Detective Story: True Crime Insights with Mike Hammond and Chris Kafcas

Episode 26-The Grimes Sisters: Chicago's Infamous Cold Case And A Suspect Who Can Still Be Held Accountable

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2281282/fan_mail/new] In 1956, Barbara and Patricia Grimes vanished after seeing an Elvis Presley film in Chicago. Their disappearance generated so much national attention that Elvis Presley himself recorded a personal radio message urging the girls to come home. Their bodies were found weeks later in unincorporated Cook County. Nearly 70 years later the case remains unsolved — but may not be unsolvable. In this episode of Detective Story, retired CPD Homicide Detective Mike Hammond and co-host Chris Kafcas sit down with documentarian and researcher Michael Weber, who has spent years investigating the Grimes Sisters case. Weber has identified a living individual — now in his 80s — who she believes had direct contact with the sisters and has never been formally interviewed by investigators. Mike Hammond brings his own firsthand knowledge to this conversation, having worked the Grimes Sisters case as part of CPD's Cold Case Homicide Unit with his then partner Jim Hennigan.  Together, Hammond, Kafcas, and Weber lay out the evidence, the witnesses, unanswered questions in the investigation, and the question that the Grimes family — including a surviving sister — still deserves an answer to after nearly seven decades. Justice has no expiration date. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2281282/support] The Engine that Makes Detective Story Run: Patreon Link for Insider Conversations and Direct contact with us: https://patreon.com/DetectiveStorywithMikeHammond Big thank you to our sponsors that keep us rolling: Jenn and Drew Hammond Colonel Samuel E. Manto Core Natural Gas Services, Midland/Odessa, Texas  Blue Knight Security Solutions  Season 3-Recorded at The Content Club, Chicago, Illinois  Content and Creator-Mike Hammond  Co-Host-Chris Kafcas Video and Audio Editing by Mike Hammond and Content Club, Chicago Original Musical Score-Jared May Original Studio Artwork: Drew DeMaria Season 3 Score- "Dead and Gone Blues" by Peter Crosby (Epidemic Sound) Original Show Artwork and Logo's: Eric Rovegno https://www.thenorthcreative.com/ [https://www.thenorthcreative.com/] Los Angeles, California (Do yourself a favor and check out his work on his website) Security and Investigative assistance provided by: Blue Knight Security Solutions Contact information: blueknightsecuritysolutions.com [https://www.blueknightsecuritysolutions.com] 773-706-4920 Find us on the Socials Facebook, Instagram and TikTok: @detectivestorymikehammond email Detective Hammond at: mike@detectivestory.net

A Warrior's Path: A Tribute to Rick Coyle and John Bartholomew

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2281282/fan_mail/new] In this special audio edition, I reflect on the recent losses of two dedicated officers: Deputy Rick Coyle of the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department (retired CPD) and Officer John Bartholomew of the Chicago Police Department. I served with Rick on the Chicago Police Department years ago.  After he retired Rick moved to Kentucky and eventually joined the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department to serve that community.   On Friday May 8, 2026,  I traveled to Kentucky to attend his memorial.  At the same time back in Chicago services were being held for Officer John Bartholomew who had also been killed in the line of duty.  This episode discusses the powerful impact both men had on their communities and my thoughts on the differences and similarities of the big-city and small-town loss, and the "instinctual awareness" that defines the best in this profession. This is a tribute to the reality of the sacrifice, the pride of the uniform, and the weight carried long after the stars are put away. Rest easy, Rick and John. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2281282/support] The Engine that Makes Detective Story Run: Patreon Link for Insider Conversations and Direct contact with us: https://patreon.com/DetectiveStorywithMikeHammond Big thank you to our sponsors that keep us rolling: Jenn and Drew Hammond Colonel Samuel E. Manto Core Natural Gas Services, Midland/Odessa, Texas  Blue Knight Security Solutions  Season 3-Recorded at The Content Club, Chicago, Illinois  Content and Creator-Mike Hammond  Co-Host-Chris Kafcas Video and Audio Editing by Mike Hammond and Content Club, Chicago Original Musical Score-Jared May Original Studio Artwork: Drew DeMaria Season 3 Score- "Dead and Gone Blues" by Peter Crosby (Epidemic Sound) Original Show Artwork and Logo's: Eric Rovegno https://www.thenorthcreative.com/ [https://www.thenorthcreative.com/] Los Angeles, California (Do yourself a favor and check out his work on his website) Security and Investigative assistance provided by: Blue Knight Security Solutions Contact information: blueknightsecuritysolutions.com [https://www.blueknightsecuritysolutions.com] 773-706-4920 Find us on the Socials Facebook, Instagram and TikTok: @detectivestorymikehammond email Detective Hammond at: mike@detectivestory.net

Episode 25- Former Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2281282/fan_mail/new] This Episode is dedicated to Rick Coyle, John Bartholomew and Nelson Crespo.  Show us the way home, warriors.  In This Episode #25: Melissa Staples rose through the ranks to become only the second female Chief of Detectives for the second-largest police department in the country.  We sit down to discuss the immense responsibility of that position, the realities of leadership, and the unvarnished truth about policy and Chicago's streets. Nobody articulates the stance of a detective and a leader better than Melissa. Note: The interview portion of this episode was recorded on April 1, 2026. The cold open addresses the tragic loss of our brothers since that date. Support the Show & Access Unedited Interviews: Join the Patreon to support the preservation of Chicago's institutional memory and get full, unedited access to these legacy interviews. Patreon: patreon.com/DetectiveStorywithMikeHammond Website: www.detectivestory.net Deputy Rick Coyle (Crittenden County Sheriff's Dept. / Retired CPD) In lieu of flowers, the Coyle family requests donations be made to: Supporting Heroes:  www.SupportingHeroes.org Chicago Police Memorial Foundation:  www.CPDmemorial.org Officer John Bartholomew (Chicago Police Department) In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John Bartholomew Memorial Fund, handled by the credit union: John Bartholomew Memorial Fund c/o Police Federal Credit Union 1407 West Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL 60607 Please continue to keep Officer Nelson Crespo, his family, and his brothers and sisters in the department in your prayers as he fights for his recovery. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2281282/support] The Engine that Makes Detective Story Run: Patreon Link for Insider Conversations and Direct contact with us: https://patreon.com/DetectiveStorywithMikeHammond Big thank you to our sponsors that keep us rolling: Jenn and Drew Hammond Colonel Samuel E. Manto Core Natural Gas Services, Midland/Odessa, Texas  Blue Knight Security Solutions  Season 3-Recorded at The Content Club, Chicago, Illinois  Content and Creator-Mike Hammond  Co-Host-Chris Kafcas Video and Audio Editing by Mike Hammond and Content Club, Chicago Original Musical Score-Jared May Original Studio Artwork: Drew DeMaria Season 3 Score- "Dead and Gone Blues" by Peter Crosby (Epidemic Sound) Original Show Artwork and Logo's: Eric Rovegno https://www.thenorthcreative.com/ [https://www.thenorthcreative.com/] Los Angeles, California (Do yourself a favor and check out his work on his website) Security and Investigative assistance provided by: Blue Knight Security Solutions Contact information: blueknightsecuritysolutions.com [https://www.blueknightsecuritysolutions.com] 773-706-4920 Find us on the Socials Facebook, Instagram and TikTok: @detectivestorymikehammond email Detective Hammond at: mike@detectivestory.net

Episode 24- Michele Wood "Model Detective" & Marco Garcia , Lead Hostage Negotiator: Chicago PD's Power Couple

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2281282/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we sit down with Chicago PD's power couple: Homicide Sergeant Michele Wood and her husband, Lead Hostage Negotiator Marco Garcia to discuss her new book and the art of crisis negotiation.  We discuss Michele’s upcoming book release "Model Detective"  and the high-stakes world of hostage negotiation and de-escalation techniques 📘 ORDER "MODEL DETECTIVE" HERE: https://a.co/d/0gGAI1Ok [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NuaFdtTDliSE9BMkp4dE83UE11SGRUbExyZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuUGtLZmNtR0NmN21uYktNbXJtV1pUenFxZVZwSVZWZzN1M29KX2M1cW8yVjF1NE9KZUtwaU5CQzdBU0NzUU1aZmdSWXd5eUxfRjVzUjU3a2lOQVoycTh2NFFHdl9wMTl1d2N5QTZtUjRmaWFIQUlEWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fa.co%2Fd%2F0gGAI1Ok&v=YLR2pi0HjHA] Visit and join our Patreon page for cool extra content at: https://patreon.com/DetectiveStorywithMikeHammond Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2281282/support] The Engine that Makes Detective Story Run: Patreon Link for Insider Conversations and Direct contact with us: https://patreon.com/DetectiveStorywithMikeHammond Big thank you to our sponsors that keep us rolling: Jenn and Drew Hammond Colonel Samuel E. Manto Core Natural Gas Services, Midland/Odessa, Texas  Blue Knight Security Solutions  Season 3-Recorded at The Content Club, Chicago, Illinois  Content and Creator-Mike Hammond  Co-Host-Chris Kafcas Video and Audio Editing by Mike Hammond and Content Club, Chicago Original Musical Score-Jared May Original Studio Artwork: Drew DeMaria Season 3 Score- "Dead and Gone Blues" by Peter Crosby (Epidemic Sound) Original Show Artwork and Logo's: Eric Rovegno https://www.thenorthcreative.com/ [https://www.thenorthcreative.com/] Los Angeles, California (Do yourself a favor and check out his work on his website) Security and Investigative assistance provided by: Blue Knight Security Solutions Contact information: blueknightsecuritysolutions.com [https://www.blueknightsecuritysolutions.com] 773-706-4920 Find us on the Socials Facebook, Instagram and TikTok: @detectivestorymikehammond email Detective Hammond at: mike@detectivestory.net

Season 3 Begins! Episode 23 - The Murder of 6-Year-Old Allen Kalfus

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2281282/fan_mail/new] Season 3 begins with the case that started it all. In February 2001, my partner Sam Manto and I worked our first murder as lead detectives: 6-year-old Allen Kalfus, tortured to death by his foster mother, Flora Stewart. Sam and I sit down 25 years later to revisit this case. What we remember. What surprised us. And what still haunts us. This is the story of Allen Kalfus. Visit us for direct contact, updates and news at our website: www.detectivestory.net [https://www.detectivestory.net/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2281282/support] The Engine that Makes Detective Story Run: Patreon Link for Insider Conversations and Direct contact with us: https://patreon.com/DetectiveStorywithMikeHammond Big thank you to our sponsors that keep us rolling: Jenn and Drew Hammond Colonel Samuel E. Manto Core Natural Gas Services, Midland/Odessa, Texas  Blue Knight Security Solutions  Season 3-Recorded at The Content Club, Chicago, Illinois  Content and Creator-Mike Hammond  Co-Host-Chris Kafcas Video and Audio Editing by Mike Hammond and Content Club, Chicago Original Musical Score-Jared May Original Studio Artwork: Drew DeMaria Season 3 Score- "Dead and Gone Blues" by Peter Crosby (Epidemic Sound) Original Show Artwork and Logo's: Eric Rovegno https://www.thenorthcreative.com/ [https://www.thenorthcreative.com/] Los Angeles, California (Do yourself a favor and check out his work on his website) Security and Investigative assistance provided by: Blue Knight Security Solutions Contact information: blueknightsecuritysolutions.com [https://www.blueknightsecuritysolutions.com] 773-706-4920 Find us on the Socials Facebook, Instagram and TikTok: @detectivestorymikehammond email Detective Hammond at: mike@detectivestory.net