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Forensic Tales

Rockefeller Audio

Not all stories have happy endings... A weekly true crime podcast with a forensic twist. Each episode features real stories highlighting how forensic science was used. From fingerprinting to criminal profiling to familial DNA, we have every investigative angle covered.

  1. 2D AGO

    SPECIAL EPISODE: The Au Pair Affair - Trial & Verdict

    Special Episode In February 2023, police were called to a quiet home in northern Virginia. Inside the master bedroom, they found Christine Banfield, a wife and mother, suffering from multiple stab wounds. A second man, Joseph Ryan, was also found dead. He had been shot inside the same room. Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield, would later be charged with their murders. What followed was a case that quickly drew national attention, centered on allegations of a secret affair, digital deception, and a FetLife account prosecutors say was used to lure Ryan to the home. In this special episode of Forensic Tales, we break down the facts of the so-called “au pair affair murder trial,” including the competing narratives presented in court and the digital forensic evidence at the heart of the case. Was this a tragic, chaotic confrontation or a calculated online setup that ended in murder? This episode examines how modern investigations now extend beyond the physical crime scene and into logins, messages, and digital footprints before turning to the jury’s verdict. Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell. If you'd like to support the show and get access to early ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support Forensic Tales for as little as $3/month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Rosemarie Essa

    #318 - In February 2005, an Ohio woman suddenly collapsed and died while driving to a local movie theater. At first, her death was thought to be the result of a minor car accident. But as the forensic evidence started to reveal itself, the thought that this woman died in a car accident seemed impossible. And the deeper investigators looked, the more suspicious one of the victim’s loved ones looked. If you’d like to help create compelling new cases, fund research, and assist with production and editing costs, you can support the show with a small monthly contribution. In return, you’ll be one of the first to listen to new, ad-free episodes and gain access to exclusive content. You can support the show for as low as $3/month. For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit forensictales.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    46 min

  3. 3D AGO • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Rosemarie Essa

    Forensic Tales

    40 min

  4. JAN 26

    The Knifepoint Rapist

    #317 - When a pattern emerges in criminal investigations, it often becomes the strongest lead. In Southern California, that pattern pointed to a serial sexual offender who used a knife to control his victims and left DNA behind at multiple scenes. For years, the DNA sat unmatched. Today’s episode examines the San Diego Knifepoint Rapist case, the forensic evidence that connected the assaults, and how modern genetic genealogy transformed a cold case into a solved one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min

  5. JAN 19

    From the Archives: Tiffany Valiante

    From the Archives: The Mysterious Death of Tiffany Valiante In 2015, 18-year-old Tiffany Valiante was struck and killed by a train in New Jersey. Authorities quickly ruled her death a suicide but from the very beginning, her family has insisted that explanation doesn’t make sense. Tiffany had made plans for the future. She had no known history of depression. And crucial pieces of evidence, including her phone, shoes, and the circumstances surrounding how she ended up on the tracks, raised troubling questions that were never fully answered. In this episode, we take a closer look at Tiffany’s final hours, the investigation that followed, and the inconsistencies that continue to fuel doubt years later. Was this truly a suicide… or was something else overlooked? This is a case that has haunted listeners since it first aired and one that deserves another careful listen. Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced my Courtney Fretwell. If you'd like to support the show & get access to early ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support the show for as low as $3/month. You can also support the show by leaving a positive review & telling friends and family. For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  6. JAN 12

    Marvin Grimm Jr

    #315 - In 1975, a three-year-old boy disappeared in Richmond, Virginia. Days later, his body was found in the James River, and a young neighbor, Marvin Grimm Jr., became the focus of the investigation. After hours of interrogation, Marvin confessed and later pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison. But decades later, advances in forensic science told a very different story. DNA testing excluded Marvin from every piece of biological evidence in the case. Experts identified clear red flags in his confession. And toxicology analysis made the prosecution’s timeline impossible. In 2024, nearly fifty years after his conviction, the courts ruled that Marvin Grimm Jr. was innocent. This episode examines how a confession, outdated forensic assumptions, and the absence of modern DNA testing combined to produce a devastating wrongful conviction, and how science ultimately helped set the record straight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  7. JAN 5

    Robert Brashers

    #314 - For decades, Robert Eugene Brashers lived in near-total obscurity. While investigators across multiple states worked unsolved cases involving sexual assault and murder, his name never surfaced. Not because evidence was missing, but because the science needed to connect it all didn’t yet exist. In this episode of Forensic Tales, we trace the full scope of Brashers’ crimes: from a brutal attempted murder in Florida, to a series of sexual assaults and homicides stretching across the South and Midwest and finally, to the forensic breakthroughs that would link him to at least eight murders. Most people know Brashers’ name today because of one case: the 1991 Austin Yogurt Shop Murders. But that case is only part of a much larger story. Through advances in DNA analysis, ballistics, and investigative genetic genealogy, investigators were able to uncover a serial offender who had operated for years across state lines, evading detection and living an ordinary life in between acts of extreme violence. This episode focuses not just on one infamous crime, but on the many victims whose cases were finally connected and on how forensic science exposed a serial killer who had been hiding in plain sight. Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell. If you'd like to support the show & get access to exclusive content, early ad-free episodes, and merchandise, consider joining the show's Patreon. To learn more: https://www.patreon.com/c/forensictales You can support the show for as little as $3/month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    Gareth Williams

    #313 - This week, we’re revisiting one of the most downloaded episodes of 2025. The death of UK spy Gareth Williams in 2010 has become one of the most high-profile unsolved mysteries in years after his naked body was discovered padlocked inside a duffel bag. Described as a genius mathematician who the intelligence service had recruited, Gareth’s exact cause of death remains unknown, and people can’t agree whether he could have locked himself in there on his own or whether someone else was responsible.  There have been a number of theories over the years, including sex games gone wrong and Russian spies. But even today, there are still so many unanswered questions about his death. What happened to Gareth Williams, and how can forensic science help us find those answers? Support If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by leaving us a positive rating with a review. You can also tell your family and friends about Forensic Tales. Patreon - If you would like to get early AD-free access to new episodes, have access to exclusive bonus content, snag exclusive show merch or just want to support what I'm doing, please visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/forensictales Support the show for as low as $3/month. Credits: Written and produced by Courtney Fretwell Rockefeller Audio production For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit forensictales.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 4m
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About

Not all stories have happy endings... A weekly true crime podcast with a forensic twist. Each episode features real stories highlighting how forensic science was used. From fingerprinting to criminal profiling to familial DNA, we have every investigative angle covered.

Information

  • Creator
    Rockefeller Audio
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    325
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022 Rockefeller Audio LLC
  • Show Website
    Forensic Tales
  • Provider
    Courtney Fretwell

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