True Crime With The Sarge: The Audio Files

Joseph Giacalone
  • 4.6 (11)
  • True Crime

Join Joseph Giacalone, retired NYPD Sergeant SDS, author, and professor, as he takes listeners behind the badge for a real-world look at true crime and criminal investigations. In this audio extension of his popular YouTube channel, the Sarge breaks down cold cases, missing persons, forensic evidence, and investigative strategy with unmatched experience and credibility. Each episode dives into the truth behind some of the most haunting unsolved cases—bringing facts, not speculation. If you’re passionate about justice, forensics, and the pursuit of truth, this podcast belongs in your library. Listen, learn, and uncover what really happens when detectives chase the evidence

  1. 2d ago

    Sandra Birchmore Case: Matthew Farwell Murder Charges | Michele McPhee

    What happened to Sandra Birchmore? On this special episode of True Crime with the Sarge, Joseph L. Giacalone sits down with investigative journalist Michele McPhee, Senior Editor at Los Angeles Magazine, to examine the death of Sandra Birchmore and the federal murder case against former Stoughton, Massachusetts police officer Matthew Farwell. Birchmore’s death has raised serious questions about her relationships with members of law enforcement, the circumstances surrounding her death, and the investigation that ultimately led to federal murder charges against Farwell. Michele McPhee brings her investigative journalism experience to the case as we examine what is publicly known about Sandra Birchmore, the investigation into her death, the allegations against Matthew Farwell, and the unanswered questions surrounding the case. In this episode, we explore: • Who was Sandra Birchmore?  • What is known about the circumstances surrounding her death?  • What led federal investigators to focus on Matthew Farwell?  • What are the federal allegations against the former Stoughton Police officer?  • What does the investigative timeline tell us about the case?  • What questions remain unanswered?  • What happens next in the federal prosecution of Matthew Farwell? Join the Sarge and Michele McPhee for an in-depth look at the Sandra Birchmore case, the investigation into her death, and the federal murder charges facing Matthew Farwell. Matthew Farwell is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. True Crime with the Sarge brings listeners investigative analysis, cold cases, homicide investigations, forensic science, law enforcement perspectives, and conversations with journalists, investigators, attorneys, and subject-matter experts. Support the show

  2. Sep 28

    The RC Horsch Case: Can You Prove Murder Without a Body? | Tad DiBiase

    What does it take to prove a murder when there is no body? On this special episode of True Crime with the Sarge, Joseph Giacalone welcomes Tad DiBiase, former Assistant U.S. Attorney and author of No-Body Homicide Cases, to examine the unfolding investigation surrounding Eugene and R.C. Horsch in Philadelphia. Philadelphia investigators are examining a massive collection of digital evidence recovered from the Horsch property. Authorities believe some videos may depict five women who were no longer alive, but investigators have not recovered human remains and the circumstances surrounding the images remain under investigation. That raises a critical question for law enforcement and prosecutors: Can you prove a homicide beyond a reasonable doubt when there is no body? Tad DiBiase is one of the leading legal authorities on no-body homicide cases, and he explains how investigators can build a murder case using circumstantial evidence, forensic evidence, digital evidence, witness testimony, victimology and other investigative findings when human remains have not been located. The Sarge and Tad break down: • The Eugene and R.C. Horsch investigation in Philadelphia  • What investigators can and cannot establish from video evidence  • The challenges of investigating a suspected homicide without a body  • What constitutes proof that a missing person is deceased  • How circumstantial evidence can establish a murder  • The role of digital evidence in modern homicide investigations  • What prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt  • How investigators corroborate disturbing or ambiguous video evidence  • The difference between suspicion, investigative leads and admissible evidence  • Previous no-body homicide prosecutions and what investigators can learn from them  • What the Horsch investigation could ultimately mean for a potential homicide prosecution As the investigation continues, True Crime with the Sarge examines the case from an investigative and prosecutorial perspective without jumping to conclusions about what the evidence ultimately proves. Listen now and learn what it really takes to prosecute a homicide when there is no body. Follow True Crime with the Sarge for expert discussions about homicide investigations, cold cases, missing persons, forensic science, digital evidence, criminal investigations and the criminal justice system. Support the show

  3. Sep 9

    Richard Gabriel: The Jury Consultant Behind OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony Weighs in on Lindsay Clancy

    What really happens inside the jury room when a high-profile criminal case goes to trial? On this episode of True Crime with the Sarge, Joseph Giacalone sits down with Richard Gabriel, nationally recognized jury consultant and author of Acquittal: An Insider Reveals the Stories and Strategies Behind Today’s Most Infamous Cases. Gabriel takes us behind the scenes of some of America’s most infamous criminal trials, revealing how jury selection, courtroom strategy, witness testimony, evidence, persuasion, and juror psychology can shape the outcome of a case. How do jurors decide who they believe? What makes a prosecutor’s case persuasive? How can a defense attorney create reasonable doubt? And why do seemingly overwhelming criminal cases sometimes end with an acquittal? We’ll examine the science and strategy behind jury selection and trial advocacy, the importance of opening and closing arguments, witness credibility, how jurors process evidence, and the factors that can ultimately determine whether a defendant is convicted or walks out of the courtroom. Richard Gabriel brings decades of experience studying juries and high-profile trials, providing an insider’s perspective on what happens when prosecutors, defense attorneys, evidence, and jurors collide. In this episode: • Jury selection and voir dire • Juror psychology and decision-making • Prosecutor and defense trial strategies • Opening and closing arguments • Witness credibility and testimony • How jurors evaluate evidence • Reasonable doubt and acquittals • Lessons from infamous criminal trials • The role of a professional jury consultant Whether you follow true crime, criminal trials, courtroom strategy, jury selection, high-profile murder cases, or criminal justice, this conversation offers a fascinating look at what really happens before a jury reaches its verdict. Listen to True Crime with the Sarge for expert interviews, investigative insights, cold cases, criminal trials, and an insider’s perspective on the cases making headlines. AUTHOR Richard Gabriel, Acquittal: An Insider Reveals the Stories and Strategies Behind Today’s Most Infamous Cases Support the show

  4. Sep 1

    National Cold Case Awareness Month: Why Cases Go Cold

    September is National Cold Case Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the thousands of unsolved murders, missing persons cases, unidentified remains, and unresolved investigations that remain open across the country. In this episode of True Crime with the Sarge: The Audio Files, former NYPD Sergeant Commanding Officer of the Bronx Cold Case Squad, Joseph Giacalone takes a closer look at what happens when a criminal investigation goes cold. Why do some cases remain unsolved for years or even decades? What causes investigative leads to disappear? And what role do evidence, witnesses, technology, resources, investigative priorities, and time play in solving a cold case? Joseph Giacalone is also the author of The Cold Case Handbook, 2nd Edition published by Blue 360 Media. It is a one of a kind book that not only includes law enforcement, the media, but suggestions for family members as well.  We’ll examine the reasons why cases go cold, including lack of physical evidence, unidentified suspects, unreliable or unavailable witnesses, lost investigative leads, limited resources, changing investigative priorities, and cases where critical evidence simply wasn’t available when the crime occurred. But a cold case is not necessarily a dead case. Advances in DNA testing, forensic genealogy, fingerprint technology, digital evidence, databases, surveillance footage, artificial intelligence, and modern investigative techniques are giving detectives new tools to revisit old evidence and generate new leads. Join the Sarge as we kick off National Cold Case Awareness Month and explore what it takes to breathe new life into an unsolved case. 🎙️ True Crime with the Sarge: The Audio Files Topics include: National Cold Case Awareness Month, cold case investigations, unsolved homicides, missing persons, unidentified remains, homicide clearance rates, forensic evidence, DNA testing, forensic genealogy, investigative leads, cold case detectives, and solving decades-old crimes. Support the show

  5. Aug 24

    Nancy Guthrie Disappearance: Investigative Reporter Michael Ruiz on the Arizona Investigation

    NOTE: This was first streamed live on YouTube What happened to Nancy Guthrie? On this episode of True Crime with the Sarge, Fox News Digital investigative reporter Mike Ruiz joins Joseph Giacalone to discuss his boots-on-the-ground investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie from her home in Pima County, Arizona. Mike Ruiz was there from the beginning, reporting from the ground as investigators, law enforcement and search teams worked to uncover what happened to Nancy. He brings firsthand insight into the early days of the investigation, the search for Nancy, the evidence and developments that have shaped the case. In this in-depth true crime interview, we examine the Nancy Guthrie missing person investigation, what investigators know, the unanswered questions surrounding her disappearance, Nancy’s background, and the latest developments in the case. In this episode: • The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie from her Arizona home • Mike Ruiz’s firsthand, boots-on-the-ground reporting • The initial investigation and search efforts • Key evidence and investigative developments • The background of the Nancy Guthrie case • Unanswered questions surrounding her disappearance • What investigators are looking at now • The latest updates from Pima County, Arizona If you’re following the Nancy Guthrie case, missing persons investigations, Arizona crime news or major true crime stories, this episode provides an inside look at the investigation from a journalist who was there from the beginning. Subscribe to True Crime with the Sarge for true crime investigations, missing persons cases, cold cases, law enforcement analysis and exclusive interviews with investigators, journalists and true crime experts. Support the show

  6. Jul 28

    U.S. Supreme Court's Chatrie Decision Explained | Geofence Warrants, Digital Privacy & the Fourth Amendment

    What does the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Chatrie v. United States mean for your digital privacy, law enforcement investigations, and the future of geofence warrants? In this episode of True Crime with the Sarge: The Audio Files, retired NYPD Sergeant Joseph Giacalone is joined by former Assistant U.S. Attorney and current Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School to break down one of the most important Fourth Amendment decisions in the digital age. Together, they examine the Supreme Court's ruling in Chatrie v. United States, its impact on geofence warrants, the use of Google location history in criminal investigations, and what the decision means for prosecutors, defense attorneys, investigators, and everyday Americans concerned about digital privacy. Whether you're in law enforcement, the legal profession, a true crime fan, or simply interested in constitutional law, this episode offers an accessible yet in-depth look at a case that will shape criminal investigations for years to come. In this episode: • What is Chatrie v. United States? • Why geofence warrants have become a powerful investigative tool • How Google location data is used in criminal investigations • The Supreme Court's Fourth Amendment analysis • The balance between public safety and digital privacy • How this decision affects police, prosecutors, and defense attorneys • The future of electronic surveillance and search warrants If you enjoy thoughtful discussions on criminal investigations, constitutional law, forensic evidence, and today's biggest true crime stories, be sure to follow True Crime with the Sarge: The Audio Files on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. Support the show

  7. Jul 6

    Rex Heuermann’s Defense Attorney Explains the Strategy | Michael J. Brown on the Long Island Serial Killer Case

    What is it like to defend one of the most high-profile murder suspects in modern American history? In this episode of True Crime with the Sarge: The Audio Files, retired NYPD Sergeant Joseph Giacalone and filmmaker Josh Zeman, director of The Killing Season, sit down with defense attorney Michael J. Brown, who represented Rex Heuermann, the accused Long Island Serial Killer. Attorney Brown provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the legal strategy used in the case, discussing the defense’s approach, the controversial planning document, jurisdictional issues, constitutional protections, media attention, and the challenges of representing a client at the center of one of the nation’s most closely followed criminal investigations. This conversation offers listeners a deeper understanding of how complex homicide cases are defended and why the legal process often differs from public perception. In this episode, you’ll hear about:  • The defense strategy in the Rex Heuermann case  • The significance of the planning document  • Jurisdictional and venue issues  • Evidence, discovery, and trial preparation  • The role of defense counsel in high-profile criminal cases  • Media coverage versus courtroom reality  • Lessons from one of America’s most significant serial homicide investigations Whether you’re a true crime fan, law enforcement professional, attorney, student, or simply interested in the criminal justice system, this episode delivers an insightful and balanced discussion you won’t want to miss. If you enjoy True Crime with the Sarge: The Audio Files, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with others interested in true crime, criminal investigations, and the law. Support the show

  8. Jun 11

    The Cold Case of Carmen Vargas | Found on Long Island’s Meadowbrook Parkway

    In this episode of True Crime with the Sarge - The Audio Files, retired NYPD Sergeant Joseph Giacalone examines the cold case of Carmen Vargas, whose body was discovered along the southbound lanes of the Meadowbrook Parkway near Freeport, Long Island. Who was Carmen Vargas? What happened in the hours leading up to her death? Why has this case remained unsolved, and what investigative questions still linger today? Join us as we explore the known facts, timeline, evidence, and investigative challenges surrounding one of Long Island’s enduring unsolved homicide cases. From the initial discovery to the search for answers decades later, this episode takes a closer look at the victim, the investigation, and the importance of keeping cold cases alive in the public eye. If you’re interested in cold case investigations, unsolved murders, Long Island crime history, criminal investigations, and victim-focused true crime storytelling, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Subscribe to True Crime with the Sarge - The Audio Files for expert analysis, exclusive interviews, and in-depth discussions on some of the most compelling criminal cases in America. Support the show

See All (21)

4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Join Joseph Giacalone, retired NYPD Sergeant SDS, author, and professor, as he takes listeners behind the badge for a real-world look at true crime and criminal investigations. In this audio extension of his popular YouTube channel, the Sarge breaks down cold cases, missing persons, forensic evidence, and investigative strategy with unmatched experience and credibility. Each episode dives into the truth behind some of the most haunting unsolved cases—bringing facts, not speculation. If you’re passionate about justice, forensics, and the pursuit of truth, this podcast belongs in your library. Listen, learn, and uncover what really happens when detectives chase the evidence

Information

You Might Also Like