscribe to PRETEND on your favorite podcast app:  Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play.

Links and sources

If you enjoyed the story, check out Lowell Caufiel’s book titled Masquerade 

To learn more about Jan Canty’s memoir go to www.jancantyphd.com

 


Southern True Crime Podcast Meetup

Southern True Crime Podcast Meetup 2019 Featuring: Southern Fried True Crime Trace Evidence Moms and Murder Pleasing Terrors Something’s Not Right Flatrock Pretend Unresolved Already Gone

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Tommy Condon’s Restaurant, Charleston, SC

Featuring:

  • Southern Fried True Crime
  • Trace Evidence
  • Moms and Murder
  • Pleasing Terrors
  • Something’s Not Right
  • Flatrock
  • Pretend
  • Unresolved
  • Already Gone

Credits

Today’s episode was edited by Bear Beat Productions and additional editing by Molly Brock

Our Theme is Music by Joe Basie with theChicken.net

And additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

 

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