Unsolved: A murder mystery podcast

Crime-Justice

More often than we’d like to believe, people get away with murder. In cold cases, cops have retired. Witnesses have died. Evidence has disappeared. Unsolved: A murder mystery podcast is a true crime podcast series powered by investigative journalism from USA TODAY and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, guides listeners through these real-life cases, uncovering new clues along the way. The series features new unsolved cases and true crime cases each season. Season four of Unsolved: A murder mystery podcast delves into the disappearance of Alexis Patterson, a 7-year-old girl who disappeared on her way to school in 2002. At first, there was a massive search and sympathy for her family, but that quickly changed as her parents became suspects. Over the years, there have been conspiracy theories and false leads and cases of mistaken identity. Still, her mom has never given up hope that Alexis will come home again someday. Season three of Unsolved: A murder mystery podcast tells the story of Father Alfred Kunz, whose throat was slit inside St. Michael School in 1998. Some believe his death was linked to his battles against evil. Others believe his all-too-human flaws were to blame. Season two of Unsolved: A murder mystery podcast, released in 2017, examines the case of toddler Michelle Manders, who vanished from her bedroom in the middle of the night in 1981. Did she wander alone into the darkness? Or was she kidnapped? Season one of Unsolved: A murder mystery podcast, released in 2015, explores the circumstances surrounding the death of 14-year-old John Zera, who disappeared from Franklin High School in 1976. The seven episodes follow investigators through decades of dead ends as they hold on to hope of finding the killer. For more information on the series, visit http://usatoday.com/unsolved. For more reporting on cold cases, unsolved cases and true crime detectives, as well as additional true crime stories and investigative journalism, visit witness.usatoday.com. Crime reporter and investigative reporter Gina Barton is also host of Untested: A true crime podcast. Subscribe here for the story of how Annie Harrison joined the ranks of true crime detectives and hunted a possible serial rapist.

Location:

United States

Genres:

Crime-Justice

Storytelling

Podcasts

Description:

More often than we’d like to believe, people get away with murder. In cold cases, cops have retired. Witnesses have died. Evidence has disappeared. Unsolved: A murder mystery podcast is a true crime podcast series powered by investigative journalism from USA TODAY and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, guides listeners through these real-life cases, uncovering new clues along the way. The series features new unsolved cases and true crime cases each season. Season four of Unsolved: A murder mystery podcast delves into the disappearance of Alexis Patterson, a 7-year-old girl who disappeared on her way to school in 2002. At first, there was a massive search and sympathy for her family, but that quickly changed as her parents became suspects. Over the years, there have been conspiracy theories and false leads and cases of mistaken identity. Still, her mom has never given up hope that Alexis will come home again someday. Season three of Unsolved: A murder mystery podcast tells the story of Father Alfred Kunz, whose throat was slit inside St. Michael School in 1998. Some believe his death was linked to his battles against evil. Others believe his all-too-human flaws were to blame. Season two of Unsolved: A murder mystery podcast, released in 2017, examines the case of toddler Michelle Manders, who vanished from her bedroom in the middle of the night in 1981. Did she wander alone into the darkness? Or was she kidnapped? Season one of Unsolved: A murder mystery podcast, released in 2015, explores the circumstances surrounding the death of 14-year-old John Zera, who disappeared from Franklin High School in 1976. The seven episodes follow investigators through decades of dead ends as they hold on to hope of finding the killer. For more information on the series, visit http://usatoday.com/unsolved. For more reporting on cold cases, unsolved cases and true crime detectives, as well as additional true crime stories and investigative journalism, visit witness.usatoday.com. Crime reporter and investigative reporter Gina Barton is also host of Untested: A true crime podcast. Subscribe here for the story of how Annie Harrison joined the ranks of true crime detectives and hunted a possible serial rapist.

Twitter:

@journalsentinal

Language:

English

Website:

http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/unsolved-335136521.html

Episodes

Introducing: Murder on Music Row, season 2

9/15/2025

Murder on Music Row Season 2: The Skull at the End of the Rainbow" is coming October 7. An 8-part deep dive, this narrative podcast focuses on the 1998 murder of David "Skull" Schulman, an iconic Nashville figure who owned the Skulls Rainbow Room strip club/country music bar for 50 years. The police may have botched the investigation. The prosecutor didn't believe he would get a conviction. And the Tennessee Innocence Project has looked into the case. Hosts Keith Sharon and Kirsten Fiscus uncovered new evidence that may upend long-held beliefs about Skull's murder. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duración:00:03:05

Coming Sept. 3: Binge Untested for free!

8/20/2025

On Sept. 3, you’ll be able to binge the entire season of USA TODAY's new show "Untested" – for free. As the story unfolds, you’ll get an insider’s view of how Marshawn Curtis sweet-talks cops in multiple states, avoiding arrest and terrorizing more women. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duración:00:01:17

Introducing Suave

5/13/2025

Seven years after his release from prison, former juvenile lifer Luis "Suave" Gonzalez seems to be thriving. His career has taken off, he’s in a committed relationship and he’s received public recognition after telling his story on the podcast. Suave always thought once he was out of prison and found stability in his new life, he would finally feel truly free. But freedom, it turns out, is more complicated than it seems. "Suave" is a deeply intimate portrait of a man battling the lingering trauma of incarceration and his search for happiness in the outside world after a near-lifetime in prison. In this season we explore the long shadow of prison. Follow Suave wherever you listen to podcasts. Visit www.futuromedia.org for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duración:00:03:43

Introducing Untested

5/6/2025

A detective’s dogged pursuit of justice links two rape accusations 800 miles apart, and puts her on the path to catch a sexual predator. She’ll bring listeners along on her quest in the new exclusive true crime podcast series from WITNESS and USA TODAY, Untested. Here’s the first episode. Subscribe for $4.99 to binge the entire season ad-free now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duración:00:40:43

Coming soon: Untested

4/8/2025

He terrorized women. He slipped through the cracks. But one detective refused to give up. Untested, an exclusive true crime podcast series from WITNESS and USA TODAY, brings listeners along on this detective’s quest to bring a serial sex offender to justice. Available April 15. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duración:00:01:17

Introducing: My Cousin Augie

7/10/2024

In 1978, Milwaukee tavern owner Augie Palmisano was killed in a car bombing. Although many suspected crime boss Frank Balistreri, the murder was never solved. 45 years later, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Mary Spicuzza goes on a journey to find out the truth.

Duración:00:11:06

S4 Ep8: Be careful what you wish for

6/21/2023

After more than 20 years of turning us down, the Milwaukee Police finally release more than 10,000 pages of records on their investigation of Alexis’ case. Some of the contents are completely unexpected.

Duración:00:37:25

S4 Ep7: A DNA discovery

6/14/2023

After a three-year delay in reporting due to the pandemic, we ask the experts to evaluate the DNA profiles of Alexis' mother and the woman in Ohio to figure out, once and for all, whether the two are related.

Duración:00:31:09

S4 Ep6: The road trip

6/7/2023

Two reporters travel to Ohio to see if they can get to the bottom of the claims that a young woman there is Alexis Patterson.

Duración:00:33:21

S4 Ep5: A package from Ohio

5/31/2023

Fourteen years after Alexis disappeared, a man from Ohio comes forward to say he believes his estranged wife might be the missing girl.

Duración:00:28:12

S4 Ep4: A double life

5/24/2023

Some witnesses say they saw a red truck outside Alexis' school around the time she vanished. Could it have belonged to a serial killer?

Duración:00:31:41

S4 Ep3: Where would she have gone?

5/17/2023

Police come up with the theory that Alexis ran away after her mom tells them about an argument over cupcakes.

Duración:00:32:27

S4 Ep2: A guilty man walked free

5/10/2023

Alexis’ stepfather, LaRon Bourgeois, has a troubled history with police. That is enough to raise their suspicions after she disappears.

Duración:00:34:02

S4 Ep1: She never made it to school

5/3/2023

Despite Milwaukee’s history of segregation and distrust between Black residents and police, the whole city comes together to search for 7-year-old Alexis Patterson, who disappeared somewhere in the 242 steps between her home and school.

Duración:00:31:44

S4: Coming May 3: Season 4

4/19/2023

Alexis Patterson’s walk home from school was just 242 steps. But on May 3, 2002, the 7-year-old never made it. The story of Alexis’ disappearance started with a massive search and sympathy for her family, but that quickly changed as her parents became suspects. Over the years, there have been conspiracy theories and false leads and cases of mistaken identity. Still, her mom has never given up hope that Alexis will come home again someday.

Duración:00:03:25

S4: We're working on season 4

5/17/2022

I’m working on a new investigation about missing children of color, and one of them is going to be the focus of Season 4.

Duración:00:03:31

S3 Ep11: Bonus episode: Unsolved Live

4/24/2019

Still have questions about the murder of Father Alfred Kunz? Want to hear more about what was going on behind the scenes of the podcast and of the investigation? Kunz's good friend Peter Kelly and retired detective Dawn Johnson joined host Gina Barton at a live event, where they provided some answers.

Duración:00:29:03

S3 Ep10: 'Forgive offenses'

3/27/2019

Twenty years after Kunz’s murder, members of his former parish gathered at Mass to pray for his soul. Police, who had launched a social media campaign in connection with the anniversary, scanned the crowd for their suspects.

Duración:00:36:51

S3 Ep9: 'Bear Wrongs Patiently'

3/20/2019

Detective Wayne Honer was among those who did not believe teacher Brian Jackson killed Father Kunz. While Detective Kevin Hughes was chasing Jackson, Honer focused on a different suspect.

Duración:00:28:28

S3 Ep8: 'Comfort the Sorrowful'

3/13/2019

Immediately after Father Alfred Kunz’s death, St. Michael teacher Brian Jackson moved in with Kunz’s best friend, Father Charles Fiore. Detective Kevin Hughes was convinced Jackson was the killer. Support for this episode comes from Audible. Go to audible.com/un to listen to your favorite books.

Duración:00:32:44