Crime Time Inc

In Episode 4 of our Marina Habe series, we return to the strange detail at the centre of the case: the return of Marina’s red MG Midget to the driveway of her West Hollywood home in the early hours of December 30, 1968. Marina’s mother, actress Eloise Hardt, was reportedly woken by the sound of a car with a bad muffler. From her window, she saw a man near Marina’s MG and a black sedan leaving the...

Who was Marina Habe before she became a murder victim? In this special Crime Time Inc. episode, we step away from the crime scene and explore the extraordinary family history surrounding Marina Habe. Born into a world of Hollywood glamour, political influence and wartime intrigue, Marina's life was anything but ordinary. Her father, Hans Habe, was a bestselling author, psychological warfare specia...

Ex murder squad detectives Tom and Simon discuss Alex’s detailed breakdown of the 1969 murder of 17-year-old Marina Habe and focus on unanswered investigative basics amid widespread online speculation. They debate whether Marina’s wealthy, well-connected background and the affluence of key figure John Hornburg could have influenced early police responses, drawing parallels to how status can affect...

Marina Habe: Murder, Mystery and the Manson Connection? | True Crime Podcast On December 30, 1968, seventeen-year-old Marina Habe vanished from the driveway of her West Hollywood home. Just hours earlier, she had been enjoying a night out with friends at the legendary Troubadour nightclub. By New Year's Day, her body would be discovered in the Hollywood Hills, brutally murdered and hidden beside M...

Former undercover police officer and Crime Time Inc host Simon McLean joins fellow author and former Deputy Chief Constable Tom Wood for a fascinating discussion at the official launch of his new crime thriller, Kintyre , held at Hillhead Library in Glasgow on 24 May 2026. Hosted by former Rangers and Scotland footballer Davie McKinnon, the conversation explores the real-life experiences that insp...

This week on Crime Time Inc., former senior detectives Simon and Tom examine the growing pressures facing modern policing and criminal investigations. The discussion begins with concerns over digital forensic backlogs in Scotland, where increasing demand for mobile phone analysis, cybercrime investigations, toxicology testing and digital evidence recovery is placing unprecedented strain on forensi...

The conviction of former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell has sent shockwaves through Scottish politics and raised serious questions about financial oversight, leadership responsibility and public trust. In this episode of Crime Time Inc. , former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine the embezzlement case that dominated headlines across Scotland. Drawing on decades of investigative experi...

In this episode of Crime Time Inc. , Simon and Tom take listeners inside the world of Scottish policing, crime writing, and real-life murder investigations. What begins as a discussion about their upcoming books quickly evolves into a fascinating exploration of cold cases, people trafficking, major investigations, and the detectives who shaped modern policing. Simon discusses his new novel Kintyre...

The Crime Time Inc. team returns with a special emergency episode to discuss one of the most talked-about criminal cases in the UK. Former Deputy Chief Constable Tom Wood and retired Detective Simon McLean examine the murder of Southampton student Henry Novak , the subsequent conviction of Vikram Digwa , and the intense public reaction that followed the release of police body-worn video footage. D...

In this wide-ranging episode of Crime Time Inc. , Simon and Tom blend humour, nostalgia, and serious criminal justice discussion as they reflect on their careers in Scottish policing. The conversation begins with memories of detective training at Ayr and Tulliallan Police College, including stories from Butlins nights, old police accommodation blocks, and legendary detective courses from decades p...

In this insightful episode of Crime Time Inc., Simon and Tom reunite to dive deep into a variety of pressing issues that not only affect Scotland but resonate globally. As they take a brief break from their usual focus on historical cases, they engage in an enlightening conversation, drawing from Tom's extensive experience as a former Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police. The discu...

In this episode, we delve into the intricate case of the Zodiac Killer, reflecting on the thorough investigation and narrative crafted by Alex, who's been pivotal in summarizing the key elements of this elusive case. Through Alex’s comprehensive overview, we pay homage to the victims and draw distinctions between verified killings attributed to the Zodiac and other alleged murders. Despite decades...

In the final episode of our Zodiac Killer series, we move beyond the best-known suspects and examine the bigger question at the heart of this case: why has the Zodiac investigation produced so many names, and yet no definitive answer? This episode covers the remaining major suspects, including Jack Tarrance, Rick Marshall, Ted Kaczynski, David Carpenter, Bruce Davis, Paul Doerr, Kjell Qvale, and G...

In this episode of Crime Time Inc, hosts Tom Wood and Simon McLean join researcher Alex to continue their deep dive into the Zodiac killer case, turning their attention from the evidence itself to the deeply human story behind one of the most enduring suspects — a man whose abandoned son became convinced his estranged father was the infamous serial killer. Tom, drawing on decades of experience as...

In this episode, we examine one of the most emotionally powerful and controversial theories ever attached to the Zodiac case: the claim that Earl Van Best Jr was the killer. At the centre of the story is Gary Stewart, a man abandoned as a baby who spent decades searching for the truth about his biological father. What he found was not peace, but a theory that would become a bestselling book, a maj...

In this episode of Crime Time Inc, hosts Tom Wood and Simon McLean take a detailed look at Gary Francis Post as a suspect in the Zodiac killer case, continuing their in-depth series on one of America's most enduring unsolved mysteries. Before diving into the main discussion, the pair share some entertaining memories of police life — the Glasgow dairies and Edinburgh bakeries that served as unoffic...

In this episode, Simon and Tom examine one of the most controversial modern Zodiac Killer suspects: Gary Francis Poste . The story begins with a chilling moment—an elderly man, a simple question, and a violent response with a hammer. That moment would later fuel a nationwide media storm and reignite interest in a case that has remained unsolved for over 50 years. We break down the claims made by t...

In this review episode, Simon and Tom take a measured look at Richard Gaikowski , one of the most frequently discussed suspects in the Zodiac case. After Alec’s suspect profile, they break down what is genuinely intriguing, what feels overstated, and why Gaikowski remains a suspect many people talk about—but one who is still far from proven. The discussion focuses on several points that continue t...

In this episode, we examine one of the most controversial and debated Zodiac Killer suspects — Richard Gaikowski . A journalist with ties to San Francisco’s counterculture scene, Gaikowski has long fascinated researchers due to a series of striking coincidences, disputed claims, and lingering questions . We break down the full case for and against Gaikowski , separating documented facts from specu...

This week on Crime Time Inc, Simon and Tom mark the last of their general-topic episodes for a few weeks — while they push on to finish their in-depth series on the Zodiac murders — with an episode packed full of Scottish crime, policing, politics, and culture. Simon opens with a warning about "true friendship fraud", the growing phenomenon where criminals cultivate online relationships with vulne...

In this episode, former detectives Simon and Tom review the case against Lawrence Kane — one of the most persistent suspects in the Zodiac Killer investigation. We advise you listen to the previous episode. While Kane appears to “tick many boxes” on paper, this discussion goes deeper — separating compelling evidence from misleading coincidence. Key points explored include: Kane’s background: Navy...

n this episode, we examine one of the most persistent and controversial Zodiac Killer suspects: Lawrence Kane. Unlike lesser-known names, Kane is a suspect that serious investigators — including retired detective Harvey Hines — returned to repeatedly. We explore Kane’s background, including: His military training in electronics and coding A life-altering brain injury in 1962 and subsequent psychol...

In this episode, Tom and Simon break down some of the most important crime and justice stories in the news. They begin with the shocking Nathan Bennett case , discussing how a nursery worker was able to offend against very young children, what this says about vetting and safeguarding , and why specialist police interview techniques are so important when children are involved. They then turn to the...

Ross Sullivan remains one of the most debated and mysterious suspects in the Zodiac Killer case. In this episode, we explore the evidence linking Sullivan to both the infamous Zodiac murders and the earlier 1966 killing of Cheri Jo Bates at Riverside City College. Sullivan, a library assistant at RCC, was present on campus at the time of Bates’ murder and later drew suspicion from co-workers who d...

Old Firm Disorder, Glasgow Fire, and Lessons from Huntley: Policing, Enforcement, and True Crime Insights In a wide-ranging chat, Simon and former senior Scottish police officer Tom Wood discuss Tom’s new book-editing process and then focus on recent disorder around the Rangers–Celtic Old Firm match, arguing sectarian hatred still simmers and questioning reduced police presence, reliance on stewar...