116 episodes
True Crime Reporter True Crime Reporter
-
- True Crime
In an era where sensationalism often trumps substance, the True Crime Reporter® podcast offers a bracing alternative—a meticulously crafted, investigative lens focused on the intricacies and nuances of criminal cases that grip public consciousness.
Created and hosted by Robert Riggs, a Peabody Award-winning investigative reporter based in Dallas, Texas, the podcast peels back the layers of high-profile criminal investigations, offering an unprecedented level of detail and insight.
True Crime Reporter® is not merely a recitation of facts and timelines. Drawing upon exclusive interviews with experts, from law enforcement agents to forensic psychologists, Riggs dives into the complexity and gravity of each case. He explores not just the "what" and the "who" but the often elusive "why" behind criminal acts, meticulously unraveling the sociopolitical threads that often inform them.
The narrative richness of the podcast is underscored by its ethical rigor. Riggs goes beyond the superficial to offer a humanized portrait of both victims and perpetrators, challenging listeners to confront their preconceptions and biases. Ethical dilemmas are dissected, moral quandaries are probed, and the limitations of the criminal justice system are laid bare.
The podcast serves another crucial role: that of a public educator. True Crime Reporter® acts as a manual for crime prevention, with Riggs offering invaluable tips to listeners on safeguarding themselves in various situations. The podcast serves as both a repository of true crime stories and a platform for actionable advice—a dual role that has made it a staple for those who seek to understand the labyrinthine world of criminal justice.
By seamlessly blending storytelling, investigative reporting, and public education, True Crime Reporter® transcends the limitations often associated with the genre. It stands as an epitome of what true crime reporting can, and should, aspire to be—a nuanced, thoughtful, and ethically responsible exploration of the darkest corners of the human experience.
True Crime Reporter® distinguishes itself not just through meticulous storytelling but also through a well-deserved litany of accolades. The recognition extends beyond mere critical acclaim; industry leaders have taken note. Claire Graves, Executive Director of The Webby Awards in 2020, commended the podcast as a beacon of "innovation and creativity on the Internet," spotlighting it from among nearly 13,500 entries spanning 50 states and 70 countries. Such endorsement is more than a mere laurel; it's a testament to the podcast's capacity to both educate and captivate.
But True Crime Reporter® isn’t confined to auditory storytelling. Riggs parlayed the podcast into a five-part streaming television series titled Freed To Kill, which premiered on Fox Nation in March 2022.
This lauded series was honored with a 2022 Silver Telly Award just two months after its release, reflecting its excellence in documentary filmmaking. In his roles as both Executive Producer and principal storyteller, Riggs weaves an intricate narrative fabric, drawing from exhaustive interviews with investigators, victims' families, and key players.
The series exposes how serial killer Kenneth McDuff was paroled from prison under a cloud of corruption. It has drawn praise from journalism stalwarts. Retired CBS News Anchor Bob Schieffer, who appeared in Freed To Kill, succinctly encapsulated its impact, stating: "This is the story of pure evil, and you told it well."
Tune in to the True Crime Reporter® podcast for an experience that's as intellectually challenging as it is emotionally impactful. Each episode is a journey into the heart of darkness—and a quest for the elusive light of truth.
-
Inside The Digital Slaughter House Of Pig Butchering Scams
A new breed of con artists herd unwitting victims into a digital slaughterhouse.
Master manipulators use a scam called “Pig Butchering.”
They fatten up their prey with affection and the promise of riches, like feeding a hog on the way to the slaughterhouse.
Pig Butchers use psychological manipulation to bleed victim’s savings.
If you believe similar schemes have victimized your family, friends, or business, report them to your local FBI Field Office, the Federal Trade Commission, and the FBI’s Internet Crimes Complaint Center.
FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast
SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter
THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps.
TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about -
The Secret Service Files: Cracking New York’s Counterfeit Underworld
In the shadowy underworld of early 20th-century New York City, a nefarious counterfeiting operation run by cunning Sicilian criminals thrived—until William Flynn and the U.S. Secret Service set their sights on bringing the ring to justice.
At the heart of the story is the classic clash between good and evil, law and lawlessness.
But in William Flynn, we have the archetypal determined detective hero - relentless, clever, and utterly committed to justice.
This is a follow-up to our last episode about Flynn, known as the Bulldog Detective.
I have curated the work of some of the best true crime writers from the early 20th Century.
Please let me know if you like to hear me read these stories.
PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE VINTAGE TRUE CRIME STORIES
FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast
SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter
THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps.
TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about -
The Bulldog Detective: The Untold Story of America’s First Top Cop
Through the mist of forgotten histories, the figure of William J. Flynn beckons, offering a glimpse into a life that, though eclipsed by time, remains a testament to human endeavor and spirit.
In the early 20th century, Flynn, known as the “Bulldog Detective,” was one of the most famous detectives in America.
As head of the U.S. Secret Service and later the Bureau of Investigation (forerunner of the FBI), Flynn led the chase for counterfeiters, took on the first Mafia crime family, pursued German spies during World War I, and launched America's first "war on terrorism" against anarchist bombers who blew up Wall Street.
Yet today, Flynn is largely forgotten, overshadowed by his more controversial successor, J. Edgar Hoover.
A new book aims to change that and restore Flynn to his rightful place in history.
In "The Bulldog Detective," terrorism expert Jeffrey D. Simon provides the first full biography of this remarkable yet unsung American lawman.
FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast
SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter
THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps.
TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about -
Searching For Patty Hearst: Militant Marxist or Brain Washed?
The mystery of Patty Hearst's transformation from a college student born into privilege to a Marxist militant wielding an M-1 carbine in a bank robbery remains as compelling as ever on the 50th anniversary of her kidnapping.
The abduction of William Randolph Heart’s granddaughter captured America’s attention in 1974.
The saga of 19-year-old Patty Hearst pushed the impeachment of President Richard Nixon off newspaper headlines.
Searching for Patty Hearst by journalist Roger Rapoport delves into the heart of a story that blurs the lines between victim and perpetrator, between heiress and revolutionary.
Was she a willing convert to the cause of the Symbionese Liberation Army or a young woman broken and brainwashed by her captors?
You decide.
Link to Roger Rapoport's Website: Searching for Patty Hearst
FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast
SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter
PLEASE TAKE MY AUDIENCE SURVEY
THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps.
TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about -
Unmasking Evil: Face-to-Face with the Son of Sam
David Berkowitz, known as the “Son of Sam,” terrorized New York City for a year in the late 1970s with a series of random murders and cryptic taunts to police and the press.
Ever since then, the question of why he did it and if Berkowitz had accomplices from a Satan-worshipping cult has produced ceaseless speculation.
Now, Dr. Michael Caparrelli provides new insights into the mind of David Berkowitz in a new book titled Monster Mirror. Dr. Caparrelli is a behavioral scientist and was a pastor for 16 years.
Drawing from 100 hours of face-to-face interviews, Dr. Caparrelli explores Berkowitz’s transformation from an infamous serial killer to a figure of introspection.
My interview with Dr. Caparrelli sheds light on the complex psychological factors and experiences that shaped Berkowitz's path to violence.
It also examines his claims of religious conversion in prison and features a new confession.
FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast
SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter
THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps.
TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about -
The Axe Falls: The Shocking Execution of the Teenage Queen
I opened my reporter's notebook to the historical case called the "Nine Days Queen."
It's a tragic story from 16th-century England about Lady Jane Grey.
Her life, a fleeting moment in the annals of English royalty, ended abruptly with her execution at just 16 years old.
I take you to London's National Gallery to see her last moment poignantly captured in oil on canvas.
National Gallery painting "Execution of Lady Jane Grey": https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/paul-delaroche-the-execution-of-lady-jane-grey
FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast
SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter
THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps.
TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about