On New Year’s Eve 1997, 17-year-old Olivia Hope and her close friend Ben Smart vanished after a party at the remote Furneaux Lodge in New Zealand’s stunning Marlborough Sounds. They were last seen boarding a water taxi in the early hours of the morning with a man who’s never been conclusively identified. What followed was one of New Zealand’s most high-profile investigations, leading to the arrest and conviction of Scott Watson — a man who still claims he’s innocent.

But the deeper you look into this case, the murkier it gets. With wildly conflicting witness statements, contaminated evidence, an allegedly unreliable memory, and new information buried for decades, this case has everything: mystery, obsession, media bias, and a whole lot of reasonable doubt ... or is there?

Today, Kristin dives deep into the 40,000-page police file and multiple sources on both sides of this controversial case to try and answer one big question: Did Scott Watson really kill Ben and Olivia… or was he wrongfully convicted?

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Sources:
The Scott Watson Case: What Really Happened to Ben and Olivia? – IanWishart.com

The case against Scott Watson - Newsroom

Chasing Ghosts: Murder In The Sounds

Hope-Smart murders 25 years on: Memories of the case as Scott Watson awaits court for appeal decision - The Front Page

Convicted double murderer Scott Watson’s parole hearing abandoned after running over time - NZ Herald

Ben and Olivia: What Really Happened? By Ian Wishart and Jayson Rhodes

Elementary: The Explosive File on Scott Watson and the Disappearance of Ben and Olivia by Ian Wishart

Elementary 2.0: The Unreleased Police Evidence on the Scott Watson Case by Ian Wishart

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When a beloved nurse anesthetist fails to show up for work, police find a gruesome scene inside his family home. But what initially looks like a murder-suicide quickly unravels into something far more twisted — involving fraud, a camgirl, and a chilling betrayal no one saw coming.

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Sources:

Coworkers made 911 calls about Cody Amato - Orlando Sentinel

Amato weeps after seeing photos of slain family | FOX 35 Orlando

Florida Man Killed Family after fight over $200,000 he sent to online 'girlfriend' cops say

Cops Say Florida Man Killed Family, Stole $210K for His Porn Site 'Girlfriend'

Florida Man Who Allegedly Killed His Family Over Bulgarian Call Girl Has Been Granted Bond

Florida Man Stole $200,000 From Family and Sent It to Bulgarian Camgirl Before Murdering Parents, Brother: Police - Newsweek

https://www.newsweek.com/florida-man-killed-parents-webcam-model-death-penalty-1453971

Florida man obsessed with Bulgarian camgirl before allegedly killing his family, records show | Fox News

Florida nurse spared death penalty

For The Love Of A Cam Girl. Grant Amato stole hundreds of thousands… | by AJ Wiseman | CrimeBeat

GRANT AMATO TRIAL: Surviving brother of man accused of killing parents, brother testifying in court - WFTV

Grant Amato Executed His Mom, Dad, And Brother For A Bulgarian Sex Cam Model

Grant Amato Murdered His Family for a Webcam Model He Never Met - A&E True Crime

Triple-Murderer Grant Amato Sentenced to Life Without Parole

Grant Amato appeals murder convictions, life sentence for killings of parents, brother – Orlando Sentinel

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/29/he-spent-bulgarian-cam-girl-police-say-obsession-led-massacre/

Grant Amato's brother testifies for prosecution in death penalty case

Obsession, money, lies tore Grant Amato’s family apart. A jury will decide whether he killed them – Orlando Sentinel

'Ghost Adventures' Actor Aaron Goodwin's Estranged Wife Victoria Pleads Guilty to Conspiring His MurderCTRL+ALT+DESIRE | Paramount+

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When 43-year-old Crystal Jones was found dead in her Oak Grove, Louisiana home in 2023, local law enforcement quickly ruled it a suicide. But nearly two years later, her sister Jana is still fighting for answers because so many things about Crystal’s death just don’t add up. From an oddly premature conclusion, to a mysteriously delayed shell casing finding, to troubling inconsistencies in her husband’s story, this case is full of red flags that were seemingly ignored. With help from private investigator Sheila Wysocki, Jana is doing everything she can to uncover the truth. So was this a tragic suicide… or something far more sinister?

Sources:

Obituary information for Crystal McCrory Jones

Private Investigator Continues to Raise Cocerns Nearly Two Years After West Carroll Woman's Death Ruled Suicide

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Join hosts Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore as they take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever — where a single clue can crack a case wide open. From shocking murders to serial killers, Clues dives into all the forensic details and brilliant sleuthing of the world's most infamous cases. CLUES is a Crime House Original, powered by PAVE Studios. Follow and listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

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In this episode, special guest Kelsey from A Trial By Podcast tells Kristin all about the murder of Kendra Hatcher, a 35-year-old pediatric dentist living in Dallas, Texas, who was shot and killed in the parking garage of her upscale apartment complex on September 2, 2015. The murder was orchestrated by Brenda Delgado, the ex-girlfriend of Kendra’s boyfriend, Ricky Paniagua, who had grown jealous of their relationship. Brenda recruited Crystal Cortes to drive getaway and hired Kristopher Love to carry out the shooting, promising payment in exchange. Delgado provided Cortes with information about Kendra’s whereabouts and used her connections to obtain the murder weapon. The plot unraveled quickly as investigators tracked down Cortes, who confessed and implicated both Love and Delgado. Love was later convicted and sentenced to death, while Delgado, who had fled to Mexico, was extradited and received a life sentence. The case shocked the community not only for its calculated nature, but also because of the seemingly senseless motive: jealousy.

A Trial by Podcast | Linktree

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For full sources, see atrialbypodcast.com

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When two young men are killed in a fiery car crash on a quiet UK highway, it initially looks like a tragic accident. But a chilling 999 call and hours of CCTV footage quickly reveal the truth that this was no accident. It was an ambush.

What follows is a story involving a TikTok influencer, a secret affair, and a plot that spiraled into cold-blooded murder. This is the case of Mahek Bukhari, and the fatal consequences of trying to keep a secret at all costs.

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Sources:

TikTok star Mahek Bukhari guilty of murdering mother's lover who threatened to expose affair

The complex police investigation into the double murder of two friends on the A46 - Nottinghamshire Live

Family of man murdered in ambush by TikTok star and her mum breaks silence saying 'he didn't want to drive' - Birmingham Live

The pack of lies TikTok star Mahek Bukhari told in police interview after murdering two men - Birmingham Live

How 'bored' mum's love life led her and TikTok star daughter to murder - Birmingham Live

Moment pyjama wearing TikTok star and mum questioned by police after double murder - Birmingham Live

Profound moment families of two murder victims pay tribute to 'much-loved' men outside court - Birmingham Live

'I'm going to die' - haunting 999 transcript of call made moments before two were murdered in crash - Birmingham Live

Who is Mahek Bukhari? TikTok star convicted of double murder - Birmingham Live

TikTok killer Raees Jamal convicted of rape - but jury were not told - Birmingham Live

TikTok star Mahek Bukhari and her mum Ansreen guilty of murders in high-speed chase - Birmingham Live

Murder trial live as judge sums up case against TikTok star Mahek Bukhari and seven others - Birmingham Live

Tiktok murder trial court updates as judge sets out case against Mahek Bukhari and others on day 46 - Leicestershire Live

TikTok murder trial live updates on day 44 as final defence speech due for Mohammed Patel - Birmingham Live

TikTok star Mahek Bukhari's co-accused was 'not a hired gun', murder trial jury told as fatal crash branded 'a terrible accident' - Birmingham Live

Live TikTok murder trial updates on day 43 as more barristers urge jury to acquit defendants - Leicestershire Live

Hashim 'wanted to be there for his friend because he was going through a hard time' - Daily Mail

What Islamic lessons can we draw from the tragic story of Mahek and Ansreen Bukhari? – 5Pillars

TikTok influencer Mahek Bukhari and mother found guilty of double murder after sex tape threat | UK News

The dramatic downfall of Mahek Bukhari from TikTok influencer to convicted killer | The Independent

TikTok influencer Mahek Bukhari guilty of murdering men in crash

What it was like covering the TikTok murder trial with Mahek Bukhari - Tom Mack - Leicestershire Live

Mahek Bukhari - Leicestershire Live

TikTok influencer Mahek Bukhari goes on trial with her mother for murder

TikTok star found guilty of murdering married mom's toyboy lover: 'I'll get him jumped'

Crash victim 'allegedly murdered by TikTok star and mum was a cunning predator', jury told - Birmingham Live

TikTok star Mahek Bukhari's barrister tells murder jury she 'played no part' in fatal A46 crash - Birmingham Live

TikTok murder trial updates on day 41 as case for Mahek Bukhari due to be summed up to jury - Birmingham Live

Two of TikTok star Mahek Bukhari's murder co-accused face new charges relating to fatal crash - Birmingham Live

Case for Mahek Bukhari due to be summed up to jury on day 41 of murder trial - Leicestershire Live

See website for additional sources.

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When 32-year-old Mikayla Evans fell five stories from a condo window in Johnson City, Tennessee, she woke from a coma with no memory of what happened, but with a shattered body and a chilling certainty: she had been drugged. Her fall led to disturbing allegations, not just against the man who owned the condo, Sean Williams, but against the very police department tasked with investigating him. As federal prosecutor Kat Dahl dug deeper, she uncovered a horrifying pattern of abuse, ignored reports, and possible corruption that may have enabled one of the most prolific sexual predators in recent history. This week, we’re diving into a case that left us reeling—and angry.

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Sources:

Why The Police Refused to Investigate a Serial Rapist | The New Yorker

How Police Let One of America’s Most Prolific Predators Get Away | The New Yorker

Third lawsuit filed alleging Johnson City cops covered for serial rapist • Tennessee Lookout

Police hunt serial sex assault suspect who escaped custody in second attempt | Fox News

Sean Williams, Tennessee fugitive, seen in Sylva, N.C.: What we know

Tennessee businessman accused of sexually assaulting women charged with child rape, exploitation | Fox News

The Sean Williams Case | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather

Tennessee man accused of dozens of rapes gets nearly 100 years for sex abuse images and prison van escape - CBS News

JCPD says case of woman falling five stories downtown now a ‘medical investigation’ | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather

Who is escaped federal detainee Sean Williams

Johnson City settles serial rapist class action lawsuit for $28M • Tennessee Lookout

Five-story fall victim remembers incident on 3-year anniversary | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather

Elizabethton PD: 23-year-old Washington County, TN woman dies in crash Tuesday | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather

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When 13 year old Nicholas Barclay reappeared after vanishing three years earlier, his family welcomed him home with open arms, despite his new accent, eye color, and strange behavior. But private investigator Charlie Parker wasn’t buying it. In this second part of the Nicholas Barclay case, the truth finally unravels: who was the man pretending to be Nicholas, and why did the family insist he was their missing son? What comes next is a wild tale of deception, grief, and one of the most notorious con artists the world has ever seen.

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Crime House True Crime Stories is the ultimate destination for true crime fans. Every episode features two notorious cases from that week in crime history, tied by a common theme like infamous serial killers, mysterious disappearances, tragic murders, and more. Every Monday, uncover the full stories behind the headlines as host Vanessa Richardson takes you through high-profile investigations like the murder of Gabby Petito, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, and the mass suicide of the Heaven's Gate cult. Follow Crime House True Crime Stories — a Crime House Original — wherever you listen to podcasts. 

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In 1994, 13 year old Nicholas Barclay disappeared from his home in San Antonio, Texas. His troubled past led police to believe he had run away, and the case quickly went cold. But over three years later, Nicholas was found...in Spain. He told a harrowing story of abduction and abuse, and his family welcomed him home with open arms. But something wasn’t right. The more people looked, the more questions surfaced, and soon it became clear: this wasn’t Nicholas Barclay.

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