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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 prostitute who fled from an attacker who duct taped and handcuffed her. The evidence would point them to a young, mild mannered supermarket security guard who they accused of being a serial killer. The podcast “Someone’s Hunting Us” from nj.com and The Star-Ledger recounts the search for Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, who was accused of murdering four girls and women, and nearly killing a fifth. Hosts Rebecca Everett and Daysi Calavia-Robertson also explore the law enforcement inequities when the victims are Black or do sex work — as well as talk to the victims’ loved ones about how they advanced the investigation when authorities

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 more people in their social circle become persons of interest.  Kerry Washington, Elisabeth Moss, and Kate Mara star in the Apple Original “Imperfect Women.” This domestic thriller tries to untangle the secrets among the women, their lovers, and the ghosts from their past to find the truth about the death of their socialite friend. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "IMPERFECT WOMEN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: pave it forward. 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 Project Studio.

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 secrets. And investigators learned that not everything among the girls was as it seemed. The Hulu true crime documentary series “Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese,” recounts the crime that gripped West Virginia at the dawn of the social media age. The show combines interviews with friends, family and investigators with excerpts from the girls’ diaries and Twitter accounts to tell the story of how the crime came together and how it was solved. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FRIENDS LIKE THESE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newslet

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 her rescuer’s life. Meanwhile, Greenwell investigated whether a live-in nanny in this town could conceal her pregnancy and delivery, and discard a baby undetected. In the end, Jess understood that, all these years later, the impact of her abandonment rippled far beyond her own origin story.   From Tortoise Investigates and The Observer comes the podcast “Foundling.” Greenwell follows Jess’s quest to learn the truth about her birth, her parents, and the impact that her search had on the many people unknowingly connected to her. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FOUNDLING" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Cr

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 snitching is a dangerous proposition. But Anh’s resentment festers as Trung’s guilt for his actions grows. Will one of them spit out the truth or will they both swallow a lie? In the podcast “Blood Will Tell” from Wondery and Campside Media, host Jen Miller frames Trung and Anh’s story in Shakespearean terms, a tragedy about how far someone will go to protect a loved one. As the brothers recount their life stories and explain their actions, Miller eventually gets the two to address the consequences of their decisions on their brotherly bond. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BLOOD WILL TELL" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES

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 Carol, which leads to more questions about the sex lives and personalities of the suburbanites. While looking into whether friends, strangers, or lovers are behind his demise, a clearer picture of Floyd emerges: a man who longed for more than just a physical connection. Jason Bateman, David Harbour, and Linda Cardellini star in the HBO Original “DTF St. Louis.” The series combines dark comedy and mystery with a meditation on the quiet desperation of middle-aged people. Are their mid-life crises really about sex — or a cure for their loneliness and disappointment? OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DTF ST. LOUIS" BEGIN IN

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 politicians, and conspiracy theorists. The unsolved case has raised the question of who blew up the Georgia Guidestones — and the more troubling question of why. The podcast “Who Blew Up the Guidestones?” from The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution and Goat Rodeo digs into the case, exploring the monument’s mysterious origins, its enigmatic purpose, and the many groups who wanted it destroyed. Host Tyler O’Brien investigates the explosion and identifies a new suspect. Was the bombing an act of mindless vandalism or a sinister act of domestic terrorism? OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WHO BLEW UP THE GUIDESTONES?" BEGIN IN THE FINA

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 Bateman was trafficking the girls, but local police were reluctant to take action. Meanwhile, Christine worked secretly to convince the young wives — and the parents who allowed the marriages — that they were under the spell of a false prophet. The Netflix series “Trust Me: The False Prophet” provides a look at Bateman’s crimes from the perspective of the filmmakers embedded in his home. Featuring their original footage along with new interviews, it shows Christine’s efforts as a double agent, using the documentary to gather evidence while trying to free his devoted victims from his grip. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "TRUST

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 little physical evidence - Gabrielle pushed Spanish authorities to seek justice. Netflix’s “The Predator of Seville” features Gabrielle and other survivors who say they were attacked by Blanco, but the serial rapist/tour guide never faced any consequences. It also follows Gabrielle as she navigates the Spanish court system in an uphill battle to hold Blanco accountable. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE PREDATOR OF SEVILLE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Proj

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 actions, Gessen decided to dig deeper into the family dynamic. After talking with the people at the center of the affair, Gessen came to the conclusion that Allen is an idiot. In “The Idiot” from Serial Productions and The New York Times, M. Gessen recounts what happened when their pompous cousin is implicated in a murder-for-hire plot. They offer a grim-yet-humorous look at a family dynamic punctuated by co-dependence and irritation. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE IDIOT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: I'm living on the air in Cincinnati.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at

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 or not Mr. Hudson was a predator, what investigators knew, and where were the adults who should have been protecting the students. From the Peabody-nominated team at KUOW’s Focus comes “Adults in the Room.” Raftery gets classmates and investigators to say now what they wouldn’t say then. The podcast explores how Hudson pushed boundaries that were loosely enforced, and how his actions have affected his hero-worshipping students all these years later. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ADULTS IN THE ROOM" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newslet

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 investors’ motives increases. But what he doesn’t suspect is that both the business and the documentary they’re shooting are fake — and everyone around him are actors. The Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated, Peabody Award-winning team behind “Jury Duty” returns with “Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat.” This time, the hidden-camera, semi-scripted comedy has its hero provide emotional support to Rockin’ Grandma’s quirky staff, while trying to save this family business from corporate vultures. The show shoots for all the feels, simply by putting a regular person in a situation to do the right thing. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF

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.” 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 Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 their neighbors’, and by the lengths they’re willing to go to annoy one another. HBO’s “Neighbors” delivers a cavalcade of high-strung people and their low-stakes disputes over fences, security cameras, and general resentments about the people living next to them. The series uses the idiosyncratic disputes to make a statement about our modern world of rage, suspicion, and incivility. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "NEIGHBORS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Proje

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 at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 of Public Safety, his brother climbed the ranks as a dealer and prison gang leader. But Larry had pulled himself out of The Game to live a more normal life before being gunned down. The question lingers: how did the siblings who were so close as children end up on such opposite paths? The podcast “The Brothers Ortiz” from Campside Media and iHeartPodcasts examines the lives of two men, bound by blood but living in distant worlds. Host Sean Flynn talks with the Ortiz family to learn why the brothers’ paths diverged so widely and how they tried to connect despite living on opposing sides of the law. It’s a story of how

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 drawn in deeper when Bea catches the eye of a ruthless KGB officer who’s been gathering kompromat. Now they must complete their dangerous mission before the Russians figure out that American women can also work as spies. In Peacock’s breezy, buddy spy thriller “Ponies,” Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson star as CIA widows who become operatives and find themselves in a high stakes game of international espionage. The unlikely pair try to balance romance, friendship, double-crosses, and a Cold War conspiracy in which the role of women is greatly underestimated. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PONIES" BEGIN IN THE FINA

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 tumultuous relationship with another cop was never explored. They believe the department protected the man who — directly or indirectly — is responsible for her death. In the podcast “One of Their Own” from KPBS, host Katie Hyson explores how the San Diego Police Department investigated the 2017 death of their officer. It looks into claims that Estrada was either shot by the fellow cop who was her boyfriend, or that their volatile romance drove her to suicide. It also asks what responsibility the department might have when two of its employees are in a problematic relationship. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ONE OF THEIR

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 the inmate and the social media influencer. Then the media questioned whether Bester had faked his death and escaped with Magundumana’s help. The three-part Netflix series “Beauty and the Bester” recounts the extraordinary investigation into South Africa’s most notorious criminal, his relationship with a celebrity, and what happened next. Featuring extensive interviews with Magudumana's family and investigative journalists, the series shows how a bizarre prison death turned into a national sensation. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BEAUTY AND THE BESTER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podca

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 wisdom as he recounts his violent past and deeds done to atone for them. But prosecutor Heather Brown finds Thompson’s stories to be false or exaggerated, tales that shift as they suit his purpose. Whereas Ariel sees a reformed man worthy of a second chance, Heather believes him to be a slippery con artist intent on talking his way out of prison. In the podcast “Love + Radio: Blood Memory,” host Nick van der Kolk explores Thompson’s life in a true crime series presented largely without narration. Through extensive interviews, it allows Thompson to tell his own life story, leaving it for the listener to decide whether