True Crime Recaps

Unknown

Hosts and storytellers Chris Nathan and Amy Townsend piece together the most gripping true crime cases the world can't stop talking about. From infamous serial killers to today's headline-making mysteries, they break it all down with thorough research, smart commentary, and the signature format that built their channel: All the crime in half the time.®

Play

Open in

26 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 22 min
English

Episodes 26

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Yesterday · 12 min
Martha McKay: The Snowden Estate Case That Spanned 24 Years
In 1996, a fire at the historic Snowden Mansion in Arkansas led investigators to discover that Sally Snowden McKay and her nephew, musician Joseph “Lee” Baker, had died before the fire began. The investigation soon focused on 16-year-old Travis Lewis, who lived on the same estate with his family. Lewis eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of capital murder and was sentenced to prison. But the story of Snowden House did not end there. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine the original 1996 investigation, the evidence that led authorities to Travis Lewis, and the extraordinary events that unfolded more than two decades later. After his release from prison in 2018, Lewis received support from Sally's daughter, Martha McKay, who had chosen to forgive him and later gave him work on the family estate. In 2020, another tragedy at Snowden House brought Lewis and the McKay family together for the final time. We look at how two events separated by 24 years became connected to the same historic Arkansas estate, and the remarkable story of forgiveness at the centre of the case. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tuesday · 54 min
Three Missing Child Cases That Changed America
Three disappearances. Three families searching for answers. And three cases that became part of the history of missing child investigations in America. In this extended episode of True Crime Recaps, we revisit the cases of Johnny Gosch, Etan Patz and the Lyon sisters, bringing together our previous coverage with new narration and case updates. Johnny Gosch disappeared while delivering newspapers on his usual morning route. Etan Patz vanished after leaving home for his school bus stop. And sisters Sheila and Katherine Lyon disappeared after visiting a nearby shopping center. Each case unfolded differently, but all three drew national attention and had a lasting impact on how missing children were investigated and discussed across the United States. Some questions would eventually receive answers. Others remain unresolved decades later. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Saturday · 23 min
Janet Dennis: The Investigation That Led Back to the Family Ranch
Janet Dennis was a devoted school nurse and mother who disappeared shortly before Christmas. Her vehicle was later found at an airport with Christmas presents for her children still inside, leaving investigators trying to understand where she had gone and what had happened. Early attention focused elsewhere, but the investigation changed direction when information emerged about activity at the sprawling ranch belonging to Janet's former husband, Leroy Dennis. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, Amy examines Janet's disappearance, the initial investigation, the evidence that eventually led detectives to the family ranch, and the discoveries that transformed the case. We also look at how investigators reconstructed what happened to Janet, the evidence presented against Leroy Dennis, and the trial that ultimately resulted in his conviction. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 17 · 13 min
Corie Walsh: What We Know About the Developing Illinois Case
Corie Walsh is facing charges following the death of her two-year-old son, Barrett, at their Illinois home in September 2026. According to prosecutors, Walsh had been following and discussing the Lindsay Clancy trial earlier that day. Hours later, her older children returned home and sought help from a neighbour, leading authorities to the family home. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine the timeline prosecutors have presented, the circumstances surrounding Barrett's death, statements attributed to Walsh, and the competing arguments beginning to emerge as the case moves through the legal system. Prosecutors have highlighted Walsh's interest in the Lindsay Clancy trial, while her defence has pushed back against suggestions that the case influenced her actions and has pointed instead to evidence they argue is consistent with a severe mental-health episode. Corie Walsh has been charged, but the case has not yet gone to trial. The allegations against her have not been proven in court, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 15 · 16 min
Three Disappearances That Took Unexpected Turns
Three people and families seemingly disappear in three very different places: a hospital in South Africa, a home in San Francisco and an isolated farmhouse in the Netherlands. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, Chris examines three unusual disappearance cases involving Sandile Sibiya, Brian Egg and the Ruinerwold farmhouse family. Each investigation unfolded differently. One began with a puzzling disappearance from a hospital, another became an unresolved San Francisco investigation, while the third revealed that a family had been living largely hidden from the outside world for years. We examine what investigators discovered in each case, the questions that remain unanswered and how circumstances that initially seemed inexplicable eventually began to make more sense. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 12 · 13 min
Andrea Shaw: The Investigation Into the Deaths of the Shaw Twins
In April 2025, 18-month-old twins Dallas and Tyson Shaw were found unresponsive at their home in Payette, Idaho, days after receiving scheduled childhood immunizations. Their mother, Andrea Shaw, publicly attributed their deaths to complications following those vaccinations. Investigators, however, pursued a different explanation, and more than a year later Andrea was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine the timeline surrounding the twins' deaths, the medical findings cited in the case, Andrea's account of what happened, and the evidence prosecutors say supports their allegations. We also look at the questions expected to be contested in court, including the interpretation of the forensic evidence and the events leading up to Dallas and Tyson being found unresponsive. Andrea Shaw has maintained her innocence. The charges against her are allegations, and the case has not yet been decided by a jury. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 10 · 20 min
Mica Miller: The Story Beyond the Netflix Documentary
Nearly two years after Mica Miller’s death, her story has returned to the spotlight following Netflix’s Death of the Pastor’s Wife and a separate federal case involving her estranged husband, John-Paul Miller. Before her death, Mica had reported concerns about being followed, tracking devices being found on vehicles she drove, damaged tyres and fears for her safety. Her death was officially ruled a suicide. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we revisit Mica Miller’s final months, the allegations surrounding her marriage, the evidence examined by investigators, the story presented in the Netflix documentary and the developments that followed. We also look at the federal case involving John-Paul Miller, who was indicted in December 2025 on cyberstalking and false-statements charges. John-Paul Miller has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges and has not been charged in connection with Mica Miller’s death. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 8 · 38 min
Elizabeth Barraza: The Surveillance Footage That Still Has No Answer
Elizabeth Barraza was preparing for a garage sale outside her Tomball, Texas home when a person approached her driveway shortly after her husband left for work. Their brief interaction, along with what happened next, was captured by surveillance cameras. Despite the footage, the identity of the person seen approaching Elizabeth has remained unknown. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine the timeline of Elizabeth's case, the surveillance footage investigators have studied, the brief conversation captured that morning and the dark Nissan Frontier seen near the neighbourhood. We also look at why investigators believe Elizabeth was specifically targeted, the questions surrounding how someone knew she would be outside that morning, and the evidence authorities continue to examine years later. The case remains unsolved, and investigators continue to seek information that could help identify the person responsible. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 5 · 20 min
Brian Cohee Jr.: The Case of Warren Barnes
Warren Barnes was a familiar face in downtown Grand Junction, Colorado, where locals knew him affectionately as "The Reading Man." When he suddenly disappeared in February 2021, people in the community quickly noticed he was missing. The investigation eventually led authorities to Brian Cohee Jr., a local teenager whose home and vehicle became central to the case. As investigators looked deeper into his background, they also uncovered years of concerning behaviour that had previously been observed by family members, classmates and mental-health professionals. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine the Warren Barnes case, the investigation into Brian Cohee Jr., the evidence presented against him, his detailed statements to detectives and the insanity defence presented at his trial. We also look at the extensive planning prosecutors said preceded the crime, why the jury rejected Cohee's insanity defence, and how Warren continues to be remembered by the Grand Junction community. Brian Cohee Jr. was convicted of first-degree murder and related charges and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 3 · 15 min
Lindsay Clancy: Inside the Evidence and the Ongoing Trial
The Lindsay Clancy case has become one of the most closely followed trials involving questions of mental health and criminal responsibility. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine the evidence being presented in Lindsay's case, including her documented mental-health history, treatment and medication changes, journal entries, phone searches and digital evidence. We also look at the competing arguments surrounding her state of mind at the time of the events in January 2023. The episode also examines the online speculation surrounding her husband, Patrick Clancy, and why theories about his involvement have continued to circulate despite no evidence presented in the case that he was responsible for the deaths of his children. As the trial continues, we look at what prosecutors and the defence are arguing, what the available evidence shows, and the difficult questions the jury is being asked to consider. Lindsay Clancy has pleaded not guilty, and her case remains ongoing. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 1 · 17 min
Andrea Yates: Why Her Case Is Being Revisited 25 Years Later
More than 25 years after the Andrea Yates case drew national attention, it is being discussed again as the Lindsay Clancy trial raises renewed questions about postpartum mental health, psychosis and criminal responsibility. Andrea Yates had a documented history of severe mental illness, psychiatric hospitalisations and psychosis before the events of 2001. Her first conviction was later overturned, and at a second trial in 2006, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we revisit Andrea Yates' psychiatric history, the warning signs documented before the case, the expert testimony surrounding her trials, and the legal developments that ultimately changed the outcome. We also examine why the ongoing Lindsay Clancy trial has brought renewed attention to the Yates case and some of the broader questions surrounding postpartum mental illness and the criminal justice system. The circumstances and evidence in the two cases are different. Lindsay Clancy has pleaded not guilty, and her case remains ongoing. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 29 · 13 min
Sylvie Cachay: What Happened in Room 20 at Soho House
Fashion designer Sylvie Cachay checked into Manhattan's Soho House with her boyfriend, Nicholas Brooks, in December 2010. Hours later, water leaking from Room 20 prompted hotel staff to enter the room, beginning an investigation that would focus closely on what happened during the early hours of that morning. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine Sylvie's life and career, her relationship with Brooks, the events that brought them to Soho House, and the surveillance footage that allowed investigators to reconstruct a crucial timeline inside and outside Room 20. We also look at the forensic evidence presented at trial, Brooks' account of what happened that night, the arguments made by his defence, and the case that ultimately resulted in his conviction and a sentence of 25 years to life. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 27 · 20 min
Christopher Wilder: The Fake Modeling Offers That Raised the Alarm
Christopher Wilder presented himself as a successful businessman, amateur race car driver and photographer. But behind that image was a pattern of approaching young women with supposed modeling opportunities at shopping malls, beauty contests and other public places. In 1984, investigators began connecting Wilder to cases involving missing women across several states, triggering a nationwide search. As authorities followed his movements, they uncovered evidence that revealed a very different side to the life he publicly presented. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine Christopher Wilder's background, the methods he used to approach young women, the investigation that followed him across the United States, and the testimony that helped authorities track his movements. We also explore the unanswered questions that remain decades later, including several missing-person cases and a possible connection to Australia's Wanda Beach case that has never been established. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 25 · 8 min
A Welfare Check Uncovered Three Dead Roommates | Alyssa Venable
Deputies thought they were responding to a routine welfare check at a shared house in Spotsylvania, Virginia. Instead, they discovered three roommates dead and one of the people who lived there, 23-year-old Alyssa Venable, was nowhere to be found. Investigators say Venable had moved into the house only weeks earlier. By the time police arrived, she had cut her hair, left Virginia and was heading north in a silver Honda Civic. What followed was a multi-state search, stolen license plates and a high-speed police chase stretching more than 40 miles before Venable was finally taken into custody. But it was what investigators learned afterwards about the days leading up to the deaths, and what Venable allegedly told another inmate, that revealed just how disturbing the case really was. This is True Crime Recaps. Let’s recap the case of Alyssa Venable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 22 · 17 min
The Deanna Laney Case: A Mother, Psychosis, and a Shocking Insanity Verdict
In May 2003, Deanna Laney’s quiet Texas family was shattered after she attacked her three young sons during the night. Two of her children died, while her 14 month old son survived with permanent brain injuries. Deanna then called 911 herself and told the dispatcher what had happened. Investigators soon learned that Deanna believed she was receiving messages from God. She interpreted ordinary events as religious signs and became convinced that she was being tested in the same way as Abraham in the Bible. Prosecutors later focused heavily on the fact that she had hidden a large rock beneath her baby’s crib and appeared to understand that what she was doing was illegal. The case ultimately became a major question of mental illness and legal responsibility. At trial, both defense and prosecution experts agreed that Deanna was suffering from severe delusional illness. The jury ultimately found her not guilty by reason of insanity, and she was committed to psychiatric treatment rather than sent to prison. After years of treatment, Deanna was eventually released under strict court supervision. Her case remains deeply unsettling because it forces a difficult question about where mental illness ends and criminal responsibility begins. Follow True Crime Recaps for weekly cases examining real investigations, criminal psychology, and the justice system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 20 · 13 min
The Cindy Wanner Case: A 35 Year Cold Case Finally Breaks Open
In November 1991, Cindy Wanner disappeared from her sister’s home in Granite Bay, California, leaving behind her 11 month old daughter, her shoes, her coat, and her car. Her missing purse and a later ATM transaction were among the few clues investigators had to work with. Nineteen days later, Cindy was found in a remote area of the Sierra Nevada foothills. Investigators determined she had been held for nearly two weeks before her death, turning the disappearance into a murder investigation that would remain unsolved for decades. For 35 years, detectives revisited the evidence without finding a suspect. Then in 2026, new DNA testing pointed investigators toward James Lawhead Jr., a man with a prior violent criminal history who had spent years living under different identities. Investigators eventually located him in Arizona and arrested him in April 2026. Lawhead now faces a murder charge with additional special circumstances connected to the case. The arrest marks a major breakthrough, but for Cindy’s family, the search for justice after more than three decades is not over. Follow True Crime Recaps for weekly cases examining real investigations, cold cases, and the justice system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 18 · 14 min
Jean Stevens: She Kept Her Husband and Twin Sister at Home for Years
For more than ten years, Jean Stevens kept the remains of her husband at her Pennsylvania home. After her twin sister died in 2009, Jean brought her remains inside too. What makes the story even stranger is that several people around her reportedly knew what was happening. James Stevens had died in 1999, but Jean eventually had his remains exhumed and brought back to her property. She kept him in the garage, while her sister June was placed inside the house. Jean dressed and cared for them and continued spending time with them, explaining that she could not accept the finality of losing the people she loved. When social workers discovered the remains in 2010, police became involved. Investigators learned that other people had reportedly helped Jean move the remains, while neighbors and relatives had apparently been aware of the situation for years. Jean herself was never charged, although one neighbor faced misdemeanor charges related to moving June's remains. But the strangest question came years later. Jean died in 2012, and her family was reportedly placed in an above ground vault. Later, questions emerged over whether the remains were actually inside the vault, leaving the final resting place of Jean, James, and June uncertain. Follow True Crime Recaps for weekly cases examining unusual investigations, unexplained mysteries, and the justice system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 15 · 13 min
Lewis Lent: The Cases That Still Have Unanswered Questions
For years, Lewis Lent lived and worked in communities across New York and Massachusetts while investigators remained unaware of the full extent of his actions. His name would eventually become connected to several investigations involving young people, including Sara Anne Wood, Becky Savarese and Jamie Lusher. But decades later, significant questions remain, particularly surrounding cases in which families are still waiting for answers. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine the investigation into Lewis Lent, the evidence that connected him to known cases, his changing accounts to investigators, and the questions authorities have continued to examine over the years. We also look at the disappearance of Sara Anne Wood, whose remains have never been recovered, and why investigators have explored whether Lent could be connected to additional cases. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 13 · 15 min
Kelsey Smith: The Surveillance Footage That Changed the Investigation
Eighteen-year-old Kelsey Smith stopped at a Target store in Overland Park, Kansas, before meeting her boyfriend for a date. When she didn't return, investigators began trying to piece together what had happened. Surveillance footage from inside the store and its parking lot became a crucial part of the investigation. By reconstructing Kelsey's movements, detectives were able to establish a detailed timeline and identify a man who appeared repeatedly in the footage. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine Kelsey's final trip to the store, the surveillance evidence investigators relied upon, how Edwin Hall was identified, and the investigation that followed. We also look at the lasting impact of Kelsey's case and how her family's advocacy helped inspire Kelsey's Law, aimed at helping law enforcement obtain mobile phone location information more quickly during emergencies. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 11 · 16 min
Nancy Guthrie: The Ransom Emails and the Investigation
Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Arizona home in a case investigators believe involved a planned kidnapping. In the days that followed, her family received ransom emails demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin. Investigators have since released the messages publicly, hoping someone may recognise the language, phrasing or writing style. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine Nancy's disappearance, the ransom communications, the evidence investigators have made public and where the case currently stands. This remains an active investigation. Anyone with information should contact the FBI. Follow True Crime Recaps for new episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Showing 1–20 of 26 episodes