There are tons of true crime murder podcasts available in every corner of the internet. They pop up on TikTok, YouTube, and everywhere else I look. There are a lot of really good ones, but most simply repeat the same content of others but in their own words. I can’t count how many times I’ve stumbled across the exact same repeated stories, and only realize it 5 minutes in. So, for this list, I’m going to show you unique podcasts that have been well-researched by the creators and will give you the ultimate listening experience.
The Mysterious Case of Fred the Head
This case spans back 50 years to a body that was found in a very secluded spot. This man was found buried in a kneeling position, hands and feet bound, wearing nothing but his wedding ring and socks. The mystery of who this man was and what happened to him has never been solved. This podcast is a new investigation that explores routes that were never looked into by police. It’s a mystery that is happening in real-time, so you can follow along until it is hopefully solved. Every week it gets a little warmer with lots of interesting threads that will pull you in from the very start.
The Mysterious Case of Fred the Head
In The Dark
Season 1 focuses on the abduction of Jacob Wetterling in 1989. There were no answers for 27 years. This season focuses on how the case was mishandled by the police and how those failures fueled the anxiety around stranger danger. Season 2 focuses on Curtis Flowers, a black man from Mississippi who was tried for the same crime 6 times. He spent over 20 years fighting for his freedom.
The investigative journalism done in this podcast is next level, and it really show. It gives a lot of insight into how flawed and corrupt the US justice system can be. The story is paced out well, and will have you hooked.
Your Own Backyard
This is documentary-styled podcast that investigates the disappearance of Cal Poly student, Kristin Smart, back in 1996. This podcast is consistently touted as one of the best true crime murder podcasts ever made. Chris Lambert’s investigative journalism is impactful and thoughtful, and will have you thinking about the events in this show for years to come. The podcast itself helped lead to a first-degree murder conviction. You don’t want to skip this one.
Bear Brook
This podcast is about Jason Carroll who is serving life in prison for a murder he claims he is innocent for. There was no evidence except for a confession that he gave to police. 30 years later, this podcast is trying to get to the truth. If you enjoyed Making A Murderer on Netflix, then you’ll enjoy this podcast. It has really good pacing, interesting forensic science and really good primary sources (those that are still alive).
Cold
If you do a search for the best true crime murder podcasts, Cold will turn up time and time again. Investigative journalist, Dave Cawley, takes on a new case with every season and does a deep dive into each case with lots of care and attention to detail. You’ll hear lots of unreleased information about each case, real audios, as well as the insights of new people that come forward during the investigation. You can tell right from the start that a lot of effort was put into making this podcast great.
