True Crime Reporter

How long would you tolerate thieves breaking into your home to steal your precious jewels? For years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been getting away with doing just that by orchestrating the theft of cutting-edge technologies and intellectual property– the crown jewels of the United States economy and its national security. Chinese companies controlled by the CCP have been embedding themselves into the heartland of American business by systematically investing in and buying U.S. companies. It’s not like a bank robbery with alarms going off. It’s a silent crime spree that costs Americans 600 billion dollars a year, according to the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property. The case of Dallas energy entrepreneur Patrick Jenevein is a textbook example of how Chinese state-backed entities exploit American businesses to fuel China’s economic, geopolitica, andl totalitarian ambitions.  His book about the experience, Dancing With The Dragon, is a cautionary tale about the threat posed by the United States' number one adversary. And the nation’s failure to do much about it.  FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about Step into the storied halls of the Texas Prison Museum and uncover the gripping tales of infamous inmates, daring escapes, and the history of justice in the Lone Star State.

12/10/24 • 16:36

This true crime story is not about a heist pulled off by a notorious bank robber or a cunning scam artist—but an audacious act of bureaucratic theft that spans generations.  It’s an audacious act of bureaucratic theft that spans generations.  Picture this: over $30 billion in matured U.S. savings bonds, investments made with trust and patriotism, are sitting unclaimed.  The rightful heirs, families like mine and maybe even yours, are stonewalled by the very institution that promised to safeguard these assets.  The U.S. Treasury, armed with meticulous records of bondholders, holds fast to those names while demanding impossible proof—a serial number—to claim what’s rightfully ours. It’s a $30 billion heist orchestrated through silence and red tape.  Join me as I unravel this true crime story of broken promises, frustrated heirs, and the relentless pursuit of justice.  Because sometimes, the biggest heists don’t happen in the dead of night—they happen in plain sight, sanctioned by those who are supposed to protect us. Make Your Voice Heard! Write, Call, or Email Mike Crapo (R-ID) Chair - Senate Finance Committee 239 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-6142 https://www.crapo.senate.gov/contact/email-me Jason Smith (R-Mo.) Chair - House Ways and Means Committee 1011 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-4404 https://jasonsmith.house.gov/contact Help end this bureaucratic theft and ensure justice for millions of American families. CLICK TO READ THE STORY FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about Step into the storied halls of the Texas Prison Museum and uncover the gripping tales of infamous inmates, daring escapes, and the history of justice in the Lone Star State.

12/4/24 • 36:55

In the blood-soaked pantheon of Depression-era gangsters, one killer stood apart - not for his height, but for his face.  Witnesses consistently described him as looking like "an angel," with bright blue eyes and features so youthful that bank tellers often mistook him for a teenage messenger boy.  That angelic countenance masked the soul of perhaps the most efficient killer in gangster history.  Baby Face Nelson didn't just rob banks - he hunted FBI agents for sport, kept a list of their license plates, and giggled like a schoolboy while gunning them down.  He was a member of John Dillinger’s gang and replaced him as Public Enemy Number One. This isn't the story of another charming outlaw like Bonnie and Clyde - it's the tale of a cherub-faced psychopath who turned Depression-era America into his personal killing ground. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about Step into the storied halls of the Texas Prison Museum and uncover the gripping tales of infamous inmates, daring escapes, and the history of justice in the Lone Star State.

11/5/24 • 56:43

We used to fear sexual predators stalking our neighborhoods, ready to snatch our children off the streets.  We called it “Stranger Danger”. But “Stranger Danger” has moved online with Sextortion schemes on the social media platforms and gaming apps our children use daily.  Organized crime rings now prowl the internet, tricking teenagers into sharing explicit images through these familiar channels.  Once they have those images, the nightmare begins. These criminals blackmail their victims, threatening to expose the photos and videos to friends, family, and the public unless they pay the extortion demand. Fear and shame overwhelm the teenage victims, driving some to suicide. In response, a pair of Texas Detectives known as the “Catfish Cops” troll these dangerous waters, sinking their hooks into predators before they can destroy more lives.  True Crime Reporter® Security Libary: Sextortion Safety Resources For Parents FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

10/28/24 • 27:21

Mike Cox’s name is synonymous with Texas crime reporting.  Cox spent decades covering grisly crimes, working as a police beat reporter and later as the Chief of Media Relations for the Texas Department of Public Safety and authoring books about the Texas Rangers.  His latest book, Getting Away with Murder: Learning from Dateline and Other True Crime Shows, blends his sharp wit with his vast experience in law enforcement, offering readers a tongue-in-cheek take on crime and the often bizarre ways criminals get caught.  As an enterprising police beat reporter for the Austin American Statesman, Mike broke the story about serial killer Henry Lee Lucas' courtroom confession to 100 murders. Mike extensively interviewed Lucas in jail and wrote the definitive book about the case, The Confessions of Henry Lee Lucas. During our interview, Cox reflects on his lifelong immersion in storytelling, his family’s deep connection to journalism, and how true crime shows like Dateline rekindled his passion for the subject. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

10/8/24 • 24:27

True Crime Reporter® presents a story that straddles the line between horror and history. Mike Cox, a veteran police beat reporter and former chief of media relations for the Texas Department of Public Safety, spent his life documenting murder cases and bringing clarity to chaos.  From unraveling the disturbing confessions of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas to sorting out the facts for the press at the Luby’s Cafeteria massacre, Cox's career has been one immersed in blood and ink.  In this episode, we examine one of Cox’s most sensational stories: serial killer Henry Lee Lucas.  Lucas, a drifter with an off-kilter gaze and a chilling demeanor, shocked the world by confessing to over 600 murders. His admissions sent law enforcement agencies scrambling, but as Mike Cox discovered, the truth was far more elusive. Join us as we revisit the courtroom where Lucas dropped his bombshell confession, follow Cox's journey from crime scenes to interviews with Lucas inside prison, and explore the fine line between fact and fiction in one of the most bizarre cases in true crime history. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

10/1/24 • 17:29

Joe Pulizzi, the Godfather of Content Marketing, takes an audacious leap into crime fiction, delivering a story that is as mesmerizing as it is chilling.  Set within the haunting confines of a funeral home, "The Will To Die" unravels a dark and twisted narrative brimming with suspense, secrets, and a touch of macabre. Pulizzi's protagonist, a marketing professional, finds himself entangled in a web of deceit and danger. He is compelled to uncover the mysteries buried deep within the family-run funeral home he unexpectedly inherits. Since I grew up in East Texas, I was drawn to Pulizzi’s crime novel because of the real-life case of Bernie Tiede. The chubby-cheeked mortician befriended the widow of a wealthy oilman at his funeral.  Bernie became her personal assistant and sole heir to her multi-million dollar estate. And in 1996, he carried out one of the most bizarre murders in Texas history.  Pulizzi is on to something by incorporating the morticians and embalmers into his story. They are typically seen as caretakers of the dead, but their presence confronts the unnerving possibility that death has taken on a new, more sinister dimension within their midst. JOE PULIZZI - LINKS "The Will To Die" "The Content Entrepreneur" The Orange Effect Foundation - Help children with speech disorders receive the speech therapy and technology they need. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE - Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about Read The Story

8/13/24 • 36:19

Chaos erupted inside the impenetrable Walls Unit prison in Huntsville during the scorching Texas summer of July 1974.  Frederico “Fred” Gomez Carrasco, a notorious drug lord often compared to Pablo Escobar of today, orchestrated a takeover that would become the longest prison siege in U.S. history. Carrasco, known as "The Mexican Connection," smuggled guns into the prison and, along with two accomplices, took teachers and librarians hostage.  For eleven harrowing days, they threatened a massacre if their demands were not met, keeping the nation on edge. Join me as I explore this gripping saga of desperation, manipulation, and deadly confrontation.  This is the story of the deadly Huntsville siege, a tale that continues to resonate nearly fifty years later. READ 50th Anniversary of “11 Days in Hell” - The Deadly Hostage Siege at the Huntsville Prison FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

8/6/24 • 16:54

How well do we truly know our friends? Can we discern when they are lying, or even worse, when they might be hiding a deadly secret? In this episode, I delve into the unsettling story of Fred Roehler, who seemed to embody the perfect father and husband in the idyllic setting of Malibu, California. However, beneath this facade of a picture-perfect family lies a chilling tale of deception, tragedy, and murder. Join me as I unravel the mystery that Ivor Davis and his wife Sally, both seasoned journalists, uncovered about their close friend in their book The Devil In My Friend: The Inside Story Of A Malibu Murder. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

7/23/24 • 31:32

John Dillinger & The Lady In Red Confronted Leaving The Biograph Theater in Chicago July 22, 1934. Artists Rendition John Dillinger was the most famous outlaw of the 1930s—a charming yet elusive bank robber who captured the public's imagination and fueled an entire genre of crime melodramas during the darkest days of the Great Depression. His daring escapades, including multiple jailbreaks and bank heists, captivated the nation and earned him the moniker of "Public Enemy Number One" from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Join me as I delve into the life and legacy of John Dillinger, the man behind the myth. Listen to my earlier episode The John Dillinger Enigma: Did The FBI Really Kill Public Enemy #1? FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

7/9/24 • 30:58

The arrival of a mysterious box at a government office in a small Texas town shattered its quiet morning routine.  Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere turned to chaos as panicked men and women ran screaming from the building into the street.  They were the targets of a sinister plot designed to kill them all with a powerful pipe bomb in a case of domestic violence. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

7/2/24 • 12:18

In the shadow of Texas' heartland, a clandestine cult flourished under the guise of dark rituals and methamphetamine production. Known as the Devil Lovers, this group of middle-aged men and women from prominent Waco families engaged in sinister ceremonies, pledging allegiance to their enigmatic leader, David Russell Zell. Their twisted journey from occult gatherings to running the state's largest illicit meth lab in the late 1980s unfolded a tale stranger than fiction. Join investigative reporter Robert Riggs and former federal prosecutor Bill Johnston as they delve into the spine-chilling case of meth, murder, and malevolence that shocked a community and exposed the terrifying underbelly of human nature. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

6/25/24 • 27:51

Investigative Reporter Robert Riggs dives into the mind of a serial killer with author John David Bethel as we explore his latest novel “Mapping The Night.” Bethel's books stand out for their profound basis in real-life cases.  His fiction and nonfiction offer a unique lens through which to explore the darkest corners of the human mind. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

6/18/24 • 22:54

Genaro “Geno” Ruiz Camacho's drug empire thrived on violence.  In the late 1980s in Dallas, he ruled with an iron fist and displayed an almost unimaginable cruelty towards those who crossed his path. This story is about violence, revenge, and an unrelenting pursuit of justice led by FBI Special Agent Tase Bailey.  I uncover how Camacho's brutality shaped one of the most notorious federal investigations in Texas history and how it haunted the investigators for years to come. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

6/4/24 • 41:18

If Minneapolis police officers had been wearing body cameras, would it have prevented the excessive force that led to the murder of 46-year-old George Floyd? Dr. Jennifer Matthews says Body-Worn Cameras are reshaping Police-Citizen Interactions, and she believes that it could have made a life-saving difference. Matthews has implemented, managed, and trained more than 3,000 Chicago area law enforcement officers in Body-Worn Camera programs. Matthews shares insights from her PhD dissertation for Walden University on Body-Worn Camera Use and Citizen Behavior During Police- Citizen Encounters. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

5/28/24 • 21:17

Sandra Bridewell has fallen from grace in Dallas Society.  Shunned by neighbors and most friends in the posh Highland Park community that is home to oil and real estate barons. In Parts 1 & 2 Beneath the Charm: Unveiling The Black Widow we reveal Bridewell's connection to three mysterious shooting deaths and the stories about them label Sandra, The Black Widow. She flees to the West Coast to escape her scandalous reputation. True Crime author John Leake unveils in his book The Meaning of Malice: On The Trail Of The Black Widow of Highland Park how Sandra Bridewell tries to reinvent herself eventually as a missionary. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

5/21/24 • 20:36

Dallas Socialite Sandra Bridewell cultivated an image of elegance and vulnerability. In part one of our series, Beneath the Charm: Unveiling The Black Widow, Sandra Bridewell’s first husband’s life tragically ends with his alleged suicide. Was the promising young dentist driven to shoot himself in a fit of depression over the crushing burden of mounting debt from Sandra’s lavish lifestyle? Or was there a sinister motive for murder? True crime author, John Leake continues the story from his book The Meaning Of Malice: On The Trail Of The Black Widow Of Highland Park. Within a year of her husband’s death, Bridewell hunts for a new suitor. A whirlwind romance and marriage to her second husband catapults her to the top of Dallas society—but not for long. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

5/16/24 • 34:09

Amidst the sprawling cityscape of Dallas, where power and prosperity intersect with secrets and lies, Sandra Bridewell's story unravels. Bridewell was a beautiful, alluring socialite in the affluent enclave of Highland Park when Dallas was the world’s most popular TV show and the Dallas Cowboys were America’s team.  It is a tale woven with deception, sex, and the dark underbelly of high society in a close-knit community known as the Beverly Hills of the Southwest – Highland Park. Known infamously as "The Black Widow," Sandra's life story reads like a script from a classic thriller, her charm, and beauty masking a sinister reality of purported suicides, murders, beatings, romance scams, religious cons, and identity theft. True Crime author John Leake peels back the layers of Sandra Bridewell's enigmatic persona in The Meaning of Malice: On The Trail Of The Black Widow Of Highland Park.  FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

5/14/24 • 27:58

A new breed of con artists herd unwitting victims into a digital slaughterhouse. Master manipulators use a scam called “Pig Butchering.” They fatten up their prey with affection and the promise of riches, like feeding a hog on the way to the slaughterhouse. Pig Butchers use psychological manipulation to bleed victim’s savings.  If you believe similar schemes have victimized your family, friends, or business, report them to your local FBI Field Office, the Federal Trade Commission, and the FBI’s Internet Crimes Complaint Center. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

4/16/24 • 11:34

In the shadowy underworld of early 20th-century New York City, a nefarious counterfeiting operation run by cunning Sicilian criminals thrived—until William Flynn and the U.S. Secret Service set their sights on bringing the ring to justice. At the heart of the story is the classic clash between good and evil, law and lawlessness. But in William Flynn, we have the archetypal determined detective hero - relentless, clever, and utterly committed to justice. This is a follow-up to our last episode about Flynn, known as the Bulldog Detective. I have curated the work of some of the best true crime writers from the early 20th Century. Please let me know if you like to hear me read these stories. PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE VINTAGE TRUE CRIME STORIES FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

4/9/24 • 30:05

Through the mist of forgotten histories, the figure of William J. Flynn beckons, offering a glimpse into a life that, though eclipsed by time, remains a testament to human endeavor and spirit. In the early 20th century, Flynn, known as the “Bulldog Detective,” was one of the most famous detectives in America. As head of the U.S. Secret Service and later the Bureau of Investigation (forerunner of the FBI), Flynn led the chase for counterfeiters, took on the first Mafia crime family, pursued German spies during World War I, and launched America's first "war on terrorism" against anarchist bombers who blew up Wall Street. Yet today, Flynn is largely forgotten, overshadowed by his more controversial successor, J. Edgar Hoover.  A new book aims to change that and restore Flynn to his rightful place in history.  In "The Bulldog Detective," terrorism expert Jeffrey D. Simon provides the first full biography of this remarkable yet unsung American lawman. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

4/2/24 • 20:13

The mystery of Patty Hearst's transformation from a college student born into privilege to a Marxist militant wielding an M-1 carbine in a bank robbery remains as compelling as ever on the 50th anniversary of her kidnapping.  The abduction of William Randolph Heart’s granddaughter captured America’s attention in 1974. The saga of 19-year-old Patty Hearst pushed the impeachment of President Richard Nixon off newspaper headlines.  Searching for Patty Hearst by journalist Roger Rapoport delves into the heart of a story that blurs the lines between victim and perpetrator, between heiress and revolutionary. Was she a willing convert to the cause of the Symbionese Liberation Army or a young woman broken and brainwashed by her captors?  You decide. Link to Roger Rapoport's Website: Searching for Patty Hearst FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter PLEASE TAKE MY AUDIENCE SURVEY THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

3/19/24 • 31:50

David Berkowitz, known as the “Son of Sam,” terrorized New York City for a year in the late 1970s with a series of random murders and cryptic taunts to police and the press. Ever since then, the question of why he did it and if Berkowitz had accomplices from a Satan-worshipping cult has produced ceaseless speculation.  Now, Dr. Michael Caparrelli provides new insights into the mind of David Berkowitz in a new book titled Monster Mirror. Dr. Caparrelli is a behavioral scientist and was a pastor for 16 years. Drawing from 100 hours of face-to-face interviews, Dr. Caparrelli explores Berkowitz’s transformation from an infamous serial killer to a figure of introspection. My interview with Dr. Caparrelli sheds light on the complex psychological factors and experiences that shaped Berkowitz's path to violence.  It also examines his claims of religious conversion in prison and features a new confession. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

1/23/24 • 30:07

I opened my reporter's notebook to the historical case called the "Nine Days Queen." It's a tragic story from 16th-century England about Lady Jane Grey. Her life, a fleeting moment in the annals of English royalty, ended abruptly with her execution at just 16 years old. I take you to London's National Gallery to see her last moment poignantly captured in oil on canvas. National Gallery painting "Execution of Lady Jane Grey": https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/paul-delaroche-the-execution-of-lady-jane-grey FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

1/2/24 • 19:54

This story shrouded in mystery, involves a Texas prison escapee that could be ripped straight from a spy novel. Bank robber and suspected drug smuggler Charles J. Woods of Dallas made a daring escape from a Texas prison and subsequently disappeared into the realm of the Mena Arkansas Conspiracy.  In my exclusive interview with fugitive hunter Louis Fawcett, we unravel the threads of Woods' escape to the mysterious town of Mena, Arkansas. The town's small airport in the Quachirta mountains was the base of operations for Barry Seal, a notorious drug and arms smuggler known for his connections to the CIA and narco Pablo Escobar. What was Charles Woods, a pilot, doing using the alias Richard Arthur Mills on a government identification card at the Naval Ammunition Depot in Oklahoma? Sit back and listen to this fugitive’s tale from the world of crime, mystery, and intrigue. Links to Stories about the Eastham Prison Unit You can hear more about Bonne and Clyde in my April 11th, 2023 episode The Enduring Fascination of Bonnie and Clyde: A Love Story Gone Wrong. You can hear just how tough Eastham was from David Stacks, one of its former wardens, in my November 28th, 2023 episode, Hard Time In Hell Among Texas Most Dangerous Prisoners. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

12/19/23 • 30:20

Death Row Calling--I Know Where Your Daughters Live I delve into the shadowy underworld of contraband communication, where prisoners wielding illegal cell phones orchestrate a web of threats and criminal enterprises from behind bars.  My story revolves around the chilling case of Richard Tabler, a serial killer on Texas Death Row.  Tabler's audacious use of a smuggled cell phone to threaten a Texas Senator ignited a political firestorm, unmasking a glaring security breach within the prison system.  Contraband Cell Phones Seized at the Polunsky Prison Unit in Texas I reveal the alarming extent to which inmates can exploit contraband technology to reach beyond prison walls, posing a significant threat to public safety and the integrity of the penal system. Serial Killer Richard "Blue" Tabler on Texas Death Row 2007 You will also get a look inside the mind of a bizarre, cold-blooded serial killer who recruited an Army soldier from Fort Hood as his accomplice. And shocker, Tabler was a police drug informant committing murders. Serial Killer Richard Tabler -- Mugshot Texas Death Row In a typewritten letter to me from death row, Tabler claimed he had found Jesus there. Once you hear this, tell me if you believe him. READ: Serial Killer Richard Tabler's Death Row Letter To Reporter Robert Riggs FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

12/12/23 • 22:27

Nothing Good Happens After Midnight In the vast, rugged terrain of Texas, where the stories of outlaws and the law are etched into the very soil, we find a beacon of knowledge in an unexpected place: the walls of a maximum-security prison.  My guest, David Stacks guest is a seasoned Texas prison warden, a guardian of society's most dangerous individuals. The retired Warden is now the Director of the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville, Texas. Having spent decades overseeing some of the most notorious criminals in the state, Stacks brings a wealth of insight into the criminal psyche. But more than that, he offers invaluable tips on personal safety, gleaned from his years of experience amid danger.  What can ordinary citizens learn from the strict protocols and keen observations of a prison warden? For one thing, nothing good happens after midnight. As we uncover these insights, we not only peer into the abyss of criminal minds but also learn how to safeguard ourselves in a world where unpredictability is the only certainty.  The Texas Prison Museum The Texas Prison Museum, established in 1989 in Huntsville, Texas, offers a profound insight into the history and operations of the state's prison system, the largest in the world. Huntsville, known for its pivotal role in the Texas Prison System, houses this museum due to its historical significance, being the site of the first prison and the headquarters for the state's Department of Criminal Justice. The museum features a diverse array of artifacts and exhibits, including an original electric chair used for 361 executions and various inmate-made objects, from craftwork to contraband.  FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

12/5/23 • 21:27

In this episode, I’m going to take you behind the high walls and razor wire into the dark corners of the largest prison system in the world.  David Stacks, a former Texas prison warden with 30 years of frontline experience, provides an unfiltered look at life behind bars. Today, Stacks is the director of the Texas Prison Museum. He’s here with stories from inside the toughest Texas prisons that held the meanest of the mean. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

11/28/23 • 21:27

This episode marks a somber milestone.  The 25th anniversary of the execution of Kenneth Allen McDuff – a name that chills the soul of the men and women in law enforcement who hunted him down – and the families of his victims. McDuff, infamously dubbed the 'Broomstick Killer,' was a figure of unparalleled brutality. His story isn't just a tale of sadistic crimes.  It's a saga that shook the very foundations of the Texas criminal justice system.  Kenneth Allen McDuff being escorted into the Texas Death House. McDuff, was believed to be the only condemned inmate in the nation ever paroled and then returned to death row for another murder. He went to death row in 1968 for killing two teenage boys, was paroled after the death penalty was overturned, and returned to death row in 1991 for killing two women. 11/17/1998 He was released on parole in the late 1980s under a cloud of corruption.  McDuff, within a day of his release, unleashed a reign of terror – abducting, raping, and murdering countless women, his actions embodying the darkest impulses of humanity. My original reporting on this case exposed not just a man's evil but a system's failures.  It led to a sweeping overhaul of the parole and prison systems in Texas, revealing a disturbing scheme of parole selling that shook public trust to its core. As I delve into this grim chapter, I do so with a purpose. We seek to understand, to remember the victims, and to reflect on the lessons learned.  The echoes of McDuff's crimes still reverberate, reminding us of the vigilance needed to safeguard justice and integrity within our system. Here’s an episode from my award-winning podcast series that led to us producing a five- part streaming documentary called “Freed To Kill.” FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

11/18/23 • 23:59

From The Investigative Archives In the wake of the recent Hamas terrorist attack that killed more than 1,300 Israelis, my True Crime Reporter® podcast opened its investigative archive on the Gaza-based group's past fundraising and recruitment in the United States. After my embedded assignment with the U.S. Army during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, investigative producer Todd Bensman and I focused on how terrorists were using the Internet to raise money and recruit followers. Embedded Reporter Robert Riggs waits out a sandstorm in Iraq with a crew from the 101st Airborne flying a CH-47 Chinook helicopter dubbed the "Apocalypse Cow" Our investigation uncovered a monthly online magazine called Alsunnah that solicited suicide bombers to attack American and coalition troops in Iraq and Israelis. In this episode, you will hear how we tracked the origins of the web magazine from a Dallas suburb and its links to the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation, which illegally raised money for Hamas across America.  The foundation aimed to create an Islamic Palestinian state by eliminating the State of Israel through violent jihad. We obtained secret fundraising event recordings documenting their open declaration to kill Jews. A Holy Land leader referred to a suicide bombing as “a beautiful operation.” Listen as we track a deadly terrorist campaign from Dallas to the United Kingdom.  In the 18 years since my original reporting, you will hear that the objective of Hamas remains the same…Kill Jews.  Link to the Economist Intelligence Podcast Interview with Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk on October 11, 2023 FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast  SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about

10/16/23 • 14:20