Prash's Murder Map: True Crime Podcast
Prash's Murder Map is a true crime podcast hosted by British author Prash Ganendran. Each episode investigates real murder cases from history and around the world, using original research to reveal overlooked facts. The show presents cases without sensationalism, focusing on historical and social context. It offers thoughtful, evidence-based storytelling.
Episodes
101 | The Ontario Murders: Manhunt for “The Tattoo Man” Peter John Peters
In January 1990, Ontario was gripped by one of Canada’s largest manhunts in 15 years. Peter John Peters, a violent ex-convict known as ‘The Tattoo Man’, terrorised the province for several days, leaving a trail of theft, assault and murder. From the brutal killing of a 63-year-old cleaner to the stabbing of two young women and a bank robbery, his crime spree tested law enforcement and left communi
100 | The 1928 Lake District Murder: The Honeymoon Killer of Borrowdale
In June 1928, a newly married Chinese couple arrived in the Lake District to enjoy their honeymoon. Days later, 28-year-old Wai Sheung Siu was found strangled in woodland near Derwentwater. Suspicion fell on her husband as hidden jewellery, cryptic notes, and reports of mysterious men and secret societies became part of a sensational murder case.📘 My latest book: Wartime London's 'Bonnie and Clyde
99 | Interview with Giles Brown on Talk Radio Europe about Wartime London's 'Bonnie and Clyde'
On 1 July 2026, we were interviewed by Giles Brown on Talk Radio Europe about our latest book, Wartime London's 'Bonnie and Clyde': The Crime Spree of Betty Jones and Karl Hulten, which examines the 1944 crime spree that culminated in the shooting of private car hire driver George Edward Heath, known as the 'Cleft Chin Murder'. This is the recording of the interview in which we briefly explore sev
98 | The Manhunt for Barry Prudom: The Phantom of the Forest Murders
In June 1982, the murder of Police Constable David Haigh sparked the largest manhunt Britain had seen at that time. As fugitive Barry Prudom moved through the forests and villages of North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, he left more victims in his wake, including Sergeant David Winter. Hundreds of police officers, helicopters, armed units and a specialist wilderness tracker joined th
97 | The Great Coram Street Murder: The Unsolved True Crime Case of Harriet Buswell
On Christmas Day 1872, the body of 31-year-old Harriet Buswell was discovered in a Bloomsbury lodging house, her throat brutally cut inside a locked room. As detectives reconstructed her final hours, conflicting witness statements and rumours of a mysterious ‘German gentleman’ sent the investigation spiralling in the wrong direction. In this episode, we examine this baffling unsolved case that bea
96 | The Wrotham Hill Murder: Fabian of the Yard Investigates
In October 1946, 48-year-old Dagmar Peters was found murdered on Wrotham Hill in Kent after a lorry driver spotted a blue shoe at the roadside. The investigation was led by Chief Inspector Robert Fabian, later immortalised in the TV series Fabian of the Yard. Suspicion fell on lorry driver Sidney Sinclair, a man with multiple aliases whose story soon unravelled under questioning.📖 Prefer to read?
95 | The Wife in the Well Murder: The 1885 Botched Execution of Robert Goodale
In 1885, in the Fenland village of Walsoken near Wisbech, Bathsheba Goodale was last seen alive with her husband, Robert. That night, he returned home alone, his trousers soaked and his boots thick with mud. He showed little concern when his wife failed to come back from the fields, and his strange indifference quickly stirred suspicion among the villagers. The discovery of Bathsheba’s body at the
94 | The Vampire of Kraków: Karol Kot and the Murders That Shocked Poland
In 1960s Kraków, Poland, a string of random, brutal stabbings shocked the city and left police hunting a killer with no apparent motive. At first, nobody suspected Karol Kot; a polite, intelligent teenager hiding an obsession with knives and violence. The two murders and multiple attempted murders he committed would earn him the nickname ‘The Vampire of Kraków.’📘 Learn more about my latest bookWar
93 | The Murderess of Newington Butts: The Strange Case of Agnes Norman
In Victorian London, 15-year-old Agnes Norman was working as a nursemaid when a 14-month-old girl in her care died suddenly and mysteriously. When suspicions were raised, police uncovered a disturbing pattern. Over the previous three years, Agnes had worked in several households, and each time, a string of sudden deaths – children and pets alike - followed in her wake. Was it cold-blooded murder,
92 | Murder in Babbacombe: The Man They Could Not Hang
In November 1884, 68-year-old Emma Ann Whitehead Keyse was brutally murdered in her home in Babbacombe, Devon. As investigators pieced together the crime, suspicion fell on a household member, leading to a trial that gripped the public. But the story didn’t end in the courtroom, as the fate of the accused would take an extraordinary turn that made headlines across Victorian England.📖 Prefer to rea
91 | The Saint-Cloud Murders: The Crimes of Serial Killer Eugen Weidmann
Eugen Weidmann, a German-born criminal, carried out a spree of theft, kidnapping, and murder in Paris in the late 1930s, in a case that involved foreign victims, buried bodies, ransom notes, and multiple accomplices. His calm, deceptive charm helped him evade the police for two years before he was finally captured. In 1939, Weidmann became the last man to be publicly guillotined; a controversial m
90 | Murder in Birkenhead: Lock Ah Tam and the Chinatown Tragedy
After a birthday celebration in Birkenhead in 1925, the Tam family’s life of respectability and success suddenly unravelled in a violent tragedy. This episode explores the life of Lock Ah Tam, his role as a respected figure in Liverpool’s Chinese community, and the fateful events that led to one of the most shocking family murders of the era, set against the backdrop of Liverpool’s Chinatown and s
89 | Murder in Wartime Folkestone: Did Dennis Leckey Get Away With It?
On the streets of Folkestone, Kent, amid World War II, 18-year-old Caroline Trayler disappeared after being seen drinking at the local pub one Sunday evening in June 1943. When Police Constable Lewis entered a bombed-out grocer’s shop several days later in the hunt for the missing woman, he discovered a tragic scene which confirmed that the missing person’s case had now become a murder enquiry.📘 L
88 | Elizabeth Jones and Karl Hulten: Wartime London’s “Bonnie and Clyde” - Author Discussion
In this special author discussion episode, Prash and Melissa Ganendran share their experiences of writing their latest book, which examines the 1944 crime spree of Elizabeth Jones and Karl Hulten, culminating in the murder of private car hire driver George Edward Heath. The case became known as the 'Cleft Chin Murder', while some newspapers at the time described the pair as London's 'Bonnie and Cl
87 | Murder in a Lincolnshire Village: The Ethel Major Poisoning Case
In Lincolnshire in 1934, 44-year-old Arthur Major died suddenly. He had previously been healthy, and his wife seemed unusually eager to arrange his funeral. The ensuing investigation revealed a troubled marriage, and the circumstantial evidence against Ethel Major began to mount, in this vintage true crime case that captured the attention of both the local community and the national press, with Et
86 | Murder in Chantilly Forest: The 1978 True Crime Case of Alain Lamare
A routine patrol in northern France uncovered an abandoned car in May 1978, sparking a terrifying manhunt. Over months, shootings, bombings, and stolen vehicles terrorised the Oise region, while anonymous letters taunted law enforcement. When the pieces fell into place, it revealed a shocking truth: the Oise Killer had been hiding in plain sight all along.Subscribe to my free newsletter:https://pr
85 | The Brecknock Road Murder: The True Crime Case of George Vincent Heneage Finch
In 1886, shootings in London were rare - even more so in broad daylight. In this episode, we explore the murder and robbery committed in a quiet Kentish Town road by George Finch, a would-be performer whose stage ambitions had faltered. Finch would avoid execution and go on to live a long life after his release from Broadmoor.📖 Prefer to read? Full article:https://prashganendran.com/penny_dreadful
84 | Murder on Roppa Moor: The Helmsley Double Murder of 1895
In 1895, 22-year-old Robert Hudson took his wife Kitty and their infant son on holiday to Helmsley, North Yorkshire. When they departed hurriedly under suspicious circumstances, the landlady at their boarding house was surprised. Soon, Kitty Hudson’s relatives grew concerned as to her whereabouts and the Yorkshire Police set out to track a killer who used multiple aliases and sent false letters to
83 | Dr Crippen and the Hilldrop Crescent Murder: The Notorious 1910 True Crime Case
Dr Crippen and the Hilldrop Crescent Murder revisits one of Britain’s most infamous true crime cases of 1910. When Cora Crippen, better known on the music-hall stage as Belle Elmore vanished, her husband Hawley Harvey Crippen offered shifting explanations that soon aroused suspicion. A police search of their Hilldrop Crescent home uncovered human remains, pointing to a shocking murder. Crippen and
82 | The Murder of Mary Drury: A Forgotten True Crime Case from 1920s Liverpool
In February 1920, 15-year-old Kathleen Mary Drury left her home in Waterloo, Liverpool, and never returned. The following morning, her body was found near the Brooke Road allotments, her throat cut and no sign of the killer. Days later, the mutilated body of a railway signalman was discovered on the tracks at Sandhills Station but what linked the two deaths? This episode revisits an obscure and lo
81 | Murder at the Garibaldi Inn: The True Crime Story of Constable Herbert Burrows
In November 1925, police constable Herbert Burrows was found guilty of murdering publican Ernest Laight, his wife Doris, and their young son Robert at the Garibaldi Inn in Worcester. The discovery was made by the family’s charwoman, who raised the alarm after finding the doors unlocked and the till emptied. The case exposed the calculated betrayal of trust within a small community and led to Burro
80 | The Hednesford Ripper: Henry Thomas Gaskin
When career criminal Henry Thomas Gaskin returned from serving with the Royal Engineers, tunnelling under the trenches of the Western Front during WWI, he was furious to discover his wife’s infidelity. He lured her to a meeting place under the pretence of discussing their marriage, and Lizzie Gaskin was never seen alive again. This true crime case remains one of the West Midlands’ most brutal, yet
79 | The Sarajevo Assassination: Gavrilo Princip and the Gunshot That Triggered WW1
In Sarajevo on 28 June 1914, a young Bosnian student named Gavrilo Princip fired a shot which would become the deadliest in history. With the help of co-conspirators from underground nationalist group Young Bosnia, he assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie during their imperial visit to the capital. Their deaths set off a domino effect of ultimatums, alliances, and mobilisations
78 | The Murdered Watchmaker of Norfolk: The 1853 Case of Lorenz Beha
In 2025, two pocket watches were sold at an auction, prompting renewed interest in a 170 year old East Anglia murder case. They were made by skilled German craftsman Lorenz Beha, who came to England to set up his watchmaking business in Norfolk. On a cold November day in 1853, Beha was found murdered on a quiet country road by a local labourer who happened to be one of his customers. The timepiece
77 | Murder at Edencroft Hostel: The Tragic True Crime Story of Stephanie Baird
Just days before Christmas 1959, the Edencroft Hostel in Birmingham became the scene of a shocking murder. Stephanie Baird, 29, was brutally killed by 27-year-old Patrick Byrne, a man hiding a history of stalking and violent sexual fantasies. The case revealed the terrifying progression from secret obsession to murder, leaving investigators to confront one of Britain’s most disturbing true crimes.
76 | Who Killed Kent Reeks? A Murder Mystery in Wolverhampton
In January 1914, the industrial town of Wolverhampton became the backdrop to a baffling mystery when 24-year-old ship’s engineer Kent Reeks was found shot dead near a disused mine shaft — 90 miles from the Liverpool hotel where he had been staying. Just days earlier, he had arrived from Canada, carrying a large sum of money and travelling in the company of a mysterious man. This little-known true
75 | Murder in Sovell Woods
In 1913, the little known hamlet of Gussage St. Michael in Dorset, southwest England, became the scene of a shocking discovery when a young woman’s body was found buried in woodland. This obscure true crime case explores the lives of killer William Burton and his victim, Winifred Mitchell, and how she came to be buried in a shallow grave in one of England’s most rural counties. 📺 youtube.com/@pras
74 | Murder at The Crumbles
In the summer of 1920, Irene Munro chose a solo holiday in Eastbourne, on the south-east coast of England, over joining her mother in Edinburgh. Days later, her body was found buried on the remote Crumbles beach by a family on holiday. She had been violently murdered. As police investigated, newspapers suggested she had led a double life. With the help of witnesses, detectives began to piece toget
73 | The Tragic Murder of Station Master Edward Walshe
In 1868, 19-year-old railway porter Thomas Wells shot and killed Dover Priory stationmaster Edward Walshe after a disciplinary dispute. Wells showed little remorse and offered no resistance during his arrest. He was tried, found guilty, and became the first person executed privately under the new Capital Punishment Act.I originally created this episode in 2020, but have now enhanced it with additi
72 | Murder on a Tropical Island: The True Crime Case of Deborah Gardner
Deborah Gardner joined the Peace Corps in 1976, hoping to make a positive impact in Tonga.She embraced the local culture and formed close bonds with the community.But one volunteer, Dennis Priven, developed a disturbing fixation.What followed would lead to tragedy and lasting controversy.Subscribe to my YouTube channel for video versions of the podcast:📺 youtube.com/@prashsmurdermap💡 Support me on
71 | The Wimbledon Lovers’ Lane Murder
In July 1938, a woman’s body was discovered on Somerset Road in Wimbledon, just yards from Centre Court. The investigation revealed she had been murdered, prompting a nationwide search for van driver George Brain. In this episode, we explore Brain’s background, how the police tracked him to his hideout, and the revelations that emerged during the investigation.Subscribe to my YouTube channel for v
70 | A Brutal Murder in West Bromwich: The Case of Stanley Eric Hobday
In the early hours of August 1933, Charles Fox was murdered during a violent break-in at his West Bromwich home. The crime triggered a large-scale police investigation that uncovered a trail of forensic evidence linking the attack to 21-year-old Stanley Eric Hobday. As the manhunt intensified, Hobday’s movements led officers across the country. This episode explores a shocking crime, its swift res
69 | Clive Olive and The Mad Dogs of Sussex
In 1973, the body of a teenage boy surfaced in Shoreham Harbour, weighted down with concrete and secrets. Clive Olive was 16, a dreamer turned drifter, seduced by a violent subculture.This episode unravels the chilling story of biker gangs, betrayal, and revenge in 1970s Britain.The motive was personal. The violence, unforgettable.Subscribe to my YouTube channel for video versions of the podcast:📺
68 | The Mummy’s Boy Who Killed: The Dark Tale of Sidney Fox
Sidney Harry Fox and his mother Rosaline enjoyed staying at expensive hotels up and down the coast of southeast England, although they could rarely afford to pay. The staff at the Hotel Metropole in Paradise Street, Margate, were charmed by Sidney, who seemed so considerate and devoted to his mother. Little did they know that behind this performance, lay a history of fraud and deceit which would l
67 | The Charlotte Bryant Murder Case: Love, Lies, and Arsenic
Charlotte Bryant was at the centre of a rural murder case that shocked an English village in 1935. When her husband died after a series of unexplained illnesses in their Dorset cottage, suspicions turned to poison. This true crime episode explores the investigation, the role of arsenic, and the events that led to one of Britain’s most infamous murder trials.💡 Support me on Patreon to get ad-free e
66 | The Murder of Dawn Viens: Hidden Without a Trace
When Dawn Viens vanished in 2009, her husband David claimed she’d left after an argument.Two years later, he confessed to killing her — and offered a chilling explanation.Despite no body being found, he was convicted of second-degree murder.This true crime episode investigates control, violence, and a shocking confession.💡 Support me on Patreon to get ad-free episodeshttps://www.patreon.com/prashs
65 | The Murder of Harriet Lane (Victorian True Crime)
In Victorian London, Henry Wainwright, a once-respected businessman, leads a double life of deception, infidelity, and mounting debt. When his mistress, Harriet Lane, becomes an inconvenient burden, he devises a gruesome solution.💡 Support me on Patreon to get ad-free episodeshttps://www.patreon.com/prashsmurdermap💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-tim
64 | Murder in the Blackout: The Shocking Wartime Killing of Rachel Dobkin
During the blackout nights of WWII London, under the haunting wail of air raid sirens and the devastation of the Blitz, one of the city’s most chilling true crimes was quietly buried beneath the rubble. In this episode, we uncover the twisted tale of Rachel Dobkin, whose dismembered and burned body was discovered in a bombed-out chapel in 1942. As Londoners struggled through nightly raids and rati
63 | Geoffrey Ferguson: Landlord From Hell (Mass Murder in Connecticut)
Landlord Geoffrey Ferguson, enraged over a bounced rent cheque, drove from North Carolina to Connecticut and unlawfully evicted his tenants by force. The murders that followed shocked the community and were described as the worst mass killing in Connecticut’s modern history.💡 Support me on Patreon to get ad-free episodeshttps://www.patreon.com/prashsmurdermap💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery litt
62 | Dark Underpass: The Murder of Nella Olander
On July 27, 2018, in Fagersta, Sweden, a cyclist discovered a semi-nude woman, Nella Olander, lying in a dark underpass, fatally stabbed. Soon after, 14-year-old Thomas confessed to his mother that he and a man twice his age Johan Fallqvist, had attacked her. What brought Thomas and Fallqvist together in this toxic partnership? My YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/@prashsmurdermap💡 Support me on P
61 | The Plumstead Tragedy: A Victorian Murder Story
In 1890, a young machinist named Walter James Lyons committed a shocking act of violence on the streets of Plumstead, southeast London. What drove this 20-year-old to murder a decorated soldier in broad daylight? The answer lies in a moment of rage, a clash of Victorian morality, and a mother’s decision that scandalised an entire community. Leaving the Old Bailey to decide: was Walter truly a kill
60 | Mihail Leshtarski: The Killer From The Caves
In 2009, 59-year-old Elena Tomova retreated to her countryside villa in Vlado Trichkov, Bulgaria, seeking peace—only to find evidence of an intruder. That evening, she unknowingly invited her own killer, Mihail Leshtarski, inside, offering him food and shelter. The transient drifter repaid her kindness with brutal murder, strangling Elena, mutilating her body, and defacing her home with crosses. A
59 | Jack the Ripper Suspect Profile: Aaron Kosminski, The DNA and the Shawl
In this episode of my Jack the Ripper suspect investigations, we explore Aaron Kosminski, a prominent suspect in the case. New DNA evidence, particularly from a shawl linked to Catherine Eddowes, allegedly connects Kosminski to the murders, with a 100% match to a descendant of his. However, doubts about the shawl’s authenticity and the limitations of mitochondrial DNA have raised scepticism. We al
58 | Death at 36,000 feet
Welcome to another episode of Prash's Murder Map. Today, I’m doing something a little different. Alongside hosting this podcast, I’m also an author, with several true crime books to my name, including the Murder Casebook series and a forthcoming book on wartime killers Karl Hulten and Betty Jones, due for release later this year.In this special episode, I’m excited to share a chapter from Murder C
57 | Jack the Ripper Suspect Profile - Was Jacob Levy the Ripper?
Jack the Ripper’s identity remains one of true crime’s greatest mysteries. In this episode, we explore Whitechapel butcher Jacob Levy, a compelling suspect in the murders of the Canonical Five. Could he be a better suspect than the likes of Charles Lechmere, Montague Druitt, Kosminsky and others? Levy’s life was steeped in tragedy and turmoil. Living near key murder sites, his violent tendencies,
56 | The Strange Murder of Miriam Angel by Israel Lipski
In the summer of 1887, Victorian London’s East End, fraught with poverty and unrest, became the setting for a bizarre and senseless true crime. Miriam Angel, an impoverished Jewish immigrant who was six months pregnant, was found poisoned in a locked room, her body lying on the bed. Incredibly, a fellow tenant in the same lodging house, Israel Lipski, was discovered hiding beneath it. The case, wi
55 | The East Haddon Murder Mystery : Who Killed Annie Pritchard?
In 1892, the dismembered body of Annie Pritchard was discovered in a ditch in East Haddon, England, leading to an investigation that linked her death to Andrew MacRae, a man with whom she had an affair. MacRae, who had been living with his wife and children in Birmingham, had moved to Northampton with Annie, where they set up a home, and he eventually murdered her after she gave birth to their chi
54 | The Petts Wood Double Murder: How Joseph Waller Took the Lives of Edward and Elizabeth Ellis
Joseph Waller was born in St Mary Cray near Chislehurst, Kent, in 1857 and seemed by all accounts to be a perfectly ordinary child. He aspired to join the police force and went to London to become a constable with the Metropolitan Police, having no inkling that his dream profession would lead to his downfall.For news about my books and free true crime blog posts, check out my website www.prashgane
53 | The Elusive Jonathan Geydon and the Tragic Murder of Mary White
This is the curious case of a killer who handed himself in more than 20 years after committing murder. What made him come forward after so long, when he could have continued to lay low, safe in the knowledge that he was unlikely to ever be found, in the days long before the advent of DNA?For news about my books and free true crime blog posts, check out my website www.prashganendran.comSourcesBonde
52 | The Brutal Murder of Ernest Percival Key
In December 1938, Ernest Percival Key never made it home for Christmas. His body was discovered by his own son, with only one notable clue left behind—a lone bowler hat, possibly dropped by his killer. But would this single item be enough to unlock the mystery of this true crime case and uncover the person responsible for this brutal crime?For news about my books and free true crime blog posts, ch
51 | The Hammersmith Ghost & Strange Murder Defence
In 1803, Hammersmith was gripped by fear after multiple sightings of a supposed ghost. Amid the panic, a vigilante named Francis Smith took drastic action, believing he had shot the ghost—only to discover he had killed an innocent man, bricklayer Thomas Millwood. What followed was a trial at the Old Bailey, an unexpected twist, and a revelation about who was behind the ghostly scare. This true sto
50 | Murder in a Somerset Village: The True Crime Case of Frederick Morse
This little known true crime case is set in the rural village of Curry Mallet in Somerset. The year is 1933. The crime is murder. In a family which harbours a dark secret and incestuous relationships, a tragedy is about to take place.For news about my books and free true crime blog posts, check out my website www.prashganendran.comPrefer to watch the video version of this episode? Check out my You
49 | The Bizarre & Mysterious Disappearance of Benjamin Bathurst
How do you go about finding someone who walks round a corner and disappears, seemingly without a trace? This is what happened in the curious case of Benjamin Bathurst…For news about my books and free true crime blog posts, check out my website www.prashganendran.comPrefer to watch the video version of this episode? Check out my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@prashsmurdermapIf you would l
48 | The 1944 Murder of Leading Aircraftwoman Iris Miriam Deeley
In World War II London, most people came together to fight for victory, whether on the frontlines, in factories, or on farms. But there were some who took advantage of the chaos of war to indulge in their own depraved desires, hoping they would get away with their crimes by slipping away into the blackout, with fewer police on the streets to catch them. Most people wearing a military uniform autom
47 | Penny Dreadfuls: 3 Victorian True Crime Stories (Volume 3)
Here's another collection of short but gruesome vintage true crime cases from the 1800s. Let’s go back in time for a whistle-stop tour of three Victorian crimes that are intriguing, shocking, and little known, including a spate of unidentified body parts which appeared all over Norwich, a sinister servant who bludgeoned his employer with a rolling pin, and the first murder case ever to be solved b
46 | George Smith: The Brides In the Bath Murders
It was inevitable that George Joseph Smith would end up in jail one day. The only question was, how long would it take for his cunning crimes to be uncovered? George was a master of deception who swindled a string of lovers out of their life savings and ensured he was named as the beneficiary in the wills of his many wives. He had a curious obsession with the sea, and it was only fitting that his
45 | John Walsh: From Axe Murderer to Sandwich Press Killer
When Shelly Walsh dropped her kids off at her dad’s on the evening of 30th June 2008, she had no idea it would be the last time she would ever see her son, daughter, and mother alive. What made an ordinary, loving grandfather in New South Wales, Australia, turn into a mass murderer overnight, killing his entire family without warning?Thanks for listening! Here’s how you can get in touch with comme
44 | Thomas McMonigle: The Devil's Slide Murder
What happened to 14-year-old Thora Chamberlain, who was abducted on the way to watch a school football game one Friday afternoon? The main suspect, who had a cunning ruse and a bold disguise, went on the run across America with the FBI hot on his trail. Even after he was captured, he continued to protest his innocence until the end.For news about my books and free true crime blog posts, check out
43 | Malcolm Fairley: The Crimes of The Fox
In 1984, a serial burglar and rapist was at large in England, his crimes spanning several Home Counties as well as the northeast of the country. He was armed, masked and dangerous, and he had an unusual calling card – in every house he broke into, he built himself a blanket fort in the living room and made himself at home, watching television and drinking cups of tea. His habit of den-building and
42 | Penny Dreadfuls: 3 Victorian True Crime Stories (Volume 2)
In this episode, I examine three lesser-known nineteenth-century murder cases which are too brief to cover individually, but nevertheless offer fascinating insights into crime and justice in Victorian Britain. These stories include a murder involving deception, a businessman responsible for the deaths of an entire family, an execution by guillotine, a mysterious letter, and the curious death of a
41 | John Martin Scripps: The Travelling Serial Killer
When a pair of legs washed up in Clifford Pier Harbour in Singapore, the police knew something was very wrong. That same week, a South African tourist who had travelled to the country to buy the latest electronics was reported missing. He would never make it home. Somehow, in a country with one of the lowest crime rates in the world and a draconian criminal justice system, he fell prey to British
40 | The Mysterious Axeman of New Orleans
What kind of killer could chisel out the panel of a door and creep inside without waking a soul? How was he so light on his feet that nobody heard him coming on the dark, moonless nights on which he struck? That’s what the people of New Orleans were asking themselves when their city was terrorised by a mysterious Axeman who targeted Italian grocers, leaving nothing behind but blood, fear, and a di
39 | Anjette Donovan Lyles: Black Widow of Macon
Anjette Donovan Lyles ran a popular diner in downtown Macon, Georgia and she oozed Southern charm, wowing customers with her lemon pie and banana pudding. But behind the home-cooked meals and the bright red lipstick-smile, lurked a dangerous killer from whom none of her family members were safe…Thanks for listening! Here's how to get in touch with comments and suggestions:My WebsiteTwitter/XFacebo
38 | Linda Ricchio & Ron Ruse : The Fatal Attraction Killer
Ronald Ruse was a happy, easy-going young man who enjoyed surfing and softball in his home state of sunny California. But when he met girlfriend Linda Ricchio, everything changed for the worse. This is a sad and alarming story of obsession and stalking that culminated in disaster and ruined more than one life.Thanks for listening! Here’s how you can get in touch with comments and suggestions:My We
37 | Murder in the Pink City
When a family man desperate for excitement in his mundane life created a fake online persona and swiped right on a beautiful young woman on Tinder, he intended to take advantage of her naivety and hook up with her for casual sex. But neither of them knew it would be a match made in hell...and it was only a matter of time before deception escalated to murder.💡 Support me on Patreon to get ad-free e
36 | Francis Ballem : The Philadelphia Trunk Murder
When a WWII veteran was approached in Philadelphia by a man in a distinctive alpine hat, the two seemed to hit it off. But by the next morning, one of them would be dead and the other would become the object of a manhunt after a grisly discovery was made inside an abandoned footlocker. But was the case as clear cut as it seemed?Thanks for listening! Here’s how you can get in touch with comments an
35 | Lynn Siddons : The Canal Towpath Murder
Why did it take so long for the killer of 16-year-old Lynn Siddons to be brought to justice? This case involved a man who was obsessed with Jack the Ripper and blamed his crimes on his stepson, and a police force who were woefully inefficient in tackling the case. Lynn’s tenacious grandmother was forced to fight for the truth, in an 18-year legal battle that no bereaved family should ever have to
34 | Stephanie Scott An Australian Tragedy
It should have been obvious that for school cleaner Vincent Stanford, spying on girls in the bathroom was just the beginning. When he began stalking a 12-year-old pupil and amassed hundreds of photos of her, it was only a matter of time before he escalated to rape and murder. His victim was dedicated teacher Stephanie Scott, whose life he cut short just days before her wedding, in a case that shoc
33 | The Gunn Hill Murders
In the Peak District in 1977, the ‘Year of the Knife’ continued with a robbery that shocked a quiet village, culminating in the murder of a bank clerk and the kidnap of his colleague. Could the police find her in time before the cold night drew in across the freezing Gunn Hill moorland?Thanks for listening! Here’s how you can get in touch with comments and suggestions:My WebsiteTwitter/XFacebook P
32 | The Peak District Murders
A birdwatching getaway in the Peak District that should have been uneventful was the inspiration for this episode, with my wife and I accidentally choosing to stay just a few hundred yards from the scene of a notorious set of murders, which we learned about by chance. It seems that true crime follows me everywhere… (my wife still doesn’t believe that I really didn’t know when we booked it!)The liv
31 | The Tragic Murder of Denise Amber Lee
In this episode, we look at the tragic case of young mother Denise Amber Lee who was abducted from her own home in broad daylight, and the advanced forensics that led to the successful conviction of her captor. Could Denise have been saved if the police had responded more quickly to information provided by a witness? Thanks for listening! Here’s how you can get in touch with comments and suggestio
30 | Richard Wade Farley : The Silicon Valley Shooter
When Laura Black landed her dream job in Silicon Valley, she had no idea that she would become the object of a co-worker’s obsessive desires. Everywhere she went, Richard Farley seemed to be there. Everything she did, Richard Farley was watching. Finally, the sustained stalking episode culminated in a violent showdown that became one of California’s most notorious mass murders.Thanks for listening
29 | Rosalyn Nolte : Murder in the Bush
It was Christmas of 1970, and Charles King and Christopher Lowery were watching a motorcycle race at Mack Park in Hamilton, Australia. Most 18-year-olds at the race that day were innocently chatting about bikes and beer. But Lowery and King were not most 18-year-olds, and they were talking about what it would be like to kill a girl. It was only a matter of time before they turned their thoughts in
28 | Daniel Rosenthal : The French Connection
In this episode, we’ll be tackling a cross-border killer who sparked an investigation on both sides of the English Channel, involving both the British and French police. This case includes science experiments, missing bodies, bin bags, chickens and frogs…not to mention the clever forensics that put this quirky perpetrator behind bars.Here’s how you can get in touch with comments , suggestions and
27 | Jack The Ripper Part 7 : The Suspects
We’ve made it to the end of a gruelling, terrifying, emotional journey through London’s East End in the Autumn of Terror of 1888. Thank you so much for joining me as we explored each of the Jack the Ripper murders and the historical context of the time. Now, we conclude by reviewing some of the key suspects in this mini-series wrap-up. Can we ever uncover who the perplexing, outrageous, shadowy fi
26 | Jack The Ripper Part 6 : Mary Jane Kelly
Join me for the penultimate episode of this mini-series where we’ll examine the death of the final canonical victim, in a bloodbath so unimaginable that it has become one of the most memorable Ripper murders, symbolic of his spiralling descent closer and closer to hell. We’ll look at Mary Jane Kelly’s life and try to understand the strange testimony of the witnesses as we encounter a visitor dress
25 | Jack The Ripper Part 5: The Murder of Catherine Eddowes & a clue at Goulston Street
Let’s look at the second part of the so-called Double Event that chilled the people of Whitechapel to the bone on 30th September 1888. Catherine Eddowes was arrested for her own safety after being found drunk in the street, and ironically met her demise just 400 yards from the police station minutes after her release, her corpse mutilated in the most vicious and disgusting way that had yet been se
24 | Jack The Ripper Part 4: The Murder Of Elizabeth Stride
In this fourth instalment of my Jack the Ripper miniseries, we’ll look at the murder of Liz Stride in Berner Street on 30th September 1888. What made her death different from the other victims, and can we really count her amongst the canonical 5?***Don’t forget to rate and review on your favourite Podcatcher***Thanks for listening! Here’s how you can get in touch with comments and suggestions:Twit
23 | Jack The Ripper Part 3: The Murder Of Annie Chapman
We’re back for part 3 of this miniseries, so buckle up for a hair-raising, spine-chilling ride as the most famous serial killer of all time claims his second canonical victim… and for the first time, claims his name – Jack The Ripper. We’ll learn about Annie Chapman and tell her story, as we try to piece together the events of the Autumn of Terror. It’s not for the faint-hearted. ***Please don’t f
22 | Jack The Ripper Part 2: The Murder of Polly Nichols, Bucks Row
Welcome back to foggy, lamplit London as we embark on the second episode of this miniseries on one of the most notorious serial killers of all time - Jack the Ripper. We’ll look at the first of the canonical murders; that of Mary Ann Nichols, known as Polly, who was found in Bucks Row with her throat slashed and her abdomen mutilated. Wrap up warm and keep looking over your shoulder, because the A
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