Hooked on True Crime

In this episode, Ali recounts a chilling tale from the early hours of Guy Fawkes night in 1930. Two young men, William and Al, stumble upon a mysterious fire and a well-dressed stranger with a briefcase. further up the road they find a burning car, which, unfortunately, contains a body. But who's do the burnt remains belong to and who was the well dressed stranger? What happened on November 5t...

Happy New Year 2026! Sarah's New Year Resolution is to be cantankerous, so be warned Ali! In this episode of Hooked on True Crime, we discuss various themes including domestic misdemeanours, rants about skirting boards and airline staff, and delve into the life and cases of Albert Pierrepoint, a notable executioner. We explore the cases of Eliza Wood and Catherine McCluskey, highlighting the t...

The episode where we are both guilty of domestic misdemeanours! In this episode of we reflect on our Christmas experiences and our domestic misdemeanours, before delving into the life of Albert Pierrepoint, the UK's most famous executioner. We discuss his personal tragedies, his role in post-war executions in Germany, and the Nuremberg Trials. The conversation then shifts to the case of Daniel...

Happy Holidays from HOTC. In this festive episode we explore a series of bizarre Christmas-themed crimes. From the arrest of a man who legally changed his name to Santa Claus for a DUI incident, to the dangerous American tradition of mistletoe hunting, and the chaos of a Christmas parade gone wrong .We also recount a prank that nearly ruined the Canadian postal service's Letters to Santa progr...

The uncouth episode! In this episode of 'Hooked on True Crime', we delve into the life of Albert Pierrepoint, the chief executioner, while also sharing our personal anecdotes (maybe too personal this episode). We explore the rise of organized crime in London during the 1940s, culminating in the infamous Palm Beach Club incident. The episode highlights the complexities of crime, justice, an...

Happy Holidays from HOTC! In this festive episode, we delve into the lighter side of crime with stories of 'Bad Santa's' and holiday heists, including a KFC robbery and a helicopter theft. The conversation also touches on the chaotic SantaCon event and concludes with a briefly heart warming , yet shocking tale of a mother who staged a burglary to gain sympathy. The episode is filled with humour, h...

The Red bull episode! This episode of 'Hooked on True Crime' delves into the life and work of executioners, focusing on Albert Pierrepoint. The conversation begins with light-hearted domestic anecdotes before transitioning into serious discussions about historical crime cases, including the execution of Stanley Hobday and Alberts first female execution, Ethel Major. The hosts explore the e...

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The one where Ali embraces old age and not Sarah :) In this episode of 'Hooked on True Crime', we begin to explore the early life and legacy of Albert Pierrepoint, a notable executioner in British history. We delve into the Pierrepoint family's history, Albert's upbringing, and his aspirations to follow in his father's footsteps as an executioner. We discuss the emotional weigh...

The one where we get side tracked by a horny spider, there's a mini monster and a perpetrator is chased by a bus! In this episode we continue to explore the life and career of Thomas Pierrepoint, the UK's second most prolific hangman. We delve into the history of capital punishment in the UK, discussing the abolition movement and notable cases, including that of Dorothea Nancy Waddingham a...

In this episode, we continue our focus on the life and actions of executioner Thomas Pierrepoint. This week, we discuss the case of Louie Calvert (murdered her landlady), PC Power (who should never of had any power!) and the tragic murder of PC George William Gutteridge. The tale of these two very different policeman, lets us reflect on bad apples and heros. Thank you to Ali for superb (and diffic...

This week we share our recent adventures in Cornwall, including a visit to a vegan restaurant called Tiger Feet and the Craft Collective shop. We begin our deep dive into the life and career of executioner Thomas Pierrepoint. We discuss the crimes of John Coulson (murdered his wife and son), Frederick Seddon ( poisoned his lodger) and Robert Rosenthal (executed for treason). The conversation trans...

This episode of the podcast continues to delve into the life and career of Henry Pierrepoint, a chief executioner in the early 1900s. It explores various murder cases he handled, the prevalence of domestic violence at the time, and the personal struggles Henry faced. The discussion includes the execution of notable criminals, the historical context of capital punishment, and the legacy left behind...

In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the life and executions of Henry Pierrepoint. Henry begins his era as chief executioner, but not without experiencing his first brush with a family member of the recently executed, and on the same day, a pub brawl. We look at the first use of fingerprints in the UK for a murder charge with the case of the Stratton brothers and their terrible crimes a...

In this episode of 'Hooked on True Crime', we follow Henry Pierrepoint's journey as he becomes chief executioner with the infamous case of Amelia Sach and Annie Walters 'the Finchley baby farmers' and Richard Wigley. The conversation explores the complexities of justice, societal stigma, and the moral implications of capital punishment, while also engaging listeners with person...

The one where Ali sets fire to the kitchen, we travel on Laguna Coaches and we start our deep dive into the Pierrepoint family. In this episode, we delve into the intriguing and often dark history of the Pierrepoint family, a lineage of executioners in the UK, leading into a broader conversation about the morality of capital punishment and the historical context of executioners' roles. The epi...

In this episode of 'Hooked on True Crime', we explore the fascinating lives of two notorious figures from American history: Jefferson Randolph Smith II, better known as Soapy Smith, and Poker Alice Ivers. We discuss Soapy's rise as a con artist in the Wild West, his infamous prize soap scam, and the organised crime he led in Denver. The conversation then shifts to Poker Alice, a skille...

We Binge watched Monster: the Ed Gein Story and we have questions! In this episode, we delve into the life and crimes of Ed Gein, a notorious American serial killer. We discuss the impact of his upbringing, the discovery of his gruesome collection of body parts, and the sensationalism surrounding his story in media and popular culture. The conversation also touches on the psychological aspects of...

We had a fabulous time at Crimecon UK in Manchester! Thank you to all involved and attending, you made our day! This week we discuss, the content and the people, and what to expect if you come along to a Crimecon event in the UK, what is on stage and the social element of the incredible community. Our listeners share their domestic misdemeanours and we recall Sarah's bedroom related misdemeanour!...

*A sad reminder of why we do what we do. Not much is known about our victim and her story has been mostly forgotten after all these years, although sadly, domestic violence and spouse on spouse murder continues to happen. Let us remember Lily Griffiths.* In this episode of 'Hooked on True Crime', we delve into the tragic story of Lily Griffiths, a victim of domestic violence, and her relat...

When an elderly man shows incredible kindness to the wrong person... In this episode of Hooked on True Crime, hosts Ali and Sarah delve into the tragic story of Mark Turner, an 82-year-old man who was brutally murdered by a Canadian soldier during World War II. The conversation explores Mark's life, his kindness, and the senseless nature of his death, as well as the subsequent investigation an...

The one where Ali passes his driving test! How do you catch a killer, a soldier in a city full of soldiers, without CCTV and DNA analysis? With excellent police work, that's how! In this episode of 'Hooked on True Crime', Ali tells Sarah the tragic story of Iris Miriam Deeley, a young woman whose life was cut short during World War II, when she was attacked, murdered and left in amongs...

This week we binged watched, ‘I fought the Law (the Ann Ming story)’. Ann’s story starts in November 1989, when her daughter, twenty-two-year-old Julie Hogg, vanished. Her family knew immediately that something was terribly wrong. Nearly three months after Julie's disappearance, Ann noticed a foul smell coming from the bathroom. Pushing on a loose bath panel, she made a discovery that no mother sh...

The competition episode ;) In this episode of the Hooked on True Crime podcast, hosts Ali and Sarah delve into the fascinating and complex cases of two men named Daniel: Daniel McNaughton and Daniel Sickles. They explore McNaughton's life, his assassination attempt on a government official, and the subsequent trial that established the McNaughton Rules for the insanity defence. The conversation th...

Caution : this episode contains discussion of rape and violence, plus an anger spawning justice system! In this episode of 'Hooked on True Crime', hosts Ali and Sarah delve into a harrowing true crime story set on the Greek Island of Corfu, focusing on the case of a young woman who was brutally attacked and raped by a known sex offender. We explore the systemic failures of the criminal justice sys...