Forensic Tales

Epizode

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  You Might Also Like: Till Death Do Us Part (The Body in the Clearing: Harry Crawford and Annie Burkett) 23.07.2026 1h 18min

  Check out this episode from the Til Death Do Us Part Podcast (The Body in the Clearing: Harry Crawford and Annie Burkett)
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  The Murder of Debra Jackson (Orange Socks Doe) 20.07.2026 33min

  For more than 40 years, she was known only as "Orange Socks." In this episode, we examine the murder of Debra Jackson, the infamous confession of Henry Lee Lucas, and how modern forensic science finally gave an unidentified victim her name back while raising new questions about who really killed her.
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  The Spray Tan Defense: The Death of Lina Kaufman 16.07.2026 40min

  A healthy 33-year-old mother is found dead on her bathroom floor, leaving investigators searching for answers. When prosecutors accuse her husband of murder, the defense offers one of the most bizarre explanations ever presented in court—the infamous "spray tan defense"—setting the stage for a forensic battle that still sparks debate today.
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  The Mysterious Death of Brandon Lawson 13.07.2026 40min

  In August 2013, Brandon Lawson vanished after making a series of frantic phone calls, including a mysterious 911 call that has puzzled investigators and true crime followers for more than a decade. In this episode, we examine the evidence, the competing theories, and how forensic DNA finally brought Brandon home—while leaving his final moments shrouded in mystery.
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  The Suspicious Death of Crystal McCrory Jones (Part 2) 09.07.2026 36min

  In Part Two of The Suspicious Death of Crystal McCrory Jones, we examine the autopsy, forensic evidence, and investigative decisions that continue to fuel questions about Crystal's death. As her family digs deeper into the records, they uncover inconsistencies they believe should never have been overlooked.
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  The Suspicious Death of Crystal McCrory Jones (Part 1) 06.07.2026 43min

  On February 9, 2023, 43-year-old Crystal McCrory Jones was found dead inside her Louisiana home from a single gunshot wound to the head. Within hours, investigators ruled her death a suicide—but her family believes the investigation had only just begun.
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  The Dardeen Family Murders 29.06.2026 45min

  In 1987, the quiet town of Ina, Illinois became the scene of one of the most brutal family murders in American history. This week on Forensic Tales, we examine the forensic evidence, investigation, and competing theories behind the unsolved murders of the Dardeen family.
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  The Unsolved Murder of Robert Wone | Patreon Bonus Preview 24.06.2026 6min

  This month on Patreon, we're examining one of the most baffling unsolved murders in recent memory. In 2006, attorney Robert Wone was stabbed to death while staying at a friend's Washington, D.C. townhouse. Nearly twenty years later, the case remains unsolved.
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  The Disappearance of Brandon Swanson 22.06.2026 43min

  In May 2008, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson called his parents after driving into a ditch on a rural Minnesota road. During a 47-minute phone call, he tried to guide them to his location—until he suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, shit!" and vanished without a trace.
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  The Murder of Rachel Nickell (Archive) 18.06.2026 35min

  In this replay from the Forensic Tales archive, we revisit the murder of Rachel Nickell, one of the most controversial criminal investigations in British history. From the wrongful targeting of Colin Stagg to the eventual identification of Robert Napper through DNA evidence, this case highlights the dangers of investigative tunnel vision and the power of forensic science.
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  The Disappearance of Patricia "Pat" Viola 15.06.2026 39min

  In February 2001, Patricia Viola disappeared from her home in Bogota, New Jersey without her purse, medication, or any indication of where she was going. More than a decade later, DNA testing on a severed foot found on a Queens beach provided one answer but left investigators with even more questions.
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  Herb Baumeister and the Fox Hollow Farm Murders 08.06.2026 34min

  In this episode of Forensic Tales, we examine the Fox Hollow Farm Murders and the crimes of suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister. From missing men linked to Indianapolis gay bars to the discovery of thousands of human remains at Fox Hollow Farm, we explore one of Indiana's most disturbing unsolved serial murder investigations.
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  Diane Schuler: The Wrong-Way Crash Mystery (Archive) 04.06.2026 39min

  From the Forensic Tales Archive: In this episode, we revisit the tragic and mysterious case of Diane Schuler and the 2009 Taconic State Parkway crash. What caused a seemingly responsible mother to drive the wrong way down a New York highway, killing eight people and leaving behind one of the most debated true crime mysteries in modern history?
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  The Murder of Oakey “Al” Kite 01.06.2026 38min

  #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.
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  The Abduction of Angela Hammond 25.05.2026 37min

  #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.
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  The Murder of Michelle O’Keefe: Convicted Without Evidence 18.05.2026 46min

  #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.
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  The Murder of Stacey Stites: Does DNA Prove Murder? 11.05.2026 41min

  #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.
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  The Disappearance of Lauren Spierer 04.05.2026 36min

  #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.
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  “Is Dorothy Home?” - The Murder of Dorothy Jane Scott 27.04.2026 48min

  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.
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  Lauren Agee: The Mysterious Death at WakeFest 20.04.2026 49min

  #329 - In July of 2015, thousands of people gathered along the river for a weekend of music, camping, and wakeboarding. The annual event known as WakeFest was supposed to be a carefree summer getaway, a place where friends could relax, drink, and enjoy the water. But by the end of that weekend, one of the campers would be dead. Twenty-one-year-old Lauren Agee had been camping on a steep cliff overlooking the river with friends she trusted. Sometime during the night, she disappeared from the campsite. Hours later, her body was discovered hundreds of feet below in the water. At first, investigators believed it was a tragic accident, that Lauren had fallen from the cliff in the dark. But when her family began asking questions, they uncovered troubling details that didn’t seem to add up. Injuries that appeared inconsistent with a simple fall. A chaotic campsite. Conflicting witness statements. And a crime scene that many believe was never properly investigated. More than a decade later, the circumstances surrounding Lauren’s death remain fiercely debated. Was it truly an accident? Or did something far more sinister happen on that cliff that night? 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. You can also watch Forensic Tales on YouTube. Just search Forensic Tales Podcast and be sure to subscribe. 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.