Top True Crime Podcasts - April 2022:
Seven great new true crime Podcasts for you to tune into this month and a few bonus older true crime Podcast recommendations thrown in for good measure!
1. Casefile Presents: The Detective’s Dilemma - Spotify.
The Detective’s Dilemma investigates the disappearance of 22 year old Sian O’Callaghan. Sian disappeared after a night out with her friends in Swindon, Wiltshire.
If you liked the Podcast The Making of a Detective then I think you will also enjoy this Podcast as once again the lead detective in this case is one of the main contributors to this Podcast.
We hear directly from Sian’s friends and family and from Detective Steve Fulcher who investigated this case. This case had massive life and career changing consequences for Detective Steve Fulcher which is something that is also discussed and explained in detail in this Podcast.
“… Detective Steve Fulcher arrested a suspect who offered to lead him to her body. The suspect then asked, ‘Do you want another one?’ What would you have done?” (Source here).
This is an excellent Podcast, filled with twists and turns that will keep you captivated. Having said that, don’t be fooled, it is an extremely sad and absolutely heart breaking story. Sian’s family are so amazing in this Podcast and the mother of Becky Godden-Edwards is incredibly brave and someone you would definitely want fighting your corner. The treatment of Detective Steve Fulcher after the investigation is enraging - you will have to listen for yourself! All ten episodes are available now.
Other great Podcasts from Casefile Presents that you might also like are Casefile Presents: The Labyrinth and Casefile Presents: Pseudocide.
2. The Opportunist: Chris Bathum (Season 4) - Hosted By Hannah Smith - Kast Media.
Well this Podcast did not disappoint, I waited impatiently for each episode to be released! This is Season 4 of The Opportunist and this season is all about Christopher Bathum. Chris was the CEO of an L.A based recovery centre where he also worked as a therapist. As you have probably already guessed… Chris was not what he claimed to be and the happenings at his recovery centre were far from routine or legal!
“In 2013, Rose Stahl sought the help of Christopher Bathum, a therapist and CEO of a burgeoning recovery organization called Community Recovery Los Angeles. Chris would eventually offer Rose a job at CRLA. But after a while, she started hearing unsettling rumors surrounding Chris’ behavior, especially towards female clients.” (Source here).
I really don’t want to say too much and give the story away but trust me it a crazy true crime tale that will have you constantly thinking “WTF?!”. This is a great Podcast to binge and all five episodes are available now.
3. BioHacked: Family Secrets - Hosted By T. J. Raphael - Three Uncanny Four.
I knew from the moment I read the description of this Podcast that it would be something that I would enjoy. Also, if you liked the true crime Immaculate Deception Podcast then I highly recommend this new Podcast as the subject matter is the same.
BioHacked: Family Secrets tells the:
“… startling true stories of the people caught between two multi-trillion-dollar industries — medicine and technology — and chronicles how their lives are transformed. In season 1, the children of anonymous sperm and egg donors — some with dozens or hundreds of half-siblings — take on the fertility industry. As they uncover the identities of their donors and gather vital medical information, unexpected ethical, scientific, and political challenges arise that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the baby business.” (Source here).
This Podcast is well put together and the information is presented in a logical and easy to follow manner. It is so interesting, you hear from different people throughout and all their varying perspectives - we even get to hear from some of the sperm donors!
There are currently five episodes available.
4. What Happened to Sandy Beal? - Hosted By Melissa Jeltsen - iHeartPodcasts.
This is a very sad story of a life lost far too soon. Sandy Beal was only 18 years old when she was found dead via gunshot wound to the abdomen in her car. Sandy had dreamed of a career in law enforcement and was spending a lot of time with members of her local Police force, going on “ride alongs” and preparing for her future. When Sandy was found dead, the Police ruled it a suicide however her family (and many others) have never believed that Sandy would take her own life and especially not via a bullet to the abdomen.
“The search for answers leads to accusations of conspiracy and cover up that have haunted her family for more than 40 years. Investigative journalist Melissa Jeltsen untangles the mystery at the heart of the case — and reveals a troubling pattern of behavior by local police.” (Source here).
Diaries written by Sandy are crucial in this case and reveal the true extent of her involvement with the local Police force. I am four episodes in and so far I definitely agree with Sandy’s family that a cover up took place and the person responsible for Sandy’s death is still out there. What will you decide!
5. Hell & Gone: Ebby Steppach (Season 4) - Hosted By Catherine Townsend - iHeartPodcasts.
Hell & Gone Season 4 is now live and this time the focus is on the disappearance of 18 year old Ebby Steppach.
“On October 30, 2015, the Little Rock Police Department searched an abandoned car in a small residential park. The keys were in the ignition and the car was out of gas as if it had been left running. The car belonged to 18-year-old Ebby Steppach, and Ebby had vanished without a trace.” (Source here).
So, the main question in this case is “What really happened to Ebby Steppach?” and host Catherine Townsend is on a mission to find out just that.
There are only two episodes available so far with new episodes released weekly… I am trying to be patient!
6. Unraveled: Once A Killer (Season 5) - Hosted By Alexis Linkletter & Billy Jensen for Discovery+.
Unraveled is back with another excellent true crime series. Two other previously featured Podcast series from Unraveled are Unraveled: Long Island Serial Killer and Unraveled: Mystery at the Mansion - be sure to check them out if you haven’t already.
In this latest season, hosts Alexis and Billy are investigating “one and done” killers which you might be surprised and shocked to hear are actually very prevalent.
“These mysterious offenders commit one brutal murder and disappear back into society, which makes them nearly impossible to catch. But could that be changing?” (Source here).
In this Podcast we hear about the rape and murder of a schoolteacher in a small town where “everybody knows everybody” and yet it proves impossible to find the perpetrator… that is until 26 years later when some new DNA evidence might just crack the case. There are only two episodes available so far and I cannot wait for episode three to drop!
7. Shattered Lives with Paul Healy - Irish Daily Star.
OK, so this last Podcast technically isn’t new as it first aired in May 2021 but it is new to me - I only found it this month and I simply had to include it. In each episode host Paul Healy speaks to:
“… victims of crime, some solved, some unsolved and some unresolved, and how their lives are forever changed and their continued search for justice.” (Source here).
Unsurprisingly these episodes are raw and sombre and so it is not a Podcast that I could binge listen to, however it is an eye opening Podcast, it is informative and extremely humbling. It highlights the impact that serious crimes, namely murder, have on those who are left behind, the families and friends of the victims. The people who take part in this Podcast and tell us their experiences show us true strength, courage and resilience. This Podcast is focused on Irish crimes, all of which will undoubtedly be familiar to you if you are Irish.
Host Paul Healy is excellent throughout.
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