Interview #52 | The Mysterious Mrs Hood: Kim Donovan discusses writing about her great-great aunt's murder

In the early hours of August 5, 2000, Julie Tennant disappeared without a trace from her parents' home in Ballymena, Co Antrim. As days passed with no sign of the 21-year-old, a massive search effort was launched, but hopes of finding her alive faded with each passing moment.Just over two weeks later, the grim reality came to light - a shallow grave concealed Julie’s remains, bringing the missing person investigation to a devastating conclusion. But who was responsible for her death, and what led to her brutal fate?Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!Follow me on social media:Facebook | British Murders with Stuart BluesInstagram | @britishmurdersTikTok | @britishmurdersJoin the private Facebook group:British Murders Podcast - Discussion GroupVisit my website:britishmurders.comIntro music:⁣David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣davidjohnbrady.comDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13 Mars 32min

I’m joined by Brian and Cameron Santana in this interview episode. The American brothers are a duo with a unique skill set - Brian, an English professor and Cameron, a police officer - who joined forces to crack one of North Carolina’s most infamous cold cases.On April 15, 1973, 19-year-old Virginia Olson’s body was discovered near the University of North Carolina-Asheville, sparking a decades-long investigation filled with twists, dead ends and chilling theories. For 50 years, law enforcement pursued the truth, sifting through connections to other crimes and a notorious serial killer.Brian and Cameron’s meticulous research, blending academic analysis with investigative expertise, sheds new light on this haunting case. Join us as we discuss their journey, the obstacles they faced and the shocking revelations uncovered in 𝘈 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘴 - the book that finally brings long-awaited answers to a case that has remained unsolved for over half a century.A Murder on Campus was published by Wild Blue Press on January 13, 2025, and you can order a copy here:A Murder On Campus | Wild Blue Press***This interview was recorded on February 10, 2025.Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exciting giveaways, and much more!Social Media:Facebook | British Murders with Stuart BluesInstagram | @britishmurdersTikTok | @britishmurdersPrivate Facebook Group:British Murders Podcast - Discussion GroupWebsite:britishmurders.comDo you have a guest request? Please send it to contact@britishmurders.com or fill out a Contact Form at britishmurders.com/contactIntro music:⁣David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣davidjohnbrady.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Mars 1h 16min

In September 2003, 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed vanished from her home in Warrington, Cheshire, leaving behind a worrying trail of unanswered questions. A bright and ambitious student, she had dreams of independence, but those dreams clashed with the expectations placed upon her by her family.For years, her disappearance remained a mystery, until a shocking revelation finally exposed the horrifying truth. What really happened to Shafilea that night? And why did it take nearly a decade for justice to be served?By covering Shafilea's story, I hope to raise awareness of the devastating reality of so-called "honour-based" abuse and the urgent need to challenge it. If you or someone you know is at risk or are experiencing it currently, please seek help from one of the below resources:• Karma Nirvana (karmanirvana.org.uk)• Savera UK (saverauk.co.uk)• Halo Project (haloproject.org.uk)• Freedom (freedomcharity.org.uk)• True Honour (truehonour.org.uk)Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!Follow me on social media:Facebook | British Murders with Stuart BluesInstagram | @britishmurdersTikTok | @britishmurdersJoin the private Facebook group:British Murders Podcast - Discussion GroupVisit my website:britishmurders.comIntro music:⁣David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣davidjohnbrady.comDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Mars 36min

In December 1994, 33-year-old Dr Michael Meenaghan was in his kitchen making a cup of tea when a single shotgun suddenly tore through his window, striking him in the chest. He somehow managed to dial 999 but collapsed before he could say a word.When officers arrived, they found him slumped on the floor, the phone still hanging off the hook, surrounded by a pool of his own blood.Over 30 years later, his murder remains a complete mystery. No weapon, no suspects, and no clear motive - just one chilling question: Who wanted Dr Meenaghan dead, and why?If you have any information about this case, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, please contact Thames Valley Police on the link below or call 101:Update a crime report | Thames Valley PoliceAlternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via the secure online form below:Give information anonymously | CrimestoppersJoin my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!Follow me on social media:Facebook | British Murders with Stuart BluesInstagram | @britishmurdersTikTok | @britishmurdersJoin the private Facebook group:British Murders Podcast - Discussion GroupVisit my website:britishmurders.comIntro music:⁣David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣davidjohnbrady.comDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27 Feb 25min

I’m joined by actor-producer duo Aaron Vodovoz and Annelise Bianchini in this interview episode to discuss the UK revival of 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥 from award-winning playwright Lee Blessing.𝘈 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦-𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 (𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦) 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩, 𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩'𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.The play is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the complex intersection of true crime, ethics, and the allure of killers in our culture.𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥, partnered by CrimeCon, has a limited run at London's brand-new Playhouse East theatre and runs from 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟰 to 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.British Murders listeners can enjoy an exclusive 𝟮𝟬% 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧 on tickets by using the code '𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗦𝗛' at checkout via the Eventbrite link below:Down the Road by Lee Blessing Tickets | EventbriteHead to americantheatreoflondon.co.uk for more information, and follow their socials below for updates on the play's production:Facebook | American Theatre of LondonInstagram | @amertheatreldnTikTok | @amertheatreldnX | @AmerTheatreLDN***This interview was recorded on January 28, 2025.Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exciting giveaways, and much more!Social Media:Facebook | British Murders with Stuart BluesInstagram | @britishmurdersTikTok | @britishmurdersPrivate Facebook Group:British Murders Podcast - Discussion GroupWebsite:britishmurders.comDo you have a guest request? Please send it to contact@britishmurders.com or fill out a Contact Form at britishmurders.com/contactIntro music:⁣David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣davidjohnbrady.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Feb 51min

In this monthly collaboration series, Adam from the UK True Crime podcast and I take a step back from individual cases to explore a curated selection of gripping crime stories that made headlines in February 2025. From chilling local, national, and international headlines to quirky and more lighthearted stories, this series offers a glimpse into the diverse and often shocking world of true crime.This month's stories include:Lanarkshire dad's jaw shattered while protecting stepson in CarlukeFraudster pretended to work for Greggs to nick thousands from Leeds City CouncilKiller who snatched girl from garden tent makes new bid for freedomWoman dies in shooting at village pub in Kent on Valentine’s DayHartlepool convenience store selling bootleg cigarettesPrivate detectives to hand over info on 'new witnesses' to death of Scot in SpainFemale Police Officer Arrested for Shooting and Killing Her Son and His Teen GirlfriendPolish murderer writes a second novel revealing secrets of his crimesKayaker survives being swallowed by humpback whale in ChileJoin us as we dive into these extraordinary stories in the February 2025 edition of The Crime Roundup.Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!Social Media:Facebook | British Murders with Stuart BluesInstagram | @britishmurdersTikTok | @britishmurdersPrivate Facebook Group:British Murders Podcast - Discussion GroupWebsite:britishmurders.comIntro music:⁣David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣davidjohnbrady.comDisclaimer:The cases discussed in this episode are real and represent the worst day in many people's lives. We aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, viewer discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22 Feb 51min

When Robert Wilson went to work at the Thornton & Ross pharmaceutical plant in Linthwaite, Huddersfield on the evening of January 16, 2020, he had no idea that he would never return home.The 53-year-old was carrying out a routine security check when he confronted two teenagers trespassing on the premises. What followed was a frenzied and senseless attack, in which Robert was subjected to an act of unimaginable violence.This harrowing case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of knife crime and the dangers posed by individuals willing to commit acts of extreme violence.Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!Follow me on social media:Facebook | British Murders with Stuart BluesInstagram | @britishmurdersTikTok | @britishmurdersJoin the private Facebook group:British Murders Podcast - Discussion GroupVisit my website:britishmurders.comIntro music:⁣David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣davidjohnbrady.comDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 Feb 33min

In June 1992, 18-year-old Katie Rackliff was heading home after a night out in Farnborough, Hampshire, when she was savagely attacked and murdered. The case sent shockwaves through the community, but as the years passed with no arrests, it seemed justice might never come.Then, four years later, a shocking revelation turned the investigation on its head. The killer wasn’t just someone the police never suspected - they would go down in history as the UK’s youngest-ever female murderer.Join my Patreon community at patreon.com/britishmurders for exclusive perks, including early access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes and content, exciting giveaways, and welcome goodies!Follow me on social media:Facebook | British Murders with Stuart BluesInstagram | @britishmurdersTikTok | @britishmurdersJoin the private Facebook group:British Murders Podcast - Discussion GroupVisit my website:britishmurders.comIntro music:⁣David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣davidjohnbrady.comDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13 Feb 34min