Santana True Crime

A Tennessee execution was stopped at the last minute after officials were unable to establish the IV lines required to carry out the lethal injection of death row inmate Tony Carruthers.

Carruthers was convicted of the 1994 kidnapping and murders of Marcellos Anderson, Delois Anderson, and Frederick Tucker—three victims who prosecutors said were beaten, shot, and buried alive.

In this episode of Santana True Crime, Cameron Santana is joined by Dr. Bill Kimberlin, author of Watch Me Die, and Abby from On Being a Police Officer to examine what happened inside the execution chamber, why the procedure was halted, and the broader questions surrounding capital punishment in America.

The discussion explores:
• Tennessee's execution protocol
• Why a backup IV line is required
• The failed attempt to establish a central line
• The emotional impact on victims' families
• Tennessee's history of execution-related controversies
• Lethal injection versus nitrogen gas
• Whether modern execution methods are designed more for public perception than reality

Dr. Kimberlin also shares firsthand experiences attending executions and explains why he was not surprised by the outcome.

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#TrueCrime #TonyCarruthers #DeathPenalty #LethalInjection #Execution #Tennessee #DrBillKimberlin #CrimeNews #CriminalJustice #SantanaTrueCrime #DeathRow #JusticeSystem #Podcast #TrueCrimePodcast

In 1992, Harris County Deputy Kent McGowen became the center of one of the most controversial cases in Texas law enforcement history.

Was he a reckless deputy… or a man convicted by rumor, politics, and public perception?

Author Jerry Langton joins Santana True Crime to discuss his new book Reasonable Doubts: How Rumors and Innuendo Convicted Deputy Kent McGowen of Murder and the complicated story behind the headlines. We revisit the shooting, the investigation, the trial, and Kent’s ongoing search for redemption decades later.

This is more than a true crime story — it’s a deep look into police culture, public opinion, justice, and the human cost of controversy.

🔔 Subscribe to Santana True Crime for weekly true crime interviews, investigations, and live discussions.

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👕 Official Santana True Crime merch is now available!

#TrueCrime #KentMcGowen #JerryLangton #PoliceShooting #TrueCrimePodcast #TexasCrime #SantanaTrueCrime #ColdCase #CrimeDocumentary #LawEnforcement

Tonight on Santana True Crime, we break down the major development in the Gretchen Fleming case after authorities announced the arrest of Preston Pierce in connection with Gretchen’s disappearance and death.

Gretchen Fleming vanished from Parkersburg, West Virginia in December 2022 after being last seen leaving a bar with Pierce. For years, the case captured national attention as investigators continued searching for answers. Now, a grand jury has indicted Pierce on charges including first-degree murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and concealment of a deceased human body.

Tonight we examine:

• The timeline leading to the arrest
• The evidence investigators revealed
• Why the case took years to reach this point
• The discovery and identification of remains
• What happens next legally
• Questions that still remain unanswered

As always, we approach the case from both investigative and law enforcement perspectives while keeping the focus on Gretchen and her family.

Join us LIVE and share your thoughts respectfully in the chat.

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What really happened to Matthew McDonald?

In this episode of Santana True Crime, Matthew’s sister Sam discusses shocking claims that Matthew had become involved with a group committing robberies and may have been planning to rob someone connected to $50,000.

Who knew about the alleged plan?
Did the intended victim find out?
And could Matthew have become the target instead?

Joining the discussion is current Chicago homicide detective and author Michele Wood, who provides investigative insight into the inconsistencies, delays, and unanswered questions surrounding this case.

We also discuss reports that individuals may have been using Matthew’s phone and social media after his disappearance, conflicting witness statements, and the challenges families face when searching for answers in missing person investigations.

Check out Michele Wood’s book Model Detective and support the show by following, rating, and sharing Santana True Crime.

n recent months, claims have gone viral suggesting that multiple scientists in the United States have gone missing or died under suspicious circumstances.

But is there any real connection between these cases… or is this a narrative fueled by social media?

In this episode of Santana True Crime, we break down the known facts behind several of these cases — including missing persons, confirmed deaths, and how these incidents are being linked online.

In this episode of Santana True Crime, we sit down with former Chicago homicide detective Michele Wood, author of Model Detective: A True Story of Heels, Handcuffs and Homicides.

Michele’s story is unlike anything you’ve heard—balancing two completely different worlds: modeling and homicide investigations. From working brutal 30-hour murder cases to interviewing violent offenders and solving sex crimes, she shares what the job is really like behind the scenes.

We dive into:

• What it takes to become a homicide detective
• The psychological side of interviewing killers
• Cases that stayed with her forever
• The reality of working 20–30 hours straight
• Her “Golden Rules” for surviving the job
• And what years of investigating violent crime teaches you about human nature

This is a raw, unfiltered look at life inside homicide—far beyond what you see on TV.

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments:
Do you think people are born evil… or made?

What really happened to the Yuba County Five?
In this episode of Santana True Crime, I’m joined by author Tony Wright, author of Things Aren’t Right, and criminologist David Hayes to examine one of America’s strangest unsolved mysteries.

We break down the major theories surrounding the disappearance and deaths of the Yuba County Five, including:

• Misadventure and exposure
• Foul play theories
• Why the men abandoned the Mercury Montego

• Behavioral and criminological perspectives
• Evidence that still fuels debate nearly 50 years later

Was this a tragic case of disorientation and survival gone wrong… or is there something much darker behind what happened?

Tony Wright brings decades of research into the case, while Dr. Hayes offers criminological analysis on the competing theories and what the evidence may suggest.

What theory do you believe? Let me know in the comments.

👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy true crime deep dives and unsolved mysteries.

The murder of Liz Barraza was caught on camera—but the killer is still unidentified.

In this episode of Santana True Crime, former FBI profiler Julia Cowley joins the show to break down one of the most disturbing unsolved cases in recent years: the Liz Barraza murder case.

Julia walks through what the suspect’s behavior, planning, and actions at the scene reveal about the type of person responsible. From victimology to offender profiling, this episode dives into the psychology behind the crime—and what investigators may be looking for.

If you’re interested in true crime, criminal profiling, and unsolved cases, this is one you don’t want to miss.

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In this episode of Santana True Crime, we break down NEW details learned from a recent phone conversation with the person who discovered Virginia’s body. While the witness is not appearing on the show, we will be sharing what he told us—information that adds new perspective to the crime scene and timeline.

With the anniversary of her death tomorrow, this episode takes a deeper look into one of North Carolina’s most haunting cold cases.

Tonight we cover:

• What the witness told us about finding Virginia
• New insights into the original crime scene
• Details that may have been overlooked for decades
• The biggest unanswered questions that remain

She spent years writing to one of America’s most notorious serial killers—the Green River Killer. What he revealed in those letters is disturbing, personal, and something most people never hear.

In this episode of Santana True Crime, author Maria DiLorenzo shares her direct correspondence with Gary Ridgway, offering rare insight into the mind of a serial killer.

Also joining the show is Dr. Bill Kimberlin, author of Watch Me Die, who breaks down what really happens inside executions—and what he witnessed firsthand.

This episode dives deep into:

• Serial killer psychology
• Letters from Gary Ridgway
• What killers reveal in private
• The reality of executions
• Stories you won’t hear anywhere else

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.