True Crime Obsessed – Episode 454:

"Manhunt: The Murder of Emily Longley" (September 16, 2025)

Overview

In this episode, hosts Jillian Pensavale and Patrick Hinds recap the British documentary "Manhunt: The Murder of Emily Longley," dissecting a harrowing case of intimate partner violence resulting in the murder of 17-year-old Emily Longley by her boyfriend, Elliot Turner. The trademark True Crime Obsessed blend of humor, pathos, and sharp critique is on full display as they highlight both the investigative triumphs and systemic failures of the case, always centering Emily’s story and underscoring crucial lessons about domestic violence, complicity, and the importance of speaking up.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Crime and Initial Response

[09:21–15:11]

• Emily Longley, a vibrant 17-year-old, is found dead in her boyfriend Elliot’s bed.
• The initial 999 call (the UK equivalent of 911) from Elliot’s mother is noted for its lack of urgency and emotion, which both hosts find suspicious and unsettling.
  • Jillian: “There’s no sense of urgency from the dispatcher... Different story. She’s definitely, like, pulling the story out of her.” [06:20]
• A tight mark on Emily’s neck initially appears “consistent with a necklace being too tight,” but the hosts are immediately suspicious of this explanation and of the family’s believability.
  • Patrick: “The family is making a lot of assumptions about how dumb everybody is.” [11:42]

2. Who Was Emily?

[17:08–24:43]

• Emily’s childhood was marked by chronic health challenges, but she was characteristically adventurous.
• Her family moved from England to New Zealand for her health, but eventually she returned to England to reconnect with friends and family, blossoming as she attended college and worked at Topshop.
• The hosts paint a vivid, affectionate picture of Emily, amplifying her father's and sister's memories.

3. The Relationship with Elliot Turner

[25:06–45:13]

• Emily meets Elliot Turner, a wealthy, entitled 19-year-old whose appearance belies a deeply dark personality.
• The couple’s intense, toxic relationship lasted only four months but rapidly escalated, with friends consistently describing it as “toxic” and highly abusive.
  • Patrick: “This loser comes along and the relationship gets very serious, very quickly... that train is never late.” [25:13]
• Elliot’s pattern of abuse is detailed through:
  • Voicemails where he rages at Emily or threatens violence.
  • A disturbing incident caught on CCTV where he smashes Emily’s head into a table at a bar.
  • Stalking and isolating behaviors, with Elliot manipulating Emily’s empathy (e.g., crying in cars until she leaves friends to comfort him).
• Alarmingly, both his friends and Emily’s were aware of his threats. He openly discussed wanting to kill her, and even practiced chokeholds on friends.
  • Jillian: “We need to say it as much as we can... When you have a man friend who’s acting like this, fucking step up and say something.” [36:56]

4. The Complicity of Elliot’s Parents

[52:44–63:44]

• Elliot’s mother, especially, is depicted as deeply complicit, enabling, and protecting her son’s behavior. When he texts her (the night of the murder):
  • Elliot: “I could fucking break Emily's neck and beat the fuck out of her. I'm going nuts.”
    [52:44]
  • Mother: “Don’t do anything that is inappropriate, Elliot. You are so young and you have so much life ahead of you. Love, mom. xx.” [53:08]
• After Emily’s death, both parents stall in calling emergency services, delay investigation, and retrieve evidence from the crime scene under false pretenses.
• The family is caught on police wiretaps openly confessing to destroying evidence and discussing the murder in detail:
  • Father: “My intelligence destroyed vital evidence. We’ve perverted the course of justice.” [62:18]
  • Elliot: “I've just flipped. I grabbed her. I fucking grabbed her as hard as I could... That girl has ruined my life.” [63:44]

5. Investigative Breakthroughs and Challenges

[57:26–66:13]

• Despite mountains of circumstantial evidence (texts, CCTV, witness statements, prior threats), the cause of Emily’s death is initially ruled "inconclusive" by the autopsy, prompting frustration from all.
• Police make the unusual but decisive move of bugging the Turner residence, ultimately capturing confessions and clear evidence tampering.
• Forensic evidence and expert testimony finally establish that strangulation is possible even without obvious signs.

6. The Trial and Justice

[70:38–76:14]

• The trial lays bare the horror of Elliot’s abuse, the inaction of friends, and his parents’ full complicity. Elliot is callous and remorseless in the courtroom.
• Multiple friends testify about prior threats; one even describes having a "practice murder," where Elliot rehearsed a chokehold.
  • Patrick: “When you almost die in a practice murder, can you please tell someone?” [77:28]
• Result: Elliot is convicted of murder and sentenced to life with a minimum of 16 years; both parents receive 27 months for perverting the course of justice.

7. Lessons and Warnings

[77:07–78:08]

• The episode closes on a sobering note, urging listeners to intervene, trust their instincts, and teach both children and adults to recognize and report abuse.
  • Jillian: "When your friends are dangerous and need to be reported on... can we all take care of each other, please?" [77:52]
  • Patrick: "Just do the thing. I know it's hard sometimes. I know, I get it, we're all tired. But just do it. Maybe you can save a life." [77:55]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Characteristic Sass & Empathy

• “The family is making a lot of assumptions about how dumb everybody is.” – Patrick Hines [11:42]
• "I'm like, what a weird excuse... That just doesn't feel like a defensive move." – Patrick Hines [13:37]
• "Wouldn't you give a million dollars to see the day they realized the house was bugged? It is scrumptious." – Jillian Benzavale [69:05]

Furious Critique of Complicity

• "Emily was 17. You're 19. Nothing was ruined until your psychopathic son killed Emily, their kids." – Patrick Hines [64:24]
• "This mother should be rotting in hell... She has blood on her hands enabled it." – Patrick Hines [64:56]
• "We need to say it as much as we can... step up and say something." – Jillian Benzavale [36:56]
• "When you almost die in a practice murder, can you please tell someone? Because that can also save a life." – Patrick Hines [77:28]

The Emotional Core

• "I just felt this love that I'd never felt for anything before." – Emily’s father recalling holding her at birth [03:37]
• "I know a lot of time has passed and I. I'm grateful that they're telling us her story, but it is... I just know that moment of, like, wow, you look at this thing and you're like, everything is perfect." – Jillian Benzavale [30:43]
• "Her name is Emily Longley. She was a fucking person. Your son murdered her... She deserves it. I know she does. She absolutely does." – Patrick Hines [67:15]
• "Emily’s family has to live with this forever, knowing that these parents harbored a fugitive or whatever, you know, like help their son get away with murder." – Patrick Hines [76:20]

Key Timestamps

• Opening banter & podcast housekeeping: [00:00–02:20]
• Case Introduction & Discovery of Emily: [09:21–15:11]
• Emily’s Life and Family: [17:08–24:43]
• Emily & Elliot’s Relationship, Abuse Escalation: [25:06–45:13]
• Elliot’s Complicit Parents, Texts, and Tampering: [52:44–63:44]
• Police Wiretap & Evidence Gathering: [62:18–66:13]
• Trial and Aftermath: [70:38–76:20]
• Lessons, Reflections, Final Pleas: [77:07–78:08]

Takeaways

• The case is a chilling, textbook example of intimate partner violence and how repeated warning signs, when ignored or enabled by those close to the perpetrator, can lead to tragedy.
• The complicity and enabling behaviors of Elliot’s parents—especially his mother—are ruthlessly critiqued by Jillian and Patrick.
• The documentary and podcast both amplify a major lesson: When you see or hear something dangerous, trust your gut and act. Reporting can save lives, even if it feels difficult or scary.
• Friends, family, and bystanders all had multiple opportunities to intervene; the hosts implore listeners not to hesitate in such situations.

Final Words

Jillian and Patrick end with a blend of heartbreak, anger, and hope, encouraging everyone to look after each other and emphasize the importance of taking action, no matter how uncomfortable. The episode is both a tribute to Emily’s memory and a rallying cry for intervention against abuse.

For resources or support on domestic/dating violence:
UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline or US National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call, text, or reach out—don’t wait.