The True Crime Report with Jim Rathmann

Death Sentence for the killer of Athena Strand

27 min · 13. maj 2026
episode Death Sentence for the killer of Athena Strand cover

Description

In this episode of the True Crime Report, Jim Rathmann reflects on the abduction and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand that shocked the nation. The killer, FedEx contract driver Tanner Horner, kidnapped and murdered Athena Strand after delivering a package to her home in Paradise, Texas. Disclaimer: The content discussed in this episode contains descriptions of child exploitation. Listener discretion is strongly advised. Follow Jim on Instagram: @therealjimrathmann Join the discussion on Patreon: patreon.com/cw/TrueCrimeReportShow ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Podgo and Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Podgo Services Produced at: Hi Hello Labs (Orlando, FL) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Comments

0

Be the first to comment

Sign up now and become a member of the The True Crime Report with Jim Rathmann community!

Get Started

1 month for 9 kr.

Then 99 kr. / month · Cancel anytime.

  • Podcasts kun på Podimo
  • 20 lydbogstimer pr. måned
  • Gratis podcasts

All episodes

28 episodes

episode DNA Test delayed 18 months: Why? artwork

DNA Test delayed 18 months: Why?

Eric Naposki DNA Testing Delayed? New Questions in Bill McLaughlin Murder Case Could modern DNA technology change everything we know about the murder of Bill McLaughlin? In this episode of The True Crime Report, host Jim Rathmann examines new developments in the case involving Eric Naposki and Nanette Packard, who were convicted years after the 1994 murder of wealthy medical device entrepreneur Bill McLaughlin in Newport Beach, California. This episode explores: • The significance of touch DNA testing in cold cases • Evidence collected from the original crime scene • Questions surrounding a key allegedly linked to the case • The disputed Denny's phone call alibi • Court filings requesting forensic DNA testing • The timeline of events surrounding the murder investigation • Delays in court-ordered DNA testing • Why this case continues to generate controversy decades later As DNA technology advances, questions remain about whether modern forensic testing could provide additional answers in one of Southern California's most debated murder cases. If you enjoy true crime investigations, cold case analysis, wrongful conviction discussions, criminal justice topics, and deep dives into controversial murder cases, be sure to subscribe and follow The True Crime Report. ----------------------------------------------------- Subscribe for more deep dives into cybercrime, investigations, and real-world threats. Comment below: What’s the biggest online safety concern you have for your family right now? Follow Jim on Instagram: @therealjimrathmann ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Podgo and Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Podgo Services Produced at: Hi Hello Labs (Orlando, FL) ----------------------------------------------------- Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Yesterday26 min
episode The 1994 Murder Case That Still Doesn't Add Up artwork

The 1994 Murder Case That Still Doesn't Add Up

In this episode of The True Crime Report, Jim Rathmann revisits the 1994 Newport Beach murder of businessman Bill McLaughlin and the controversial convictions of Eric Naposki and Nanette Packard-Johnston. Fifteen years after McLaughlin was killed, prosecutors secured convictions based entirely on circumstantial evidence. But what happened to the phone record that allegedly provided Naposki with an alibi? Why did key witness testimony emerge more than a decade later? And could modern DNA testing finally reveal the truth? Follow Jim on Instagram: @therealjimrathmann ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Podgo and Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Podgo Services Produced at: Hi Hello Labs (Orlando, FL) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

11. juni 202633 min
episode The Evidence That Disappeared Before Trial artwork

The Evidence That Disappeared Before Trial

In the third installment of the Eric Naposki and Nanette Johnston Packard series, former homicide investigator Jim Rathmann conducts a rigorous examination of the evidence, timelines, witness statements, and lingering questions surrounding one of Southern California's most controversial murder convictions. The case traces back to December 1994, when William McLaughlin was murdered in Newport Beach, California. More than a decade later, Naposki and Packard were convicted of the crime, despite a prosecution strategy that relied heavily on circumstantial evidence rather than definitive physical proof. Throughout this episode, Rathmann systematically breaks down the critical components of the state's case, shedding light on the alleged missing phone record from a Denny's restaurant, stark timeline inconsistencies between 1994 and 2009, and a witness who claimed to remember cutting a key fifteen years after the fact. He also scrutinizes the drive-time recreations used by prosecutors, reports of a mysterious sports car spotted near the crime scene, and the reasons why investigators initially declined to file charges. Furthermore, the episode explores the pivotal role cold case investigators played in reopening the file, raises concerns about potentially overlooked exculpatory evidence, and reviews the specific questions that troubled jurors during trial deliberations. Ultimately, Rathmann questions whether these high-profile convictions were truly rooted in indisputable facts or merely built upon a foundation of assumptions. As part of an ongoing independent investigation into the Naposki-Packard case, this episode raises profound questions about wrongful convictions, prosecutorial decision-making, and the reliability of circumstantial evidence in the modern justice system. ----------------------------------------------------- Follow Jim on Instagram: @therealjimrathmann ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Podgo and Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Podgo Services Produced at: Hi Hello Labs (Orlando, FL) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5. juni 202641 min
episode Unanswered Questions: Bill McLaughlin Murder artwork

Unanswered Questions: Bill McLaughlin Murder

The 1994 murder of wealthy entrepreneur Bill McLaughlin shocked Newport Beach, California and became one of the most controversial true crime cases in modern California history. In this episode of True Crime Report, Jim Rathmann walks through the murder case of Bill McLaughlin, Nanette Packard, and former NFL linebacker Eric Naposki — a case that has been featured on Dateline NBC, 20/20, and multiple true crime television specials for years. Jim takes a fresh look at the timeline, the alleged affair, the prosecution’s theory, and the evidence used to convict Nanette and Eric nearly 15 years after the murder. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

27. maj 202629 min
episode Zero Trace: Two Life Sentences for Nanette Packard & Eric Naposki artwork

Zero Trace: Two Life Sentences for Nanette Packard & Eric Naposki

The 1994 murder of Bill McLaughlin sent shockwaves through the affluent community of Newport Beach, but decades later, the high-profile case involving Nanette Packard and former NFL player Eric Naposki continues to raise serious questions. In this compelling episode of The True Crime Report, host Jim Rathmann launches a deep investigative breakdown into what remains one of the most controversial cold case prosecutions in California true crime history. By revisiting the complex web of relationships, Rathmann explores the dynamic between McLaughlin and Packard, her alleged affair with Naposki, and the million-dollar life insurance policy that quickly became the central focus for prosecutors. As the narrative unfolds, the episode dissects critical timeline inconsistencies surrounding the night of the murder and shines a spotlight on a mysterious missing phone record that could change everything. Viewers will be guided through the original, stalled investigation and the subsequent May 2009 reopening that led to the arrests of Naposki and Packard, as well as their ultimate convictions in July 2011 and January 2012, respectively. By scrutinizing the gaps in alibis, the handling of DNA evidence, disputed keys, and conflicting witness testimony, Rathmann peels back the layers of the official story, offering a fresh perspective that may completely change how people view this notorious case. Follow Jim on Instagram: @therealjimrathmann ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Podgo and Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Podgo Services Produced at: Hi Hello Labs (Orlando, FL) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

20. maj 202631 min