Examining the Role of True Crime Podcasts In Facilitating Solvability in Cold Case Homicide Investigations

• In Event: Crime and Justice in "True Crime" Media

Abstract

True crime podcasts have risen in popularity over the past decade. While these podcasts most often serve as a form of infotainment, true crime podcasters and consumers assert that this media attention can educate and inform the public, generate new leads, create pressure to reinvestigate cases, and in some instances lead to solving a case. In fact, several podcasts have featured unsolved cases that were subsequently cleared through the identification and conviction of a suspect or the exoneration of those wrongfully convicted. The current study utilized true crime podcast transcripts and open-source data to explore if podcast coverage resulted in any actions that led to investigators clearing unsolved cases. A content analysis of the media articles covering these cases revealed several themes, including crowdsourcing investigation, influencing law enforcement actions, and un-blurring the boundaries. Implications for practice and policy are discussed as we consider the function of true crime podcasts and the role they may play in cold case investigation.

Author

• Narelle Hickmon, Michigan State University