Crime Writers On...True Crime Review

Jerry Springer and his titular TV show became synonymous with trash entertainment, serving up daily episodes of sensational confrontations and bad behavior. But the host began his public life as a progressive local politician whose career was nearly derailed by a sex scandal. After a stint as a Cincinnati anchorman, Springer became one among a crowded field of new daytime talk shows. His program rose to the top, with its uniquely crude style of on-camera confrontations. Though it made him famous, Springer seemed indifferent to the show that bore his name…wishing to distance himself from its outlandish legacy and achieve something more positive.    In the Audible Original and Prologue Projects podcast series “Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer,” host Leon Neyfakh recounts Springer's unlikely journey from immigrant to politician to ring master in television's trashiest show. It takes a nuanced look at the man and whether his program created - or merely reflected - a corroding culture of misbehavior, spectacle, and cruelty.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FINAL THOUGHTS: JERRY SPRINGER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

At a maximum security prison in Licking, MO, a select group of inmates take part in a restorative justice program in which they make quilts for foster children. The incarcerated men work in a special sewing room, using donated material to make the intricate, customized blankets. In this quiet setting, the men support each other as they craft quilts of surprising artistry. Several say the project is more than an activity - it provides them an opportunity to atone for their crimes and give back to the community.Academy Award winner for Best Short Documentary, “The Quilters,” is now streaming on Netflix. The film takes us inside the South Central Corrections Center. We see the quilters take pride in their work and their contributions to children in need, all while processing their own struggles through the restorative power of art.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE QUILTERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: hot spot. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Seven years after his release, former juvenile lifer David Luis “Suave” Gonzalez is thriving as an inmate advocate and emerging podcaster. But despite his successes, he struggles with his new reality of supervised freedom and time lost in prison.  Journalist Maria Hinojosa also attempts to balance her often-fraught relationship with a longtime friend who's also her interview subject.  Meanwhile, as Suave grows personally and professionally, he grapples with situations that could send him back to prison.After a Pulitzer Prize win for season one, Futuro Media's “Suave” returns for a second season. This time, Suave wrestles with the complexity of freedom and lifetime supervision, all while searching for love, success, and a renewed sense of identity. It also follows Maria's attempts to nurture Suave, though tensions about their connection grow.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SUAVE" SEASON TWO BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Jason Corbett was the widowed father of two young children when he began a relationship with his American au pair, Molly Martens. They moved from Ireland to North Carolina to start a new life. But it came to a violent end after Molly and her father killed Jason with a baseball bat and a brick, claiming self-defense. As authorities charged the pair with murder, the Corbett family said the attack was premeditated, accusing Molly of trying to obtain custody of Jason's kids. But when the Martens received a new trial, both sides said the true story of the marriage had yet to be revealed. The Netflix documentary film “A Deadly American Marriage” recounts the troubling 2015 case and its dueling narratives of who was the actual aggressor. It explores issues around domestic violence, unreliable testimony, and imperfect victims. It also focuses on Corbett's children, now teenagers living in Ireland, as they deal with their lingering trauma.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: once, bitten. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In 2000, a group of career criminals known for their audacious heists gets recruited for what would be the biggest robbery in history. Lee Wenham and his crew draw up a plan to steal the world's largest diamond on display for the public at London's Millennium Dome.   As the thieves work out how to thwart guards, vaults, and impregnable glass, an elite police unit has been monitoring their plans. While the so-called Flying Squad has clocked elements of the bandits' scheme, it won't be until the day of the heist when they learn how it all fits together.Netflix's “The Diamond Heist” recounts the daring daylight caper to steal the 203-carat, £200-million Millennium Star. Produced by movie director Guy Ritchie, the three-part series is high on action film pace and style. We hear from both the cops and robbers involved, who tell their stories and take part in the re-enactments. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE DIAMOND HEIST" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

While writing his latest #MeToo-related story, Ronan Farrow reaches out to a wealthy and histrionic aging beauty queen who's made allegations against a powerful politician. As he tries to decide whether CeCe Doane is a credible source, he learns the woman is connected to a jewel heist, an arson, and murder attempts on two husbands. Intrigued by the colorful figure, Farrow switches his focus to CeCe's life story and the cold cases attached to her. What he discovers is a complicated woman shaped by drama of her own making, whose truths don't neatly fit with reality.From Audible Original and Neon Hum comes “Not a Very Good Murderer.” Farrow combines true crime and character study as he tries to learn what's real and what CeCe wants him to think is real. What begins as an exercise in journalistic due diligence turns into an exploration of nefarious deeds, substance abuse, family dysfunction, and political extremism.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "NOT A VERY GOOD MURDERER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: roo'd awakening.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

When Jeremy Scott confessed that he - and not Leo Schofield - murdered Michelle Schofield in 1987, the state of Florida refused to believe him. Journalist Gilbert King's quest to exonerate Leo drew him closer into Jeremy's background and the family who drifted away from him. Convinced the key to clearing Leo's name included proving Jeremy's involvement in a separate unsolved murder, King doubled down on his investigation, turning up new leads. But the effort brought King new understanding of the convict as he takes stock of his life and contemplates the consequences of his actions. In season two of the critically acclaimed podcast series “Bone Valley” from  Lava for Good and Signal Co. 1, King focuses on the man responsible for Leo's wrongful conviction and develops an unlikely connection. He also works as a kind of advocate for Jeremy, working to set the record straight about his many crimes and do right by the many people he's hurt - including Leo Schofield.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BONE VALLEY" SEASON TWO BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

TV make-up artist Melissa Reed is trying to keep a family secret: her father is the infamous Happy Face Killer. But Keith Hunter Jesperson lures her back into his life with a startling confession: a man in Texas is about to be executed for a murder he committed.  Melissa and a TV producer look for evidence Jesperson killed Heather Richmond to exonerate her boyfriend, Elijah. While those around the Reed family grow increasingly fascinated by their ties to a serial killer, Melissa struggles with what the crimes of her father say about her.Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid star in “Happy Face” from Showtime and Paramount +. The series is inspired by the podcast of the same name, but takes its reimagined characters into a fictional murder mystery. It also attempts to make a statement about our attraction to true crime and the lingering trauma of victims and their families.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF SHOWTIME'S "HAPPY FACE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: I'm a sucker for you. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

When he was 14, “Gareth” began a sexual relationship with his attractive science teacher at his North London school. Students spread rumors and adults minimized the gravity of the relationship, saying Gareth had lived out every teen's fantasy of sleeping with an older woman. After struggling with his emotions and mental health for thirty-five years, Gareth came to realize Sally-Anne Bowen wasn't his girlfriend - she was his abuser. But his quest to get justice is hampered by those who don't view him as the victim of teen sexual abuse, but as a lucky boy.The four-part podcast “Lucky Boy” from Tortoise Media explores how the explicit encounters began, the consequences of their discovery, and Gareth's attempts to make sense of his life. Host Chloe Hadjimatheou searches for other victims of Bowen while asking why our perception of sexual abuse is different when the perpetrator is an alluring woman and the victim is an adolescent boy. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LUCKY BOY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE PODCAST. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

The Barnett family agrees to a hasty adoption of a seven-year-old girl from Ukraine who has dwarfism and other disabilities. But her paperwork is suspiciously incomplete, and Kristine and Michael grow worried about Natalia Grace's menacing behavior. They come to a shocking conclusion: she's really an adult impersonating a child. After a court “re-ages” her, the Barnett's move Natalia into her own apartment where she seems ill-equipped to live on her own. Then a cop suspects the real scammers may be the Barnetts, who found an elaborate way to dump a special needs child they didn't want to care for.   Ellen Pompeo, Mark Duplass, and Imogen Faith Reid star in Hulu's “Good American Family,” inspired by the story behind the documentary “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace.” The scripted series shifts from quasi-horror film to emotional drama, leaving viewers to ponder the motives of who is lying about Natalia's true identity and the horrifying implications of that lie for the people involved. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GOOD AMERICAN FAMILY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Baby, you can steal my car. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

The celebrity event of the year was the White Party, where stars would gather at the East Hampton mansion of hip hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. But when most of the crowd went home, others would stay for what Combs called the “freak-off,” a drug-fueled sex party secretly filmed for the musician's benefit. When his longtime girlfriend, the singer Cassie, sued him for rape, Diddy quickly settled the case. But details in the filings piqued the interest of authorities, who began to investigate whether his many private parties were consensual soirees or illegal sex trafficking.From 20/20 and ABC Audio comes “Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy.” Host Brian Buckmire recounts how Combs went from hip hop star to defendant. The six episodes is a prologue to the podcast's plans for twice a week episodes once Combs goes on trial for sex trafficking, kidnapping, bribery, and arson. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BAD RAP" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

While living in Canada, Desirrê becomes a follower of Kat Torres, a fellow Brazilian and online life coach. The social media star says she has mystical powers and dispenses advice to her audience. But as Kat's influence over Desirrê grows, her friend Paty notices changes in her behavior. Years later, Paty learns Desirrê is among several women who've left their life behind to move to the US with Kat. And as the influencer's behavior grows more bizarre, she forces Desirrê and others around her into prostitution. Season two of the Wondery podcast “Guru: Don't Cross Kat” recounts the rise and fall of Kat Torres, from model to life coach to international sex trafficker. Brazilian journalist Chico Felitti updates his Portuguese language podcast on the case, interviewing people on two continents to explain how one glamorous influencer could go so far to control her followers.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DON'T CROSS KAT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: coming around the home stretch. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Party boy Danny Garcia was a con artist who drained the bank accounts of his friends and lovers. Kaushal Niroula passed himself off as a member of the Nepalese royal family. Together they posed as bankers, art dealers, and real estate developers to dupe investors, each scam more outrageous than the last.  When the so-called “Gay Grifters” set their sights on Palm Springs socialite Cliff Lambert, they graduated from fraud to bloodshed. They drained Lambert's accounts and liquidated his property after killing him in his own home.“True Crime News Presents: American Hustlers” traces Niroula and Garcia's journey from con men to killers. Hosts Kim Kanter and Julie Golden recount their increasingly audacious swindles and the one crime they couldn't trick their way out of. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "AMERICAN HUSTLERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

When the body of the chief usher is discovered in the living quarters of the White House during a state dinner, the responsibility of investigating the crime falls to the world's greatest detective. Cordelia Cupp orders that neither the staff nor the prestigious guests may leave the building until she uncovers who killed A.B. Wynter. The quirky sleuth soon discovers that nothing is as it seems. Shifting clues and peculiar evidence reveal that many of the staff he supervised, as well as members of the President's family he attended to, had reasons to want the prickly chief usher gone.Emmy winner Uzo Aduba, Randall Park, and Giancarlo Esposito star in Netflix's comedy murder mystery “The Residence.” Filled with offbeat characters and shifting timelines, this whodunnit invites viewers to untangle a web of secrets hidden behind the scenes in the Executive Mansion.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE RESIDENCE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: fowl mouth. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In the war on drugs, police rely heavily on confidential informants, because citing a CI empowers them to use tactics with less oversight and fewer guardrails. But the practice is rife with abuse, allowing them to skirt civil liberties on the word of snitches who might not even exist.   The problem is pronounced in the historic fishing town of New Bedford, MA. Investigative reporters have identified many instances where cops used the CI system to make dubious arrests, rip off dealers, and avoid accountability. It found that one of the biggest users of these shady tactics has long evaded culpability - and today is the city's police chief.From The Boston Globe's vaunted investigative unit, “Spotlight: Snitch City” uncovers the murky world of informant-based law enforcement and its history in one community. Host Dugan Arnett talks to former New Bedford officers and CIs about misuse of the system. It also uncovers evidence of questionable behavior by Paul Oliveira, who built his career using snitches and is now head of the department.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SPOTLIGHT: SNITCH CITY" IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

The search for a missing sex worker in 2010 led to a grizzly discovery: the bodies of several women were unearthed in the dunes along New York's Gilgo Beach. It led investigators to the conclusion that a serial killer was targeting women on Long Island. The high profile case remained cold for years, with books, podcasts, and movies raising awareness - all while investigators were dogged by dissention and corruption. But new technology and a fresh set of eyes spotted a likely suspect, someone identified by witnesses years earlier. “Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer” recounts the long hunt for the culprit and a look at the man police say evaded detection for more than a decade. Filmmaker Liz Garbus, who directed the 2020 motion picture “Lost Girls,” returns to the topic just as Rex Heuermann prepares for trial, accused of the Gilgo Beach murders.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GONE GIRLS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL ELEVEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Kings of hearts For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Jake Haendel was a heroin user diagnosed with a rare brain disease. He soon slipped into a vegetative state and was thought to be brain dead. But Jake was fully aware of his surroundings, unable to move or communicate. It would be 18 months before doctors realized he was awake, the only known patient to survive Locked-In Syndrome. But as he returned to the world, Jake had stories about the things said to him when no one thought he could hear them.In the podcast “Blink,” host Corrine Vein and Jake Haendel tell the story of his incredible medical journey through the lens of true crime. What was going on while Jake was trapped in his own body and what caused his condition in the first place?OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BLINK" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE PODCAST. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Gunshots ring out at The White Lotus, just days after a new group of guests traveled to the exclusive resort in Thailand. They include Timothy Ratliff, whose entitled family is unaware the FBI has just uncovered his financial crimes. TV star Jaclyn Lemon and her two besties are enjoying a girls' getaway, but tensions are brewing among the life-long friends. Rick Hatchett has traveled with his free-spirit girlfriend, but his interest lies with some mysterious personal business in Bangkok.  Among the staff, a shy security guard pines after a beautiful co-worker, a lothario flirts with the women, and a transplant from Maui recognizes a fugitive wanted for questioning in a high-profile death in Italy.Season three of “The White Lotus” takes viewers to a new exotic location examining privilege, sex - and this time - spirituality and death. Walton Goggins, Parker Posey, and Michelle Monaghan are part of the ensemble cast meditating on what is worth living for…and what is worth dying for.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF THE FIRST SEVEN EPISODES OF "THE WHITE LOTUS" SEASON THREE BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.TO HEAR OUR TAKES ON THE SEASON FINALE, GO TO THE CWO AFTER SHOW FOR A FREE EXCERPT FROM THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: This is nuts! For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Officer Mickey Fitzpatrick attempts to balance life as a single mother and a cop patrolling Philadelphia's high crime section of Kensington. She discovers a pattern of women whose murders are made to look like overdoses, but struggles to get her supervisors interested in the deaths of addicts and sex workers. Teaming up with her ex-partner, Mickey works to find the serial killer targeting women working the streets. But she's also looking for one in particular: her drug-addicted sister who's gone missing.Based on the bestselling novel, “Long Bright River” on Peacock stars Amanda Seyfried and Nicholas Pinnock. The crime drama follows Mickey's hunt to unmask the killer, while also confronting her past and navigating her complicated personal life.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LONG BRIGHT RIVER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In the 1970s, Kenny “The Kid” Tekiela worked his way up from a teenage doorman at a brothel to a hitman for the Chicago mob. But he left the mafia to become a paramedic, get married, and have children. It was a life he kept from his family for decades, until Kenny's drug addiction forced him to reveal his past deeds. Years later, his son asked him to finally open up about his past for a podcast. Mixed in with his grandiose tales of mob life, Kenny confessed to struggling with guilt and regret for the things he'd done. In the podcast “Crook County” from iHeartRadio and Tenderfoot TV, host Kyle Tekiela reconnects with his estranged father to learn about the life he never knew. Along the way, Kyle tries to reconcile the loving dad he remembered with the enforcer who committed violence for the Chicago Outfit and covered up crimes for dirty cops.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CROOK COUNTY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: family connection. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

The 1969 Manson Family killings gripped the nation for their sheer brutality and madness. But left unanswered is exactly how Charles Manson turned a group of hippies into assassins through mere persuasion. The book Helter Skelter says Manson convinced his followers of an impending race war, one they needed to be at the center of. But journalist Tom O'Neill uncovered loose connections between Manson and the head of the CIA's secret program MK-Ultra. He says the Manson murders read less like a spree killing and more like the LSD-fueled mind control experiments the government had been perfecting.From Oscar-winner Errol Morris and Netflix comes “CHAOS: The Manson Murders.” The director of “The Thin Blue Line” and “Wormwood” returns to the subject of MK-Ultra, exploring whether it can be blamed for the famous crime spree. Was Manson really a failed musician-turned-cult leader, or did he get help from an infamous Cold War program?OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CHAOS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

On a quiet morning, British police raid the home of Jamie Miller and arrest the 13-year-old for murder. The boy proclaims his innocence as he and his parents are put through the whirlwind of the arrest process and questioned about the crime. As investigators look for the weapon and a motive, a psychologist searches for clues into Jamie's psyche, and what in the unassuming boy's background might have driven him to kill.Netflix's “Adolescence” features newcomer Owen Cooper as Jaime and veteran actor and co-writer Stephen Graham as his father. Each of the four hour-long episodes were filmed in one continuous shot, as the camera follows characters through various rooms, buildings, on car rides, and even across town through the air. The story explores large themes about growing up in the modern world, the effects of crime on the community and family members, and questions who - if anyone - is responsible for making a murderer.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ADOLESCENCE" IN THE LAST 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: hiss-demeanor. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Ruby Franke earned fame and fortune on her YouTube channel highlighting an ideal family life with her husband and six children. But that world crumbled when it was discovered her parenting style was more draconian than the loving image they portrayed on screen. After she fell into the orbit of life coach Jodi Hildebrandt, Ruby became estranged from her husband and older children. But police took notice when Franke's youngest son knocked on the door of Hildebrandt's neighbor, severely emaciated and covered in duct tape.From ABC Studios and streaming on Hulu, “Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke” explores her journey from influencer to inmate, and Hildebrandt's sway over the entire family. It includes interviews with her husband and children, and access to 1,000 hours of raw video which foreshadow the abuse to come.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DEVIL IN THE FAMILY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Former tv personality Caroline D'Amore met a suave, well-connected businessman at her swanky LA apartment complex. David Bloom said he wanted to invest in her organic food startup and brokered a meeting with the CEO of Whole Foods. But after the money changed hands, D'Amore got a bad feeling about her business partner. It was just Bloom's latest con in a lifetime of swindles. But determined to get satisfaction, D'Amore and her fellow victims tried to turn the tables on the fraudster…all while recording audio of it.From iHeartPodcasts, AYR Media and 32 Flavors comes “Once Upon a Con.” The former model/reality star/business woman tells her story of getting defrauded by a professional grifter. It also features audio D'Amore recorded in real-time of her discovering the swindle and confronting the perpetrator. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ONCE UPON A CON" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: dead letter. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

While breaking into the world of fashion, twenty-five year old Hannah Mossman Moore is befriended by a well-connected, middle-aged man from Hong Kong, who mentors her and shows her the high life. At the same time, Hannah begins receiving unending menacing messages online and on her phone from a stranger she can't escape. Her rich friend denies involvement, claiming he's also been targeted by hackers. With the police unable to make a case, Hannah turns to a journalist to help identify the anonymous intruder who has turned her life upside down.In the podcast “Stalked” from BBC Sounds and Radio 5 Live, Hannah teams with her ex-stepmother, journalist Carole Cadwalladr, to investigate in real time who is behind the elaborate campaign of harassment. They employ everything from IP address tracing to linguistic forensics to unmask the person obsessed with her.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STALKED" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In the mid-90s, several men vanished from Indianapolis-area gay bars. Police were piqued after a man claimed he was nearly strangled during sex with Herb Baumeister. Investigators found bones throughout the woods of his secluded horse farm, but before they could question him Baumeister died by suicide in Canada.In 2022, a local coroner renewed the effort to identify victims from the 10,000 bone fragments found on the property. But it revived an unanswered question: how did Baumeister get the bodies of his victims into the woods by himself? And what should we make of the peculiar man who claimed to have escaped being the killer's victim?From ABC News Studios and streaming on Hulu, “The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer” looks back at the incomplete story of Herb Baumeister's crimes. It follows those helping victims' families find closure, while also diving into the biggest hole of the original investigation. The series builds toward a confrontation with an unreliable narrator many suspect is lying about his involvement in the mystery.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE FOX HOLLOW MURDERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Why Don't We Do It In The Road Road. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In December 2020, police in Marion, Illinois responded to a brutal death on Songbird Road. Eleven-year-old Jade Beasley was found in a bathtub, stabbed multiple times. Investigators homed in on her stepmother, Julia Bevely, who claimed she returned home to find a man dressed in black with a knife fleeing the scene. Prosecutors pointed to video of Bevely throwing away something at a gas station and a 30 minute gap between finding the body and calling 911. But there was nearly no physical evidence connecting the woman to a bloody attack in the home. That inconsistency has led some to believe Bevely was convicted for a crime she didn't commit. In the podcast “Murder on Songbird Road,” host Lauren Bright Pacheco teams with podcaster Bob Motta to examine holes in the case against Julia Bevely, including the absence of a weapon, a DNA link, and sightings of an stranger dressed in black nearby at the time of the murder.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MURDER ON SONGBIRD ROAD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Since we reviewed the new ABC doc, we thought we'd drop our original review of the Scamanda podcast.Inspired by her blog posts about her cancer journey, friends and admirers gave Amanda Riley money - but her illness was all an act. Following our review of the ABC adaptation of the hit podcast, we going back to our original June 8, 2023 episode "Scamanda" from host Charlie Webster and Lionsgate Sound. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Amanda Reilly warmed hearts with her blog describing her battle with terminal cancer. The young mother received donations from her church and various fundraisers in her name. But some around her became suspicious her elaborate website was nothing more than theater. Soon, reporters and law enforcement were picking apart her health claims and following the money. Even after her fraud was made public, Amanda maintained she was a cancer survivor being set up by her enemies.Available on Hulu, ABC News Studios presents “Scamanda,” telling Reilly's story and picking up where the hit 2023 podcast left off. Through interviews with key players, including original host Charlie Webster, the four part documentary recounts her seven year con for cash and sympathy, and relays what Reilly is now doing nearly two years after the number one show made her infamous.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SCAMANDA" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: p*ssed off. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In 1996, fishermen pulled the body of a man out the English Channel. An inscription on his Rolex watch led police to believe he was Ronald Platt, who according to his friend, David Davis, had left the UK for France to work as a TV repairman. Though the particulars of how Platt wound up in the sea remained unclear, investigators were ready to close the case. They just needed to retrieve some of his belongings from Davis's home. But when a detective accidentally knocked on the wrong door, the neighbor gave some information that turned the case on its head.The latest season of the CBC Podcasts series “Uncover: Sea of Lies” looks into the case of a deadly conman who was among Interpol's top fugitives. Host Sam Mullins from “Wild Boys” walks us through the investigation's many twists and turns to see how a nearly perfect crime came undone. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "UNCOVER: SEA OF LIES" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In 2021, with plans to create a travel vlog, Gabby Petito and her boyfriend Brian Laundrie set off in a converted van to document their trip across America. But in between social media posts, the couple's relationship grew dark, even resulting in a traffic stop by cops investigating a domestic violence complaint. In the subsequent days, Gabby's parents lost touch with her. Then Brian returned home with the van - but with Gabby nowhere to be found. The mystery of the young woman's disappearance gripped the nation.Netflix's “American Murder: Gabby Petito” tackles the biggest true crime case of the decade. Using Gabby's private videos, texts, and journal entries, the series traces her early life, her ill-fated trip, and frantic search for her online and on the ground. It also examines the actions of the Laundrie family, as well as the conversation the case sparked about who gets press coverage and who gets ignored.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "AMERICAN MURDER: GABBY PETITO" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: grand cannon. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In October 1980, a motorcycle packed with explosives went off outside a Paris synagogue, killing four and wounding nearly four dozen others. French investigators gathered evidence the attack was planned by a Palestinian militant group, but the trail for the bomber went cold for years. Twenty-eight years after the attack on Rue Copernic, French authorities accused a Canadian sociology professor of Lebanese descent of planting the bomb. Hassan Diab proclaimed his innocence, saying their evidence was flawed and circumstantial. It spawned a diplomatic crisis, as Canadian judicial authorities also questioned whether Diab should be turned over to France for trial.“The Copernic Affair” from Canadaland and House of Many Windows re-examines the controversial terrorism probe. Hosts Dana Ballout and Alex Atack talk to victims, investigators, and Diab himself to make sense of how an unassuming academic with a common name was accused of a horrific crime four decades ago. Is Hassan Diab guilty of an unspeakable act of political violence? Or is he a scapegoat for a failed investigation?OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE COPERNIC AFFAIR" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas was more than a white power hate group. They were also a sophisticated crime syndicate into drug trafficking and prostitution. Known for its violent methods against its rivals, it was equally as brutal to those suspected of being snitches. After a series of particularly cold-blooded killings, law enforcement groups teamed up to take down the Aryans' statewide operation. By flipping defendants and cultivating informants, authorities were able to connect the racket and destabilize the group.  “The Takedown: American Aryans” on Max looks at the six-year operation to infiltrate the Neo-Nazi crime syndicate. The series walks viewers through several key cases that allowed them to break up much of the hate group's criminal activities.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE TAKEDOWN: AMERICAN ARYANS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: hard-boiled crime. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In 2003, Northern Irish journalists outed Freddie Scappaticci as one of Britain's most notorious double agents. His code name was “Stakeknife.” For years he was in charge of finding and killing informants within the IRA, and was now accused of working with the Brits all along.   The story rocked those on both sides of The Troubles. High-ranking British officials were criticized for allowing their secret asset to kill and torture with impunity. And families of those killed for being alleged informants questioned whether they were executed to keep the IRA from suspecting Scappaticci was the real traitor.“Stakeknife” is the second season of the podcast “Cover” from BBC Sounds, Second Captains & Little Wing. Host Mark Horgan explores how British Army intelligence sanctioned Scappaticci's dirty work and the lengths taken to protect their valuable operative. He also brings us relatives of those murdered by Stakeknife to talk about the lifelong pain and stigma of having a loved one executed for being an informant - whether it was true or not.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STAKEKNIFE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL ELEVEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In 1995, when a woman's body was discovered in a Dayton, Ohio park, Kari thought her boyfriend Mick McQuerter and his prison buddy Tim Terrell may be involved. Before the two could skip town, Kari discovered incriminating evidence in the car.  After the men went to prison, detectives turned up at Kari's door, looking for connections to a decade's old pair of unsolved murders on a secluded farm. Demonic symbolism at the crime scene cast suspicion on Tim, who served time with a self-styled Satanist and who sported an occultic tattoo for the “Lords of Death.”From Tenderfoot TV and Audacy comes the podcast “Lords of Death.” Host Thrasher Banks grapples with his long held presumptions about the culpability of his mother's boyfriend Mick in the murder of Cindy Cozad. He also looks into whether Tim Terrell bludgeoned an elderly farmer in 1987 - then returned a year later to kill his widow with a screwdriver through the head.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LORDS OF DEATH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TWELVE MINUTES OF THE PODCAST.In Crime of the Week: knowing the ropes. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Myka and James Stauffer built a popular and profitable YouTube channel featuring hundreds of videos of their children and homelife. Then in 2017, after the Stauffers revealed they were adopting a boy from China, subscriptions to their channel took off. Viewers were drawn in by the family's breezy efforts to address the toddler's developmental issues. Then past videos of the boy were abruptly gone from the feed and he no longer appeared in the vlog. The mystery around the move sparked a huge backlash, with many criticising Myka's motives and fearing for the child's well-being.The HBO Original series “An Update on Our Family” recounts the controversy around the Stauffers and accusations they adopted a child just for the clicks. It also explores the issues about privacy on the internet, the nuances of trans-national adoption, and the unregulated industry of monetizing one's family.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "AN UPDATE ON OUR FAMILY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE PODCAST.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In 2015, after being given a date rape drug, Isabel Eriksson awoke in a locked bunker in Sweeden, held captive by a mysterious doctor. Martin Trenneborg wanted to keep her as his girlfriend, subjected her to abuse, and refused to let her go. Though years have passed, Isabel has never dealt with the PTSD of the incident. But now she's willing to confront it - on camera. The Swedish language documentary series “The Bunker” is available on the Nordic streaming service Viaplay, which is available through Amazon Prime, Roku, Xfinity X1 and other platforms. Isabel recounts her ordeal for filmmakers, goes to counseling for the first time, and experiments with exposure therapy. That includes a visit to a reconstruction of the bunker where she was held in order to process the pain she's repressed for all these years.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE BUNKER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TWELVE MINUTES OF THE EPISODEIn Crime of the Week: hired muscle. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

On a cold North Dakota night in February 1999, Robbie Rahrich's friends and fiancée waited for him to come home from his shift at a Bismarck liquor store. When they went to the House of Bottles, they discovered Robbie's body in the backroom and money missing from the cash register. Investigators looked into who might want to target the store and have the opportunity to hold it up. They turned their attention to Shawn Helmenstein, who'd been in Bismarck at the time, but fled to Montana. From Dakota Spotlight and PorchLight Podcast Network comes “Homicide at House of Bottles.” Host James Wolner tells the story through longform narrative, observations from investigators, and an interview with the man convicted of killing Robbie Rahrich.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DAKOTA SPOTLIGHT: HOMICIDE AT HOUSE OF BOTTLES" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In the 1940s and 50s, Dr. John Bodkin Adams grew a large practice in East Sussex caring for the elderly. But few knew that Adams was administering heroin to his wealthy patients before they slipped into comas. Many listed the doctor as executor of their estates or left him a sizable inheritance in their wills. Officials later determined the deaths of over 160 of Adams's patients were suspicious. His 1957 prosecution for murder was dubbed the “Trial of the Century.” But was Adams killing his elderly patients for money or was he simply easing the pain of their dying days?Broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster and distributed by BBC Sounds, “Assume Nothing: A Deadly Diagnosis” is the latest installment in the investigative podcast series. Host Vinny Hurrell revisits the historical true crime case of the Northern Irish GP suspected of being a serial killer. Was Adams an angel of mercy or an angel of death?OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ASSUME NOTHING: A DEADLY DIAGNOSIS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL ELEVEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Souper Bowl-less. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In 1979, a teenage girl drowned while vacationing in Hawai'i. Months later, her distraught mother drove her car off a cliff with her nanny in the passenger seat. In each case, the beneficiary in their wills was Terri Lee Hoffman, the leader of a Dallas-based spiritual group. Over the next ten years, a dozen people in her orbit died by suicide or accident, including two who believed they had terminal illnesses but did not. Several left Terri their assets, and for years, family members have suspected the spiritual leader may have used her power of persuasion to cause the deaths.From Sony Music Entertainment comes “Scary Terri.” Host Jonathan Hirsch revisits the deaths and attempts to answer whether she manipulated her devotees into taking deadly action. He also tries to follow the money that disappeared when Terri claimed she was bankrupt.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SCARY TERRI" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

After ratting out John Gotti and leaving witness protection, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano joins his adult children in Phoenix to start over. Despite trying to go legit, his son, Gerald, is making extra money selling ecstasy at underground raves. Gerald finds himself in a turf war with English Shaun, a former British stockbroker who's now Arizona's biggest E dealer. As police look to disrupt the party drug trade, they're stunned to learn the famous New York hitman is in the middle of it all.The Max Original documentary “Sons of Ecstasy” features Sammy the Bull and the whole Gravano family, plus members of the rival crew locked in a lucrative turf war over Molly. The show lets its subjects do the talking about their crimes, their beefs, and their ideas of what “loyalty” means.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SONS OF ECSTASY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: ballin'. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Audiences were charmed by “Free Willy,” the 1993 movie about a captive orca returning to the wild. But when the world learned the real whale was wasting away in a Mexican amusement park, scientists and activists united in a project to re-introduce Keiko to the open ocean, just like his on-screen counterpart.NOTE: We are reviewing the entirety of The Good Whale, although some of it is still behind a payway via The New York Times. (It is being released weekly on public platforms)But learning the skills to fend for himself in the sea proved difficult for an orca who grew up in an aquarium, not in a killer whale pod. Meanwhile, as the public waited for a cinematic conclusion, disagreement grew about how best to help Keiko and whether his lifelong reliance on humans made it impossible for him to return to the ocean.From Serial Productions and The New York Times comes “The Good Whale.” Host Daniel Alarcón recounts the ambitious, multinational experiment to rewild the famous orca, as well as the scientific and ethical struggles around the effort. The series also includes a controversial creative choice: presenting Keiko's unseen journey through the ocean in the form of a musical number.OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "THE GOOD WHALE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

The Garvey sisters gather to celebrate Grace's wedding to Ian, a man far more loving than her dead first husband, John Paul. But Roger is struggling with his guilt of helping Grace get rid of The Prick and making it look like an accident. After an unexpected turn, Eva and her sisters struggle with a pushy neighbor, an unexplained absence, and a possible blackmail scheme. As the Garveys dig themselves deeper into a hole, the Garda re-examine John Paul's untimely death and the sisters' connection to it.The second season of the Emmy-nominated “Bad Sisters” from Apple TV+ finds Eva, Bibi, Becka, and Ursula trying to cover up more crimes and confront their own family turmoil. The dark comedy explores how far people will go to protect the ones they love.OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "BAD SISTERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Can do it with my eyes closed. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Jared Akron seemed to be living the perfect life: a newlywed with a new house and twins on the way. But as the due date approached, that life started to unravel. Their home was destroyed in a fire. Then, kept from the delivery room by COVID protocols, his wife Kristy texted that the babies were gravely ill. As he tried to put their lives back together, Jared realized he overlooked some red flags about the pregnancy and his social media-obsessed wife. Were the calamities  around them caused by bad luck - or by someone close to him?From iHeartMedia, Audio Up, and Just Sweep Press Productions comes the podcast “The Unborn.” Host Trisha LaFache talks with Jared and his loved ones about his tale of illusion, deception, and psychosis.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE UNBORN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

After she quits Scotland Yard, detective Millie Black takes a post in her native Jamaica to confront her troubled past. She tries to reconnect with Hibiscus, the sibling who for years she thought was dead, but is now living on the margins as a trans sex worker. Millie works the case of a missing child who may be connected to a powerful family. The investigation takes a turn when a British detective turns up in Kingston with an interest in a lead suspect.Tamara Lawrence and Joe Dempsie star in the HBO Original “Get Millie Black.” The crime thriller follows the detective haunted by unsolved cases and unresolved trauma as she navigates the gritty parts of Jamaica tourists don't see.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GET MILLIE BLACK" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: ding dong dog. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

There was something for everyone on the TV in 2024. We saw documentaries that revealed intimate aspects of the justice system. And there were some that challenged viewers to decide what is fact and what is fiction. But there were also shows that made us laugh…and more than one that made us cry. But which TV shows and documentaries truly stood out? Here are the crime writers; top ten lists for the best TV of 2024.Lara Bricker:JUSTICE, USAThe Program: Cons, Cults and KidnappingBad MonkeyTrue Detective: Night CountyDaughtersSay NothingThe Diplomat season 2Only Murders in the Building season 4Ren FaireThey Called Him Mostly Harmless Toby Ball:The Program: Cons, Cults and KidnappingSay NothingRipleyWoman of the HourThe Diplomat season 2Baby ReindeerFight Night: The Million Dollar HeistOnly Murders in the Building season 4The Stanford Prison ExperimentTell Them You Love Me Kevin Flynn:DaughtersBaby ReindeerRipleySay NothingThe Program: Cons, Cults, and KidnappingJUSTICE, USARen FaireWoman of the HourThe Truth vs. Alex JonesAmerican Nightmare Rebecca Lavoie:The Program: Cons, Cults, and KidnappingThe Jinx: Part TwoThe Diplomat season 2Say NothingBaby ReindeerThe Perfect CoupleRipleyDaughtersOnly Murders in the Building season 4Woman of the Hour For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

2024 was an exceptionally strong year for podcasts. There were multiple investigative series, fascinating retrospectives of the history you thought you knew, and even some light-hearted fare that was quirky and entertaining. But which titles truly stood out?  Here are our top ten selections for 2024. Lara Bricker:In the Dark season 3Stolen: Trouble in SweetwaterBeyond All RepairHystericalHushThe Runaway PrincessesOn Our Watch: New FolsomCover Up: The Anthrax ThreatMurder on Music RowVarnamtown Toby Ball:In the Dark season 3Murder on Music RowOn Our Watch: New FolsomStolen: Trouble in SweetwaterFallen AngelsSlow Burn: Gays against BriggsRadicalHystericalThe Vanishing PointThe Man Who Calculated Death Kevin Flynn:Beyond All RepairHystericalMurder in Boston In the Dark season 3Murder on Music RowHushVarnamtownBackfired: The Vaping WarsFallen AngelsBroomgate: A Curling Scandal Rebecca Lavoie:Beyond All Repair  In the Dark season 3  Hysterical  Murder in BostonStolen: Trouble in Sweetwater  On Our Watch: New Folsom  Hush  Broomgate: A Curling Scandal  The Man Who Calculated Death  Backfired: The Vaping Wars  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Sap farmer Ruth Landry is deeply in debt and faces losing her property to the Quebec Maple Association. Her friend Mike hatches a million dollar scheme with a security guard to rip off the association. They plan on stealing barrels of syrup from the warehouse and selling it themselves. Plans for the heist become more ambitious, but a murder connected to the conspirators threatens to complicate the operation. And if Mike's mob bosses find out what he's up to, the trio will have more to worry about than the police. Margo Martindale stars in “The Sticky” from Prime. Inspired by the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, the comedy-thriller mixes “Ocean's Eleven” with “Fargo.” Can this unlikely trio syphon millions of dollars in syrup and land a sweet deal?OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE STICKY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

By day, Kevin Curtis was a janitor at a Mississippi hospital. By night, he was an Elvis impersonator, performing with his brother - who was also an Elvis impersonator. But after seeing something disturbing in the morgue, Kevin became consumed with conspiracies about illegal organ harvesting rings. Fueled by his paranoia, Kevin damaged personal relationships and crossed swords with powerful people in Tupelo. Then in 2013, when ricin-laced letters were sent to Kevin's enemies - as well as the President - authorities homed in on him. Was the scheme the Elvis impersonator's attempt to foil the body parts cabal once and for all…or was it a conspiracy to get rid of him?From the directors of “Wild Wild Country” comes Netflix's “The Kings of Tupelo.” Filled with its twists and turns, and extensive access to the story's colorful cast of characters, the series explores how one man's obsession could leave a whole town - and the White House - all shook up.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE KINGS OF TUPELO" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODEIn Crime of the Week: Old love, new love. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In 1974, Karen Silkwood wanted to blow the whistle on the nuclear fuel plant she worked at. Armed with documentation about insufficient safety measures, radiation leaks, and unaccounted plutonium, Silkwood drove to meet an investigative reporter. But on her way, she was killed when her car went off the road - an accident some believed was caused by the powerful company hoping to silence her.Though police said they believed Silkwood fell asleep at the wheel, the mysterious nature of her crash continues to fascinate the public and haunt her family. But now, two reporters who've spent decades covering the story believe they've discovered newly-revealed evidence that could shed light on what happened on State Highway 47.In “Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery” from ABC Audio and Standing Bear Entertainment, hosts Bob Sands and Mike Boettcher break down the story and use modern techniques to analyze the wreck for evidence her car was run off the road. They also reveal long-hidden audiotapes about those who may be responsible for the death of nuclear power's most famous whistleblower. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "RADIOACTIVE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Thirty years after his involvement in the shooting of a cop, Todd Scott prepares for his sixth parole hearing and a chance to demonstrate his rehabilitation. Convicted at age 14 for killing another teen and a baby, Chad Campbell faces the parole board for the ninth time to argue for his release. But their lawyers fear the board will only ever consider one factor: the heinous nature of their original offenses. Because they can never go back and change the crime, they believe the inmates have no hope of ever receiving parole, despite their exemplary prison records and expressions of remorse.The HBO Original documentary “Nature of the Crime” takes us into the closed-door interviews with those seeking parole in New York. It explores how, for certain inmates convicted of high profile crimes, the hearings are foregone conclusions because of public pressure and the desires of politically-appointed board members to appear tough on crime. It also highlights a Connecticut program that focuses on the emotional growth of offenders who were juveniles when they committed their crimes.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "NATURE OF THE CRIME" BEGIN IN THE FINAL ELEVEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Santa's little Elphabas. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.