Podcast
Fugitive Files
Hosted by SAM N Studios · EN
Every Monday, a new file opens.
FUGITIVE FILES is the true crime podcast covering fugitives on the run from the FBI — from wanted killers and international scammers to cult leaders, con artists, and criminals hiding in plain sight. We break down the manhunts, fake identities, shocking mistakes, near captures, and the investigations that brought them down… or failed to. Some fugitives disappear for decades.
Some are still out there. New episodes every Monday.
Because the case is never closed.
Link to listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256
FUGITIVE FILES is the true crime podcast covering fugitives on the run from the FBI — from wanted killers and international scammers to cult leaders, con artists, and criminals hiding in plain sight. We break down the manhunts, fake identities, shocking mistakes, near captures, and the investigations that brought them down… or failed to. Some fugitives disappear for decades.
Some are still out there. New episodes every Monday.
Because the case is never closed.
Link to listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Elaine Escoe: Fake Businesses, COVID Cash & a $35 Million Jackpot
1w ago00:37:15Tap to summarizeA global pandemic. Emergency relief funds. And a fraud scheme that prosecutors say turned government aid into a multi-million-dollar payday.In this episode of Fugitive Files, we examine the case of Elaine Escoe, one of six defendants accused of participating in a massive COVID-relief fraud conspiracy that allegedly targeted programs created to help struggling businesses survive the pandemic. According to federal prosecutors, the group submitted dozens of fraudulent applications seeking nearly $35 million in taxpayer-funded assistance through programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Investigators allege that fake payroll records, inflated employee counts, and fabricated tax documents were used to convince the government that shell companies were legitimate businesses in need of help.Authorities say that once the money began flowing, the defendants allegedly moved funds through various accounts and businesses in an effort to conceal the source of the proceeds and disguise the scale of the operation. What was intended to be a lifeline for struggling entrepreneurs instead became, according to prosecutors, a blueprint for one of the most ambitious pandemic fraud schemes uncovered by federal investigators.In this episode, we break down the allegations, the paper trail, the billions of dollars distributed during the COVID era, and how emergency relief programs became a target for fraudsters chasing an unprecedented financial windfall.New episodes every Monday.Some monsters don’t hide in the shadows — they hide in plain sight.Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256Stay alert. Stay aware.
Transcribe →Raul Gorrin: Oil Money, Secret Deals & the Billion-Dollar Corruption Web
2w ago00:25:58Tap to summarizeA media mogul. A state-owned oil giant. And a corruption scandal that allegedly siphoned millions through a maze of shell companies and secret bank accounts.In this episode of Fugitive Files, we dive into the case of Raúl Gorrín Belisario, the Venezuelan businessman accused of helping orchestrate a massive international money laundering scheme tied to the country's state-owned oil company, PDVSA. Federal prosecutors allege that Gorrín and a network of powerful insiders moved illicit funds through a complex web of offshore entities, financial intermediaries, and international transactions designed to conceal the true source of the money. At the center of the allegations are claims of bribery, political influence, and the misuse of public resources for private enrichment.Investigators say the operation helped create a class of ultra-wealthy insiders known as the "boliburgues"—individuals who allegedly profited from their connections to Venezuela's political and economic elite while ordinary citizens faced economic collapse. The case spans multiple countries, millions of dollars, and years of financial maneuvering that authorities claim violated anti-corruption and money laundering laws. In this episode, we examine the allegations, the financial trail, the rise of Venezuela's elite power brokers, and the international manhunt for one of the most prominent fugitives accused in the sprawling PDVSA corruption scandal.New episodes every Monday.Some monsters don’t hide in the shadows — they hide in plain sight.Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256Stay alert. Stay aware.
Transcribe →Taylor Parker: The Fake Pregnancy, the Stolen Baby & the Deadly Lie
3w ago00:52:50Tap to summarizeA pregnancy that never existed. A web of lies that fooled almost everyone. And a crime so horrifying that it stunned even seasoned investigators.In this episode of Fugitive Files, we examine the case of Taylor Parker, the Texas woman convicted of murdering 21-year-old Reagan Hancock in a desperate and calculated attempt to steal her unborn child. Prosecutors argued that Parker spent months constructing an elaborate fantasy, convincing friends, family, and even her boyfriend that she was pregnant through fake medical records, staged photos, and carefully crafted social media posts. But as the deception began to unravel, investigators say Parker took her lies to an unimaginable extreme.The evidence presented at trial painted a chilling picture of planning, manipulation, and obsession. From burner phones and fabricated documents to the events that unfolded on the day Reagan Hancock was killed, prosecutors argued that every step was part of a scheme designed to maintain a pregnancy that never existed. The jury ultimately agreed, sentencing Parker to death after hearing testimony about the devastating impact on Reagan's family and the life that was stolen before it had the chance to begin.In this episode, we break down the fake pregnancy, the shocking murder, the courtroom revelations, and the disturbing trail of deception that led to one of the most notorious criminal cases in recent memory.New episodes every Monday.Some monsters don’t hide in the shadows — they hide in plain sight.Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256Stay alert. Stay aware.
Transcribe →Artem Radchenko & Oleksandr Ieremenko: The Hacks That Beat Wall Street
3w ago00:28:32Tap to summarizeTwo hackers. Thousands of stolen corporate filings. And a cybercrime scheme that allegedly turned confidential financial secrets into millions of dollars.In this episode of Fugitive Files, we unravel the case of Artem Radchenko and Oleksandr Ieremenko, two Ukrainian nationals accused of pulling off one of the most audacious financial hacks in modern history. Federal prosecutors allege the pair infiltrated the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR system, gaining access to highly sensitive earnings reports before they were released to the public. With advance knowledge of market-moving information, investigators say the conspirators and their associates were able to trade ahead of the news and profit on a massive scale.What began as a sophisticated phishing operation allegedly evolved into an international cybercrime network that compromised thousands of confidential filings from publicly traded companies. The investigation drew the attention of the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and federal prosecutors, who described the breach as a direct attack on the integrity of the financial markets. Today, both men remain fugitives, with the U.S. government offering $1 million rewards for information leading to their arrests. In this episode, we examine the hacking operation, the race to exploit secret financial information, the global investigation that followed, and how two alleged cybercriminals became some of America's most wanted fugitives.New episodes every Monday.Some monsters don’t hide in the shadows — they hide in plain sight.Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256Stay alert. Stay aware.
Transcribe →Ronald Scott Watson: Fire, Aliases & a Nationwide Manhunt
4w ago00:30:27Tap to summarizeA burning federal facility. Multiple aliases. And a fugitive who allegedly left behind a crucial piece of evidence.In this episode of Fugitive Files, we examine the case of Ronald Scott Watson, the man accused of participating in a violent arson attack on an Atlanta ICE facility in July 2020. Federal prosecutors allege that Watson helped carry out a coordinated assault involving incendiary devices and explosives, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage to government property. What followed was a sprawling federal investigation that would place Watson on the FBI's wanted list and spark a nationwide search.According to investigators, DNA recovered from blood found on a lighter fluid bottle at the scene became a key piece of evidence linking Watson to the attack. Authorities also allege that he has used multiple aliases while evading capture and may have spent time in the Pacific Northwest. As the manhunt continues, law enforcement officials have warned that Watson should be considered armed and dangerous due to his criminal history.In this episode, we break down the allegations, the forensic evidence, the federal investigation, and the ongoing effort to locate one of America's most wanted fugitives. As questions linger about where Watson may be hiding, the search for answers remains far from over.New episodes every Monday.Some monsters don’t hide in the shadows — they hide in plain sight.Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256Stay alert. Stay aware.
Transcribe →Colin Stagg: Rachel Nickell, the Honey Trap & the Man Britain Hunted
4w ago00:23:58Tap to summarizeA brutal murder. A media frenzy. And a man who became the face of a crime he insisted he didn't commit.In this episode of Fugitive Files, we examine the case of Colin Stagg, the man aggressively pursued by investigators following the 1992 murder of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common. As public pressure mounted to solve one of Britain's most shocking crimes, police focused on Stagg despite having no forensic evidence tying him to the scene. Instead, authorities relied on criminal profiling and a controversial undercover "honey trap" operation that would later become one of the most criticized tactics in British policing history.What followed was a spectacular collapse in court, years of public vilification, and a media firestorm that effectively convicted Stagg long before a verdict was reached. Meanwhile, the real killer remained free. In this episode, we explore the murder of Rachel Nickell, the investigation that targeted the wrong man, the role of tabloid journalism in shaping public opinion, and the devastating consequences of one of the most infamous miscarriages of justice in modern British history.New episodes every Monday.Some monsters don’t hide in the shadows — they hide in plain sight.Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256Stay alert. Stay aware.
Transcribe →McKenzie Shirilla: The Hell on Wheels Case That Shocked the Courtroom
May 2500:45:16Tap to summarizeShe said it was an accident. The court said it was anything but. McKenzie Shirilla was convicted after prosecutors presented black box data and surveillance footage allegedly showing her accelerating to nearly 100 mph before crashing into a brick wall, killing Dominic Russo and DaVon Flanigan. What followed was a brutal legal showdown over intent, responsibility, and a toxic relationship, with the judge ultimately sentencing her to 15 years to life on two counts and describing the incident as “hell on wheels.” Now the case continues to divide public opinion between tragic accident and deliberate act—while the victims’ families are left with irreversible loss.New episodes every Monday.Some monsters don’t hide in the shadows — they hide in plain sight.Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256Stay alert. Stay aware.
Transcribe →Christopher Burns: The “Trust Me Bro” Advisor Who Vanished With $10 Million Dollars
May 2500:22:20Tap to summarizeHe sold himself as the ultimate money man. Smart. Connected. “Low risk, high returns.” The kind of guy who made investing sound like a VIP club you were lucky to get into. But behind the polished pitch and peer-to-peer promises… prosecutors say Christopher Burns was running a $10 MILLION Ponzi scheme dressed up like a startup dream. Dozens of investors were pulled in through fake lending programs, promised safe returns, and told their money was “helping real businesses and charities.”Instead? Allegedly, it was fueling luxury spending, old payout cycles, and a financial house of cards built on pure deception. Then, right before the SEC came knocking… he disappeared. Gone. No meeting. No answers. Just sixteen federal charges and a whole lot of angry investors left behind. Now federal authorities are still searching for him—and the question remains: was Christopher Burns a financial mastermind… or just another scammer who finally ran out of runway?New episodes every Monday.Some monsters don’t hide in the shadows — they hide in plain sight.Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256Stay alert. Stay aware.
Transcribe →Kouri Richins: Death, Lies & the Grief Memoir
May 1800:45:28Tap to summarizeA grieving wife. A bestselling children’s book. And a murder investigation that shocked the world.In this episode of Fugitive Files, we uncover the disturbing case of Kouri Richins — the Utah mother and children’s author convicted of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, with a fatal dose of fentanyl.What began as the tragic death of a husband and father quickly unraveled into one of the most chilling true crime stories in recent years. Prosecutors argued that Kouri carefully orchestrated the poisoning while publicly portraying herself as a grieving widow, even publishing a children’s book about coping with loss after Eric’s death.Inside the courtroom, emotional impact statements from Eric Richins’ family revealed the devastating betrayal felt by his loved ones — especially his three young sons, who must now grow up without their father. Meanwhile, the defense fought to humanize Kouri, presenting testimony about her character and arguing she still had the potential for rehabilitation.But on what would have been Eric Richins’ 44th birthday, the judge delivered a sentence that stunned headlines around the globe: life in prison without the possibility of parole.In this episode, we examine the evidence, courtroom drama, family trauma, and the shocking contradictions at the center of a case that captured international attention.New episodes every Monday.Some monsters don’t hide in the shadows — they hide in plain sight.Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256Stay alert. Stay aware.
Transcribe →Chen Zhi: Billion Dollar Pigs and the Fall of a Scam Empire
May 1500:49:13Tap to summarizeChen Zhi rose to prominence as a powerful Chinese-born businessman and chairman of the Prince Holding Group, building a vast empire spanning banking, real estate, and finance in Cambodia. Once publicly celebrated as a philanthropist and influential political advisor, he cultivated an image of success and legitimacy across the region.But according to U.S. and UK government indictments and investigative reporting, that image concealed something far more sinister. Authorities allege that Chen Zhi masterminded a sprawling transnational criminal network operating forced-labor scam compounds across Southeast Asia, specializing in large-scale cryptocurrency fraud and “pig butchering” schemes that defrauded victims worldwide of billions of dollars. As international pressure mounted, investigators reportedly linked his conglomerate to massive money laundering operations and human trafficking networks hidden behind legitimate business fronts. Following sweeping sanctions and the seizure of approximately $15 billion in Bitcoin tied to the operation, Chen Zhi was stripped of his Cambodian citizenship and extradited to China in early 2026 — marking a dramatic downfall from elite power broker to accused architect of one of the largest alleged scam operations in modern history.New episodes every Monday.Some monsters don’t hide in the shadows — they hide in plain sight.Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fugitive-files/id1896535256Stay alert. Stay aware.
Transcribe →