Criminal

itunes download subscribe   As long as 2,500 years ago, Native Americans placed the bones of the dead in giant mounds of earth in the shape of animals. The Effigy Mounds National Monument was created to protect the mounds – and the bones inside. But in 2011, a new superintendent discovered that the remains of 41 Native Americans had disappeared.   In this episode, we use the term “Native American” because the story refers to legislation that uses that term. The National Park Service now uses “American Indian.”   This episode contains language that may not be suitable for everyone.   Criminal is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.   If you haven’t already, please review us on iTunes! It’s an important way to help new listeners discover the show: iTunes.com/CriminalShow.   Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for The Accomplice.   If you’d like to introduce friends or family members to podcasts, we created a How to Listen guide based on frequently asked questions.   Artwork by Julienne Alexander.   Music in this episode: “One Quiet Conversation” by Blue Dot Sessions, “Leadin” by Blue Dot Sessions, “Aspirato” by Kai Engel, “Downhill Racer” by Blue Dot Sessions, “Tarnish” by Podington Bear, “Refraction” by Podington Bear, and “Felt Lining” by Blue Dot Sessions.

itunes download subscribe   Amber Dawn was 20 when she moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Enumclaw, Washington. On her very first night, she began to notice strange sounds. And they didn’t stop.   Criminal is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.   If you haven’t already, please review us on iTunes! It’s an important way to help new listeners discover the show: iTunes.com/CriminalShow.   Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for The Accomplice.   If you’d like to introduce friends or family members to podcasts, we created a How to Listen guide based on frequently asked questions.   Artwork by Julienne Alexander.   Music in this episode: “Twosome” by Podington Bear, “Taking Dark Matter Lightly” by Anamorphic Orchestra, “In My Head” by Podington Bear, “Action Discovery” by Komiku, “Undersea Garden” by Podington Bear, and “Curious Case” by Blue Dot Sessions.

itunes download subscribe   In 1967, a very unlikely group of individuals gathered to help women quietly break the law and obtain an abortion. The first step was to call a phone number. A recording of a woman’s voice would tell you what do to next.   Criminal is a proud member of Radiotopia from […]

itunes download subscribe   Shortly after David Brown was sworn in as the Dallas Chief of Police, his son shot and killed a police officer. Just before he retired as chief, 5 Dallas officers were shot and killed in what was said to be the deadliest attack for law enforcement since September 11th, 2001. Today on […]

itunes download subscribe   On a Sunday morning in 1982, in Des Moines, Iowa, Johnny Gosch left his house to begin his usual paper route. A short time later, his parents were awakened by a phone call – it was a neighbor — their paper hadn’t come. His would be the first face of a […]

itunes download subscribe Skidmore, Missouri is a very small town. In the ’70s, there was only one bar, one grocery store, and one bully. Ken McElroy was so ruthless and intimidating that even law enforcement looked the other way. He terrorized the town for decades, until they finally fought back. We spoke with Harry MacLean, […]

itunes download subscribe In 1928, Huey P. Long became the youngest Governor in Louisiana’s history. He bragged that he bought lawmakers like “sacks of potatoes, shuffled ‘em like a deck of cards.” By the time he was 39 years old, he’d made his way to the U.S. Senate. And just a couple of weeks after […]

itunes download subscribe The Colorado Department of Transportation says the 420 mile markers on the state’s highways were stolen so often, they had to replace them with 419.99 mile markers. Many people know that “420” represents marijuana – hence the popularity of the mile markers – but very few know why. It’s not a police […]

itunes download subscribe Kim Dadou says she wishes she had a nickel for every person who has asked why she didn’t leave her abusive boyfriend. They stayed together for four years. And then, in the middle of the night on December 17th, 1991, Kim’s entire life changed. This episode contains descriptions of physical violence against […]

itunes download subscribe In 2014, 16-year-old Wildin Acosta left Olancho, Honduras and traveled toward the U.S. border. When he arrived, he turned himself in to border patrol agents. He was one of 68,541 unaccompanied minors who crossed the border into the U.S. that year.   Criminal is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.   […]

itunes download subscribe People have faked death to escape criminal convictions, debts, and their spouses. In 2007, a man named Amir Vehabovic faked his death just to see who showed up at the funeral (answer: only his mom). It’s an appealing soap-opera fantasy, but actually disappearing requires an incredible amount of planning. How do you […]

itunes download subscribe   In 2005, Teri Knight drove 650 miles on midwestern roads through Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Illinois, pleading with the public to help her do what law enforcement and the FBI had not been able to: find the remains of her children Sarah and Philip Gehring. An Ohio woman read about Teri […]

itunes download subscribe   In 1849, abolitionist and attorney Wendell Phillips wrote: “We should look in vain through the most trying times of our revolutionary history for an incident of courage and noble daring to equal that of the escape of William and Ellen Craft; and future historians and poets would tell this story as […]

itunes download subscribe To close out 2016, we’re bringing you two lighter stories of people exhibiting everyday genius under. . . unusual circumstances. Comedian Dave Holmes’ story begins with an upsetting phone call from the IRS. Then we meet a Baton Rouge attorney with a story of wild resourcefulness at Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known […]

itunes download subscribe Since 1938, a weekly African-American owned newspaper called The Evening Whirl has covered crime in St. Louis with a style all its own, using alliteration and rhyme, and often omitting the usual crime-reporting words like “accused” or “alleged.” The paper has been widely criticized for its casual approach to fact-checking and sensational writing style. […]

itunes download subscribe The Magic Castle in Hollywood has been a private club for magicians since 1963, and its walls are lined with portraits of magicians past and present. Among them is a portrait of one of the earliest American organized crime bosses and conmen, Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith. And though it may seem strange […]

itunes download subscribe   SPOILER WARNING: Please listen to Episode 53: Melinda and Judy before you listen to this. This is the second episode of a two-part story.   Melinda Dawson found out on the same day in 1998 that her adoptive mother had been killed and that her husband Clarence was being charged with […]

itunes download subscribe When Melinda Dawson was seven years old, she learned that she was adopted under mysterious circumstances. As she got older and had children of her own, she tried to learn something about her biological parents. And when she went to the county courthouse and asked to see a copy of her birth […]

itunes download subscribe SPOILER WARNING: Please listen to Episode 51: Money Tree before you listen to this one. While working on our last episode, we became curious about the nature of psychopathy — how it is defined, and what to do if someone close to you meets the criteria. We spoke with Dr. Ronald Schouten, author of Almost […]

itunes download subscribe To celebrate Criminal’s 50th episode, we check in with some of our most memorable guests including Fran Schindler from Episode 17: “Final Exit,” Dan Stevenson from Episode 15: “He’s Neutral,” Corporal Scott Foster from Episode 29: “Officer Talon,” and Marian Tolan from Episode 18: “695-BGK.”   Music in this episode: “Ritual Two” by Jason Leonard. “Something Old” by Broke For Free. “Sparkle” […]