Podcast
What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight. A True Crime Podcast
Hosted by matt wray · EN
What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight is a long-form investigative podcast exploring the crimes that went unnoticed — not because they were invisible, but because they were overlooked.Each episode examines a case where violence, abuse, or exploitation existed openly within families, communities, or institutions, hidden behind familiarity, routine, and disbelief. Through careful storytelling and factual analysis, the series looks beyond the perpetrators to examine the warning signs that were missed, the systems that failed, and the lives that were changed forever.This podcast is not about shock value.It is about understanding how harm survives in ordinary spaces — and what we must learn to prevent it from happening again. Hosted on Podbean.
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Episodes
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She Fell 4,000 Feet: The Victoria Cilliers Murder Plot
5d ago01:11:20Tap to summarizehttps://buymeacoffee.com/whattheyhide On Easter Sunday 2015, Victoria Cilliers stepped from an aircraft over the Wiltshire countryside expecting an ordinary skydive. Moments later, her main parachute failed. Then her reserve parachute failed too. Falling from around 4,000 feet, Victoria should not have survived. Yet somehow she did. At first, it appeared to be a freak accident. A tragic equipment failure that had nearly claimed the life of an experienced skydiver. But investigators soon uncovered evidence suggesting something far more sinister. As detectives examined the parachute, they discovered signs of deliberate interference. Then they uncovered another disturbing incident from just days earlier: a suspected gas leak at the family home. What followed was one of the most extraordinary attempted murder investigations in modern British criminal history. In this episode of What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight, we explore the shocking case of Victoria Cilliers, the Army physiotherapist who survived a fall from the sky, and the investigation that led detectives to the man closest to her. A story of survival, deception, coercive control and a murder plot that almost succeeded. How did two parachutes fail? And why did investigators come to believe it was no accident? ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of attempted murder, coercive control, psychological manipulation, infidelity and serious injury. Sources Books You Can’t Fall Out of the Sky — Victoria Cilliers You Can’t Fall Out of the Sky: The True Story of One Woman’s Survival Against All Odds Court & Legal Reporting The Guardian coverage of the trial and conviction The Guardian feature on the investigation Documentary & Television Sources Crime+Investigation – Victoria Cilliers case overview ITV News reporting and interviews A&E True Crime feature on Victoria Cilliers Background Research Wikipedia – Victoria Cilliers case overview Contemporary reporting from UK national newspapers including The Guardian, BBC News and PA Media coverage of the investigation, trials and sentencing. Music by MUBERT whattheyhidepod@gmail.com
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Jill Dando: The Murder Britain Never Solved
1w ago01:06:06Tap to summarize☕ Support the show: Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/whattheyhide On 26 April 1999, one of Britain’s most recognisable television presenters was shot dead outside her home in Fulham, West London. Jill Dando had spent years bringing unsolved crimes into the nation’s living rooms through Crimewatch. Then, in a matter of seconds, she became the centre of one of the most baffling murder investigations in British history. The attack appeared calculated. A single shot. No robbery. No obvious motive. And despite one of the largest murder inquiries ever conducted by the Metropolitan Police, the case remains unsolved more than two decades later. In this episode of What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight, we examine the life of Jill Dando, reconstruct the events of her final day, follow the investigation that led to the arrest and conviction of Barry George, and explore why that conviction was ultimately overturned. We also examine the major theories that continue to surround the case, including the Serbian retaliation theory, the Crimewatch revenge theory and the possibility of an obsessed stalker. As always, speculation is clearly identified as speculation, and every effort has been made to distinguish established facts from unproven claims. Who killed Jill Dando? And why has one of Britain’s most famous murder cases never been conclusively solved? Follow, rate and share the podcast to help more people discover the show. #JillDando #TrueCrimePodcast #Crimewatch #UnsolvedMysteries #BritishTrueCrime #WhatTheyHide Sources Primary / Official Sources Metropolitan Police Service press releases and historical case information. Court of Appeal judgment relating to Barry George’s conviction being quashed (2007). Retrial reporting and acquittal coverage (2008). Books Jill Dando: Her Life and Death — David James Smith. The Murder of Jill Dando (where available in your research). Broadcast & Documentary Sources Crimewatch archive material. Panorama reports concerning the case. The Mystery of Jill Dando. BBC News archive coverage from 1999–2008. Newspaper Archives The Guardian The Independent The Telegraph BBC News Archive Further Reading Articles examining the Barry George conviction and acquittal. Contemporary reporting on the Kosovo conflict and NATO bombing campaign for context regarding the Serbian retaliation theory. Academic and legal commentary on forensic evidence and wrongful convictions. Music by MUBERT whattheyhidepod@gmail.com
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The Disappearance of Andrew Gosden
2w ago00:58:53Tap to summarize☕ Support the Show If you enjoy What They Hide and would like to support future episodes, you can buy me a coffee here: https://buymeacoffee.com/whattheyhide Every contribution helps keep the podcast independent and supports the research, writing and production of future episodes. On the morning of 14 September 2007, fourteen-year-old Andrew Gosden left his home in Doncaster and appeared to head to school as normal. Instead, he withdrew £200 from his bank account, returned home, changed clothes and travelled alone to London King’s Cross. At 11:25am, CCTV captured Andrew leaving the station. It is the last confirmed sighting of him. Nearly two decades later, one of Britain’s most baffling missing-person cases remains unsolved. Why did Andrew travel to London? Was he planning a simple day trip? Did he intend to meet someone? Or did something happen after he arrived in one of the busiest cities in Europe? In this episode of What They Hide, we examine the known facts of Andrew’s disappearance, the investigation that followed, the reported sightings, the controversial missed opportunities and the theories that continue to divide opinion today. This is not a story about what we know. It’s a story about what we don’t. And about a family that has spent years searching for answers. ⚠️ Content Warning This episode discusses the disappearance of a child and themes that some listeners may find distressing. 📱 Follow the Podcast Search “What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight” on your favourite social platform. 📧 Case suggestions and listener messages welcome. ⭐ If you enjoy the show, please consider following, rating and reviewing the podcast. It helps more people discover the show. Sources Official Sources South Yorkshire Police – Andrew Gosden Missing Person Appeal Missing People UK National Crime Agency Missing Persons Resources Books & Publications Contemporary newspaper coverage from: The Times The Guardian The Independent BBC News archives Documentary & Broadcast Sources BBC News reports and interviews ITV News coverage Channel 4 News reports Appeals featuring Andrew’s family Online Resources Missing People UK case profile South Yorkshire Police public appeals UK Missing Persons Unit resources Additional Research Publicly available interviews with Kevin and Glenys Gosden Archived reporting relating to the 2021 arrests and subsequent elimination of suspects from the investigation Publicly available discussions regarding reported sightings and investigative timelines Andrew’s disappearance remains unsolved. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact South Yorkshire Police or the charity Missing People. Music by MUBERT whattheyhidepod@gmail.com
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The Murder of Rachel Nickell
2w ago01:07:34Tap to summarize☕ Support the show: Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/whattheyhide On 15 July 1992, 23-year-old Rachel Nickell took her two-year-old son for a walk on Wimbledon Common. She never came home. What followed was one of the most shocking murders in modern British history and one of the greatest investigative failures the UK has ever seen. As police faced intense public pressure to catch the killer, they became convinced they had found their man. Colin Stagg was subjected to surveillance, psychological profiling and an extraordinary undercover “honeytrap” operation. Yet there was one devastating problem. They had the wrong suspect. While detectives focused on proving Stagg’s guilt, the real killer remained free. In this episode of What They Hide, we examine the murder of Rachel Nickell, the controversial investigation that followed, the destruction of an innocent man’s life, and the eventual identification of serial offender Robert Napper through advances in DNA technology. This is a story of tragedy, tunnel vision, missed opportunities and a painful reminder that justice means finding the right person—not simply finding someone. The Murder of Rachel Nickell: A Killer Hidden in Plain Sight. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of murder, sexual violence, serious injuries, mental illness and crimes involving children as witnesses to traumatic events. 📧 Email the show: whattheyhidepod@gmail.com 📱 Follow on all socials: @whattheyhidepod 🎙️ Please like, follow, subscribe and leave a review to help more people discover the show. Sources Books And Then the Sun Came Up — Paul Britton The Jigsaw Man — Paul Britton In Pursuit of the Truth — various criminal justice references Official & Legal Sources Metropolitan Police Service investigation records and public statements Independent Police Complaints Commission review of the Rachel Nickell investigation Old Bailey court proceedings relating to Colin Stagg Court proceedings relating to Robert Napper’s admission of responsibility for Rachel Nickell’s killing Documentaries & Broadcast Sources The Witness The Real Story: The Wimbledon Common Murder BBC News archive coverage ITV News archive coverage Channel 4 News archive coverage Newspaper Archives The Guardian The Independent BBC News The Times The Telegraph Further Reading Rachel Nickell case records and reporting Colin Stagg interviews and legal coverage Robert Napper court and psychiatric case reporting Samantha Bisset case reporting Jazmine Bisset case reporting Music by MUBERT. © What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight “Because sometimes the truth isn’t hidden by darkness… but by the people searching for it.”
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The Essex Boys: Justice or Mystery
3w ago01:04:24Tap to summarize☕ Support the show: Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/whattheyhide THE ESSEX BOYS – PART 2: JUSTICE OR MYSTERY? In December 1995, Tony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe were found murdered inside a blue Range Rover on a remote farm track near Rettendon, Essex. The murders shocked Britain. But the controversy that followed would prove every bit as enduring as the crime itself. In Part Two, we examine the investigation known as Operation Century, the emergence of key witness Darren Nicholls, the arrests of Michael Steele and Jack Whomes, and the trial that led to two life sentences. We explore the appeal challenges, disputes surrounding witness credibility, questions raised about mobile phone evidence, media payments, disclosure arguments and the alternative theories that continue to divide opinion nearly three decades later. We also examine the documentaries, books and investigations that transformed the Essex Boys murders from a criminal case into one of Britain’s most debated true crime stories. Throughout this episode, claims, allegations and theories are presented as claims and allegations unless established by court findings or official records. The convictions of Michael Steele and Jack Whomes remain in place. But the questions surrounding Rettendon have never completely disappeared. Was justice served? Or does one of Britain’s most notorious gangland murders still hold unanswered secrets? CONTENT WARNING This episode contains discussion of murder, organised crime, drug trafficking, violence and criminal allegations. Listener discretion is advised. SOURCES Primary Legal Sources Court of Appeal judgments relating to Michael Steele and Jack Whomes Contemporary reporting from the Old Bailey trial Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) reporting and statements Essex Police statements relating to Operation Century Documentaries The Essex Murders (Sky Documentaries) Essex Boys: The Truth Various Sky News investigations into the Rettendon murders Television documentaries examining the convictions and subsequent appeals Books & Long-Form Research Bernard O’Mahoney – Essex Murders Bernard O’Mahoney – Essex Boys Wensley Clarkson – organised crime reporting Published works examining the Rettendon murders and Essex organised crime during the 1990s News Archives BBC News Archive Sky News Archive The Guardian Archive The Independent Archive The Telegraph Archive Essex Echo Archive Press Association reporting Additional Research Reporting relating to Darren Nicholls and subsequent appeal arguments Reporting concerning media payment controversies discussed during appeal proceedings Reporting on mobile phone evidence disputes raised by campaigners Reporting on TM Eye investigations and claims made by former detectives and private investigators Historical reporting on organised crime and drug trafficking in Essex during the mid-1990s DISCLAIMER This episode distinguishes between: • Facts established in court • Claims made by investigators • Allegations made by witnesses • Theories advanced by journalists, campaigners and documentary makers The inclusion of a claim or theory does not imply its accuracy or acceptance as fact. Follow the show: Instagram: @whattheyhidepod Facebook: @whattheyhidepod TikTok: @whattheyhidepod X: @whattheyhidepod Email: whattheyhidepod@gmail.com Music by MUBERT What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight Because sometimes the truth isn’t hidden. It’s hiding in plain sight.
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The Essex Boys: The Last Ride
3w ago01:11:03Tap to summarize☕ Support the show: Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/whattheyhide THE ESSEX BOYS – PART 1: THE LAST RIDE On a cold December morning in 1995, a farmer made a discovery that would shock Britain. Parked on a remote farm track near Rettendon, Essex, sat a blue Range Rover. Inside were the bodies of Tony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe. All three had been killed in what appeared to be a carefully planned execution. The murders would become one of the most infamous gangland killings in British history. But before the investigation, the arrests and the controversy, there were three men living in a rapidly changing world. In Part One, we travel back to the Essex of the 1990s. We explore the rise of rave culture, the explosion of the ecstasy trade and the criminal networks that flourished around Britain’s booming nightclub scene. We examine the lives of Tony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe, their reputations, their associations and the dangerous world they inhabited. And we follow the final weeks leading up to the night that ended in murder. This is the story before the investigation. Before the trial. Before the controversy. This is the road to Rettendon. CONTENT WARNING This episode contains discussion of organised crime, drug trafficking, violence and murder. Listener discretion is advised. SOURCES Court & Official Sources Court of Appeal judgment relating to Michael Steele and Jack Whomes Essex Police material relating to Operation Century Contemporary trial reporting from 1998 Books Bernard O’Mahoney – Essex Boys: The New Generation Bernard O’Mahoney – Essex Murders Wensley Clarkson – Gang Wars and related Essex crime reporting Various published works covering the Rettendon murders and Essex organised crime Documentaries The Essex Murders (Sky Documentaries) Essex Boys: The Truth Various Channel 4, ITV and Sky crime documentaries covering the Rettendon murders News & Archive Reporting BBC News archive The Guardian archive The Independent archive Daily Telegraph archive Essex Echo archive Press Association reports Background Research Reporting relating to the death of Leah Betts and the UK ecstasy panic of the mid-1990s Historical reporting on the UK rave scene and nightclub security industry Contemporary newspaper coverage from 1995–1998 Follow the show: Instagram: @whattheyhidepod Facebook: @whattheyhidepod TikTok: @whattheyhidepod X: @whattheyhidepod Email: whattheyhidepod@gmail.com What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight Because sometimes the truth isn’t hidden. It’s hiding in plain sight. Music by MUBERT
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The Tinder Date Murder
4w ago00:39:16Tap to summarize☕ Support the podcast and help keep independent true crime storytelling alive: Buy Me A Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/Whattheyhidepod On the evening of 1 December 2018, 21-year-old British backpacker Grace Millane went on a Tinder date in Auckland, New Zealand. CCTV footage showed Grace laughing, drinking and enjoying a night out in the city centre before entering the CityLife Hotel with a man she had met only hours earlier. She was never seen alive again. What followed became one of the most high-profile murder investigations in New Zealand’s history. Through CCTV footage, forensic evidence, phone records and internet searches, detectives painstakingly reconstructed Grace’s final hours and uncovered a disturbing trail that led from a hotel room in central Auckland to a shallow grave in the Waitākere Ranges. In this episode of What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight, we examine: Grace’s life and world travels Her arrival in New Zealand The Tinder date that became a murder investigation The CCTV timeline of her final hours The disappearance that shocked two nations The suitcase and burial site The controversial “rough sex” defence The murder trial of Jesse Shane Kempson The verdict and sentencing The wider debate around violence against women and victim blaming This episode contains discussions of murder, sexual violence, coercive behaviour and themes some listeners may find distressing. Listener discretion is advised. Music by MUBERT Follow the podcast: 📱 Instagram / X / TikTok: @whattheyhidepod 📧 Email: whattheyhidepod@gmail.com ⭐ If you enjoy the show, please consider leaving a rating and review. It really helps new listeners discover the podcast. Sources Primary Reporting New Zealand Herald Coverage Archive – Grace Millane Case BBC News – Grace Millane Case Coverage The Guardian – Grace Millane Trial Coverage RNZ (Radio New Zealand) – Grace Millane Coverage Case Information Wikipedia – Murder of Grace Millane Court of Appeal of New Zealand Judgment (Kempson Appeal) Trial & Forensic Reporting The Guardian – Pathology Evidence During Trial BBC News – Jury Finds Kempson Guilty of Murder BBC News – Sentencing of Jesse Kempson Context & Analysis ABC News Australia – Later Convictions and Predator Allegations Revealed The Guardian – Debate Around Sexual History Evidence and the Rough Sex Defence What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight Because sometimes the truth isn’t hidden at all. It’s hiding where nobody thinks to look.
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The Man Who Vanished into Thin Air
May 2600:38:27Tap to summarizeSupport the podcast & help keep independent true crime storytelling alive: ☕ Buy Me A Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/Whattheyhidepod In September 2016, 23-year-old RAF gunner Corrie McKeague vanished after a night out in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. CCTV captured Corrie walking into a loading bay known as The Horseshoe at 3:25am. He was never definitively seen leaving. What followed became one of Britain’s strangest and most debated missing person investigations. As police traced Corrie’s final movements, theories of abduction, foul play and voluntary disappearance spread across the country — before investigators eventually arrived at a shocking conclusion involving a refuse lorry and a landfill site. In this episode of What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight, we examine: Corrie’s final night out the baffling CCTV mystery early police theories and media speculation the movement of Corrie’s phone after he disappeared the controversial bin-lorry theory the massive landfill search public criticism of the investigation the 2022 inquest findings and the unanswered questions that still haunt the case today. This episode contains discussions of death, traumatic injury and missing persons. Listener discretion is advised. Follow the podcast: Instagram/X/TikTok: @whattheyhidepod Email: whattheyhidepod@gmail.com Sources Suffolk Police – Corrie McKeague Investigation Archive BBC News Coverage – Corrie McKeague Case The Guardian – Inquest Findings (2022) ITV News – The Missing Airman and the Bin Theory Wikipedia – Death of Corrie McKeague The Independent – Corrie McKeague Inquest Reporting
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The Honeymoon Murder
May 2400:44:09Tap to summarizehttp://buymeacoffee.com/Whattheyhidepod A luxury honeymoon in South Africa. A late-night taxi ride through Cape Town. A sudden hijacking. And within hours, a young bride was dead. In November 2010, Anni Dewani travelled to South Africa with her new husband Shrien Dewani for what should have been the beginning of their married life together. Instead, the trip became one of the most controversial international murder cases of the modern era. As investigators dug deeper into the killing, prosecutors alleged the hijacking had been staged and that Anni’s murder was part of a planned conspiracy. But as the case moved through the courts, witness testimony began to unravel, contradictions emerged, and the prosecution’s case ultimately collapsed. In this episode of What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight, we examine the murder of Anni Dewani, the global media storm that followed, the extradition battle between Britain and South Africa, and the courtroom drama that left the public deeply divided for years. This episode contains discussion of murder, violent crime, mental health and distressing themes. Listener discretion is advised. Sources Western Cape High Court proceedings: S v Dewani (2014) UK High Court extradition judgment: Government of South Africa v Dewani BBC News reporting (2010–2014) The Guardian coverage of the Dewani trial and acquittal BBC News archive – Anni Dewani case Reuters reporting on the Dewani case South African court reporting and trial transcripts Contemporary reporting from: Sky News Channel 4 News The Telegraph The Independent Documentary references: Anni: The Honeymoon Murder The Honeymoon Murder: Who Killed Anni Dewani Music by MUBERT Whattheyhidepod@gmail.com
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An Appointment with Mr Kipper
May 1900:44:34Tap to summarizehttp://buymeacoffee.com/Whattheyhidepod In July 1986, 25-year-old estate agent Suzy Lamplugh left her office in Fulham, London, for what should have been a routine property viewing. The client’s name was written in the appointment diary as: “Mr Kipper.” She never returned. Her white Ford Fiesta was later discovered abandoned several streets away. There were no signs of a struggle. No confirmed crime scene. And despite one of the largest missing person investigations in British history, Suzy Lamplugh has never been found. In this episode of What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight, we examine the timeline of Suzy’s final known movements, the massive police investigation that followed, the emergence of convicted killer John Cannan as prime suspect, and the unanswered questions that continue to haunt the case nearly four decades later. We also explore the wider impact of Suzy’s disappearance — from changes to lone-worker safety across Britain to speculation surrounding other violent offenders investigated over the years. Because sometimes people do not disappear in darkness. Sometimes they vanish in the middle of an ordinary afternoon. Sources Suzy Lamplugh Trust Metropolitan Police – Suzy Lamplugh Appeal Archive BBC News Archive – Suzy Lamplugh Case Coverage The Guardian – Suzy Lamplugh Investigation Reporting The Independent – John Cannan and Suzy Lamplugh Reporting Crimewatch Archive – BBC Reconstructions and Appeals Wikipedia – Disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh Wikipedia – John Cannan Contemporary newspaper archives from 1986–2024 including reporting from: The Times Daily Telegraph Daily Mail The Observer Bristol Post
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