True Crime Reporter

By Robert RiggsTrue Crime Government History

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True Crime Reporter episodes

July 10, 2023 Flipping Off Angry Drivers Can Get You Killed On US Highways
Road rage violence shatters records on US Highways. Experts say a perfect storm of post-pandemic anger and violent criminals out of jail due to liberal bail practices has set off a wave of deadly road rage shootings.
Capt Greg Fremin (Ret'd) Houston Police Department
Retired Houston Police Captain Greg Fremin tracks the growing carnage at Sam Houston State’s College of Criminal Justice located in Huntsville, Texas.
The numbers have run off the highway as stressed-out, violent drivers turn their rage into the wild wild west on American highways.
On average, 44 people are killed or wounded on U.S. roadways every month. That's twice the average for 2019.
In this episode of the True Crime Reporter® Podcast, investigative reporter Robert Riggs talks to Fremin about the causes and what to do if you are a target of road rage.
BREAKING NEWS:
Shortly after I published this episode the very thing I warned about tragically came true in a Dallas suburb.
A recently wed couple driving to work the night shift together at a paint company became the target of a raging driver.
The husband thought the driver was flipping him off and replied in kind. But it was not the one-finger gesture, it was a gun.
37-year-old Nunez Linares was fatally shot in the back of the head.
Here's a link to the story.
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21 min
July 04, 2023 NCIS Confidential: Solving Real-Life Cold Cases To Catch Killers
Former NCIS Special Agent Joe Kennedy established the first federal cold case homicide unit.
Starting in 1986 with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Kennedy investigated crimes involving sailors and marines around the world.
In this episode of the True Crime Reporter® Podcast, I take you inside the crime scene tape to hear about cold cases from a legendary member of the agency popularized by Hollywood.
Although he is retired from NCIS, Joe Kennedy lends his cold case experience to small law enforcement agencies that seek help.
He serves on the Cold Case Coalition, a non-profit volunteer organization comprised of retired law enforcement officers and experts.
Kennedy has also written a brilliant guide for cold case investigators titled Solving Cold Cases-Investigation Techniques and Protocols.
Serious true crime fans will find it helpful in understanding the anatomy of murder investigations and cold case inquiries.
Here’s part two of my interview with former NCIS Special Agent Joe Kennedy.
Link to the Cold Case Coalition
Links to Two Cold Case Episodes:
How Det Jeff Bennett Used Genetic Genealogy To Solve The 47-Year Old Murder Of Carla Walker
How DNA Forensic Genetic Genealogy Brought A Monster To Justice
We want to become your favorite true crime podcast. Please leave a review wherever you listen.
Join our true crime community and follow us here.
The True Crime Reporter® podcast features stories about serial killers, mass murderers, murder mysteries, homicides, cold cases, prisons, violent criminals, serial rapists, child abductors, child molesters, kidnappers, bank robbers, cyber criminals, and assorted violent criminals.
True Crime Reporter® is a @2023 copyrighted and trade-marked production by True Crime Reporter®, LLC, in Dallas, Texas.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
39 min
July 03, 2023 NCIS Confidential: Solving Real-Life Cold Cases To Catch Killers
Former NCIS Special Agent Joe Kennedy established the first federal cold case homicide unit.
Starting in 1986 with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Kennedy investigated crimes involving sailors and marines worldwide.
In this episode of the True Crime Reporter® Podcast, I take you inside the crime scene tape to hear about cold cases from a legendary agency member popularized by Hollywood.
Although he is retired from NCIS, Joe Kennedy lends his cold case experience to small law enforcement agencies that seek help.
He serves on the Cold Case Coalition, a non-profit volunteer organization comprised of retired law enforcement officers and experts.
Kennedy has also written a brilliant guide for cold case investigators titled Solving Cold Cases-Investigation Techniques and Protocols.
Serious true crime fans will find it helpful in understanding the anatomy of murder investigations and cold case inquiries.
Part two of my interview with former NCIS Special Agent Joe Kennedy is here.
Link to the Cold Case Coalition
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44 min
June 27, 2023 NCIS From Evidence to Arrest: Analyzing Murder Cases Step by Step
If you are a fan of the NCIS television drama, you are in for a treat.
My guest is homicide investigator Joe Kennedy, a former Special Agent for the real-life NCIS.
In this episode of the True Crime Reporter® Podcast, I lift the crime scene tape for Joe Kennedy to take you inside the anatomy of murder cases.
He's written a book titled Solving Cold Cases: Investigation Techniques and Protocol.
This is the first of a two-part series featuring Kennedy. The first focuses on his unconventional method of approaching a crime scene investigation.
In the second episode, Kennedy explains why cold cases are so complex, and he digs into Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy.
I believe his book should be required reading for every rookie homicide investigator.
We want to become your favorite true crime podcast. Please leave a review wherever you listen.
Join our true crime community and follow us here.
The True Crime Reporter® podcast features stories about serial killers, mass murderers, murder mysteries, homicides, cold cases, prisons, violent criminals, serial rapists, child abductors, child molesters, kidnappers, bank robbers, cyber criminals, and assorted violent criminals.
True Crime Reporter® is a @2023 copyrighted and trade-marked production by True Crime Reporter®, LLC, in Dallas, Texas.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
41 min
June 26, 2023 NCIS From Evidence to Arrest: Analyzing Murder Cases Step by Step
If you are a fan of the NCIS television drama, you are in for a treat.
My guest is homicide investigator Joe Kennedy, a former Special Agent for the real-life NCIS.
NCIS Special Agent Joe Kennedy Teaching Police In The Philippines Homicide Investigation
In this episode of the True Crime Reporter® Podcast, I lift the crime scene tape for Joe Kennedy to take you inside the anatomy of murder cases.
He's written a book titled Solving Cold Cases: Investigation Techniques and Protocol.
This is the first of a two-part series featuring Kennedy. The first focuses on his unconventional method of approaching a crime scene investigation.
In the second episode, Kennedy explains why cold cases are so complex, and he digs into Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy.
I believe his book should be required reading for every rookie homicide investigator.
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46 min
June 26, 2023 Rise And Fall Of A Pro Pitcher: From the Bull Pen To The Texas Pen
The high school baseball player hung a homemade motivational sign on the wall of his bedroom. It read Brandon Puffer will be a Major League Baseball player.
Indeed, Puffer made it to what ballplayers call “The Show.”
Only to fall from the Bullpen to the State Penitentiary in Texas.
Brandon Puffer was a pitcher on the Boston Red Sox baseball team when they broke a century-old curse and won the World Series in 2004.
But four years later, a Texas jury sentenced Puffer to five years in prison.
He survived the tough Texas prison system and is now out.
Puffer has written a book titled, From The Bullpen To The State Pen, in which he opens up about his experience.
In this episode of True Crime Reporter®, Puffer shares the story of his setbacks and come back.
Puffer coaches youth and high school baseball players on how to play college and pro ball at GPSLegends, located in Central Texas near Round Rock and Georgetown.
In closing, here’s my reporter’s recap and reflections.
No matter what walk of life they came from, most of the convicted felons that I have interviewed did not comprehend that their actions had consequences.
To quote Puffer, “the longer we try to ignore or run from those consequences, the more they will grow like a cancer that starts small, but eventually takes over the whole body if ignored.
You’ve been listening to the True Crime Reporter Podcast: Stay True. Stay Safe. And Stay Tuned for more stories from inside the crime scene tape.
This is Robert Riggs Reporting.
Insightful Quotes From Brandon Puffer in From The Bullpen To The State Pen:
One of the devil’s schemes is to make you think the only one who thinks a certain way or acts the way you do–it’s a feeling of isolation, and when humans feel isolated, the mind has a tendency to go to some dark places.
Our actions in this life have consequences, and the longer we try to ignore or run from those consequences, the more they will grow–like a cancer that starts small, but eventually takes over the whole body if ignored.
The music we listen to, the things we watch, the games we play, and the words we speak…they all take a toll over time, and only you have the power to control what enters your mind and soul.
You have the power to make choices before the choices that will define you.
My dream was derailed by one decision that was actually many smaller decisions that led up to that moment.
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44 min
June 20, 2023 Rise And Fall Of A Pro Pitcher: From the Bull Pen To The Texas Pen
The high school baseball player hung a homemade motivational sign on the wall of his bedroom. It read Brandon Puffer will be a Major League Baseball player.

Indeed, Puffer made it to what ballplayers call “The Show.”

Only to fall from the Bullpen to the State Penitentiary in Texas.
Brandon Puffer was a pitcher on the Boston Red Sox baseball team when they broke a century-old curse and won the World Series in 2004.

But four years later, a Texas jury sentenced Puffer to five years in prison.

He survived the tough Texas prison system and is now out.
Brandon Puffer was a pitcher on the Boston Red Sox baseball team when they broke a century-old curse and won the World Series in 2004.

But four years later, a Texas jury sentenced Puffer to five years in prison.

He survived the tough Texas prison system and is now out.
Puffer has written a book titled, From The Bullpen To The State Pen, in which he opens up about his experience.
In this episode of True Crime Reporter®, Puffer shares the story of his setbacks and come back with reporter Robert Riggs.
Puffer coaches youth and high school baseball players on how to play college and pro ball at GPSLegends, located in Central Texas near Round Rock and Georgetown.
In closing, here’s my reporter’s recap and reflections.
No matter what walk of life they came from, most of the convicted felons that I interviewed did not comprehend that their actions had consequences.
To quote Puffer, “the longer we try to ignore or run from those consequences, the more they will grow like a cancer that starts small, but eventually takes over the whole body if ignored.
You’ve been listening to the True Crime Reporter Podcast: Stay True. Stay Safe. And Stay Tuned for more stories from inside the crime scene tape.
This is Robert Riggs Reporting.
Insightful quotes from Puffer's book:
"One of the devil’s schemes is to make you think the only one who thinks a certain way or acts the way you do–it’s a feeling of isolation, and when humans feel isolated, the mind has a tendency to go to some dark places."
"Our actions in this life have consequences, and the longer we try to ignore or run from those consequences, the more they will grow–like a cancer that starts small, but eventually takes over the whole body if ignored."
"The music we listen to, the things we watch, the games we play, and the words we speak…they all take a toll over time, and only you have the power to control what enters your mind and soul."
"You have the power to make choices before the choices that will define you."
"My dream was derailed by one decision that was actually many smaller decisions that led up to that moment."
We want to become your favorite true crime podcast. Please leave a review wherever you listen.
Join our true crime community and follow us here.
The True Crime Reporter® podcast features stories about serial killers, mass murderers, murder mysteries, homicides, cold cases, prisons, violent criminals, serial rapists, child abductors, child molesters, kidnappers, bank robbers, cyber criminals, and assorted violent criminals.
True Crime Reporter® is a @2023 copyrighted and trade-marked production by True Crime Reporter®, LLC, in Dallas, Texas.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
39 min
June 13, 2023 Inside the Dark World of a Prison Hitman Where Radios Explode
Programming was suddenly interrupted when an inmate's radio suddenly exploded. Little did he know that he was the target of a prison gang hit.
So how could such a thing happen behind the bars of a maximum security prison in Texas?
I spoke with the reputed prison gang hitman while he held a hoe weeding the warden's vegetable garden at a maximum security unit in East Texas.
He was never charged or convicted of carrying out hits, but he certainly had a reputation.
Although he claimed to be out of the gang -- there's no such thing. It's blood in, blood out -- I asked how you could make a bomb behind bars.
He grinned and slowly tilted his head down. He tapped his foot on a bag of fertilizer and said, "I knew about the explosive properties of ammonium nitrate long before those boys in Oklahoma City."
He referred to Timothy McVeigh, who murdered 168 people, including 19 children, by blowing up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995.
In this episode of the True Crime Reporter® Podcast, I open up my old reporter's notebooks to recall moments from inside the Texas prison system when I was on the trail of corruption.
These short stories are from the darkest and most dangerous corners of maximum security prisons in Texas.
FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast
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THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps.
TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about
16 min
June 12, 2023 Unveiling Manipulation: Lies Used to Take Advantage of the Innocent
Would You Believe This Face?
Do text messages warn you that your streaming account has a billing issue or an unpaid customs charge on a package?
Those are just some of the latest scams criminals use to fleece you.
Hello, I’m Robert Riggs with a story from inside the crime scene tape where people bleed money.
Lies designed to cheat you or break your heart thrive on the Internet.
The truth is in short supply.
In this episode of True Crime Reporter®, I want to arm you with some tools to protect yourself from the flood of falsehoods.
Dr. Seema Yasmin Author of "What The Fact"
Fellow reporter Dr. Seema Yasmin is here to help you find the truth in all the noise.
Dr. Yasmin, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, is the author of “What The Fact.”
In closing, here’s my reporter’s recap and reflections.
Finding the truth can be challenging in a society where trust is eroding. However, several strategies can help individuals navigate the sea of misinformation and regain a sense of trust in their interpersonal relationships.
Verify information from multiple reliable sources.
Develop critical thinking skills.
Check for supporting evidence.
And when trying to get to the bottom of the truth in relationships…start with respectful dialogue.
FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast
SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter
THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps.
TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about
32 min
June 12, 2023 Texas Justice Prevails: Texas Deputy Steve January Arrested Killers For 34 Years
Steve January, the Chief Deputy of the McLennan County Sheriff in Waco, Texas, was a lawman cut from denim of the old west.
Hundreds of officers recently paid their last respects to January, whose life was not cut short by a bullet from his many face-offs with killers but by cancer.
I’m Robert Riggs with a story about an officer who fought many a round seeking justice inside the crime scene tape.
L to R Robert Riggs & Chief Deputy Steve January Hold "Yellowstone" Hoodie Worn By Nicole Sheridan
Steve and I were last pictured together holding up a barrel racing jacket given to the Sheriff’s office by Nicole Sheridan, the wife of Taylor Sheridan.
Yes. Taylor Sheridan, The creator of Yellowstone, a true-life Texas cowboy, and cousin of January’s boss Sheriff Parnell McNamara.
I met McNamara and January in May 2022 to discuss their cold case unit.
In honor of Steve’s memory, I am rebroadcasting the episode.
After hearing the original, many of you commented that you wished you had a pair of straight-talking, no-nonsense Texas lawmen like January and McNamara watching over your community.
Their motto is “Riding Herd On The Lawless.”
And they are about as Texas as you can get.
In closing, here’s my reporter’s recap and reflections.
Steve January was a lawman who would not quit when trying to find justice for the victims of crime.
He stood up the cold case unit to solve cases once considered unsolvable.
That was Steve, and the law-abiding citizens of Central Texas will miss him.
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37 min