Forensic Tales

#320 - In 2008, a South Carolina man disappeared while checking his mail outside his home. His body was soon found in nearby woods, and an autopsy revealed he had been strangled to death.

At first, the police had few suspects. But right before the case turned cold, investigators did something outside the box. They turned to cell phone forensics.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show and get access to early, ad-free episodes, consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support the show for as little as $3/month.

For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit our website.

Listen on YouTube: Search Forensic Tales and subscribe.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BONUS UPDATE

Yesterday, Juliana Peres Magalhães, the former au pair and key witness in the so-called “Au Pair Affair” murder trial, was sentenced.

In this short follow-up episode of Forensic Tales, we recap the sentencing hearing, including the defense’s motion to exclude victim impact statements from Christine Banfield’s family, the judge’s ruling, and the final sentence handed down in connection with the death of Joseph Ryan.

Juliana previously entered into a plea agreement and testified for the Commonwealth against Brendan Banfield, serving as the prosecution’s central witness in a case built heavily on digital forensic evidence and allegations of a calculated online setup.

This episode breaks down what happened in court, what the sentence means, and how this development fits into the larger case.

If you haven’t listened to our full trial recap, be sure to check out last week’s special episode for the complete breakdown.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show and get access to early, ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support the show for as low as $3/month.

For more ways to listen and support, subscribe to Forensic Tales on YouTube. You can also leave the show a positive review or tell friends and family about the show.

Remember... not all stories have happy endings.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#319 - In May of 1993, three eight-year-old boys were brutally murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. Within weeks, police arrested three teenagers, despite a complete lack of physical evidence tying them to the crime.

What followed was an investigation shaped by fear, rumor, and the cultural panic of the early 1990s. A confession filled with factual errors. Forensic interpretations that would later be widely challenged. And a jury decision that would haunt the justice system for decades.

In this episode of Forensic Tales, we take a forensic-first look at the case of the West Memphis Three, examining the crime scene, the investigative failures, the role of junk science, and how belief replaced evidence at every critical turn.

We also explore why advances in DNA testing could still hold answers today and why, nearly thirty years later, the murders of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers remain unresolved.

Because this case didn’t end with justice.

It ended with questions.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show and get access to early, ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon.

You can support the show for as little as $3/month.

For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit our website.

Listen on YouTube: Search Forensic Tales and subscribe.

Not all stories have happy endings...
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special Episode

In February 2023, police were called to a quiet home in northern Virginia. Inside the master bedroom, they found Christine Banfield, a wife and mother, suffering from multiple stab wounds. A second man, Joseph Ryan, was also found dead. He had been shot inside the same room.

Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield, would later be charged with their murders. What followed was a case that quickly drew national attention, centered on allegations of a secret affair, digital deception, and a FetLife account prosecutors say was used to lure Ryan to the home.

In this special episode of Forensic Tales, we break down the facts of the so-called “au pair affair murder trial,” including the competing narratives presented in court and the digital forensic evidence at the heart of the case. Was this a tragic, chaotic confrontation or a calculated online setup that ended in murder?

This episode examines how modern investigations now extend beyond the physical crime scene and into logins, messages, and digital footprints before turning to the jury’s verdict.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show and get access to early ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support Forensic Tales for as little as $3/month.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#318 - In February 2005, an Ohio woman suddenly collapsed and died while driving to a local movie theater. At first, her death was thought to be the result of a minor car accident. But as the forensic evidence started to reveal itself, the thought that this woman died in a car accident seemed impossible. And the deeper investigators looked, the more suspicious one of the victim’s loved ones looked.

If you’d like to help create compelling new cases, fund research, and assist with production and editing costs, you can support the show with a small monthly contribution. In return, you’ll be one of the first to listen to new, ad-free episodes and gain access to exclusive content.

You can support the show for as low as $3/month.

For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit forensictales.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices