Crime Writers On...

Rebecca and Kevin give an urgent True Crime Update on the breaking news from the Wall Street Journal. Prosecutors are asking a circuit court judge to vacate Adnan Syed's murder conviction. They cite their new investigation that uncovered new suspects and information withheld from the defense. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered when a car bomb exploded outside her home in Malta. After her death, a group of international reporters took up Daphne’s work, looking to complete the stories that cost her her life. Their investigation into who was behind her assassination would focus on Malta’s most powerful people and even threaten to topple the government. Wondery presents the six-part podcast “Who Killed Daphne?” Host Stephen Grey takes us inside the quest to avenge her death the only way journalists know how: to publish the truth.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WHO KILLED DAPHNE?" BEGIN IN THE LAST TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: rum runner. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In June 2019, Anthony Templet told police he shot his father after an argument in their Baton Rouge home. It seemed to be a straight-forward case, but then information came to light about Anthony that even he didn’t know about. This all raised new questions about the victim. Was Burt Templet the generous provider that he seemed? Or did his controlling ways drive his son to commit murder?Netflix's three-part series “I Just Killed My Dad” provides a look at Anthony’s complex psyche and brings us inside his legal case as his lawyer attempts to learn who this family really was.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "I JUST KILLED MY DAD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: If you build it, they will come.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For years, the mafia ran Youngstown, OH, providing the drugs, gambling, and prostitution the blue collar town was known for. As crime got worse, Jim Traficant ran for sheriff on a platform to kick out the mob…at the same time he was taking money from them. Even after the FBI arrested him, Traficant was a beloved figure in Youngstown. He was elected to Congress as a populist candidate who fought for his district - all while taking bribes and evading taxes.“Crimetown” creator Marc Smirling is back with “Crooked City: Youngstown, OH.” This 15-part podcast brings the tales of the city’s mobsters as they maneuver for money and power, and how the colorful Traficant worked both sides of the law.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CROOKED CITY: YOUNGSTOWN, OH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: A little vab with do ya. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informati

Organizers of Woodstock ‘99 set out to recreate the vibe of the original concert, all while turning a profit. But the three-day festival was beset by broken toilets, contaminated water, endless garbage, and corporate sponsors price gouging the concert goers. Meanwhile, the organizers failed to appreciate their headline acts were thrash-rock bands who whipped up the oversexed, over-drugged audience into a frenzy - which culminated in a fiery riot.The Netflix documentary series “Trainwreck: Woodstock ‘99” replays the music festival catastrophe through the eyes of staff, musicians, and concert goers. This docuseries goes behind the scenes to reveal the greed, naiveté, and music that fueled three days of utter chaos.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "TRAINWRECK: WOODSTOCK '99" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE SHOW.In Crime of the Week: A world of laughter, a world of tears. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company.

Jimmy Keene is offered a get-out-of-jail card if he can provide the FBI evidence against a serial killer. Larry Hall is poised to leave prison on appeal. Questions remain about his interrogation, and whether the things he said were true or false. Keene draws in the psychopath, delving deeper into a serial killer’s mind. But Hall’s habit of false confessions leaves it unclear whether there’s anything to learn before he’s released.Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser star in the Apple Original series “Black Bird.” Inspired by true events, Keene must survive a violent prison, dangerous inmates, and ruthless guards, all while trying to befriend Hall and expose his secrets.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BLACK BIRD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE SHOW.In Crime of the Week: skirting the law. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal dat

Did former President Trump break the law trying to influence Georgia election officials? That monumental legal question will be answered by County D.A. Fani Willis. While Congress and the Justice Department investigate a nationwide effort to overturn the election, Willis is probing whether state law was violated in her county.Breakdown season 9 from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is a real-time report on the progress of the Trump grand jury. Hosts Bill Rankin and Tamar Hallerman cover what for them is a local story.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BREAKDOWN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: shakin' bacon. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After Tonya Hughes is killed in a 1990 hit-and-run accident in Tulsa, her friends learn she’d been living under an assumed name. She left behind a young boy and her much-older husband, Clarence, who tried to control every aspect of her life. And after he kidnaps the boy from school and disappears, authorities hope to learn who each of these people really are.The Netflix documentary “Girl in the Picture” follows an investigation that looks backwards at the young woman’s identity, while looking forward to the hunt for the dangerous man at this family’s center. “Abducted in Plain Sight'' director Skye Borgman presents a twisting tale of abuse, mystery and evil.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GIRL IN THE PICTURE" BEING IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: rook against the machine.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of

After the 1985 rape and murder of grandmother Helen Wilson, investigators obtained confessions from six people who said they were there when it happened. But even after they were exonerated decades later, family members and cops don’t believe the so-called Beatrice Six would implicate themselves in a crime they didn’t commit. Meantime, a community theater in the small Nebraska town attempts to confront the crime’s impacts by staging a play based on transcripts of the suspects’ controversial interrogations.The HBO Original documentary series “Mind Over Murder” explores the psychologically complex story of the six people convicted for the murder, the small town cop who drew out their confessions, the psychologist who planted their fake memories, and the town divided on the legacy of what happened.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MIND OVER MURDER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: the one who knocks.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at

When we last saw them, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel were hauled off for the murder of Bunny, the Arconia building president. But their newfound infamy and the success of their true crime podcast has given the trio the opportunities they’ve dreamed of. Mabel is recognized for her artwork, Charles’s classic TV show is revived, and Oliver may finally solve his money problems. But true crime rival Cinda Canning’s new podcast focuses on them and whether they killed Bunny. The only way to clear their names is to create another podcast to prove to the world they didn’t do it.In the second season of the Emmy-nominated “Only Murders in the Building,” Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez return to sendup true crime podcasts while providing a captivating whodunnit. With a new batch of suspects and a mystery around the Arconia’s past, the stakes for the team have never been higher.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING" BEGIN IN THE LAST 16 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Home is whe

Having eluded authorities for 17 years, the criminal known as the Unabomber is ready to make a deal. If newspapers will print his manifesto, he’ll stop killing people. But his anti-technology rants sound familiar to the family of Ted Kaczynski. When the disheveled cabin dweller is arrested, it confirms everyone’s suspicion the culprit was a mad man. But how did he go from mathematics professor to serial bomber? And were there other ways the story could have gone?Produced by Pineapple Street Studios, the Apple Original podcast “Project Unabom” tells the story of a nation and a family coming to grips with what was happening inside a tiny cabin in the Montana woods. Host Eric Benson digs into Kaczynski’s personal papers, and talks to key people from the investigation…including those first suspected of being the Unabomber.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PROJECT UNABOM" BEGIN IN THE LAST 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Your nose knows. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for

Homicide detectives respond to the shooting of a woman in a car on a dark North Hollywood street. The killing does not appear to be random and the lead suspect is the victim’s husband, actor Robert Blake. Complicating the investigation are the revelations about the victim’s past. Before her marriage, Bonny Lee Bakley spent decades as a con artist, cavorting with criminals and celebrities alike, leaving a long trail of enemies.From Wondery comes the latest series from the podcast “Hollywood & Crime”... “The Execution of Bonny Lee Bakley” rehashes the 2001 Robert Blake case. Hosts Tracy Pattin and Josh Lucas provide all the narration and dramatic dialogue.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE EXECUTION OF BONNY LEE BAKLEY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: sleeping under the stars.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collecti

Pet store owners tell buyers their puppies come from reputable breeders and humane kennels. But verifying that is challenging, because the dogs are often supplied by brokers who act as middlemen between the shops and shady puppy mills. Jolyn Noethe is a broker who allegedly engineered a multi-million dollar scheme to launder puppies and deceive buyers throughout the country about where their new pets actually came from.In the new season of “Smoke Screen” from Neon Hum, “Puppy Kingpin” pulls apart the scheme to circumvent laws against trafficking animals from puppy mills to unsuspecting consumers. Host Alex Schuman introduces us to the advocates, pet owners and prosecutors trying to shut down a racket that rewards cruelty and deception.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SMOKE SCREEN: PUPPY KINGPIN" BEGIN IN THE LAST TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informa

The ubiquity of the Web means people can be whomever they want, wherever they want. That cloak of anonymity makes it easy to steal identities, spread hate speech, and make threats against the unsuspecting. But beyond the criminal acts, the nefarious use of the Internet opens the doors for more pernicious problems - like the erosion of truth or the overreach of a government attempting to strike back.The Netflix documentary series “Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet” shows a series of digitally-based crimes - like swatting, sextortion, hate speech and fraud. It also pivots to the ripple effects of these acts - like misogyny, intrusions of civil liberties, police accountability, and the destabilization of our society.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WEB OF MAKE BELIEVE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE PODCAST.In Crime of the Week: anticipation. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads

After a 24 hour standoff at a bank robbery, two armed men and their two hostages flee through West Germany. Later, they hold up a city bus and take more hostages. While the police stay back, the criminals instead open a dialogue with the press, calmly taking questions while brandishing weapons. With reporters following the bus through the country, conducting interviews at every stop, the hostage takers are growing more anxious about the situation. With no clear-cut path for a peaceful conclusion, the nation remains glued to the television.Now on Netflix, the German-language documentary “Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis” relies exclusively on footage shot by news crews who captured the 54-hour ordeal. For English-speaking audiences unfamiliar with the 1988 event, its close-up, real-time chronicle of this rolling standoff builds both suspense and dread.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GLADBECK: THE HOSTAGE CRISIS" BEGIN IN THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.   For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up

An unexplained cancer is moving through New York’s gay community. Throughout the early 1980s, as more men die, its origins remain a mystery. Meanwhile battlelines form among activists, scientists, politicians, and the public at large. “Slow Burn” creator Leon Neyfakh is out with “Fiasco: The AIDS Crisis” on Audible. The podcast looks into the forgotten twists and turns of the epidemic’s early days, when a diagnosis was a death sentence. Neyfakh brings us those who struggled to keep the infected alive - and get society to care.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FIASCO: THE AIDS CRISIS" BEGIN IN THE LAST 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: let me roll it to you.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Authorities were stumped by the untimely deaths of people who had been taking a little-known diet drug. Known as DNP, the chemical helped users shed pounds, all while cooking them alive from the inside. But the compound which was developed as a World War One explosive had long been banned for human consumption. How was it turning up on the Internet? Why did those with body dysmorphia want it?  And why were authorities slow to take action despite the pleas from families of the victims?The C13Originals podcast “One Click” is co-hosted by actress Elle Fanning and journalist Jessica Wapner. They dive into the rise of DNP deaths, while also exploring the historical pressures on body image that likely fueled victims’ desperation to take a risky drug in the name of beauty.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ONE CLICK" BEGIN IN THE LAST 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com

As the self-proclaimed Prophet of the FLDS, a fundamentalist offshoot of the Mormon church, Warren Jeffs used the lure of eternal salvation to manipulate his followers. He arranged polygamous marriages and coerced families to offer their girls as child brides within the secretive sect, while authorities did little to stop him.The Netflix series “Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey'' paints a disturbing picture of the modern subjugation of women and the effects of tyrannical control dressed up as religious obedience. It presents many women who fled their underaged marriages and the outsiders who worked to expose the FLDS’s illegal actions.  OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "KEEP SWEET: PRAY AND OBEY" BEGIN IN THE LAST 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: car accident.   For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The gang of friends in Hawkins is slowly growing apart. Mike, Dustin, Max and Lucas are in different high school cliques. Having moved to California with Joyce's family, Eleven is finding it hard navigating a new school without her supernatural powers. Though wanted by the KGB, Joyce and Murray pursue a tip that Hopper is alive and in a Soviet prison camp. Steve, Nancy, and Robin join their friends to defeat a dark wizard who’s targeting troubled teens in Hawkins. Meanwhile a team of scientists push Eleven to confront her past to regain her powers needed for another fight in the Upside Down.In season four, part one of Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” our heroes attempt to rescue Hopper, recharge El, and repel Vecna. The show widens its universe, adds depth to its young characters, and provides its scariest plotlines yet.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STRANGER THINGS" BEGIN APPROXIMATELY IN THE 41:00  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Si

Michael Peterson said he found his wife at the bottom of the staircase after a fatal fall. But authorities believed when Kathleen Peterson learned of her husband’s double life, he beat her skull with a blow poke in a fit of rage. With the support of his family, a top-notch defense attorney, and a French film crew documenting his every move, Peterson stood trial in a case filled with twists and revelations. Despite holes in the evidence, the jury convicted him of murder.The MAX Original 8-part drama “The Staircase” starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette takes the story beyond where its namesake documentary left off. We see Peterson’s challenges in prison, his family’s personal struggles, clashes over bias in the film - and yes - evidence that an owl attack accounted for Kathleen’s wounds and disorientation.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF HBO'S "THE STAIRCASE" BEGIN APPROXIMATELY IN MINUTE 38:00In crime of the week: all shook up.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at c