It's A Crime with Margaret McLean

Margaret McLean
  • 4.7 (15)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Weekly

This true crime podcast features missing persons cases, murders, serial crimes, high profile trials, and forensics. Margaret McLean, a former prosecutor, trial attorney, legal analyst, and bestselling author, delves into the investigative process and the criminal mind. Guests include homicide detectives, FBI agents, forensic psychologists, and judges.https:/www.itsacrimemedia.com

  1. The Karen Read Fallout: Can Bias Corrupt An Investigation?

    20h ago

    The Karen Read Fallout: Can Bias Corrupt An Investigation?

    Send us Fan Mail Karen Read’s latest civil lawsuit is explosive. In this episode, former prosecutor and law professor Margaret McLean is joined by seasoned Massachusetts criminal defense attorney Morjieta Derisier to examine the lawsuit Karen Read filed against the Massachusetts State Police and the Town of Canton. The lawsuit alleges that former State Trooper Michael Proctor and former Canton Sgt. Sean Goode harbored deeply rooted biases reflected in years of racist, antisemitic, misogynistic, and homophobic communications. Read argues that those biases tainted the investigation that led to her prosecution. Margaret and Morjieta break down the legal claims at the heart of the lawsuit, including negligent hiring, negligent supervision, institutional liability, and constitutional concerns involving due process and fair investigations. They also explore a broader question: Can personal bias influence the exercise of police power? The discussion examines the enormous discretion investigators possess, the role culture may play within law enforcement organizations, what departments knew—or should have known—and whether accountability should extend beyond individual officers to the institutions that employ them. This conversation goes beyond the headlines to explore public trust, police accountability, constitutional rights, and what meaningful reform might look like when serious allegations of bias emerge inside law enforcement agencies. In This Episode: Karen Read’s lawsuit against State Police and Canton PoliceThe legal significance of the Proctor and Goode text messagesNegligent hiring and negligent supervision claimsPolice culture and institutional accountabilityDue process and constitutional concernsPublic trust in law enforcementWhether bias can affect investigationsWhat Karen Read must prove to win her caseThe broader implications for the criminal justice system#KarenRead #MichaelProctor #TrueCrime #trials #Policecorruption

    46 min
  2. Ellen Greenberg: 23 Stab Wounds! Not A Homicide? FBI Investigates Corruption | Parents Speak Out

    Jun 4

    Ellen Greenberg: 23 Stab Wounds! Not A Homicide? FBI Investigates Corruption | Parents Speak Out

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, former prosecutor Margaret McLean examines one of the most controversial death investigations in recent memory: the death of 27-year-old Philadelphia teacher Ellen Greenberg. On January 26, 2011, Ellen was found dead in her apartment with 23 stab wounds, including wounds to the back of her neck. Her death was ultimately ruled a suicide, a conclusion that has been challenged by her parents, Josh and Sandee Greenberg, for more than fourteen years. Now, the case has entered a significant new chapter. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania have officially opened an investigation into the handling of Ellen’s death and the decisions made by the institutions responsible for investigating it. In this conversation, Josh and Sandee discuss: Why they believe the original investigation failedThe evidence and unanswered questions that continue to trouble themThe original pathologist’s sworn reversal of the suicide rulingConcerns about bruising, evidence handling, and chain of custodyThe impact of a crime scene that was cleaned just 24 hours after Ellen’s deathWhat they hope federal investigators will uncoverMargaret also provides legal analysis on what federal investigators can and cannot do, how corruption and misconduct investigations differ from homicide investigations, and why public confidence in the justice system depends on the integrity of the investigative process. This episode explores not only the death of Ellen Greenberg, but the broader question of what happens when a family spends more than a decade challenging the conclusions of the very institutions charged with finding the truth. The Margaret Mclean Show translates how the legal system actually works—beyond the headlines. #EllenGreenberg #FBI #Truecrime #Policecorruption

    29 min
  3. Defending D4vd?! How is That Possible?

    May 31

    Defending D4vd?! How is That Possible?

    Send us Fan Mail How do you defend someone the public may have already convicted in the court of public opinion?  In this episode, I’m joined  by prominent Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Silva Megerditchian to break down the explosive case against David Burke, known professionally as D4vd. Prosecutors in Los Angeles have charged David with first-degree murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait, along with continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The victim is Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were discovered last September  after his Tesla was towed and impounded near his  rented Hollywood Hills residence while he was away on tour. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently being held without bail, facing a possible sentence of life without parole or the death penalty. Burke is facing allegations that have shocked the public: First-degree murderDismemberment and concealment of a 14-year-old girl’s bodyAlleged statutory rape and continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14Special circumstance allegations including lying in wait and murder of a witnessAs a former prosecutor, I’ll translate what’s happening behind the scenes in this case, while Silva Megerditchian provides the perspective of an experienced LA criminal defense attorney who understands how high-profile murder cases are fought in California courtrooms. Together, we’ll tackle the difficult legal questions: How do defense attorneys approach a case this emotionally charged?Has D4vd already been “tried by the media”?What evidence actually matters in court—and what may unfairly prejudice a jury?How does the defense challenge a circumstantial case involving digital evidence, forensic evidence, and motive?And could California’s newer law limiting the use of rap lyrics and creative expression impact this case?We’ll also discuss one of the biggest controversies surrounding this prosecution:We’ll also discuss one of the biggest controversies surrounding this prosecution: Can D4vd’s disturbing song lyrics—including “Romantic Homicide”—actually be used against him in court? California recently passed legislation making it more difficult for prosecutors to introduce lyrics as evidence, recognizing concerns about artistic expression, unfair prejudice, and jurors confusing persona with proof. We’ll break down: When lyrics may become admissible evidenceHow judges balance artistic freedom against relevanceAnd whether prosecutors could argue the lyrics reflect motive, intent, or state of mindThis is a serious legal breakdown from both sides of the courtroom. #D4vd #TrueCrime #LegalAnalysis #CriminalDefense #CelesteRivasHerdandez #deathpenalty #Highprofiletrials #BreakingNews #MurderCase #DavidBurke #Romantichomicide

    28 min
  4. PUPPIES, A LOST SHOE, AND A PREDATOR IN THE WOODS

    10/12/2025

    PUPPIES, A LOST SHOE, AND A PREDATOR IN THE WOODS

    Send us Fan Mail What happened to Holly Piirainen? This cold case has taken investigators down many dark and twisted paths, including multiple suspects, ties to an unsolved murder—to exhuming a letter buried in a coffin. On a humid August morning in 1993, ten-year-old Holly Piirainen vanished from a quiet neighborhood in Sturbridge, Massachusetts after walking with her little brother to see a litter of collie puppies. Moments later, the only sign of Holly was her lost sneaker discovered along the edge of a dirt road—an image that would haunt an entire state. In this episode, former prosecutor Margaret McLean revisits the day Holly disappeared: a summer morning boat ride on South Pond, laughter with her family at her grandparents’ cottage, and a five-minute walk that ended in tragedy. Through interviews, police reports, and eyewitness accounts—including the chilling sighting of a man in a brown pickup truck—Margaret unpacks how a peaceful community became ground zero for one of New England’s most disturbing unsolved crimes. 👉 What you’ll hear in this episode: The timeline of Holly’s last morning—breakfast, boat ride, and the walk to see the puppies How her brother’s discovery of a single sneaker caused police to suspect a kidnapping and mobilize a massive search effort  Exclusive analysis of police theories about the abduction scene Investigators' analysis and conclusions drawn from the girls who saw the “man in the truck” The race against time in the first critical hours of a child abduction with an FBI agent’s inputThe mysterious suspect pulled over nearby—and later caught surfing porn in a library This is a story of innocence lost, a predator lurking in the woods, and a family’s thirty-year fight for justice.🎧 Subscribe to It’s A Crime with Margaret McLean for Episode 2 — “Skeleton in the Woods” — where new suspects emerge, a disturbing letter is unearthed, and long-hidden secrets finally rise to the surface.https://itsacrimemedia.com/https://www.youtube.com/@Itsacrimemedia

    23 min
  5. DID POLICE HAVE TIME TO PLANT EVIDENCE? KAREN READ RETRIAL

    06/17/2025

    DID POLICE HAVE TIME TO PLANT EVIDENCE? KAREN READ RETRIAL

    Send us Fan Mail The defense insists that their client Karen Read was framed for a murder she did not commit. They argue that she did not strike her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, with her SUV and leave him there to die all alone in a blizzard. Instead, they claim something sinister happened to John inside 34 Fairview in Canton, Massachusetts, the home of a fellow Boston Police Officer. They suggest he was beaten inside the house, attacked by a dog, and left outside to die. But how do they explain the debris field of broken taillight and glass near his body? The pieces of taillight match Karen's Lexus. Was there enough time and opportunity for a corrupt state trooper to smash out the taillight and secretly plant the evidence at the scene to frame her? Join former prosecutor Margaret McLean and author Kevin Lenihan for an enlightening discussion and timeline. #KarenReadTrian #KarenRead #crime #trials

    27 min
  6. HOW DID HE DIE? A COMPELLING NEW TIMELINE AND THEORY: THE KAREN READ RETRIAL

    05/23/2025

    HOW DID HE DIE? A COMPELLING NEW TIMELINE AND THEORY: THE KAREN READ RETRIAL

    Send us Fan Mail Jurors must decide whether the defendant, Karen Read, struck her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV, leaving him to die in a blizzard. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan called a new witness to explain the timeline of events down to the second. The data from Karen's Lexus and John O'Keefe's phone have been analyzed and correlated. What are the results? Is this the nail in the coffin for the prosecution? Or will the defense destroy their new theory in cross-examination? The prosecution has also produced stunning new evidence on how John died with the testimony of a renowned brain surgeon. How will the defense cast doubt on this witness? Has their conspiracy theory been foiled? #KarenReadTrial #Karen Read #trial #HankBrennan

    26 min
  7. MURDER DEFENDANT KAREN READ'S DRAMATIC SHOWDOWN WITH WITNESS JEN MCCABE: RETRIAL OF KAREN READ

    05/12/2025

    MURDER DEFENDANT KAREN READ'S DRAMATIC SHOWDOWN WITH WITNESS JEN MCCABE: RETRIAL OF KAREN READ

    Send us Fan Mail The retrial of Karen Read is more heated and twisted than ever before! Join criminal defense attorney Michael Rusconi and your host former prosecutor Margaret McLean as they analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecution's case. Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan is leading the charge against Karen Read with her own TV interviews! Hear how she challenges a key prosecution witness.  Did Read admit that she hit her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe? How many witnesses heard her incriminating statements and are they credible? Are witnesses conspiring to protect a politically connected police officer and his family? Or is the defense spinning an intricate tale to save their client? #KarenRead #KarenRead #trial

    27 min
  8. MURDER TRIAL SECRETS UNCOVERED WITH FORMER JUDGE: KAREN READ RETRIAL

    04/29/2025

    MURDER TRIAL SECRETS UNCOVERED WITH FORMER JUDGE: KAREN READ RETRIAL

    Send us Fan Mail The retrial of #karenread is off to a dramatic start! Join former Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Jack Lu and your host Margaret McLean as they dissect and analyze both sides in this spectacular trial! You will receive the best trial analysis out there with these seasoned experts. How will the opening statements be scored? Which side is winning and why? What mistakes have the lawyers made and where do they shine. The big question: will the defendant Karen Read be convicted of second degree murder, manslaughter, or leaving the scene? Or will the defense reveal a dark law enforcement coverup?

    27 min
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4.7
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

This true crime podcast features missing persons cases, murders, serial crimes, high profile trials, and forensics. Margaret McLean, a former prosecutor, trial attorney, legal analyst, and bestselling author, delves into the investigative process and the criminal mind. Guests include homicide detectives, FBI agents, forensic psychologists, and judges.https:/www.itsacrimemedia.com

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