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What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight. A True Crime Podcast
10 Rillington Place: The Serial Killer Who helped Hang an Innocent Man.
Ep. 53
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Enjoying What They Hide? You can also find the podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel and help this independent true-crime show reach its next milestone of 150 subscribers. ❤️
10 Rillington Place: The Serial Killer Who Helped Hang an Innocent Man
What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight
In March 1953, a horrifying discovery was made inside an ordinary terraced house in Notting Hill, London.
Hidden behind the kitchen wall of 10 Rillington Place were the bodies of three women.
Another lay beneath the floorboards.
Two more were buried in the garden.
The man responsible was John Reginald Christie. A quiet, unassuming former police reservist who had spent years hiding his crimes in plain sight.
But this wasn’t simply the story of a serial killer.
Three years earlier, a young man named Timothy Evans had been executed for the murder of his thirteen-month-old daughter, Geraldine.
One of the prosecution’s key witnesses?
John Christie.
And when Christie was finally caught, he admitted killing Timothy’s wife, Beryl.
What followed became one of the most controversial miscarriages of justice in British history.
In this episode, we explore Christie’s murders, the lives of his victims, the investigation that failed to uncover his crimes, the trial of Timothy Evans and the extraordinary legal battle that continued long after both men were dead.
A story of murder, deception, hidden evidence and a justice system forced to confront the possibility that it had sent the wrong man to the gallows.
Because sometimes the most dangerous people aren’t hiding in the shadows. They’re living right downstairs.
❤️ DEDICATED TO ANGIE — FLUFF
This episode is dedicated to my late mother-in-law, Angie, affectionately known to us as Fluff.
Angie recommended the Rillington Place case to me, and I wanted to honour her by telling this extraordinary story.
Fluff, this one’s for you. ❤️
⚠️ CONTENT WARNING
This episode contains discussion of murder, strangulation, sexual violence, an attempted abortion allegation, the death of a young child and capital punishment. Listener discretion is advised.
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RESEARCH AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT
This episode draws on historical reporting, court records, parliamentary proceedings and the official inquiries into Timothy Evans’s conviction.
The responsibility for Beryl and Geraldine Evans’s deaths remains historically contested. Christie’s confession to killing Beryl and Evans’s posthumous pardon are distinguished from definitive proof of who killed Geraldine.
Music by MUBERT.
What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight
Hosted by Matt.
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54. Silk Road: Ross Ulbricht and the Dark Web Drug Empire
01:02:53||Ep. 54Silk Road: Ross Ulbricht and the Dark Web Drug EmpireIn 2011, a young American named Ross Ulbricht created a secret online marketplace that would change the criminal underworld forever.Its name was Silk Road.Hidden within the dark web, the website allowed thousands of people to buy and sell illegal drugs using Bitcoin, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions.But behind the anonymous username Dread Pirate Roberts, something far darker was unfolding.Alleged murder-for-hire plots. Stolen cryptocurrency. Corrupt federal agents. And an international investigation that would eventually lead to a dramatic arrest inside a San Francisco public library.In 2015, Ross Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison.Then, in January 2025, President Donald Trump granted him a full and unconditional pardon.In this episode of What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight, we investigate the rise and fall of Silk Road, the extraordinary evidence against its creator, and the controversy surrounding his punishment and release.Was Ross Ulbricht a visionary who went too far, or a criminal mastermind who knew exactly what he was doing?Content WarningThis episode contains discussions of illegal drug trafficking, fatal overdoses, threats of violence and alleged murder-for-hire arrangements.Ulbricht was not convicted of murder-for-hire, and investigators found no evidence that the alleged contracted killings occurred.Support What They HideIf you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting the show.Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/WhattheyhidepodTry Audible FREE for 30 days:https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/audible/arya/mlp?ref_=null&_encoding=UTF8&tag=whattheyhide2-21&purchaseType=MTRIAL&SHOPPING_PORTAL_MODE=AUGMENTEDAffiliate disclosure: This is an affiliate link. If you sign up through it, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Trial eligibility and terms apply.Every follow, review, share and contribution helps this independent true-crime podcast grow.Research and SourcesFBI — Ross Ulbricht’s Laptophttps://www.fbi.gov/history/artifacts/ross-william-ulbrichts-laptopUS Department of Justice — Silk Road Convictionhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ross-ulbricht-creator-and-owner-silk-road-website-found-guilty-manhattan-federal-courtUS Department of Justice — Life Sentencehttps://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ross-ulbricht-aka-dread-pirate-roberts-sentenced-manhattan-federal-court-life-prisonUS Department of Justice — Official Presidential Pardon, January 2025https://www.justice.gov/pardon/media/1386096/dl?inline=Join the ConversationDo you believe Ross Ulbricht deserved a life sentence? Was the presidential pardon justified?Share your thoughts, and don’t forget to follow What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight for more extraordinary true-crime investigations.Some crimes are hidden in plain sight. Others are hidden behind a screen.#TrueCrime #SilkRoad #RossUlbricht #DarkWeb #DreadPirateRoberts #Bitcoin #WhatTheyHide
52. Raoul Moat: Britain’s Most Infamous Manhunt
52:46||Ep. 52Enjoying What They Hide? You can also find the podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel and help this independent true-crime show reach its next milestone of 150 subscribers. ❤️Raoul Moat: Britain’s Most Infamous ManhuntOn 1 July 2010, Raoul Moat walked out of Durham Prison.Within days, Christopher Brown was dead, Samantha Stobbart had been seriously wounded, and PC David Rathband had been shot and permanently blinded.Then Moat disappeared.What followed was one of the most extraordinary manhunts in modern British history.Hundreds of officers. Armed police. Helicopters. Armoured vehicles. A search of the Northumberland countryside. A nation watching events unfold almost in real time.And, in one of the most surreal moments in British crime history, Paul Gascoigne arrived at the police cordon believing he could help.But behind the spectacle was something far darker.In this episode of What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight, we look beyond the mythology surrounding Raoul Moat and return the focus to the people whose lives were devastated by his actions.Who was Christopher Brown?Why had Samantha told Moat that her new boyfriend was a police officer?What warning did authorities receive before the violence began?How did PC David Rathband become a completely random target?And why, after Moat’s death, did thousands of people begin treating a murderer as some kind of folk hero?This is the story of Raoul Moat — Britain’s Most Infamous Manhunt.⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGThis episode contains discussion of murder, gun violence, domestic abuse and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.☕ SUPPORT WHAT THEY HIDEIf you enjoy the show and would like to help support its growth, you can buy me a coffee through the link in the show notes.🎧 AUDIBLE — 30-DAY FREE TRIALI use Audible myself, and if you fancy giving it a try, you can start a 30-day free trial using my link:https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/audible/arya/mlp?ref_=null&_encoding=UTF8&tag=whattheyhide2-21&purchaseType=MTRIAL&SHOPPING_PORTAL_MODE=AUGMENTEDAs an Amazon Associate/Audible affiliate, I may earn from qualifying sign-ups made through this link. It costs you nothing extra and helps support What They Hide.📺 If you’re watching on YouTube, please subscribe, like the video and leave a comment — it makes a huge difference to a growing independent show.⭐ Follow What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight on your podcast app and leave a rating or review if you’re enjoying the series.Thank you for listening.What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain SightMusic by MUBERT
51. Fred the Head: The Man Without a Name | Midweek Mini
33:12||Ep. 51Enjoying What They Hide? You can also find the podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel and help this independent true-crime show reach its next milestone of 150 subscribers. ❤️MIDWEEK MINI: FRED THE HEAD — THE MAN WITHOUT A NAMEIn March 1971, human remains were discovered buried in a secluded location beside the River Trent near Burton upon Trent.The man had been buried in an unusual position. His hands and feet had been bound. He was largely unclothed apart from a distinctive pair of socks, and on his hand was a small gold wedding ring.Police had his fingerprints.They had his teeth.They had distinctive physical characteristics.Decades later, they would have his DNA, modern facial reconstruction and new forensic techniques.But more than half a century later, one question has remained unanswered:Who was he?The unidentified man became known simply as Fred the Head.In this Midweek Mini of What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight, we follow the strange discovery beside the River Trent, the clues investigators hoped would identify Fred, the decades-long attempts to give him his name back and the missing men who have subsequently been considered as possible identities.We also examine the more recent theories surrounding the case — carefully separating established evidence from speculation.Because before he became Fred the Head, this man had a real name.Somebody knew him.And somewhere, the final clue to his identity may still exist.⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGThis episode contains discussion of human remains, suspicious death and burial. Listener discretion is advised.☕ SUPPORT WHAT THEY HIDEIf you enjoy What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight and would like to support the research and production of future episodes, you can buy me a coffee here:https://buymeacoffee.com/WhattheyhidepodEvery contribution helps support the show and is massively appreciated.🎧 TRY AUDIBLE FREE FOR 30 DAYSI use Audible myself and have built up a huge audiobook library over the years.If you’d like to give it a try, you can get a 30-day free trial through my affiliate link:https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/audible/arya/mlp?ref_=null&_encoding=UTF8&tag=whattheyhide2-21&purchaseType=MTRIAL&SHOPPING_PORTAL_MODE=AUGMENTEDAs an Amazon Associate/Audible affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying sign-ups made through this link. It costs you nothing extra and helps support What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight.📱 FOLLOW THE PODCAST@whattheyhidepod on social media📧 CASE SUGGESTIONS & FEEDBACKwhattheyhidepod@gmail.comIf you enjoy the podcast, please follow or subscribe, leave a rating or review and share the episode with somebody who loves true crime.It genuinely helps an independent podcast like What They Hide reach new listeners.Sources include:Staffordshire PoliceContemporary reporting surrounding the 1971 discovery and investigationLater public appeals and facial reconstruction workCrimewatch RoadshowPublicly available reporting concerning subsequent forensic examinations and potential identitiesWhere theories or possible identifications are discussed, they are presented as such and distinguished from established evidence.Music by MUBERT
50. JonBenét Ramsey: Who Killed the Child Beauty Queen?
01:13:39||Ep. 50JonBenét Ramsey: Who Killed the Child Beauty Queen? On the morning after Christmas 1996, Patsy Ramsey found a ransom note inside her family’s Boulder, Colorado home. Her six-year-old daughter, JonBenét Ramsey, was missing. Hours later, JonBenét wasn’t found outside the house. She was found inside it — dead in a basement room. Almost thirty years later, her murder remains unsolved. In this episode of What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight, we go back through one of the most scrutinised murder investigations in modern American history and separate the evidence from the mythology that has grown around it. We examine the extraordinary ransom note, the crime scene, the pineapple, the basement window, Lou Smit’s intruder theory, the secret grand-jury indictments and the DNA evidence that was later used to clear the Ramsey family — before asking whether that DNA can really tell us who killed JonBenét. No sensational accusations. No pretending an unsolved case has been solved. Just the evidence, the competing explanations and the questions that remain nearly three decades later. And a special thank you to listener Hugh Mann, who requested this case. Hugh, I told you I hadn’t forgotten. Still not convinced that’s your real name though. ☕ Support What They Hide: Buy Me a Coffee — check the support link in the show profile/show notes. http://buymeacoffee.com/Whattheyhidepod 🎧 Try Audible free for 30 days: Audible UK – 30-day free trial https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/audible/arya/mlp?ref_=null&_encoding=UTF8&tag=whattheyhide2-21&purchaseType=MTRIAL&SHOPPING_PORTAL_MODE=AUGMENTED Affiliate disclosure: The Audible link is an Amazon Associates affiliate link. If you sign up through it, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. It helps support What They Hide. ⭐ If you enjoyed the episode, follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with another true-crime weirdo. It makes a massive difference to an independent show. What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight Content warning: This episode discusses the murder of a child, including details of her injuries and allegations of sexual assault. Music by MUBERT
49. The Murder of Caroline Glachan: 27 Years for Justice
01:15:27||Ep. 49The Murder of Caroline Glachan: 27 Years for Justice In August 1996, 14-year-old Caroline Glachan left home in West Dunbartonshire believing she was going to meet a boy she was infatuated with. She never came home. Caroline was found beside the River Leven the following day. She had suffered a brutal assault and was still alive when she entered the water. For more than two decades, her murder remained unsolved. But Caroline’s mother, Margaret McKeich, never stopped fighting for answers. In 2019, detectives began looking at the case again. There was no dramatic DNA breakthrough and no new piece of forensic technology. Instead, investigators went back to the original evidence, spoke to hundreds of people and began dismantling an alibi that had survived since 1996. Twenty-seven years after Caroline’s murder, Robert O’Brien, Andrew Kelly and Donna Brand finally stood trial. The jury would hear about old threats, witnesses who had remained silent, a four-year-old boy who apparently knew details of the killing before Caroline’s body had even been discovered — and another man whom several witnesses claimed had confessed to the murder. So what really happened beside the River Leven that night? And how did three people apparently escape justice for nearly three decades? This is the story of Caroline Glachan. ☕ SUPPORT WHAT THEY HIDE If you’d like to support the podcast and help me continue producing independent, long-form true-crime episodes, you can support What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight through Buy Me a Coffee. http://buymeacoffee.com/Whattheyhidepod Every contribution genuinely helps support the show. 🎧 TRY AUDIBLE FREE FOR 30 DAYS If you’re looking for something else to listen to between episodes, you can try Audible with a 30-day free trial through my affiliate link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/audible/arya/mlp?ref_=null&_encoding=UTF8&tag=whattheyhide2-21&purchaseType=MTRIAL&SHOPPING_PORTAL_MODE=AUGMENTED I use Audible myself, and if you sign up through this link, What They Hide may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate/Audible affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases or eligible sign-ups. 🎙️ WHAT THEY HIDE: HIDDEN CRIMES IN PLAIN SIGHT If you’re enjoying the podcast: • Follow or subscribe so you don’t miss an episode • Leave a rating or review — it makes a huge difference to an independent podcast • Share the episode with somebody who loves true crime • Subscribe on YouTube and join our growing channel New episodes explore extraordinary crimes, disappearances, investigations and cases from Britain and around the world. Thank you for listening and for supporting What They Hide. I’m Matt — and this is What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight. Content warning: This episode contains discussion of the murder and violent assault of a child. Listener discretion is advised. Music by MUBERT
48. Peter Watts: The Boy Who Died 200 Miles From Home | Midweek Mini
26:58||Ep. 48Peter Watts: The Boy Who Died 200 Miles From Home | Midweek Mini In January 1976, 15-year-old Peter Watts left his home in Colwyn Bay, North Wales. Hours later, he was found critically injured beneath the streets of London near Euston — more than 200 miles from home. How Peter got there, who he may have met, and what happened in the final hours of his life remain unanswered nearly fifty years later. In this first What They Hide: Midweek Mini, Matt looks at the known timeline, the strange details surrounding Peter’s death, the missing watch and glasses, the disputed journey to London, and the witness claim that emerged decades later. This shorter format is something new I’m testing alongside the main weekly episodes — tighter cases that don’t need an hour to tell, but are still too compelling to ignore. If you enjoy the Midweek Mini format, let me know — I’d love to make these a regular extra alongside the main show. Support What They Hide If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support the show, you can do so through Buy Me a Coffee. http://buymeacoffee.com/Whattheyhidepod Audible UK affiliate offer: Try Audible with a 30-day free trial using my affiliate link below. I genuinely use Audible myself, and if you sign up through this link, it helps support What They Hide at no extra cost to you. https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/audible/arya/mlp?ref_=null&_encoding=UTF8&tag=whattheyhide2-21&purchaseType=MTRIAL&SHOPPING_PORTAL_MODE=AUGMENTED Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate/Audible affiliate, I may earn from qualifying sign-ups made through this link, at no extra cost to you. If you’re watching on YouTube, please consider subscribing — it genuinely helps the channel grow and helps more people discover the show. Sources include: ITV News reporting on the Peter Watts case, later police appeals, family statements and reporting surrounding the 2016 witness claim. What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight New full-length episodes weekly, with occasional Midweek Mini bonus cases in between. Music by MUBERT
47. Curtis "Cocky" Warren Part Two: The £198 Million Man
01:13:02||Ep. 47Curtis “Cocky” Warren Part Two: The £198 Million Man Five weeks. That was all the freedom Curtis “Cocky” Warren experienced after spending almost a decade behind bars before he found himself under arrest again. In Part Two, we follow Warren into an extraordinary surveillance operation on the island of Jersey. Police believed he was behind a conspiracy to import 180 kilograms of cannabis worth more than £1 million — but some of the most important evidence came from covert recordings obtained after officers went beyond the surveillance permission they’d received. What followed was a battle that reached the Privy Council, another lengthy prison sentence and an extraordinary attempt to recover the fortune authorities believed Warren had accumulated through years of international drug trafficking. The figure eventually placed on it? £198 million. We follow Warren through the Jersey conviction, the fight over the covert recordings, the confiscation proceedings, years more behind bars and his eventual release under extensive restrictions. Throughout both parts of this story, we separate documented fact from allegation and gangland mythology — because the legend of Cocky Warren is enormous. But so was the price. 🎧 TRY AUDIBLE FREE FOR 30 DAYS I genuinely use Audible myself and have built up a huge audiobook library over the years. If you’re new to Audible and eligible for the offer, you can try it free for 30 days using my affiliate link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/audible/arya/mlp?ref_=null&_encoding=UTF8&tag=whattheyhide2-21&purchaseType=MTRIAL&SHOPPING_PORTAL_MODE=AUGMENTED Try Audible free for 30 days — What They Hide affiliate link As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying sign-ups made through this link. It costs you nothing extra and helps support What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight. Audible currently offers eligible customers a 30-day free trial. ☕ SUPPORT WHAT THEY HIDE If you enjoy the podcast and would like to help support the show, you can Buy Me a Coffee. Every contribution helps support the time, research and production that goes into making What They Hide. Buy Me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/Whattheyhidepod And if you can’t support financially, following the podcast, leaving a rating or review, commenting and sharing an episode all make a massive difference. Thank you for listening and for helping What They Hide continue to grow. What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight Hosted by Matt Music by MUBERT
46. Curtis "Cocky" Warren Part One: The Making of a British Drug Baron
01:08:21||Ep. 46Curtis “Cocky” Warren Part One: The Making of a British Drug Baron Curtis Warren began life on the streets of Liverpool. By the 1990s, his name was being spoken about at the highest levels of international law enforcement. Known as “Cocky”, Warren became one of the most notorious figures in British organised crime — linked to enormous international drug shipments, pursued across Europe and, extraordinarily, appearing on the Sunday Times Rich List while his reputation grew into something approaching legend. But where does the truth end and the mythology begin? In Part One of this two-part investigation, we trace Warren’s journey from Liverpool street crime into the international drugs trade: the extraordinary cocaine prosecution that collapsed, the Customs informant at the centre of it, Warren’s move into the Netherlands, Operation Crayfish, his eventual conviction and the killing of a fellow prisoner while behind bars. We also examine the stories that helped create the legend of Cocky Warren — the alleged hidden fortune, Colombian connections, his supposedly extraordinary memory and the claims that have followed him for decades. Some can be substantiated. Some remain allegations. And some belong firmly to British gangland folklore. This is the story of the man behind the mythology — and the price that came with becoming one of Britain’s most notorious criminals. Part Two continues with Warren’s release from prison, the Jersey operation, covert surveillance, another extraordinary prosecution and the battle over his alleged fortune. 🎧 TRY AUDIBLE FREE FOR 30 DAYS I use Audible myself and have built up a huge audiobook library over the years. If you’d like to give it a try, you can get a 30-day free trial through my affiliate link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/audible/arya/mlp?ref_=null&_encoding=UTF8&tag=whattheyhide2-21&purchaseType=MTRIAL&SHOPPING_PORTAL_MODE=AUGMENTED As an Amazon Associate/Audible affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying sign-ups made through this link. It costs you nothing extra and helps support What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight. ☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW If you’re enjoying What They Hide, you can support the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee. http://buymeacoffee.com/Whattheyhidepod Following, subscribing, rating and reviewing the show also makes a huge difference — and sharing the episode with somebody who loves true crime is one of the best ways to help an independent podcast grow. What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight New episodes exploring extraordinary crimes, investigations and the stories hidden beneath the headlines. Music by MUBERT