Episodes

In this episode Laura, Diana Parkes, Joanna’s mother and Hetti Nanton, Joanna’s best friend and chair of the national domestic violence charity, Refuge discuss the events leading up to Jo being brutally killed by Robert Brown, as well as how Jo was killed and what happened afterwards in terms of Brown’s post offence behaviour. Diana shares what happened at the trial including how she and her family were treated inside and outside court and how Jo was mischaracterised at court by Brown and other...

Laura interviews Louise Godbold, a survivor of Harvey Weinstein who came forward in October 2017. By this time, Louise had already been a trauma specialist for nearly a decade and is the executive director of the non-profit Echo. Echo provides trauma and resilience training for families, communities and professionals and organizations. We discuss the LA trial, which has received little media attention, including the tactics used by Weinstein’s defense team. We also breakdown the defense’s strat...

Laura interviews Diana Parkes, Joanna’s mother and Hetti Nanton, Joanna’s best friend and chair of the national domestic violence charity, Refuge. Joanna Simpson was brutally killed on October 31, 2010, by her ex-husband Robert Brown a British Airways pilot, one week before their divorce would be finalized at the High Court. Brown dropped the two children home. He took a claw hammer with him and bludgeoned Jo to death, hitting her at least 14 times. At Brown’s trial, the court heard how he bun...

In part 2 of Laura’s interview with award winning investigative journalist Nicki Weisensee Egan, Laura and Nicki discuss Bruce Castor’s decision not to prosecute Bill Cosby in 2005 and the non-prosecution agreement, which none of the prosecutors or police knew about, nor was it written down or signed off by a Judge. Laura and Nicki talk about Cosby’s release from prison on the afternoon of 30th June 2021, following the decision that was made public in the morning and how a journalist had tipped...

Laura interviews award winning investigative journalist Nicki Weisensee Egan. For years Nicki was the one reporter who investigated Bill Cosby. Nicki documented her investigation in the book Chasing Cosby, which was the basis for her award winning podcast of the same name. More than sixty women made allegations against Cosby across the years. In December 2015, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced it had filed an aggravated incident assault charge in Andrea Constand’s case....

Laura continues her conversation with Tonia Bales, John Meehan’s first wife of 10 years. In part 2, Tonia details the night her world was shattered forever, when she accessed John’s hard drive and read all his emails he had sent to other women - and men. John had feelings for another man, and whilst Tonia was desperately trying to fix her marriage, John was proactively pursuing him and others. We also discuss how John manipulated many people who were taken in by his charm and how they enabled J...

Laura interviews Tonia Bales, John Meehan’s first wife of 10 years about her life with John. Tonia had two daughter’s, Emily and Abigail, with John. Having listened to the podcast ‘Dirty John’ and watched scripted Bravo show of the same name and the documentary ‘Dirty John the Dirty Truth’ Tonia realized there was so much she did not know – and she and Laura wanted to go back and re-investigate John. The re-investigation was documented in the eight-part investigative podcast, ‘The First Wife: J...

Laura highlights key events, witnesses and evidence in the timeline and sequence of events, revisiting Gabby and Brian’s Instagram and what friends have said about Gabby and Brian’s relationship. Laura also breaks down the 9-minute video footage that was released on October 19 2022 of Gabby and Brian’s trip to Whole Foods on August 27 2021 and explains why it is so significant. Laura highlights the lessons that must be learned from Gabby’s case and what needs to happen next. You won’t want to m...

Laura concludes her analysis of the 99-page Moab City Police Investigative Review by detailing and breaking down Captain Ratcliffe’s conclusion and recommendations. Laura shares her professional thoughts about why the conclusion makes little sense and why the recommendations will not create the change that’s urgently required to save the next Gabby’s life. Trigger warning: Listener discretion is advised. This episode may be upsetting and/or triggering and it will be angry making. You can foll...

Laura continues to analyze the police report filed by Officer Pratt and Officer Robbins and the 99-page Moab City Police Investigative Review of the Police Stop was published on 12th January 2022. Laura reveals that another witness came forward and stated Brian hit Gabby with a closed fist, as well as a number of bizarre revelations made by Officer Pratt on interview with Captain Ratcliffe. Laura also takes a deeper dive into the DV 101 Manual for Police and Prosecutors in Utah and what it list...

Laura continues to analyze the police report filed by Officer Pratt and Officer Robbins and the 99-page Moab City Police Investigative Review of the Police Stop was published on 12th January 2022. Laura outlines why the predominant aggressor law in Utah has been misunderstood and misapplied including one major detail which Brian disclosed to police. This important detail appears to have been overlooked or ignored. Laura also details important guidance written by the Utah Attorney General’s Off...

Laura continues to analyze the police report filed by Officer Pratt and Officer Robbins and the 99-page Moab City Police Investigative Review of the Police Stop was published on 12th January 2022. Astonishingly, the report concluded that ‘several unintentional mistakes stemmed from the fact the officers failed to cite Ms Petito for domestic violence.’ Laura disagrees with this preposterous conclusion and explains why. You won’t want to miss this. Trigger warning: Listener discretion is advised...

Laura analyzes the police report filed by Officer Pratt and Officer Robbins and answers a number of burning questions including: whether it was known and recorded by police that the van belonged to Gabby, and; what’s happened to the police officers involved in the case? The 99-page Moab City Police Investigative Review of the 12th August Gabby and Brian Police Stop was published on 12th January 2022. Laura shares the headlines of the review and begins her analysis of the review report starting ...

In this episode, Laura analyses the most significant aspects of the state’s motion report requesting that Adnan Syed’s conviction be vacated. The report was filed on September 14 2022 and it ultimately led to Adnan Syed being freed on Monday 19th September, after 23 years in prison. Adnan Syed was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping and false imprisonment of his 18 year old ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, in 1999. Adnan has steadfastly maintained his innocence and denied any involvement in...

In this episode, Laura interviews survivor and shero Debra Newell from the podcast “Dirty John,” Bravo show of the same name and Oxygen documentary, “Dirty John, the Dirty Truth,” which Laura served as consultant producer on. Now Debra has written a book called “Surviving Dirty John” to set the record straight about what really happened. Laura and Debra discuss how Debra went to four different police stations, desperate for help. Despite Debra’s 319-page report about John’s history, the police ...

Thank you for tuning in and for all your support. Crime Analyst wouldn’t be possible without you lovely lot. I’m taking some much-needed time out. More soon - so stay tuned! #TrueCrime #Podcast #CrimeAnalyst #Selfcare #Rafi #FirstBirthday You can follow Laura and her work on: Instagram @crimeanalyst @laurarichards999 TikTok @crimeanalystpod Twitter @thecrimeanalyst @laurarichards999 Leave a Review If you want to support my work and Crime Analyst and if you enjoyed this episode, please leav...

In this episode, Laura continues to deconstruct Officer Pratt’s footage of the police stop of Gabby’s van with startling revelations including how Laura believes that the Utah law was not only misunderstood but was also misapplied – and it’s probably not what you think. You might believe you have heard everything there is to say, but you really haven’t. Trigger warning: Listener discretion is advised. This episode may be upsetting and/or triggering and it will be angry making. You can follow L...

In this episode, Laura reflects on information shared by Brian Entin, particularly regarding whether there was a planned and co-ordinated strategy after Gabby was killed as well as about Brian’s finances, which provides a new perspective about what he told police. Laura also deconstructs information gleaned from Park Ranger Melissa Hulls in the only interview she gave. You won’t want to miss this. You can follow Laura and her work on: Instagram @crimeanalyst @laurarichards999 TikTok @crimean...

In Part 2 Laura discusses the wide-reaching and catastrophic consequences of Roe vs Wade being overturned in June 2022 with attorney, advocate and best-selling New York Times author Rabia Chaudry. Laura and Rabia highlight how abortions have been banned before AR-15s and in the wake of the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde, Texas where 400-armed law enforcement officers stood outside the classroom as 19 children and two teachers were murdered by a teenager armed with an AR-15. Yet the Supreme ...

Laura discusses a significant update in Gabby Petito’s case. On Monday 8th August 2022, almost a year to the date of the Moab City Police stop of Gabby’s white van, Gabby’s mother, Nichole and step-father Jim Schmidt and Gabby’s father, Joe and step-mother Tara Petito filed a notice of intent to sue Moab City Police in Utah. The lawsuit accuses them of “negligent failure” to first understand the law and enforce it. They also accuse Moab City Police of “wrongful death” saying that Gabby’s “death...

With the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial back in the news, Laura discusses the case with attorney, advocate and best-selling New York Times author Rabia Chaudry. Laura asks Rabia her legal perspective about the Depp/Heard case and both discuss the Bot Sentinel Report, published after the trial, which found evidence of organized and targeted online attacks on Amber Heard and other women including themselves as well why and how so many got this case completely wrong. Both Amber Heard and Johnny...

Laura continues her fascinating interview with Brian Entin, senior National Correspondent for NewsNation and discusses how ‘strategic’ Brian Laundrie and his family may have been as well as other information that may come to light from the civil suit Gabby’s parents have filed against the Laundries. Laura highlights the National Parks Police did not release their body worn camera footage from the police stop and Brian Entin reveals that he tracked down Park Ranger Melissa Hulls. You won’t want ...

Laura interviews special guest Brian Entin, senior National Correspondent for NewsNation who covered Gabby’s case from the start. Brian was posted up outside the Laundrie’s home in Florida. He also went to the location where Gabby’s van was last seen and where Gabby’s body was found, near an undeveloped camping ground along the border of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Brian shares important information about the location in relation to Brian’s so-called confession letter. Laura and Bria...

In this episode, Laura discusses the other police body worn cameras and highlights new key information available from Officer Pratt’s footage, which was released on Friday 1st October. It took Moab City Police Department more than 14 days to release the second video. Laura shares why she believes it took them so long, highlighting three concerning and significant events that happened across that time in Moab City Police Department. This is uncomfortable information to hear – but it’s important...