The Nation’s First Manhunt, retired Secret Service agent Todd Hiles and retired FBI agent Stewart Fillmore take you back to the beginning of modern federal law enforcement—to a murder that would ignite America’s very first nationwide manhunt.

When FBI Special Agent Edwin C. Shanahan was shot and killed in 1925 by Martin J. Durkin, a ruthless car thief who had already wounded four police officers to escape capture, it sent shockwaves through Chicago and the fledgling Bureau of Investigation. Shanahan’s death marked the first time an FBI agent was killed in the line of duty—and it demanded justice on a national scale.

Hiles and Fillmore unravel how Durkin’s desperate flight triggered an unprecedented, coast-to-coast pursuit that would reshape how America hunted its most dangerous fugitives. What began as one agent’s tragic death became a turning point—uniting law enforcement agencies, forging new investigative methods, and laying the groundwork for the modern FBI.

From the streets of Chicago to the train stations in Texas, Back in Crime uncovers the legacy of Edwin C. Shanahan, the determination of the men who chased his killer, and the manhunt that defined a new era of justice in America.

Follow Texas Crime Travelers:

TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@texascrimetra...⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/texascrimetrave...⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/texascrimetr...⁠⁠

Substack: https://substack.com/@texascrimetravelers

https://texascrimetravelers.com/

Have a specific case in mind that you'd like us to explore or just want to get in touch? 

Case Request/Contact Form: ⁠⁠https://forms.gle/hynpjFrKEVvG6FWw9⁠⁠

For business inquiries or opportunities to sponsor our next podcast episode, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

Music by: Eddie Bandas

Contact: [email protected]