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8 True Crime Podcasts Where They Find the Killer

true crime podcasts where they find the killer

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8 True Crime Podcasts Where They Find the Killer

True crime podcasts where they find the killer include Your Own Backyard, The Teacher's Pet, and In the Dark Season 2. Users frequently praise these shows for their effect on real cases, from helping identify suspects to changing legal outcomes. Your Own Backyard gets called the "Holy Grail" by one user.

The Teacher's Pet is often linked to the push that brought charges against the killer. Users say law enforcement had not actively pursued the case, while pressure from the podcast helped build momentum toward a conviction. The show fits listeners who want a case where reporting affected the legal process.

In the Dark Season 2 gets the strongest praise for its measurable legal impact. The investigation led to Curtis Flowers' release from prison and influenced a U.S. Supreme Court decision. One user called it the podcast that led to the most tangible change.

For a guaranteed solved case, users recommend DNA:ID, which covers solved cases and gives each story a clear conclusion. Casefile covers solved and unsolved cases, but its website has a filter that helps listeners skip unsolved episodes. The Girlfriends is another recent podcast that users describe as solved.

Bear Brook Season 1 also gets a strong recommendation, since one listener helped identify the victims in the case. Who Killed Emma? from the BBC was taken down during the trial and later returned, so listeners can now hear its account of a solved case.

Top podcasts

  1. Your Own Backyard Users link it to identifying suspects and bringing charges in a real case.
  2. The Teacher's Pet Users say podcast pressure helped build momentum toward a conviction.
  3. In the Dark Season 2 Its investigation led to Curtis Flowers' release and influenced a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
  4. DNA:ID It covers solved cases and gives every story a clear conclusion.
  5. Casefile Its website has a filter for listeners who want to skip unsolved episodes.
  6. The Girlfriends Users describe this recent podcast as a solved case.
  7. Bear Brook Season 1 A listener helped identify the victims in the case.
  8. Who Killed Emma? The BBC podcast returned after its removal during the trial.
8 True Crime Podcasts Where They Find the Killer — infographic

Podcasts That Directly Led to a Resolution

Your Own Backyard: This podcast is frequently cited for its direct impact on real-world cases, helping to identify suspects and bring about charges. "Your Own Back Yard is the Holy Grail."
The Teacher's Pet: Many Users believe that this podcast was instrumental in bringing charges against the killer, noting that law enforcement was not actively pursuing the case until the podcast gained traction. "The cops weren't actively looking at it. It was the pressure from the podcast that gathered momentum towards a conviction."
In the Dark Season 2: This podcast is highly praised for its investigative journalism, which not only led to Curtis Flowers' release from prison but also influenced a U.S. Supreme Court decision. "Yeah of all the podcasts, S2 of In the Dark has led to the most tangible change."

Podcasts Focused on Solved Cases

DNA:ID: This podcast exclusively covers solved cases, providing a satisfying conclusion to every story. "DNA:ID has all solved cases. No frills…love host’s delivery."
Casefile: While Casefile covers both solved and unsolved cases, its website offers a filter to specifically find episodes with resolutions. "Casefile covers solved and unsolved, but they have a filter on their website so you know which ones to skip if you don’t want unsolved cases."
The Girlfriends: This recent podcast also focuses on cases that have been successfully solved. "The Girlfriends is a recent one that is solved!"
Bear Brook: Season 1 of this podcast is noted for its high quality, with one listener even contributing to the identification of victims. "Bear Brook and one of its listeners conclusively identified the victims in that case."
Who Killed Emma?: This BBC podcast was temporarily taken down during the trial but is now available again, offering a well-produced account of a solved case. "Who killed Emma (bbc podcast) it was taken down for a long while for the trial but it’s back up again."

Are you interested in podcasts where the investigation directly influences the legal outcome of a cold case?

Bottom line

For true crime podcasts that successfully identify the killer, Users frequently recommend Your Own Backyard, The Teacher's Pet, and In the Dark Season 2, noting their significant impact on real-world cases.

Community answers 26

What others in the community said:

First Season of Cold covering the Susan Powell case would be my recommendation.

98% upvoted

Hey everyone,

I will be moving soon and with that, will be having a longer commute. I am really getting back into true crime podcasts, but I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for long form podcasts that you found to be particularly creepy or eerie. Now, I know that can be subjective, but I would love to know what you have been listening to that might fit that bill. For me, Bear Brook and New Orleans Unsolved are quite creepy!

Thank you

Hunting Warhead, but it's a massive child sexual abuse story, so not tolerable for everyone. The main perp is one of the creepiest people you'll ever encounter, up there with JW Gacy.

95% upvoted

Hi all.

I am looking for some recommendations. I use true crime podcasts to fall asleep. But not all true crime podcasts work for me. Here are the ones that work.

  • Casefile
  • Sword and scale
  • The minds of madness
  • They walk among us
  • UK true crime podcasts
  • Serial killers
  • Cults
  • True crime brewery

I have also strayed into podcasts that are similar. They include

  • Let's talk about sects
  • Disaster zone
  • Causality

I think they help me sleep because * These podcasts all follow a rhythm; background, incident, outcome. I find that I can fall asleep to them because I know the rhythm. * The stories are interesting but they are not so interesting that I have to stay awake listen to it to find out what happens. That's one of the reasons why the great true crime podcast "criminal" is not on my list. It's too captivating. * It's not filled with inane chit chat and banter, like my favourite murder. * The hosts even tone and straight delivery is not distracting as I sleep.

My problem is that, after listening to true crime podcasts for years, i am finally finding the content to be a bit too impactful. A few too many nights waking up to gruesome details of murder or sexual assault have gotten to me.

So, I'm looking for recommendations with some pretty narrow parameters. Can anyone make any recommendations? Not necessarily true crime but something similar to the podcasts I have listed.

97% upvoted

Lots of podcasts can fairly lay claim to identifying a suspect who most probably committed the crime. But which ones actually resulted directly or indirectly in charges being brought or a conclusive identification of someone who is dead. Your Own Backyard is an obvious one. Teachers Pet maybe. Others? Edit: Let me add podcasts that resulted in a convicted person being officially exonerated.

Season 1 of In the Dark, about the Jacob Wetterling case. Best, worst, creepiest. My gold standard for podcasts.

97% upvoted

I’ve listened to many podcasts where after many episodes a suspect is only speculated at or a murder remains completely unsolved. I generally don’t read much going in because I haven’t necessarily WANTED to know if it remains unsolved but now I’m finding it frustrating when I don’t.

I want high quality, one host, no laughing, and a deep dive into an interesting case.

Thanks!!!

Bear Brook and one of its listeners conclusively identified the victims in that case.

What about The Teacher's Pet? I feel Dawson wouldn't have ever even made it to court without the podcast

I think there’s an argument to be made that Dateline’s ongoing coverage of Betsy Faria’s murder eventually helped exonerate Russ Faria and get Pam Hupp arrested. I know they were covering the murder before they spun it out into its own series. I’m not sure if local LE were already looking into the other deaths and inconsistencies, though. (IIRC Russ Faria was wrongfully convicted twice so they probably weren’t looking very hard.)

Time to listen to The Thing About Pam again, my memory of the timeline isn’t great.

Your Own Back Yard is the Holy Grail.

Yeah of all the podcasts, S2 of In the Dark has led to the most tangible change. Not only did their work result in Curtis Flowers leaving prison, but it led to a decision in the U.S. Supreme Court.

93% upvoted

Occasionally multi-part-episode crimes are okay, but most true crime threads on this subreddit skew heavily towards one crime per season or one crime per entire podcast.

My other preferences would be most episodes be 40 minutes long or longer, and they don't lean hard into torture and/or crimes against children (but the podcast doesn't have to outright prohibit those).

Both conversational/funny and strictly narrative are OK. Thanks in advance!

This! The cops weren't actively looking at it. It was the pressure from the podcast that gathered momentum towards a conviction.

Who killed Emma (bbc podcast) it was taken down for a long while for the trial but it’s back up again. It’s well done

84% upvoted

I’m just after listening to the Rest is History Jack the Ripper series. AMAZING. I’m wondering if anyone has any recs for something similar. Where it’s factual well researched respectful but still light at times. Thanks in advance !

Bear Brook Season 1 is great.

90% upvoted

everything i look for is true crime but not what I'm looking for. something with a hunt for a killer with twists and mystery that keeps you guessing.

There is one called “who killed Emma?” The host interviewed the alleged killer before he was arrested

The Girlfriends is a recent one that is solved!

The Opportunist also covers cases that are solved, though there isn't always justice! They cover mostly scammers and such, so it's not as much a who dunnit and more a 'what the hack did they do'.

Only murders in the building

80% upvoted

I’d like to see something that has one or two characters looking into a mystery for their podcast and somehow becoming a part of it. Thanks in advance!

casefile covers solved and unsolved, but they have a filter on their website so you know which ones to skip if you don’t want unsolved cases

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Limetown. I recommend listening to the podcast in between episodes.

DNA:ID has all solved cases. No frills…love host’s delivery.

Related questions

Which true crime podcasts directly led to charges?
Users frequently name Your Own Backyard and The Teacher's Pet. They connect both podcasts with pressure that helped identify suspects or bring charges.
What true crime podcasts cover only solved cases?
DNA:ID covers solved cases, with a conclusion in every story. Users also describe The Girlfriends as a recent solved case podcast.
Which podcast had the biggest legal impact?
Users give that distinction to In the Dark Season 2. It led to Curtis Flowers' release from prison and influenced a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

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