Vigilante

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TRUE CRIME
UPDATED WEEKLY

Vigilante is a podcast about regular people who take justice into their own hands - for better, or for worse. Hosted by Sarah James McLaughlin.

21/10/2024

Tim Ballard: Unmasking a Hero

Listen to the new season of Opportunist, out now wherever you listen to podcasts. In the 10th season of "The Opportunist: Tim Ballard," Podcast One will explore controversy surrounding Tim Ballard, the celebrated founder of Operation Underground Railroad, an organization known for its mission to combat human trafficking. Hailed by some as a modern-day hero, Ballard's reputation is now tarnished by controversy as allegations of sexual misconduct have emerged - shaking the foundations of his crusade. Through exclusive interviews with victims and those who know him best, this podcast series aims to unravel the complexities of Ballard's dual persona- a savior to some, a predator to others. Join host Sarah James McLaughlin as she explores the rise and potential fall of a man whose actions have sparked a national conversation on trust, power, and accountability. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 min
15/07/2024

Seraphine Warren: Long Walk to Justice

Seraphine Warren rose to prominence as an advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women – walking 2,400 miles from Arizona to Washington, D.C. to draw attention to her missing aunt Ella Mae Begay, who disappeared from a Navajo Reservation in 2021. But while she spoke out publicly against the decades-long wave of violence against indigenous people, Warren allegedly led a vigilante kidnapping similar to the violence she ferociously condemned. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

30 min
15/07/2024 • OPPORTUNIST+ ONLY

Seraphine Warren: Long Walk to Justice

Seraphine Warren rose to prominence as an advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women – walking 2,400 miles from Arizona to Washington, D.C. to draw attention to her missing aunt Ella Mae Begay, who disappeared from a Navajo Reservation in 2021. But while she spoke out publicly against the decades-long wave of violence against indigenous people, Warren allegedly led a vigilante kidnapping similar to the violence she ferociously condemned.

30 min
08/07/2024

Chase Johnston: Prisoner v Predator

Chase Johnston is part of a growing trend of online citizen vigilantes who pose as underage kids and use social media to confront and capture would-be sexual predators. But when a sting operation goes bad, Chase Johnston finds himself the one arrested and behind bars. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

30 min
28/06/2024 • OPPORTUNIST+ ONLY

Chase Johnston: Prisoner v Predator

Chase Johnston is part of a growing trend of online citizen vigilantes who pose as underage kids and use social media to confront and capture would-be sexual predators. But when a sting operation goes bad, Chase Johnston finds himself the one arrested and behind bars.

30 min
28/05/2024

Byron David Smith: The Deer Hunter

Byron Smith was tired of his home being burgled. He said it had been broken into at least a half dozen times. And he was determined not to let it happen again. So, Smith set a trap and laid in wait to protect his “castle.” When two teenage cousins broke into his house on Elm Street, it set off a true-life horror story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

36 min
23/05/2024

Ransom! Available now!

Ransom: Season 1 - Position of Trust is a story of greed and betrayal and how one’s outward appearance can be dangerously deceiving. Go to ransompodcast.com, or follow Ransom on your favorite podcast app. Twelve-year-old McKay Everett disappeared from his Texas home in September 1995. His father Carl returned from an Amway meeting to find the back door ajar and the telephone ringing. On the line, a woman with a raspy voice demanded $500,000. Over the next week, the FBI played a game of cat-and-mouse with the kidnappers, who used inside information to stay one step ahead of the investigation. Ultimately the FBI uncovered a series of crimes that started long before McKay was taken. Most shocking of all was the suspect. McKay had been betrayed by someone he trusted – a pillar of the community hiding a dark secret. But decades later, McKay’s mother, Paulette, still isn’t satisfied with the official story. She doesn’t think everyone involved has been brought to justice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 min
21/05/2024

James Fairbanks: A Hero and a Devil

James Fairbanks spent his career helping at-risk children. But their stories took a devastating toll on him. In 2020, Fairbanks said he witnessed a registered sex offender - Mattieo Condoluci - scouting out his next victim. Fairbanks vowed on the spot he wouldn’t allow another child to be abused. Taking justice into his own hands, Fairbanks confronted Condoluci, shooting him four times, and killing him. However, Condoluci's daughter praised Fairbanks for killing the man she said repeatedly raped her. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

39 min

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The Opportunist tells true stories of regular people who turn sinister by embracing opportunity. How does an everyday person turn into a thief, a scammer or a cult leader? Perhaps the most dangerous person is the one who appears the most normal. Perhaps there is a dark potential lurking inside all of us that is just waiting for the right opportunity to emerge. The Opportunist is an original podcast hosted by Sarah James McLaughlin.

4.6 (9)

TRUE CRIME
In 2014, Dutch friends Lisanne Froon and Kris Kremers disappeared while hiking a jungle trail in Panama. Two months later, investigators found their remains, as well as a backpack with a digital camera filled with photos that hinted at a darker story. What happened to Kris and Lisanne? In this investigative series, journalists Mariana Atencio and Jeremy Kryt retrace the last steps of the doomed women. Their search for the truth immerses them in eight years’ worth of conflicting evidence, testimonies, and rumors, as on-the-ground witnesses in Panama come forward for the first time. This explosive new evidence sets off a real-time race to reopen the case, and finally get justice for Kris and Lisanne.

5.0 (4)

TRUE CRIME
"Good Cult" podcasts explore the complex world of cults, delving into their nature, influence, and impact on individuals. These podcasts often feature firsthand accounts from survivors and examine the tactics used by cult leaders to control and manipulate followers. Some explore the "good" side of cults, like personal growth seminars, while others focus on the darker aspects of cult life and the potential for harm.

5.0 (1)

SOCIETY & CULTURE