What happens when one survivor refuses to stay silent?

In this episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul DelPonte speaks with Erin Merryn — a survivor turned national advocate whose story inspired Erin’s Law, landmark legislation that teaches children about safe and unsafe touches. Erin opens up about her personal experience with childhood abuse, the subtle grooming tactics predators use, and why open conversations about personal safety can save lives.

Together, Paul and Erin explore how education, awareness, and community involvement can stop abuse before it starts — and how every parent, teacher, and neighbor can help protect kids.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-xjIgjK5ks&feature=youtu.be

Learn more about the National Crime Prevention Council: www.ncpc.org

Support Erin's Law: https://www.erinslaw.org/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4wKLQUO52CXyS1W9kVGQd4?si=2d53a9bc5d4c4d7b

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-prevention-podcast/id1821901931

🎙 Hosted by Paul DelPonte of the National Crime Prevention Council Produced by Nicholas Cirone

#TrueCrimePrevention #ErinMerryn #ErinsLaw #ChildAbusePrevention #truecrimepodcast #truecrimepodcast #CrimePrevention #SurvivorStories #ChildSafety #endchildabuse

When entrepreneur and business owner Shay Onorio checked her bank account one Saturday morning, she never would have imagined that she would be the victim of identity theft. What followed was a nightmare of stolen identities, drained accounts, and a battle to reclaim what was hers.

In this episode of True Crime Prevention, Shay shares her story of dealing with financial crime and identity theft and the devastating emotional toll it took. Host Paul DelPonte talks with Shay about how financial criminals operate, what victims go through, and what you can do to protect yourself from becoming their next target.

YouTube:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4wKLQUO...

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

True Crime Prevention is brought to you by the National Crime Prevention Council — home of McGruff the Crime Dog®.

Learn more about the National Crime Prevention Council: https://www.ncpc.org/true-crime-preve...

Hosted by Paul DelPonte Produced by Nicholas Cirone

#TrueCrimePrevention #NCPC #McGruffTheCrimeDog #TrueCrimePodcast #TrueCrimeCommunity #TrueCrimeStories #FinancialCrimes #FraudAwareness #IdentityTheft #CrimePrevention #TrueCrimeFans #CrimeStory #FinancialSafety #MoneyMatters #DigitalSecurity #OnlineFraud #ScamAwareness

A normal school day turned into horror... and one mother’s life changed forever. When Lori Alhadeff’s 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, her tragedy became a call to action.

Determined to make sure no other family endures the same pain, Lori co-founded Make Our Schools Safe and helped pass Alyssa’s Law, requiring silent panic alarms in schools to save precious seconds when every second counts.

Now a Broward County School Board Member, Lori continues her fight on the front lines advocating for stronger safety policies, empowering students through prevention programs, and pushing for lasting change across the nation.

🎧 In this episode of True Crime Prevention with Paul DelPonte, Lori shares how she honors her daughter's memory through action — and what it will take to prevent the next school tragedy.

Interested in telling your story on the Podcast? Click here!

https://secure.everyaction.com/T6gFmC0NOUGHsOVYcBWEBQ2

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/v7VV5pJX8

To Learn more about Make Our Schools Safe: https://makeourschoolssafe.org/

Follow Lori on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorialhadeff8/

🎙 Hosted by Paul DelPonte of the National Crime Prevention CouncilProduced by Nicholas Cirone

Anthony Graves spent 18 years behind bars—12 of them on death row—for a crime he didn’t commit. Wrongfully convicted of a brutal 1992 murder, Graves was exonerated in 2010 after years of fighting to prove his innocence. In this episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul DelPonte speaks with Graves about how he survived nearly two decades in the Texas prison system, the failures that led to his wrongful conviction, and his mission today to reform the criminal justice system and prevent future injustices.Learn more about the National Crime Prevention Council: https://www.ncpc.org/true-crime-prevention-podcast/Read Anthony Graves' Book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/infinite-hope-anthony-graves/1141009826Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4wKLQUO52CXyS1W9kVGQd4?si=3db815a05d6b4d87Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-prevention-podcast/id1821901931🎙 Hosted by Paul DelPonte of the National Crime Prevention CouncilProduced by Nicholas CironeTimestamps:00:00 Intro03:44 The Crime and Initial Accusations 11:43 Life on Death Row 23:00 The Fight for Justice 35:05 The Moment of Freedom40:00 Broader Implications of Wrongful Convictions #TrueCrimePrevention #AnthonyGraves #WrongfulConviction #CriminalJusticeReform #Exonerated #NCPC #McGruffTheCrimeDog

When Celisia Stanton fell victim to a financial scam, it changed her life forever. What started as a moment of misplaced trust quickly spiraled into a painful lesson about how easily anyone can be deceived.

Now, Celisia is using her experience to educate others.In this episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul DelPonte talks with Celisia about how the scam unfolded, what she learned from the experience, and how you can protect yourself from falling victim to similar crimes.

Check out Celisia's podcast, Truer Crime https://geni.us/TruerCrime

More about Celisia:Celisia Stanton is the creator and host of Truer Crime, a podcast that tells crime stories with more nuance, more context, and more questions. She launched the show after becoming the victim of a large financial fraud scheme in 2020, and since then has built a reputation for storytelling that digs deeper into the people at the heart of each case — murdered, missing, or misled.

You can find her on Instagram @celisiastanton and on Substack at sincerelycelisia.substack.com.

🐾 Brought to you by the National Crime Prevention Council — home of McGruff the Crime Dog®.Produced by Nicholas Cirone

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0kW2xmXAPg

She thought she was safe in bed. Instead, she came face to face with one of America’s most infamous serial killers.In 1978, college student Kathy Kleiner Rubin survived a brutal attack inside her Florida State University sorority house at the hands of Ted Bundy. While two of her friends were murdered that night, Kathy lived to tell the story — and to share a message of strength, resilience, and hope.On this episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul DelPonte sits down with Kathy to revisit that terrifying night, the long road to recovery, and how she’s turned her survival into advocacy — speaking out to help others stay safe and reclaim their power.Learn more about the National Crime Prevention Council: https://www.ncpc.org/true-crime-prevention-podcast/Check out Kathy's Book: "A Light in the Dark: Surviving More than Ted Bundy" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122757860-a-light-in-the-darkSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4wKLQUO52CXyS1W9kVGQd4?si=3db815a05d6b4d87Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-prevention-podcast/id1821901931🎙 Hosted by Paul DelPonte of the National Crime Prevention CouncilProduced by Nicholas CironeTimestamps:00:00 Intro02:13 Kathy Overcame Early Obstacles 06:37 Ted Bundy & the Sorority House12:05 Surviving the Unthinkable17:05 Healing and Finding Strength21:40 How Bundy Was Captured 28:40 Confronting Bundy in Court 34:40 Writing the Book

She thought it was just another showing. Instead, it was a trap.In September 2014, Arkansas real estate agent Beverly Carter walked into a home to meet a new client. Hours later, she was reported missing. Days later, her family learned the unthinkable—Beverly had been kidnapped, ransomed, and murdered in a crime that shocked the nation.On this episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul DelPonte sits down with Beverly’s son, Carl Carter, who relives the nightmare and reveals how his mother’s case exposed the hidden dangers of working in real estate. Carl also shares how he turned grief into action, founding the Beverly Carter Foundation to protect other agents from falling victim to violent crime.Learn more about The Beverly Carter Foundation: https://beverlycarterfoundation.org/Learn more about the National Crime Prevention Council: https://www.ncpc.org/true-crime-preve...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5uYT... Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...🎙 Hosted by Paul DelPonte of the National Crime Prevention Council.Produced by Nicholas Cirone00:00 Intro 02:13 Beverly Carter, The Very Best Mom04:25 A House Showing Goes Wrong11:30 A Haunting Discovery 19:45 The Investigation 25:58 The Suspect Start a Circus 29:30 The Trial 35:22 Starting the Beverly Carter Foundation

Alison Parker was a 24-year-old journalist and rising star at WDBJ7 in Roanoke, Virginia. In August 2015, while reporting live on air, she and her colleague Adam Ward were tragically murdered in a shooting that shocked the nation. Alison was known for her passion for storytelling, her vibrant spirit, and her dedication to shining a light on community issues.Her father, Andy Parker, turned his grief into advocacy and has become a powerful voice for victims and survivors of gun violence, working tirelessly to promote stronger safety measures and to hold tech and media companies accountable for the spread of violent content online. Through his work, Andy honors Alison’s legacy by ensuring her life is remembered not only for how it ended, but for the change it inspires.Follow Andy on Substack: https://andyparker.substack.com/🔗 Learn more about the National Crime Prevention Council: https://www.ncpc.org/true-crime-preve...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5uYT... Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...🎙 Hosted by Paul DelPonte of the National Crime Prevention Council.Produced by Nicholas Cirone00:00 Intro 02:35 Alison Parker's Bright Future06:40 The Shooting 12:47 Spreading on Social Media 22:33 What Can We Do?27:46 Common Sense Gun Reform

Sami Josephson was a 21-year-old college senior with a bright future ahead of her. But in March 2019, her life was tragically cut short after she got into a car she believed was her rideshare. Sami’s story has since become a rallying cry for awareness, reminding us all how a simple safety step can save lives.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/t3EazOezud4

Seymour Josephson

When his daughter's life was stolen, Seymour turned unimaginable grief into action. He has since become a leading voice for rideshare safety, speaking across the country and fighting to make sure no family endures what his did. As co-founder of the What’s My Name Foundation, Seymour is dedicated to turning pain into prevention.

Jenna Zangrilli

Jenna, a close friend of the Josephson's, now carries Sami's memory forward in the fight for change as the Executive Director of the What's My Name Foundation.

What's My Name Foundation: https://www.whatsmyname.org/

Learn more about the National Crime Prevention Council: https://www.ncpc.org/true-crime-preve...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5uYTbi1MaHaWl02YTS7u3G?si=LeW0dJq-RI-9PjWe383bKA

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-prevention-podcast/id1821901931

🎙Hosted by Paul DelPonte of the National Crime Prevention Council.

Produced by Nicholas Cirone

Use Code PREVENTION for 10% off your order at Safely! https://livesafely.co/

Behind the headlines of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes lies a story of survivors silenced and systems that looked away. In 1991, Jess Michaels was assaulted by Epstein—an experience that would fuel her fight for justice. On True Crime Prevention, she and Tracy DeTomasi uncover the failures—and the blueprint for a safer future.

About Jess Michaels: https://www.jessmichaelsspeaks.com/ Jess Michaels is a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse who has become a powerful voice demanding accountability and transparency. From calling for the release of the Epstein files to pushing for systemic change, Jess is speaking out for herself and countless other victims silenced for too long.

About Tracy DeTomasi: https://www.projectcallisto.org/ Tracy DeTomasi is the CEO of Project Callisto, a nonprofit building technology to help survivors of sexual assault safely and securely report what happened to them—making it easier for survivors to come forward, identify repeat offenders, and pursue justice.

Learn more about the National Crime Prevention Council: https://www.ncpc.org/true-crime-prevention-podcast/

Hosted by Paul DelPonte of the National Crime Prevention CouncilProduced by Nicholas Cirone