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Forensic Tales

Rockefeller Audio

Not all stories have happy endings... Hosted by Courtney Fretwell, M.S. in Forensic Psychology, Forensic Tales is a weekly true crime podcast with a forensic twist. Each episode features real cases and explores how forensic science, criminal profiling, and investigative techniques were used to uncover the truth—or, in some cases, left more questions than answers. From fingerprint analysis and DNA evidence to bloodstain pattern analysis and behavioral profiling, every episode breaks down the science behind the headlines. Whether it's a solved murder, a cold case, or a controversial investigation, Forensic Tales takes you beyond the crime scene and into the forensic evidence that shaped the case.

  1. The Murder of Oakey “Al” Kite

    2d ago

    The Murder of Oakey “Al” Kite

    #335 - When 53-year-old Oakey Kite, who went by Al, failed to show up for work on May 24th, 2004, his coworkers immediately knew something was wrong. Concerned, they went to his townhouse in Aurora to check on him where they discovered a crime scene so brutal, investigators would never forget it. Al had been restrained, tortured for hours, and ultimately murdered inside his own home by a man posing as a prospective tenant. The killer meticulously cleaned the scene, erased much of the evidence, and vanished without a trace leaving behind only fragments of forensic evidence and a fake identity that would send investigators across multiple countries. More than two decades later, the murder of Al Kite remains one of Colorado’s most disturbing unsolved cases. If you’d like to support the show and help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Thank you for listening. And I’ll see you next week. Until then… remember: not all stories have happy endings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    39 min
  2. The Abduction of Angela Hammond

    May 25

    The Abduction of Angela Hammond

    #334 - In April 1991, 20-year-old Angela Hammond stood alone outside a grocery store in Clinton, Missouri, talking to her fiancé on a payphone late at night. She mentioned seeing a strange truck circling the parking lot, but they both shrugged it off.  Moments later, Angela’s fiancé heard her scream, and the line went dead. The payphone was only a few blocks away, so he jumped in his car and sped toward the woman he planned to marry. But he was too late. Angela was never seen alive again.  Over 30 years later, her story remains one of the mysterious disappearances in Missouri history. And despite a vehicle description and a timeline, the case was haunted by one major problem: there was almost no forensic evidence left behind. If you’d like to support the show and help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Thank you for listening. And I’ll see you next week. Until then… remember: not all stories have happy endings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    38 min

  3. May 18 • Subscribers Only

    The Murder of Michelle O’Keefe: Convicted Without Evidence

    #333 - In February 2000, 18-year-old college student Michelle O’Keefe was on her way home from appearing in a Kid Rock music video when she was gunned down inside her car. A security guard named Raymond Jennings was eventually arrested and charged with Michelle’s murder, and after three separate trials, he was sentenced to life in prison. On paper, it seemed like an open-and-shut case. But the deeper you look, the forensic evidence seems to tell a very different story.  So what really happened to Michelle in that parking lot? 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 help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Thank you for listening. And I’ll see you next week. Until then… remember: not all stories have happy endings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min
  4. The Murder of Michelle O’Keefe: Convicted Without Evidence

    May 18

    The Murder of Michelle O’Keefe: Convicted Without Evidence

    #333 - In February 2000, 18-year-old college student Michelle O’Keefe was on her way home from appearing in a Kid Rock music video when she was gunned down inside her car. A security guard named Raymond Jennings was eventually arrested and charged with Michelle’s murder, and after three separate trials, he was sentenced to life in prison. On paper, it seemed like an open-and-shut case. But the deeper you look, the forensic evidence seems to tell a very different story.  So what really happened to Michelle in that parking lot? 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 help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Thank you for listening. And I’ll see you next week. Until then… remember: not all stories have happy endings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    47 min

  5. May 11 • Subscribers Only

    The Murder of Stacey Stites: Does DNA Prove Murder?

    #332 - In April 1996, a motorist traveling along a rural road in Bastrop County, Texas, made a disturbing discovery. Lying in a grassy ditch along the roadside was the body of a young woman. Her clothing was partially removed, and a belt had been tightened around her neck. She would soon be identified as 19-year-old Stacey Stites. Just hours earlier, Stacey had been reported missing after she failed to show up for her early morning shift at the local grocery store.  DNA evidence collected at the scene pointed to a man named Rodney Reed. But nearly three decades later, the question still remains: Did investigators convict the right man? 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 help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Thank you for listening. And I’ll see you next week. Until then… remember: not all stories have happy endings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    40 min
  6. The Murder of Stacey Stites: Does DNA Prove Murder?

    May 11

    The Murder of Stacey Stites: Does DNA Prove Murder?

    #332 - In April 1996, a motorist traveling along a rural road in Bastrop County, Texas, made a disturbing discovery. Lying in a grassy ditch along the roadside was the body of a young woman. Her clothing was partially removed, and a belt had been tightened around her neck. She would soon be identified as 19-year-old Stacey Stites. Just hours earlier, Stacey had been reported missing after she failed to show up for her early morning shift at the local grocery store.  DNA evidence collected at the scene pointed to a man named Rodney Reed. But nearly three decades later, the question still remains: Did investigators convict the right man? 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 help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Thank you for listening. And I’ll see you next week. Until then… remember: not all stories have happy endings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    41 min
  7. The Disappearance of Lauren Spierer

    May 4 • Subscribers Only

    The Disappearance of Lauren Spierer

    #331 - On the early morning of June 3, 2011, 20-year-old Indiana University student Lauren Spierer disappeared after a night out with friends in downtown Bloomington, Indiana. Investigators were able to reconstruct much of Lauren’s final hours using surveillance footage, witness statements, and digital timelines. But despite knowing many of the places she went and the people she was with that night, Lauren seemingly vanished just blocks from her own apartment. More than a decade later, her disappearance remains unsolved. In this episode of Forensic Tales, we examine the timeline of Lauren Spierer’s final night, the key investigative clues, and the unanswered questions that still haunt this case. Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio Production. The show is written & produced by Courtney Fretwell. If you’d like to support the show and help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Thank you for listening. And I’ll see you next week. Until then… remember: not all stories have happy endings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min
  8. “Is Dorothy Home?” - The Murder of Dorothy Jane Scott

    Apr 27

    “Is Dorothy Home?” - The Murder of Dorothy Jane Scott

    For months, Dorothy Jane Scott received anonymous phone calls from a man who said he was watching her. He knew where she worked. He knew where she went at night. Sometimes he even described the clothes she had worn that day… or the car she was driving. At first, Dorothy tried to ignore the calls. But they kept coming. Sometimes the caller sounded angry. Other times, almost obsessed. On one occasion, he told her he was going to cut her up into pieces. Dorothy was terrified. She started taking self-defense classes and even considered buying a gun. But whoever was calling always remained anonymous. Then, on the night of May 28, 1980, Dorothy drove a coworker to the hospital after he had been bitten by a spider. After parking her white Toyota station wagon, she went inside with him. A short time later, Dorothy stepped outside to bring the car around to the front entrance. But instead of pulling up to the hospital doors, her car suddenly sped through the parking lot… and disappeared into the night. Dorothy Jane Scott was never seen alive again. And in the years that followed, the phone calls didn’t stop. But now, they were coming to her family. Each time, the caller asked the same chilling question: “Is Dorothy home?” If you’d like to support the show and help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes, exclusive bonus content, and monthly extra episodes. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Thank you for listening. And I’ll see you next week. Until then… remember: not all stories have happy endings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    48 min
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About

Not all stories have happy endings... Hosted by Courtney Fretwell, M.S. in Forensic Psychology, Forensic Tales is a weekly true crime podcast with a forensic twist. Each episode features real cases and explores how forensic science, criminal profiling, and investigative techniques were used to uncover the truth—or, in some cases, left more questions than answers. From fingerprint analysis and DNA evidence to bloodstain pattern analysis and behavioral profiling, every episode breaks down the science behind the headlines. Whether it's a solved murder, a cold case, or a controversial investigation, Forensic Tales takes you beyond the crime scene and into the forensic evidence that shaped the case.

Information

  • Creator
    Rockefeller Audio
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    426
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rockefeller Audio LLC
  • Show Website
    Forensic Tales
  • Provider
    Courtney Fretwell

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