Police departments across the US are turning to podcast production in an effort to solve cold murder cases and other investigations, according to reports. This trend aims to tap into the popularity of the true crime genre to reach a wider audience for potential tip-offs.
The Aurora Police Department (APD) in Colorado released a podcast this summer concerning the 2016 unsolved murder of 21-year-old Chelsea Yasser. Ms Yasser was found fatally stabbed in a shopping centre parking lot. The podcast had been downloaded 7,184 times by the end of July, yielding several tips, one of which investigators are currently pursuing.
Previously, a podcast launched by California police about Peter Chadwick, who was charged with his wife's murder, led to his capture in Mexico 10 months and 20 days later. Similarly, an Illinois police podcast about Karen Schepers, missing for over four decades, saw her body found within weeks of its debut.
While the phenomenon is in its early stages, experts believe the trend will grow. However, some police-produced podcasts have faced criticism, such as one from the Newport Beach Police Department, for not using the word "alleged" when referring to a suspect who had not yet been tried.