Betrayal in the Pews: The Boston Globe Exposé on Catholic Church Abuse Scandals

The Haunting Disappearance of Brandon Swanson: “Oh Shit” and Silence

On a dark rural road in Minnesota, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson crashes his car into a ditch after a college party. He calls his parents for help, calmly describing his surroundings for 47 minutes while they search for him. Then, without warning, he exclaims “Oh shit!” — and the line goes dead forever. What happened in those final moments? Host Alexander Lawson explores one of Minnesota’s most baffling cold cases, the massive searches that turned up nothing, the heartbreaking family advocacy that changed state law, and the lingering questions that remain more than 18 years later. A true story of a ordinary night that turned into an inexplicable vanishing. If you have information, contact the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office or Minnesota BCA. Subscribe for more true crime stories, and leave your theories in the comments. #TrueCrime #MissingPerson #BrandonSwanson #ColdCase

The Boy on the Milk Carton: The Abduction and Murder of Etan Patz

On May 25, 1979, six-year-old Etan Patz left his SoHo apartment for the first time to walk alone to his school bus stop — and vanished. His case became a national symbol of the missing children crisis, launching milk carton campaigns and National Missing Children’s Day. Decades later, a shocking confession led to the conviction of Pedro Hernandez, but questions linger. In this episode of A True Crime Podcast, host Alexander Lawson explores Etan’s final morning, the massive investigation, decades of dead ends, the controversial trial, and the Supreme Court’s recent reinstatement of the conviction. A story of lost innocence that forever changed how we protect our children. ⚠️ Content Warning: Child abduction and murder. New episodes every week. Subscribe and leave a review on Spotify. Follow us for more true crime stories.

The Brutal Murder of Reagan Simmons-Hancock: A Fake Pregnancy Ends in Horror | Taylor Parker Case

In this chilling episode of A True Crime Podcast, host Alexander Lawson unpacks the devastating 2020 murder of 21-year-old pregnant mother Reagan Simmons-Hancock in New Boston, Texas. Her so-called friend Taylor Rene Parker, who had been faking an entire pregnancy to keep her boyfriend, carried out a horrific attack, killing Reagan and cutting her unborn daughter Braxlynn from her womb in a desperate attempt to steal the baby. From the elaborate web of lies and fake ultrasounds to the brutal crime scene and Parker’s conviction and death sentence, this case exposes the darkest side of deception and obsession. Reagan’s family continues to fight for justice and change in her memory. A story of shattered trust, unimaginable violence, and a mother’s fight for her child. Listener discretion is strongly advised. Subscribe for more true crime stories, and share your thoughts in the comments. New episodes every week on Spotify.

Betrayal in the Pews: The Boston Globe Exposé on Catholic Church Abuse Scandals

In this gripping episode of A True Crime Podcast, host Alexander Lawson uncovers one of the most shocking institutional cover-ups in modern history. The Boston Globe’s Spotlight team exposed decades of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Boston — and the systematic protection of predators by church leaders, including Cardinal Bernard Law. From the horrors of serial abuser Father John Geoghan to the courageous journalists who risked everything to bring the truth to light, this is a story of power, silence, and eventual justice that rocked the Catholic Church and inspired the Oscar-winning film Spotlight. Trigger warning: This episode discusses child sexual abuse and institutional betrayal in detail. Listener discretion is strongly advised. If you care about accountability and the power of investigative journalism, this is a must-listen. Subscribe for more true crime stories that expose hidden evils. #TrueCrime #CatholicChurchScandal #SpotlightInvestigation #BostonGlobe #InstitutionalAbuse

A Dingo’s Got My Baby: The Lindy Chamberlain Miscarriage of Justice

In 1980, nine-week-old Azaria Chamberlain vanished from a tent near Uluru, Australia. Her mother Lindy’s desperate cry — “A dingo’s got my baby!” — shocked the world. What followed was one of Australia’s most notorious trials, a media circus, flawed forensics, and a mother convicted of murdering her own child. Host Alexander Lawson unpacks the heartbreaking true story of Lindy Chamberlain: the rushed conviction, years in prison, and the decades-long fight to clear her name. A powerful tale of loss, public prejudice, and ultimate vindication that still echoes today. New to A True Crime Podcast? Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Drop your thoughts in the comments — could this have happened to anyone? #TrueCrime #LindyChamberlain #DingoBaby #MiscarriageOfJustice #AustraliaCrime