British Murders with Stuart Blues

In February 2001, 67-year-old Alf Wilkins was killed in a fire deliberately set inside his Grimsby flat. But this wasn’t a random act of violence - it was the culmination of months of torment at the hands of his own neighbours. Despite being acquitted of an indecent assault charge in November 2000, Alf remained a target. The locals refused to believe his innocence, fueled by the hysteria of the Ne...

In the early hours of August 5, 2000, Julie Tennant disappeared without a trace from her parents' home in Ballymena, Co Antrim. As days passed with no sign of the 21-year-old, a massive search effort was launched, but hopes of finding her alive faded with each passing moment. Just over two weeks later, the grim reality came to light - a shallow grave concealed Julie’s remains, bringing the missing...

I’m joined by Brian and Cameron Santana in this interview episode. The American brothers are a duo with a unique skill set - Brian, an English professor and Cameron, a police officer - who joined forces to crack one of North Carolina’s most infamous cold cases. On April 15, 1973, 19-year-old Virginia Olson’s body was discovered near the University of North Carolina-Asheville, sparking a decades-lo...

In September 2003, 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed vanished from her home in Warrington, Cheshire, leaving behind a worrying trail of unanswered questions. A bright and ambitious student, she had dreams of independence, but those dreams clashed with the expectations placed upon her by her family. For years, her disappearance remained a mystery, until a shocking revelation finally exposed the horrifying...

In December 1994, 33-year-old Dr Michael Meenaghan was in his kitchen making a cup of tea when a single shotgun suddenly tore through his window, striking him in the chest. He somehow managed to dial 999 but collapsed before he could say a word. When officers arrived, they found him slumped on the floor, the phone still hanging off the hook, surrounded by a pool of his own blood. Over 30 years lat...

I’m joined by actor-producer duo Aaron Vodovoz and Annelise Bianchini in this interview episode to discuss the UK revival of 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥 from award-winning playwright Lee Blessing. 𝘈 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦-𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 (𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦) 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩, 𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨...

In this monthly collaboration series, Adam from the UK True Crime podcast and I take a step back from individual cases to explore a curated selection of gripping crime stories that made headlines in February 2025. From chilling local, national, and international headlines to quirky and more lighthearted stories, this series offers a glimpse into the diverse and often shocking world of true crime....

When Robert Wilson went to work at the Thornton & Ross pharmaceutical plant in Linthwaite, Huddersfield on the evening of January 16, 2020, he had no idea that he would never return home. The 53-year-old was carrying out a routine security check when he confronted two teenagers trespassing on the premises. What followed was a frenzied and senseless attack, in which Robert was subjected to an a...

In June 1992, 18-year-old Katie Rackliff was heading home after a night out in Farnborough, Hampshire, when she was savagely attacked and murdered. The case sent shockwaves through the community, but as the years passed with no arrests, it seemed justice might never come. Then, four years later, a shocking revelation turned the investigation on its head. The killer wasn’t just someone the police n...

In March 2007, 71-year-old Hilda Brown was found dead in her home, the victim of a brutal attack. Her neighbour, who had positioned himself as her trusted helper, soon fell under suspicion, but the case was anything but straightforward. Just two days before her murder, Hilda had signed a new will, making him the sole beneficiary. What first appeared to be an act of kindness quickly unraveled into...

I welcome author Neil Lancaster back to the show in this interview episode. Neil is a former RAF Military Policeman and Police Officer who served in the Metropolitan Police for 25 years between 1990 and 2015. Since retiring, Neil has turned his hand to writing crime and thriller novels, with his highly regarded DS Max Craigie Scottish crime thriller series becoming a huge success. The fifth book i...

When Nicole Waterhouse and Karen Browne attended a dating event in York, they couldn’t have known that one of the men they met would soon change their lives forever. Jeremy Green, an ex-Army officer with a dishonorable discharge, went on a couple of dates with Karen before reappearing unexpectedly at the two women’s flat in October 2013 under a seemingly innocent pretense. His true intentions, how...

In May 1982, 48-year-old Brenda Venables seemingly vanished from the farmhouse she shared with her husband, David, in rural Worcestershire. Her husband claimed she had been struggling with her mental health and suggested she may have taken her own life, leaving behind a shroud of uncertainty and heartbreak. For decades, Brenda’s disappearance remained a mystery, until a shocking discovery was made...

In this new monthly collaboration series, Adam from the UK True Crime podcast and I take a step back from individual cases to explore a curated selection of gripping crime stories that made headlines in January 2025. From chilling local, national, and international headlines to quirky and more lighthearted stories, this series offers a glimpse into the diverse and often shocking world of true crim...

In June 2019, 23-year-old Neomi Smith spent what should have been a carefree night out in her hometown of Brechin, Angus. Loved by friends and family for her warm, vibrant personality, Neomi had her whole life ahead of her. But behind closed doors, she endured the harsh reality of a controlling and abusive relationship. On that fateful night, Neomi’s life was tragically cut short by the very perso...

I welcome renowned criminologist and author Professor David Wilson to the show in this interview episode. TRUE CRIME recently announced the premiere of a new, original series that sees Professor Wilson examine ten unique British murder cases from recent years, looking at the psychological and sociological forces that drive individuals to kill. Across the ten episodes, Professor Wilson discusses th...

In 1952, Ash Vale railway station became the scene of a shocking and brutal crime. Geoffrey Charles Dean, a railwayman working the evening shift, was closing up for the day when he was stabbed in the back and left for dead. The motive appeared clear - money was stolen from the station - but the crime's ruthless execution left the local community shaken. The investigation was a swift one, as within...

When 47-year-old Tracey Woodford went out for a few drinks in April 2015, she could never have known it would be her final evening. A chance meeting in a Pontypridd pub led to her crossing paths with a local man who harboured a dark and violent secret. What followed was a chilling and brutal crime that left detectives piecing together the disturbing truth. Tracey’s story remains a haunting reminde...

As we approach the end of 2024, I wanted to revisit some of the most memorable moments from the 17 interviews I've conducted this year. This bonus episode is split into two parts. Part 1 features clips from interviews #48 to #56, and Part 2 features clips from interviews #57 to #64. Link to Part 1: britishmurders.com/bestof2024part1 Timestamps (Part 2): [00:00] Intro [01:18] Guest: Tony McMahon (I...

As we approach the end of 2024, I wanted to revisit some of the most memorable moments from the 17 interviews I've conducted this year. This bonus episode is split into two parts. Part 1 features clips from interviews #48 to #56, and Part 2 features clips from interviews #57 to #64. Link to Part 2: britishmurders.com/bestof2024part2 Timestamps (Part 1): [00:00] Intro [01:56] Guest: Adam Lloyd (Int...

On June 7, 1972, 14-year-old Judith Roberts left home on her bicycle and never returned. Her body was discovered later that evening, sparking a murder investigation that would grip the nation. In the years that followed, the case took an unexpected turn, leading to a controversial conviction and, decades later, a shocking reversal that left more questions than answers. To this day, the identity of...

In December 1997, the streets of Blackpool were shaken by a gruesome discovery. The headless torso of Christopher Hartley was found discarded in the bins of a local hotel - a chilling and tragic end for the 17-year-old. As the investigation unfolded, it became clear this was no random act of violence. The trail led authorities across borders, ending with the capture of his killer in Ireland. Join...

In December 2005, the body of 30-year-old Annie Börjesson was discovered on Prestwick Beach in Ayrshire, Scotland. While police quickly ruled her death a tragic drowning, unsettling clues and unanswered questions began to emerge. Annie, a bright and independent Swedish woman, had no apparent reason to end her life. Yet, inconsistencies in the investigation, strange surveillance footage, and troubl...

In August 2001, 34-year-old Anne Nicoll set out for an evening walk with her dog, Sophie, on Dundee Law, a familiar route she often took. When she didn’t return home, concern quickly turned to alarm, and a search led to the devastating discovery of her body. What began as a quiet evening spiralled into a chilling murder investigation, uncovering a shocking culprit in the heart of the community. Th...

In April 1968, 14-year-old Roy Tutill vanished on his way home from school, a route he often travelled by hitch-hiking. Three days later, his lifeless body was discovered, sparking an investigation that would span decades. Roy’s tragic murder haunted investigators and the community alike as the years ticked by without justice. Then, in 2001, a breakthrough came when advances in DNA technology link...