Last Assignment of Journalist Kim Wall – Ep.117

!!Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of violent crime, sexual violence, and dismemberment. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

Episode Overview

In this episode of Crisis & Consequences, we explore the tragic story of journalist Kim Wall—an accomplished, fearless reporter whose final assignment became an international headline.

What began as a routine interview with an eccentric inventor turned into one of the most disturbing crimes in recent history. But this episode is not just about what happened aboard a submarine in Copenhagen.

It’s about who Kim Wall was. What she stood for. And why her work still matters.

Because some stories demand more than explanation—they demand remembrance.

Who Was Kim Wall?

Kim Wall was not just a journalist—she was a storyteller driven by curiosity, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of truth.

By the age of 30, she had:

• Reported from some of the most remote and complex regions in the world

• Covered topics ranging from nuclear fallout in the Pacific to post-war tourism in Sri Lanka

• Published work in The New York Times, The Guardian, TIME, The Atlantic, and more

She wasn’t chasing headlines—she was chasing understanding.

Her work centered on people often overlooked, giving voice to stories that might otherwise go untold.

The Final Assignment

On August 10, 2017, Kim boarded a privately built submarine in Copenhagen Harbor to interview its creator.

She told her partner she would be back in a couple of hours.

She never returned.

When the submarine resurfaced the next day—with its owner alone and giving conflicting stories—an international investigation began.

What followed revealed a calculated and deeply disturbing crime.

The Man Behind the Submarine

The subject of Kim’s interview was widely seen as an eccentric innovator—self-taught, ambitious, and unconventional.

But behind that public persona was a pattern of:

• Volatile behavior

• Troubled relationships

• Escalating fascination with violence

As investigators dug deeper, a far darker reality emerged—one that ultimately led to a conviction for premeditated murder, sexual assault, and desecration of a body.

Her Legacy

In the wake of her death, Kim’s parents established the Kim Wall Memorial Fund, which supports female journalists covering underreported stories around the world.

Her legacy lives on through:

• The stories she told

• The journalists she continues to inspire

• The voices she helped amplify

She believed deeply in the importance of bearing witness.

Resources & Sources

This episode draws from verified reporting, interviews, and archival sources, including:

Kim Wall: Interview with a Real-life Vampire: Why Drinking Blood Isn't Like in Hollywood 

Harper’s Magazine: Kim Wall—The Weekly Package: How Cubans Deliver Culture without Internet  

NPR: Journalist Kim Wall's Parents Show She Was More Than a Victim In 'A Silenced Voice' 

Vice: The Story of Kim Wall’s Murder, But Not as You Know it 

NPR: Danish Inventor Who Murdered Journalist on Submarine In 2017 Briefly Escapes Prison 

Inside Edition: Everything We Know About the Killing of Kim Wall, the Journalist Slain After Boarding Peter Madsen's Submarine 

Journalists Killed in 2017 - Motive Confirmed: Kim Wall 

Oxygen True Crime: Inventor's Lies Exposed After Murdering Swedish Journalist During Submarine Trip 

CNN World: Kim Wall Murder: Danish Inventor Peter Madsen Given Life Sentence 

The Gruesome Murder of Kim Wall at the Hands of Peter Madsen 

RefWorld: Journalists Killed in 2017 - Motive Confirmed: Kim Wall 

Remembering Kim Wall Memorial Site 

PBS News: Column: Journalist Kim Wall's Wit Shone through Her Work and Life 

ABC News: As Kim Wall's Murder Trial Begins, Friends Seeking 'Justice' Hope Her Legacy Empowers Women Journalists 

Overseas Press Club of America: Remembering My Friend, Kim Wall 

Man Charged with Killing Missing Journalist After Crowdfunded Sub Sinks [Updated] 

Wikipedia: Peter Madsen 

Final Note

Kim Wall’s life was not defined by how it ended.

She was a journalist who went where others wouldn’t. She told stories others overlooked. She asked questions that mattered.

And she made sure the world paid attention.

Remember her work.

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