Crime Writers On...
The original true crime review podcast that examines other podcasts, TV shows, and pop culture. Hosted by true crime authors Rebecca Lavoie and Kevin Flynn, along with novelist Toby Ball and journalist Lara Bricker, the panel discusses storytelling, journalism, and features a 'Crime of the Week' segment.
Episodes
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story
Lizzie Borden struggles to thrive as a young woman in Gilded Age New England. With the help of a worldly housemaid, Lizzie devises a plan to rid herself of her inattentive father and repressive stepmother, and live life on her own terms. The gruesome axe murder of her parents leads to Lizzie’s arrest and America’s first “trial of the century.” The public is divided on whether a woman could commit
Our Town
Folks in Gainesboro, Tennessee were curious about who was scooping up large swaths of land in their tiny Appalachian hamlet. They were shocked to learn the buyers were venture capitalists with ties to Christian nationalists who planned on moving en masse and changing the town to fit their extremist views. Longtime residents banded together in fear of a far right takeover. As the newcomers became m
A Killer Story
True crime enthusiasts Eileen and Keen Umbehr convince an investigative journalist to cover the case of a woman they say has been wrongfully convicted for a double murder. Dana Chandler says she was in Colorado when her ex-husband and his girlfriend were killed in Kansas. After Chandler wins a retrial, reporter Joe Sexton looks into the problems with the state’s case and the conduct of prosecutors
In The Dark: The Journey
When Kayla Elliott agreed to be a surrogate mother, she thought she was helping a wealthy Chinese couple add a second child to their family. After the girl was born, the intended mother seemed indifferent. Only later did Kayla discover that Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang had been paying multiple surrogates to carry children to live in their fortress‑like mansion in Los Angeles. The pair had been exp
Welcome to the Family: The Murder of Dan Markel
In 2014, after law professor Dan Markel was murdered in his Florida home, investigators turned to his ex‑wife for answers. The pair were in a contentious custody battle, and Wendi Adelson wanted to move their children closer to her affluent parents and brother. Police arrested the shooter, whose ex‑girlfriend was on the payroll at the Adelson family dental practice. But evidence that any of the re
Kingdom of Fraud
Jacob Kingston was a member of “The Order,” an insular Mormon polygamist sect, when he built a biodiesel refinery. He partnered with shadowy Armenian businessman Levon Termendzhyan to ship the fuel overseas and take advantage of lucrative tax credits given to renewable energy producers. But the operations were largely on paper, as the company racked up big government checks for fuel never produced
Furious
FBI rookie Alice Black believes the death of a billionaire’s son has been staged to look like an overdose. She goes on the hunt for a suspect. Catherine Grace is killing those involved in the underage prostitution ring, seeking revenge for being trafficked and for the death of best friend. While the case progresses, Alice deals with her own trauma as a domestic violence victim forced to work the c
The Snare
Six months after the 1996 murder of Angie Dodge, Idaho Falls police homed in on a suspect, who later implicated his friend in the crime. After a sham polygraph and 100 hours of intense questioning, Christopher Tapp confessed to his involvement in the killing, despite the lack of evidence implicating him. After Tapp’s conviction, Angie’s mother remained fixated on DNA at the scene pointing to an un
Death of the Pastor's Wife
Mica was a devout member of Myrtle Beach’s Solid Rock Church when she fell in love with Pastor JP Miller, 15 years her senior. Though she seemed to flourish as the pastor’s wife and singer in the church choir, signs began to emerge of her husband’s coercive control. Not long after she filed for divorce, Mica Miller’s body was found in a state park. Her death raised questions whether the church lea
Chameleon: Wild Boys
Two boys emerge from the woods into a Canadian town claiming to have grown up in the wilderness. What’s the real story behind their appearance? In this CWO Classic Rewind, we’re going back to our discussion from February 10, 2022 of the podcast “Chameleon: Wild Boys” from Campside Media and host Sam Mullins.
For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewri
Where the River Took Us
On July 4, 2025, Aaron Parsley and his family were enjoying the holiday at their cabin on Texas’s Guadalupe River. But violent thunderstorms caused flash flooding, which swept the house down river with everyone inside it. After a night in which his family fought the current and dangerous debris, his 20-month-old nephew Clay was among the more than 130 people killed - including many children at sum
The Legend of Cocaine Island
A group of quirky characters goes on the hunt for millions of dollars in drugs buried somewhere in Puerto Rico. Their efforts to hit it rich go wildly wrong. In this CWO Classic Rewind, we’ll return to our June 10, 2019 review of the boundary‑breaking Netflix documentary film “The Legend of Cocaine Island,” recorded live in Nashville at PodX.
For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sig
We Keep Us Safe
In 2020, 16-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. traveled to Seattle’s Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone, a several block encampment that demonstrators declared to be a police-free area. But one night, Mays was shot to death in a stolen Jeep while protestors and journalists livestreamed the aftermath. Protestors said the group’s internal security forces shot in self-defense, while video shows someone approa
Dolly Parton's America
She was a music superstar, a national treasure, and a surprising cultural touchstone. On this special CWO Classic Rewind, we’re going back to our November 4, 2019 review of “Dolly Parton’s America,” from NYC Studios and OSM Audio and host Jad Abumrad.
For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Pr
Dr. Death: The Cowboy
Neurosurgeon John Henry Schneider was known for his extreme confidence and the cowboy boots he’d wear in the OR. But more and more patients were complaining of botched operations and unbearable pain. Whenever authorities would examine his work or threaten his license, Schneider would start over in a new location, leaving a trail of shattered trust and long-term injury.
In season five of the Audibl
I'm Not a Monster
An American woman found in a Syrian refugee camp says her family was tricked by her husband into joining the Islamic State. A British journalist tries to fact‑check whether she was a militant or just a mother. In this CWO Classic Rewind, we’re returning to our January 11, 2021 review of season 1 of the podcast “I’m Not a Monster” from BBC Panorama and PBS’s Frontline with host Josh Baker.
For excl
A Toxic Love Story
In 2016, Angela Connell started getting threatening emails from someone invoking the persona of a vengeful demon from Jewish mythology. Her husband, US Marshal Ian Diaz, told cops the messages were sent by his ex-girlfriend, Michelle Hadley. Despite a restraining order, the threats continued, including a plan to trick men into attacking Angela, believing she had a rape fantasy. After things turned
Murdaugh Murders
It was the hit DIY podcast that became the definitive telling of the crime of the decade. It was a true crime sensation — but was it any good? On this CWO Classic Rewind, we’re going back to our October 18, 2021 review of the legendary podcast recorded at Mandy Matney’s kitchen table, “Murdaugh Murders.”
For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriters
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed
Paula’s cybersex session with cam boy Trevor is interrupted when he’s abducted on screen. Police believe the kidnapping is a scam. But when the divorced mom tracks him down, Paula finds Trevor’s been murdered by a ruthless assassin who’s now looking for her. As Paula looks into the cam boy and his associates, she gets pulled deeper into a web of blackmail and violence - all while trying to be a su
Running from COPS
It was the ride‑along show that entertained America and influenced how law enforcement behaved — on television and in real life. On this CWO Classic Rewind, we’re returning to our May 6, 2019 review of the series “Running from COPS” from Headlong and host Dan Taberski.
For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The
Dan Taberski's Manifesto
They’re a cry for help, a counting of grievances, and a call to action. The manifesto is the tool of the dreamer and of the deranged, documents meant to scold and to inspire. The founding fathers, modern activists and mass murderers alike have used them to explain themselves and their views on what’s wrong with the world. Dan Taberski wants to champion the powerful and misunderstood form of the ma
The Clearing
She was the daughter of an infamous serial killer. Then the woman teamed with a journalist to investigate what other crimes her father committed. On this CWO Classic Rewind, we’re going back to our August 5, 2019 review of “The Clearing” from Pineapple Street Media and Gimlet with host Josh Dean.
For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.T
Deep Cover: The Family Man
In 2008, teenage twins Elise and Marissa Giammanco were stunned when police said their dad was secretly the prolific bank robber known as the Boonie Hat Bandit. A single father, Keith Giammanco said their family was constantly on the edge of financial ruin, so he robbed a dozen banks to pay the bills and hold off foreclosure. Law enforcement and the public were not sympathetic to his claim that he
I'll Be Gone in The Dark
It was the biggest true crime book of the decade…and played a role in the capture of the Golden State Killer.
In this CWO Classic Rewind, we’re going back to the days of lockdown and our review from June 29, 2020 of the HBO six‑part adaptation of Michelle McNamara’s true crime book “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.”
For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crim
Uncover: The Expert Witness
In 2022, defense attorneys in Ohio were stunned when prosecutors rolled out a cutting-edge tool to place defendants at the scene of a crime. Cybercheck claimed to use AI and historical digital data to identify suspects. But when lawyers examined the technology for themselves, they couldn’t figure out how it worked. Attention turned to Cybercheck’s creator and expert witness Adam Mosher. The Canadi
Suspect
Police had two suspects in a young woman’s murder. Did their interpretation of the DNA lead them to arrest the wrong man? On this CWO Classic Rewind, we're going back to our Sept 27, 2021 review of the podcast from Campside Media and Wondery. It’s season one of Suspect, with host Matthew Shaer.
For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.Thi
Widow's Bay
Mayor Tom Loftis wants to turn his struggling, New England island town into a thriving tourist attraction. But some residents believe Widow’s Bay is cursed, and his efforts to boost it are stirring up its otherworldly forces. Tom is thwarted by his staff’s bumbling ineptitude and a series of supernatural encounters that shake his confidence. As the skeptical mayor slowly becomes a believer, he wor
The Mysterious Mr. Epstein
He was the investor-to-the-stars who provided more than just financial advice. How was he able to lure and rape young women with no consequences for so long? In this CWO Classic Rewind, we're going back to our October 14, 2019 review of “The Mysterious Mr. Epstein” from Wondery with host Linsey Graham.
For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson
The Last 12 Weeks
Thirty years after being convicted of murdering six women and girls, David Wood is now only weeks from dying by lethal injection. Pointing to the fact the only DNA ever recovered points to a different suspect, and new statements accusing police of setting him up, lawyer Greg Warchuk and his team are rushing to win a stay. The lawyers look for alternate suspects, elusive witnesses, and holes in the
OnlyFantasy
The website OnlyFans democratized the world of webcamming, allowing independent creators to make big money attracting their own subscribers for adult entertainment. But the nature of the forum changed anonymous online sex work to a more personalized service for both the models and their customers. These intimate relationships spawned a new kind of business, one that goes beyond sex. As those on b
Maternal Instinct
When a Texas trooper pulled her over, Taylor Parker said she was rushing to the hospital, doing CPR on the newborn baby she just gave birth to in her car. But when doctors examined her, they realized she’d never been pregnant. For months, Parker had told everyone she was carrying her boyfriend’s baby, posing on social media with a pregnant belly. But friends knew she’d had a hysterectomy years bef
Hunting the Suicide Salesman
Relatives of those who died by suicide discovered their loved ones had been active in online forums for those looking for ways to end their lives. They were directed to a retailer selling fatal quantities of sodium nitrite to people in crisis in more than 40 countries. Police and journalists hunted down Kenneth Law, who admitted to selling to hundreds of people worldwide. But authorities wanted to
The Witness
As André deals with the shock of his girlfriend’s brutal murder, he reluctantly allows police to question the only witness to the crime: his two-year-old son. When the interviews prove too traumatic and press coverage too intrusive, André flees London with Alex — but finds putting the past behind them is difficult. Meanwhile, using information from the toddler, police home in on a man who shares h
The Murder of Rachel Nickell
In 1992, Rachel Nickell was brutally murdered in broad daylight in a London park. But her killer left behind a witness: her two-year-old son Alex. With the uneasy consent of his protective father, André, police spent months working with the toddler to coax details about the attacker. After André put an end to his son’s distressing questioning, police laid a honeytrap for a nearby suspect with viol
Blunt Force Trauma
In March 2021, after Faithe Ely left a cookout, her body was found on the side of a rural Oklahoma highway. Officials from one law enforcement agency said it looked like a hit and run accident; however, members of the Highway Patrol weren’t so sure. Her boyfriend said Faithe stormed off after a drunken altercation, and that a white truck towing a black trailer had been traveling in that direction
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder S2
For her school project, Pippa Fitz-Amobi solved the murders of two students, rescued a girl held captive in an attic, and exposed a serial rapist. Now Pip is dating the victim’s brother; recording a podcast; and still needs to testify against Max for the rapes. But just as she thinks she has left the crimes behind her, Pip’s friend Jamie goes missing. She learns Jamie had been catfished before he
My Mother's Lies
After a 2000 murder case went cold, Kentucky housewife Susan Galbreath did her own snooping. With the help of cooperative cops and a British journalist, she identified Quincy Cross as Jessica Currin’s killer. Quincy got a life sentence and Susan became a local hero. But in a story already filled with inconsistencies and recantations, Susan never disclosed the original prime suspect was her friend’
City of Lights
Willy Nast was a passing acquaintance of Jeff Signorelli, an Aurora, IL teen who was killed in 2002 when a bullet went through a wall at a party. As a college student, Nast interviewed Signorelli’s parents for an essay on the crime and the community it happened in. With plans for a sprawling book, Nast continued to interview Al and Mary Ann Signorelli over the years, documenting the ways they turn
The Crash
A small Ohio city was stunned after a teen crashed her car into the side of a building, killing her boyfriend and a back seat passenger. Mackenzie Shirilla said she couldn’t remember what happened before she slammed head-on into a brick wall at 100 MPH, but said the fatal collision was an accident. Classmates described Shirilla as a spoiled mean girl whose socials were filled with videos of her ex
Love Trapped
Clayton Echard was trying to bounce back from his disastrous appearance on “The Bachelor" when he hooked up with a potential real estate investor. Though he claimed they only had oral sex, Laura Owens said she was pregnant with his twins. What came next from her was an unrelenting mix of romantic overtures and legal threats. Clayton became suspicious of Laura’s evasive actions to prove her pregnan
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Marcellus may be just an octopus, but he’s very observant of what’s happening around him in the aquarium. Tova the cleaning lady is considering selling her home. And when she sprains her ankle, cash-strapped Cameron takes a temp job helping clean. Marcellus can sense the deep sadness in each of them. Tova has questions about her son’s mysterious death at sea and Cameron has come to town to confron
Coal Survivor
In the 1960s, United Mine Workers advocate Jock Yablonski bucked his own union for giving into coal companies on critical issues — including cases of black lung disease and mine safety. And when evidence revealed union president Tony Boyle had been making secret deals with the companies to enrich himself at the expense of workers, Yablonski mounted a campaign to unseat the labor boss. But a challe
Should I Marry a Murderer?
In 2020, pathologist Caroline Muirhead swiped right on a gamekeeper from the Scottish Highlands. Her whirlwind romance with Sandy McKellar led to a quick proposal. But before the wedding, her fiancé confided that years earlier, he and his twin brother killed a man and hid his body. Muirhead was torn between her love for McKellar and her duty to turn him in. Her work with police to gather evidence
Someone's Hunting Us
In 2016, women of color in Newark, NJ began to disappear. The police response lacked urgency because some were sex workers and others were considered runaways. So friends of Mawa Doumbia set their own trap, using the missing 15-year-old’s social media to draw out her killer. Investigators eventually drew connections between a Jane Doe in a burned building, a murdered college student, and a prostit
Imperfect Women
When their friend Nancy is murdered, Eleanor and Mary believe her secret lover “David” is behind it. But Eleanor becomes an early suspect in the case when her long-simmering feelings about the victim’s husband come to the surface. Mary takes on the role of sleuth, hoping to unmask Nancy’s lover. But her quest uncovers even more complications about the friends’ decades-long relationship, as even mo
Friends Like These
When Skylar Neese wasn’t posting photos of her with two best friends, she was posting cryptic messages about mean girls. One night in 2012, Skylar slipped out of her bedroom window, got into an awaiting car, and vanished. When the trail went cold, Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf flooded social media with pleas for information on their friend’s disappearance. But Shelia and Rachel had their own secret
Foundling
Lucy Greenwell remembered a story from her childhood: in 1987, a newborn was abandoned off a country road near her home in Suffolk. Now a journalist, Greenwell tracked down Jess, who grew up wondering how she came to be a foundling. Jess eventually reached out to the young nanny who miraculously discovered her in a secluded field. As her suspicions about Jennifer grew, Jess would learn more about
Blood Will Tell
When his eighteen-year-old twin brother Anh gets into a drunken fight at a party, Trung stabs his attacker. San Jose police place both identical twins in a lineup, and witnesses mistakenly say Anh was the one who delivered the fatal blow…a mistake neither brother cares to correct. Their silence was born from their intense fraternal bond, as well as being Vietnamese immigrants in street gangs where
DTF St. Louis
TV weatherman Clark Forrest convinces his friend and ASL interpreter to sign up for an anonymous hook-up app to spice up his life. Floyd Smernitch is cash-strapped, overweight, and dealing with his distant wife and troubled stepson. But after joining DTF St. Louis, Floyd’s body is discovered in a pool house after a late-night rendezvous. Investigators examine Clark’s relationship with Floyd’s wife
Who Blew Up The Guidestones?
The Georgia Guidestones were a 19‑foot‑tall, Stonehenge‑like tourist attraction commissioned in 1980 by an anonymous benefactor. Its purpose was unclear, and its granite inscriptions about population control made some uneasy. When an explosion destroyed the Guidestones in 2022, some brushed it off as a prank. But controversy around the monument had been growing among evangelicals, right‑wing polit
Trust Me: The False Prophet
When Dr. Christine Marie and her videographer husband moved to Utah, they befriended members of the polygamous FLDS church. With the community’s former leader now in prison, Samuel Bateman claimed to be their new prophet and took on 20 wives. Concerned about the underage girls among them, Christine convinced Bateman to let them film a documentary about him. The couple recorded evidence that Batema
The Predator of Seville
Gabrielle Vega said while on a student trip to Morocco in 2013, she was drugged and raped by the Spanish tour guide. As she worked through her trauma, she learned the charismatic Manuel Blanco had attacked other women on European excursions. After Gabrielle told her story on television, scores of other women came forward with their own tales of assault. Armed with dozens of victim statements - but
The Idiot
Journalist M. Gessen’s cousin Allen rubbed everyone in their family the wrong way, an annoying windbag who moved from one hustle to another. To win his custody dispute with his ex-wife, he tried to get her deported. He kidnapped their son and fled the country — twice. And finally, he was arrested by the FBI for hiring a hitman to kill her. With relatives holding different opinions on Allen’s actio
Adults in the Room
In high school, Isolde Raftery and her friend wrote in the school paper about rumors that a popular science teacher had been inappropriate around students. Backlash followed, as the community rallied behind Tom Hudson and a misconduct investigation went nowhere. For years she lived with the accusations she ruined a man’s life. Now a seasoned journalist, Raftery revisits the case to answer whether
Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat
Temp worker Anthony Norman has been hired to assist on a small company’s staff retreat. CEO Doug Womack is about to turn over Rockin’ Grandma’s Hot Sauce to his son. But when Dougie Jr. makes a huge mistake, his father considers selling the family business to some shady investors. While smiling his way through bizarre seminars and twisted team building exercises, Anthony’s suspicion of the investo
Jury Duty
Documentarians are granted unfettered access to a civil trial and the deliberations of its jury. The panel includes Ronald Gladden, who takes his role earnestly. What he doesn’t know is that the judge, the lawyers, and his eleven fellow jurors are all actors.
On this CWO Classic Rewind, we go back to our May 15, 2023 review of the format-breaking, heart-warming hidden camera series “Jury Duty.”
F
Neighbors
In Montana, a man puts up a gate blocking access to a private road. Two Florida women feud over a strip of grass each claims is on their own property. And an Indiana man is aggrieved when his suburban neighbor raises livestock in the backyard. While their grievances are both odd and petty, so are the people at the center of the conflicts. Their oversized personalities are only matched by those of
Ozark 2
Marty, Wendy and Ruth are back, trapped between the mob, the Mexicans, the FBI, and the Snells. Jason Bateman and Laura Linney in its follow up season to the Netflix hit drama that combines white collar crime and redneck gothic.
On this CWO Classic Rewind, go go back to our Sept 13, 2018 review of season 2 of “Ozark.”
For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter a
The Brothers Ortiz
When Gabe Ortiz’s brother was killed in 2023, the prominent Texas lawman had to deal with more than a murder investigation. He had to confront their different life choices. Faced with few prospects, young Gabe left town for the Air Force and the police academy. Meanwhile, his brother Larry stayed at home, where his best opportunity was selling drugs. While Gabe climbed the ranks in the Department
Ponies
In 1977’s Moscow, Americans Bea Grant and Twila Hasbeck learn their husbands have died during a secret mission in Soviet Russia. Determined to learn why, they convince the CIA station chief to let them return to the US embassy to complete their husbands’ covert operation and uncover why it went wrong. Bea and Twila find themselves helping a young Russian leak secret Soviet technology. But they’re
One of Their Own
When San Diego police discovered fellow officer Ciara Estrada dead in her bathroom, they determined she shot herself with her own gun. At a New Year’s party the night before, Estrada got drunk, fought with her boyfriend, and made many references to self-harm. But Estrada’s family say police didn’t go deep enough, claiming investigators were too quick to lay the blame on her. They say Estrada’s tum
Beauty and the Bester
Thabo Bester, South Africa’s so-called “Facebook Rapist,” was serving a murder conviction when he died by suicide in his prison cell, setting his bed on fire. But authorities later revealed the victim had been killed before the fire began. The story took another turn when celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana attempted to claim Bester’s body. Investigators looked deeper into the connection between
Love + Radio: Blood Memory
While doing defense work, Ariel crosses paths with inmate Michael Thompson. Incarcerated for decades on murder charges, she finds him to be soft-spoken, educated, and spiritual. Ariel’s intrigued by Thompson’s life growing up on an Indian reservation, his claims of being wrongfully convicted, his time leading the brutal Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, and his quest for enlightenment. He dispenses w
Valley of Shadows
In 1998, Deputy Jon Aujay went for a run in the California desert and never returned. After a weeklong search, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department determined he went to the Devil’s Punchbowl to commit suicide - a conclusion that did not sit right with some of his fellow deputies. Given the area’s reputation for meth labs, colleagues suspected Aujay stumbled across something he wasn’t suppo
Murder in Glitterball City
After a routine domestic disturbance call at a Louisville home, Jeffrey Mundt and Joey Banis shocked police by revealing a dead body was in their basement. The ex-lovers each accused the other of killing a drag performer during a ménage à trois, and being forced to help bury the victim beneath the dirt floor. With one defendant an ex-con and the other into sadistic kinks, attorneys used their past
Murder at the U
In 2006, University of Miami football player Bryan Pata was shot outside his apartment coming home from practice. On the ten-year anniversary of the death, police invited ESPN to look into the cold case. The reporters found cops had many viable suspects, including a teammate with a compelling motive and shaky alibi. But the journalists also came to find their law enforcement sources to be unreliab
The Investigation of Lucy Letby
In 2016, officials at England’s The Countess of Chester Hospital began an inquest into what was causing a statistically high number of babies in the neonatal unit to die or require resuscitation. They found the cases all had one thing in common: night nurse Lucy Letby was on duty for all of them. Police accused Letby of killing the infants in a number of ways - including tampering with oxygen, fee
Watching You
In 2011, Matt Leili told police his wife Nique left their suburban Atlanta home with nothing but her toothbrush a week before her naked body was discovered in the woods. Investigators learned that for years Matt had been surveilling his family in their home through hidden cameras. Through thousands of hours of tape, police pieced together Matt's coercive and abusive marriage with Nique, but the ca
Secret Mall Apartment
Combing passages within the newly-built Providence Place mall, a group of local artists located an unused, overlooked space within the building. They sneaked in furniture and construction supplies, and fashioned a small apartment under the noses of management and security guards. Though the confederates used the space like a club house, they considered the project a political and artistic commenta
Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart
The brazen kidnapping of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her bedroom captivated the nation. And when their main suspect died in custody, police feared they’d never learn her fate. But Elizabeth was still alive, being held in the woods, and facing daily abuse at the hands of her captors. Though investigators thought of it as a cold case, the Smart family continued their search. And a clue from Eli
What Happened in Nashville
Sydney McDowell was preparing for the last steps in her fertility journey. But when she went to Nashville’s Center for Reproductive Health for a final check-up, she learned the clinic was abruptly closing, and what would happen to her frozen embryos was unclear. Hundreds of families who’d paid thousands of dollars were left in the lurch, unable to recover their money or their embryos. As the would
Collateral Damage
From no-knock warrants and phony police informants to civil forfeiture and international narcotics interdiction, the US war on drugs has affected more than just traffickers. Its highly provocative methods have caused the deaths of innocent bystanders, often with no consequences for those responsible. Animated by decades of political cries stoking fear and anger, police departments have gained mor
Steal
A group of armed thieves force their way into a London investment firm which manages pension funds. In order to move billions of pounds into an offshore account, low-level office worker Zara Dunne is forced to complete the transaction with a gun to her head. DCI Rhys Covac thinks the heist isn’t all that it seems, and is paired with forensic accountants and MI5 operatives to unravel the operation.
Hell in Heaven
In 2001, a wealthy American couple moved to Costa Rica to build a multimillion-dollar home and wildlife sanctuary in the rain forest. In their lavish estate patrolled by armed guards, John and Ann Bender found themselves more isolated as the couple dealt with debilitating illness, bipolar disorder, and growing paranoia. When tragedy struck in 2010, authorities were left to wonder whether what happ
Evil Influencer
When police discovered an emaciated boy covered in wounds and duct tape, they learned he and his sister were being kept in the basement of Jodi Hildebrandt. She had built an online following by promoting harsh approaches to marriage advice and rigid child‑rearing strategies. The imprisoned children belonged to Ruby Franke, who abandoned her well‑known mommy vlog to collaborate with Hildebrandt on
Murder in Monaco
In 1999, billionaire Edmond Safra died in his fortified Monaco penthouse after a chaotic sequence of events. His nurse, Ted Maher, was stabbed by intruders, and the fire he set to summon help consumed the penthouse, killing Safra who was hiding in the safe room. The paranoid Safra had made enemies of the Russian mafia, and his widow had already inherited a fortune from the death of another husband
The Devil You Know
In the 1980s, America was told Satanism was on the rise. Devil worshipers were responsible for kidnappings and blood sacrifices, and were coming for your children. Soon, police, teachers, and social workers were seeing Satanists everywhere. But why did the “satanic panic" take off in the first place? Were we really afraid of the devil? Or was it a way to explain the rising prevalence of societal i
Critical Incident: Death at the Border
In 2010, when Anastasio Hernández-Rojas died after his arrest at a checkpoint, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it was from a medical emergency. Even though video surfaced showing 20 officers beating and tasing him, none of the men were held accountable for his death. An investigative journalist and a former CBP agent noted a passing reference to the Critical Incident Team, an organization
Deep Cover Presents: Snowball
After New Zealander Greg Wards married an American, she convinced him to open a cafe in a resort town. He’d learn that Lezlie Manukian forged bank documents, stole money, and made off with his parents’ life savings. Years later, Kiwi journalist Ollie Wards examined his family’s efforts to locate Lezlie. Wards picked up the search and discovered a trail of more fraud, cover stories, and victims. “S
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
In 1997, armored car driver David Ghantt teamed with Kelly Campbell - a pretty former co-worker - and Steve Chambers - a small-time criminal - to steal from the Loomis Fargo vault in Charlotte, North Carolina. The well-planned heist netted $17.5 million, but things started to unravel once they got away. While Ghantt laid low in Mexico to avoid attention, Chambers couldn’t stop making high-profile
