Wicked Words - A True Crime Talk Show with Kate Winkler Dawson
Kate Winkler Dawson hosts a true crime talk show where she interviews journalists, podcasters, and authors about their behind-the-scenes stories from true crime investigations. The podcast also features her limited series Tenfold More Wicked, which covers various true crime cases across multiple seasons.
Episodes
James T. Bartlett: True Crime Burbank
James T. Bartlett has been with us before. He wrote a book called The Alaskan Blonde, about a woman who was accused of murdering her husband in 1953. Now James and I are traveling from Alaska down to Burbank, California with his new book, True Crime Burbank. He covers some of the city’s most infamous murders—and some I’ve never heard of. Join my Patreon! patreon.c
Maria DiLorenzo: Confessions of the Green River Killer
When crime journalist Maria DiLorenzo began writing to Gary Ridgway, she had no idea where it would go. He began calling her—hundreds of times. Their conversations were supposed to lead to big revelations and to clues about women who might have been victims of the Green River Killer. But Ridgway played games and DiLorenzo soon felt very uncomfortable. She tells me about her book Confessions
Steve Meyers + Shawn Johnson: How to Rob a Bank
In the 1990s, a bank robber known as “Hollywood” robbed at least 19 banks in the northwest. He was pursued for years until one final robbery ended in violence. My guests are an interesting duo: one is the FBI agent who chased him and his crew. The other was Hollywood’s accomplice. Shawn Johnson and Steve Meyers tell me their story from the Netflix documentary How to Rob a Bank.&n
Kimberly Sheeter: Air-Minded
My next guest is an author who began writing a biography and then turned it into a novel. And I don’t blame her. The story of Earnest Pletch may be largely unknown now, but in 1939, he became famous. He took a flying lesson, he brought a gun, and soon, he was flying solo. Kim Sheeter tells me about the killer at the center of her story: Air-Minded. Join my Patreon! patreon.com/kateandp
Dawson Fearnow: Incognito Inc.
This is the third time I’ve had Dawson Fearnow on the show—he writes about Arizona and some of the bad things that happened there. He’s talking to me about a piece he wrote for Phoenix Magazine called "Incognito, Inc.: Arizona’s Secret, Starring Role in the Federal Witness Protection Program.” Dawson tells me about several cases about mob informants in the state who c
Tori Telfer: Criminal Broads
Alright, I have a great podcast for you. It’s called Criminal Broads and it’s hosted by Tori Telfer. The stories focus on women as criminals. She tells me about a bank robber and a dirty doctor, as well as some others. Join my Patreon! patreon.com/kateandpaul Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See mo
Maurice Chammah: The Last Twelve Weeks
I’ve had my buddy, Maurice Chammah, on the show before. He’s a journalist with the Marshall Project, and a leading authority on the death penalty. He has a podcast out called: The Last Twelve Weeks. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the attorneys for a man on death row in Texas are racing to stop his execution. It’s a complicated story about a very bad man&hell
Kate Casey: Martha Moxley
The 1975 murder of 15-year-old Martha Moxley made national headlines because of its brutality, but also because the main suspect was a cousin of the Kennedys. Michael Skakel was tried, convicted and then released from prison. Many felt like he might have gotten away with murder. But some people who have reinvestigated the case aren’t so sure. And that includes true crime podcaster Kate Casey
Justine van der Leun: Unreasonable Women
My next guest has done something extraordinary: she traveled across America collecting stories of criminalized survival. Shocked to find how many women were convicted for protecting themselves against abuse. Author Justine van der Leun tells me the stories in her book Unreasonable Women: Three Stories of Self-Defense, Wrongful Imprisonment, and Extraordinary Surv
Eva Benefield: Ghost Girl
If you followed the so-called Black Swan murder case, you probably saw a teenage girl, trying to get justice for her father. In 2020, Ashley Benefield shot and killed her estranged husband, Doug, in Florida. Eva Benefield had already gone through so much trauma in her life and then she had to watch her stepmother go on trial for murdering her father. Eva tells me the story from her memoir: Ghost G
Emily Winslow: Jane Doe January
Author Emily Winslow is a fabulous crime novelist and she’s also a sexual assault survivor. In 1992, she was a young drama student at an elite conservatory in Pittsburgh. One January night, she was brutally raped by a stranger. More than 20 years later, Emily found out that the attacker had finally been arrested. In her memoir, Jane Doe January, Emily digs
Pamela Colloff: Catch the Devil
Journalist Pam Colloff is one of my favorite people. She’s an outstanding criminal justice reporter who is now publishing her first book. And it’s a doozy. It’s about a serial criminal, a so-called informant who conned the courts and the DAs. He sent dozens of people to prison who were wrongly convicted. But did he get away with it? Pam tells me the stor
Michelle Pitcher: Riding Shotgun
A man was convicted of capital murder in Texas in 1999 and much of the case depends on eyewitness testimony. But there’s a twist: one of the witnesses was hypnotized. Should Charles Flores still be on death row? Michelle Pitcher from the Texas Observer tells me the story from season five of The Unforgiven podcast. It’s called Riding Shotgun. Join my Patreon! patreon.com/kateandpa
Axton Betz-Hamilton: The Less People Know About Us
Millions of us have had our identities stolen—the thief can be a stranger, or someone very close to you. Author Axton Betz-Hamilton grew up in fear in rural Indiana because her family was being targeted. Her father even had to sell his family’s farm. As an adult, Axton became an expert in identity theft. And then she found out who had almost destroyed their lives. She tells me the
Robert Hilland: Chasing Evil
In 1998, FBI agent Robert Hilland was at a dead end with a cold case, until he got a huge break… from a famous psychic, John Edward. Hilland was a skeptic, but not anymore. He spent twenty-five years solving crimes with Edward. Robert Hilland tells me the story at the center of his book, Chasing Evil: Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent&rsquo
Jessica McDiarmid: Highway of Tears
For decades, scores of Indigenous women and girls have vanished from an isolated stretch of highway in northwestern British Columbia called The Highway of Tears. Journalist Jessica McDiarmid is from that area, and she decided to investigate why so many cases were either ignored or dismissed. She interviewed family members and friends of some of the victims for answers. She tells me about her
Liam Le Guillou: An Unknown Compelling Force PT 2
We’re back talking to filmmaker Liam Le Guillou about his documentary An Unknown Compelling Force: The Dyatlov Pass Incident. We learn more about the victims, and we hear about many conspiracy theories. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com Fo
Liam Le Guillou: An Unknown Compelling Force PT 1
Filmmaker Liam Le Guillou was fascinated with the mystery surrounding the deaths of nine experienced Russian hikers in the Ural Mountains in 1959. Paul Holes and I talked about this case on Buried Bones, but Liam really, really dug into the mystery. He has his own opinion and he shares it in his documentary, An Unknown Compelling Force: The Dyatlov Pass Incident. We rarely do this, but we had to m
Naomi Clifford: Women and the Gallows
Throughout history, women have been convicted of crime, sometimes violent crimes, we know that. But most were not sent to the gallows. Historian Naomi Clifford decided to tell the story of the time period in England, 40 years beginning in the late 1700s, and the women who were given the death penalty. She tells me about their crimes, their defense…and their lives before their deaths. Her bo
Diane Fanning: Bitter Remains
Author Diane Fanning is known for covering high profile cases like Casey Anthony and JonBenet Ramsey. But not with this book. In the summer of 2011, Laura Jean Ackerson left to pick up her two sons from her ex-husband’s home. And she was never seen alive again. Diane digs into this case, which leads us from North Carolina to Texas. Her book is called, Bitter Remains:
Patrick Radden Keefe: London Falling
In 2019, surveillance cameras at the headquarters of Britain’s spy agency in London recorded video of a 19-year-old man. He was pacing back and forth on a high balcony of a luxury tower along the bank of the river. A two in the morning, he jumped into the water. Soon, his family discovered that he had lived a secret life that might have led to his death. From the bestselling author
Andrea Dunlop: The Mother Next Door
One type of crime we don’t talk about much is Munchausen by proxy. It’s a mental health condition and a form of child abuse. It's where a caregiver exaggerates, makes up, or induces physical or psychological symptoms in a child to make them seem sick. Or it could be another person under their care. Author Andrea Dunlop writes about Munchausen by
Susan Orlean: The Library Book
Author Susan Orlean wrote a best-selling book years ago that you’ve probably heard of: The Orchid Thief. It was made into a movie called Adaptation. Susan has now written another book—this one about an unexpected crime that might not have been a crime at all. A fire in the LA Public Library destroyed more than 400,000 books in 1986. Did they find out what caused it? Or who? S
William J. Mann: Black Dahlia
One of the most enduring mysteries in crime history is the horrible murder of Elizabeth Short. The Black Dhalia case has been told over and over again, including by Paul Holes and me on Buried Bones. But author William J. Mann has taken a different angle…and I really like it. He’s written a deeply researched, victim-forward book about Elizabeth: her life, her struggles and her death.
Paula Lavigne: Murder at the U
This is our second ESPN story about the intersection between sports and murder. ESPN was asked by the Miami-Dade Police to look into the 2006 murder of a star football player at the University of Miami. What reporter Paula Lavigne found was a complicated victim, a questionable suspect, and a police department that likely regrets calling ESPN to begin with. She&nb
Rachel Nuwer: The School for Wildlife Traffickers
I’ve never interviewed someone about wildlife trafficking, but journalist Rachel Nuwer’s story for The Economist was so compelling that I wanted to explore it. It’s about an orphanage in Africa where kids are used as foot soldiers in an illegal animal and ivory smuggling operation. Rachel's article is called: The School for Wildlife Traffickers. Support this podcast by shop
Randy Barnett: Felony Review
Randy Barnett is a law professor at Georgetown University. But decades ago, he was a young prosecutor in Cook County’s State’s Attorney’s office. In Chicago, Randy dealt with gritty crime, of course, but some of his biggest challenges were battling police corruption, crooked co-workers, and judges on the take. Randy tells me about his book: Felony Review: Tales of True Crime and
Deborah Esquenazi: Night in West Texas
We’re taking you back to 1980s West Texas. When a Catholic priest was found murdered in a seedy hotel in Odessa, investigators focused on a gay Apache man who had made an accusation against the victim. Director Deborah Esquenazi tells the story in her film with Texas Monthly: Night in West Texas. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link:&nbs
Seamus McElearney: Flipping Capo
FBI agent Seamus McElearney had dreamed of investigating the mafia in New York when he first joined the bureau. But of course, no one would flip on the families. No one had ever flipped on the families. Until McElearney did some research, offered a made-man some orange juice…and made history. He tells me about his book: Flipping Capo: How the FBI Dismantled the Real
Elliot Williams: Five Bullets
We’re talking about a very famous case this week. In 1984, Bernie Goetz shot four Black teenagers on a subway in Manhattan. He was hailed as a hero in the press, a man who stopped would-be robbers. But as the public learned more about the evidence, and about Goetz himself, the story seemed to shift. Elliot Williams is a CNN legal analyst and former federal prosecutor. And he wrote a book abo
Paul Solet: Chowchilla
In 1976, 26 kids were riding on a school bus in Chowchilla, California when they were kidnapped along with their driver by three men. The men buried them all underground in the middle of nowhere. The kids were terrified as they struggled to stay alive, and then a 14-year-old boy took control. It’s an incredible story of survival. Paul Solet tells me about the story at the center of his film
Skip Hollandsworth: She Kills
I’m really thrilled to have my buddy Skip Hollandsworth on the show this week. He wrote a book called "She Kills.” And it’s a collection of updated stories from Texas Monthly focusing on fascinating and often shocking female murderers—and some of these are cases that I’ve never heard of. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promoti
Adam Rittenberg & Kyle Bonagura: Finding Dolores Wulff
An assistant college football coach never thought they’d find his mother because Dolores Wulff had been missing for more than 40 years. Paul Wulff, along with most everyone else, believed that his father, Carl, had murdered her. So, what would happen to this case…if they found her? ESPN reporters Adam Rittenberg & Kyle Bonagura tell me about their investigation from their podcast
Michael F. Weisberg: A Second Shot
In 1971, James Tappen Hall was gunned down in Maryland as the deputy sheriff patrolled the grounds of a country club. The police searched for suspects, which included a gang of teens known for breaking into Coca-Cola machines. But the case went cold for half a century until it finally broke. But did they catch the real killer? Author Michael Weisberg tells me the story from his book,&nbs
Meg Gardiner: UNSUB
Meg Gardiner is a thriller writer, a really great one. She has several series, but the one I’m most interested in started with a book called UNSUB about a serial killer. And it’s based on two real serial killers, one of whom she lived close to. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more informa
Brad Ricca: Lincoln’s Ghost
Harry Houdini, the world’s greatest magician, wowed audiences around the world in the 1920s. He must have felt invincible, but then an evil spirit cursed him during a seance. And soon, Houdini would wage war against Spiritualism. He set out to debunk fraudulent mediums, and expose charlatans for lying to people in mourning. Author Brad Ricca tells us about Houdini’s crusade from his bo
Conversation Rewind with Kate Summerscale: The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher
The brutal murder of a 3-year-old shocked Victorian England not only because of how it happened, but because of who the police suspected. Could one of Britain’s most famous detectives solve the case? Author Kate Summerscale tells us the story at the center of her book, The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions
Conversation Rewind with Margalit Fox: Conan Doyle for the Defense
One of the most incredible stories in true crime is the tale of Arthur Conan Doyle and how he helped free a man…who was innocent of murder. Author Margalit Fox offers us a deep dive into the characters in her book, Conan Doyle for the Defense. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 Se
Rachel McCarthy James: Whack Job
When Rachel McCarthy James and her father wrote their best-selling book The Man from the Train, Rachel became fascinated with axes. Were they good weapons during murders? What kind of killer used them? She wrote the story of the axe in her book Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bi
Dick Harpootlian: Dig Me a Grave
Dick Harpootlian might be a name you recognize. He’s from South Carolina, and he’s one of Alex Murdaugh’s defense attorneys. He’s also been a prosecutor. And one of his most disturbing defendants was serial killer Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins. Dick tells me the story from his book: Dig Me a Grave. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and p
Yepoka Yeebo: Anansi’s Gold
The popular former president of Ghana was once accused of hiding gold from the West African country’s government. But it turns out that he was targeted by an audacious con artist who pulled off one of the 20th century's longest running and most spectacular frauds. Author Yepoka Yeebo tells me the story in her book: Anansi's Gold. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deal
Rod Sadler: Depraved Obsession
For more than a decade, a serial killer stalked teenage boys in Michigan. Ronald Lloyd Bailey was eventually caught. But the story becomes more complicated because of Bailey’s experience at one of the state’s most respected psychiatric hospitals. Author Rod Sadler tells me the story in his book: Depraved Obsession. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and pro
Ceri Jackson: The Boy from Tiger Bay
Almost 40 years ago, a brutal murder on Valentine’s Day shook the country of Wales. When a 20-year-old is murdered in a dark corner of Cardiff’s infamous Tiger Bay area, the police launch an investigation. But did they arrest the wrong people because they were desperate to close the case? Author Ceri Jackson tells me the story from her book: The Boy from Tiger Bay. Supp
Dane Huckelbridge: Queen of All Mayhem
We hear a lot about gunslingers and outlaws in the American West, and those stories are mostly about men. But there were female outlaws, too—like Belle Starr, probably the most famous of them all. Her murder was a mystery. But her life was extraordinary. Author Dane Huckelbridge tells me about Belle and his book: Queen of All Mayhem. Support this podcast by shopping
Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee: Shadow of the Bridge
The murders of Liberty German and Abigail Williams in Delphi, Indiana shook the country. But the impact of the attention, the speculation and the fear is still felt in the community. Now podcasters Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee have written a book about the case, but it feels different from other investigations. Their book does focus on the case, but also how the families were impacte
Rich Cohen: Murder in the Dollhouse
The disappearance in 2019 of Jennifer Dulos is one of the most chilling stories I’ve ever read about. When the mother of five vanished from her wealthy Connecticut suburb, her estranged husband became the prime suspect. But when Fotis Dulos ended his own life, the mystery deepened. Author Rich Cohen has the inside story in his book, Murder in the Dollhouse. Support this podcast by
Jane Borden: Cults Like Us
What is the origin story of cults? Author Jane Borden says it goes all the way back to the Puritans and their doomsday beliefs. She says that from the beginning, we’ve been a nation of easy marks for con artists and manipulators. She tells me about her book, Cults Like Us. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.
Anne Soon Choi: L.A. Coroner
When you write a biography about a man dubbed “Coroner to the Stars,” it’s bound to be a compelling story. Who doesn’t want to read about the coroner who performed the autopsies on Marilyn Monroe, RFK, and Natalie Wood, among others? Author Anne Soon Choi tells me about her book, “L.A. Coroner.” Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals
Patricia Cornwell: Scarpetta
I’ve interviewed quite a few authors who are inspired by real people or real crimes. And then they write these fantastic novels. Patricia Cornwell’s iconic character, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, has a legion of fans because of how clever she is as a medical examiner, how she solves a mystery. Cornwell was working with Virginia’s first female chief ME Dr. Marcella Fierro, and was an invalu
Ross Halperin: Bear Witness
A gang in a mountain barrio in Honduras terrorized the people there for years. The police claimed that their hands were tied because witnesses refused to testify. An American sociologist and a Honduran schoolteacher devised a plan to protect their neighbors by taking matters into their own hands. Author Ross Halperin tells me the story in his book: Bear Witness: The Pursuit of Justice in a Violent
Michael Beach Nichols: Perfect Wife
Most of us have heard about Sherri Papini. She’s the woman who faked her own kidnapping in 2016, which terrified her husband and soon sparked outrage in her Northern California community. Michael Beach Nichols is the director and producer of the Hulu series, “Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini.” He tells US about his experience spending time with Sherri&r
Bryan Burrough: The Gunfighters
We’ve heard from my buddy Bryan Burrough before for one of his Audible books based on a true crime story. His new book is very different. It’s called The Gunfighters: How Texas Made the West Wild. Enough said. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com&
James Polchin: Shadow Men
Our story this week is set in the 1920s in Westchester County, New York…it’s a Jazz Age mystery. A young ex-sailor is found dead on a desolate road. A suspect from a wealthy family admits to the murder, but he claims that he was trying to protect a dangerous secret. Author James Polchin’s book, Shadow Men unravels a mystery more than a century old. Support this podcast by
Dan Slater: The Incorruptibles
New York in the early 1900s was filled with people trying to make their lives better. But for many, the rise of organized crime kept them in constant fear. On the Lower East Side, Jewish criminals from Eastern Europe formed crime syndicates. There were gangs of horse poisoners, casino owners, thieves and thugs. But then a group of Jewish uptowners stepped in and created a vice squad that worked in
Tanya Talaga: The Knowing
If you’ve ever dug deep into your family history, you know that there are sometimes surprises. Author Tanya Talaga discovered that the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter was mostly unknown because she was Indigenous. It’s a struggle that many Indigenous people in Canada have: how do you learn about your family’s past without crucial records? T
Alex Eliseev: Cold Case Confession
This week on Wicked Words on Exactly Right: in 1999, a woman named Betty Ketani went missing in Johannesburg, South Africa. She just vanished from the restaurant where she was working. Then a letter found 13 years later changed everything. Author Alex Eliseev tells me about his book Cold Case Confession—a real Agatha Christie story. Support this podcast by shopping our l
Megan Abbott: El Dorado Drive
New York Times’ best-selling author Megan Abbott often uses true crime stories as a jumping off point for her wildly popular novels. Now she has a new book out called El Dorado Drive. It’s about three sisters who become entangled in a pyramid scheme that turns very dark. The real story behind the novel is so strange, it’s hard to know what really happened. And luckily, Megan has
Caroline Fraser: Murderland
This week’s author grew up in the Pacific Northwest with the memories of notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer, who also lived there. But the region wasn’t just home to those two murderers: there were many more. Was there a connection between the Pacific Northwest’s most infamous killers…and its incredible amounts of pollution? Caroline Fraser
Matthew McGough + Rick Jackson: Black Tunnel White Magic
In 1990, a UCLA student was found murdered in a tunnel in LA. Detective Rick Jackson and his partner were assigned to the complicated case. Who had a motive to stab Ronald Baker? Was the pentagram pendant around his neck a clue? Author Matthew McGough and Detective Rick Jackson tell the story in their book, Black Tunnel White Magic: A Murder, a Detective’s Obsession, and ’90s Los
Elon Green: The Man Nobody Killed
We’ve had journalist Elon Green on before to talk about his fantastic book Last Call. His new book is about an inspiring young Black artist in 1980s New York. Michael Stewart ended up dead after encountering a Transit Authority police officer at a 14th Street subway station late one night. Witnesses say that police beat him to death, and it made national headlines. Green
Jonquilyn Hill: Through the Cracks
When an 8-year-old disappeared from a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C. in 2014, nobody noticed for 18 days, even her family. Seven years later, Relisha Rudd has never been found. The Through the Cracks podcast investigates gaps in our society and the people who fall through them. Host Jonquilyn Hill asks what could have been done to find Relisha? Support this podcast by shopping our late
Mary Kay McBrayer: Madame Queen
This week on Wicked Words we’re traveling back to 1923 Harlem and its seedy world of gambling and racketeering. Author Mary Kay McBrayer tells me about Stephanie St. Clair. She was one of the only female crime bosses in the city. Madame Queen was also a Black, self-made businesswoman. And a legend. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at
Duncan McCue: Kuper Island
Kuper Island is a remarkable podcast, an investigation into one of Canada’s most notorious so called Indian residential schools. Journalist Duncan McCue explores the unsolved death of a student, a tragedy that sheds light on rampant abuse and exposes the trauma of three survivors. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF
Thomas Maier: The Invisible Spy
I love a good spy story. We’ve talked about spies embedded with the American government. We’ve discussed librarians and academics researching in the basement of the Library of Congress during World War II. And now we’re talking with Thomas Maier about a very unlikely spy, a former football player turned spy for Churchill. It’s all in his book, The Invisible Spy. Suppo
Virginia Feito: Victorian Psycho
Occasionally we interview fiction authors who use true crime stories as jumping off points for their novels. Virginia Feito wrote a book called “Victorian Psycho.” And it’s based on several cases you’ve likely heard of. There’s a lecherous head of house, a jealous wife…and a violent governess. Very violent. Feito uses gallows humor to take real stories and craf
Claire St. Amant: Killer Story
I’m so excited about this interview. It’s with Claire St. Amant. She’s a journalist and an author. And she was a TV producer for 48 Hours and 60 Minutes. Now she’s pulling back the curtain on true crime television. I learned a lot from her. She’s talking about her memoir: Killer Story. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and
Gilbert King: Bone Valley
We might have our first Pulitzer Prize winner on our show. Author Gilbert King digs into cases of wrongful conviction. Today, we’re talking about his outstanding podcast, Bone Valley Season 2. Gilbert explores the 1987 murder of Michelle Schofield in Florida. It’s a story of justice, forgiveness, and the possibility of redemption. Support this podcast by shopping our latest spons
Christopher Goffard: Crimes of the Times
LA Times reporter Christopher Goffard was the voice behind the hit podcast “Dirty John.” And now he has a new podcast that covers crimes in Los Angeles that made headlines, stories like the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer at the hands of a stalker. He tells me about his show, “Crimes of the Times.” Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and prom
Pagan Kennedy: The Secret History of the Rape Kit
This week on Wicked Words, years ago author Pagan Kennedy wondered about the history of the rape kit, a crucial tool for investigators today. Who designed it? She found out that it was Martha Goddard, a pioneer who wanted to help police catch sexual predators using forensics. But sometime after she made history, Goddard vanished. Listen to Kennedy’s story at the center of her book, The Secre
Brendan Koerner: The Skies Belong to Us
Plane hijackings aren’t very common anymore. But in the late 1960s and early 1970s, armed criminals were forcing commercial airliners to divert their flights, oftentimes demanding ransom. Author Brendan Koerner tells the story of an American couple turned hijackers, whose journey ends with some surprising twists. Koerner’s book is called: The Skies Belong to Us. Su
Hallie Lieberman: The Devil Went Down to Georgia
For years, a predator preyed on gay men in Atlanta. He was known as the Handcuff Man. He attacked male sex workers, disfigured them, and then left them for dead. Journalist Hallie Lieberman wrote a fantastic piece for The Atavist Magazine called The Devil Went Down to Georgia. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly
Joseph Cox: Dark Wire
In 2018, the FBI discovered that high level criminals around the world were using encrypted devices to plot intricate crimes. When a powerful, secure new app began courting these syndicates, members of the underworld flocked to it. One problem for the criminals: the app was created by the FBI. Joseph Cox tells us the incredible story from his book, Dark Wire. Support this podcast by shopping
Avril Speaks: Uprooted
In 1986, 17-year-old Keith Warren was found hanging from a tree in Silver Spring, Maryland. His sister wanted answers—how did he die? It was ruled a suicide, but there were so many suspicious things about Keith’s death. I talked to filmmaker Avril Speaks about her docuseries, “Uprooted,” which covers Keith’s case. Support this podcast by shopping our latest spon
Lana Hall: The Incel Terrorist
This is a story about a landmark case in Canada from just a few years ago. A teenager attacked two women in a massage parlor in Toronto in 2020. He killed one and seriously injured the other. When he told investigators why he did it, they settled on trying him for murder…and terrorism. Journalist Lana Hall tells me about her piece in Maclean’s magazine called:
Lise Olsen: The Scientist and the Serial Killer
Dean Corll was a serial killer in Houston in the early 1970s. He kidnapped and murdered more than two dozen missing teenage boys before he was murdered by one of his accomplices. Decades later, a forensic anthropologist discovered a box of remains from the case. She spent years using scientific tools to identify some of the unknown victims. Journalist Lise Olsen tells me the story at the
Marcia Clark: Trial by Ambush
It’s been 30 years since the infamous OJ Simpson trial, and the lead prosecutor Marcia Clark has had quite a career since then. She writes fiction and nonfiction books, including the one we’ll talk about today. It’s called Trial by Ambush and it’s a story about a young woman in Burbank, California. In 1953, Barbara Graham was caught-up in a robbery scheme that turned deadly
Elyse Graham: Book and Dagger
Did you know that some of the most effective American spies during World War II were librarians and archivists and history professors? Some were locked in the basement of the Library of Congress, analyzing documents. Those documents were being gathered by academics sneaking around Europe, under the noses of the Nazis. Author Elyse Graham tells me the story at the center of her book
Craig A. Monson: The Black Widows of the Eternal City
We don’t talk a lot on this show about female killers, but author Craig Monson has brought me a fascinating story right out of a Hollywood film. His book, The Black Widows of the Eternal City, centers on a web of women poisoners in 17th century Rome and their male victims. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 
Thomas Morris: The Dublin Railway Murder
This week on Wicked Words, we’re traveling to 1856 Ireland for a locked-door mystery. A cashier for a Dublin railway station is found dead, savagely beaten. Nothing appears to have been stolen. Can an experienced detective crack this case? Author Thomas Morris tells us the story in his new book The Dublin Railway Murder: The Sensational True Story of a Victorian Murder My
Rick Jervis: The Devil Behind the Badge
On this week’s episode of Wicked Words, we’re traveling to the Texas border town of Laredo. When four vulnerable women are murdered, police suspect that a well-respected U.S. Border Patrol agent has turned into a serial killer. Author Rick Jervis tells me the story behind his book, The Devil Behind the Badge: The Horrifying Twelve Days of the Border Patrol Serial Killer. Support
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