Advertise on podcast: Forbes True Crime

Emmy Award-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller has spent years investigating black markets and trafficking underworlds. Now she’s taking a look at a different type of crime—romance scams. According to the FTC, Americans have reported losing billions of dollars through these schemes in recent years. In her new project, “Super Scam Me,” Mariana went undercover as an empty-nester looking for love to get a view into this heartbreaking type of con, and joined “Forbes True Crime” to discuss her experiment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On August 23, 1971, Melissa Highsmith was just a toddler when she was taken from her Fort Worth home by someone posing as a babysitter. She vanished seemingly without a trace and was missing for over 50 years. But with the help of DNA testing—and her family’s determination—she was found in 2022 and reunited with loved ones she didn’t even know she had. In the podcast “Baby,” Melissa is telling her story of what happened in those 51 years when, unbeknownst to her, she was a missing person. Sean Kipe, the host and producer of “Baby: The Melissa Highsmith Story” joined “Forbes True Crime” to discuss the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cornell announced Tuesday that former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates has been selected to lead an independent review of the university’s response to sexual assault allegations involving multiple former members of a fraternity. A former student known as Jane Doe filed an explosive 101-page lawsuit against the university and others in September, alleging that in October 2024, she was drugged and gang raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house. In a statement, the university said it had previously conducted a “thorough Title IX investigation” into the alleged incident. Within weeks of Jane Doe’s lawsuit being filed, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to lead a criminal investigation into the allegations. James promised to “review the facts, gather evidence, interview witnesses and, if warranted, pursue prosecutions.” Sexual harassment lawyer Megan Thomas joins “Forbes True Crime” to discuss the developments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times best-selling author Harlan Coben is one of the world’s most prolific thriller writers. He has written dozens of novels, and over 10 of his books have been adapted into hit series and movies. Now, he’s taking on true-crime stories in “Harlan Coben's Final Twist,” and he joined “Forbes True Crime” to discuss what’s in store for the second season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the early morning hours of June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her bedroom, and vanished without a trace from her Utah home in the middle of the night. Her disappearance captivated the nation, and against all odds, Elizabeth was rescued after surviving being held captive for nine months. In the years that followed, she has dedicated her time to advocacy work and has continued to be a prominent voice in the fights against child abduction and sexual violence. She now hosts the podcast, “The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart,” and joins “Forbes True Crime” to discuss this new chapter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aileen Wuornos is known as one of America’s most notorious female serial killers—she confessed to killing seven middle-aged men between 1989 and 1990. Authorities said Wuornos would meet the men, eventually fatally shoot them with a .22-caliber pistol, rob them, and in some instances, pawn their belongings. Wuornos initially claimed she killed all the men out of self-defense, but prosecutors argued the murders were calculated and premeditated. The jury in her first trial deliberated for less than two hours before finding her guilty of first-degree murder. Four days later, she was sentenced to death. She then pleaded either no contest or guilty to five other murders, and was given five additional death sentences. After she was convicted, she recanted her claim of self-defense and said she would kill again. The infamous Wuornos was executed by lethal injection on Oct. 9, 2002. Executive producer Stephen Dost and actress Morag Peacock join “Forbes True Crime” to discuss their new series, “Unmasking a Monster: Aileen Wuornos.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It took the jury just over two hours of deliberations before they found Caleb Flynn guilty of murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, on February 16, 2026. Prosecutors said the former “American Idol” contestant killed his wife in their Tipp City, Ohio, home and then staged the scene to make it look like she was shot by an intruder. The state called dozens of witnesses, including Caleb’s former mistress, who read aloud some of the over 100,000 they allegedly exchanged in the year leading up to Ashley’s death. In the texts, Caleb repeatedly said that he wished his wife were dead. Former prosecutor Margaret McLean joins “Forbes True Crime” to discuss the verdict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lindsay Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, is now claiming there isn’t enough evidence to prove the former labor and delivery nurse killed her three children—an argument the prosecutor called “laughable.” The major pivot happened during Lindsay Clancy’s first hearing since her triple murder trial ended in a mistrial earlier this month. Clancy was charged with murdering her three kids—5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan—on the evening of Jan. 24, 2023. During the trial, there was no dispute over who killed the children; instead, the case centered on Clancy’s mental state at the time. At Tuesday’s hearing, no new trial date was set, and Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said afterward that his office still hasn’t decided whether to pursue a retrial. Shari Karney, an attorney and victims’ rights advocate, joins “Forbes True Crime” to discuss her takeaways from the hearing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prosecutors in central New York are reopening an investigation into an alleged sexual assault case after a former Cornell student filed a lawsuit against the university and others claiming that in October 2024, she was drugged and gang raped by then-fraternity members inside the Chi Phi house. Former prosecutor Mark Astor joins “Forbes True Crime” to discuss the bombshell lawsuit and the district attorney’s decision to reopen the investigation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found killed in their Fall River, Massachusetts, home. The murders were particularly grisly—both Mr. and Mrs. Borden were struck with a hatchet-like weapon at least 10 times each. Thirty-two-year-old Lizzie Borden was eventually arrested and charged with killing her father and stepmother—crimes she stood trial for the following summer. Lizzie was the primary suspect as she was one of the few people near the house around the time of the murders, but the prosecution’s case was largely based on circumstantial evidence. No definitive murder weapon was ever identified, and Lizzie, who spoke with authorities shortly after Andrew’s violent murder, wasn’t found covered in blood. After the jury briefly deliberated, she was acquitted of the double murders. No one else was ever charged or convicted of a crime related to the Bordens' deaths, but despite her acquittal, over a century later, many still suspect Lizzie was the one behind the hatchet that day. Cara Robertson, the author of “The Trial of Lizzie Borden,” joins “Forbes True Crime” to discuss the life and legacy of Lizzie Borden.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former "American Idol" contestant Caleb Flynn is currently on trial for the murder of his wife, Ashley Flynn. He is accused of killing his wife in February 2026 and then staging the scene so it looked like she was shot in a burglary gone wrong. Former prosecutor Margaret McLean joins “Forbes True Crime” to discuss the standout moments from the trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrea Canning, correspondent for “Dateline” and host of the podcast, “Dateline: True Crime Weekly,” joined “Forbes True Crime” to discuss her career telling true crime stories, as well as what to expect from the upcoming 35th season of “Dateline.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The trial of Lindsay Clancy ended in a mistrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict following seven days of deliberations. According to multiple jurors, the jury was deadlocked 11-1, with the majority finding that the Massachusetts mother was not guilty by lack of criminal responsibility. Clancy’s defense team did not dispute that she killed her children, but argued that she should not be held criminally responsible for their deaths because the medical system repeatedly failed her and she was suffering from postpartum psychosis when she strangled them. Some jurors who spoke to the media in the days after the mistrial was declared said the lone holdout juror told the panel he had reasonable doubt but refused to change his verdict, Now, it is up to Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz to decide whether to retry Clancy in the deaths of her three young children— 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan. Sierra Gillespie, host of Law&Crime’s “Scandal,” has been covering the case and joins “Forbes True Crime” to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nancy Glass, podcast host and CEO of Glass Entertainment Group, joins “Forbes True Crime” to discuss a story of a contentious custody battle and alleged smear campaign that is featured in Season 3 of "Burden of Guilt." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fate of Lindsay Clancy remains in the hands of a jury that is still deadlocked after over 30 hours of deliberations. Fireworks erupted in the Massachusetts courtroom Thursday after Judge William Sullivan received a note from the jury, read out the definition of reasonable doubt to the courtroom, and sent the jury back to continue deliberating. Shortly after, defense attorney Kevin Reddington requested that a juror who allegedly "refuses to listen" to the judge's instructions on reasonable doubt be removed. The Commonwealth argued against the juror being discharged, and Judge Sullivan said, “I don’t feel it’s appropriate for me to say I agree with one juror or 11.” The jury told the judge twice this week they were unable to reach a unanimous decision on Lindsay Clancy, the mom on trial for the murders of her three young children— 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan. Clancy’s team did not dispute she killed her kids, but argued she shouldn’t be held criminally responsible for their deaths because the medical system repeatedly failed her and she was suffering from postpartum psychosis on the night of Jan. 24, 2023. The Commonwealth argued that Clancy was not in a state of psychosis, but made an intentional and premeditated choice to strangle her small kids with exercise bands in the basement of their home. Shari Karney, an attorney and victims' rights advocate, joins "Forbes True Crime" to discuss the latest developments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices