Crime Beat

Global News crime reporter Nancy Hixt gives you a behind-the-scenes look at Crime Beat. From digging up stories to writing and putting together this podcast, join Nancy as she explains how it all comes together. In this episode, she shares insight on journalism, crime reporting and even answers some of your questions.   She also introduces you to the Crime Beat team -- which includes Chris Bassett...

In the summer of 1999, the RCMP in central Alberta investigated a horrific case involving two children. A father murdered his little girl and tried to kill his son. The case haunted investigators for decades. But it was particularly traumatic for one officer because it launched a completely unrelated series of events that ultimately led to him being wrongfully accused of sexual assault. It would l...

On a cool rainy day in the summer of 1999, an old Chevy van was seen speeding on a highway from the backcountry eastbound towards Rocky Mountain House, Alta. There was a large piece of canvas attached to the bumper and it dragged behind the van. A short time later, the vehicle pulled into the ambulance bay at the Rocky Mountain House hospital. A man went in and identified himself as Brian Hogg. He...

In early 2007, a young widowed mother of two was just settling into a bigger home after living for several years in a cramped apartment with her extended family. Aset Magomadova was looking forward to spring because she finally had a backyard and was going to plant a garden. The family came to Calgary as refugees from war-torn Chechnya where they experienced imprisonment, homelessness, severe inju...

In the fall of 1996, the Canadian sports world was rocked by a major sex abuse scandal. NHL player Sheldon Kennedy courageously went forward to police to reveal he suffered years of abuse at the hands of his childhood coach, Graham James. When Kennedy broke his silence, it started an important conversation around sexual assault and opened the door for others to do the same. In 1997, James pleaded...

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares a story of one young man’s grit and determination despite a massive loss.  On Jan. 25, 2012, police were called to a residential community in downtown Calgary. They found a man lying outside of a home.  Gatleak Thor Metkurjock, 20, was breathing but unconscious. His face was swollen, he had blood by his nose an...

It’s a police tactic that uses both science and art. From Jack the Ripper to outlaws of the wild west-- or even more recently in the case of the Golden state killer-- for hundreds of years, investigators have used sketches to try and identify offenders.  Many early drawings were fairly crude and often they were more like artist renditions of what evil looked like versus accurate depictions of what...

In the summer of 1981, a group of teenagers was out exploring the countryside in southeastern Alberta. They had stopped to scout a path around a lake when they came across something that would haunt them even four decades later. There was a body on the shoreline, and immediately they knew it wasn’t an accidental drowning. A female was face down, bound by ropes to cinder blocks.  The teens flagged...

In February 2018, an Alberta woman went to police to file a complaint against a Calgary neurologist. The woman alleged she was sexually assaulted during a neurological exam in 2007. She told Global News she was suffering from migraines at the time, and that’s why she was referred to Dr. Keith Hoyte. She was shown into the examination room by a nurse, who told her to take off her shirt and bra and...

In the spring of 2004, "Carly" was a bright-eyed, smart and bubbly young girl. The 17-year-old was just months away from finishing high school — but for the moment, she was focused on her friends and making good memories. Carly is not her real name. Her identity is protected by a court-imposed publication ban. On March 26, 2004, she got off school early, which was typical for a Friday. That day sh...

In the fall of 2013, a little boy was taken to a Calgary hospital by his parents. The 14-month-old child was in “severe medical distress.” Soon after, he was transferred by ambulance to the nearby Children’s Hospital where he suffered a cardiac arrest. Multiple trauma doctors and specialists saw and treated John. He was put on an IV and placed on a ventilator, but hours later he went into a second...

If you watch CSI or crime shows on TV, this special edition of the Crime Beat podcast is a must-listen. Global News crime reporter Nancy Hixt takes you on a behind-the-scenes look at forensic investigations. She’s joined by Sgt. Jodi Arns, an expert in bloodstain pattern analysis with the Calgary Police Service. Follow along as she explains the critical role the forensic crime scenes unit plays in...

In early November 2011, Cherry Ledesma was looking forward to a fresh start. She was living in temporary housing, run by a social agency while waiting to get into a substance abuse treatment program.  Ledesma battled addictions most of her life and had been in treatment before but this time she was determined to make it work. The mother of five was very close with her kids. They regularly called a...

You’ve heard the stories. You’ve felt for the people involved. But what happens after the cameras shut off and the reporters walk away? Just because a story disappears from the news doesn’t mean it’s gone. So whatever happened to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima? or the trapped Chilean Miners? And did anything actually come out of the Ice Bucket Challenge? Join Global News reporter, Erica Vella o...

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the story of Brooke Clapson and the violence that followed her. As a child, Brooke was a ray of sunshine in her mother’s life. But there was a dark shadow of domestic abuse that loomed over their home that left scars on the young girl that she could never erase. As a teen, the expression “you live what you lear...

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the story of the evil and senseless plot against Ray Johnson. Johnson was a kind and generous soul, the kind of man who would give the shirt off of his back to someone in need. He was an antiques and collectibles dealer and had a table at a Calgary flea market. In January of 2009 he celebrated his 77th birthday...

The deadliest shooting spree in Canada’s modern history left us with far more questions than answers. Join Sarah Ritchie, a reporter for Global News in Halifax, as she tries to unravel how something like this could happen there. Sarah will take you through every hour, as it unfolded and together you’ll try and piece together what happened, what could or should’ve been done to prevent it and what w...

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the story of a young mother who’s plans to rebuild her life were tragically interrupted. March 10, 2015, was a typical Monday for Jessica Newman. Her boyfriend took her home that morning after a weekend together at his place. Later that afternoon, her roommate dropped her off at a Calgary bar and grill so she c...

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the story that will leave you questioning what horrors you can encounter-- just two doors down. May 4, 2013 was a beautiful spring day in Calgary. In one suburb, new neighbours met for the first time and decided to get together for a barbeque and drinks. It was a memorable night filled with good conversation an...

Nancy Hixt has been a crime reporter for nearly 25 years and in that time she's pretty much seen it all. Things she never imagined possible, things she never believed one human would do to  another. On Season 3 of Crime Beat she'll share stories that can only be described as mind-blowing and with so many twists and turns they're hard to believe they’re fact, not fiction.  Real crimes… Real people...

Global News crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares new information and insight into cases from the past two seasons in this special episode of Crime Beat. Listen to updates and insights to the following cases: If I can’t have you no one can - https://www.nadiashopefoundation.com/ The boy who overcame the odds The final homecoming of Lukas Strasser-Hird The boy who fell through the cracks Concrete Angel...

After the release of Crime Beat: Daniel, silenced at 26 days, crime reporter Nancy Hixt received countless messages from listeners who reached out about the case—including many who knew Shelby Herchak, Daniel's mother, at that time. In an update to this story--we share with you a new perspective on baby Daniel’s story--from another person who has been impacted by his death.  Contact: Twitter: @nan...

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares a story of a child whose life was silenced, snuffed out and stolen-- so young he never had a chance. In the summer of 2010, EMS were called to a Calgary home where an 18-year-old single mom, Shelby Herchak, lived with her parents and her baby. The infant, just 26 days old, was rushed to hospital. But baby Danie...

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the story of a man who became the victim of a senseless crime and the unfortunate hands life dealt him throughout his life.    This case began, in the spring of 2014, when the co-manager of a Calgary Walmart was closing up shop and getting ready to head home. As he walked out to the parking lot with several cow...

This episode begins with an investigation that rocked Alberta's foster care system. Garry Prokopishin took in troubled teenage boys: kids with behavioural and substance abuse issues. His foster home was considered a last resort for teens who had nowhere else to go. Those boys described having all the freedom in the world at the Prokopishin’s. They were allowed to smoke, they could have friends ove...