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Foul Play: Crime Series

Foul Play: Crime Series

Victorian true crime. Seasonal investigations.

Shane WatersWendy Cee

Hosted by Shane Waters & Wendy Cee

319 episodesSerial

About Foul Play: Crime Series

Welcome to the riveting true crime podcast that takes you on a deep dive into the world's most gripping cases. Each season unravels a unique case—choose one that intrigues you and dive in.

What Listeners Are Saying

Absolutely gripping storytelling. Shane and Wendy bring Victorian cases to life like no other podcast.

HistoryBuff_UK · Apple Podcasts

The research that goes into each series is incredible. My favorite true crime podcast.

CrimePodFan22 · Apple Podcasts

Perfect blend of history and true crime. Each series keeps me hooked from start to finish.

VictorianMystery · Spotify

Latest Episode

Staffordshire: The Rugeley Poisoner's First Victim

Foul Play · Series 38

Staffordshire: The Rugeley Poisoner's First Victim

Season 38 examines one of Victorian England's most infamous murderers: William Palmer, the Rugeley Poisoner. This four-part series traces his crimes from gambling addiction to serial murder—and the groundbreaking forensic investigation that brought him to justice. The Fatal Wager November 1855. A man lies dying in Room 10 of the Talbot Arms inn. His back arches off the mattress. His jaw locks. Every muscle seizes at once. John Parsons Cook had won big at the Shrewsbury races just days earlier. His horse Polestar crossed the finish line first, putting nearly a thousand pounds in his pocket. He should have been celebrating. Instead, he's being murdered—slowly, methodically—by his own friend and physician. Dr. William Palmer stands beside the bed, taking Cook's pulse. He doesn't call for help. He waits. The Victim John Parsons Cook was twenty-eight years old in 1855. Born into comfortable circumstances, he inherited enough money from his father to live without working. He trained for the law but never practiced—the racing circuit called to him instead. Cook followed the horse racing meets across England: Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Chester. He owned horses. He wagered heavily. He lived for the thundering hooves and the roaring crowds. But Cook suffered from chronic poor health. Stomach troubles plagued him. This made him dependent on physicians—a dependency that would prove fatal when his racing companion William Palmer decided he needed to die. The Crime William Palmer was a surgeon, a family man, and a serial killer. By November 1855, Palmer owed more than twenty thousand pounds to moneylenders. His gambling addiction had consumed him. He had already murdered for money—his wife Anne (insurance payout: thirteen thousand pounds), his brother Walter (insurance claim pending), possibly his mother-in-law, and at least four of his own infant children. When Cook won at Shrewsbury, Palmer saw an opportunity. The two men traveled together back to Palmer's hometown of Rugeley. Cook took his usual room at the Talbot Arms—directly across the street from Palmer's house. Palmer began visiting Cook immediately, administering "treatments" for his illness. Each time Cook improved, another dose sent him back to agony. Cook suspected. He told friends: "I believe that damn Palmer has been dosing me." But suspicion wasn't proof, and Palmer was a doctor. Doctors could be trusted. The Investigation What followed Cook's death would transform British forensic science and create new legal precedent. Dr. Alfred Swaine Taylor, England's foremost toxicologist, examined Cook's remains. He found no strychnine in the body—the poison metabolized too quickly. But the symptoms were unmistakable: tetanic convulsions, locked jaw, arched back. Taylor's testimony established a critical principle: absence of poison does not equal absence of poisoning. Clinical symptoms and circumstantial evidence could establish murder even when the weapon couldn't be found. Palmer's trial became so notorious that Parliament passed special legislation—the Central Criminal Court Act 1856, forever known as "Palmer's Act"—to move the case from Staffordshire to London's Old Bailey. Thirty-two medical experts testified. The jury deliberated eighty-two minutes. Verdict: Guilty. Historical Context The Palmer case exposed the vulnerability of Victorian society to medical murderers. Physicians held almost unquestioned authority. Patients trusted them with their lives—literally. Palmer exploited this trust systematically. His medical knowledge allowed him to choose poisons that were difficult to detect, calculate doses that would kill without immediate suspicion, and explain away symptoms as natural illness. The case accelerated the development of forensic toxicology across Europe. Scientists raced to develop more sensitive tests for alkaloid poisons like strychnine. Sources consulted: Old Bailey Online trial transcripts (May 1856); The Times contemporary coverage; British Newspaper Archive; Oxford Dictionary of National Biography; forensic toxicology historical analysis. Resources Primary Sources: Old Bailey Online: Trial of William Palmer (May 1856) — oldbaileyonline.org British Newspaper Archive coverage of Rugeley poisoner case Further Reading: Katherine Watson, "Poisoned Lives: English Poisoners and Their Victims" (2004) Robert Graves, "They Hanged My Saintly Billy" (1957) — literary treatment Crisis Resources: For concerns about elder financial abuse or medical exploitation: Adult Protective Services Support the Show If Foul Play brings you into history's darkest corners, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Reviews help new listeners discover the show—and every share helps us continue telling these stories. Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/foul-play-crime-series/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

February 10, 2026·22m

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Current Series: Series 38

1 episodes

Series Archive

Series 37

4 episodes · January 13, 2026

Series 36

13 episodes · June 5, 2025

Series 35

4 episodes · February 5, 2025

Series 34

10 episodes · October 10, 2024

Series 33

29 episodes · March 6, 2024

S33 Bonus 4: The Zodiac: April 1978 Letter

July 17, 2024 · 16m

S33 Bonus #3: The Zodiac: The Riverside Suspect

April 29, 2024 · 9m

S33 Bonus #2: The Zodiac: The Hoax Letters

April 26, 2024 · 7m

S33 Bonus #1: The Zodiac: Melvin Belli - "Please Help Me"

April 22, 2024 · 12m

Trailer: The Zodiac

March 24, 2024 · 1m

S33 Ep1: The Zodiac: Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday Murders

March 6, 2024 · 18m

S33 Ep2: The Zodiac: Darlene Ferrin & Michael Mageau Attack

March 13, 2024 · 20m

S33 Ep3: The Zodiac: The First Letters

March 20, 2024 · 20m

S33 Ep4: The Zodiac: Lake Berryessa Attack

March 27, 2024 · 15m

S33 Ep5: The Zodiac: Bryan Hartnell's Attack

April 3, 2024 · 21m

S33 Ep6: The Zodiac: Paul Stine San Francisco Cab Murder

April 10, 2024 · 17m

S33 Ep7: The Zodiac: Letters & 340 Cipher

April 17, 2024 · 23m

S33 Ep8: The Zodiac: The Murder of Cheri Jo Bates

April 24, 2024 · 23m

S33 Ep9: The Zodiac: Donna Lass

May 1, 2024 · 18m

S33 Ep10: The Zodiac: Ray Davis 1962 Cab Murder

May 10, 2024 · 17m

S33 Ep11: The Zodiac: The Beach Murders

May 16, 2024 · 21m

S33 Ep12: The Zodiac: The Final Letters

May 24, 2024 · 22m

S33 Ep13: The Zodiac: Evidence and Theories

May 29, 2024 · 25m

S33 Ep14: The Zodiac: Suspect Arthur Leigh Allen

June 6, 2024 · 27m

S33 Ep15: The Zodiac: The Case Against Allen

June 17, 2024 · 25m

S33 Ep16: The Zodiac: The Rick Marshall Investigation

June 25, 2024 · 16m

S33 Ep17: The Zodiac: Gaikowski's Alleged Double Life

July 10, 2024 · 21m

S33 Ep18: The Zodiac: Brooklyn's Night of Terror, Part 1

July 31, 2024 · 16m

S33 Ep19: The Zodiac: Brooklyn's Night of Terror, Part 2

August 8, 2024 · 17m

S33 Ep20: The Zodiac: The Cases Against Kane and Poste

August 14, 2024 · 28m

S33 Ep21: The Zodiac: Ross Sullivan and the Cheri Jo Bates Murder

August 27, 2024 · 18m

S33 Ep22: The Zodiac: The Movie

September 4, 2024 · 21m

S33 Ep23: The Zodiac: Cracking the Code

September 19, 2024 · 23m

S33 Ep24: The Zodiac: The Hoax Theory

October 2, 2024 · 34m

Series 32

3 episodes · February 14, 2024

Series 31

2 episodes · January 31, 2024

Series 30

3 episodes · January 10, 2024

Series 28

3 episodes · November 15, 2023

Series 27

2 episodes · November 1, 2023

Series 26

3 episodes · October 4, 2023

Series 25

2 episodes · September 13, 2023

Series 24

2 episodes · August 23, 2023

Series 23

2 episodes · August 2, 2023

Series 22

3 episodes · July 5, 2023

Series 21

2 episodes · June 13, 2023

Series 20

4 episodes · May 17, 2023

Series 19

3 episodes · April 12, 2023

Series 18

3 episodes · March 22, 2023

Series 17

4 episodes · February 22, 2023

Series 16

3 episodes · February 1, 2023

Series 15

8 episodes · December 4, 2022

Series 14

4 episodes · November 2, 2022

Series 13

5 episodes · September 28, 2022

Series 12

4 episodes · August 31, 2022

Series 11

4 episodes · July 6, 2022

Series 10

4 episodes · May 25, 2022

Series 9

6 episodes · April 13, 2022

Series 8

3 episodes · April 1, 2022

Series 7

3 episodes · February 2, 2022

Series 6

9 episodes · April 25, 2021

Series 5

5 episodes · February 24, 2021

Series 4

3 episodes · January 13, 2021

Series 3

20 episodes · April 7, 2020

Series 2

92 episodes · September 17, 2018

S2 Ep1: Sister Cathy, The Silenced Truth

September 17, 2018 · 51m

S2 Ep2: Sister Cathy, Schmidt Family Shadows

September 25, 2018 · 35m

S2 Ep3: Sister Cathy, Cindy's Courageous Journey

October 3, 2018 · 1h 12m

S2 Ep4: Sister Cathy, Unearthing Truths with Bob Erlandson

October 10, 2018 · 1h 28m

S2 Ep5: Sister Cathy, Donna's Silent Struggle

October 17, 2018 · 1h 0m

S2 Ep6: Sister Cathy, The Shadow Network

October 24, 2018 · 1h 6m

S2 Ep7: Sister Cathy, The Courage of Jane Roe

October 31, 2018 · 1h 4m

S2 Ep8: Sister Cathy, Unseen Witness

November 7, 2018 · 41m

S2 Ep9: Sister Cathy, The Prosecutor's Puzzle

November 14, 2018 · 38m

S2 Ep10: Sister Cathy, Voices From the Void

November 21, 2018 · 29m

S2 Ep11: Sister Cathy, Echoes of Silence

November 28, 2018 · 44m

S2 Ep12: Sister Cathy, The Maskell Paradox

December 5, 2018 · 52m

S2 Ep13: Sister Cathy, Beyond the Blackboard

December 12, 2018 · 47m

S2 Ep14: Sister Cathy, The Vigilant Educator

December 19, 2018 · 47m

S2 Ep15: Sister Cathy, Reflections from the Podcasters

December 22, 2018 · 56m

S2 Ep16: Sister Cathy, Unmasking Darkness with Jane Doe and The Keepers' Director, Part 1

January 9, 2019 · 37m

S2 Ep17: Sister Cathy, Unmasking Darkness with Jane Doe and The Keepers' Director, Part 2

January 16, 2019 · 32m

S2 Ep18: Sister Cathy, Bombshell: Man in the Trench Coat, Part 1

January 23, 2019 · 34m

S2 Ep19: Sister Cathy, Bombshell: Man in the Trench Coat, Part 2

January 30, 2019 · 49m

S2 Ep20: Sister Cathy, The Archdiocese Speaks, Part 1

February 6, 2019 · 37m

S2 Ep21: Sister Cathy, The Archdiocese Speaks, Part 2

February 13, 2019 · 35m

S2 Ep22: Sister Cathy, 1975 Maskell Abuse Reported

February 20, 2019 · 28m

S2 Ep23: Sister Cathy, Behind Closed Doors: The Secretary's Story, Part 1

February 27, 2019 · 24m

S2 Ep24: Sister Cathy, Behind Closed Doors: The Secretary's Story, Part 2

March 13, 2019 · 29m

S2 Ep25: Sister Cathy, Decades of Questions

March 20, 2019 · 44m

S2 Ep27: Sister Cathy, Echoes of Maskell: Voices from Maryland

April 3, 2019 · 53m

S2 Ep28: Sister Cathy, The Timeline, Part 1

April 10, 2019 · 39m

S2 Ep29: Sister Cathy, The Timeline, Part 2

April 17, 2019 · 35m

S2 Ep30: Sister Cathy, Secrets of the Sacred Grounds

April 24, 2019 · 34m

S2 Ep31: Sister Cathy, The Crusade for Justice

May 1, 2019 · 41m

S2 Ep32: Sister Cathy, The Mystery of the Evidence Box, Part 1

May 8, 2019 · 36m

S2 Ep33: Sister Cathy, The Mystery of the Evidence Box, Part 2

May 15, 2019 · 57m

S2 Ep34: Sister Cathy, Echoes of the Past

May 22, 2019 · 48m

S2 Ep35: Sister Cathy, Yelling in the Night

May 29, 2019 · 51m

S2 Ep36: Sister Cathy, The Unsolved Murder of Joyce Malecki

June 5, 2019 · 42m

S2 Ep37: Sister Cathy, Echoes of a Premonition

June 12, 2019 · 34m

S2 Ep38: Sister Cathy, Shattered Minds - The Psychology of Abuse, Part 1

June 19, 2019 · 40m

S2 Ep39: Sister Cathy, Shattered Minds - The Psychology of Abuse, Part 2

June 26, 2019 · 37m

S2 Ep40: Sister Cathy, Shattered Minds - The Psychology of Abuse, Part 3

July 3, 2019 · 32m

S2 Ep41: Sister Cathy, The Legal Labyrinth – The Doe Roe Case, Part 1

July 17, 2019 · 26m

S2 Ep42: Sister Cathy, The Legal Labyrinth – The Doe Roe Case, Part 2

July 24, 2019 · 25m

S2 Ep43: Sister Cathy, Shadow of Doubt – MKUltra and Memory, Part 1

July 31, 2019 · 26m

S2 Ep44: Sister Cathy, Shadow of Doubt – MKUltra and Memory, Part 2

August 7, 2019 · 45m

S2 Ep45: Sister Cathy, A Survivor's Account – Unveiling MKUltra, Part 1

August 28, 2019 · 27m

S2 Ep46: Sister Cathy, A Survivor's Account – Unveiling MKUltra, Part 2

September 4, 2019 · 36m

S2 Ep47: Sister Cathy, The Redacted Truths – MKUltra's Children

September 11, 2019 · 13m

S2 Ep48: Sister Cathy, Beyond the Veil – A Nun's Choice, Part 1

September 18, 2019 · 27m

S2 Ep49: Sister Cathy, Beyond the Veil – A Nun's Choice, Part 2

September 25, 2019 · 36m

S2 Ep50: Sister Cathy, Tom Nugent - A Journalist's Quest, Part 1

October 2, 2019 · 38m

S2 Ep51: Sister Cathy, Tom Nugent - A Journalist's Quest, Part 2

October 9, 2019 · 28m

S2 Ep52: Sister Cathy, The Hunter - Unearthing the Unthinkable

October 30, 2019 · 29m

S2 Ep53: Sister Cathy, Reflections of a Legacy

November 8, 2019 · 23m

S2 Ep54: Sister Cathy, Decoding the Cover-Up, Part 1

November 20, 2019 · 41m

S2 Ep55: Sister Cathy, Decoding the Cover-Up, Part 2

December 4, 2019 · 25m

S2 Ep56: Sister Cathy, Decoding the Cover-Up, Part 3

December 11, 2019 · 38m

S2 Ep57: Sister Cathy, Decoding the Cover-Up, Part 4

January 1, 2020 · 30m

S2 Ep59: Sister Cathy, The Examiner's Tale – A Forensic Reckoning

January 8, 2020 · 28m

S2 Ep60: Confronting the Unspeakable – Child Abuse and Recovery

January 15, 2020 · 30m

S2 Ep61: Sister Cathy, Voices Unheard – Listener Q&A, Part 1

January 22, 2020 · 28m

S2 Ep62: Sister Cathy, Voices Unheard – Listener Q&A, Part 2

January 29, 2020 · 24m

S2 Ep63: Sister Cathy, Voices Unheard – Listener Q&A, Part 3

February 12, 2020 · 27m

S2 Ep64: The Fight for Justice – The Hidden Predator Act 2020, Part 1

February 26, 2020 · 1h 11m

S2 Ep65: The Fight for Justice – The Hidden Predator Act 2020, Part 2

March 4, 2020 · 1h 0m

S2 Ep66: Sister Cathy, Unmasking Deception – The Language of Lies, Part 1

March 11, 2020 · 41m

S2 Ep67: Sister Cathy, Unmasking Deception – The Language of Lies, Part 2

March 25, 2020 · 34m

S2 Ep68: Sister Cathy, Organized Abuse – A Global Call to Action

April 7, 2020 · 1h 12m

S2 Ep69: Sister Cathy, The Inner Circle – A Round Table on Maskell and Memories

January 2, 2021 · 1h 15m

S2 Ep70: Sister Cathy, Deciphering Deceit – More Behavioral Analysis

January 3, 2021 · 35m

S2 Ep71: Sister Cathy, Keeping On with Gemma

January 4, 2021 · 17m

S2 Ep72: Sister Cathy, Chasing Alice – Lessons from a Tragedy

January 5, 2021 · 40m

S2 Ep73: Sister Cathy, From Shadows to Light – Erin's Journey

May 5, 2021 · 45m

S2 Ep74: Sister Cathy, Who was Sister Russell?

May 12, 2021 · 29m

S2 Ep75: Sister Cathy, Live Q&A - Unraveling the Mystery, Part 1

May 19, 2021 · 54m

S2 Ep76: Sister Cathy, Live Q&A - Unraveling the Mystery, Part 2

May 26, 2021 · 40m

S2 Ep77: Sister Cathy, Echoes of Tragedy - The Pamela Conyers Case

June 2, 2021 · 31m

S2 Ep78: Sister Cathy, Inside Richter's Office

June 9, 2021 · 40m

S2 Ep79: Sister Cathy, The Brother - Unveiling Hidden Paths

November 3, 2021 · 37m

S2 Ep80: Sister Cathy, Safe in Socks - Teresa Lancaster's Journey

March 15, 2022 · 28m

S2 Ep81: Sister Cathy, Walking with Aletheia

June 22, 2022 · 53m

S2 Ep82: Sister Cathy, Teresa & Jean - the Courts, the Church and the Cops, Part 1

September 23, 2022 · 53m

S2 Ep83: Sister Cathy, Teresa & Jean - the Courts, the Church and the Cops, Part 2

September 26, 2022 · 45m

S2 Ep84: Sister Cathy, The Truth in the Machine - Understanding Polygraphs

October 28, 2022 · 44m

S2 Ep85: Sister Cathy, Transparency and Accountability at the Archdiocese of Baltimore

November 30, 2022 · 26m

S2 Ep86: Sister Cathy, Uniting for Survivors - The Battle for Transparency

December 2, 2022 · 48m

S2 Ep87: Sister Cathy, Bankruptcy and Betrayal - How Bankruptcy Shields Predators

October 20, 2023 · 1h 6m

S2 Ep88: Sister Cathy, Reflections on the Attorney General's Report on Clergy Abuse

December 6, 2023 · 58m

S2 Ep89: Sister Cathy, AG Report - A Tale of Abuse and Cover-Up

December 13, 2023 · 39m

S2 Ep90: Sister Cathy, The Jesuit Seminarian

January 14, 2024 · 1h 5m

S2 Ep91: Sister Cathy, Slides of Hope: A Doctor's Quest for Justice

February 12, 2024 · 1h 43m

S2 Ep92: Sister Cathy, A Timeline of Events and Key Insights

November 24, 2024 · 1h 10m

S2 Ep93: Sister Cathy, Continuing the Timeline

December 7, 2024 · 1h 7m

S2 Ep94: Lies, Truth, and The Keepers

February 3, 2025 · 1h 16m

Series 1

9 episodes · January 2, 2014

Series 0

35 episodes · January 22, 2014

Mysteries on the True Crime Express

March 8, 2024 · 1h 29m

Behind the Bloodstains with Jo Millington

October 26, 2023 · 44m

Maze of Secrets

October 24, 2023 · 1h 26m

Deadly Devotion: Motherhood and Mayhem, Part 2

May 10, 2023 · 1h 13m

Deadly Devotion: Motherhood and Mayhem, Part 1

May 9, 2023 · 1h 7m

Welcome to Foul Play: Crime Series

April 10, 2023 · 3m

Deceptions & Resurrections, Part 2

April 4, 2023 · 1h 6m

Deceptions & Resurrections, Part 1

April 3, 2023 · 1h 8m

My Bloody Valentine, Part 2

February 10, 2023 · 1h 7m

My Bloody Valentine, Part 1

February 9, 2023 · 1h 5m

One-Off: What Happened to Trenton Duckett?

January 25, 2023 · 14m

The Nightmare Before Halloween, Part 2

October 25, 2022 · 2h 19m

The Nightmare Before Halloween, Part 1

October 24, 2022 · 2h 22m

One-Off: Vanished in the Night - The Mitrice Richardson Mystery

April 6, 2022 · 16m

One-Off: The Deceptive Facade - The Kristie and David Evans Saga

March 30, 2022 · 16m

One-Off: The Norman Rockwell Nightmare - The Ann and Anthony Anastasi Story

March 16, 2022 · 18m

One-Off: [High School Podcast] Murderous Soul

March 11, 2022 · 12m

One-Off: The Endless Cycle - David Early and the Tragedy of the Knight Family

January 19, 2022 · 28m

One-Off: Behind the Facade - The Robert Kissel Mystery

January 12, 2022 · 31m

One-Off: Shadows of Injustice - The Papin Sisters' Tale

December 29, 2021 · 28m

Christmas Episode 3 - Maurin Murders

December 22, 2021 · 30m

Christmas Episode 2 - Sodder Family

December 15, 2021 · 34m

Christmas Episode 1 - Italian Hall

December 8, 2021 · 28m

One-Off: Echoes of Terror - The Real-Life Horror Behind 'Candyman'

December 1, 2021 · 51m

One-Off: Fighting Fate - The Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter Story

November 10, 2021 · 37m

One-Off: A Toxic Deception - The Lana Clayton Case

October 20, 2021 · 28m

One-Off: St Valentine's Day Massacre

October 14, 2021 · 18m

One-Off: April Fools' Day

February 24, 2021 · 14m

One-Off: Halloween 2020

October 28, 2020 · 42m

One-Off: The Tragedy in My Family

June 19, 2018 · 34m

One-Off: The Johnson Family: A Tragic Story of Murder or Accident?

October 11, 2017 · 18m

One-Off: Newly Installed Septic Tank Reveals Gruesome Discovery

October 2, 2017 · 10m

One-Off: John Hubbard - The Bones in the Basement

September 17, 2017 · 43m

One-Off: The Lost Girl of New Castle - Catherine Winters' 1913 Disappearance

January 22, 2014 · 40m

El Chalequero - Francisco Guerrero Pérez

December 10, 2025 · 44m

Meet the Hosts

Shane Waters

Shane Waters

Founder & Host

Investigative crime journalist who pioneered crime podcasting in 2008. Shane brings nearly two decades of storytelling experience and a deep commitment to giving victims' stories the rigor and respect they deserve.

Wendy Cee

Wendy Cee

Co-Host

Wendy brings sharp commentary and emotional depth to Foul Play's exploration of Victorian-era crime.

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