The DC Snipers

A quiet Fairfax County neighborhood. A trusted au pair. A marriage hiding dark secrets. In a new podcast from FOX 5 DC, we take you inside the courtroom as the murder trial of Brendan Banfield begins — a case prosecutors say was fueled by an illicit affair and an unthinkable plan. Jurors are hearing explosive testimony about a secret relationship, an alleged plot to stage a violent home invasion, and the moment everything went wrong — leaving two people dead and a child inside the house. We break down what prosecutors allege happened, what the defense says you shouldn’t believe, and why the au pair’s testimony could determine everything. FOX 5 DC's Bob Barnard, Chad Ricardo and Vernon Miles walk through the evidence, the unanswered questions, and the emotional testimony that has already stunned the courtroom — setting the stage for a trial expected to last weeks and captivate the region. This is the story of trust betrayed, desire turned deadly, and a jury now tasked with finding the truth. SUBSCRIBE TODAY to The Banfield Trial: Unfiltered Courtroom Notes, and be sure to watch the trial LIVE on FOX LOCAL, FOX 5 DC's YouTube and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The DC Snipers’ reign of terror came to an end on October 24, 2002 - shortly after police publicly identified John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo as their prime suspects. Defense attorneys, Thomas Walsh and Mark Petrovich share their experience representing the teen sniper. Survivors and witnesses share what it was like testifying in front of the the suspects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two women, Mildred Muhammad and Sandy Moose were in unique circumstances throughout the sniper shootings. Mildred was placed into protective custody after authorities named her ex-husband John, the DC sniper. Sandy witnessed the emotional tasks her husband, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose endured during and after the sniper shootings. Bob Barnard and Melanie Alnwick tell the tale of two wives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By the third week of the sniper shootings, 10 people were shot and 8 of them were killed. Amongst the victims, an FBI analyst, a Ride-On Bus driver and a Florida man who purposely avoided traveling to Washington DC, only to be shot in Ashland Va. The snipers continue to leave notes, tarot cards and phone calls. As the clues piled up, investigators were able identify the snipers from a previous shooting in Alabama. On October 23, FBI investigators identify the snipers as 41-year-old John Allen Muhamad and 17-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The second week of the sniper shootings just ended, intense fear and anxiety continue to take over the region. The news of the killing spree reaches a national level, from NBA legend Michael Jordan to the President of the United States. As calls flooded with tips with sightings of the snipers, investigators build a task force overnight. Bob Barnard interviews retired ATF special agent, Mike Bouchard; he explains how investigators communicated to the snipers through the media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the second week of the DC sniper shootings, the snipers shot their youngest victim: 13-year-old middle school student, Iran Brown. Iran shares how his aunt's quick thinking saved his life and the emotional and physical scars he has from the shooting today. Retired ATF Special Agent Mike Bouchard discusses how a clue left by the snipers and the shooting of a child struck a nerve with investigators. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the second week of the sniper shootings began, a mom and her three children in Prince George's County were anxiously watching the news reports like everyone else. But Mildred Muhammad had another reason to try to stay low: her ex-husband, John Allen Muhammad. Melanie Alnwick sat down in an unedited discussion with Mildred who shares she warned of his violence but no one listened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

October 3, 2002 marks the first day of terror in the DC area. By the end of the day, five people were fatally shot by the DC snipers. The fear of the shootings spreads and investigators learn the ability to strike again remains high. Bob Barnard interviews one of the witnesses to the shootings on that fateful day, Dr. Caroline Namrow. Authorities shared with Dr. Namrow, the snipers had a 50/50 chance; between her and Premkumar Walekar. She shares her close call to death and Walekar’s last moments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FBI designated the shootings in the DC area as a major case, giving the investigation the name “SNIPEMUR”. What Investigators didn’t know then- is that a month earlier, they struck their first victim. Melanie Alnwick interviews the first local victim of the DC Snipers, Paul LaRuffa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this first episode of FOX 5's latest True Crime podcast series, we’ll reflect on those terrible three weeks in October 2002 when two unknown and elusive killers roamed the streets of the Washington, DC area indiscriminately shooting, wounding and murdering innocent people at a terrifying pace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we approach the 20-year anniversary of the DC beltway sniper killings, FOX 5 is launching a new podcast series on September 21st: “Three Weeks of Hell: The DC Snipers.” We’ll be looking back on those three terrifying weeks in October 2002 that ended with 10 people shot and killed, several more severely wounded and the entire region gripped in fear. A time seared in our memories as two murderous snipers encircled the Washington, DC region. A time when those of us living here realized our life or death in those 22 days was just a matter of chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices