Behind True Crime: Recent Episodes
Chelsey Weber-Smith
Hosted by CWS, a true crime writer, poet, and previous FBI detective hopeful, Behind True Crime aims to reveal intimate details about the hearts and minds of both the subjects of true crime as well as the people behind the work. Expect interviews with your favorite directors, podcasters, writers, criminologists, and more, all in the hopes of discussing the genre of true crime, why we are fascinated by it, and the good things (and bad) it can do for our society.
This episode continues difficult subject matter around childhood sexual abuse.
Part two coming January 23
The Keepers, a 7-part, Oscar nominated docuseries from Netflix, premiered in May of 2017, and existed on its surface as an investigation into the 1969 murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik, a 26-year-old nun and teacher at Arch Bishop Keough HS in Baltimore. But it was obvious right away that the murder of Sister Cathy wasn’t the only story that needed to be told. The series also helped to give a mainstream voice to several sexual abuse victims of Father Joseph Maskell, who was a counselor at the high school who died in 2001 and likely had a role in Sister Cathy’s murder, as it is believed that she was threatening to expose the profound abuse that was occurring to high school students at the hands of Maskell and other powerful community members, abuse that was covered up by the same powerful institutions.
In the first part of this two part series, I am joined by Teresa Lancaster, who you will remember from the Keepers. She is one of the two women who first spoke out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Maskell, and continues to work toward justice for Maskell’s victims, over 100 of which have come forward. Along with Jean Wehner, known then as Jane Doe, Teresa became known in 1994 as ‘Jane Roe,’ but, after horrific court proceedings, the Maryland Court of Appeals refused to allow the case to go to trial because the statue of limitations had passed. Nonetheless, that courageous act sparked the events that would go on to form The Keepers, and would allow a community to join together to fight for a long overdue justice, both for Sister Cathy, and for the victims of abuse at Keough and beyond. Teresa has since become a lawyer.
Alan Horn, who was also featured in the Keepers documentary, is an amateur investigator who has voluntarily played a very helpful role in the path toward justice through his individual research. We are going to hear more about him, and also more from in the next episode. Both Teresa and Alan came to be associated with these cases in very different ways, but now both work toward the same goals. We will also be speaking with a woman named Dr. Pamela Pine, an expert in childhood sexual abuse, who will help us understand this abuse as a public health crisis.
Thank you for listening to this very important episode.
Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.
Ryan Garlick and David Oranchak were part of a team assembled by the History Channel in hopes of breaking the Zodiac killer’s most infamous unsolved cipher, the Z-340, and possibly using the code to find the long unidentified killer. The History Channel brought together computer scientists and code experts as well as experienced investigators for their five part series titled The Hunt for the Zodiac Killer. Ryan is a professor of computer sciences at University of North Texas*, and David, a software developer. Ryan has taught classes on the Zodiac's ciphers and has appeared previously on National Geographic’s show Code-Breakers. David runs a website on the Zodiac ciphers and is considered an expert in his strange brand of codes. With the help of an AI named CARMEL, a robot designed to think like a serial killer, The Hunt for the Zodiac Killer recently concluded with a bombshell finale: it seems that the team may have solved part of the seemingly impossible code.
*The introduction states that Ryan teaches at the University of Texas. He actually teaches at the University of North Texas.
Check out Dave's website here: www.zodiackillerciphers.com/
Create poems using CARMEL here: 52.24.230.241/poem/advance/
Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.
Max Cutler, Vanessa Richardson, and Greg Polcyn are the minds and voices behind the extremely popular true crime podcast 'Serial Killers,' and more recently, 'Cults.' Max is the president and co-founder of the podcast network Parcast, and he is also the creator and producer of both Serial Killers and Cults, among many others. Vanessa and Greg are the co-hosts and researchers behind both shows, and they weave together storytelling, voice acting, and psychology to create informative and entertaining looks at famous crimes and criminals. They also have some of the best voices I’ve ever heard. Greg is also the host of Haunted Places and Vanessa, a co-host of Remarkable Lives. Tragic Deaths, now called Historical Figures. Max, Vanessa, and Greg are a lot of fun, and we also get pretty deep on this episode. Check it out!
Check out both 'Serial Killers' and 'Cults,' as well as other great podcasts on the Parcast Network here: www.parcast.com/
Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.
Joe Berlinger is a documentarian known in part for his social-justice focused work around the criminal justice system. Along with Bruce Sinofsky, Joe co-directed HBO’s incredible three-film documentary series Paradise Lost, about the child murders in Robin Hood Hills, and the unfair trial and imprisonment of the teenaged boys known as the West Memphis Three. Joe has also directed several other films in the genre of crime, his first film, Brother’s Keeper in 1992, is a haunting and nuanced film about the trial of Delbert Ward who was falsely accused of killing his brother. The film attempted dispel harmful stereotypes about poor rural life, and to give voice to those who hadn’t had a chance to speak their truth.
Joe’s documentary works that focus on the crime and the justice system are, Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger, Gone: The Forgotten Women of Ohio, The System with Joe Berlinger on Aljazeera.
Now Joe has a new series out on the Sundance Channel called Cold Blooded, which explores the murder of the Clutter Family in 1959, the case that Truman Capote covered in his novel In Cold Blood, credited as the work that created the modern genre of true crime. Joe is a filmmaker who cares deeply about the communities he enters, and his films find seek to find not only justice, but also to to reveal emotional truths of his subjects.
Check out the first part of Cold Blooded, out Saturday November 18th on the Sundance Channel.
Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.
CWS is a crime writer, poet, musician, and host of this very podcast. I'm CWS and I'm writing about myself in the third person because this week, you're getting to know me. I've invited a true crime buddy of mine to come on and ask ME some questions for once. We are going full My Favorite Murder today, because humor is one one to deal with scary things. So loosen your tie, take your hair down, pour yourself a drink, and let us get just a little indignant. Come join me and podcast host Kristen Rogers Anderson on this very special episode of Behind True Crime.
Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.
Check out CWS’ blog at huntakiller.com/blog
Check out Kristen’s podcasts here: www.talkbomb.com/
And check out a sneak preview of her new podcast, Guide to the Unknown, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zzo0FtZDI4
Christopher Goffard is the LA Times journalist behind Dirty John, the riveting true crime podcast that has topped itunes charts for weeks. Dirty John is the multi-generation story of one family dealing with a dangerous con man, and with a difficult past that informs their decisions. Inspired by old radio shows, this is the first time Christopher has brought his writing to life with recorded interviews, music, and his own voice. Through the storytelling of Dirty John, Christopher hopes to help those who may be trapped in dangerous relationships. Christopher is also the author of Framed, a six-part series about the framing of a PTA mom in the super-safe suburbia of Irvine, California. As part of a team, Christopher was a 2011 Pulizter Prize winner and two time nominee, and author of two books, You Will See Fire, A Search for Justice in Kenya, and Snitch Jacket, a crime novel. Christopher is a true journalist, a caring, curious person who never stops asking questions, he even had some for me.
Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.
Check out Dirty John here: wondery.com/wondery/shows/dirtyjohn/
Check out Framed here: www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-framed/
Check out Christopher's books here: christophergoffard.com/books/
Aphrodite Jones has long been a fixture in the world of true crime. She is award winning crime reporter, best selling author, and host of the popular Investigation Discovery show, True Crime with Aphrodite Jones, where each episode is an in-depth look at high profile cases across America, including JonBenet Ramsey, Casey Anthony, Dennis Radar, Scott Peterson, and O.J Simpson. Aphrodite is the author of such books as The FBI Killer, All He Wanted: the story of Brandon Tenna, and A Perfect Husband, the story of Kathleen Peterson’s murder, which was made into the Lifetime Movie. Her new podcast, Sex, Love and Murder, documents murders of romantic passion, and is quickly climbing the iTunes charts. Appearing as a crime expert for Dateline, E! News, Fox Report, the Forensic Files, and more, Aphrodite is a prolific individual dedicated to finding the truth, and she’s not afraid to tell it like it is.
Check out Aphrodite's website here: www.aphroditejones.com/
Get Aphrodite's podcast, Sex Love & Murder, here: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sex-l…d1268820213?mt=2
Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.
Tony Ortega is a journalist, author, and former editor of the villiage voice, who has been writing about the controversial religion known as Scientology for over twenty years. On his hugely popular blog, The Underground Bunker, he covers stories of the abuse, manipulation, and blackmail that have come to define Scientology. Tony was interviewed in both HBO’s documentary Going Clear, as well as Leah Remini’s emmy winning series Scientology and the Aftermath. Throughout the years that Tony has given voice to those who have been silenced, he has endured ugly backlash from the so-called church in revenge tactics similar to those he brought to light in his book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely. But this hasn’t slowed Tony down or scared him away. He continues to write daily about any and every new breaking piece of information he receives from public and anonymous sources.
Check out Tony's blog here: tonyortega.org/ Purchase Tony's book here: tonyortega.org/the-unbreakable-miss-lovely/
Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.
Dr. Katherine Ramsland is a world renown expert in criminology who has written over 60 books and appeared on television documentaries on all major networks, as well as extensively on Investigation Discovery. She holds a Ph.D in philosophy from Rutgers University, as well as graduate degrees in clinical psychology, forensic psychology and criminal justice. Her books include titles like
Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the "BTK" Killer,
Beating the Devil's Game: A History of Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation
The Mind of Murder: Privileged Access to the Demons that Drive Extreme Violence,
Piercing the Darkness: Undercover with Vampires in America Today
Blood and Ghosts: Paranormal Forensics
She also writes a blog for Psychology Today called Shadow Boxing, which attempts to “probe the mind’s dark secrets.” Katherine has always obsessed with what she calls, “everything that is unseen,” going beyond criminology and into the realm of vampires, ghosts, and the occult. So join me as I delve into myriad of mysteries that have long fascinated Dr. Katherine Ramsland and into the personality of one of the most fascinating people working in true crime today.
Check out Katherine’s website here: www.katherineramsland.com/
Order Katherine’s books here: www.amazon.com/Katherine-Ramslan…1505149947&sr=8-1
Preorder her newest book here: www.amazon.com/Psychology-Death-…tigation+ramsland
BTC is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, check them out at hunt huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.
This episode features an interview with Catherine Townsend, a sex and dating columnist turned private investigator. Catherine owns her own detective agency, writes for Investigation Discovery, and discusses cold cases on her blog, The Love Detective. In conversation with host CWS, Catherine shares her experience as a PI, both on private cases, like infidelity, and cold cases. We're talking disguises, stake-outs, weapons, and more. She also shares with us how dating is a whole like like investigating.
Check out Catherine Townsend's blog here: lovedetective.com/
Check out her work for ID here: crimefeed.com/
BTC is produced by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.
Amanda Howard is an Australian author who has been writing to incarcerated serial killers for 25 years. A true crime writer and researcher, Amanda shares her first-hand understanding of the psychology of these brutal individuals through their letters and art. On this episode of BTC, Amanda shares her experiences, as well as how she uses what she has learned about these types of personalities in her regular life.
Check out Amanda's social media, as well as books you can buy here: On her website: www.amandahoward.com.au Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/AmandaHoward73 Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandahowardauthor/ Twitter: twitter.com/amandahoward73 Blogspot: amandahowardblog.blogspot.com.au/
Books Available NOW: Shrouded Echoes Rope: A History of the Hanged A Thousand Cuts How to be an Author (with Ashton Cartwright)
Coming Soon: Killer Australia: Death and Destruction Down Under Killing Time: Tales of Terror and Torment Life, Death and Other Funny Stories
BTC is produced by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box, check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.
BTC is hosted by C.W.S., check out her writing here: huntakiller.com/blog Music by James Prow Production help from Jake Weholt Thanks to correspondent Laine Keniston