Hooked on True Crime

In this episode following on from last week, ALI and Sarah look into the abduction and murder of Jeanine Nicarico in 1983.  This shocking crime was perpetrated by Brian Dugan, the same man who was convicted of the abduction and murder of Melissa Ackerman 2 years later.  However due to the police wrongfully convicting 2 innocent men of Jeanine’s murder it would be 25 years before Dugan would stand...

One child survivor. One vanished little girl. One predator who should have been stopped years earlier. This case of Brian Dugan is devastating, but the moment Dr Anne Burgess steps in, the investigation changes - and the truth starts to surface. This week, we cover the abduction and murder of Melissa Ackerman, the terrifying attack that left her friend Opal Horton traumatized, and the extraordinar...

In this weeks episode, Ali continues the story of Dr Ann Burgess career by looking at the murder of Kirsten Costas in 1984.  Kirsten was stabbed by Bernadette Protti outside her neighbours house.  The crime was almost unsolved afterBernadette passed a polygraph test, but she was requestioned after Ann Burgess and the agents of the BSU wrote a criminal profile which she matched exactly. Also in thi...

Ali and Sarah continue the story of Dr Ann Burgess and her extraordinary career which led her to help the FBI in developing the tool of Criminal Profiling.  In this episode, they begin by looking at the details of the first time that criminal profiling was used in the investigation of a serial killer.  John Joubert abducted and murdered 13 year old Danny Eberle in 1983, then just 3 months later he...

In this weeks episode, Ali and Sarah look into one of the most prolific sexual offenders in America, Jon B Simonis aka The Ski Mask Rapist.  For 3 years, Simonis spread terror across 11states in the USA before he was finally caught in 1981.  Ali and Sarah discus the escalation of his crimes from indecent exposure to stalking to sexual assault and escalating violence.  Simonis was also one of the f...

In this weeks episode Ali and Sarah talk about the murder ofNessie Reid in 1924.  4 year old Nessie was abducted from the street outside her home in Stirling and killed before being left in the corner of a secluded close nearby.  The man who would be charged with her murder was Alexander Hannah and unbelievably he had also just hours before assaulted another young girl of 6 years old just a few st...

In this weeks episode Ali and Sarah talk about the tragic case of Claudia Mijangos.  In 1989, in Mexico, she killed all 3 of herchildren during a psychotic episode, then tried to take her own life.  Ali tells her story in full looking at her childhoodwith her deeply religious mother through to the collapse of her marriage and her emotional breakdown.  Sarah explains the underlying mental illnesses...

In this episode Ali and Sarah look at a famous crime from the year 1660. John Perry, Richard Perry and Joan Perry were executed for the murder of William Harrison. However William's body was never found. 2 years later in 1662 William walked back into his home town of Chipping Campden and told everyone that he had been kidnapped and sold into slavery. Sarah and Ali discuss why the family were s...

In this episode Ali and Sarah look at the sad death of Chrissie Gall in Glasgow in 1931. Her then partner Peter Queen was convicted of her murder by a majority verdict, but was he guilty? The 2 most eminent forensic pathologists of the time thought not. Sir Sydney Smith and Sir Bernard Spillsbury both appeared for the defence at the trial testifying that they believed it was an unusual case of sel...

In this Episode, Ali and Sarah talk about the famous deductive skills of Forensic Pathologist Sir Sydney Smith. They briefly discuss a case in Egypt where Sydney Smith had just 3 bones to examine but was able to tell a great deal about how the victim had died. Then they go into detail about the murder of John Thomas in 1939 and how systematically reconstructed Johns death from the evidence at the...

In this episode Ali gets distracted from Sydney Smith and tells the story of the Shark Arm Murder Case form 1935.  A tiger shark regurgitates a human arm in an aquarium in Australia, but how did James Smiths' arm get inside the 14 foot long creature?  While discussing the murder of James Smith, Ali and Sarah consider the many possible scenarios which could have led to his untimely demise.  Who...

In this episode we discuss two cases where Sir Sidney Smithwas engaged by the defence team at trial to prove the innocence of their client. The first case was the trial of Sidney Harry Fox, for themurder of his mother Roseline.  As well as looking into the possibility that Fox wasn’t guilty, we discus the way in which the evidence was presented at trial by the Home Office Pathologist Sir Bernard S...

In this episode we talk about the beginnings of forensic ballistics through the lens of Sydney Smiths early solving of Lee Stacks murder. He was one of the first to be able to positively identify the gun which fired a specific bullet through microscopic comparison. Lee Stack was assassinated in his staff car as he was being driven through Cairo. Sydney Smiths ability to match guns recovered during...

*Warning: Although limited, please be aware, contains some content that viewers may find disturbing.* Welcome to the first in our hero's series! Explore the fascinating world of forensic pathology through the life and work of Sir Sidney Smith, focusing on two intriguing cases from Egypt and Scotland that highlight the importance of victim identification in solving crimes. What happens when the...

The disturbing story of Victor Prevost, who trained as a butcher before joining the Military and then the French Police. During his time as a Police Officer Victor murdered 2 confirmed victims, Alexandre Lenoble and Adele Blondin and used his knowledge of butchery to dismember and dispose of the bodies. Ali and Sarah look at the life of this serial killer and discus what could have prompted him to...

Dive into the unbelievable story of Pascal Payet — the French criminal who became infamous for pulling off not one, but THREE daring helicopter prison escapes. In this true crime podcast episode, we break down the meticulous planning, shocking execution, and dramatic aftermath of one of the most legendary prison escape stories in history. From the first helicopter breakout in France to the final c...

Have you heard of the fictional Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? Probably. But have you heard of the case of the real Dr Hyde? Long before Dr Harold Shipman, there was Dr Bennett Hyde. This episode explores the chilling case of Dr Bennett Hyde, a doctor involved in grave robbing, poisoning, and murder in early 20th-century Kansas City. Discover how Hyde's crimes were uncovered, the legal battles that en...

Michel Vajour, known as the "King of Escape," offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of prison breaks. Born in 1951 in northern France, Michel's childhood was anything but ordinary. After being abandoned by his parents, he was raised by an aunt who loved him dearly until her untimely death. This left him in the care of his alcoholic parents, pushing him toward a life of rebellio...

Warning: Possibly the saddest story we have told. Listen with tissues! This episode explores the tragic case of Bridget Cleary, often called the last woman burned alive in Ireland, highlighting the dangerous power of superstition, folklore, and societal beliefs in late 19th-century Ireland. Use code HOOKED for 10% off your tickets to https://www.crimecon.co.uk/ Support this podcast by buying us a...

In this episode, we talk all things CrimeCon Birmingham . We include the content and all the links you need to continue your CrimeCon UK experience or start it a fresh! Plus we hear from the lovely Nancy from CrimeCon UK HQ about the next CrimeCon in London i(October 3rd and 4th, 2026) and a very important addition to the Crimecon family. Links below. Special thanks to our listeners (esp. Andrea)...

One dark and, hopefully, stormy night in 1574, Richard Galis went to bed after closing up the Garter Inn for the evening.  He blew out the candle but, try though he did, he could not reach a restful slumber.  So alone in the blackness, Richard tossed and turned and worked himself into a greater state of anxiety by listing in hishead his many misfortunes.  Then around about the hour of midnight it...

What makes an relatively ordinary woman murder three women in less than a year? This is the story of the cursed life and crimes of the Italian Serial killer Leonarda Cianciulli. Leonarda deceived three women, murdered them with an axe and then used the bodies to make soap and teacakes. But why? this is far from a simple case. We tell you what really happened to Faustina Setti, Francesca Soave and...

In this episode, Ali and Sarah conclude their coverage of the Kouri Richins trial by looking into the closing arguments and the verdict. They speak about the evidence and the points which both the prosecution and the defence highlighted to the Jury on the last day of trial. Using recorded exerts from the trial, they compare the different tactics and methods used by the State and the defendant. Aft...

Sarah and Ali go through the 12 days of witnesses in the trial of Kouri Richins for the murder of Eric Richins. They discuss the important testimonies and evidence presented by the prosecution and whether it is enough to convict beyond a reasonable doubt. They also talk about the strategies employed by the state and the defence during the trial. Scottish word of the week: Slaiver. To help support...

Ali and Sarah begin to cover the trial of Kouri Richins for the aggravated murder of her husband Eric Richins. In this episode, they talk about the early life of the victim, Eric Richins and his relationship with Kouri. They also look at the opening statements of the trial from the prosecution and defence's case. Discussing the strategies used by both sides and how effective they were, or inde...