In 2011, 19-year-old Nikkita Grender was just weeks away from becoming a mother when her life was cut short in the most horrifying way. A fire tore through her Newport flat in the early hours of February 5, and as the smoke cleared, a darker truth emerged - one that pointed to someone close to home.

What seemed like a tragic accident was something far more sinister, leaving a community in shock and a family searching for justice.

This story is genuinely one of the most heartbreaking and disturbing I’ve ever researched in my four-plus years as a true crime podcaster. My sincerest condolences go to Paul, Marcia, and Luke.

For a deeper understanding of this tragic case, I highly recommend you read Nikitta: A Mother’s Story by Marcia Grender, released in February 2016. You can also watch episode 3 of season 2 of Britain’s Darkest Taboos, which aired on October 23, 2013.

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Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this monthly collaboration series, Adam from the UK True Crime podcast and I take a step back from individual cases to explore a curated selection of gripping crime stories that made headlines in March 2025. From chilling local, national, and international headlines to quirky and more lighthearted stories, this series offers a glimpse into the diverse and often shocking world of true crime.

This month's stories include:

1. Dog walker, 74, sexually assaulted woman on dark Fife street
2. Thief jailed for life for Amazon driver's murder
3. Mike Amesbury writes to Chancellor to formally resign as MP
4. Murderer shouted ‘die die die’ as he stabbed man to death on quiet London street
5. Police Scotland axes 12,000 investigations to reduce officer workload
6. Fugitive wanted in John George murder case to be named in BBC Spotlight documentary
7. Man swallows stolen Tiffany earrings before police arrest him
8. Two criminals receive jail time after boasting on Facebook
9. CCTV shows shoplifters using pythons to distract cashier before stealing from petrol station

Join us as we dive into these extraordinary stories in the March 2025 edition of The Crime Roundup.

Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!

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David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

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Disclaimer:

The cases discussed in this episode are real and represent the worst day in many people's lives. We aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, viewer discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In February 2001, 67-year-old Alf Wilkins was killed in a fire deliberately set inside his Grimsby flat. But this wasn’t a random act of violence - it was the culmination of months of torment at the hands of his own neighbours.

Despite being acquitted of an indecent assault charge in November 2000, Alf remained a target. The locals refused to believe his innocence, fueled by the hysteria of the News of the World's infamous 'name-and-shame' campaign. Branded as something he was not, Alf was harassed, threatened, and ultimately, his life was taken in an act of brutal, misplaced vigilante justice.

Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!

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Intro music:⁣

David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

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Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early hours of August 5, 2000, Julie Tennant disappeared without a trace from her parents' home in Ballymena, Co Antrim. As days passed with no sign of the 21-year-old, a massive search effort was launched, but hopes of finding her alive faded with each passing moment.

Just over two weeks later, the grim reality came to light - a shallow grave concealed Julie’s remains, bringing the missing person investigation to a devastating conclusion. But who was responsible for her death, and what led to her brutal fate?

Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!

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Intro music:⁣

David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

davidjohnbrady.com

Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m joined by Brian and Cameron Santana in this interview episode. The American brothers are a duo with a unique skill set - Brian, an English professor and Cameron, a police officer - who joined forces to crack one of North Carolina’s most infamous cold cases.

On April 15, 1973, 19-year-old Virginia Olson’s body was discovered near the University of North Carolina-Asheville, sparking a decades-long investigation filled with twists, dead ends and chilling theories. For 50 years, law enforcement pursued the truth, sifting through connections to other crimes and a notorious serial killer.

Brian and Cameron’s meticulous research, blending academic analysis with investigative expertise, sheds new light on this haunting case. Join us as we discuss their journey, the obstacles they faced and the shocking revelations uncovered in 𝘈 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘴 - the book that finally brings long-awaited answers to a case that has remained unsolved for over half a century.

A Murder on Campus was published by Wild Blue Press on January 13, 2025, and you can order a copy here:

A Murder On Campus | Wild Blue Press

***This interview was recorded on February 10, 2025.

Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exciting giveaways, and much more!

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Do you have a guest request? Please send it to [email protected] or fill out a Contact Form at britishmurders.com/contact

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David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In September 2003, 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed vanished from her home in Warrington, Cheshire, leaving behind a worrying trail of unanswered questions. A bright and ambitious student, she had dreams of independence, but those dreams clashed with the expectations placed upon her by her family.

For years, her disappearance remained a mystery, until a shocking revelation finally exposed the horrifying truth. What really happened to Shafilea that night? And why did it take nearly a decade for justice to be served?

By covering Shafilea's story, I hope to raise awareness of the devastating reality of so-called "honour-based" abuse and the urgent need to challenge it. If you or someone you know is at risk or are experiencing it currently, please seek help from one of the below resources:

• Karma Nirvana (karmanirvana.org.uk)

• Savera UK (saverauk.co.uk)

• Halo Project (haloproject.org.uk)

• Freedom (freedomcharity.org.uk)

• True Honour (truehonour.org.uk)

Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!

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Intro music:⁣

David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

davidjohnbrady.com

Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In December 1994, 33-year-old Dr Michael Meenaghan was in his kitchen making a cup of tea when a single shotgun suddenly tore through his window, striking him in the chest. He somehow managed to dial 999 but collapsed before he could say a word.

When officers arrived, they found him slumped on the floor, the phone still hanging off the hook, surrounded by a pool of his own blood.

Over 30 years later, his murder remains a complete mystery. No weapon, no suspects, and no clear motive - just one chilling question: Who wanted Dr Meenaghan dead, and why?

If you have any information about this case, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, please contact Thames Valley Police on the link below or call 101:

Update a crime report | Thames Valley Police

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via the secure online form below:

Give information anonymously | Crimestoppers

Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!

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Intro music:⁣

David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

davidjohnbrady.com

Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m joined by actor-producer duo Aaron Vodovoz and Annelise Bianchini in this interview episode to discuss the UK revival of 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥 from award-winning playwright Lee Blessing.

𝘈 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦-𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 (𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦) 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩, 𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩'𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.

The play is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the complex intersection of true crime, ethics, and the allure of killers in our culture.

𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥, partnered by CrimeCon, has a limited run at London's brand-new Playhouse East theatre and runs from 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟰 to 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.

British Murders listeners can enjoy an exclusive 𝟮𝟬% 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧 on tickets by using the code '𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗦𝗛' at checkout via the Eventbrite link below:

Down the Road by Lee Blessing Tickets | Eventbrite

Head to americantheatreoflondon.co.uk for more information, and follow their socials below for updates on the play's production:

Facebook | American Theatre of London

Instagram | @amertheatreldn

TikTok | @amertheatreldn

X | @AmerTheatreLDN

***This interview was recorded on January 28, 2025.

Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exciting giveaways, and much more!

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David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this monthly collaboration series, Adam from the UK True Crime podcast and I take a step back from individual cases to explore a curated selection of gripping crime stories that made headlines in February 2025. From chilling local, national, and international headlines to quirky and more lighthearted stories, this series offers a glimpse into the diverse and often shocking world of true crime.

This month's stories include:

1. Lanarkshire dad's jaw shattered while protecting stepson in Carluke
2. Fraudster pretended to work for Greggs to nick thousands from Leeds City Council
3. Killer who snatched girl from garden tent makes new bid for freedom
4. Woman dies in shooting at village pub in Kent on Valentine’s Day
5. Hartlepool convenience store selling bootleg cigarettes
6. Private detectives to hand over info on 'new witnesses' to death of Scot in Spain
7. Female Police Officer Arrested for Shooting and Killing Her Son and His Teen Girlfriend
8. Polish murderer writes a second novel revealing secrets of his crimes
9. Kayaker survives being swallowed by humpback whale in Chile

Join us as we dive into these extraordinary stories in the February 2025 edition of The Crime Roundup.

Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!

Social Media:

Facebook | British Murders with Stuart Blues

Instagram | @britishmurders

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Private Facebook Group:

British Murders Podcast - Discussion Group

Website:

britishmurders.com

Intro music:⁣

David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

davidjohnbrady.com

Disclaimer:

The cases discussed in this episode are real and represent the worst day in many people's lives. We aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, viewer discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Robert Wilson went to work at the Thornton & Ross pharmaceutical plant in Linthwaite, Huddersfield on the evening of January 16, 2020, he had no idea that he would never return home.

The 53-year-old was carrying out a routine security check when he confronted two teenagers trespassing on the premises. What followed was a frenzied and senseless attack, in which Robert was subjected to an act of unimaginable violence.

This harrowing case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of knife crime and the dangers posed by individuals willing to commit acts of extreme violence.

Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!

Follow me on social media:

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Join the private Facebook group:

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Visit my website:

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Intro music:⁣

David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

davidjohnbrady.com

Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.