Explore every episode of the podcast This Much is True Crime

The bodies of eleven women and counting are the believed victims of the Long Island serial killer but there may be many more . It's a crime that had to wait for years to be taken seriously by corrupt police and would have gone neglected were it not for a band of grieving but determind mothers.

Gone Girls is the powerful docu series from Netflix and we're looking at the case and the prospect that the main suspect is an even bigger monster than first thought.

Three UK prison officers were viciously attacked by Manchester bomb plotter Hashem Abedi who threw boiling oil in their faces and slashed one so badly they were within minutes of death. Join Martin Frizell and ex prison governor and Professor of Criminology David Wilson as they discover why terrorist prisoners have special treatment and why it must change. How long before there's a murder of a prison guard on duty? Also the astonishing revelation that crime bosses have planted gang members within prison officers ranks after going through the official recruitment process.

Chemical castration is being rolled out in the UK for sex offenders and rapists but will it stop these sick men from reoffending again? And violent domestic abusers, muggers and thugs may well be released early from jail to free up spaces in Britains overcrowded prisons. Reporter and broadcaster Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson have opposing views on dealing with the men who ruin lives, especially young children.

Imagine losing almost forty years of your life? The chance to. have children, a career, homes, holidays - four decades worth that never existed. Peter Sullivan was freed from jail this week after serving 38 years for a crime he didn't commit. He maintained his innocence throughout despite being convicted of the murder of 21 year old Diane Sindall in 1987. All down to modern DNA that proved it wasn't him but his cries for help, for a review were turned down time and again. Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson try to make sense of Britain's longest miscarriage of justice.

Why would anyone want to chop down the world famous Sycamore Gap tree that had stood by Hadrians Wall for more than a century? The two hapless locals found guilty showed no remorse and still haven't explained their actions. Called cowards and morons during their trial, if they wanted infamy they succeeded but now they face up to ten years in jail. Martin Frizell and Professor of Criminology David Wilson discuss this absorbing case just hours after the jury returned the unanimous guilty verdict.

Was she a toddler with dwarfism or a grown woman who tricked a family into adopting her then threatened to murder them  as they slept? Emeritus Professor of Criminolgy David Wilson and reporter/broadcaster Martin Frizell explore the odd story of Natalia Grace now made into the Disney+ production Good American Family. Somehow there’s a feeling the story’s not over yet.

Drug running, money laundering, extortion and racketeering, its all in a day's work for Britain's crime families and they are alive and well in the modern age. The Kray brothers may have cornered the market in likeable villains (unless you were a target) but there is a rash of new dramas based on gangster families in Britain and Dublin. If you are a fan of Kin, MobLand or This City is Ours, Martin Frizell and Professor David Wilson explore how true they are to the violent families whose turf wars are still as murderous as ever.

Britain's top criminologist Professor David Wilson has studied the abduction of three year old Madeleine McCann for more than a decade and now, 18 years later since her vanishing from her bed by the Portuguese seaside, he says it's time to end the police search.The Met police still have a team of three working away funded by the taxpayer whilst the most likely suspect, Christian Bruckner could be released from jail later this year for an unrelated crime only to disappear for ever.Professor Wilson believes Christian B is the killer and new evidence unearthed by The Sun this month only strengthens that belief. This is a cracking discussion with Martin Frizell who first alerted the world to Madeleine's disappearance and the Prof who says he knows what happened to her - the only mystery is whoddunnit? And he knows that too!

Britain's top criminologist assesses the trial of the century as Sean Diddy Combs , the Hollywood Hip Hop tycoon , fights for his empire and his freedom. Professor David Wilson explains the prosecution's gamble with a controversial charge against Diddy usually reserved for mob bosses. Have the years of brushes with the law finally caught up with the world famous rapper? Diddy's a violent thug who beats up women but is he a mobster? The Prof reveals his prediction of how the jury will vote for or against one of America's cultural superstars.

Erin Patterson was either a calculating poisoner or, as she claimed, an appalling cook who accidentally killed three of her in laws with a Beef Wellington lunch laced with toxic mushrooms. Six weeks into the triple murder trial of the Australian mum of two and we are still no nearer to finding a clear motive for bumping off her estranged husband's parents and an aunt. Was it disputed family finances, a failure to help with school fees? And, if guilty, how did she think she'd ever explain all the lunch gathering dying - except her? Broadcaster Martin Frizell and award winning emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson take a look under the pastry lid but also explore poisoners through the years. Done properly, is it the perfect murder method?

Government lawyers are at the High Court demanding a massive payback from a company linked to Michelle Mone - £122 million pounds of taxpayers cash for faulty PPE that’s never been used. Almost thirty million pounds in profit from controversial deal, was put into a trust to benefit Baroness Mone and her children.

Separately, detectives from the National Crime Agency are investigating the Baroness and her tycoon husband Doug Barrowman for possible criminal charges - the couple deny any wrong doing. So in this episode broadcaster Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson examine the Mone case. For a change, this is alleged white collar crime, instead of the blue stuff!

Wow, have you seen The Mortician, can you ever forget it? The true crime story of David Sconce and the Lamb Family Funeral Home and Crematorium in Pasadena is gripping, jaw dropping and all the more astonishing as Sconce himself tells the story of burning multiple bodies, harvesting organs, pulling gold teeth and even more! It's coincidental that this week (June 25 2025) Yorkshire funeral director Robert Bush appears in court in Hull accused of abusing the dead and mixing up ashes. Join Martin Frizell and Professor of Criminology David Wilson as they explore how some are prepared to make a killing out of the dead...

Kevin Lane is no angel but he says he’s not a killer.

Growing up he was known as Lights Out Lane, settling scores, usually with violence. For much  of his adult life, Kevin was in prison, first for kidnapping, which he accepts, then for a brutal murder, which he denies. He was convicted of being a callous hitman and sentenced to life but Kevin claims he was ‘fitted up’ and wrote 10,000 letters in protest, earning the label the UK’s Mr. Shawshank. 

He’s out with a tag on his leg now and joins broadcaster Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson to share his views on current prison life and his colourful past. It’s across two episodes and gives a rare insight into life inside what Kevin calls the concrete coffin.

Second part of our discussion with ex prisoner Kevin Lane and this time it’s personal. Frank and honest about kidnapping, torture and his disgust of sharing prison space with paedophile inmates, it’s a window into the world of a lifer - ‘fitted up’ as a contracted hit man for a murder he maintains didn’t commit.

Bryan Kohberger this week  escaped execution by firing squad by sensationally changing his plea to guilty of the murder of four students as they slept in their beds in Idaho in November 22. But why the PHD Criminology student, from a different University, picked on these particular victims is still a mystery as he’s refused to explain a motive. In this episode, Professor of Criminology David Wilson, who has met Kohberger’s tutor, analyses whether classroom teachings were behind the killings and reveals that he has to censor some details from students who are worryingly over keen on the mechanics of serial killers. We also look at developments with Lucy Letby and consider six days of jury deliberations in the Beef wellington killer trial.

P Diddy's own admission that he's a violent thug that attacked his former girlfriend was instrumental in a Manhattan judge refusing bail at the end of an historic showbiz show trial today. Multi millionaire rapper Sean Combs was found guilty on two counts of transporting prostitutes across state lines but cleared of racketeering and sex trafficking, however, he could still be sentenced to 20 years. Martin Frizell and Professor of Criminology David Wilson were on the case minutes after bail was denied...

A bumper edition with allegations that the worldwide bestseller The Salt Path is fabricated in parts plus our take on the guilty verdicts for Erin Patterson, the Beef Wellington multiple killer.

The Observer newspaper in the UK is either going to win awards or be sued out of business by Raynor Winn and her terminally ill husband Moth. It alleges the couple made up big parts of their triumph over adversity story including the claim that Moth is slowly dying from an incurable disease. The book has spawned two sequels and now a major motion picture - but what if it's all cobblers? Martin Frizell and Professor David Wilson are careful to acknowledge the authors denials and explore the shockwaves from the allegations.

What's the latest on the Salt Path controversy?

It's seven days on from the original bombshell accusations in The Observer that accused Raynor Winn and Moth of not being 'unflinchingly honest" in their multi million best seller The Salt Path.

Raynor, real name Sally Walker, has rebutted the criticism, meanwhile the Observer journalists have unearthed another character from the past who claims Moth told him that he had just weeks to live -that was four years ago. And bookshops around the country are reporting back on sales and comments from customers and it doesn't look good. Journalist Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson delve between the covers once again...

Why can't we deport 28 year old prolific burglar Dorian Puka back to Albania? He's been convicted twice of burglary in the UK, sent to prison and and kicked out back to Eastern Europe twice and yet he'a arrived back for a third time by illegal means and now he's claiming asylum. That allows him to move around freely until his claim is processed and in doing so he's flaunting spectacular wealth posting TikToks from nightclubs, Knightsbridge restaurants and gifting himself a new £200k Lamborghini.

In this episode, Broadcaster Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson clash over calling out those responsible for organised crime, are we wrong to pick on Albanians or are they the new Mafia?

Could a mum really be behind one of the UK's biggest drug smuggling families, teaching her children the dark arts of trafficking? Grannies and mums are more prolific than ever on the British crime scene, one jailed just in the last few days. Not just coerced partners but genuine Dons or Donnas of UK mafioso whose 'quiet lady next door' image belies the dedicated and determined Granny gangster.

And we're exporting our female felons around the world, peddling drugs in country's with the death penalty where one pensioner mum is waiting for the firing squad. So is the 'fairer sex' just as bad as the rest ? Broadcaster Martin Frizell and Professor of Criminology David Wison explore the alpha female.

Has the main suspect in Britain's biggest ever missing person case cruelly taken his secrets to the grave? Detectives are convinced serial rapist and murderer John Cannan abucted and killed Fulham estate agent Suzy Lamplugh on a summers day almost 40 years ago but never had evidence to charge him. This week a Prison inquiry found Cannan died of natural causes and had been managed with respect and cared for by confident, competent staff - sadly he didn't afford the same compassion to his victims nor did he reveal to the Lamplugh family Suzy's last resting place. In this episode Professor of Criminology David Wilson and journalist Martin Frizell consider the latest update and start with an astonishing development in the case of the Beef Wellington murderer and a new lethal recipe - cookies laced with anti freeze!

Did multi millionaire Jeffrey Epstein hang himself or was he silenced before he could incriminate the rich and powerful men who indulged in his sex abuse ring? It's a conspiracy theory that refuses to disappear and now, for the first time, a world leading criminologist has studied the case notes and delivers his verdict. In this episode, broadcaster Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson also consider the position of Epstein's enabler, Ghislaine Maxwell, should she be concerned for her safety - and the continuing saga of the broken modern American Dream now embroiling Trump and the Clintons.

Doubt Taggart ever studied criminology but it's currently the new hot topic in Universities and schools. What would Jack Regan and George Carter from The Sweeney have made of studying the societal impact of the little toe rags they'd nicked? Why is it on trend and who better to explain than an emeritus Professor of Criminology who, let's face it, has done alright studying it! In this bite size edition David Wilson leads the class in the fundamentals of learning all about crime.

What was Sarah Fergusons role in the Prince and the Paedophile scandal? Dramatic new transcripts from an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell in jail have been released as she tries to reduce her prison term for sex trafficking. Epstein suicide, Trump, secret client files, she answers it all as do we in this episode. But also another high profile criminal soap opera serves up another chapter as the murderous Menendez brothers apply for parole. Fascinating insight from Professor David Wilson as he believes the Menendez 'boys' (claimed sexual abuse by their father) may have escaped with a much shorter jail term had they been before a jury today.

Will it never end for the family of Meredith Kercher, the British student raped and murdered in her Italian university town in 2007? Flatmate Amanda Knox from  Seattle was convicted of her murder twice then cleared. She’s written two books and taken part in a documentary and now, much to the disappointment of Meredith’s family, she’s produced an eight part mini series on her ordeal - from her perspective. We take a look and it’s not flattering.

She’ll likely die in jail an old woman after her sentence for poisoning to death her in-laws but what was Erin Patterson’s motive? Britain’s top criminologist Professor David Wilson examines her behaviour before and during her court case and how she almost committed the perfect murder cooking up a deadly Beef Wellington. Now she has her just desserts, a life of solitary awaits but will she take her secret to the grave?

Is this the real life, is this just fantasy?

Queen legend Freddie Mercury is at the centre of bizarre allegations that he fathered a secret love child to whom he left seventeen volumes of highly revealing diaries, unpublished Queen songs and millions in inheritance in gold bullion and artwork.

It's all contained in a new book that promises to show a side of Freddie never seen before, however, where's the evidence? Hot on the heels of The Salt Path fiasco is this another publishing controversy and what are readers to believe?

Will predatory paedophile Christian Brueckner strike again now he's been released from jail? Very possibly, and will he get away with one of the biggest crimes of our lifetimes, the abduction and murder of Madeline McCann, ( if he did it) that's now very likely.

World leading expert on men who abduct and murder children, ex Surrey senior detective Graham Hill, now a PHD criminologist, presented an ITV documentary focusing on prime suspect Brueckner and there's little doubt he's responsible. In this fascinating discussion with Professor David Wilson, two authorities on men who prey on children, talk the failings of the McCann inquiry, the case against Brueckner and destroy the conspiracy theorists who implicate the toddler's grieving parents.

Want new insights into 20 crimes of the century from Jack the Ripper to the dreadful murder of Sarah Everard? Our in house Professor of Criminology, David Wilson, has researched and written ‘A History of Modern Britain in 20 Murders’. Order it on Amazon now and have a listen to our discussion in this episode about a  fascinating concept that charts our progress and decline through the most heinous of killings

You'll have heard of Scandi Noir, well, now comes Tartan Noir!

Why does Scotland have an unhealthily rich heritage of serial killers, gangsters, bloody violence, turf wars and television detectives? All will be revealed when This Much is True Crime takes to the road next year with journalist and broadcaster Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson. In this episode we record on location with the Prof on his sell out tour of his book 'A History of Modern Britain in Twenty Murders', listen for half an hour as we explore the dark underbelly of a nation that produced many of the finest minds in the world but also its fair share of the worst.

Was it a blunder or something more sinister that allowed Britain's highest profile prisoner to walk free from jail yesterday instead of boarding a flight home to Ethiopia? Professor David Wilson was a prison governor before becoming a world leading criminologist and he believes there's something fishy in the controversial 'mistake' that allowed failed immigrant Hadush Kebatu to disappear from the jail where he was serving time for sex crimes against a 14 year old girl and a woman.

How deadly is it to have a target on your back if you’re a high profile prisoner? Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has been murdered in jail with two fellow inmates charged with his death.

In this episode we discuss is it simply karma that wicked convicts (mainly sex offenders) are singled out on prison landings or do they deserve protection like everyone else no matter the heinous crimes they’ve committed?

Its Number one on Netflix, Monsters - the Ed Gein Story, but what does a world leading criminologist make of this controversial re telling of the original American serial killer and body snatcher?

Professor David Wilson loved all eight hours of dark, macabre and depraved behaviour carried out by the ultimate mummy's boy who's fixation with her led to his bizarre collection of body women's body parts. Journalist and broadcaster Martin Frizell, on the other hand, felt it was overlong, voyeuristic and checked out to watch the Sound of Music! Nazis in both but Ed Gein's influences came from the sinister Bitch of Buchenwald which allegedly fuelled his monsterous cravings. It's a proper non sensationalised half hour discussion about one of the true crime series of the year.

Police know of at least 12 women who claim to be Madeline McCann, the most infamous of them all, Polish woman Julia Wandelt is about to be deported having been convicted of harassing the McCann family, including Madeline's siblings.

What drives people to believe they are the real deal in the cases of missing persons? Fraudsters, attention seekers or simply mentally ill obsessives who need treatment? This is half an hour of a grown up examination of imposters and the conspiracy theorists who, sadly, may never give up.

How much worse can it get, hundreds of inmates wrongly freed every year from Britain's jails, the latest an Algerian sex offender now at liberty roaming the streets. And this was after new measures introduced to stop it happening again following the embarrassment of the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu, the Ethiopian illegal migrant who sexually assaulted a 14 year old girl. We have skin in the game, Professor David Wilson is not just a criminologist but was also a prison governor at Wormwood Scrubs and Martin Frizell, broadcaster and journalist lives in the neighbourhood of Wandsworth Prison, scene of the latest scandal. So how do we fix it?

How is it possible to be more evil than Jimmy Saville? Step forward prison officer and cook Neville Husband, now regarded as the most prolific sex offender in British history. Hundreds of young men were abused by Husband, mainly at a young offenders detention centre outside Durham. How did he get away with if for years before finally being convicted of abusing just five teenagers in 2003? His real tally of misery runs into several hundreds and all the while a blind eye was turned by colleagues and bosses. In this epsiode we also explore what makes a man become a paedophile and has the world changed since Neville Husband was on the prowl 20 years ago.

Why is the family of Salt Path author Raynor Wynn turning against her? After the summer scandal undermining the world bestseller - and movie - Raynor's family and those of her husband Moth have contributed to an update documentary using words such as 'liar' and 'fantasist'. In this bumper edition, we report on the latest developments in all of the most popular stories we have covered this year. Expect Salt Path, Madeline McCann, Suzy Lamplugh, deadly Beef Wellington and more.

Why are there more than the five known victims of the Victorian serial killer Jack the Ripper? What was his real name and what does one of the UK's leading criminologists make of the biggest true crime mystery of all time?

Top podcast The Rest is History is broadcasting a five part deep dive into the Ripper and his victims concluding with their reveal of who historians believe Jack was. But is it the same suspect as our crime expert and the national police computer have worked out? Consider this a companion piece to The Rest is....with some fascinating new thoughts.

Paul Doyle, loving husband and dad, rammed his car into crowds of celebrating Liverpool fans at last season's Permier League Trophy parade, but why? In this episode Professor David Wilson explains the little known condition that is likely to have caused Doyle to behave in such a devastating manner. He's due for sentencing later in December and although there will be mitigating factors, the former Royal Marine will be behind bars for several years.

Ever wonder why prisoners, gangsters, generally bad boys attract female attention in disproportionate numbers? It's a condition called Hybristophillia - the sexual interest in and attraction to those who commit crimes.

It'll be in the news next week when Luigi Mangione appears in court as he heads towards a full trial for the killing of the boss of a big US Health insurance company a year ago in Manhattan. Mangione has a growing fan base among young women who compare his looks to Jesus Christ and have contributed $2 million to a fighting fund.

Are they all consumed by hybristophillia ? or simply put, do some bad men exude a self confidence that nature deems attractive? And has social media made it all worse, or easier to fall for a felon?

Is this the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK history? If Michael Stone didn’t kill Lin and Megan Russell and leave Josie for dead, then who did? In a major new development, a star forensic scientist has cast doubt on Stone’s conviction, he’s protested his innocence from behind bars for almost 30 years.

In this latest episode, we assess the chances of Stone walking free, and they are high - so says Britain’s leading criminologist who has studied the case and spoken to a member of the original investigation.

We all loved Alan Carr but what does it take to be a real traitor and what are the real consequences if caught? For many British traitors it wasn't a round table, a hug from Claudia, black Land Rover home and an interview on This Morning, real traitors faced the hangman and several were executed for treason.

In this epsiode we highlight three real traitors, two sentenced to death, the other escaped to be a Soviet hero.

Could this be the Trial of the Century? First podcast of the year and we update the astonishing case of Luigi Mangione, the US cult hero accused of assassinating a health insurance boss - a court hearing this week will consider whether he faces the death penalty if guilty. Link in bio 

Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright has admitted the murder of 17 year old sixth former Victoria Hall near Felixstowe in 1999. He's already serving life without parole for the killing of five other women in the Ipswich area years later in 2006. Professor of Criminology David Wilson investigated the five murders at the time and wrote a. book on Wright's serial killing methods but he also called on police to investigate the death of young Victoria years earlier. The Professor believed she had been one of the serial killer first victims and today he was proved correct.

This is a half hour of fascinating insight from someone who knows - and his fears that there are other missing girls waiting to be linked to the killer,

Why is Karyn McCluskey not a Dame? Along with a colleague she revolutionised the way Glasgow tackled its notorious gangland problem, reduced killings, attacks and made the city streets safe again for the first time in generations.

The former nurse from Falkirk persuaded authorities to treat violence as a disease, a health problem rather than criminal justice issue and the killings and slashings dropped dramatically in a city that was once known as the murder capital of Western Europe. Karyn's strategy was so successful it was adopted in London where murders have also fallen to a new low. And cities around the world are looking to copy. In this episode Karyn explains how it works, an enlightening positive discussion with a remarkable woman who deserves more than an honorary degree from the Open University.

He was one of America’s most prolific serial killers, John Wayne Gacy, murderer of 33 teens and young men, executed for his crimes - but what was the motive?

The new documentary on ITVX, Devil in Disguise, explores Gacy’s clown connection, the trauma on his victims and families, prejudice in 70’s USA and glaring police failings. The killer protested his innocence to the end but his crimes are now textbook reading and possibly led to copycat killings by British serial killer Dennis Nilsen.

We each have a foot in both camps in this episode. I, broadcaster and journalist Martin Frizell, have spent much of my career in breakfast and daytime tv, indeed I'm married to a former morning show anchor, Fiona Phillips. Professor of Criminology David Wilson has studied the reasons behind kidnapping and the typical profile of abductors. And yet there's something about the kindnap of NBC Today host Savannah Guthrie's 84 year old mum that is puzzling. Three weeks in and no sign of life from Nancy, no confirmation of a ransom note but a very amateurish break in at her home in Tucson, Arizona. And a statement from the Sheriff that no members of the wider Guthrie family are being questioned as part of the inquiry.

All very strange according to our expert criminologist...

Exclusive hour long chat with the remarkable Jason Rothwell who says he connected with the dead body of the Lancashire mum of two Nicola and led police to the stretch of river where she was eventually found. Jason says Nicola told him where to find her and she followed his instructions to free her foot allowing her corpse to rise to the surface. Police divers and search teams had looked in vain for 23 days before Jason intervened.

If you are sceptical or think it all sounds far fetched then have a watch or a listen and see if you can be convinced. Jason also shares his feelings, literally, on the very strange disappearance of Nancy Guthrie in Arizona and what he believes happened to her.

His daughter had wanted him dead, his mum Lydia wanted peace for her family but she was still his mum. However, following a bedside visit she reportedly gave permission to unplug his ventilator.

Ian Huntley was fighting for his life after a ferocious attack by a fellow inmate in jail where the former school caretaker had been serving 40 years for the murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. Huntley’s injuries made him unrecognisable, catastrophic head and brain trauma, doctors reportedly said he was in a vegetative state.

If he had a better prognosis ,he' would have served his time in Ashworth Prison Hospital where a bed per year costs as much as £335,000!

In this episode , recorded as Huntley stared at death’s door, we debated should such killers be resuscitated and how did the prison system fail to protect its most marked man?

Hannibal the Cannibal has never really gone away, he's remained a pop cultural icon despite being a coldblooded serial killer. Now, thanks to Donald Trump and a new book on the elusive author Thomas Harris, the chianti supping monster is back in the news. But what was the origin of the fictional character brought to chilling life by Anthony Hopkins and Brian Cox? And why does he remain our favourite cannibal killer?