Truer Crime
Do you ever listen to a true crime podcast and think, “that’s not quite right…?” Same. Crime stories are hard to ignore and even harder to forget. But the thing is... they’re stories. And getting a story right is all about how you tell it. Truer Crime talks about real people— murdered, missing, misled — with more nuance, more context, and more questions. Hosted by Celisia Stanton. Season 3 out now!
Episodes
Nobody Should Believe Me - S7 E1: The Catalyst
Welcome to Season Seven of Nobody Should Believe Me. Andrea revisits the case of Maya Kowalski—the story at the center of the Netflix film Take Care of Maya–and the family’s high-profile lawsuit against Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. What became widely framed as a story about “medical kidnapping” began when hospital staff reported suspected medical child abuse after Maya arrived with a his
Relisha Rudd & The Fight for Missing People of Color
In this bonus episode of Truer Crime, we return to the disappearance of eight-year-old Relisha Rudd.
In 2014, Relisha vanished from a Washington, D.C. homeless shelter. She was not officially reported missing for eighteen days. More than a decade later, she has never been found.
I’m joined by Derrica Wilson and Natalie Wilson, co-founders of the Black and Missing Foundation, to discuss their
When True Crime Becomes A Place You Can Visit
True crime is usually something we consume at a distance, through headlines, documentaries, podcasts. But what happens when those stories are tied to real places you can stand in front of?
In this bonus episode, I’m joined by Adam Paul Levine, the founder of Graveline Tours, a Los Angeles–based company that takes people through the city’s most infamous crime scenes in restored vintage funeral l
Did the Government Kill Martin Luther King Jr.?
Most of us were taught a simple version of what happened to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: a lone gunman, a closed case, a tragic end.
This episode of Truer Crime looks beyond that familiar story. Drawing on historical records, testimony, and a little-known 1999 civil trial brought by the King family, it examines the years of surveillance, intimidation, and unanswered questions surrounding King’s
Jennifer Kirk + Sue Sue Norton Part 2
Two years after Jennifer Kirk was found dead on former mayor Clement Richards Sr.’s property, another woman was discovered at that same address: 30-year-old Susanna “Sue Sue” Norton, who was in a relationship with one of Richard's sons. To this day, no one has been charged in connection to her murder.
Today’s episode examines how this could happen again on the same property, the questions still
Jennifer Kirk Part 1
In the small town of Kotzebue, Alaska, police responded to a call at the mayor’s property and found 25-year-old Jennifer Kirk dead, a rifle beside her and a bullet wound under her chin. Within days, her death was ruled a suicide.
But many in the community saw something different: a history of domestic violence involving all three of the mayor’s sons, unanswered questions at the scene, and an in
Natalee Holloway Part 2
Within days of Natalee Holloway’s disappearance, her mother suspected Joran van der Sloot was involved. What she couldn’t have known was just how much, and for how long, Joran would manipulate the truth. For nearly two decades, he cycled through lies, near-confessions, and sensational claims that kept Natalee’s story in the headlines while dragging her family through hell.
In Part 2, we follow
Natalee Holloway Part 1
Eighteen-year-old Natalee Holloway vanished during a senior trip to Aruba, a disappearance that captured international attention and reshaped the island overnight. Her family fought for answers with a level of visibility most grieving families could only dream of. But more attention doesn’t always mean more truth.
In Part 1 of our two-part deep dive, we revisit the night Natalee went missing, t
Behind the Footprint: Reporting Jeanie Childs’ Story
In this bonus episode, I sit down with investigative reporter Jennifer Mayerle, the journalist behind the WCCO documentary Footprint to Murder. Jennifer spent years following Jeanie Childs’ case, building trust with Jeanie’s family and navigating the emotional and ethical challenges of reporting a story this complex.
We talk about what it was like to cover this case from the inside: the relatio
Jeanie Childs Part 2
For more than 25 years, Jeanie’s case stayed unsolved. Investigators had fragments—a DNA profile appearing across key items, a set of bloody footprints—but not a name. Then, a new technology entered the picture with the potential to blow the whole case wide open. In Part 2, we follow the quiet breakthrough that put a suspect in focus, the messy, very human work of proving it, and the questions tha
Jeanie Childs Part 1
In the Summer of 1993, a leak in a south Minneapolis high-rise led a caretaker to a horrifying discovery: 35-year-old Jeanie Childs, murdered inside her apartment. On the floor beside her, a haunting clue: a trail of bloody bare footprints. Today we start at the beginning of a decades-long search for answers, tracing Jeanie’s story, the evidence left behind, and the first threads investigators fol
From Court TV to TikTok — The Menendez Effect
I’m going off the record with my co-producer, Olivia, to break down our Menendez Brothers series, from how the story evolved during production to what it reveals about our culture’s fascination with crime and punishment. We talk about the ethics of telling familiar stories, the lasting impact of media coverage, and the newest developments in the brothers’ case more than 30 years later.
Want ear
The Menendez Brothers Part 3
Broadcast into millions of homes, the Menendez trial became something bigger than a murder case. It was television. Tabloid fodder. Even comedy material. But when trauma turns into spectacle, what gets lost? In Part Three, we trace how the case was flattened into a punchline, and why, 35 years later, it demands a different look.
Want early access to every episode, all at once? Tenderfoot+ subsc
The Menendez Brothers Part 2
At just 18 and 21, Erik and Lyle Menendez stood trial for killing their parents. To many, it seemed unfathomable: how could two privileged kids from Beverly Hills do something like this? When they finally spoke, the picture that emerged was darker and more complicated than anyone expected. In Part Two, we follow the trial that gripped the country, and the stories the brothers had kept hidden for y
The Menendez Brothers Part 1
In the summer of 1989, wealthy media executive José Menendez and his wife, Kitty, were found dead inside their Beverly Hills home. The brutality of the crime was shocking enough, until the truth came out. Their killers weren’t intruders. They were their sons, Lyle and Erik. In Part One, we begin unraveling the story of a family that looked perfect on the outside, but was breaking apart from within
Facing Death: A Conversation with Keith LaMar
Keith LaMar has spent more than 30 years on death row for crimes he says he did not commit. With his execution date set for January 13, 2027, and his final legal options dwindling, Keith speaks candidly about betrayal by his own attorneys, the indifference of the courts, and why he believes the public may be his last chance at justice. But this is also a conversation about life—about what it means
Keith LaMar + The Lucasville Prison Riot Part 4
In many true crime stories, the ending comes with the verdict: guilty, condemned, case closed. But for Keith LaMar, that moment marked the beginning of another story. For three decades, he has fought to keep living inside a system determined to end his life. This episode explores what survival looks like on death row, and what it means to keep resisting in the shadow of an execution date.
Want
Keith LaMar + The Lucasville Prison Riot Part 3
Keith LaMar once admitted to murder. But when prosecutors accused him of ordering deaths in the Lucasville prison riot, he drew a line: this time, he said, he was innocent. In this episode, we return to the crime that put Keith behind bars, and follow the trial that would decide his fate.
Want early access to every episode, all at once? Tenderfoot+ subscribers get the full case at the start of ea
Keith LaMar + The Lucasville Prison Riot Part 2
For eleven days, turmoil gripped the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. Hostages were trapped, negotiations collapsed, and the violence only grew. Inside those same prison walls, Keith LaMar was forced to witness horrors that would shape the rest of his life. This is the story of how the riot ended, and how Keith’s reckoning began.
Want early access to every episode, all at once? Tenderfoot+ su
Keith LaMar + The Lucasville Prison Riot Part 1
On Easter Sunday in 1993, the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville erupted into chaos. Tensions between prisoners and staff had reached a breaking point, sparking one of the longest prison sieges in U.S. history. Over eleven days, nine inmates and one corrections officer would lose their lives. But what caused the riot? And for the hundreds trapped inside, what did it mean to survive
Women + Crime: The Cassie Ventura Case and Sean “Diddy” Combs
Celisia joins Meghan Sachs on Women + Crime to unpack the Cassie Ventura case and the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Together, they explore the power dynamics at play, the impact of the MeToo era, and the bigger questions about justice and accountability when the accused is one of the most powerful men in music.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Off the Record: Mollie Tibbetts and the Grief They Hijacked
What happens when the worst day of your life becomes a talking point on national TV?
In this special ‘Off the Record’ episode, we go deeper into the making of our two-part story on Mollie Tibbetts. I sit down with my co-producer Olivia Heusinkveld to unpack why we told this story, what didn’t make it into the episode, and the uncomfortable questions we wrestled with along the way. We talk about
Mollie Tibbetts Part 2
For weeks, the search for Mollie Tibbetts consumed her small town, her face on posters, her name on everyone’s lips. And when investigators finally closed in on the man behind the wheel of the car seen circling Mollie on the night she vanished, justice for her family felt within reach.
But what unfolded next wasn’t the ending anyone had imagined. Instead, Mollie’s disappearance was thrust into
Mollie Tibbetts Part 1
In July of 2018, 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts went on a run in her small hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. Something she’d done countless times before. But this time, she didn’t come home.
What followed was a search unlike anything this town had ever seen. Neighbors combed the fields. Reporters camped out at the local diner. And as the weeks stretched on without answers, the questions only grew louder:
Truer Crime Season 3: Vanished. Vilified. Voiceless.
Vanished. Vilified. Voiceless.
This season on Truer Crime, every story has something in common: it’s not what it seems.
What starts as a disappearance, a tragedy, or a headline quickly reveals something deeper—about power, about prejudice, about who gets to be heard and who gets written off.
We’re digging into six gripping cases. Some you might recognize. Others you’ve never heard before. But e
Truer Crime Is Back—And We’re Going Deeper Than Ever
Season 3 of Truer Crime launches this August—and this time, we’re doing things differently. Each month, we’ll spend multiple episodes digging into one case, with deeper stories, bigger arcs, and the kind of nuance and context you’ve told us you love.
After years of on-and-off releases, we’re finally bringing you a season built for consistency with new episodes most weeks for six months straight.
A Line Crossed: The Political Assassination in Minnesota
Early Saturday morning, a man disguised as a police officer went door to door in the Minneapolis suburbs with a hit list. He shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. He murdered State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband. He nearly reached my own childhood senator, Ann Rest.This was a political assassination—and it happened in my hometown.In this bonus episode, Olivia and I walk thr
Mother, Martyr, Manipulator: Introducing 'Nobody Should Believe Me'
In the first episode of Nobody Should Believe Me’s latest season, host Andrea Dunlop unpacks the origin story of Sophie Hartman — a young woman from Michigan who, by 25, had adopted two Zambian girls and written a memoir titled Crowns of Beauty. Andrea explores Sophie’s evangelical roots, the savior narrative she constructed, and what it reveals about identity, motherhood, and power.
Andrea is jo
The Susan Smith Case: Media, Motherhood, and the Lie That Shaped a Manhunt
In this special crossover, Celisia joins Andrea Dunlop — host of Nobody Should Believe Me — for a Casefiles conversation on the Susan Smith case. In 1994, Smith falsely claimed a Black man had kidnapped her two sons. The truth was far more chilling — and her lie launched a national manhunt.
Together, Celisia and Andrea unpack the media frenzy, the racial panic Smith weaponized, and what this case
“They Didn’t Write That Sh*t When He Was Alive” — Anthony DiMaria is Setting the Record Straight About the Manson Murders
The Manson murders have been told and retold—but rarely like this. In this special bonus episode, Anthony DiMaria, nephew of victim Jay Sebring, reveals the story behind the headlines. Anthony shares what it’s like to grow up under the shadow of a crime that defined a generation, how the media erased Jay’s humanity, and why so much of what we “know” about the Manson Family is wrong. From his uncle
Timothy Coggins
In October 1983, 23-year-old Timothy Coggins was brutally murdered in the small town of Sunny Side, Georgia. As his family grieved, they were met with menacing threats, warning them to back off from the investigation. Today’s episode covers a case that had stayed cold for more than three decades, spotlighting a family that never stopped hoping for justice.
A full list of action items, sources, res
Deadly Small-Town Secrets: The Reporter Who Risked Everything for the Jeff Davis 8
What happens when a journalist discovers a supposed "serial killer" case might actually be a web of police corruption, informant murders, and small-town cover-ups? In this riveting follow-up to our Jeff Davis 8 episode, I go one-on-one with investigative reporter Ethan Brown, who spent years untangling the deaths of eight women in rural Louisiana. Brown reveals shocking new details - from his stra
Jeff Davis 8
Between 2005 and 2009, eight women were murdered in Louisiana’s Jefferson Davis Parish. To this day, all eight murders remain unsolved. It’s a story that drew the attention of New Orleans private investigator and author Ethan Brown, who uncovered a pattern of police misconduct, scandal, and investigative failures. In today’s episode, we explore the mysteries of this small town, where the pursuit o
EXCLUSIVE ALERT: Truer Crime Merch Is Here (But Not For Long)
After countless requests, Truer Crime's first-ever merchandise has officially launched! In this special announcement, Celisia reveals the limited-edition t-shirt featuring an exclusive inside reference that only dedicated listeners will understand. This isn’t just a merch item—it’s a conversation starter, community badge, and direct support for the future of Truer Crime. But act fast—this isn't a
Sonya Ivanoff
Sonya Ivanoff was a rising star in Alaska’s small, tight-knit community. A talented basketball player with dreams of a college career, she had her whole future ahead of her—until she was found murdered at just 19 years old. In the isolated town of Nome, investigators were left with few clues and fewer answers, as the case spiraled into a labyrinth of conflicting leads. In today’s episode, we explo
Making Manson: Our Journey Through America's Most Infamous Murders
The Manson murders have been covered endlessly, turned into sensational headlines, Hollywood blockbusters, and pop culture mythology. But how do you tell this story differently—without glorifying the killers or repeating the same tired narrative?
In this special behind-the-scenes episode, I sit down with my co-producer Olivia Heusinkveld to unpack the making of our two-part series on the Manson m
The Manson Murders Part 2
In the summer of 1969, California police hunted for the killers behind seven brutal deaths over two vicious nights. As the investigation zeroed in on Charles Manson and his cult followers, a shocking story began to emerge. What followed was a criminal trial like no other, marked by a revolving defense team, dramatic protests, and violent threats to witnesses. In this second installment of a two-pa
The Manson Murders Part 1
Charles Manson is a name synonymous with terror. But after decades of coverage, is there still something we’re missing about one of the most notorious figures in American crime? What forces shape the narratives we think we know? In the first chapter of a two-part deep dive, we’ll examine the Manson murders through a fresh lens, uncovering details that have long gone unnoticed. Sometimes, the most
Five Thousand Dollars for a Death Sentence: Inside the Toforest Johnson Investigation w/ Beth Shelburne
If you heard our last episode, you already know the case against Toforest Johnson is riddled with problems—key witnesses recanted, no physical evidence tied him to the crime, and even the original prosecutor now says he deserves a new trial. But there’s even more to this story.
In this follow-up conversation, investigative journalist Beth Shelburne peels back the layers of the case and shares what
Toforest Johnson
In 1995, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy William Hardy was shot behind a Birmingham hotel. At that moment, over ten witnesses placed Toforest Johnson at a nightclub across town. Despite this, Toforest has spent more than 26 years on death row for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. Today, many—including one of the jurors who originally convicted him— think the courts got it wrong. But how? With
Alan Berg
Alan Berg, a prolific talk radio personality, kept Denver listening. At a time when the airwaves still sounded mostly polite and apolitical, Alan was best known for his brash politics and fiery arguments with callers. All of this came to an end in the summer of 1984, when Alan was murdered outside of his home. Today’s episode is about the importance of speaking up, even against the forces that wil
Alice Sebold / Anthony Broadwater
You might know Alice Sebold from her bestselling novel “The Lovely Bones.” But before that, she became famous for her memoir “Lucky,” where she recounts the brutal assault she survived in a park near her college campus—and the trial that followed. The man convicted in that trial was Anthony Broadwater, who has maintained his innocence for more than 40 years. Today’s episode is about forgiveness, r
The Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On April 4, 1968, a single bullet ended the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The official story pinned the murder on James Earl Ray—a fugitive desperate to evade capture—but for decades, the King family has fought to expose a darker truth. In this episode, we uncover the buried evidence, tangled conspiracies, and a stunning 1999 civil trial that found the U.S. government complicit in King’s assa
Lauren McCluskey
A student at the University of Utah, Lauren McCluskey began receiving threatening messages from her ex-boyfriend in the fall of 2018. For nearly three weeks, concerned for her safety, she reported this harassment to campus police again and again. Today’s episode is about the deadly cost of warnings ignored—and what happens when the people we trust to protect us fail to take action.
Please be awar
Season 2 - Official Trailer
Truer Crime is back for season 2 with 10 brand-new episodes you won't want to miss. From high-profile stories like the Manson Murders to lesser-known cases about everyday people — the victim of a modern lynching, a talk radio host gunned down in his driveway, a famous author and the man wrongfully convicted of her rape — each episode is a take on true crime you won't hear anywhere else. Be sure to
Tamla Horsford
From 1920 to 1940, no Black people lived in Forsyth County, Georgia. None. But by the time Tamla Horsford moved there with her family, a lot had changed. Or so it seemed, until Tamla was found dead in the Fall of 2018. Suddenly, a century’s worth of trauma resurfaced in the once all-white Georgia county. Today’s episode reveals what happens when a woman and a county collide.
Please be aware that
Sam Mandez
Sam Mandez was just 14 years old when his elderly neighbor, Frida Winter, was found murdered in her home, the same home Sam had painted with his grandfather just a few summers prior. It would be years before they set their eyes on Sam as their main suspect. And while he was just a kid when the crime took place, Sam was tried as an adult and eventually sentenced to life in prison for first-degree m
Mindy Dodd
If you consume a lot of true crime, you might have heard Mindy Dodd’s story before. Or at least one like it – the classic story of a housewife who, pushed too far, snaps and murders her husband. The scary music swells and the story ends neatly. The housewife is locked away. But what if that’s not the whole picture? Today’s episode is about the muddy middle that's so often left out.
Please be awar
Official Trailer
Do you ever listen to a true crime podcast and think “that’s not quite right…?” Same. Crime stories are hard to ignore and even harder to forget. But the thing is... they’re stories. And getting a story right is all about how you tell it. Truer Crime talks about real people — murdered, missing, misled — with more nuance, more context, and more questions. Hosted by Celisia Stanton.
You can see mor
Relisha Rudd Remembrance Day (Republish)
July 11th marks “Relisha Rudd Remembrance Day’' in Washington DC. The purpose of this event is to spread awareness and let the public know that the search for Relisha is not over. Today we republish Episode 5 covering Relisha’s disappearance to bring more attention to her story.
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No one had seen 8-year-old Relisha Rudd for weeks before she was finally reported missing in March of 2014. So where
*BONUS* The Real Impacts of True Crime Media w/ Sarah Turney
In 2001, Sarah Turney’s sister, Alissa, went missing. Nearly two decades later and no arrests in the case, the police told her they could no longer help her and she needed to get media coverage for the case. So, in 2019, Sarah started The Voices for Justice Podcast as a way to tell Alissa’s story. In August 2020, an arrest was made in the case and Sarah’s efforts were recognized by the Maricopa Co
*BONUS* Womanhood + True Crime w/ Olivia Gatwood
In 2017, Olivia Gatwood picked up a new hobby: listening to true crime podcasts. Living in a first floor Boston apartment at the time, Olivia was quickly consumed by a new fear: a man breaking into her apartment and murdering her in her sleep. In order to work through this fear, Olivia wrote about it in what would eventually become her poetry collection “Life of the Party.”
A conversation between
Joan Little Pt. 2
At just 21 years old, Joan Little finds herself on trial for murder and facing the death penalty. But still, thousands of people around the country insist that Joan’s actions were justified. When her case sparks nationwide protests and a wave of financial support, eyes around the world are suddenly all on Joan. Picking up where part 1 left off, today’s episode explores what happens when someone su
My Story
Last week I sat in a courtroom, a government building not so different from the ones we often mention on Truer Crime. So this week I decided to do something different: In today’s episode, I’m both crime storyteller and crime victim. This is the story of how a man I trusted stole my entire life savings — and what I learned along the way.
A full list of sources, resources mentioned, and photos relat
Joan Little Pt. 1
In the early hours of August 27th, 1974, the security camera at North Carolina’s Beaufort County Jail was inexplicably not working. So when the night jailer, Clarence Alligood is found dead in 20-year-old Joan Little’s cell — everyone is left with a slew of unanswered questions. Why was Clarence Alligood in Joan Little’s cell? What had led to his murder? And where was Joan Little?
Today’s episode
Michael Johnson / Tiger Mandingo
In the winter of 2013, Dylan King-Lemons went to the doctor with stomach pains. His diagnosis? HIV. A few months later, one of his former sexual partners, Michael Johnson, is arrested. But why? Today’s episode explores identity, crime, and our societal obsession with punishment.
Please be aware that today’s episode contains references to anti-Black racism, homophobia, and incarceration.
*Correctio
The Tulsa Race Massacre
In 1921, an act of terrorism would turn a once thriving Black community to ash and rubble overnight. It was an event so horrific that many historians now call it the single worst incident of racist violence in U.S. history. But what led up to that fateful day? And why were folks so intent to forget it ever happened? Today’s episode explores the importance of history and the ways violence can stret
Relisha Rudd
No one had seen 8-year-old Relisha Rudd for weeks before she was finally reported missing in March of 2014. So where was she? Why did it take so long for anyone to notice? And who was to blame? Today’s episode explores what can happen when the systems built to protect families just — *don’t*.
Please be aware that today’s story contains references to suicide, gun violence, child abuse, and housing
Josiah Sutton
At just 16 years old, Josiah Sutton is accused and convicted of a heinous crime he swears he didn’t commit. Only problem? Investigators have DNA evidence which links him directly to the crime. Today’s episode explores forensic science, the effects of imprisonment, and the bond between a mother and her son. Today’s story contains references to sexual assault, incarceration, and very briefly, suicid
Jonestown
In November of 1978, 918 Americans died in the middle of the Guyanese jungle. It would be “the largest single incident of civilian death in American history” until September 11th, 2001. But who were these people? How did they really die? And why were they in South America to begin with? It’s a story you may have heard before — but maybe never quite like this.
Today's story contains references to
The Botched Investigation of Samuel Little
Prior to his death in 2020, Samuel Little confessed to 93 different murders between the years of 1970 and 2005. And over 50 of them have been confirmed by investigators. It makes Little the most prolific serial killer in US history. So why then, have you never heard of him? Today’s episode explores who is looked for, who is seen, and who is forgotten.
Today's episode contains references to sexual
Darlie Routier
At 2:30am in June of 1996, Darlie Routier placed a frantic call to 911. A rough story starts to emerge: an intruder broke into the Routier home, attacked Darlie and her two sons Damon and Devon, and then fled into the night.. Almost immediately, cops have only one suspect. But the Routier family? They know that investigators have it all wrong. Today’s story is an episode that examines what it real
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