Dragnet: The Big Overtime (EP4929)

Summary

The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio)

Episode: Dragnet – The Big Overtime (EP4929)

Host: Adam Graham
Date: March 12, 2026
Original Dragnet Airdate: December 13, 1951

---

Episode Overview

This episode features a classic Dragnet radio drama titled "The Big Overtime," where Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero investigate the abduction and murder of a bank official’s daughter. After playing the episode, host Adam Graham offers insightful commentary comparing this version to an earlier Dragnet adaptation of the same case, and shares listener feedback and podcast updates.

---

Key Episode Breakdown

The Crime and Investigation

[03:14-07:18] - The Case Opens & First Ransom Note

• Victim: Judith Sullivan, 22, abducted after a stranger claims her father is ill, taking her from her business school.
• First Ransom Note: Family receives an anonymous letter demanding $30,000, threatening Judith's life if the police are involved. The signer calls themselves “The Wolf.”
  • Quote: “I have your daughter, Judy. Get $30,000 quick. If you want her back alive, don't call police or I'll kill her. Contact you later. Sign the Wolf.” – Read by Ben Romero ([07:05])
• Suspect: Described as male, 5'9", 160lbs, brown suit, dark hair, seen driving a blue sedan.

[08:27-13:04] - Second Ransom Note & Police Ruse

• A second note arrives, instructing a meeting at 5am with the ransom. Police prepare a sting, hiding in the car trunk.
• The abductor calls off the meeting at the last moment, revealing he knows the police are involved and now demands $50,000.

[13:04-14:58] - Forensic & Investigative Breakthroughs

• Prints from a ransom note identify suspect as Donald Alfred Kiefer, former bank clerk with a forgery conviction linked to Mr. Sullivan.
• Handwriting analysis confirms Kiefer wrote the notes.

[15:48-16:44] - Kiefer's Background & Further Developments

• Kiefer wanted for a recent robbery in Omaha, Nebraska; used a stolen blue sedan.

[16:56-18:57] - The Father’s Desperation

• Mr. Sullivan vanishes after tricking police surveillance, intent on delivering another ransom payment.

[18:57-20:24] - Tragic Outcome

• Police find Sullivan after the ransom exchange—his daughter, Judy, is found dead.
• Sullivan, devastated, had tried to comply with the abductor’s instructions in hopes of saving his daughter.
  • Quote: “He said Judy was all right. I believed him. I wanted her back. Judy. I tricked the officer, the one watching me...I waited...he took the money and then...he came up to me. He had a gun...I wanted Judy back. He had a gun.” – Martin Sullivan ([18:57])

[21:14-22:10] - The Forensic Trail

• Crime lab finds towels wrapping Judy’s body, all identifying marks clipped off except one: Greenway Apartments, LA.
• Blood evidence found in Kiefer's abandoned apartment and a matching blue sedan in the garage.

[22:10-24:53] - The Dragnet Tightens

• Citywide manhunt launched; ransom money starts appearing in local businesses.
• Police focus search on Hollywood area after repeated Kiefer sightings and ransom bill usage.

[24:53-27:23] - Climax: Apprehension at the Theater

• Police surround a crowded theater after a tip.
• The search is explained to the audience; Kiefer attempts to flee but is captured after a brief chase and confrontation backstage.
  • Quote: “Hey, right there. There he goes. There. Outside exit." – Sergeant Ben Romero ([26:33])
  • Quote: "All right, Kiefer, hold it. Not good idea. All right, throw your gun over here...” – Joe Friday ([27:04])

[28:04-29:18] - Epilogue / Justice Served

• Kiefer is tried and convicted of first-degree murder and executed at San Quentin State Prison.

---

Adam Graham’s Commentary & Listener Feedback

Episode Analysis & Dragnet History

[30:29-33:00]

• Adam notes this episode is a revised retelling of an early Dragnet story from 1949, the "Sullivan kidnapping."
• Differences from the original include less melodrama and moralizing in the 1951 script, more focus on straightforward police procedural.
• Adams observes:
  • “You get a lot less melodrama and a lot more just straightforward, documented case of how the crime was solved. This is kind of a testament to how Dragnet had refined itself since the beginning with these little adjustments in tone and style.” ([32:15])

Dragnet TV & Podcast Community Updates

[33:00-36:00]

• Announcement: Dragnet’s TV series was launching, with the first episodes already filmed, to air every other week alternating with Gangbusters.

Listener Comments

[36:00-41:25]

• On Police Interrogation: Mechanic66 suggests always requesting a lawyer before talking to police; Adam agrees it's wise.
• On Cast Credits: Listener appreciates partial credits.
• On Character Dynamics: Discussion of Friday and Romero’s partnership, and why in-universe condescending speeches wouldn’t fit their relationship.

Podcast & Old-Time Radio Fandom Q&A

[41:25-42:25]

• Adam answers a question about creating an ideal 1950s detective radio show, name-dropping cast, writers, and even a “Martian Manhunter” concept.

Patreon Acknowledgement & Sign-off

[42:25- end]

• Patreon supporter Richard thanked at the Showmas level.
• Info on how to follow, review, or support the show.
• Teases next Dragnet and upcoming "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" episode.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Host Adam Graham, on Dragnet’s evolution:
  “There’s a sense in which you get a lot less melodrama and a lot more just straightforward, documented case of how the crime was solved. This is kind of a testament to how Dragnet had refined itself since the beginning with these little adjustments in tone and style.” ([32:12])

• Sergeant Joe Friday, on the suspect’s arrogance:
  “Claims he doesn’t care. We’ll never get him anyway.” ([10:52])

• Martin Sullivan’s heartbreak:
  “Lord, let me find him. Oh, Lord, let me kill him.” ([20:27])

• Theater Announcement (climactic moment):
  “We think we’ve traced the man who murdered her to this theater. We believe he’s in this theater. Now, we're going to search…” – Chief Thad Brown ([25:43])

• Closing note on justice:
  Narrator: “Donald Alfred Kiefer was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree. And on the recommendation of the jury, he received the death penalty. He was executed in the lethal gas chamber at the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, California.” ([29:18])

---

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------|-----------| | Dragnet episode begins (after ads) | 03:14 | | Crime & initial ransom note | 03:14–07:18 | | Second ransom note & meeting planned | 08:27–13:04 | | Identification of suspect Kiefer | 13:04–14:58 | | Father goes missing, pays ransom | 16:56–18:57 | | Tragic discovery of Judy's body | 18:57–20:24 | | Crime scene forensic work | 21:14–22:10 | | Dragnet operation, ransom money appears | 22:10–24:53 | | Theater stakeout & Kiefer’s capture | 24:53–27:23 | | Epilogue/verdict | 28:04–29:18 | | Adam Graham’s commentary | 30:29–42:25 | | Listener comments & feedback | 36:00–41:25 | | Podcast sign-off, credits | 42:25–end |

---

Tone and Style

The episode exemplifies Dragnet’s hallmark no-nonsense, methodical storytelling—minimal emotion, precise dialogue, and a focus on procedure. Adam Graham’s commentary is friendly, knowledgeable, and conversational, connecting Dragnet’s history with old-time radio fandom and modern listening.

---

Summary

“The Big Overtime” is a gripping retelling of a real-life-inspired kidnapping case, spotlighting Detective Friday and Romero’s relentless, evidence-driven pursuit of justice. Adam Graham’s post-episode commentary adds historical context, highlights Dragnet’s stylistic evolution, and forges connections with listeners through feedback and Q&A, making this a compelling and comprehensive episode for fans of detective radio drama and podcasting alike.

Transcript

[Amica Insurance Announcer]

At Amica Insurance, we know it's not just what's inside your home that matters. It's who you share it with. That's why we work even harder to protect it. And as a mutual insurance company, we're built for our customers. We prioritize your needs and are here for you when you need us. Amica Empathy is our best policy. Visit amica.com and get a quote today.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Foreign what's up baby? It's Bretzky. And I'm here to tell you that

[Adam Graham]

spinquest.com is giving out free sweeps coins.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

All you got to do is purchase a ten dollar coin pack and guess what? They're gonna give you the coins from a thirty dollar coin pack that lets you play all your favorite games like Blackjack, Wanted, Dead or wild. And we're talking real cash prizes, baby. Spin Quest.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Spin Quest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Foreign

[Adam Graham]

welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first I want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Our listener support and appreciation campaign continues. You can become one of our ongoing Patreon support supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetectives.net and I want to thank our latest Patreon supporter. Thank you to Brad coming on board at the psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support Brad. And now from December 13, 1951, here is the big overtime.

[SpinQuest Advertiser]

You know what? It sucks to be bored. But when I get on my phone and play real casino games on Spin, the time flies by. That two hour wait at the DMV seems like 10 minutes. Play your favorite slots. Live blackjack, live craps with a live dealer. New players $30 coin packs are on sale for 10 bucks. Play spin quest.com and you'll never be bored again.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Spin Quest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more detail.

[Narrator]

The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You're assigned a homicide detail. A 22 year old girl has been abducted. Her family receives an anonymous message.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The abductor demands $30,000 for the safe

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

return of the girl. Your job. Get him.

[Narrator]

Dragnet. The documented drama of an actual Crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Was Tuesday, October 18th. It was cloudy in Los Angeles. We were working the early morning watch out of Homicide. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives. My name's Friday. I was on the way back from the stats office and it was 3:26am when I got to room 42, Homicide. Hi, Brian.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Hi. Got those mug shots you wanted, Joe. Here you go.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, thank you. The captain leave yet?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

They're waiting for me in the garage. You call Ben?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I'm going to right now. Yeah, okay.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I guess I better hustle it. See you out there, huh?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Right. Brian.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Hello?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I'm sorry to wake you. Ben. This is Joe. How you feeling?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Oh, hi, Joe. What time is it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

3:30am How's a sore throat?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Oh, it's a lot better. Ought to be back to work tomorrow.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We need you now, Ben. You want to be ready in about 20 minutes, I'll pick you up.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

20 minutes. Okay. What's the matter?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Man by the name of Martin Sullivan. Official down at the Third National Bank.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What about it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He's got a 22 year old daughter. Or he had one. She's gone. Less than 14 hours before. At one o' clock the previous afternoon, Judith Sullivan was last seen driving off in a car with a man who'd represented himself as a friend of her father's. At 11 o' clock that night, the Sullivan family received an anonymous letter demanding $30,000 for the SAF. It had been the only contact made thus far by the abductor. As soon as we got word of what had happened from the girl's father, a broadcast and an APB had been gotten out. The entire force throughout the city had been alerted. 3:44am I pulled up in front of Ben's house. Now.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Good morning. Hi. You made good time. Hey, where are we headed?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The Sullivan home out on Castro Boulevard. Thad Brown's out there now with Brian.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Any leads to go on?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, not so far. The girl disappeared a little before one o' clock yesterday afternoon. Note from the abductor came through last night. They're asking 30,000.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I don't get it. Sullivan hasn't got that kind of money.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, I know. That poor guy's almost out of his mind. Mrs. Sullivan too.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

They're all broken up he filled me in. How'd it happen?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, the girl was taken from a business school that she goes to. Man had her call out of class. He told her father was sick. Said he was a friend of the family.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

How about the teachers? What was their story?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, they said the girl didn't want to go with the man at first. But he finally talked her into it. Kept telling her her father was dying.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, lousy thing. Did he use a car?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, blue sedan. That's all we know. Witnesses didn't get the make or the license number.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Any description on the map?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, they say about 5ft 9, 160, brown suit and dark hair.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Is that all?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's it. Here's a copy of the letter that the Sullivans got. You can read it. It's the usual.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

All right, thanks. I have your daughter, Judy. Get $30,000 quick. If you want her back alive, don't call police or I'll kill her. Contact you later. Sign the Wolf. Who's he, Kid?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I don't know. I could think of a better name. Here we are.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Who's got the original note, Joe?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The crime lab. They're checking it for prints and handwriting.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Hi, Joe. Romero in the living room. Thank you, John. That's the way I see it, Mr. Sullivan. You understand exactly what you have to do now? Yes, I'll do as you say. All right, sir. Here are the two men who help you. Sergeant Friday and Romero, Central Homicide. All right, Ms. Sullivan. Mr. Brown, are you sure about all this? I keep thinking he might get frightened. He might do something to her. Believe me, Mr. Sullivan, it's the only way. I know how you must feel, but we can't do anything else. All right? I want to see Mrs. Sullivan first. Will you excuse me? Be ready in a moment. All right, fine. What is it, Chief? Any development back here in the dining room? Yeah, that's it. On the table. Second note from the guy.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When did it come?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Half an hour ago. Guy had it delivered by special messenger. Used a plain envelope. Messenger kid didn't know anything about it. Doesn't remember what the guy looked like. Let's say, Joe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, all right. Says, meet me In Elysian park, five o' clock this morning, near Balkan Drive. Come alone. Bring 30,000. Will return girl. Don't tell the cops. I'll kill her if you do. It's the same signature, Wolf.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Not much time, Chief. It's 4:00am Now. I know what we'll have to do. As he says. There's no other way.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sullivan's going out there alone.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Is He. You're going with him. You and Romero. He'll be hidden in the trunk of his car. All right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Anything else? Any plan you want us to follow?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Get him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's all. 4:15am Ben and I went out back to the garage where Mr. Sullivan's car was parked. We jammed ourselves into the trunk compartment and Brian closed the door on us. The latch was rigged so that we could push open the door from the inside. A few minutes later, Mr. Sullivan came out, got in the car and we drove off. At three minutes to five, we pulled up at the designated meeting place up in Elysian Park. We waited. Nothing happened. Five minutes past 5am still nothing. Outside, it started to thunder.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Rain's starting. Man, it's windy. Joe, are you hearing?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, it's a car coming up the road toward us. Sounds like.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah. Wait a minute.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Coming over this way. Yeah, sounds that way, doesn't it? Are you ready?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Easy, fellow. Coming back here. Watch it now.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Friday Chief, is that you? Yeah. Come on out. Meetings off? In my leg, Mr. Sullivan. You want to drive back home? We'll contact you there. Yes, sir. All right, come on. Let's get over the car.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's the story? Did he scare off?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

The guy had no intention of following through with the meeting. How come? He told us he phoned a couple of minutes before 5am we tried to trace the call. He wouldn't stay on the line long enough.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you have to say?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

A couple of things. Number one, he wants more money. Number two, he knows we're working the case. What was the reaction? Claims he doesn't care. We'll never get him anyway.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how's the thing stand now?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

$50,000. He wants it in the next 12 hours.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

More than 16 hours had passed since word of Judy Sullivan's abduction had been phoned into Homicide. During that time, an APB containing the descriptions of the suspect, his car and his victim had been dispatched to law enforcement agencies throughout the entire area. The same descriptions were being broadcast every hour. The Sullivan home had been placed under strict surveillance and Mr. Sullivan instructed not to contact the suspect without the knowledge of the police. The girl's father had raised almost $10,000 in cash to buy him off. And the serial numbers on each one of the bills had been copied by a police stenographer and rechecked by a homicide officer. So far, the Wolf, as he called himself, had made three separate contacts. But he'd covered his tracks well. We knew he was somewhere in the city. 450 square miles of it. We knew we had to find him 6:18am we checked back into Homicide.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What's Dylan, Brian? Here's a copy of the letter, fellas. Special delivery came in about 25 minutes ago. Let's see, Tom.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's the same handwriting. It looks like.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Check the postmark. Joe must have mailed it right after he grabbed a girl.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Let me see. Stay away from Sullivan. If the girl's found dead, it's your fault. Stay away.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Wolf can't seem to make up his mind. No.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They checking the original of this for Prince?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Tom? Yeah. No word yet. How about that second note? Anything on that? Uh huh. Stahl lifted a couple of prints. Running them through R and I. Who's watching Sullivan House now?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Gomez and Thaxter. Chief's out there too. He's still afraid the girl's father will try to make a deal with the guy.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

He tried it yet?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, not yet. Well, you couldn't blame him if he did. He's worried sick.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I got it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Homicide.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Romero. Yeah, I try. Mm. Mm. How do you spell it? Okay. Right. Yeah. Thanks a lot. Record Bureau. Those two prints Stall lifted from a letter. Ran them through the single print file.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Any luck?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

They got a make.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The fingerprint that was lifted from the suspect's letter was identified as belonging to a Donald Alfred Kiefer, WMA. Age 29. 5ft, 8 inches, 170 pounds, brown eyes, dark brown hair. He had one previous arrest for forgery in Los Angeles 10 months before. the time of his arrest, keeper's occupation was listed as bank clerk at the Third National Bank. Well, I went down the hall to the Record Bureau to pull the crime report. Brian checked by Leighton Prince to see if they'd gotten anything off the last note from the suspect. Ben went to check with Don meyer in handwriting. 7:23am Chief Thad Brown got back to the office. I showed him Kiefer's crime report.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

All right. What's the rundown on it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, at the time, Kiefer pulled a forgery job at the bank, Mr. Sullivan was one of the vice presidents. He was the one that preferred charges against Kiefer, and he saw that he was prosecuted.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Where's his Kiefer now?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Let me check that. He was placed on probation. On May 16 this year, he returned to his home in Omaha, Nebraska, that same 1380 Mackinac Avenue.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You call Omaha?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I got the call in. Now. Ben took an exemplar of Kiefer's handwriting from the package. Don Meyer's going over it now.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Chief. Hi. What about that last note? I got the report right here. How's it look? Well, Stahl lifted some prints off it, brought them out with the iodine fume gun. They match with the first. There's something else. What's that? They examine the paper for watermarks and texture. Both notes are written on the same paper. Impressions show both pieces of paper from the same tablet. Check the density of the carbon in the pencil he used. Both specimens match. Same pencil. Joe. Oh, hi, Skipper. Hi.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you catch up with Don Meyerband?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, he went over the handwriting. Looks pretty good. What's the word? It's as close as you can get. Here are the two exemplars. Mm. Slants. His crosses, double loops, his L open A's pressure on the downstroke. Donald Kiefer, the Wolf. Same handwriting.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

By noontime, Donald Kiefer's description had been broadcast throughout the entire area. Bulletins were dispatched to all departments and a supplementary APB was gotten out. Special details were stationed at every post office in the city to watch for notes from the suspect that might come through the mail. The bus depots, railroad terminals, the airports and all main roads leading out of the city were kept under strict surveillance. The entire Los Angeles area was broken down into single square mile districts and a house to house canvas was started. A squad of men were assigned to cover each square mile. Outlying towns and cities were requested to do the same. By 4 o' clock that afternoon, one of the greatest Dragnet operations in the history of the city was underway. We were sure Donald Keeper was somewhere inside. 5:12pm we got the call back from the Omaha police.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

That so? Again, please. What was that? Six X Ray 419 Nebraska plates. Right. Fine, Lieutenant. Thank you. Bye.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They made the car?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

That and a lot more. The Omaha cops are looking for Keeper too. They want him for a robbery there two months ago. He used a stolen blue sedan in the robbery. 1939 model, Nebraska plate 6X Ray 419.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What about his family and friends? Have they been checked? Yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

They say Kiefer left Omaha about six weeks ago. I don't know where he was headed.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We better get that car. Description of communications, huh? APB and a radiogram.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, right. Friday. Romero.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What are you tied up with? Just got a call back from Omaha. Macon Keefer in the car. Give it to me. You two get out to Sullivan the house, fast as you can. See Harris out there. Okay. What happened, Mr. Sullivan? He's disappeared.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet authentic stories of your police force in action.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Wednesday, October 19, 5:48pm Ben and I drove out to the Sullivan home where we checked with Bert Harris, the man who'd been assigned to watch Mr. Sullivan. He told us that at about 3 o' clock that afternoon, the father of the missing girl had a phone call. He said he had to go down to the bank and Harris went with him. While they were at the bank, Mr. Sullivan succeeded in decoying Harris with a fake telephone call. While Harris was answering the call, Sullivan disappeared.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Did Mr. Sullivan get any more money while he was at the bank, Burr? Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

$5,000. Did you get the serial numbers off the bills?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Uh huh. Shouldn't have let him get out of my sight. Forget it. Right now we gotta find out where he's gone to meet Kiefer.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you talk to Mrs. Sullivan about it, Bert?

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Says he doesn't know anything about it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where's she now?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Back in the sitting room lying down.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now, let's try her again, huh? She might be able to help.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Okay. It's back this way. What time you got, Jim?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's five minutes past six. I get it.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Hello? How's that?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Where are you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What? Oh, well, where are you?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Where are you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, we'll be right out. Yeah, Mr. Sullivan, he met with Kiefer out in Laurel Canyon.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Did he get his daughter back?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, he did. Wrapped in newspaper. All units in the area were notified immediately that a contact had been made with the suspect, Donald Keefer. We got in the car and we drove out to Laurel Canyon. The entire area had been blocked off. We found Martin Sullivan standing in the middle of the road at the end of east winding way. 500ft down the hill, was a private residence where Sullivan had telephoned us. The only building in the immediate vicinity, a few yards beyond the point where East Winding Way ended back in a clump of tall grass, we found the body of 22 year old Judy Sullivan. We notified the crime lab chief, Thad Brown, in the coroner. Despite the severe emotional shock, Mr. Sullivan told us the story.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

He said Judy was all right. I believed him. I wanted her back. Judy. I tricked the officer, the one watching me. Kiefer said to come alone. No police. Did you see his car, Mr. Sullivan? I wanted her back. I wanted Judy back. I did as he said. I drove out here at 6:00'. Clock. I waited. I put the money on the front seat like he said.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did he get the money, sir?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Then I got out. I left the parking lights on. I stood up there by the end of the road and I waited. And then he drove up. He took the money and Then he came up to me. He had a gun. I wanted Judy back. He had a gun.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you see his car?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

He said she was up there, beyond the road. She was tied to a tree, he said. I wanted her back.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now look, Mr. Sullivan. Did you see his car?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I went to look for Judy. He drove away. She wasn't there by the tree. I couldn't find her. None. Way back, I saw the mud on the wave.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Lord, let me find him. Oh, Lord, let me kill him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Before he collapsed completely. We showed the dead girl's father a picture of Donald Kieffer. And he identified him? Definitely. The information was immediately relayed back to Central Division and rebroadcast over our entire radio system. Teletypes were dispatched to sheriff's offices and communications sent to law enforcement agencies throughout the country. 9:52pm the house to house search was intensified. The dragnet operation in which we hoped to trap the killer was drawing slowly inward. A few minutes before midnight, Ben and I drove back downtown to the crime lab to check with Lieutenant Lee Jones.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Hey, fellas, come on back. Anything yet, Lee? Just checking over these towels here. Found them wrapped around the girl's body inside the papers. Funny thing about them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

All yesterday's papers. Every story about the girl's disappearance has been clipped out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How about the towels? Any laundry marks at all, Lee?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Nothing so far, Joe. Every one of them clipped off. Morgue post the body yet? They're doing it now. Nasty one.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, it sure is. Any footprints or tire marks out where they found the body?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

No, lots of them. Got two of the men checking them now. One thing. What is it, Lee? I don't know. Under the seam here. This towel.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Wait a minute.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Give me that pair of snippets, will you, Joan?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Here you go. Thanks. Press back onto the seam here. There. That's one tag he missed.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Can you read the marking?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Greenway apartments, Los Angeles,

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

12:34am we located the Greenway Apartments in the East Wilshire district and we checked with a manager. He identified Kiefer's mug shot, but he said he hadn't been home to the apartment since the day before. We called the crime lab and we went up to check the suspect's apartment. One look was enough. Lt. Lee Jones found specimens of the Sullivan girl's blood in the wash basin in the bathtub drain. In an adjoining garage. We found the car, which Keefer had used. A blue sedan, NE plates 6X Ray 419. A cancellation of the want order for the car was Issued and a stakeout placed at the apartment in the garage in case Kiefer decided to return. All that night and into the next day, the citywide dragnet went on. Was no sign of the killer. At 10 minutes past 2 that afternoon, the first piece of ransom money showed up. It was at a used car lot on the corner of Beverly and Naylor streets. Two hours later, another piece of the money turned up at a busy downtown department store. In both cases, the man who passed the stolen money was finally identified as Donald Kiefer. Details were strengthened in both areas where the money appeared. The search went on. 6:42pm Ben and I got a call to meet Chief Thad Brown at the Hollywood Division station. Tommy Bryan from Central Homicide was with him.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

This is the way it stacks up now. This pin map over here, this is where we're concentrating the search. This area here. How about the lead we had on him downtown? Didn't it work out? The last 20 minutes we picked up three possible leads on the man. Out in this neighborhood here. East of vine, south of Franklin, west of La Brea, north of Santa Monica.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

More ransom money show up.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You got it there, Brian.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Rate it off.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah. 5:35 Sunset in Highland. Newsboy thought he saw a key for crossing the street. Twenty minutes later, a sales girl in a dime store up on Hollywood Boulevard thought she saw him. Ten minutes after that, he was reported seen near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard in Las Palmas.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You figure the reports are reliable?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

They were all checked out. Didn't put too much faith in them until a few minutes ago. How's that? Five dollar bill was passed at a cigar store. Hollywood Boulevard and Hawthorne. Ransom money. We've already doubled the number of men in cars in the area. Men stationed at every intersection to keep an eye on pedestrian traffic. We're covering everything. Streets, stores. Covering the whole neighborhood. I'll get it. Homicide. Brian. Yeah, just a minute. You Chief? Oh, that Brian? Yeah. Uh huh. Where? When was that? No, stay there. We'll be right there. Goodbye. Another piece of ransom money.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where'd it turn up?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

A theater on Hollywood Boulevard between Fairview and Hawthorne.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Who passed the money? They think it was Kiefer.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Positive. They say he's in the theater right now.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The information on Kiefer was phoned into communications immediately and within a few minutes, men and cars converged on the neighborhood. The 1/2 mile area around the theater was completely blockaded. Every exit and entrance to the theater was covered. 7:23pm Ben and I, along with Chief Thad Brown and Tom Brady. Ryan met in the theater manager's office, Brown outlined our plan of operation. At 7:32pm a detail of 14 men walked down the side aisles on the main floor of the theater and took up their posts on either side of the orchestra pit. The picture was stopped and every light in the theater was turned on. Chief Brown, Brian, Gomez, Thaxter, Ben and myself went down the aisle and up onto the stage. Chief Brown made the announcement.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Ladies and gentlemen, if you hold it quiet for a minute, please. We're sorry to interrupt the pager, but this is a very important matter. We're police officers. Maybe you've read about it in the papers. A girl by the name of Judy Sullivan was abducted and murdered day before yesterday. We think we've traced the man who murdered her to this theater. We believe he's in this theater. Now, we're going to search the theater row by row. And we'd like to ask your cooperation. No need to be panicky or afraid. Those who wish to leave now may do so. Leave by the main entrance. Each one of you will be checked as you go out the door. For the benefit of the man we're looking for. Don't try to escape. Every exit is covered. The entire area is blockaded. Don't place any more lives in jeopardy. All right, now. Hey, right there. There he goes. There. Outside exit.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Come on, Ben.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Go backstage, Joe. We can make it from here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, come on.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Through here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Down here.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Right with you. In here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Come on over here.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Air conditioning unit for the theater?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. I don't see them, do you?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

He can't get out. There's just two exits. We got them both covered. Look out. There he is. All right, Keeper, hold it. Not good idea. All right, throw your gun over here. Come on, throw it out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Okay, I got it.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You got it? Don't shoot.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, let's take him.

[SpinQuest Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Okay. You got my gun? I didn't mean to shoot at you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You forced me to put the cuffs on him, Ben.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, right. Get your hands off of me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, Keeper.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Got the same for you, too. All right, now, hold it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, Ben, you all right?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, try the cuffs on him now, huh?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah. Got him, huh? Yeah, it's a rough one. Hey, it's starting to rain again. It's really pouring out there. Yeah. Guess we better get him out the car, huh?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's the hurry?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

How do you mean?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Why spoil a good rain?

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On January 19, trial was held in Superior Court Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Donald Alfred Kiefer was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree. And on the recommendation of the jury, he received the death penalty. He was executed in the lethal gas chamber at the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, California. You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker, Los Angeles Police Department. Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero. Also heard were Whit Connor and Vic Perrin. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Counterspy fights international intrigue next on NBC. Can you grab one more thing? I'll come back up for you.

[Amica Insurance Announcer]

At Ameca Insurance, we know you'll always find ways to look out for the people you love. And with Ameca Life Insurance, we'll help build a plan to make sure you always can. We're here to help protect the life you've built.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Really?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I gotta have another one.

[Amica Insurance Announcer]

Amica Empathy is our best policy. Visit amica.com and get a quote today.

[SpinQuest Advertiser]

You know what? It sucks to be bored. But when I get on my phone and play real casino games on spinquest.com the time flies by. That two hour wait at the DMV seems like 10 minutes. Play your favorite slots, live blackjack, live craps with a live dealer. New players, $30 coin packs are on sale for 10 bucks. Play spinquest.com and you'll never be bored again.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Spin Quest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Now, this episode sounded familiar to me, and not just in the sense that I've heard it a few times already, but that it sounded like another episode. And indeed it was. And you actually have to go back to 1949 and one of the very early episodes of Dragnet. This was just when the Fatima sponsorship had started back on September 10, 1949 in the Sullivan kidnapping. Now, this wasn't so much a script reuse as you often hear on many detective programs, but it took the same case. But there were some key changes that were made and a lot of these are minor, but they add up to quite a bit. One thing is that when the ransom was paid, this was back when Raymond Burr was playing Ed Backstrand and it made the papers after she'd been killed. And he said that he hoped to that it would stick in people's minds. As a reminder, we don't make deals with killers so essentially offering a bit of a condemnation of the victim's father for making the payment. In the 1949 episode, it's established that the killer had been sent to jail for forgery on the basis of the actions of the father. So this was a bit of revenge, and that's not in the 1951 version. And there's also more of the killer being like, I'm so much smarter than police. That was referenced once, but it was a much bigger element in the 1949 case. And there's a sense in which you get a lot less melodrama and a lot more just straightforward, documented case of how the crime was solved. This is kind of a testament to how Dragnet had refined itself since the beginning with these little adjustments in tone and style. Obviously, the big statement about not paying killers could come off as preachy, and Dragnet had kind of. And that was not the direction the show was going, particularly in comparison to many other programs on the air in the same genre. Now, of course, an important announcement about the launch of the Dragnet TV series. They had two episodes that were already filmed and ready for air, and Dragnet would end up on in every other week schedule for this first season, alternating with the TV version of Gangbusters, while still continuing the radio version. Well, now we turn to listener comments and feedback and we have some comments. We start on Spotify. Regarding the big affair. Mechanic 66 writes, I disagree about how to deal with the police. You politely but firmly state, I want to cooperate with you officers, but first I will need to consult with my attorney and also have him or her present at all times. That's certainly a valid approach, probably the safe approach, and again, better than sitting there trying to just snow the police with an obviously false story. And of course, there are episodes of Dragnet where with no lawyer present, the guilty person keeps giving contradictory statements to the police, which is not something that you would want brought up in court. And then Harrison adds, wow, partial cast credits is a welcome addition. It's nice when we get them. And then we have Another comment from mechanic66. This one is regarding the Big Bungalow Friday should have given the informant's speech to Romero when he complained about paying for Red's lunch. I can understand the sentiment, but no, explaining it to the listener as the voice of the police is one thing, as he is informing us as people who are outside the police and have been exposed to various media myths and portraits trails what the situation with informants is with Ben Romero. He already knows. And imagine if you're a police officer and you make a complaint to your partner, he says you ought not to complain about it. The informants play this vital role in the police department. We have to respect them and we should be glad for the service they provide. That is annoying. That is not Joe Friday in the 1950s. That's Joe Friday in the 1987 movie. Plus, griping about the job is practically Romero's favorite pastime. Plus, as we'll learn later, Romero was actually the detective who helped bring Friday along on the force and really is the only partner that had an equal rank with him. You don't pull that on a mentor unless you want a very dirty look. And of course we should mention that this is Barton Yarborough's last episode that we'll hear him as Ben Romero and we'll talk more about that next week. Regarding the big hands, James says in response to one of the comments that you read, I distinctly remember an episode that took place after Miranda rights became a thing. It made for some interesting dialogue between Joe Friday and the chief. Now, I thought of the Dragnet 1966 TV movie, but I think James was referencing an episode of the radio program which wouldn't have been referencing Miranda versus Arizona since that was decided in 1966. There was another California case in regards to the admissibility of evidence that had a big impact on Joe Friday, and it was one of the last radio episodes. The big ruling and then the Butcher5032 asks you travel back in time to 1950. You have to produce a detective radio program, and you have an unlimited budget. Give me five cast members, the theme song, the show writer, and it would be fact or fiction. Did I leave anything out? Well, no, it's tough to say because it's tough to come up with an original concept in terms of nonfiction. I don't know if there's a particular thing that stands out as a story that must be told in terms of fiction. I think I would probably lean on a couple of adaptations. I'm not going to try to create my own noir detective. I would honestly want to make a second season of the new Adventures of Nero Wolf with Sidney Greenstreet, but I would want them to be closer to the book in terms of the tone of the story and to actually adapt stories of Rex Stout. And as I said, I'd want Greenstreet back in the main role. Honestly, I love Bob Bailey as Archie Goodwin. I think he's got a great voice for it. I love Tim Hutton in a Nero Wolf mystery, but the voice is very, very New York. And does it match with the profile of Archie Goodwin? As someone who comes from the Midwest, I think Bailey would evoke that better. For Inspector Kramer, I'd want Ed Begley, and for Fritz, I'd go with Hans Konrad. And if you want one that is out of this world, I would produce a Martian Manhunter radio program. Now, if you're aware of the Martian Manhunter at all, you're aware of him as a Justice League superhero from dc. However, when he was introduced in comics, he was not only a Martian, but he was a detective stranded on the planet who solved mysteries. And I think a weekly series about a Martian in mid-1950s America solving mysteries, that would be fascinating. And I think I'd have the Martian Manhunter played by Michael Renick. Now, in terms of who would write, if you were talking about a Nero Wolf series, I'd probably pair someone who had a lot of experience with adaptation, like John C. Wilson or Ernest Kanhoy, with a talented mystery writer. And I'd probably want to compare samples to get just the right person. And then for Martian Manhunter, it would probably be Robert Rife and Ernest Kanhoye theme song. I would have them write an original theme tune. I would not even. Yeah, I would not pick stock music or something already existing. No somewhere I'll find you or anything like that. We would, we would have something original, but I don't know what it would be since I wouldn't be the one writing the music. But thanks so much. Appreciate the question. Now it's time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the Day. Thank you so much to Richard, patreon supporter since October 2025, currently supporting the podcast at the Showmas level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Richard, and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite Plug podcast software. And be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Doll

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

or where Two years ago you had Curly sent up to the pen. That's right, for the Melee's department store job he pulled. Then just a few days ago, he swore that he'd get you for that, that he'd kill you, didn't he? So what happened when he escaped and came here to Hartford a few days ago? I know all about that from reading your report, thanks to some quick thinking on your part. The police nabbed him instead.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Plus the loot from the department store robbery.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You know who deserves a real credit for that? The girl I had a date with tonight. Until you spoil things with your phone call, Johnny. As you know, either you or the police wounded Curly Waters, which is why he was taken to the hospital and placed under guard instead of being locked up. So, well, Mr. Wells, I see you managed to locate him. Yes, Lieutenant. You okay? $Any reason why I shouldn't be? Howie, has Mr. Wells told you what's happened? No, but I think I can guess. Curly Waters escaped from the hospital. Yes. I had three good men there watching over him, but he managed to get by them. How? With help. One of his old cronies, Gimpy Taylor. Yes. Gimpy created a disturbance out in the hall, and when they went after him, Curly crashed out through the window. When they went back in after him, Gimpy took it on the lamb. Three good men, did you say?

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box [e-mail] follow us on Twitter Radio Detectives. Check us out on Instagram instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off at Amica Insurance.

[Amica Insurance Announcer]

We know it's not just what's inside your home that matters. It's who you share it with. That's why we work even harder to protect. And as a mutual insurance company, we're built for our customers. We prioritize your needs and are here for you when you need us. Amica empathy is our best policy. Visit ameca.com and get a quote today.

[SpinQuest Advertiser]

You know what? It sucks to be bored. But when I get on my phone and play real casino games on spinquest.com the time flies by. That two hour wait at the DMV seems like 10 minutes. Play your favorite slots, live blackjack, live craps with a live dealer. New players, $30 coin packs are on sale for 10 bucks. Play spinquest.com and you'll never be bored again.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Spin Quest is a free to play social casino. Void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.