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True Crime Reporter

True Crime

In the realm of true crime, every crime scene tells a story. Every story has its truths. These are the stories from behind badges and prison bars that separate fact from fiction.

Location:

United States

Genres:

True Crime

Description:

In the realm of true crime, every crime scene tells a story. Every story has its truths. These are the stories from behind badges and prison bars that separate fact from fiction.

Language:

English

Contact:

2146861949


Episodes
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Inside The Digital Slaughter House Of Pig Butchering Scams

4/16/2024
A new breed of con artists herd unwitting victims into a digital slaughterhouse. Master manipulators use a scam called “Pig Butchering.” They fatten up their prey with affection and the promise of riches, like feeding a hog on the way to the slaughterhouse. Pig Butchers use psychological manipulation to bleed victim’s savings. If you believe similar schemes have victimized your family, friends, or business, report them to your local FBI Field Office, the Federal Trade Commission, and the FBI’s Internet Crimes Complaint Center. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:11:34

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The Secret Service Files: Cracking New York’s Counterfeit Underworld

4/9/2024
In the shadowy underworld of early 20th-century New York City, a nefarious counterfeiting operation run by cunning Sicilian criminals thrived—until William Flynn and the U.S. Secret Service set their sights on bringing the ring to justice. At the heart of the story is the classic clash between good and evil, law and lawlessness. But in William Flynn, we have the archetypal determined detective hero - relentless, clever, and utterly committed to justice. This is a follow-up to our last episode about Flynn, known as the Bulldog Detective. I have curated the work of some of the best true crime writers from the early 20th Century. Please let me know if you like to hear me read these stories. PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE VINTAGE TRUE CRIME STORIES FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:31:09

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The Bulldog Detective: The Untold Story of America’s First Top Cop

4/2/2024
Through the mist of forgotten histories, the figure of William J. Flynn beckons, offering a glimpse into a life that, though eclipsed by time, remains a testament to human endeavor and spirit. In the early 20th century, Flynn, known as the “Bulldog Detective,” was one of the most famous detectives in America. As head of the U.S. Secret Service and later the Bureau of Investigation (forerunner of the FBI), Flynn led the chase for counterfeiters, took on the first Mafia crime family, pursued German spies during World War I, and launched America's first "war on terrorism" against anarchist bombers who blew up Wall Street. Yet today, Flynn is largely forgotten, overshadowed by his more controversial successor, J. Edgar Hoover. A new book aims to change that and restore Flynn to his rightful place in history. In "The Bulldog Detective," terrorism expert Jeffrey D. Simon provides the first full biography of this remarkable yet unsung American lawman. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:20:13

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Searching For Patty Hearst: Militant Marxist or Brain Washed?

3/19/2024
The mystery of Patty Hearst's transformation from a college student born into privilege to a Marxist militant wielding an M-1 carbine in a bank robbery remains as compelling as ever on the 50th anniversary of her kidnapping. The abduction of William Randolph Heart’s granddaughter captured America’s attention in 1974. The saga of 19-year-old Patty Hearst pushed the impeachment of President Richard Nixon off newspaper headlines. Searching for Patty Hearst by journalist Roger Rapoport delves into the heart of a story that blurs the lines between victim and perpetrator, between heiress and revolutionary. Was she a willing convert to the cause of the Symbionese Liberation Army or a young woman broken and brainwashed by her captors? You decide. Link to Roger Rapoport's Website: Searching for Patty Hearst FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter PLEASE TAKE MY AUDIENCE SURVEY THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:29:39

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Unmasking Evil: Face-to-Face with the Son of Sam

1/23/2024
David Berkowitz, known as the “Son of Sam,” terrorized New York City for a year in the late 1970s with a series of random murders and cryptic taunts to police and the press. Ever since then, the question of why he did it and if Berkowitz had accomplices from a Satan-worshipping cult has produced ceaseless speculation. Now, Dr. Michael Caparrelli provides new insights into the mind of David Berkowitz in a new book titled Monster Mirror. Dr. Caparrelli is a behavioral scientist and was a pastor for 16 years. Drawing from 100 hours of face-to-face interviews, Dr. Caparrelli explores Berkowitz’s transformation from an infamous serial killer to a figure of introspection. My interview with Dr. Caparrelli sheds light on the complex psychological factors and experiences that shaped Berkowitz's path to violence. It also examines his claims of religious conversion in prison and features a new confession. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:30:07

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The Axe Falls: The Shocking Execution of the Teenage Queen

1/2/2024
I opened my reporter's notebook to the historical case called the "Nine Days Queen." It's a tragic story from 16th-century England about Lady Jane Grey. Her life, a fleeting moment in the annals of English royalty, ended abruptly with her execution at just 16 years old. I take you to London's National Gallery to see her last moment poignantly captured in oil on canvas. National Gallery painting "Execution of Lady Jane Grey": https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/paul-delaroche-the-execution-of-lady-jane-grey FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:19:49

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The Bank Robber, The Fugitive, The Pilot, and The Mena Arkansas Conspiracy.

12/18/2023
This story shrouded in mystery, involves a Texas prison escapee that could be ripped straight from a spy novel. Bank robber and suspected drug smuggler Charles J. Woods of Dallas made a daring escape from a Texas prison and subsequently disappeared into the realm of the Mena Arkansas Conspiracy. In my exclusive interview with fugitive hunter Louis Fawcett, we unravel the threads of Woods' escape to the mysterious town of Mena, Arkansas. The town's small airport in the Quachirta mountains was the base of operations for Barry Seal, a notorious drug and arms smuggler known for his connections to the CIA and narco Pablo Escobar. What was Charles Woods, a pilot, doing using the alias Richard Arthur Mills on a government identification card at the Naval Ammunition Depot in Oklahoma? Sit back and listen to this fugitive’s tale from the world of crime, mystery, and intrigue. Links to Stories about the Eastham Prison Unit You can hear more about Bonne and Clyde in my April 11th, 2023 episode The Enduring Fascination of Bonnie and Clyde: A Love Story Gone Wrong. You can hear just how tough Eastham was from David Stacks, one of its former wardens, in my November 28th, 2023 episode, Hard Time In Hell Among Texas Most Dangerous Prisoners. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:32:49

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Why A Serial Killer’s Cell Phone Threats from Death Row Haunt Us Today

12/12/2023
Death Row Calling--I Know Where Your Daughters Live I delve into the shadowy underworld of contraband communication, where prisoners wielding illegal cell phones orchestrate a web of threats and criminal enterprises from behind bars. My story revolves around the chilling case of Richard Tabler, a serial killer on Texas Death Row. Tabler's audacious use of a smuggled cell phone to threaten a Texas Senator ignited a political firestorm, unmasking a glaring security breach within the prison system. Contraband Cell Phones Seized at the Polunsky Prison Unit in Texas I reveal the alarming extent to which inmates can exploit contraband technology to reach beyond prison walls, posing a significant threat to public safety and the integrity of the penal system. Serial Killer Richard "Blue" Tabler on Texas Death Row 2007 You will also get a look inside the mind of a bizarre, cold-blooded serial killer who recruited an Army soldier from Fort Hood as his accomplice. And shocker, Tabler was a police drug informant committing murders. Serial Killer Richard Tabler -- Mugshot Texas Death Row In a typewritten letter to me from death row, Tabler claimed he had found Jesus there. Once you hear this, tell me if you believe him. READ: Serial Killer Richard Tabler's Death Row Letter To Reporter Robert Riggs FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:24:56

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A Texas Prison Warden’s Tips On How To Stay Safe From Criminal Minds

12/5/2023
Nothing Good Happens After Midnight In the vast, rugged terrain of Texas, where the stories of outlaws and the law are etched into the very soil, we find a beacon of knowledge in an unexpected place: the walls of a maximum-security prison. My guest, David Stacks guest is a seasoned Texas prison warden, a guardian of society's most dangerous individuals. The retired Warden is now the Director of the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville, Texas. Having spent decades overseeing some of the most notorious criminals in the state, Stacks brings a wealth of insight into the criminal psyche. But more than that, he offers invaluable tips on personal safety, gleaned from his years of experience amid danger. What can ordinary citizens learn from the strict protocols and keen observations of a prison warden? For one thing, nothing good happens after midnight. As we uncover these insights, we not only peer into the abyss of criminal minds but also learn how to safeguard ourselves in a world where unpredictability is the only certainty. The Texas Prison Museum The Texas Prison Museum, established in 1989 in Huntsville, Texas, offers a profound insight into the history and operations of the state's prison system, the largest in the world. Huntsville, known for its pivotal role in the Texas Prison System, houses this museum due to its historical significance, being the site of the first prison and the headquarters for the state's Department of Criminal Justice. The museum features a diverse array of artifacts and exhibits, including an original electric chair used for 361 executions and various inmate-made objects, from craftwork to contraband. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:23:56

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Hard Time In Hell Among Texas Most Dangerous Prisoners

11/28/2023
In this episode, I’m going to take you behind the high walls and razor wire into the dark corners of the largest prison system in the world. David Stacks, a former Texas prison warden with 30 years of frontline experience, provides an unfiltered look at life behind bars. Today, Stacks is the director of the Texas Prison Museum. He’s here with stories from inside the toughest Texas prisons that held the meanest of the mean. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:25:45

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Echoes of Evil: Serial Killer Kenneth McDuff 25 Years Later.

11/18/2023
This episode marks a somber milestone. The 25th anniversary of the execution of Kenneth Allen McDuff – a name that chills the soul of the men and women in law enforcement who hunted him down – and the families of his victims. McDuff, infamously dubbed the 'Broomstick Killer,' was a figure of unparalleled brutality. His story isn't just a tale of sadistic crimes. It's a saga that shook the very foundations of the Texas criminal justice system. Kenneth Allen McDuff being escorted into the Texas Death House. McDuff, was believed to be the only condemned inmate in the nation ever paroled and then returned to death row for another murder. He went to death row in 1968 for killing two teenage boys, was paroled after the death penalty was overturned, and returned to death row in 1991 for killing two women. 11/17/1998 He was released on parole in the late 1980s under a cloud of corruption. McDuff, within a day of his release, unleashed a reign of terror – abducting, raping, and murdering countless women, his actions embodying the darkest impulses of humanity. My original reporting on this case exposed not just a man's evil but a system's failures. It led to a sweeping overhaul of the parole and prison systems in Texas, revealing a disturbing scheme of parole selling that shook public trust to its core. As I delve into this grim chapter, I do so with a purpose. We seek to understand, to remember the victims, and to reflect on the lessons learned. The echoes of McDuff's crimes still reverberate, reminding us of the vigilance needed to safeguard justice and integrity within our system. Here’s an episode from my award-winning podcast series that led to us producing a five- part streaming documentary called “Freed To Kill.” FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:23:05

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Dollars for Terror: The Holy Land Foundation's Illegal Scheme To Fund Hamas

10/17/2023
In the wake of the recent Hamas terrorist attack that killed more than 1,300 Israelis, my True Crime Reporter® podcast opened its investigative archive on the Gaza-based group's past fundraising and recruitment in the United States. After my embedded assignment with the U.S. Army during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, investigative producer Todd Bensman and I focused on how terrorists were using the Internet to raise money and recruit followers. Our investigation uncovered a monthly online magazine called Alsunnah that solicited suicide bombers to attack American and coalition troops in Iraq and Israelis. In this episode, you will hear how we tracked the origins of the web magazine from a Dallas suburb and its links to the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation, which illegally raised money for Hamas across America. The foundation aimed to create an Islamic Palestinian state by eliminating the State of Israel through violent jihad. We obtained secret fundraising event recordings documenting their open declaration to kill Jews. A Holy Land leader referred to a suicide bombing as “a beautiful operation.” Listen as we track a deadly terrorist campaign from Dallas to the United Kingdom. In the 18 years since my original reporting, you will hear that the objective of Hamas remains the same…Kill Jews. Link to Economist Intelligence Podcast Interview We want to become your favorite true crime podcast. Please leave a review wherever you listen. Join our true crime community and follow us here. The True Crime Reporter® podcast features stories about serial killers, mass murderers, murder mysteries, homicides, cold cases, prisons, violent criminals, serial rapists, child abductors, child molesters, kidnappers, bank robbers, cyber criminals, and assorted violent criminals. True Crime Reporter® is a @2023 copyrighted and trade-marked production by True Crime Reporter®, LLC, in Dallas, Texas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:14:56

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Dollars for Terror: The Holy Land Foundation’s Illegal Scheme To Fund Hamas

10/16/2023
From The Investigative Archives In the wake of the recent Hamas terrorist attack that killed more than 1,300 Israelis, my True Crime Reporter® podcast opened its investigative archive on the Gaza-based group's past fundraising and recruitment in the United States. After my embedded assignment with the U.S. Army during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, investigative producer Todd Bensman and I focused on how terrorists were using the Internet to raise money and recruit followers. Embedded Reporter Robert Riggs waits out a sandstorm in Iraq with a crew from the 101st Airborne flying a CH-47 Chinook helicopter dubbed the "Apocalypse Cow" Our investigation uncovered a monthly online magazine called Alsunnah that solicited suicide bombers to attack American and coalition troops in Iraq and Israelis. In this episode, you will hear how we tracked the origins of the web magazine from a Dallas suburb and its links to the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation, which illegally raised money for Hamas across America. The foundation aimed to create an Islamic Palestinian state by eliminating the State of Israel through violent jihad. We obtained secret fundraising event recordings documenting their open declaration to kill Jews. A Holy Land leader referred to a suicide bombing as “a beautiful operation.” Listen as we track a deadly terrorist campaign from Dallas to the United Kingdom. In the 18 years since my original reporting, you will hear that the objective of Hamas remains the same…Kill Jews. Link to the Economist Intelligence Podcast Interview with Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk on October 11, 2023 FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:14:56

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The John Dillinger Enigma: Did The FBI Really Kill Public Enemy #1?

10/3/2023
During the Great Depression, Newsreels about John Dillinger, the first gangster declared Public Enemy #1, drew cheers from movie audiences across America and hisses when pictures of J. Edgar Hoover appeared on screen. Agents from what would become the FBI killed Dillinger in a hail of gunfire while leaving Chicago’s Biograph Theater on July 22, 1934. The case put the FBI on the map and, to this day, plays a major part in the bureau’s historical legacy. But questions persist about whether the FBI killed the real John Dillinger or a stand-in resembling the gangster so he could make a getaway. Travis Thompson, the great-nephew of John Dillinger and a veteran law enforcement officer in Indiana has literally been trying to dig up evidence from the cemetery where John Dillinger is buried. Thompson has tried to exhume Dillinger's body from a concrete-encased tomb at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. Adding to the Dillinger mystery, Thompson and Stewart Fillmore, a retired FBI agent have unearthed a mysterious map on the family farm in Indiana. The Dillinger case is a celebrated chapter in the FBI’s history and the bureau dismisses what it calls conspiracy theories. But Travis Thompson brings his law enforcement background to the search for more evidence. Did the FBI kill the real John Dillinger or a stand-in who was helping Dillinger escape? The mystery continues in my interview with Travis Thompson. Links To Dillinger Resources Mentioned During Episode True Crime Reporter® Story About The FBI’s Hogan’s Alley This Bank Gets Robbed Every Day FBI John Dillinger History FBI “The Top Ten Dillinger Myths” Expedition Unknown John Dillinger's Death Mask History Channel Behind Efforts To Exhume John Dillinger’s Body History Channel Drops Out Of Planned John Dillinger Documentary; Proposed Exhumation In Doubt We want to become your favorite true crime podcast. Please leave a review wherever you listen. Join our true crime community and follow us here. The True Crime Reporter® podcast features stories about serial killers, mass murderers, murder mysteries, homicides, cold cases, prisons, violent criminals, serial rapists, child abductors, child molesters, kidnappers, bank robbers, cyber criminals, and assorted violent criminals. True Crime Reporter® is a @2023 copyrighted and trade-marked production by True Crime Reporter®, LLC, in Dallas, Texas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:19:07

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The John Dillinger Enigma: Did The FBI Really Kill Public Enemy #1?

10/2/2023
PDuring the Great Depression, Newsreels about John Dillinger, the first gangster declared Public Enemy #1, drew cheers from movie audiences across America and hisses when pictures of J. Edgar…

Duration:00:19:07

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Unmasking PTSD: A Cop's 26-Year Struggle Beyond the Badge

9/26/2023
After 26 years in law enforcement, Glen Williams has experienced the toll that bearing witness to violence and tragedy can take. Williams, like many first responders, bottled up the pain and soldier on. Unaware that his PTSD was wrecking his life at home and on the job. Hello, this is Robert Riggs. In this episode of the True Crime Reporter® Podcast, we look behind the badge of the men and women in blue. Glen Williams has written a book titled Bridging The Gap aimed at helping police officers and other first responders heal after years of trauma. He speaks on the subject across the United States. In our interview, Williams opens up about the emotional damage he suffered from years of seeing the worst of the worst on the police beat. Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment of PTSD In closing, here’s my Reporter’s recap and reflections. I commend Glen Williams for opening up wounds in his personal life to educate us about the PTSD suffered by first responders. Perhaps we should start thanking them for their service as we do military veterans. I became aware of PTSD after my embedded reporter assignment with the lead Army unit during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. And all of the men in my family were World War II veterans, and none of them would discuss the war. Looking back, I recognize signs of PTSD they suffered many years later. I believe the prescription is to open up, start talking, and seek professional help. Now, that’s easier said than done. Many young men, including yours truly, were taught that showing feelings was a sign of weakness. With the help of strong women in our family, we are trying to change that in future generations. You’ve been listening to the True Crime Reporter® Podcast: Stay True. Stay Safe. And Stay Tuned for more stories from inside the crime scene tape. Yours Truly, Robert Riggs. We want to become your favorite true crime podcast. Please leave a review wherever you listen. Join our true crime community and follow us here. The True Crime Reporter® podcast features stories about serial killers, mass murderers, murder mysteries, homicides, cold cases, prisons, violent criminals, serial rapists, child abductors, child molesters, kidnappers, bank robbers, cyber criminals, and assorted violent criminals. True Crime Reporter® is a @2023 copyrighted and trade-marked production by True Crime Reporter®, LLC, in Dallas, Texas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:26:07

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Unmasking PTSD: A Cop’s 26-Year Struggle Beyond the Badge

9/25/2023
After 26 years in law enforcement, Glen Williams has experienced the toll that bearing witness to violence and tragedy can take. Williams, like many first responders, bottled up the pain and soldiered on. Unaware that his PTSD was wrecking his life at home and on the job. Hello, this is Robert Riggs. In this episode of the True Crime Reporter® Podcast, we look behind the badge of the men and women in blue. Glen Williams has written a book titled Bridging The Gap aimed at helping police officers and other first responders heal after years of trauma. He speaks on the subject across the United States. Glen Williams - Author of "Bridging The Gap" In our interview, Williams opens up about the emotional damage he suffered from years of seeing the worst of the worst on the police beat. Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment of PTSD FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:26:07

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Crisis-Proof Your Life: Fieldcraft Survival on Personal Safety & Preparedness

9/19/2023
There's a crime trend sweeping the United States of flash mob thieves charging into department stores to make off with armfuls of loot. Gangs rush inside affluent suburban neighborhoods in night to break into cars. This episode of the True Crime Reporter® podcast responds to those of you asking me what they should do amid a growing wave of violence in urban America and overseas. A U.S. businesswoman recently told me she is afraid to work alone in a big city. I contacted Kevin Estela, the Director of Training for Fieldcraft Survival. Its founder, Mike Glover, was a Sergeant Major in the Army Green Berets. He deployed fourteen times to combat zones with Special Forces and the CIA. But don’t expect his Director of Training to teach that every threatening scenario requires a gun. Kevin Estela taught Advanced Placement High School History for 14 years. He is about using your head and being prepared. His Phillipino father, who hid from the Japanese army in jungles and caves during World War II, influenced his survival skills. Kevin offers advice on responding to a criminal assault, car accident, or natural disaster. In closing, here’s my Reporter’s recap and reflections. As Kevin Estela stressed, survival depends on preparedness. He recommends carrying a tourniquet, a good flashlight, a BIC lighter, a Ferro Rod, a fire starter that can be used as an emergency signal, and a bandana. His book is titled 101 Skills You Need To Survive In The Woods. A second book covering advanced skills is on the way. You’ve been listening to the True Crime Reporter® Podcast: Stay True. Stay Safe. Stay Tuned for more stories from inside the crime scene tape. This is Robert Riggs Reporting. We want to become your favorite true crime podcast. Please leave a review wherever you listen. Join our true crime community and follow us here. The True Crime Reporter® podcast features stories about serial killers, mass murderers, murder mysteries, homicides, cold cases, prisons, violent criminals, serial rapists, child abductors, child molesters, kidnappers, bank robbers, cyber criminals, and assorted violent criminals. True Crime Reporter® is a @2023 copyrighted and trade-marked production by True Crime Reporter®, LLC, in Dallas, Texas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:42:13

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Crisis-Proof Your Life: Fieldcraft Survival on Personal Safety & Preparedness

9/18/2023
There's a crime trend sweeping the United States of flash mob thieves charging into department stores to make off with armfuls of loot. Gangs rush inside affluent suburban neighborhoods in night to break into cars. This episode of the True Crime Reporter® podcast responds to those of you asking me what they should do amid a growing wave of violence in urban America and overseas. A U.S. businesswoman recently told me she is afraid to work alone in a big city. I contacted Kevin Estela, the Director of Training for Fieldcraft Survival. L-R. Jared Taylor, USAF Vet - Andy Stumpf, Navy Seal Vet - Robert Riggs, Reporter - Mike Glover, Green Beret Vet & Founder Fieldcraft Survival Its founder, Mike Glover, was a Sergeant Major in the Army Green Berets. He deployed fourteen times to combat zones with Special Forces and the CIA. But don’t expect his Director of Training to teach that every threatening scenario requires a gun. Kevin Estela - Director of Training - Fieldcraft Survival - Courtesy "Recoil OffGrid Magazine" Kevin Estela taught Advanced Placement High School History for 14 years. He is about using your head and being prepared. His Phillipino father, who hid from the Japanese army in jungles and caves during World War II, influenced his survival skills. Kevin offers advice on responding to a criminal assault, car accident, or natural disaster. In closing, here’s my Reporter’s recap and reflections. As Kevin Estela stressed, survival depends on preparedness. He recommends carrying a tourniquet, a good flashlight, a BIC lighter, a Ferro Rod, a fire starter that can be used as an emergency signal, and a bandana. His book is titled 101 Skills You Need To Survive In The Woods. A second book covering advanced skills is on the way. I have placed links to his resources in these show notes. You’ve been listening to the True Crime Reporter® Podcast: Stay True. Stay Safe. Stay Tuned for more stories from inside the crime scene tape. This is Robert Riggs Reporting. FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps. TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about

Duration:00:42:13

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No Justice for A Texas Cowboy: A $750 Million Elder Abuse Tragedy

9/12/2023
Investigative Reporter Stephen Michaud, among the nation’s best, spent six years unraveling how an iconic ranch was taken from a dying Texas Cowboy. It's a sprawling Texas ranch near the border with Mexico where the biggest producing gas well in the United States was struck in 2004. The ranch and its mineral assets have amassed a 750 Million dollar fortune. But, the cowboy who once owned it and his relatives never saw a penny. According to my guest, it’s a case of elder abuse like none other. Hello. I’m investigative reporter Robert Riggs with a longtime friend and fellow investigative journalist Stephen Michaud. You may recognize his name in the world of true crime. Michaud, in collaboration with Hugh Aynesworth, another giant of investigative journalism, wrote the definitive book about serial killer Ted Bundy in 1983 titled The Only Living Witness. In 2019, Netflix premiered a four-part documentary, Conversations With A Killer, based on 150 hours of audio recordings of their interviews with Bundy in prison. Now Michaud is back with a fascinating look inside South Texas ranching royal families titled Robert’s Story, A Texas Cowboy's Troubled Life And Horrifying Death. It likely came from these ranches if you ate steak in the 1960s. If you cooked with natural gas in the 2000s, some of it likely came from there. Sadly, people close to Texas cowboy Robert East, the sole heir to all of this, allegedly took advantage of his simplicity. He died a lonely death on the iconic ranch. Here's our interview. In closing, here’s my Reporter’s recap and reflections. People over 50 now own over 70% of all personal wealth held in the United States. Learn this lesson from Stephen Michaud’s book. If a baby boomer with a Texas fortune can become the victim of elder abuse and lose everything, it could happen to you. Do you have a plan and family members or people around you that you trust? You’ve been listening to the True Crime Reporter® Podcast: Stay True. Stay Safe. And Stay Tuned for more stories from inside the crime scene tape. This is Robert Riggs Reporting. We want to become your favorite true crime podcast. Please leave a review wherever you listen. Join our true crime community and follow us here. The True Crime Reporter® podcast features stories about serial killers, mass murderers, murder mysteries, homicides, cold cases, prisons, violent criminals, serial rapists, child abductors, child molesters, kidnappers, bank robbers, cyber criminals, and assorted violent criminals. True Crime Reporter® is a @2023 copyrighted and trade-marked production by True Crime Reporter®, LLC, in Dallas, Texas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:36:35