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Forensic Tales

Rockefeller Audio

Not all stories have happy endings...

Hosted by Courtney Fretwell, M.S. in Forensic Psychology, Forensic Tales is a weekly true crime podcast with a forensic twist. Each episode features real cases and explores how forensic science, criminal profiling, and investigative techniques were used to uncover the truth—or, in some cases, left more questions than answers.

From fingerprint analysis and DNA evidence to bloodstain pattern analysis and behavioral profiling, every episode breaks down the science behind the headlines. Whether it's a solved murder, a cold case, or a controversial investigation, Forensic Tales takes you beyond the crime scene and into the forensic evidence that shaped the case.

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  • 21 episodes
  • a few times a week
  • Avg 36 min
  • English

Episodes 21

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  • Thursday · 8 min

    The Identification of Lime Lady | Patreon Bonus Preview

    In 1980, a young woman was found murdered and covered in quicklime along an Oklahoma riverbank. Nearly 40 years later, forensic genealogy finally uncovered her name—and an even more baffling mystery.

  • #348
    Monday · 41 min

    The Murder of April Tinsley

    In 1988, eight-year-old April Tinsley was abducted and murdered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For thirty years, her killer taunted investigators and threatened other children—until the DNA he repeatedly left behind finally revealed his identity.

  • August 20 · 32 min

    The Murder of Christine Jessop (Vault)

    Nine-year-old Christine Jessop vanished from her small Ontario community in 1984, setting off an investigation that would convict an innocent man before DNA proved he had nothing to do with the crime. Decades later, forensic genetic genealogy finally revealed the killer—and showed that police had known his name from the very beginning.

  • #347
    August 17 · 59 min

    The Murder of Betsy Faria and The Lies of Pam Hupp

    When Betsy Faria was found stabbed 55 times inside her Missouri home, investigators quickly focused on her husband—even though he had four alibi witnesses and no blood on his clothing. But the evidence would eventually point toward a far more complicated story involving life insurance, a staged crime scene and the ever-changing lies of Pam Hupp.

  • August 13 · 30 min

    The Suspicious Death of Kendrick Johnson (Vault)

    In 2013, 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson was found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat at his Georgia high school. Authorities ruled his death a tragic accident—but conflicting autopsies, unusual forensic evidence, and years of unanswered questions have led his family to believe something much darker happened.

  • #346
    August 10 · 51 min

    The Murder of Meredith Kercher: Did DNA Wrongfully Implicate Amanda Knox?

    When 21-year-old Meredith Kercher was murdered in Perugia, Italy, the investigation quickly became one of the most controversial criminal cases in modern history. This episode examines the DNA evidence used to implicate Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito—and how questions about contamination, collection methods, and interpretation ultimately helped unravel the case against them.

  • #345
    August 3 · 39 min

    The Florence Salon Murders

    On November 6, 2001, three women were brutally murdered inside a small hair salon in Florence, Montana. More than two decades later, despite physical evidence, eyewitnesses, and multiple suspects, the Florence Salon Murders remain one of the state's most haunting unsolved cases.

  • August 1 · 33 min

    SPECIAL EPISODE: The Forensic Evidence Against D4vd

    After five days of testimony, a judge ordered recording artist D4vd to stand trial in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. This special episode examines the forensic evidence revealed during his preliminary hearing—and the questions his defense says remain unanswered.

  • #344
    July 27 · 42 min

    The Unsolved Murder of Mike Emert

    When successful Washington realtor Mike Emert was lured to a secluded home for what appeared to be a routine showing, he was brutally murdered in a crime that looked carefully planned. More than a decade later, a DNA breakthrough pointed investigators toward a suspect, but left the biggest question of all unanswered: who wanted Mike dead?

  • #343
    July 20 · 33 min

    The Murder of Debra Jackson (Orange Socks Doe)

    For more than 40 years, she was known only as "Orange Socks." In this episode, we examine the murder of Debra Jackson, the infamous confession of Henry Lee Lucas, and how modern forensic science finally gave an unidentified victim her name back while raising new questions about who really killed her.

  • July 16 · 40 min

    The Spray Tan Defense: The Death of Lina Kaufman

    A healthy 33-year-old mother is found dead on her bathroom floor, leaving investigators searching for answers. When prosecutors accuse her husband of murder, the defense offers one of the most bizarre explanations ever presented in court—the infamous "spray tan defense"—setting the stage for a forensic battle that still sparks debate today.

  • #342
    July 13 · 40 min

    The Mysterious Death of Brandon Lawson

    In August 2013, Brandon Lawson vanished after making a series of frantic phone calls, including a mysterious 911 call that has puzzled investigators and true crime followers for more than a decade. In this episode, we examine the evidence, the competing theories, and how forensic DNA finally brought Brandon home—while leaving his final moments shrouded in mystery.

  • #341
    July 9 · 36 min

    The Suspicious Death of Crystal McCrory Jones (Part 2)

    In Part Two of The Suspicious Death of Crystal McCrory Jones, we examine the autopsy, forensic evidence, and investigative decisions that continue to fuel questions about Crystal's death. As her family digs deeper into the records, they uncover inconsistencies they believe should never have been overlooked.

  • #340
    July 6 · 43 min

    The Suspicious Death of Crystal McCrory Jones (Part 1)

    On February 9, 2023, 43-year-old Crystal McCrory Jones was found dead inside her Louisiana home from a single gunshot wound to the head. Within hours, investigators ruled her death a suicide—but her family believes the investigation had only just begun.

  • #339
    June 29 · 45 min

    The Dardeen Family Murders

    In 1987, the quiet town of Ina, Illinois became the scene of one of the most brutal family murders in American history. This week on Forensic Tales, we examine the forensic evidence, investigation, and competing theories behind the unsolved murders of the Dardeen family.

  • June 24 · 6 min

    The Unsolved Murder of Robert Wone | Patreon Bonus Preview

    This month on Patreon, we're examining one of the most baffling unsolved murders in recent memory. In 2006, attorney Robert Wone was stabbed to death while staying at a friend's Washington, D.C. townhouse. Nearly twenty years later, the case remains unsolved.

  • #338
    June 22 · 43 min

    The Disappearance of Brandon Swanson

    In May 2008, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson called his parents after driving into a ditch on a rural Minnesota road. During a 47-minute phone call, he tried to guide them to his location—until he suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, shit!" and vanished without a trace.

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes