Always True Crime

On the night of Thursday 7th December 1950, 42-year old William Donoghue stabbed 74-year-old Thomas Meaney to death. The two men had met that night (as friends of a friend), they got on well, they had been drinking and then they fell asleep. The attack was unprovoked and frenzied. And yet, this would be an incident so bizarre, even William would struggle to believe that he had murdered Thomas Mean...

I welcome Dr Richard Shepherd to the show in this interview episode. Richard trained as a doctor at St George's Hospital medical school at Hyde Park Corner, qualifying in 1977, and then completed his postgraduate training as a forensic pathologist in 1987. He is also an experienced Senior Lecturer and Professor who has taught at universities around the world and lectured to professional audiences...

In my second and final episode recorded with Bob from the Twisted Britain podcast, we look at the very strange relationship between two sisters and their parents. On the outside all looks very normal -whatever that means - but soon a series of disturbing events show that this isn't the case at all.... Writing credit: Haze from Podcast she Wrote (catch her on all social channels) Sources: https://w...

Bit of a reach into the back catalogue of the show's Patreon tales comes this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, for a somewhat reworked tale that brings the listener a pair of disturbing and horrific crimes, the work of the same individual - and at least one of which could, indeed, should, have been prevented.  Because people are only paroled when it is safe for them to be so, righ...

Back in the 1920’s, London Zoo had two elephant experts; Sayed Ali and San Dwe. They lived on site, they loved their elephants, and - according to the zoo’s owners - everything was going swimmingly. That was until the night of Friday 24th August 1928, when Sayed was found beaten to death in his bed. But who would want to murder this little man, and what did it have to do with the most sacred of el...

In the first episode of British Murders Season 6, I tell the story of Felix Spicer. In the early hours of May 25, 1890, Felix murdered two of his children whilst they slept before attempting to murder their mother, Mary. The couple's relationship was approaching its end, and Felix refused to allow the separation to happen. After being found guilty and sentenced to death, infamous British execution...

A special episode this week, as I join Bob from the Twisted Britain podcast, to discuss a story from the north of Scotland. A story of a missing mother and child.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this double-header movie review bonus episode, I am joined by my good friend Lee Bailey, a singer-songwriter from Barnsley, South Yorkshire. We discussed Sir Ridley Scott's 1979 horror masterpiece 'Alien' and its 1986 action-packed sequel 'Aliens', directed by James Cameron. You can expect plenty of laughs in this one and the strongest Yorkshire accent you've likely ever heard. You can find and...

On Wednesday 1st October 1947, at 10:30pm, the body of Renee was found in Regent’s Park, three miles east. She had been gagged, strangled and beaten. What she was doing there? Nobody knows. But it was entirely out of character for a girl who rarely stayed out late and never walked in dark parks with strangers. And yet, she was found right there, and the last five hours of her life are unknown. So,...

I'm thrilled to bring a long awaited return of the Listener penned episode this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, the work of listener Karen Mcleod, for a puzzling story that's fairly local to her, and one that poses the question: Can someone simply vanish into thin air, on an afternoon walk? Perhaps - but then again, perhaps not.... With massive thanks to Karen Mcleod. Music used...

I welcome Northern Irish writer and lecturer Claire McGowan to the show in this interview episode to discuss Ireland's mysterious Vanishing Triangle cases. In 1990s Ireland, eight women were abducted and presumed murdered. They vanished without a trace, and no one was ever charged. Bestselling crime author Claire McGowan was determined to find out why. In her book on the case, Claire delivers a ri...

Elisa and her sister Kimberley had a difficult childhood, but remained close and always looked out for each other. When she left care at 17, Elisa moved in with her boyfriend Ahmed who had supported her so much. But the relationship deteriorated rapidly and Elisa was soon trapped in a terrible nightmare. Special Mention: Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust.  Please donate if you can. https://samanthas...

On the far eastern edge of Regent’s Park is Cumberland Green on the corner of Chester Road and the Outer Circle. It’s a non-descript expanse of grass with several intersecting paths and few trees. On Wednesday 1st October 1947, at roughly 10:30pm, the body of a woman was discovered here. Her name was Gladys Hanrahan, also known as ‘Renée’, a 35-year-old book-keeper who worked in a local dairy. She...

The roles of a parent are to love and guide their children, to protect them, and unquestionably - to never harm them. For the episode that drops this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, we are back to the start of the 2000's, and to my home area of North Wales, for a tragic and horrifying tale that shows that sometimes, a parent disregards these simple roles - and does the unthinkabl...

In the season 5 special of British Murders, I'm telling the story of "The Muswell Hill Murderer" Dennis Nilsen. Nilsen was arrested on suspicion of murder in February 1983 after some of the other tenants at 23 Cranley Gardens called in a plumber to deal with their blocked drains. The plumber found pieces of human flesh and bones in an outside maintenance hole and the waste pipe leading out of Nils...

As we hear so often on this podcast, to the outsider, life seemed close to perfect for this family Iain and Sally. But when Iain lost his job as a pilot, the seemingly once happy marriage began to deteriorate. And then one day in October, there was a terrible car crash..... 1, Please support my sponsor Noom. Sign up for your trial now at: noom.com/uktcpod 2,  Please buy my book 'Gone Fishing' abou...

On the morning of Friday 17th July 1964, Kathleen Cotter, a mother of three who lived in the top floor flat of 7 Randolph Avenue in Maida Vale found 77-year-old Samuel Bragg dead in his bed. The old man had been ill for many months owing to malnutrition and advancing dementia. As was protocol, the police were called, an investigation was conducted, but his autopsy would confirm what everyone suspe...

In the season 5 special of British Murders, I'm telling the story of "The Muswell Hill Murderer" Dennis Nilsen. Nilsen was arrested on suspicion of murder in February 1983 after some of the other tenants at 23 Cranley Gardens called in a plumber to deal with their blocked drains. The plumber found pieces of human flesh and bones in an outside maintenance hole and the waste pipe leading out of Nils...

It was a beautiful August day, the idyllic summers afternoon that is such a delight on the south coast of England. Around Shoreham it was busy with the normal large number of people out enjoying their Saturday, swelled by the thousands watching the annual air show. People were happy, smiling and enjoying spending time with friends and family. And in the midst of all this joy and happiness, tragedy...

One of the strangest cases I have ever come across comes your way this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, for which we head down to East Sussex and back to the 1980's, to see just what happens when you chuck a plausible character, an enthusiastic rector, mind control discs, and wealth of very very cash happy Christians with deep pockets into a mix.  Oh yes - and Satan too. It's one...

On Saturday 30th January 1965, at 10:50am, two men met for the very first time on the west bound Metropolitan Line of King’s Cross underground station. The first was a 44-year-old porter called Lawrence Gwyther, and the other was a 42-year-old homeless alcoholic called John Richie. Until that very moment, the two men had never met. And although their brief interaction would last just a few seconds...

In this episode of British Murders, I welcome Lorraine Purdon to the show to discuss the case of American mass murderer Ronald DeFeo Jr. On November 13, 1974, Defeo Jr. brutally murdered his mum, dad, brothers and sisters at their shared home in Amityville, New York. He was handed six sentences of 25 years to life and died aged 69 on March 12, 2021. His case inspired the book and film versions of...

It was just a normal Saturday night in north-west London, in a normal bar. But at closing time, 21 year old Josh Hanson was approached by a fellow drinker, he had never met before. The violence that happened next was quick, brutal and in those few seconds so many lives were ruined..... 1, Please support my sponsors: Typology. Please head to www.typology.com , add the 9-ingredient lip balm to your...

This is Part Two of Two of The Bloody Butler. With their employer on holiday in Scotland, on Saturday 9th August 1969 at 2:30pm, Frank & Victor were seen enjoying a pleasant lunch at Coq Au Vin, a French restaurant at 8 Harriet Street in Knightsbridge. At 3pm, they returned to 69 Eaton Place. With Frank too tired, and with Victor looking to party the night away, he hit the town alone. Why are...

This first a a regular series feature going forward comes here this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, as - living up to the title - we head back to 2017, and down to the picturesque Cornwall town of Marazion, for a tale of savage and callous butchery. Some people really will post anything online, won't they? The episode contains details and descriptions of a crime and events, invol...