Crime Beat

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...

In this episode, Global News crime reporter Nancy Hixt, turns to the experts including police, judges and lawyers, to answer your questions about crime, the courts and COVID-19 -- and what it all means for your safety. The novel coronavirus has affected all of us. Many have lost loved ones, businesses have closed, thousands have lost their jobs. People are asked to stay home wherever possible, to...

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt brings us to Part 3 of her special series, the Brentwood five massacre. This episode takes an in-depth look at what it means to be found not criminally responsible (NCR) in Canada. Carol de Delley understands the anguish of what NCR can mean for the family of a victim, as few others can. She lost her son, Timothy McLe...

Lawrence Hong, Kaiti Perras, Jordan Segura, Josh Hunter and Zackariah Rathwell were a group of talented young people with promising futures. On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt brings us to Part 2 of her special series, the Brentwood five massacre. What started out as a party to mark the end of classes at the University of Calgary ended in a horrific tr...

On April 14, 2014, a group of friends had a small get-together at their home near the University of Calgary campus in the northwest neighbourhood of Brentwood. Five young people shared a small, grey-and-blue split-level house on a quiet block on Butler Crescent. The house was a well-known rental for university students that many affectionately called the “Butler Mansion.” It was a relatively small...

On this episode Global News crime reporter Nancy Hixt is joined by an investigator who’s worked on many of the high profile cases featured on Crime Beat. In this special conversation with retired homicide Det. Tom Barrow, the veteran officer opens up in a raw, intimate way, and provides new insight into the demons that continue to haunt him. Listen to this episode now for exclusive behind the scen...

Nancy Hixt shares a story that highlights how fragile life can be. On a crisp summer evening in August 2014, a young woman was enjoying a night out with some friends in downtown Calgary. Natasha Farah, 26, was originally from Toronto, but came to Calgary a year earlier for work and to further her education. That night, Farah was feeling especially nostalgic and had a long heart-to-heart with her b...

In 2002, Lisa was 19 and working several jobs to put herself through university. One of which was at a Calgary tanning salon. Lisa is not her real name. Her identity is protected by a court-imposed publication ban. She is smart and a hard worker, and it appeared she made a good impression on the owners of the salon. After just a couple of months, she was offered an incredible opportunity -- the ch...

At 29 years old, Lisa Mitchell had a lot on her plate. Lisa and her common-law husband, Allan Shyback, had two children. In the fall of 2012, she juggled two jobs to try to make ends meet and provide for her family.  Then one day-- she disappeared-- leaving her common-law husband and two children behind.  The only clues were a few short emails and a cryptic voicemail to her mother. For more than t...

On this special year-end episode of Crime Beat, Global News crime reporter Nancy Hixt is joined by L.A. Times journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Christopher Goffard, who is the reporter and host of two podcasts, Dirty John and Detective Trapp. Nancy and Christopher pull back the curtain on crime reporting in a way that only two people who have covered this beat can. They talk crime and justice...

18-year-old, Lukas Strasser-Hird had aspirations of becoming a trauma surgeon. Instead, on November 23, 2013, he laid on an operating table, as a trauma surgeon worked to try and save his life. He was out at a nightclub, celebrating his return from a year studying abroad, when he became the victim of a savage attack. It took mere minutes for a group of guys to swarm him. He was kicked, stabbed and...