Step inside the chilling world of homicide investigations with retired Detective Sergeant First Class Harry Gavel of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. In this true crime podcast, The Mastermind of Murder, Gavel walks you through one of the most haunting cases of his career — the brutal killing of 30-year-old Robert C. Barr, a devoted father who was shot six times in his own home.

What begins as a puzzling suburban murder unravels into a tangled web of deceit, addiction, betrayal, and cold-blooded conspiracy. As Gavel and his partner, Rubelewski  A.K.A. ."Rube", dig deeper, they uncover a calculated plot orchestrated by someone who was supposed to love the victim most: his estranged wife.

Through firsthand accounts, court records, and gritty details from the front lines of law enforcement, Gavel paints a vivid picture of how the case cracked open, revealing the disturbing truths behind the crime. Listener discretion is advised due to graphic content and real-life violence.

If you're drawn to real crime stories, twisted motives, and the painstaking process of bringing justice to light, this podcast is your next obsession.

Subscribe now to The Mastermind of Murder and follow along as we expose the cold calculation behind a seemingly senseless act—and the relentless pursuit that brought the killers to justice.

Welcome to "The Broken Angel," a gripping true-crime podcast hosted by retired Detective Sergeant First Class Harry Gavel from the Camden County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Division.

This podcast delves into the harrowing details of real homicide investigations, with a focus on honoring the victims, uncovering the truth, and bringing closure to the families left behind. In this episode, we recount the tragic case of Tammy Polk, a two-year-old girl whose life was cut short in a horrific manner. Listener discretion is advised due to the graphic nature of the content.

The story begins in late October and early November of 1989, when Tammy's lifeless body was discovered in her crib. The investigation revealed a series of disturbing events, including severe injuries and neglect, leading to the arrest of her mother's boyfriend, Malik Abdul. Detective Gavel shares his firsthand experience as the lead investigator on this case, providing insights into the challenges and emotional toll of solving such a heart-wrenching crime.

Through meticulous examination of public court records, law enforcement files, and direct investigative experience, this episode sheds light on the harsh realities faced by homicide detectives and the importance of seeking justice for the innocent. Join us as we navigate through the twists and turns of this investigation, uncovering the truth behind Tammy's tragic death and the impact it had on those involved.

This episode is a tribute to Tammy Polk, the broken angel, and a reminder of the resilience and dedication of those who work tirelessly to bring justice to the victims of such heinous crimes.

When a jittery woman walked into the Gloucester Township Police station in late December 1990, what she had to say sounded like a twisted horror movie. But what followed unraveled one of the most disturbing homicide cases of Detective Harry Gavel’s career.

In this chilling episode, Bugged Beyond the Grave, retired Detective Gavel recounts the brutal murder of a homeless man named Steven Aquesta—killed over a suspected $50,000 inheritance. The killers? Two acquaintances who lured him in with a poker game and then ended his life in a gruesome, calculated attack.

The story unfolds with forensic discoveries, confessions, and a haunting detail that gave this episode its name: a beetle crawling out of the victim's body during autopsy—a scene that will stick with even the toughest true crime listeners. You’ll hear firsthand how deception, desperation, and guilt collided—and why justice, although delayed, was eventually served.

Listener discretion is strongly advised.

On New Year’s Eve, 1995, as fireworks painted the sky over Camden City, New Jersey, an unspeakable tragedy unfolded just miles away from the celebrations.

In this harrowing episode, retired Detective Sergeant First Class Harry Gavel of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office recounts the most haunting case of his 11-year career in homicide. "Before The Ball Dropped" tells the true story of a home invasion that turned into a brutal double homicide and hostage crisis, leaving a three-year-old girl orphaned and a city shaken to its core.

As the clock ticked toward midnight, a cold-blooded killer burst into a family's home, executing a respected physician and his wife before taking their daughter hostage. This isn't just a story about crime—it's about heartbreak, heroism, and a community that responded with swift justice. Listeners are taken inside the intense police standoff that followed, the sniper’s split-second decision, and the lifelong impact left on a child who witnessed unimaginable horror.

Sensitive content ahead. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

The story is presented with the utmost respect for the victims and individuals involved, aiming to honor their memory, uncover the truth, and bring closure to their families. Some content may be disturbing to listeners, and discretion is advised. Greetings, I'm Detective Harry Gavel, Sergeant First Class, retired from the Camden County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Division.

During my time in Camden County, New Jersey, the city was often deemed the murder capital of the nation. Despite its small size of 10.34 square miles, the homicide division was extremely busy, with numerous cases to handle. I spent 11 years in the homicide department, working as a floor detective, supervisor, and commander of the Crime Scene Investigative Unit. By the time I retired in 2000, I had extensive knowledge of the city and its changes over the years.

The episode details a specific case from 1992 in Runnemede, New Jersey, where a young woman named Bonnie Lewison was found brutally murdered at the Hartford Arms Apartments. The investigation revealed signs of a violent attack, including blunt force trauma, stab wounds, and strangulation.

The case was complex, involving meticulous crime scene analysis, canvassing, and surveillance. Ultimately, the perpetrator, Frank Perdue, was apprehended and confessed to the crime, leading to his conviction.

This story highlights the challenges and dedication of homicide investigators in solving cases and seeking justice for victims.

Step into the gritty streets of Camden City in the early 1990s, where danger lurked even in the quietest corners. In this gripping episode, retired homicide detective Harry Gavel recounts the chilling murder of Gary Gottshaw—an ordained minister working the overnight shift at a gas station just to make ends meet.

Brutally killed during a robbery, Gottshaw's case went cold fast: no witnesses, no evidence—just silence. But when a tip surfaces about a mysterious woman nicknamed “Snow Bitch,” Detective Gavel and his partner Detective Ray Massi begin to piece together a haunting puzzle that leads to a cold-blooded killer known as the “Green-Eyed Devil.”

With gritty detail and raw emotion, this episode explores the relentless pursuit of justice, the dark underbelly of Camden in its most violent era, and the psychological toll of homicide investigations that never leave you—even when the case is closed.

True crime. Real detectives. Justice that won’t rest.

In this harrowing episode, retired homicide detective Sergeant First Class Harry Gavel recounts the tragic 1990 abduction and murder of 22-year-old Hope Staff and the trauma endured by her four-year-old son, Michael. What began as a simple late-night favor—driving her brothers to a local bar—turned into a nightmare that would haunt Camden County forever.

Hope and her son were carjacked outside the Rosedale Bar by two violent predators: 20-year-old James Earl Jones and his 14-year-old accomplice, Lawrence Bela Lugosi. They forced Hope to drive to a secluded area behind the Hope Baptist Church, where they brutally assaulted and murdered her—within sight of the church’s cross, a chilling symbol of silent witness. Her son, left in the car, watched in horror.

Detective Gavel walks us through the intense investigation—from the discovery of Hope’s body and the recovery of her traumatized son, to the relentless interrogation that led to Jones’s confession. The case revealed a spree of prior crimes, including the rape of two women and the robbery of a Catholic priest. The most disturbing detail: after killing Hope, the perpetrators violated her body again.

Both suspects were convicted—Jones receiving life plus 50 years, and Lugosi, tried as an adult, sentenced to life. This case, 35 years later, remains one of the most haunting in Camden’s history—a story of unimaginable cruelty, but also of justice pursued with unwavering resolve.

In this gripping and deeply disturbing episode, retired homicide detective Sergeant First Class Harry Gavel recounts one of the most haunting cases of his career in Camden County, New Jersey. On September 21, 1990, 12-year-old Paul Fitz vanished from his trailer park home. The very next morning, his body was spotted in Newton Creek by two homeless men living in the woods across the river. He was found nude, brutally assaulted, and wrapped in a blanket covered in white dog hairs.

As the investigation unfolds, Gavel navigates a maze of dead ends, overlooked evidence, and bureaucratic missteps. A chance encounter with a homeless man named Harry Hainsworth—once a neighborhood tough guy turned alcoholic—leads to a chilling breakthrough. The trail points to Frederick Ritchie, a trailer park manager with a dark past and a white dog.

Through meticulous detective work, Gavel uncovers a horrifying pattern of abuse. Ritchie is eventually linked not only to Paul’s murder but also to the near-fatal assault of another young boy, Johnny P., and a previously unsolved case in Oklahoma. His confessions reveal the mind of a predator shaped by his own traumatic childhood.This episode is a raw, unflinching look at the darkest corners of human behavior, the resilience of survivors, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

Listener discretion is strongly advised.