7 episodes
Death in a Small Town Toronto Star
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- True Crime
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4.7 • 167 Ratings
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What began as just another day for the McLellan family would end with their youngest son clinging to life in hospital and a cloud of suspicion hanging over his mother and father. Why did Nathaniel collapse at the babysitter’s home? And why did police keep their focus on his parents? Listen to the seven-part podcast series by Toronto Star investigative reporter Kevin Donovan.
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Just Another Day
Roll out of bed, get the kids to school, then off to work. Just before noon, disaster. A mysterious injury to young Nathaniel McLellan puzzles doctors at two hospitals and sparks what would become a six-year police investigation.
Audio sources: Toronto Star, CTV News London -
Suspicion
Detectives zero in on parents Rose-Anne and Kent McLellan, while their son clings to life. While their every action is called into question, police conduct unauthorized searches and interview Nathaniel’s three brothers in a basement room.
Audio sources: Toronto Star, CTV News London -
The Case
Shortly after Nathaniel is buried, police use a ruse to bring his parents in for interrogation. Rose-Anne and Kent reveal new information and the mystery of what happened to their son deepens.
Audio sources: Toronto Star, CTV News London -
The Daycare
As the tunnel vision of police and doctors narrows even further, we investigate. The daycare operator’s media posts and interviews with locals help fill in some of the blanks in Nathaniel’s story, while a court victory provides access to previously secret police notes.
Audio sources: Toronto Star, CTV News London -
A Mother Fights Back
What is normal behaviour when your child is dying? Rose-Anne and Kent confront doctors and learn what they were saying behind their back. Rose-Anne digs deeper and discovers missed clues.
Audio sources: Toronto Star, CTV News London -
Shattered Faith
The small-town rumour mill is in overdrive. When Rose-Anne and Kent see a police car they expect to be pulled over. Their extended family is torn – some say fight on, others say drop it. Then, an eerily familiar request from police. Come to the station, we have news.
Audio sources: Toronto Star, CTV News London
Customer Reviews
Well-done
Kevin Donovan is amazing reporter. I have a personal connection to the town of Strathroy. Everything said about it is accurate- it’s a very small town so everyone is connected in some way. Very well-done series. Good for Roseanne and Kent for being such strong advocates for their son.
Poor sweet little boy
I have always admired Kevin Donovan‘s work with the Toronto star and I am pleased to see that he has started his own true crime podcast. This is a heart wrenching story to listen to but if anyone could get to the truth I believe it would be Kevin Donovan.
Opening/transition music
The opening and transition “music” in this podcast is so piercing and “tinny” I have to quickly reach for my phone to turn down the volume or remove my headphones. It’s pitch is like a shrill Casio keyboard running out of batteries. The production value and content of this podcast is fine otherwise… but this sound it so terrible it’s distracting and actually hurts to listen to