8 Top New True Crime Podcasts of September 2024
September 2024 brought us some excellent new true crime podcasts. I am trying to keep my “notes” short and direct - wish me luck! Here are my top picks, I hope you like them.
1. Noble - Hosted By Shaun Raviv - WAVLAND & Campside Media.
Journalist Shaun Raviv takes us back to 2002 and investigates the unbelievable true story of how over 300 bodies came to be buried on a property located in Noble, Georgia (USA). The discovery of these bodies led to one of the:
“… biggest and most expensive investigations in the history of the American South.” (Source here).
Honestly, I was absolutely enthralled by this true crime story. How did a well respected family run crematorium end up burying bodies instead of cremating them - and why?
There are so many great interviews included throughout this true crime podcast that really add to the story. I found my opinions and responses changing as I listened. At first, I was feeling complete sympathy for the families of those who were lied to, their relatives buried in “mass” graves and not cremated as per their dying wishes. Those who spent years believing that they had the ashes of their loved ones with them but this turned out not to be the case at all. However, I also had great sympathy for the man at the centre of the case, the crematory owner and operator, his story is also heart-breaking in its own way. I think you too will find yourself torn, not knowing where your sympathies lie.
All eight episodes are available now so get ready to binge the lot!
2. The Ultimate Sacrifice - Presented By Melissa Downes - 9Podcasts.
This true crime podcast is from 9Podcasts who have brought us some excellent other true crime podcasts such as Hannah’s Story and Liar, Liar: Melissa Caddick and the Missing Millions so I was very excited to see this brand new true crime podcast pop-up on my Spotify feed!
Over fifteen episodes we hear the harrowing story of how four young Australian Police officers came to be ambushed by civilians during a routine house call to a rural property in remote Queensland, Australia. Two of the four Police Officers were shot dead along with a neighbour who went to investigate what was happening when he encountered a car on fire and subsequently heard shots fired.
This is a truly heart wrenching story investigating:
“How did a routine callout turn into Queensland’s deadliest police shooting?” (Source here).
I think this podcast is really well put together. We, the listener, are taken through the events of the day, December 12th 2022, in a comprehensive and chronologically ordered way. In-depth details are provided by some of the Police officers who were involved and we hear taped recordings from the Police radios that were used by the four officers on the day of the ambush. We also hear directly from the wife and a friend of the neighbour who was tragically shot and killed during the siege. Their first-hand accounts of how the events unfolded are invaluable.
All fifteen episodes are available now.
3. Witnessed: Night Shift - Hosted By Jake Adelstein & Shoko Plambeck - Sony Music Entertainment & Campside Media.
This new true crime podcast Witnessed: Night Shift takes us back to 1992 in Missouri (USA) where hosts Jake Adelstein and Shoko Plambeck are reinvestigating:
“… a series suspicious deaths and a man who may be one of the most prolific killer nurses in the United States.” (Source here).
All these suspicious deaths occurred in the same hospital and have one major notable common denominator - the same nurse!
Over seven episodes all the evidence and differing perspectives are presented leaving you to decide if these deaths were natural or if something (or someone) far more sinister was to blame.
4. Pretend: Who’s Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey? - Hosted By Javier Leiva - Creative Babble.
If you like con-artist true crime podcasts then this is the podcast for you! Across sixteen episodes host and investigative journalist Javier Leiva digs deep into the life (and soul) of LeDonna Humphrey.
LeDonna Humphrey has worked in the “true crime” sphere herself for a long time, she has her own true crime podcast(s), has published true crime books and has even investigated missing persons cases herself. Now, all eyes are on LeDonna as host Javier Leiva investigates claims that she is in fact a criminal; a con-artist who has weaved a very intricate web of lies throughout her life and dealings, and has left a trail of destruction in her wake.
This story is extremely convoluted and multifaceted that I can’t even begin to try explain it, you will simply have to get stuck into the episodes where host Javier Leiva takes you through “the story of LeDonna” in a clear and logical manner. Honestly, cancel all your plans as once you start listening you won’t be able to stop!
All sixteen episodes are available now.
5. Who Killed Jennifer Judd? - Hosted By Sarah Cailean - ID.
It has been thirty-two years since twenty year-old, newly married, Jennifer Judd was found stabbed to death in her apartment in Baxter Springs, Kansas (USA) and her killer has still not been caught. In this true crime podcast we join host Sarah Cailean as she reinvestigates Jennifer’s case, interviewing her family and friends, as well as members of the Police force that were involved in the original (and subsequent) Police investigations and learning all about Jennifer’s life before and in the lead up to her murder.
This is a case that will have you consumed from the start.
All eight episodes are available now.
6. Who’s To Blame?: The Youth Crime Crisis - Hosted By Jay Walkerden - Podshape.
In this seven-part series, host Jay Walkerden is deep diving into the youth crime crisis that is sweeping through Queensland, and Australia in general (and lots of other places around the world).
We hear first-hand accounts from some victims of serious youth crimes. The story of Emma Lovell, as told by her loving husband Lee is truly heart-breaking. Emma was killed during a home invasion on Boxing Day in 2022. When we learn that the youth offenders who stabbed and killed Emma were not first time offenders its hard not to feel real anger for Emma and her husband Lee and their daughter. Could Emma’s murder have been prevented if the offenders had received harsher sentences/punishment for their previous home invasions?
Important questions are asked and addressed throughout this podcast such as, Why do youths commit crime? Can youth offenders be rehabilitated? What is the right response to youth offending? Who is to blame?
All seven episodes are already available.
7. Smoke Screen: The Greatest Scam Ever Written - Hosted By Rachel Browne - Sony Music.
I have been listening to and featured many past seasons of Smoke Screen and loved this brand new season, The Greatest Scam Ever Written in which host Rachel Browne:
“… unpacks a complex handwritten letter scam centered around French psychic Maria Duval that victimized hundred of thousands of people globally.” (Source here).
A really interesting true crime case that takes a lot of digging by the host to uncover the real story behind this complex global mail scam. We hear from people who were targetted by this scam as well as those who were running the scam and their differing perspectives; their very contrasting ideas of right and wrong.
All eight episodes are now available.
8. Strangeland: The Killing Fields of L.A - Hosted By Ben Adair & Mayly Tao - Audiochuck & Western Sound.
In 1996 Oscar winning actor Haing Ngor was murdered on a street in Chinatown, Los Angeles. However, as you will quickly learn in this true crime podcast, Haing Ngor was far more than an “Oscar winning actor”, he was a Cambodian refugee who survived the Khmer Rouge reign of terror which took place:
“… for four years (between 1975 and 1979), the Cambodian Genocide was an explosion of mass violence that saw between 1.5 and 3 million people killed at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, a communist political group.” (Source here).
Following from his experiences, Haing Ngor became well known for his humanitarian works, in addition to his role in the movie “The Killing Fields”.
After Haing Ngor was murdered, three young “gang members” were arrested, found guilty and sentenced to long prison sentences for Haing’s murder. But are they really responsible for Haing Ngor’s murder?. Massive doubts surround their convictions for reasons that will quickly become apparent as you work your way through the podcast episodes. Hosts Ben Adair and Mayly Tao:
“… piece through Haing Ngor’s journey from genocide survivor to Hollywood star to murder victim — and re-investigate the LAPD’s case to find out if justice was lost in translation.” (Source here).
All twelve episodes are already available making this a great podcast to binge if you have a long car journey or big house cleaning day coming up!
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