Favourite True Crime Stories

J Mysterio · 21-10-2018 12:22pm

Lady Spangles wrote: »

I've just finished reading "The Murders at White House Farm" by Carol Ann Lee.

I don't know how well known this case is in Ireland, and summarising it is very difficult. Basically, an entire family was killed. Neville and June Bamber, their daugher Sheila Caffell and her two young sons, Nicholas and Daniel - all shot dead. The Bamber's son, Jeremy, has been in prison for all their murders since 1986. However, he claims it was Sheila who killed them all and turned the gun on herself (she was found with two gunshot wounds to the throat).

I'm so torn on this case and I still haven't made up my mind since reading the book. It was excellent and, at first, professionally impartial. But it soon became clear that the author believe's Jeremy did it and framed his sister by posing her body and blaming her numerous mental health issues.

I've also listened to several podcasts covering the case and they're generally 50/50 on it. Personally, I'm just not convinced that Sheila could have done this with the drugs she was on (that left her "zombie-like"). I certainly don't think she could have beaten her father so badly. But I'm not convinced Jeremy did it, either.

Link to the Case

Very interesting. Read the wikipedia late last night and then had a freaky dream :pac:

Pretty sad, disturbing tale all in all. Unbelievable that your man Giovanni Di Stefano was involved in the defence.

Lady Spangles · 21-10-2018 9:37pm

Suckler wrote: »

The extended family that inherited the farm eventually were always suspect in my mind.

Yes, very! While they definitely had nothing to do with the actual murder (with Jeremy claiming Neville rang him saying "Sheila's gone berserk with a gun"), they definitely had a vested interest in getting Jeremy out of the way. And it was they who found the bloodstained silencer in the cupboard. Conveniently enough.

J Mysterio wrote: »

Pretty sad, disturbing tale all in all. Unbelievable that your man Giovanni Di Stefano was involved in the defence.

Yeah, didn't he turn out to have precisely zero legal qualifications yet is somehow caught up in several cases? All seriously high profile cases, too.

gmisk · 21-10-2018 9:43pm

I am sure it's been mentioned but the podcast criminal is fantastic.
Not always serious crimes some light episodes as well which is nice

uncommon_name · 22-10-2018 9:32am

Lady Spangles wrote: »

I've just finished reading "The Murders at White House Farm" by Carol Ann Lee.

I don't know how well known this case is in Ireland, and summarising it is very difficult. Basically, an entire family was killed. Neville and June Bamber, their daugher Sheila Caffell and her two young sons, Nicholas and Daniel - all shot dead. The Bamber's son, Jeremy, has been in prison for all their murders since 1986. However, he claims it was Sheila who killed them all and turned the gun on herself (she was found with two gunshot wounds to the throat).

I'm so torn on this case and I still haven't made up my mind since reading the book. It was excellent and, at first, professionally impartial. But it soon became clear that the author believe's Jeremy did it and framed his sister by posing her body and blaming her numerous mental health issues.

I've also listened to several podcasts covering the case and they're generally 50/50 on it. Personally, I'm just not convinced that Sheila could have done this with the drugs she was on (that left her "zombie-like"). I certainly don't think she could have beaten her father so badly. But I'm not convinced Jeremy did it, either.

Link to the Case

Interesting one, I have never heard of it but I will 100% be looking in to this a lot more now

Thanks for the links

Suckler · 22-10-2018 11:50am

Lady Spangles wrote: »

Yes, very! While they definitely had nothing to do with the actual murder (with Jeremy claiming Neville rang him saying "Sheila's gone berserk with a gun"), they definitely had a vested interest in getting Jeremy out of the way. And it was they who found the bloodstained silencer in the cupboard. Conveniently enough.

Yeah "Finding" the silencer was very convenient. The Boutflour family always referred to Jeremy in a derogatory manner; the prospect of him getting family* land abhorred them.

*They never saw him as family; referred to as "the bast4rd"

Lady Spangles · 23-10-2018 7:20pm

uncommon_name wrote: »

Interesting one, I have never heard of it but I will 100% be looking in to this a lot more now Thanks for the links

You're welcome and enjoy, it's a knotty case right enough. Gen Why, S'laughter and Thinking Sideways have all done great Podcasts on this case too. Well worth checking out.

Suckler wrote: »

Yeah "Finding" the silencer was very convenient. The Boutflour family always referred to Jeremy in a derogatory manner; the prospect of him getting family* land abhorred them.

*They never saw him as family; referred to as "the bast4rd"

The Boutflour's are just strange all around. To this day, they've kept blood stained carpets and wallpaper strips etc. And while Jeremy sounds like he was pretty arrogant (selling nude photos of Sheila to the tabloids and whatnot), they have him painted as the Devil incarnate.

Mantis Toboggan · 23-10-2018 7:49pm

Whoever is guilty of the white farm murders one thing for sure is that the Police made some mess of it.

For me Jeremy was innocent based on the 999 calls alone, how he was found guilty is beyond me.

Suckler · 23-10-2018 8:44pm

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

Whoever is guilty of the white farm murders one thing for sure is that the Police made some mess of it.

For me Jeremy was innocent based on the 999 calls alone, how he was found guilty is beyond me.

A number of officers also reported seeing movement in the house before Jeremy arrived/while he was outside with other police officers

itsnotmyname · 25-10-2018 3:52pm

I'm enjoying podcasts at the moment also. True Crime Garage is very entertaining and there is a good rapport between the presenters.

Lady Spangles · 25-10-2018 8:47pm

There's scores of brilliant True Crime pods broadcasting right now, as well. You're spoiled for choice.

rawn · 28-10-2018 11:47pm

https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/g23366757/best-true-crime-podcasts-2018/

Oprahs top 5 True Crime pocasts. I've listened to Dr Death and am currently on episode 36 of The Vanished. Definitely going to finish that list

uncommon_name · 30-10-2018 11:18am

rawn wrote: »

https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/g23366757/best-true-crime-podcasts-2018/

Oprahs top 5 True Crime pocasts. I've listened to Dr Death and am currently on episode 36 of The Vanished. Definitely going to finish that list

I have listened to most of these, all well worth listening to.

Lady Spangles · 31-10-2018 4:19pm

The 'Still at Large' podcast is rapidly becoming a personal favourite of mine. It's a UK based one and, true to its title, only covers unsolved cases. Honestly, it's scary just how many unsolved murders there are. But if you're into unsolved cases and web sleuthing/disappearing down rabbit holes etc, it's great.

uncommon_name · 31-10-2018 4:47pm

Lady Spangles wrote: »

The 'Still at Large' podcast is rapidly becoming a personal favourite of mine. It's a UK based one and, true to its title, only covers unsolved cases. Honestly, it's scary just how many unsolved murders there are. But if you're into unsolved cases and web sleuthing/disappearing down rabbit holes etc, it's great.

I have heard this being advertised in other podcasts I have listened to, never got around to looking it up at all. Th ad's don't make it sound very interesting. But I know a few people that like it. I may add it to the list.

uncommon_name · 31-10-2018 4:48pm

I am getting to the end of Dr. Death. Its a bloody mental story and well worth listening to.
I love stories like this, I hate that they happened though.

04-11-2018 12:28am

'Sword and Scale' and 'Generation Why' are good although the two guys who present Generation Why can be a bit irritating. I like Casefile too, - I think it's my favourite at the moment.
I started off listening to Serial and got hooked on true crime podcasts after that, although I didn't enjoy the 2nd and 3rd series of Serial as much as the first.
They walk among us (UK) is excellent too, - I like that it's not American material.
It's great to get all the suggestions here!

Suckler · 07-11-2018 7:35am

Listening to Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and football. Really interesting and well produced. Yes he was an athlete but its not a sports story, goes in to his life before fame and how he ended up in jail.

uncommon_name · 08-11-2018 11:23am

I am currently listening to Serial season 3. I am quite dissapointed. There doesn't seem to be any resolution to any of the stories and too many different stories being thrown around. Some stories sound similar but are not interlinked at all. Quite confusing at times.
Compared to season 1 and 2, 3 is rubbish. Serial is what got me in to true crime podcasts.

Boom_Bap · 08-11-2018 11:35am

uncommon_name wrote: »

I am currently listening to Serial season 3. I am quite dissapointed. There doesn't seem to be any resolution to any of the stories and too many different stories being thrown around. Some stories sound similar but are not interlinked at all. Quite confusing at times.
Compared to season 1 and 2, 3 is rubbish. Serial is what got me in to true crime podcasts.

I don't think it's about the stories themselves, just the corruption around them.

uncommon_name · 08-11-2018 1:00pm

Boom_Bap wrote: »

I don't think it's about the stories themselves, just the corruption around them.

Yeah that is probably the angle they are taking with this season, however they get you interested in the case and then don't go in to what happened in the end. Maybe they will do updates in the future, but they don't tell us they will.

Boom_Bap · 08-11-2018 1:26pm

I have a feeling the last episode will be some sort of wrap up

retro:electro · 08-11-2018 1:30pm

Dirty John is a great podcast, I think I read somewhere that Netflix have picked up the story for a drama series.

I also love Real Crime Profile podcast. It’s three hosts who sit and have a chat about anything topical in the world of crime and the most notorious cases. The hosts are a former FBI and criminal profiler, a casting director for Criminal Minds, and another woman who is former New Scotland Yard who now runs her own stalking advocacy service. So they’re all very well informed and aren’t just a few douchebags sitting around making murder jokes (cough True Crime Garage) Those are my favourite kinds of podcasts, where you already know the story so you’re kind of just listening in on their opinions and theories. They’ve done MAM, OJ, Amanda Knox, The Staircase..
Worth a listen.

Also just finished West Cork. I know we’re not allowed to discuss that here so all I can say is, wow :pac:

uncommon_name · 08-11-2018 5:04pm

Boom_Bap wrote: »

I have a feeling the last episode will be some sort of wrap up

I hope so, it really needs to wrap all the stories up. I just wish they would tell us they plan on doing that.

uncommon_name · 08-11-2018 5:07pm

retro:electro wrote: »

Dirty John is a great podcast, I think I read somewhere that Netflix have picked up the story for a drama series.

I also love Real Crime Profile podcast. It’s three hosts who sit and have a chat about anything topical in the world of crime and the most notorious cases. The hosts are a former FBI and criminal profiler, a casting director for Criminal Minds, and another woman who is former New Scotland Yard who now runs her own stalking advocacy service. So they’re all very well informed and aren’t just a few douchebags sitting around making murder jokes (cough True Crime Garage) Those are my favourite kinds of podcasts, where you already know the story so you’re kind of just listening in on their opinions and theories. They’ve done MAM, OJ, Amanda Knox, The Staircase..
Worth a listen.

Also just finished West Cork. I know we’re not allowed to discuss that here so all I can say is, wow :pac:

Dirty John is very good, it would be great if it was picked up on Netflix. Such a good story.
Real Crime Profile for some reason has never caught me. I always get bored or it. But so many people love it, maybe I just havent listened to enough of it yet.

I hear West Cork is brilliant, I must listen to that soon. Cant find it on any of the podcast sites I use. Where did you listen to it?

retro:electro · 08-11-2018 5:10pm

uncommon_name wrote: »

Dirty John is very good, it would be great if it was picked up on Netflix. Such a good story.
Real Crime Profile for some reason has never caught me. I always get bored or it. But so many people love it, maybe I just havent listened to enough of it yet.

I hear West Cork is brilliant, I must listen to that soon. Cant find it on any of the podcast sites I use. Where did you listen to it?

Yeah you either love it or you don’t. I know some who can’t stand listening to them waffling on but I like hearing their professional insights. I think their earlier stuff was the best, I’m starting to find them a bit lazy and a little inaccurate about some details in their recent ones. (Silly things like getting the name of a spouse wrong or in the Staircase calling the woman who died in Germany Michael’s ex wife. Minor details but slightly irritating! :pac: )

I listened to West Cork on audible. I think it’s exclusive to that. You can sign up for a free 30 day trial and just cancel after that.

uncommon_name · 08-11-2018 6:09pm

retro:electro wrote: »

Yeah you either love it or you don’t. I know some who can’t stand listening to them waffling on but I like hearing their professional insights. I think their earlier stuff was the best, I’m starting to find them a bit lazy and a little inaccurate about some details in their recent ones. (Silly things like getting the name of a spouse wrong or in the Staircase calling the woman who died in Germany Michael’s ex wife. Minor details but slightly irritating! :pac: )

I listened to West Cork on audible. I think it’s exclusive to that. You can sign up for a free 30 day trial and just cancel after that.

Ah perfect, that is obviously why I cant find it. I will do that so, knowing me I will have it listened to in a day or 2.

08-11-2018 9:29pm

I've signed up for Audible and "purchased" West Cork, but for the life of me I cant get it to appear in my itunes. I've downloaded the audible download manager for PC (Windows 10) and followed all the instructions but it seems to go around in circles. It seems to imply that West Cork will automatically appear in my library. But it's not there. Has anyone else found the Audible site confusing....or is it just me?

Mantis Toboggan · 08-11-2018 10:09pm

inthehat wrote: »

I've signed up for Audible and "purchased" West Cork, but for the life of me I cant get it to appear in my itunes. I've downloaded the audible download manager for PC (Windows 10) and followed all the instructions but it seems to go around in circles. It seems to imply that West Cork will automatically appear in my library. But it's not there. Has anyone else found the Audible site confusing....or is it just me?

Why are you using iTunes?

08-11-2018 10:25pm

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

Why are you using iTunes?

Because I can transfer from itunes to my ipod, - that's how I listen to all my podcasts. I find my (android) phone too big and awkward.
The Audible site has instructions for downloading via itunes but it just doesn't seem to be working for me.

10-11-2018 9:36am

inthehat wrote: »

Because I can transfer from itunes to my ipod, - that's how I listen to all my podcasts. I find my (android) phone too big and awkward.
The Audible site has instructions for downloading via itunes but it just doesn't seem to be working for me.

I'm sorted! Looking forward to listening to it now

Suckler · 13-11-2018 9:45am

retro:electro wrote: »

Dirty John is a great podcast, I think I read somewhere that Netflix have picked up the story for a drama series.

uncommon_name wrote: »

Dirty John is very good, it would be great if it was picked up on Netflix. Such a good story.

Listening to Dirty John at the moment; really struggling to have any sympathy for Debra Newell.

rawn · 13-11-2018 11:52am

Suckler wrote: »

retro:electro wrote: »

Dirty John is a great podcast, I think I read somewhere that Netflix have picked up the story for a drama series.

uncommon_name wrote: »

Dirty John is very good, it would be great if it was picked up on Netflix. Such a good story.

Listening to Dirty John at the moment; really struggling to have any sympathy for Debra Newell.

I felt the same. It's hard to see how anyone could be so weak and gullible but you'd be surprised at how much you can miss the glaring signs when you're so in love!

retro:electro · 13-11-2018 12:00pm

For such a smart woman she made a lot of daft decisions. But I prefer to view her behaviour as a judgement on how professionally manipulative he was, over how stupid she was.

irishgeo · 13-11-2018 12:06pm

Up and vanished season 1. Very interesting.

uncommon_name · 13-11-2018 12:27pm

irishgeo wrote: »

Up and vanished season 1. Very interesting.

Yes, U&V season 1 and 2 are brilliant. I am currently up to date on season 2. One of the best podcasts out there.

See they are bringing out a TV show on the Tara Grinstead case. It will probably recap the podcast but then it will continue on further than the podcast. I am really looking forward to it.

Suckler · 13-11-2018 12:37pm

retro:electro wrote: »

For such a smart woman she made a lot of daft decisions. But I prefer to view her behaviour as a judgement on how professionally manipulative he was, over how stupid she was.

At first yes, but she had multiple glaring reasons and opportunities to get rid of him. You can only do so much for some people.

Mantis Toboggan · 20-11-2018 6:48pm

Suckler wrote: »

At first yes, but she had multiple glaring reasons and opportunities to get rid of him. You can only do so much for some people.

Do we know if Netflix are doing a documentary on dirty John or is it the TV show?

J Mysterio · 20-11-2018 7:03pm

Suckler wrote: »

At first yes, but she had multiple glaring reasons and opportunities to get rid of him. You can only do so much for some people.

I need to get a Sugar Momma. You can call me Manky Mysterio (like John but with more slobbishness and less manipulating/ attempted murder).

Suckler · 21-11-2018 10:51am

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

Do we know if Netflix are doing a documentary on dirty John or is it the TV show?

Christ, I hope neither.

Technophobe · 05-12-2018 12:19am

SlipperyPeople wrote: »

Not a podcast but a long read from Wired telling the story of the silk road...

https://www.wired.com/2015/04/silk-road-1/

Read that today.
Very interesting..thanks

voldejoie · 17-03-2019 4:17pm

retro:electro wrote: »

Dirty John is a great podcast, I think I read somewhere that Netflix have picked up the story for a drama series.

I also love Real Crime Profile podcast. It’s three hosts who sit and have a chat about anything topical in the world of crime and the most notorious cases. The hosts are a former FBI and criminal profiler, a casting director for Criminal Minds, and another woman who is former New Scotland Yard who now runs her own stalking advocacy service. So they’re all very well informed and aren’t just a few douchebags sitting around making murder jokes (cough True Crime Garage) Those are my favourite kinds of podcasts, where you already know the story so you’re kind of just listening in on their opinions and theories. They’ve done MAM, OJ, Amanda Knox, The Staircase..
Worth a listen.

Also just finished West Cork. I know we’re not allowed to discuss that here so all I can say is, wow :pac:

I like the Real Crime Profile series on the OJ case which is really detailed and insightful, but generally find Jim Clemente to be incredibly arrogant and difficult to listen to, so don't like to it much these days!

A case I've been fascinated with lately is the Setagaya Family Murders.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setagaya_family_murder

It's a really messed up story where there are so many offputting details that make very little sense and may have been designed to throw off the trail. The wiki isn't very comprehensive but there are tons of threads on reddit etc discussing the details, happy to link these if that's allowed.

I would love to hear what people think of it!

PropJoe10 · 19-03-2019 1:22am

voldejoie wrote: »

I like the Real Crime Profile series on the OJ case which is really detailed and insightful, but generally find Jim Clemente to be incredibly arrogant and difficult to listen to, so don't like to it much these days!

A case I've been fascinated with lately is the Setagaya Family Murders.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setagaya_family_murder

It's a really messed up story where there are so many offputting details that make very little sense and may have been designed to throw off the trail. The wiki isn't very comprehensive but there are tons of threads on reddit etc discussing the details, happy to link these if that's allowed.

I would love to hear what people think of it!

Jaysus, never heard of that before. Will definitely look into that one, there seems to be an episode on it on the "Unresolved" podcast. Cheers for the tip!

juno10353 · 26-09-2023 6:13pm

https://youtube.com/%40irishcoffeetruecrime?si=2CWiQrQPZm3XTGTZ

this podcast link is terrific for Irish crime

As is the Mens Rea podcast.

Day Lewin · 28-09-2023 9:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/109715829#Comment_109715829

Ye gods! Ive read the wiki on it. What an awful crime.

As regards armchair detecting, I can only surmise that it was a once-off - because surely the Tokyo police would have looked for a similar MO, or DNA traces etc, and seem to have not found any (none mentioned, anyway)

You'd have to wonder if the killer had a personal grudge against this particular family? Or maybe a random choice because he could climb into it from the park? but WHY???

Favourite True Crime Stories

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