Criminal is the first of its kind. A show about people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Hosted by Phoebe Judge. Named... more
When Madison Smith went to her county attorney’s office to talk about her rape case, she knew she wanted to... more
In 2010, a $16.5 million Hot Lotto ticket was sold at a gas station in Des Moines, Iowa. At first,... more
Two men turned in the winning catch at a Lake Erie fishing tournament. But when the tournament director squeezed one... more
Phoebe: Are there a lot of spies in this country today? Scott: Far more than people can probably even imagine. You... more
Hunters in the Everglades used to kill millions of birds every year for their feathers. In 1902, a man named... more
“There was a saying I heard a few times: ‘under the influence, above the law.’ And I think that describes... more
In the 1980s, Pablo Escobar smuggled four hippopotamuses into Colombia for a zoo on his ranch. Today, there are over... more
In 1967, a 24-year-old named Leslie Arnold escaped from prison. The FBI looked for him for years. And then, in... more
On the afternoon of June 23rd, 1972, Martin McNally walked into the St. Louis airport with a wig, a sawed-off... more
When Karen Bethea-Shields was in college, she heard a judge say, “No way in the world a Black woman can... more
“The ingenuity of depraved human genius has culminated in the production of margarine.” Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign... more
The Lawrence H. Woodward funeral home in Brooklyn has been run by one family for generations, and has handled many... more
When JonRe Taylor was called for jury duty in 2007, she voted ‘not guilty’ on every charge. But the defendant... more
In 1989, three people confessed to participating in a murder. Eventually, a total of six people were arrested. But when... more
Six people were arrested for a murder in Nebraska. Some said they couldn't remember details of the crime, or being... more
When we last spoke with Trevell Coleman, he was waiting to hear back about his clemency application. And then, in... more
In 1991, two police officers stopped Tupac Shakur for jaywalking. He said he was knocked unconscious during his arrest, and... more
In 1980, posters appeared in subway stations and on telephone poles in New York City with a phone number to... more
When he was 14 years old, Ron Bishop testified in a murder trial. Decades later, he told an investigator everything... more
When people started saying that John D. Rockefeller Jr. was responsible for the deaths of two women and 11 children... more
Sultan Alam was the first Pakistani officer to join the traffic department of the Cleveland Police in the UK. He... more
For almost thirty years, Adolfo Kaminsky lived quietly, forging documents for people all over the world. It started when he... more
As the famous English actor William Macready was preparing to go on stage in New York, over 300 police officers... more
In the early 1920s, painters at a watch dial factory in New Jersey started to get sick. No one could... more
In 1974, musician Connie Converse drove away from home and was never heard from again. Howard Fishman’s book is To Anyone... more
“I never did anything wrong. I never had a speeding ticket. I think I just saved all my stuff up... more
“The police had surrounded the house. They had been there for quite a while. They didn’t want to try to... more
In May 1991, a bank robber walked into a bank in Irving, Texas, and without speaking handed the teller a... more
Listen to the latest Criminal Plus bonus episode completely for free. Phoebe and Lauren hit record on the drive to... more
A conversation with a 911 operator about what happens on the other end of the line – and the day... more
Martin Abramowitz knew that his father had worked at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, but he always thought he hadn’t been... more
This episode picks up where 48 Hours, Part 1 left off. We suggest you listen to them in order. When Aaron... more
“I think it was around 3:00 a.m., and that’s when I heard a strange man’s voice waking me from sleep.” This... more
In 2016, the FBI attaché in Pretoria, South Africa, got a phone call from a woman asking the FBI to... more
Ken Eto worked for the Chicago Outfit for 30 years. He was known as the mob’s bolita expert, bringing in... more
Stories of animals really going for it. Criminal is going back on tour in February! We’ll be telling brand new stories,... more
Today we meet “Genius Grant” winner Andrea Armstrong. In 2019, she started the Incarceration Transparency Project to identify and make... more
When a young woman showed up at a boarding house in Manhattan, she said her name was Nellie Brown –... more
In the early 1970s, Marty Goddard was worried about the high rates of sexual assault in Chicago. She learned from... more
In the 1950s poodles were all the rage — one tabloid even reported that when a girl “makes the big... more
In 1913, museums and art galleries in London received a memo from the police. It told them to be careful... more
In the 1980s, Liverpool was having what journalists called a heroin epidemic. The chairman of a local organization where people... more
After a 17-hour-long interrogation, a woman confesses to a murder. But then, evidence surfaces proving that she can’t have actually... more
In 1989, Helen Ackley decided to sell her old Victorian house in Nyack, New York. It didn’t go as planned.... more
Jack Barsky was a college student in 1970 when the KGB knocked on the door of his dorm room to... more
Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert were once members of the radical activist group the Weather Underground. In 1981, they helped... more
Here's a little preview of what we’re making over on Criminal Plus! We’re having a lot of fun making these... more
This episode continues where Episode 237 leaves off. 17 years after he shot a man, Trevell Coleman walked into a police... more
Trevell Coleman signed with Bad Boy Records in 1998. He made it onto the Billboard charts, and was called “the... more
We’re coming up on 10 years of Criminal. In the past decade, we've loved taking the show all over the... more
On September 16, 1922, a reverend and a choir singer were found dead under a tree. Between their bodies was... more
Jeff German was a reporter for over 40 years in Las Vegas. He spent his life covering the mafia, corruption,... more
In 1916, two British soldiers were held captive in a remote prisoner-of-war camp. People said the camp was escape-proof. One... more
Iceland is one of the most peaceful countries in the world, but people there love to read about crime. Even... more
A preview of what we’re making over on Criminal Plus! Hear me and Criminal co-creator Lauren Spohrer taking your questions,... more
In April of 1995, wildlife biologists flew small airplanes over Yellowstone National Park, looking for two missing wolves. “They’re just... more
When Amy Loughren started working as a nurse at Somerset Medical Center, she did everything she could to hide the... more
A story about religion, sex, an assassination, and silverware. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our occasional... more
In the summer of 1917, 16-year-old Elsie Wright took a photograph of her 9-year-old cousin, Frances Griffiths. It was the... more
The UNABOM investigation was one of the longest manhunts in American history - it lasted for 18 years starting in... more
In the summer of 1917, 16-year-old Elsie Wright took a photograph of her 9-year-old cousin, Frances Griffiths. It was the first photograph... more