US Police Turn to Podcasts to Crack Cold Cases
Police departments across the US are producing their own true crime podcasts to gather tips and solve cold cases. The approach has already led to breakthroughs in at least two cases. Analysts say the trend reflects the growing popularity of true crime content.
Key points
- The Aurora Police Department in Colorado released a podcast about the 2016 murder of Chelsea Yasser, a 21-year-old woman found fatally stabbed in a shopping centre parking lot.
- The podcast, which aims to gather tips and solve the case, is part of a growing trend of police departments using true crime podcasts to crack cold cases.
- In 2022, a police podcast in Illinois led to the discovery of a body in a cold case that had gone unsolved for over four decades.
- The use of podcasts is attributed to the popularity of true crime content, with analysts saying it is a deliberate attempt to engage with the public and gather information.
The rise of true crime podcasts has led to a new approach in law enforcement, with police departments across the US and abroad turning to podcast production to help solve cold cases. The Aurora Police Department in Colorado is the latest to join the trend, releasing a podcast about the 2016 murder of Chelsea Yasser, a 21-year-old woman found fatally stabbed in a shopping centre parking lot.
The podcast, which aims to gather tips and solve the case, is part of a growing trend of police departments using true crime podcasts to crack cold cases. In 2022, a police podcast in Illinois led to the discovery of a body in a cold case that had gone unsolved for over four decades.
Analysts say the use of podcasts is a deliberate attempt to engage with the public and gather information. 'The true crime genre - whether it's TV, whether it's podcasts, whether it's books - I mean, it's wildly popular,' says Joe Moylan, Aurora Police Department's public information officer. 'And we absolutely were deliberate in trying to tap into that interest.'
While the effectiveness of the approach is still to be seen, it reflects a changing landscape in law enforcement. As the popularity of true crime content continues to grow, police departments are finding new ways to engage with the public and gather information. The outcome remains to be seen, but one thing is certain - the true crime genre is here to stay.
Sources
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