True Crime Diary

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In our bi-weekly podcast we take a light-hearted look at the story behind an event on this week in true crime history.

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    • Mar 17, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 43m AVG DURATION
    • 83 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from True Crime Diary

    Snyder & Gray: Caught on film

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 38:08


    In tis episode we discuss the murderous Snyder & Gray, motor-boating, corset sales and a concealed camera.

    The Charlie Chaplin Grave Robbery

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 35:47


    In this episode we discuss the theft of Charlie Chaplin's body from his grave, the disposal of Rue's body, Shakespeare's skull, geo-locating and potato-heads.

    John George Haigh: The Acid Bath Murderer

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 49:14


    In this episode we discuss the Acid Bath Murderer, 1950s house prices, penny arcades, pointless pandas and Madame Tussauds.

    The Mad Bomber of New York City

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 37:00


    In this episode we discuss George Metesky the Mad Bomber of New York City, when is a bomber not a bomber, criminal profiling and Mark's scare.

    The Demon of the Belfry

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 28:16


    In this episode we discuss two time killer Theodore Durrant, seasonal events cupboards and Jed won't borrow a book.

    The Santa Claus Bank Robbery

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 39:43


    In this episode we discuss the 1927 Santa Claus bank robbery fiasco, cash for pardons, the back half of a reindeer and a very merry Christmas.

    Caravaggio: Baroque 'n' Roll

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 36:45


    In this episode we discuss the great Baroque painter and miscreant Caravaggio, unlicensed swords, lead paint and fleeing.

    Fatty Arbuckle: Trials and Tribulations

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 38:52


    In this episode we discuss the arrest of Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, Thomas the Tank Engine, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the fickle finger of stardom.

    Jolly Jane: Angel of Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024 37:06


    In this episode we discuss notorious serial poisoner Jane Toppen, white coats and Hi-Viz, a cocktail of gin, and top of the crops.

    The Cato Street Conspiracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 34:24


    In this episode we discuss The Cato Street Conspiracy to overthrow the British government, civil unrest and grenades.

    The Antwerp Diamond Heist

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 37:01


    In this episode we discuss the theft of $100million in diamonds from the Antwerp Diamond Centre, the conroversy of keys and the mystery of Belgian accents.

    The Tottenham Outrage

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2024 46:55


    In this episode we discuss the very slow pursuit of a wages snatch, too many bullets, a jousting cyclist, spilt milk and the King's Police Medal. The sound on this one is a bit hokey but like spilled milk I'm not going to cry about it.

    outrage tottenham police medal
    Poor William Weare: The Radlett Murder

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2024 39:13


    In this episode we discuss the the murder of William Weare, bare-knuckle boxing, Elstree studios, wax heads and commemorative ceramics. Due to some technical difficulties the sound is sub-optimal but discernible.

    The Lord Chamberlain's Men and The Theatre

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 32:52


    In this episode we discuss the theft of a building by William Shakespeare's troupe the Lord Chamberlain's Men, bridges and barges, and death by planet.

    Piltdown Man: The Missing Link

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023 42:42


    In this episode we discuss Piltdown Man the fraudulent discovery of the missing link, Tollund Man which is a different man altogether Ötzi the ice man which is a different man also and the great peat/mud debate.

    Frank Sinatra Jnr: Strangers in the Night

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2023 32:17


    In this episode we discuss the kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jnr, a briefcase full of money, a pocketful of dimes, and there are all too many ring-a-ding-dings.

    The Heathrow Bullion Heist

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 43:51


    In this episode we discuss the theft of gold bullion from the Brinks-Mat warehouse at London's Heathrow Airport, the M25 Killer, that bloke Jed met once and everyone has a story about a film set.

    Lucky Lucan: The Vanishing Peer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2023 35:51


    In this episode we discuss the murder of Sandra Rivett, the lifestyle of the rich and famous, moustaches and glasses and an international manhunt.

    Pretty Boy Floyd: The Robin Hood of the Cookson Hills

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 45:07


    In this episode we discuss bank robber Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd, the Kansas City Massacre, chocolate treats, Sylvanian families, and naughty BOIs.

    The Dalton Gang: The Coffeyville Conundrum

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2023 38:54


    In this episode we discuss the Wild West's notorious bank robbers The Dalton Gang, when two is too many and Randolph Scott.

    Van Gogh a Go-Go

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2023 42:49


    In this episode we discuss the theft of two Van Gogh painting from the Museum Van Gogh in Amsterdam, abominable pronunciation, the predictable habits of thieves, why you can't trust what a priceless thing is worth, and Rue gets excited about paint.

    The Hossein Brothers and Muriel McKay

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2023 30:57


    In this episode we discuss Arthur and Nizamodeen Hossein and their ill-devised kidnap plan, mistaken identities and mistaken newspaper headlines.

    Sweet Fanny Adams

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2023 40:47


    In this episode we discuss the brutal 19th Century murder of 8-year-old Fanny Adams, when meandering becomes frolicking, the etymology of "that phrase" and 'Ye' isn't a word.

    Marcel Petiot: Doctor Satan

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2023 54:31


    In this episode we discuss French serial killer Marcel Petiot, kleptomania, a lovely gift basket of drugs, a lovely 2400 francs, lovely cyanide and my pearls!

    The Great Gold Train Robbery

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 48:39


    In this episode we discuss the Great Gold Train Robbery, monocles, the security of keys, the simplicity of shot, the comparative size of gold in Vienetta ice cream and the comparative weight of gold in parts of Rue.

    Mutiny on the Bounty: A Taste of Paradise

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 77:04


    In this episode we discuss the mutiny on HMAV Bounty, choice chocolates, bothersome breadfruit, coconut fatalities, lazy young people and both the voyage and the episode are too long.

    Durable Michael Malloy Vs. the Murder Trust

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2023 46:27


    In this episode we discuss Iron Mike Malloy the Rasputin of the Bronx, setting a goal and failing to achieve it, the heads and the tails, and not one but two musicals.

    Stealing The Scream

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2023 42:59


    In this episode we discuss not one, but two times a painting of Edvard Munch's The Scream has been stolen from a Norwegian Museum, really really expensive art, blood and egg, van dampness and Rue isn't impressed.

    Ronald Ryan: The Pentridge Prison shooting

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2023 60:59


    In this episode we discuss Ronald Ryan, the last man hanged in Australia, an audacious prison escape, the murder of a prison warder, and an obvious and egregious conspiracy (without bias).

    Ma Barker & The Barker-Karpis Gang

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2023 45:52


    In this episode we discuss infamous "gang leader" Ma Barker, Alvin Karpis, money in kidnapping, new noses, and the FBI wouldn't lie would they?

    fbi gang ma barker barker karpis
    Ra Ra Rasputin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2023 54:44


    In this episode we discuss the murder of Russia's controversial Grigori Rasputin, lion-taming, lack of monks, lack of poisons, and lack of British Intelligence.

    The Houndsditch Murders and the Siege of Sidney Street

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2022 45:48


    In this episode we discuss the murder of three policemen in East London and the siege that followed, dog ditches, an unpopular Winston Churchill and talk about whales more than is necessary.

    Charles Starkweather: Teenage Dirtbag

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 49:13


    In this episode we discuss the 19-year-old murderer Charles Starkweather and his 14-year-old accomplice, bullies and bullying, sprees and serials, Nihilism, and the relative distances of certain locations in the midwest. Spoiler Alerts for "Falling Down" and "Gran Torino".

    Dan ”D.B.” Cooper Rewind: Dan Cooper Takes Flight

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2022 52:18


    In this episode we revisit our Dan Cooper episode from two years ago, following the release of a 6-part Netflix documentary. In the episode which is here in it's entirety with remastered audio and extra clips, we discuss the hijacking of Flight 305 in 1971 and the mysterious disappearance of Dan Cooper, and Jed still can't believe it.

    The Millennium Dome Diamond Heist

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2022 52:30


    In this episode we discuss the attempted diamond raid on London's Millennium Dome in 2000, false walls and false notes, walking on the dome, Sophie Marceau, and not shooting at boats.

    Halloween Special: Ghosts who solved their own murder

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2022 53:08


    In this episode we discuss the Red Barn Mystery and the case of the Greenbriar Ghost in each of which the ghost of a murder victim revealed their murderer. We also discuss the smell of death, the only Mariah, and possibly the best name ever.

    Leopold & Loeb: The Imperfect Crime

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2022 44:02


    In this the final episode of Series 3 we discuss teenage murderers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, Neitzsche, culverts, and when there is only one telephone in the village.

    Neville Heath: The Lady Killer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 37:44


    In this episode we discuss brutal murderer Neville Heath, the arrogance of serial killers, the audacity of Madame Tussauds, and a time before Rentaghost and The Cruel Sea.

    George Joseph Smith: The Brides in the Bath

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2022 51:59


    In this episode we discuss George Joseph Smith, the Brides in the Bath killer, all the other pathologies, reverse sharks, Svengali, and dressing in Rue's mother's clothes. Due to technical difficulties, Mark's microphone is apparently replaced by a cup on a string.

    bath brides rue svengali george joseph smith
    Albert Pierrepoint: Hangman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2022 49:37


    In this episode we discuss England's most well known executioner Albert Pierrepoint, the mechanics of death, the singing room, Tish and Tosh, when David Hasselhoff ended World War 2, and no one wants Jed to kill them.

    Ruth Ellis Rewind: Still the Last Woman Hanged in Britain

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2022 43:56


    In this episode we revisit our very first episode from two years ago (Two years ago!), which is here in it's entirety with remastered audio and extra clips. We preface the episode with a discussion about the recording, and the case, and Jed has no memory of any of it. 

    Colonel Blood and the Crown Jewels

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2022 47:32


    In this episode we discuss Colonel Blood's attempted theft of the Crown Jewels, the English Civil War, when the ransom note is more important than the kidnapping, the hat/bag/trouser conundrum, Pox, Flox and Flux and muppets.

    The Hitler Diaries

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2022 53:07


    In this episode we discuss the infamous Hitler diary forgeries, the memorabilia trade, Lemmy, conning the conmen, faking the fakes, Stomp! and Jed does a passable Alan Bennett.

    Henri Landru: The Bluebeard of Gambais

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2022 62:35


    In this episode we discuss French serial killer Henri Désiré Landru, pre-invented inventions, lonely hearts adverts, surprisingly animated heads, four-figured ovens, and Charlie Chaplin's Monsieur Verdoux. We also discover that Mark is a Duke.

    Alan Turing: Imitation and Indecency

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2022 45:25


    In this episode we discuss the mathematician, philosopher, code-breaker, war hero, and father of modern computer science Alan Turing, the brutality of an unjust law, the best place for an Amstrad computer, the chemistry of cats and the pot plant of a grateful nation. We recorded this episode on location in Turing's former home in South-West London with our guest, current resident Sophie.

    The Isabella Stewart Gardner Art Museum Heist

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2022 49:25


    In this episode we discuss the 1990 Boston Art theft, baseball movies, folding paintings, a symphony for the blind, The Rue Turner's Garden Art Museum, and Mark recalls a chilling memory of that time he didn't go to a strip club.

    The Richmond Murder: One of Victorian Britain's Most Notorious Crimes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2022 56:17


    In this episode we discuss the Barnes Mystery otherwise known as the Richmond Murder, West London's best bridges, a crash-course in foot matching, and whether Sir David Attenborough is London's greatest detective.

    The St. Valentine's Day Massacre

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2022 69:03


    In this episode we discuss the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Al Capone and 'Bugs' Moran, Some Like it Hot, Public Enemies, Syphillis, and our special guest talks about Alcatraz and the middle of nowhere. This episode features our special guest Will Roe, podcast producer at The Times and The Sunday Times.

    Patty Hearst: I, Tania

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 47:05


    In this episode we discuss the 1974 kidnapping of Patty Hearst, when is an army not an army, urban guerrillas and urbane guerrillas, the past tense of diving, and John Wayne has the last word.

    The Black Dahlia: Mystery and make-believe

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2022 47:04


    In this episode we discuss the murder of Elizabeth Short, the sensationalist press, miniature golf versus crazy golf, multiple Orsons, unlikely confessions and the unlikeliest of suspects.

    Season 3 introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2021 23:13


    In this short Season/Series introduction, we look back at why we started the podcast in the first place, we express gratitude and not a little surprise regarding our listeners, which episodes we like the most, and a little of what and who are coming up in the new Season/Series.

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