From a Private Investigator to a Bestselling Crime Author: A Conversation with Michael Koryta on 'An Honest Man'

Terrorists killed 15 people near Bondi Beach in Australia. In this episode, we spoke to an Australian listener about her country's history of gun control laws, differences been gun culture in the United States and Australia, and what this tragedy means for Australia. NBC’s report on the victims of the Bondi Beach attack: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/australia/bondi-beach-shooting-victims-australia-hanukkah-attack-rcna249203The Guardian's detailed report of the timeline of the Bondi Beach attack: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/15/a-visual-guide-to-the-bondi-beach-terror-attackThe Washington Post's article on the Brown University shooting victims Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/12/15/brown-university-shooting-victims/Pew Research's data on 2023 gun homicides: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/05/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-us/Forbes's article detailing the Australian Institute of Criminology's gun homicide statistics: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2025/12/14/the-gun-murder-rate-in-australia-where-15-were-slain-at-bondi-beach-is-6000-lower-than-in-us/Gallup data on views in the United States toward gun control: https://news.gallup.com/poll/513623/majority-continues-favor-stricter-gun-laws.aspxUnited Nations data on intentional homicide: https://data.unodc.org/datareport/hom-victimFind discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 Dec 52min

Joe Kennedy was a longtime agent for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or the NCIS. The NCIS is tasked with investigating criminal activities involving the United States Navy and the Marine Corps. So he investigated cases all around the world. Today, Joe works with the Carolina Cold Case Consortium and is devoted to helping solve cold cases. He is also working with eSleuth.This interview is part of our new occasional recurring segment, the Future of Crime Solving. It’s a series where we will talk to different figures associated with eSleuth AI. eSleuth AI offers a suite of new tools crafted to help eliminate backlogs and get cases solved — cold and otherwise. It employs artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, and its systems are Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Justice Information System compliant. To help convince law enforcement departments around the country that eSleuth is the future of crime solving, the company is working with an impressive array of former law enforcement officials. And they’re willing to talk to us. If you're a law enforcement official curious about eSleuth AI, email Scot at sthomasson@esleuth.ai or check out their website at: https://www.esleuth.ai/Find discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.We’re true crime people, so we all double check the house before bed — locks on doors, locked windows, nobody skulking outside or in the basement, the works. That’s part of our routine. But we also know we have a home security system that can help prevent crimes before they even happen.Simplisafe is a home security system that stops intruders before they even break in. We trust them with our home, with our peace of mind. Their AI-powered cameras lock onto threats outside of your home. If an intruder approaches, their live agents don’t just sit around. They get on there and confront the person. They sound alarms. Flash lights. Let them know the police are on the way. That way, you can protect your home and stop crime in its tracks. We’ve been loyal Simplisafe fans for years. We love the flexibility. The lack of contracts and fees. We love that it’s great for renters and homeowners. We love that it’s been named one of the “Best Home Security Systems” by U.S. News & World Report for five years in a row. It’s a great service and it makes us feel safe. So protect your home with SimpliSafe and get 50% off any new system for a limited time. Just go to SIMPLISAFE dot com slash MSHEET. That’s SIMPLISAFE dot com slash MSHEET. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 Dec 51min

The Cheat Sheet is The Murder Sheet's segment breaking down weekly news and updates in some of the murder cases we cover. In this episode, we'll talk about cases from California, Indiana, and New York.And check out Kindle's Deal of the Day! For December 12, 2025 only, you can get an ebook of our book Shadow of the Bridge for only $1.99.Source: Fox 10 News on the murder of Tanya Jackson and her baby daughter Tatiana Marie Dykes: https://www.fox10tv.com/2025/12/08/florida-man-charged-1997-killing-mobile-woman-once-thought-linked-gilgo-beach-murders/The New York Post on the murder of Susan Leeds by Cherie Townsend: https://nypost.com/2025/12/09/us-news/california-mom-cherie-townsend-convicted-of-killing-66-year-old-retired-nurse-in-botched-robbery-to-fund-daughters-cheerleading-trip/CBS on the murder of Susan Leeds by Cherie Townsend: https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/woman-convicted-of-killing-retired-nurse-in-rolling-hills-mall-parking-lot/People on the homicide of Michael Virgil: https://people.com/michael-virgil-fiancee-files-suit-against-cruise-company-after-death-11864285CBS on the homicide of Michael Virgil: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-virgil-royal-caribbean-alcohol-death-lawsuit-california/Forensic Resources on homicide: https://forensicresources.org/2019/homicide-manner-of-death-vs-legal-conclusion/Find discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.It’s 2026. Time for a wardrobe refresh. Time for some pieces that will help you beat the chilly temperatures.Time to go to Quince. This is a brand that specializes in luxury goods for less. They make deals with ethical artisans to get you the best in clothing, home goods, and travel items for so much less. So that means you can get luxe on a budget.We’ve gotten so many of their items. We love Quince. Their items are sharp, timeless, and well-crafted. Mongolian cashmere sweaters. Leather and suedge outerwear. Down jackets. Wool coats. Everything you need for winter. I love my Quince clothes. They’ve all held up great and I find myself wearing them a lot. They’ve been my go-tos this winter, from my three Mongolian cashmere sweaters, including a fisherman crewneck sweater in ivory that I love. My latest finds are a 100% washable silk mini skirt to pair with that sweater and a bunch of my other tops. I love finding staples I can wear again and again at Quince.And of course, Aine’s added to her beret collection with yet another beret in a new color! Can’t wait for her to wear that. We are sure you’ll love Quince. It’s great for building up your own style and clothing options this winter, without going broke. These are excellent products for a fraction of the price. Refresh your winter wardrobe with Quince. Go to Quince dot com slash msheet for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E dot com slash msheet. Free shipping and 365-day returns. Quince dot com slash msheet.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Dec 1h 6min

We spoke with Monia Ali, author of the Fandom Exile Substack, about how true crime is becoming more and more like a fandom. We talked about the difference between stans and fans, how fandoms go bad, and how we can all combat toxicity in true crime.In new segment, True Crime Wave, we’ll be talking about issues endemic to true crime. At its best, true crime offers the audience a way to learn about stories of crime, social issues, legal realities, and the real human beings at the heart of cases. It can be educational and compassionate and cathartic and thoughtful and incisive, and it can help raise awareness of cases. Good true crime can show case all kinds of different perspectives. It can center journalism, advocacy, legal analysis, investigative approaches, the experiences of survivors or victims’ families, and more. That is all very good. But too often, we see true crime devolve. We have seen online mobs, harassment, conspiracy theories, ethics-washing, and more. True crime won’t get better on its own. We think talking about these things will help. Check out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Dec 1h 28min

Steve Kramer has dedicated his career to law enforcement. First, he served as a deputy county attorney, prosecuting cases for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in Phoenix, Arizona. Then he went to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation as in-house counsel.Today, he will talk to us about his involvement in solving cases like the Golden State Killer and the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders.Check out Indago here: https://www.indago.ai/Find discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.If you’re like me, you’re so into true crime that you get extra careful about stuff. Making sure you’re not followed. Staying situationally aware. And of course, checking the locks on your doors and windows before bed. Better safe than sorry, right? Because we all know bad stuff can and does happen.Well, our sponsor can help with your peace of mind. We’ve trusted Simplisafe’s home security system for years. Traditional home security systems don’t cut it. They only go off after someone’s breaking in. They’re purely reactive. Simplisafe is proactive. Their AI-powered cameras detect threats while they’re still outside. That’s when live monitoring agents jump in. They can address the intruder, tell them they’re on camera and the police are coming. They can set off alarms and sirens!We love Simplisafe. We used it when we were renters. We used it when we bought our home. It’s so easy to set up and allows you so much flexibility. It’s reliable. We’ve gotten threats over our reporting before, so we take this stuff seriously. We feel like we’re in great hands. So protect your home with SimpliSafe and get 50% off any new system for a limited time. Just go to SIMPLISAFE dot com slash MSHEET. That’s SIMPLISAFE dot com slash MSHEET. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 Dec 1h 10min

The Cheat Sheet is The Murder Sheet's segment breaking down weekly news and updates in some of the murder cases we cover. In this episode, we'll talk about cases from Alaska, Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri.9 and 10 News on the murder of Rebecca Park and her baby and the arrest of Cortney Bartholomew and Bradley Bartholomew: https://www.9and10news.com/2025/12/03/biological-mother-spouse-face-murder-and-torture-charges-in-rebecca-park-case/ABC News on the murder of Rebecca Park and her baby and the arrest of Cortney Bartholomew and Bradley Bartholomew: https://abcnews.go.com/US/family-members-charged-death-pregnant-woman-michigan/story?id=128069205CBS 4 Local’s report on the murder of Rebecca Park and her baby and the arrest of Cortney Bartholomew and Bradley Bartholomew: https://cbs4local.com/news/nation-world/parents-of-murdered-rebecca-park-accused-cutting-baby-out-of-womb-prosecutor-says-wexford-county-michigan-brad-cortney-bartholomewPatch’s coverage of the recent attempted murder case involving Aneta Marsek: https://patch.com/illinois/crystallake/woman-who-once-sparked-nationwide-missing-persons-case-now-sentenced-shootingThe McHenry County State’s Attorney’s press release on the outcome of the attempted murder case involving Aneta Marsek: https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/Home/Components/News/News/18490/We also looked at the Reedsburg Times-Press and Northwest Herald via Newspapers.com.The Alaska Beacon’s reporting on the case of Brian Hall and the murders of Mickey Dinsmore and Stanley Honeycutt: https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/12/03/alaska-court-of-appeals-upholds-1995-murder-conviction-despite-key-witness-reversing-testimony/BBC's coverage of Judge Matthew EP Thornhill: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yq3g7lqgqoCBS's coverage of Judge Matthew EP Thornhill: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/missouri-judge-elvis-presley-wig-music-court-stepping-down/Fox 2 Now's coverage of Judge Matthew EP Thornhill: https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/st-charles-county-judge-who-wore-elvis-wig-talked-politics-in-court-to-resign/The Associated Press's coverage of Judge Matthew EP Thornhill: https://apnews.com/article/missouri-elvis-wig-judge-matthew-thornhill-ac85ac95a5dd942ea87f688fda75b758STLPR's coverage of Judge Matthew EP Thornhill: https://www.stlpr.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2025-11-26/st-charles-judge-wearing-elvis-outfitFind discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.It’s a new year. That means you need a new wardrobe. And you need one without breaking the bank. Our sponsor Quince makes refreshing your style easy. Their pieces are high quality, well-made, and thoughtfully designed, so you’re not just buying clothes, you’re making a good investment in a garment that will last a long time. Luxury goods for an accessible price, and class pieces that never go out of style. We love their Mongolian cashmere sweaters, their silk dresses, and their cute berets. Quince keeps prices down on these premium fashion staples by cutting out the middle man. We’ve bought a lot of their clothing and we love the way they feel. They’re valuable and we have worn them a lot this winter. We feel they’re stylish, easy to maintain, and a great addition to our closets.I love my Quince wool and Mongolian cashmere sweaters and my Quince suede bomber jacket. I’ve never been a big fashion guy but I wear all of those regularly, and I love the way they feel. The new purchase I’m most excited about getting in the new year is their cotton pique knit overshirt. I really like the way it looks. It looks like an elevated version of what I usually wear, and it seems great to help me layer and stay warm this winter. I’m really excited to get it and try it on. I’m excited for him to model it too. When you support our sponsors, you support us — and we only support brands that we believe in. We know firsthand that Quince is the place to go for coats, sweaters, silk shirts, dresses, shoes, home goods, jewelry and more. You can get more with Quince, because their prices for quality goods are significantly less than other brands.Refresh your winter wardrobe with Quince. Go to Quince dot com slash msheet for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E dot com slash msheet. Free shipping and 365-day returns. Quince dot com slash msheet.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 Dec 1h 8min

On February 13, 2017, a man named Richard Allen murdered two girls, 14-year-old Liberty German and 13-year-old Abigail Williams in Delphi, in Carroll County. Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland and his team, Stacey Diener and James Luttrull, prosecuted him. Allen’s defense team consisted of lead counsel Brad Rozzi, Jennifer Auger, and Andrew Baldwin.That defense team established a consistent pattern of engaging in baseless personal attacks on prosecutors and detectives throughout their representation, and also put forward a flimsy theory of the case centering an alleged Norse pagan cult. Allen was convicted on November 11, 2024 by a jury of his peers.The Murder Sheet can now exclusively report that Baldwin filed a ridiculous complaint against McLeland this past summer with Indiana’s Disciplinary Commission, a body tasked with disciplinary complaints against lawyers. Baldwin's complaint was dismissed on its face. Now McLeland will weigh in on the whole situation. Find discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

3 Dec 39min

On February 13, 2017, a man named Richard Allen murdered two girls, 14-year-old Liberty German and 13-year-old Abigail Williams in Delphi, in Carroll County. Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland and his team, Stacey Diener and James Luttrull, prosecuted him. Allen’s defense team consisted of lead counsel Brad Rozzi, Jennifer Auger, and Andrew Baldwin.That defense team established a consistent pattern of engaging in baseless personal attacks on prosecutors and detectives throughout their representation, and also put forward a flimsy theory of the case centering an alleged Norse pagan cult. Allen was convicted on November 11, 2024 by a jury of his peers.The Murder Sheet can now exclusively report that Baldwin filed a ridiculous complaint against McLeland this past summer with Indiana’s Disciplinary Commission, a body tasked with disciplinary complaints against lawyers. We will continue talking about Baldwin's frivolous complaint here, and get into the similarly ridiculous complaints we received. Find discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

3 Dec 1h 8min