Podcast Summary: Culpable – Inside Culpable: Behind the Mic with Dennis Cooper

Podcast: Culpable
Host: Tenderfoot TV & Audacy
Episode: Inside Culpable: Behind the Mic with Dennis Cooper
Date: August 27, 2025

Overview

In this special bonus episode, guest host Liam Luxon (Status: Untraced) interviews Dennis Cooper, the voice and lead investigator of Culpable, about the origins and inner workings of the podcast’s new season. Their discussion provides insight into the unsolved case of Danny Violet, a 17-year-old from Willard, Ohio, who disappeared in 1998 and was later found dead under suspicious circumstances. The episode delves into Cooper’s motivation, methods, the emotional complexities of working with victims’ families, and expectations for the ongoing investigation.

Episode Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. Introduction to the Case of Danny Violet

• Dennis Cooper (01:11): Introduces Danny Violet, a 17-year-old from Willard, Ohio, who disappeared in the fall of 1998 and was found dead 11 days later in a cornfield.

  • Key facts: ligature mark around his neck, tire tracks on his torso, and additional ambiguous evidence suggesting foul play.

• Quote:

  “He had what appeared to be a ligature mark around his neck and what appeared to be tire tracks across his bare torso.”
  — Dennis Cooper, [01:15]

• The case remained unsolved for over 25 years and had attracted little attention until recently.

2. Revisiting the Case: From Case Review to Full Season

• Originally covered in a shorter segment, new information has since surfaced, deepening the investigation.
• Quote:

  “Turns out actually a lot of the stuff that [Danny’s brother] thought he knew was actually not even true... since then, we've gotten much more lost in the weeds of this case...”
  — Dennis Cooper, [02:46]

3. Dennis Cooper’s Path into Podcasting

• Cooper started with no direct intent to become a podcaster; he was a true crime enthusiast and writer whose career developed unexpectedly.
  • Started podcasting when a friend launched a production company and brought him in to cover what became Culpable’s first season.
• Quote:

  “In a lot of ways, if I'm being honest, I really just kind of stumbled into this. But ultimately, I'm happy that I did.”
  — Dennis Cooper, [04:35]

4. Motivations Behind True Crime Storytelling

• Driven by a personal urge to “be a voice for the voiceless” and a love for solving mysteries and writing.
  • Inspired by the lack of closure and support many families receive after a tragedy.
• Quote:

  “The goal of obtaining justice for them should never expire. So that's always, I think, been a driving force for me as well.”
  — Dennis Cooper, [06:11]

5. Case Selection & Creative Process

• Cases typically find Cooper rather than him seeking them—many through suggestions, friends, or listener emails.
  • Process starts with family interviews, cursory investigation, and a flexible outline that adapts as the story develops.
  • Careful credit given to his production team for transforming the collected material.
• Quote:

  “I always like to start with speaking with the family and or who's closest to the story, learn what I can from them... then from there I'll always try to outline it. You know, how many episodes might this be?”
  — Dennis Cooper, [10:25]

6. Sensitivity and Ethics in Storytelling

• The balance between respecting the victim’s family and maintaining journalistic independence is a “tightrope.”
  • Emphasizes authenticity, not sugarcoating, while also capturing the heart of the story to avoid true crime sensationalism.
  • Danny’s family, exhausted from years of uncertainty, chose a more hands-off role, seeking information over justice.
• Quote:

  “These families have to essentially trust you with their loved one's story, and you have to tell it honestly... I do want some of that heart to be captured in the stories that I tell.”
  — Dennis Cooper, [13:32]

7. The Appeal and Depth of Danny’s Story

• The case’s small-town context, rumors, Danny’s adolescent struggles, and the community’s indifference or misconceptions made it compelling to Cooper as both a storyteller and investigator.
  • Many locals believed in an accident or suicide, but the evidence suggested otherwise.
• Quote:

  “It really just seemed like the consensus was it's just this weird, unexplained mystery. Some freak accident must have happened. And it's just really sad... there seems like there's signs of foul play here.”
  — Dennis Cooper, [16:20]

8. Family and Grassroots Investigation

• Danny’s brother, Drew, became motivated to organize information and push for answers after years of avoidance.
  • Key support came from Danielle (a show listener), her husband Eric, and Drew’s wife Andrea.
  • Their persistent efforts led to the release of Danny’s official case file, which became foundational for this season.
• Quote:

  “...they got his case file released and shared that with me. And then it was like, then it became a no brainer because... you don't always have that at your disposal.”
  — Dennis Cooper, [21:24]

9. Challenges of Working on a Decades-Old Cold Case

• Time obscures memories, leads people to move on, and damages or destroys evidence (including low-quality VHS recordings).
  • Highlighted the importance of contemporary documents and interviews in reconstructing events.
  • Law enforcement’s limited involvement at first saw some recent, promising cooperation.
• Quote:

  “One thing I didn't really realize getting into it is how much time like that can play with people's memories of things... what do I believe here?”
  — Dennis Cooper, [25:19]

10. What to Expect This Season

• The current investigation is still ongoing, with real-time developments unfolding as episodes release.
  • Multiple suspects, confusing timelines, and competing theories will be explored.
  • Parallels to past seasons: a mysterious "night before," substance use, and a case clouded by local rumor and speculation.
• Quote:

  “You really aren't going to know what to think at times. There's a lot of persons of interest to consider in this story... It's been a real group effort.”
  — Dennis Cooper, [29:12]

11. Hopes for the Season and the Family

• The team’s ultimate aim: to solve the case or, at minimum, to bring new understanding and clarity to Danny’s family.

  • The family has shifted from seeking justice in the form of arrests to seeking answers and resolution.

• Quote:

  "In their heart, they've forgiven whoever played a role in this... What they really just wanted was a better understanding of it."
  — Dennis Cooper, [32:35]

• Cooper remains optimistic about the potential for a breakthrough—emphasizing ongoing commitment to the investigation, even beyond the podcast’s conclusion.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On objectivity and compassion:

  "We can't, like, sugarcoat it or make a victim to be out to somebody that they're not... I'm a firm believer, again, in giving a voice to those people and having a lot of heart in these stories..."
  — Dennis Cooper, [13:53]

• On the complexity of rumors:

  "So much of the story around what happened to Danny is just fueled by rumors. Small town rumors. Right. I mean, word travels fast and in a town that small."
  — Dennis Cooper, [17:59]

• On the uncertainty of cold cases:

  "If it was happening more common, I think you'd see even more people doing this type of work. It's not something that can really be expected, but it's something that can be strived for."
  — Dennis Cooper, [31:32]

• On the importance of bringing hidden cases to light:

  "There was some chatter around town for the first couple years, but for the better part of like the last 25 years, there wasn't really much of anything. And so, you know, it felt like an honor to kind of be the one to sort of break the story in a sense."
  — Dennis Cooper, [33:45]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:11] - Summary of Danny Violet’s case
• [03:41] - Dennis Cooper’s background and path to podcasting
• [05:17] - Motivations for telling true crime stories
• [09:25] - Finding and selecting cases; the creative process
• [12:13] - Challenges and sensitivity in working with victims' families
• [15:08] - The emotional draw to Danny's story and small-town culture
• [17:58] - Danny’s brother Drew’s transformation and community investigation
• [25:01] - The unique challenges of cold cases and time’s toll
• [28:06] - What listeners can expect in the new season
• [31:23] - Cooper’s goals for the case outcome and the family's journey
• [34:27] - Closing remarks; anticipation for ongoing developments

Conclusion

This episode provides a revealing look at both the behind-the-scenes work of Culpable and the very human stories driving the investigation. It reflects on the difficulties and responsibilities inherent in cold case storytelling, the persistent hope for answers, and the healing that can come from shining a light on long-forgotten tragedies. As Dennis Cooper continues delving into Danny Violet’s mysterious death, listeners are promised a complex, emotional, and evolving exploration of justice, truth, and remembrance.