Small Town Dicks

Detective Ryan is called after a high school teacher makes a troubling admission to her therapist. With more than a hundred potential suspects to consider, Ryan begins narrowing the field, and an interview scheduled out of pure convenience turns out to be a major break in the case.

As the evidence comes together, the investigation reveals a disturbing story of blurred boundaries, abuse of trust, and choices that carry lasting consequences. 

Lieutenant Ryan has worked in law enforcement for 15 years. He started his career as a patrol deputy and later moved into investigations as a detective, working in a unit that handled Crimes Against Children, including complex and sensitive cases involving abuse and exploitation.

After promoting through the ranks, Ryan has served in leadership roles in patrol services, special investigations, and spent several years in the Training Division, where he helped build his agency’s training academy and shape the next generation of officers. He also served for six years on his agency’s Crisis Negotiations Team, eventually becoming the team leader.

Ryan comes from a law enforcement family—his father and uncle both wore the badge before him, with his father serving over 40 years in law enforcement. He’s currently a shift commander on patrol and continues to oversee the field training program in his district.

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In part two of this two-part case, Detective Bre works to connect her current investigation to a years-old cold case that could reveal more about the suspect and his pattern of behavior.

As she digs deeper into the evidence, additional victims begin to emerge. Bre must navigate a frustrating legal system, build a case strong enough to hold the suspect accountable, and fight for justice and closure for the victims and their families.

Detective Bre has been in law enforcement for two decades as both a detective and a member of the Special Victims squad, investigating crimes against children, adult sex crimes and child death investigations. She is currently assigned to the Homicide Squad working cold cases. Bre grew up in a law enforcement family and shares the profession with her sister, Alia, and dad.

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In part one of this two-part case, a teenager makes disturbing allegations about a trusted neighbor. Detective Bre begins an investigation that quickly reveals the situation may be far bigger than it first appeared.

As Bre follows the evidence, a pattern of grooming, secrecy and manipulation begins to emerge. Then the investigation uncovers a possible connection to a years-old death that had once been ruled justified, forcing detectives to take a closer look at what really happened.

Detective Bre has been in law enforcement for two decades as both a detective and a member of the Special Victims squad, investigating crimes against children, adult sex crimes and child death investigations. She is currently assigned to the Homicide Squad working cold cases. Bre grew up in a law enforcement family and shares the profession with her sister, Alia, and dad.

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When a woman suddenly stops showing up for work, a welfare check at her home raises more questions than answers. Detective Sergeant Laura arrives to find a guarded husband whose account is filled with inconsistencies.

As the missing person investigation deepens, Laura must trust her instincts, keep a potential suspect talking, and carefully piece together what really happened in a case that shocked a small, tight-knit community.

Laura Price spent her law enforcement career asking questions, following clues, and discovering that on a small island, things are rarely as simple as they first appear. Her 23-year career began as a reserve deputy and took her through corrections, patrol, investigations, and supervision before retiring from the Island County Sheriff’s Office in 2022.

Laura spent much of her investigative career working child abuse and sex crimes, but in a small agency, detectives rarely have the luxury of staying in one lane. When a homicide or other major case came along, everyone rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Along the way, she learned to always look in the corners for the clues.

These days, Laura has traded the radio and badge for a somewhat quieter life—although she still has a natural curiosity, a tendency to ask a lot of questions, and an appreciation for a good story.

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During a volatile period in Edinburgh, Deputy Chief Constable Tom is called to the scene of a shooting, a rare crime in the UK. The victim is a low-level criminal, and police fear the killing could signal the beginning of a gang war.

Investigators put pressure on local criminal networks, but the effort produces no new leads. With the case stalled, Tom changes course and takes a closer look at the people who witnessed the shooting.

What they reveal sends the investigation in a direction Tom never expected.

Ret. Deputy Chief Constable Tom was one of Scotland’s most senior police officers. A graduate of Edinburgh University and The FBI Academy, his last role was as commander of a linked murder investigation, commonly known as The Worlds End Murders. He writes a regular “Inside Justice” column for The Scotsman newspaper and has authored several books, including “The Worlds End Murders: The Final Verdict” and a groundbreaking study of forensic science called “Ruxton: The First Modern Murder.” He is currently working on a new book examining the sex industry. He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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Detective Greg is called to a shooting at a home in a rural community. While investigators are still processing the scene, a stranger suddenly appears in the bushes with a gun to his head.

Greg brings the man in for questioning and quickly discovers something unsettling: he’s had several encounters with law enforcement in just the past week, and each time, he’s given officers a different name.

As Greg works to uncover the stranger’s real identity and determine what brought him to the scene of a shooting, the case becomes one he’ll never forget.

Detective Greg retired with a total of 26 years across corrections, patrol, narcotics and violent crimes investigations. He was active on a joint agency SWAT team and then on his own agency’s Special Response Team for a total of 16 years and was also a Defensive Tactics and Firearm Instructor for his agency for almost all of his career.

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A group of teenage boys are hanging out when a reckless bet turns deadly. Brian is dared to push another boy, Michael, from a three-story train trestle on a freezing winter night. 

Prosecutor Kristin is assigned to the case as her jurisdiction pursues felony murder charges against the teenagers involved. But the controversial prosecution quickly turns into a complicated legal battle, leaving Kristin fighting largely on her own to hold the group accountable for Michael’s death.

Kristin takes us inside the investigation, the felony murder prosecution, and the difficult question at the center of it all: how responsible should each teenager be for a death only one of them physically caused?

Kristin began her legal career in 1992 working as a deputy prosecuting attorney for King County, WA. In her ten years as a criminal prosecutor, Kristin conducted over 50 jury trials while working in several different divisions. Her caseload ranged from property crime to homicide, but she spent the majority of her time prosecuting domestic violence. Kristin attended the National Advocacy Center (NAC) in Columbia, SC and became a trial advocacy instructor at the NAC before leaving King County to take a position with the Vermont Department of Public Safety.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Akil Baddoo joins Yeardley Smith for a candid and joyful conversation about confidence, resilience, and learning how to stay grounded through the inevitable highs and lows of professional baseball.

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A quiet summer night takes a terrifying turn when a woman discovers someone she knows has broken into her home, intent on hurting her. What follows is an hours-long, harrowing fight for survival and an all-hands-on-deck search for a dangerous suspect. 

Our own Detective Dan shares this chilling home invasion case, taking us inside the meticulous police investigation, the race to find the suspect and one woman’s extraordinary determination to survive.

Detective Dan was formerly a K9 handler and Violent Crimes detective at the same Small Town police department as his brother, Dave. Dan regards his years as a K9 handler to be the most rewarding of his career. He is now retired.

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In the finale, a new DNA tool, often referred to as genetic genealogy, has finally led investigators to Joseph DeAngelo’s doorstep. Paul walks us through the aftermath of finally identifying the Golden State Killer. For the victims, it brings long-awaited answers. For Paul Holes, it brings relief, attention, and a void, much like you’d expect when your 24-year obsession finally comes to an end. 

Want to hear the entire series right now?

Join Super Duper Fam at ⁠⁠⁠⁠smalltowndicks.com/superfam⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to the full ad-free binge feed, and use promo code GSK for your first month free.

What is Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes?

This is a 10-part limited series from Small Town Dicks, Paul Holes tells the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer.

Across ten episodes, Paul joins Yeardley, Dan, and Dave for a firsthand account of one of the most significant cold case investigations in American history. From the early crimes of the Visalia Ransacker to the East Area Rapist attacks, the Southern California homicides, and the DNA breakthrough that finally identified Joseph DeAngelo, Paul walks listeners through the evidence, the setbacks, the mistakes, and the personal toll of doggedly pursuing a case for decades.

This is a rare, firsthand account of the work, the weight, and the persistence behind a case that forever changed the way crimes are investigated. 

Small Town Dicks Presents: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes is an Audio 99 production.

Written by Paul Holes and featuring Detective Dan, Detective Dave, and Yeardley Smith.

Produced by Jessica Halstead and Monika Scott.

Executive produced by Ben Cornwell and Yeardley Smith.

Edited by Katie McMurran and Soren Begin, with additional editing by Cristina Bracamontes.

Sound supervision by Logan Heftel.

Design and social media by Andrew Polk.

Theme music composed by Logan Heftel.

Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠⁠⁠⁠antonfloquet.com⁠⁠⁠

To support the making of this podcast, visit smalltowndicks.com/superfam and hit the “Join” button.

Stream all episodes at smalltowndicks.com/goldenstatekiller.

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