True Criminals

You won’t believe the questions we got this Christmas! In this special festive Q&A episode of True Criminals, hosts Martin Brunt and Helen Fospero dive into the fascinating, chilling, and sometimes puzzling queries from our amazing listeners. We want to start by thanking everyone who wrote in and shared their thoughts, theories, and questions with us. Your curiosity and engagement make this show what it is, and we love hearing from you all. In this episode, we cover everything from the enduring mystery of Madeleine McCann and the investigation into Christian Bruckner, to historical cases like Muriel Mackay’s kidnapping, as well as discussions about terrorism in the UK and notorious criminals like John Warboys and O.J. Simpson. We reflect on investigative techniques, crime reporting, and the stories that continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Martin and Helen also take a moment to wish all our listeners a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and to stay safe during the festive season. Tune in for a thought-provoking, gripping, and thoroughly festive True Criminals experience. …………………………… Shop Air Up here: Treat yourself or someone special to a refreshing twist with Air Up!  Enjoy 10% off your order using the code TRUECRIMINALS at airup.link/truecriminals. Explore all their delicious flavours today. Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠.  As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.  Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information.  Executive Producer: Lee Mann.  Producer: Russell Barnes.  Audio Production: Andrew Chappell.  Music Composition: Chap Mannequin. Artwork: Bleached Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At 10.31pm a pop concert turned into a war zone. Children were screaming, parents were searching in terror and Britain was once again under attack. In this powerful episode of True Criminals, Sky News crime reporter Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero revisit the deadliest terror attack in the UK since 7 7. They take listeners back to the night of 22 May 2017 when a suicide bomber detonated a homemade device at the Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 innocent people and injuring hundreds more. Drawing on Martin’s frontline reporting and exclusive material from the investigation, the episode explores how the attack unfolded, the chaos and failures in the emergency response and the devastating human cost for victims and families. Joining the hosts is Neil Basu, the former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the UK’s senior national coordinator for counter terrorism policing at the time, who now co hosts the Crime Agents podcast. In a deeply personal interview, Neil gives rare insight into the first frantic hours after the bombing, the decision to declare a terror attack, the fear of further strikes and the immense pressure of leading the national response alongside MI5. He reflects on watching the CCTV of the blast, the hunt for accomplices and the long lasting impact the attack had on those tasked with preventing the next one. Eight years on, the Manchester Arena bombing still scars the city and the nation. This episode reflects on the resilience shown in the aftermath, the solidarity of ordinary people and why the lessons of that night continue to matter. …………………………… Shop Air Up here: Treat yourself or someone special to a refreshing twist with Air Up!  Enjoy 10% off your order using the code TRUECRIMINALS at airup.link/truecriminals. Explore all their delicious flavours today. Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠.  As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE For a copy of Neil book, Turmoil: 30 Years of Policing, Politics and Prejudice ⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/Turmoil-Years-Policing-Politics-Prejudice/dp/0711294402 Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.  Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information.  Executive Producer: Lee Mann.  Producer: Russell Barnes.  Audio Production: Andrew Chappell.  Music Composition: Chap Mannequin. Artwork: Bleached Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The terror that gripped California for over a decade finally came into focus in 2018. Joseph James D’Angelo, a former police officer and seemingly ordinary father, was unmasked as the Golden State Killer – a serial predator responsible for at least 13 murders, over 50 rapes, and countless home invasions from the mid-1970s to the 1980s. In this second part of our True Criminals special, Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero continue their conversation with retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley, who led the behavioural analysis of D’Angelo’s crimes. Julia reveals the full psychological profile of one of America’s most notorious offenders, providing a chilling window into the mind of a man whose need for control, feelings of inadequacy, and escalating violence allowed him to operate undetected for decades. We examine the investigation that finally brought D’Angelo to justice and explore his courtroom behaviour, revealing the stark contrast between the predator who terrorised families and the frail, confused man who faced the law. Julia also reflects on the key factors that shaped his deviant behaviour, the rare moments where his crimes escalated to deadly violence, and what his capture tells us about profiling, policing, and the evolution of forensic science. In Part Two, listeners will discover: How D’Angelo’s psychological profile explained his obsession with control, power, and sexual fantasy The breakthrough DNA techniques that cracked one of America’s most infamous cold cases Insights into his behaviour during arrest and court proceedings, exposing the true man behind the mask The challenges and debates within FBI profiling and the accuracy of Julia Cowley’s predictions Lessons for investigators and the public on identifying potential offenders before escalation This gripping episode offers an unparalleled insight into the criminal mind, the painstaking investigation that unmasked a decades-long predator, and the groundbreaking science that is transforming cold case investigations. Shop Air Up here: Treat yourself or someone special to a refreshing twist with Air Up!  Enjoy 10% off your order using the code TRUECRIMINALS at airup.link/truecriminals. Explore all their delicious flavours today. Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠.  As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.  Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information.  Executive Producer: Lee Mann.  Producer: Russell Barnes.  Senior Researcher: Rebecca Stinton Audio Production: Andrew Chappell.  Music Composition: Chap Mannequin.  Artwork: Bleached Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For more than ten years, California was terrorised by a phantom. A man who slipped into bedrooms, blinded victims with a flashlight, tied them up, and vanished before police ever arrived. He was a serial burglar, rapist and murderer who operated under multiple names , the Visalia Ransacker, the East Area Rapist, the Original Night Stalker, before the world finally knew him as the Golden State Killer. In this exclusive two-part True Criminals special, Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero trace the evolution of one of the most prolific offenders in US criminal history. From more than 100 ransackings to over 50 rapes and at least 13 murders, Joseph James D’Angelo’s decade-long spree left 61 known victims and decades of unanswered questions. Joining us is retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley, lead behavioural analyst on the Golden State Killer investigation and host of The Consult: Real FBI Profilers. Julia breaks down the ritualistic MO, escalating violence, sexual compulsions, and the psychological signatures that set D’Angelo apart, and ultimately helped identify him through pioneering genetic genealogy. We revisit the crime scenes, the methods, the fear that paralysed entire neighbourhoods, and the breakthrough that finally unmasked a predator hiding behind a police badge. In Part One, we explore: The Visalia Ransacker burglaries and early signs of sexual motivation The escalation to the East Area Rapist attacks His obsessive rituals: binding, blindfolds, threats, ransacking and “control theatre” How he manipulated couples and used psychological torture Why the case remained unsolved for 40 years Julia Cowley’s firsthand insight into profiling one of America’s most sadistic offenders A gripping deep dive into the mind and methods of a killer whose crimes haunted California for decades — and the investigators who refused to give up. ................................................. Shop Air Up here: Treat yourself or someone special to a refreshing twist with Air Up!  Enjoy 10% off your order using the code TRUECRIMINALS at airup.link/truecriminals. Explore all their delicious flavours today. Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠.  As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.  Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information.  Executive Producer: Lee Mann.  Producer: Russell Barnes.  Senior Researcher: Rebecca Stinton Audio Production: Andrew Chappell.  Music Composition: Chap Mannequin.  Artwork: Bleached Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He confessed to Shirley Banks. But what about Suzy Lamplugh? In this gripping second episode of our two-part series, True Criminals uncovers the terrifying link between two young women and one of Britain’s most dangerous predators. Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero trace how John Cannan, a convicted rapist and murderer, went from the shadows of Bristol to becoming the prime suspect in the disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh. Joined by former Detective Chief Inspector Michael Barley, who spent over a decade investigating Suzy’s case, we explore the chilling evidence, tense interviews, and investigative breakthroughs that connected Cannan to the mystery that has haunted the UK for decades. From a hidden car, altered number plates, and forensic clues, to his brazen confession to Shirley Banks’ murder, every detail exposes a predator’s twisted mind and the painstaking detective work that followed. This episode examines the heartbreaking consequences for Suzy’s family, the lessons learned for police and society, and why, nearly 40 years later, her fate remains a haunting unsolved puzzle. True Criminals reveals how one man’s crimes shaped national awareness of women’s safety and left an indelible mark on British criminal history. ................................................. Shop Air Up here: Treat yourself or someone special to a refreshing twist with Air Up!  Enjoy 10% off your order using the code TRUECRIMINALS at ⁠airup.link/truecriminals⁠. Explore all their delicious flavours today. Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠.  As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.  Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information.  Executive Producer: Lee Mann.  Producer: Russell Barnes.  Audio Production: Andrew Chappell.  Music Composition: Chap Mannequin.  Artwork: Bleached Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices