Crime Beat

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...

At 18, Lukas Strasser-Hird’s future was bright. After a year studying abroad, he had aspirations to become a doctor. The day he arrived back in Calgary, he went out with friends to celebrate his homecoming. It was a fun night, until last-call. No one could have predicted how dangerous the situation was about to become. It’s a story that will leave you questioning what the person next to you at a b...

Maryam Rashidi’s life focused on creating opportunities for her son.  But in 2015, both Rashidi and her husband were laid off from their jobs in the oil and gas industry. June 7, 2015, was her fourth shift working at a Calgary gas station — a job she took to make ends meet. That morning, Rashidi said goodbye to her husband and son, and went to work — the last time they would get to talk to he...

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the story Brittney McInnes, the concrete angel. At 17 and just months from graduation, McInnes had her whole life ahead of her. But in January 2010, the Calgary teen disappeared. Police were called to investigate, but the search came up empty. Hours later, Brittney’s family discovered her body. Follow along as...

On this episode of the Global News Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the story of a young boy who fell through the cracks. You’ll hear from those who loved Alex Radita, those who fought to keep him alive and healthy, and those who fought for justice in his case. And for the first time, you’ll hear a recorded interview with Alex himself — who knew what he needed most to save his life. In...

It’s a case the family of the victims call a real life horror show. On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt takes you through the details of the crimes committed against Terry Blanchette and his two-year-old daughter Hailey Dunbar Blanchette.  Follow along as we reveal evidence investigators uncovered, and an exclusive interview with the mother of the tripl...

Two people dead ...and a two year old child gone missing. A small community in the Rocky Mountains...shattered. On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt takes you through one of the most disturbing cases she’s covered – one which the family of the victims call a real life horror show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season two premieres October 8th. Ride along with Crime Reporter Nancy Hixt, as she takes you through some of Canada’s most high profile criminal cases, shining a light into the darkness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Executive Producer Chris Duncombe sits down with Global News crime reporter and host of Crime Beat, Nancy Hixt, for an in depth interview about the podcast and answers audience questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In July 2016, a Calgary mother, Sara Baillie, was found dead in her home, and her five-year-old daughter, Taliyah Marsman, was missing. Three days later, an Amber Alert came to a heartbreaking end when the little girl was found dead. On this episode of Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt takes a look at who killed Sara and Taliyah. Hours after Taliyah’s body was recovered, po...

Crime reporter Nancy Hixt tells the story of an inseparable duo, a young Calgary mother and her little girl. In July 2016 Sara Baillie was found dead in her house, and her five-year-old daughter was missing. Police issued an Alberta-wide Amber Alert, and the frantic search for the little girl began. Family held out hope Taliyah would be found alive, but three days later, her body was found in bush...

On this episode of Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt tells the story of a man who came face-to-face with pure evil. Mark Mariani, 47, suffered from Crohn’s disease for more than half of his life. On Oct. 1, 2010, Mark was given new hope, thanks to medical advancements. Doctors told him he might not need his colostomy bag anymore. The next night, he headed to his favourite w...

Nancy Hixt tells the story of an unbreakable bond between a Calgary father and daughter. Sarah Rae was Gord Rae’s only child. In his eyes, the sun would rise and set on her. Their special daddy-daughter bond only grew as Sarah got older. Then, on Aug. 3, 2008, a stranger showed up at Gord’s doorstep. It was a Calgary police homicide detective. Sarah, 24, had been murdered. Sarah’s boyfriend, Travi...

Nancy Hixt tells the story of a young Calgary father who vanished without a trace. For several years, Ryan Lane had been involved in a battle to see his daughter. After a breakup with the child’s mother, it became more and more difficult for Lane to see the little girl. Then, in February 2012, he was granted a court-ordered visit and reunited with his four-year-old daughter for the first time in t...

On this episode of Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the devastating impact of a sexual predator. In 2003, a young Calgary woman was in her own home, when a stranger broke in and attacked her. She was bound, raped, beaten and threatened. Six months later, it happened again. A second woman, sexually assaulted in her own home, just blocks from where the first woman was...

On this episode we're bringing you details of the Kelly Cook case that have never been reported before. In 1981, Kelly took a job to babysit for someone new named Bill Christensen. The 15-year-old was never seen alive again. What most people don’t know is that Kelly was not the killer’s first choice. She was the “backup babysitter.” Christensen's first choice was a 17-year-old girl. In the small r...