3 Reasons Why True CrimePodcasts are Popular
1. The Power of Story-Telling
I confess. I’ve been hooked on True Crime podcasts since 2014 when Serial first hit the audio waves and became a global, podcast phenomenon. Episodes dropped weekly as journalist Sarah Koenig investigated the 1999 murder of high school girl Hae Min Lee. The podcast’s quality story telling is confirmed by its winning every major broadcasting award.
The question is who killed Hae Min Lee? Was it her fellow student and ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed who was convicted of her murder, and sentenced to life imprisonment?
Koenig, a relatable host, stirs our compassion for Lee’s tragic death and the possibility of a wrongfully convicted boy. Each of the 12 episodes follows a story arc and ends with a cliffhanger. So, listeners want to know how the story will end. Some listeners are still left wondering.
Syed’s fight for justice continues. On 11 March 2022, Baltimore City prosecutors and Syed’s attorney signed a motion asking a judge to order the city’s crime lab to retest evidence. The latest DNA technology (not available at the time of the trial) will be used to test evidence like Lee’s clothing, shoes, and hair. Syed’s lawyers are hoping this will lead to his exoneration.
Serial is addictive. It’s been called the ‘world’s most popular podcast’ and credited for making podcasts mainstream media. If you haven’t heard it listen to the first episode of season one right now.
‘The Fight for Truth, Justice, and the Australian way’
2. Crime Podcasts Give Us an Insight Into an Unfamiliar World
I’m fascinated by true crime podcasts that offer an inside look into law enforcement and the criminal justice system whether current or historical. Gripping true crime stories, told well, reveal a world unknown to most of us. It’s especially rewarding if dogged, investigative journalists expose injustice and attempt to right wrongdoings in the process.
I highly recommend several binge-worthy Australian true crime podcasts. I have compiled my list of favourites and will share them in the following weeks. Let me know if you agree with my selection in the comments below, and please share your recommendations.
I’m compiling a whole different list of international true crime podcasts for future blogs.
3. True Crime Provides a Real Opportuntity to Solve Crime
The earliest known true crime book may possibly date back to 17th century China with a collection of short stories about fraud. If you’re reading this blog, you’ve probably read a pile of true crime books.
People enjoy solving mysteries. In 1999 an internet community formed calling themselves Websleuths (under the URL of the same name). This privately owned, crowdsolving site is now one of many amateur detective forums and blogs.
Crowdsolving is 'Utilizing the eyes, ears, and expertise of individuals, both locally and across the globe via social media, to aid in the solving of crimes.' A citizen detective is 'an individual who devotes his or her time and expertise to aid in the solving of crime, without compensation or expectation of reward.'
True crime podcasts have raised a new posse of armchair detectives following clues, noodling alternate theories, and most importantly providing fresh tips.
Australia’s The Lady Vanishes has a committed group of listeners called ‘Sally’s Super Sleuths’ who connect with Sally Leydon personally, and investigate leads between Australia and the UK. One listener even discovered critical information that assisted the case. Much of the progress in the case has been made since the first episode of the podcast in 2019. At the time of writing, a Coronial Inquest is examining the circumstances around Marion Barter’s bizzare disappearance.
The Lady Vanishes, 7NEWS Podcasts
Bryan Seymour - Journalist
For half her life, Sally Leydon has been searching for her mother, Marion Barter. The respected teacher and mother of two went missing in 1997 when she flew to the UK for a year-long overseas adventure. Friends and family never saw Marion again. The circumstances around her disappearance are quite baffling. While her daughter believed her mother was missing in 1997, the police did not.
Journalist Bryan Seymour and producer Alison Sandy join Leydon on her quest to find out what happened to her mother. The popular podcast does what Sally could never do on her own by providing this missing person’s case with international exposure. A crime fiction novelist wouldn’t write this story – the readers would find it too incredulous. That’s why it’s said ‘the truth is stranger than fiction.’ Listen to the first episode here.
Who killed Bob?
Eve Ash – Psychologist/Film Producer
In 2010, Hobart woman Sue Neill-Fraser was convicted of murdering her partner Bob Chappell on their yacht. This is despite no body, no weapon, no witnesses, and no confession. And did I mention no apparent motive?
Sue continues to maintain her innocence.
Bob Chappell, a radiation specialist, went missing from their newly purchased yacht, the Four Winds, between 26-27 January 2009. Early on Tuesday 27th, the marine police attended the Four Winds because the yacht was sinking. Chappell was not onboard. The yacht had been sabotaged and now the crime scene was compromised.
In search for the truth, Eve Ash started to film Neill-Fraser’s story in 2009. During this time, Ash also sought assistance from Colin McLaren, former homicide task force detective. Ash’s documentary is called Shadow of Doubt. Channel 7 also broadcasted a 6 part series about Ash’s investigaton of Neill-Fraser’s conviction called Undercurrent: Real Murder Investigation.
This podcast, launched November 2021, offers a disturbing look into the police investigation and the court case that convicted Neill-Fraser of her partner’s murder. Assumptions, mistakes, and flawed hypotheses run rampart in this case. One takeaway for us all in this case is to NEVER lie to the police – whatever the reason!
On 21 November 2021 Sue Neil-Fraser lost her latest appeal before Tasmania’s Supreme Court to overturn the conviction. Yet has there been a ‘substantial miscarriage of justice?
From True Crime to Jury Duty
I’ve always been interested in serving on a jury for a criminal case. Whether you’ve toyed with the idea of being a juror or can’t think of anything worse, take a look at my blog Sex, Lies and Called for Jury Duty.
https://janinejonesmedia.com/sex-lies-and-called-for-jury-duty/
