Crime Time Inc

In this episode of Crime Time Inc, hosts Tom Wood and Simon McLean join researcher Alex to continue their deep dive into the Zodiac killer case, turning their attention from the evidence itself to the deeply human story behind one of the most enduring suspects — a man whose abandoned son became convinced his estranged father was the infamous serial killer. Tom, drawing on decades of experience as...

In this episode, we examine one of the most emotionally powerful and controversial theories ever attached to the Zodiac case: the claim that Earl Van Best Jr was the killer. At the centre of the story is Gary Stewart, a man abandoned as a baby who spent decades searching for the truth about his biological father. What he found was not peace, but a theory that would become a bestselling book, a maj...

In this episode of Crime Time Inc, hosts Tom Wood and Simon McLean take a detailed look at Gary Francis Post as a suspect in the Zodiac killer case, continuing their in-depth series on one of America's most enduring unsolved mysteries. Before diving into the main discussion, the pair share some entertaining memories of police life — the Glasgow dairies and Edinburgh bakeries that served as unoffic...

In this episode, Simon and Tom examine one of the most controversial modern Zodiac Killer suspects: Gary Francis Poste . The story begins with a chilling moment—an elderly man, a simple question, and a violent response with a hammer. That moment would later fuel a nationwide media storm and reignite interest in a case that has remained unsolved for over 50 years. We break down the claims made by t...

In this review episode, Simon and Tom take a measured look at Richard Gaikowski , one of the most frequently discussed suspects in the Zodiac case. After Alec’s suspect profile, they break down what is genuinely intriguing, what feels overstated, and why Gaikowski remains a suspect many people talk about—but one who is still far from proven. The discussion focuses on several points that continue t...

In this episode, we examine one of the most controversial and debated Zodiac Killer suspects — Richard Gaikowski . A journalist with ties to San Francisco’s counterculture scene, Gaikowski has long fascinated researchers due to a series of striking coincidences, disputed claims, and lingering questions . We break down the full case for and against Gaikowski , separating documented facts from specu...

This week on Crime Time Inc, Simon and Tom mark the last of their general-topic episodes for a few weeks — while they push on to finish their in-depth series on the Zodiac murders — with an episode packed full of Scottish crime, policing, politics, and culture. Simon opens with a warning about "true friendship fraud", the growing phenomenon where criminals cultivate online relationships with vulne...

In this episode, former detectives Simon and Tom review the case against Lawrence Kane — one of the most persistent suspects in the Zodiac Killer investigation. We advise you listen to the previous episode. While Kane appears to “tick many boxes” on paper, this discussion goes deeper — separating compelling evidence from misleading coincidence. Key points explored include: Kane’s background: Navy...

n this episode, we examine one of the most persistent and controversial Zodiac Killer suspects: Lawrence Kane. Unlike lesser-known names, Kane is a suspect that serious investigators — including retired detective Harvey Hines — returned to repeatedly. We explore Kane’s background, including: His military training in electronics and coding A life-altering brain injury in 1962 and subsequent psychol...

In this episode, Tom and Simon break down some of the most important crime and justice stories in the news. They begin with the shocking Nathan Bennett case , discussing how a nursery worker was able to offend against very young children, what this says about vetting and safeguarding , and why specialist police interview techniques are so important when children are involved. They then turn to the...

Ross Sullivan remains one of the most debated and mysterious suspects in the Zodiac Killer case. In this episode, we explore the evidence linking Sullivan to both the infamous Zodiac murders and the earlier 1966 killing of Cheri Jo Bates at Riverside City College. Sullivan, a library assistant at RCC, was present on campus at the time of Bates’ murder and later drew suspicion from co-workers who d...

Old Firm Disorder, Glasgow Fire, and Lessons from Huntley: Policing, Enforcement, and True Crime Insights In a wide-ranging chat, Simon and former senior Scottish police officer Tom Wood discuss Tom’s new book-editing process and then focus on recent disorder around the Rangers–Celtic Old Firm match, arguing sectarian hatred still simmers and questioning reduced police presence, reliance on stewar...

In this episode, we review the case made against Arthur Leigh Allen , the man long considered by many to be the leading suspect in the Zodiac Killer investigation. Tom and Simon break down the strongest points pointing toward Allen, including his proximity to key crime scenes, his familiarity with coded messages, witness identification, shoe size, violent behaviour, and the disturbing testimony th...

Episode 9 of The Zodiac Killer series focuses entirely on Arthur Leigh Allen — the man law enforcement pursued for decades and the only suspect ever publicly named in the case. From Donald Cheney’s explosive 1971 account to Michael Mageau’s later identification, Allen’s case is packed with disturbing coincidences, alleged admissions, and behavior investigators found impossible to ignore. We break...

Knife Crime Rumours, Sub Judice Rules, and Scotland’s Violence Reduction Success Simon and Tom discuss a daylight knife incident in Edinburgh’s Calders that sparked widespread online misinformation, prompting Police Scotland to issue rare clarifications while constrained by sub judice rules; Tom explains how the Contempt of Court Act and Lord Advocate’s guidelines limit pretrial commentary to prot...

🎙 Crime Time Inc. – Jane Hamilton Book Launch Peter Tobin: Hunting Shadows | The Scottish Serial Killer Case In this special episode of Crime Time Inc. , Tom sits down with investigative journalist Jane Hamilton for the first in-depth discussion of her new book: Peter Tobin: Hunting Shadows This episode explores the crimes of Peter Tobin , one of Scotland’s most notorious serial killers, and the l...

The Zodiac Killer Investigation: Why He Was Never Caught Fingerprints, ciphers, and the multi-agency manhunt that led nowhere By the end of 1970, the Zodiac had murdered across four California jurisdictions, mailed taunting letters and cryptic ciphers to newspapers, and walked away without ever being identified. In this episode, we examine the investigation itself — the coordination between Solano...

Princess Diana’s decision to dismiss her official protection officers changed everything. John Lennon walked out of the Dakota without security — and paid the ultimate price. In this episode of Crime Time Inc. , Tom and Simon go inside the rarely-seen world of close protection — the meticulous planning, quiet threat assessments, and fragile trust that stand between public figures and catastrophe....

In the weeks after Paul Stine’s murder, the Bay Area waited for the next strike—but what came next wasn’t a confirmed attack. Instead, the Zodiac launched a long, unnerving campaign of letters, ciphers, and threats that kept the region in fear for years. In Episode 7, “The Cipher Years,” we track the communications that defined the next phase of the case: the Dripping Pen card , the infamous Z340...

Crime Time Inc. is back with a fast-moving news episode that spans royalty, politics, policing procedure, and the darker realities of online crime. We start with breaking headlines reporting that former Prince Andrew has been arrested and taken into police custody. With details still emerging, Simon and Tom focus on what the word “arrest” actually means in practice—how it differs from voluntary at...

In Episode 6 of The Zodiac Killer , we return to San Francisco—two weeks after Lake Berryessa—for the case that changed everything: the murder of taxi driver Paul Stine in Presidio Heights on October 11, 1969 . This attack was different. Different victim. Different setting. Different risk. Under streetlights, with witnesses watching from across the road, the killer lingered—cutting a piece of Stin...

How Suffolk Constabulary secured justice decades later — and what this case reveals about sex worker safety, family liaison, evidence-led policing, and whistleblowers. In this episode of Crime Time Inc., Simon and Tom examine Steve Wright — widely known as the “Suffolk Strangler” (also referred to as the “Ipswich Ripper”) — and the cold case breakthrough that linked him to the 1999 abduction and m...

Two former senior detectives examine the Zodiac Killer’s most disturbing escalation: the Lake Berryessa attack. In broad daylight, the Zodiac abandons the gun, dons a costume, and turns murder into performance. We unpack what this shift reveals about planning, psychology, investigative blind spots in 1969, and why—despite unprecedented evidence—the killer still walked away. We also explore cryptog...

Two former senior detectives unpack the latest Epstein-files political shockwaves and what they reveal about power, vetting, and institutional judgement —before turning the spotlight back where it belongs: trafficking, coercion, and the victims who get sidelined . We also dig into jury decisions in protest cases , the realities of policing resources , and why the $100 bill may be the ultimate “qui...

What Two Former Detectives See in the Zodiac’s Letters! On August 1, 1969, three Northern California newspapers received mysterious letters that would transform a local murder investigation into a national obsession. The letters connected two previous attacks in the Vallejo area and introduced the Zodiac killer, providing specific details only the murderer could know, along with a threatening ciph...