Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling

BBC Radio 5 Live

Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling love true crime - in fact, they're a little bit obsessed. And now they want to share that obsession with you.

Join Laura and Iain as they dive deep into some of the world's most jaw-dropping crime stories. Expect murder, mayhem, blackmail, betrayal, and more.

Each week, the pair choose a new crime and divulge all the details you're dying to know. They unpick the crucial moments and get to the heart of the whodunnit - all while making each other laugh along the way.

Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode!

If you would like to send us a message, email lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk and join the conversation using the hashtag #MTWPod

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S1.22: The Melissa Mystery

S1.22: The Melissa Mystery

This week, Iain looks at a case that was blown wide open by an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. When a man named Elmer DeBoer is found dead in a field near Waterford, Michigan, police are pretty sure that a local couple – an ex-convict and his teenage runaway girlfriend – are responsible. But, for ten months, they struggle to find any leads. That is until the case is featured on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. Suddenly, the phone lines begin ringing off the hook.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

Episodes

S1.22: The Melissa Mystery

S1.22: The Melissa Mystery

This week, Iain looks at a case that was blown wide open by an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. When a man named Elmer DeBoer is found dead in a field near Waterford, Michigan, police are pretty sure that a local couple – an ex-convict and his teenage runaway girlfriend – are responsible. But, for ten months, they struggle to find any leads. That is until the case is featured on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. Suddenly, the phone lines begin ringing off the hook.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.21: The Smuttynose Murders

S1.21: The Smuttynose Murders

This week, Laura is diving into a grisly murder case that took place on a remote island off the coast of New Hampshire. Smuttynose Island is a picture-perfect – albeit rugged – landscape. On the evening of March 6th, 1873, a small boat arrives on its shores. By the morning, the boat is gone. And two of the island’s resident are dead. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.20: The Mona Lisa Is Missing

S1.20: The Mona Lisa Is Missing

The Mona Lisa might just be the most recognisable painting in the world. But did you know that, in 1911, Leonardo da Vinci’s priceless portrait was stolen from the Louvre? Find out how a humble house painter pulled off this incredible theft – and why police brought Picasso in for questioning – in Iain’s episode this week.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

Easter Special: The Man Who (Almost) Stole Easter

Easter Special: The Man Who (Almost) Stole Easter

In this bitesize Easter special, Iain covers the case of the Cadbury Creme Egg theft. Find out what happened when, in February 2023, a Leeds man broke into a warehouse and made off with 200,000 of the chocolatey treats. The picture discussed in this episode can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-66254085.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.19: The Murder Assignment

S1.19: The Murder Assignment

How far would you go for your favourite teacher? This week, Laura is travelling to 1990s Wisconsin to find out how a group of teenagers got landed with a very deadly homework assignment.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.18: The Cursed Gold

S1.18: The Cursed Gold

The Brinks-MAT robbery is one of the most famous in British history. This week, Iain takes an in-depth look at the heist and asks: how did a group of gangsters manage to break into a high-security warehouse and walk away with solid gold worth £26 million? Plus, he digs into the complex police operation that took investigators from London to Bristol to Tenerife and back again. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.If you'd like to find out more about John Palmer, one of the Brinks-MAT masterminds, check out Gangster on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0dwnc59

S1.17: The Fairy & The Fire

S1.17: The Fairy & The Fire

This week, Laura is digging into a very famous case from Irish history: Bridget Cleary. In 1895, Bridget’s body was found buried in a shallow grave near the town of Ballyvadlea in County Tipperary. And as police begin to dig into Bridget’s backstory, they learn that she had recently been accused of being a “fairy changeling” – a dark, mythical creature that was believed to wreak havoc on human lives.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.16: The Lincoln Axe Murderer

S1.16: The Lincoln Axe Murderer

This week, Iain digs into a 1992 murder case that took place in Lincoln. When two people are found dead having been attacked with an axe, police begin an unusual investigation to catch the killer. An investigation that involves paint fragments, an infrared light machine, and a 3,000-mile trip around Europe. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.15 The Patty Hearst Kidnapping

S1.15 The Patty Hearst Kidnapping

Patty Hearst was the heiress to a multi-million-dollar media company. In 1974, when reports emerged saying she’d been captured by the Symbionese Liberation Army, the world held its breath. But no one could have expected what happened next. This week, Laura digs into the details of the case, analysing what exactly happened to Patty during her time with the SLA and whether her decision to join their “fight against the capitalist state” was a true reinvention of herself or simply a bid for survival.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.14: The Poison Ivy Case

S1.14: The Poison Ivy Case

After a two-week break, Iain is back in the driving seat this week. His case takes place in St. Louis, Missouri, during the 1930s. When William Kappen is found dead on the day he is due to get married, police are immediately suspicious of his estranged sister Marie. Find out how a patch of poison ivy helps break open the case and lead investigators to track down William’s killer – or killers, should we say.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.13: The Rue Montaigne Murders

S1.13: The Rue Montaigne Murders

Laura is taking over again this week to tell the story of the Rue Montaigne murders. When a triple murder takes place in 19th-century Paris, police are led on an Agatha Christie-style chase to hunt down the killer. Expect LOTS of twists and turns!Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.12: A Deadly Affair

S1.12: A Deadly Affair

This week, Laura’s case – set in 1950s Cincinnati – involves a complicated love triangle between ex navy man Bill Bergen, his wife Louise and his mistress Edythe Klumpp. When Louise’s body is found in a park, police must figure out whether Bill and Edythe had anything to do with her death. But the deeper they dig, the more confusing the story becomes.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.11: The Machine Gun Kelly Kidnapping

S1.11: The Machine Gun Kelly Kidnapping

This week, Iain’s case has all the trappings of a true crime extravaganza: old-school gangsters, wealthy oil tycoons, elaborate money drops, and even a trip to Alcatraz. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.10: The Brides In The Bath

S1.10: The Brides In The Bath

It’s January 1915 when Detective Inspector Arthur Neil receives a strange letter in the post with a couple of newspaper clippings attached. The clippings describe two seemingly unconnected incidents of women drowning in their own bathtubs. The letter writer asks Detective Inspector Neil to dig a little deeper. And when he does, he unravels a case far darker than he ever imagined.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.9: The Trunk Murderess

S1.9: The Trunk Murderess

This week, Iain is looking at a famous case that took place in 1930 in Arizona. When Winnie Ruth Judd falls out with her two best friends, things turn from bad to worse… to deadly. And what happens next will send shockwaves around America. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.8: The Millennium Star

S1.8: The Millennium Star

This week, Laura looks at the unbelievable case of the Millennium Dome diamond heist, a true story that has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster. Expect speedboats, explosions, smoke bombs… and steak and kidney pies. Trust us – you won’t want to miss this.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.

S1.7: The Maple Syrup Heist

S1.7: The Maple Syrup Heist

We’re in the countdown to Christmas – a time to overindulge on sweet treats and sugary goodness. With that in mind, Iain has a maple-syrup-themed story he’s diving into this week. Get ready to hear all about an outlandish, multi-million-dollar heist that comes to a particularly sticky end.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk and join the conversation using the hashtag #lauraiainpodcast.

S1.6: A Corpse In The Kitchen

S1.6: A Corpse In The Kitchen

This week, we’re in Victorian England as Laura dives into the case of Frederick and Maria Manning. This is a story of duplicitous desperation and deadly dinner invites. And it even has an appearance from a world-famous author.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk and join the conversation using the hashtag #lauraiainpodcast.

S1.5: A Killer Cuppa

S1.5: A Killer Cuppa

This week Iain looks at the case of Caroline Grills, an elderly lady with a killer instinct when it comes to making tea. It’s 1947 in Sydney, Australia, when members of Caroline’s family begin to fall ill with a sudden and mysterious ailment. No one can understand what’s going on – until Caroline’s nephew reads a newspaper article that blows the case wide open.Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk and join the conversation using the hashtag #lauraiainpodcast.

S1.4: Dr Hazzard's Sanatorium

S1.4: Dr Hazzard's Sanatorium

This week, Laura is looking at the case of Dr Hazzard, a so-called wellness practitioner with some seriously suspicious methods. When two wealthy sisters fall prey to Dr Hazzard’s persuasive spiel, it’s up to their former nanny, Margaret Conway, to spring them out of the remote sanatorium. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk and join the conversation using the hashtag #lauraiainpodcast.