GOLD SHIELDS

We hope you enjoy this episode of Gold Shields, let us know how we did.
SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE: @GOLDSHIELDS
Award-winning investigative reporter and author Michele McPhee returns to GOLD SHIELDS for an in-depth conversation that takes us inside some of the most talked-about and controversial cases in the true-crime world.
We take a closer look at the mysterious death of Sandra Birchmore, the circumstances surrounding her death, and the alleged connection to a police detective that has brought national attention to this case.
We also dive into the headline-making murder of Tupac Shakur, along with other major investigations, breaking stories, and high-profile cases Michele has covered throughout her remarkable career.
THE HEADLINES ARE ONLY THE BEGINNING. THE REAL STORIES ARE INSIDE.
Watch, LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to GOLD SHIELDS for more incredible conversations with the people behind the headlines.
GOLD SHIELDS — TRUE STORIES WITH TRUE HEROES.
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@GoldShields
Website: https://www.thegoldshieldshow.com
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
03:02 The Sandra Birchmore Case Overview
06:11 The Investigation and Allegations Against Matthew Farwell
08:50 The Relationship Dynamics and Legal Implications
11:49 Evidence and Investigation Failures
14:58 The Role of Law Enforcement and Internal Affairs
17:57 Trial Expectations and Broader Implications
21:09 Concluding Thoughts on Justice and Accountability
29:33 The Tragic Story of Sandra
30:39 Unraveling the Tupac Murder Case
31:30 The Role of Informants in Law Enforcement
35:14 The Consequences of Informant Protection
39:30 Calls for Accountability in Federal Law Enforcement
41:45 Michelle McPhee's Latest Work and Insights

SUBSCRIBE to Youtube.com/@GoldShields
Follow GOLD SHIELDS on ALL Audio Podcast Platforms

Visit us at https://thegoldshieldshow.com
SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.instagram.com/thegoldshieldshow/
https://www.facebook.com/THEGOLDSHIELDSHOW/
linkedin.com/in/tom-smith-09676a22b

We hope you enjoy this episode of Gold Shields, let us know how we did.
One conversation can save a life.
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, GOLD SHIELDS brings you one of our most important episodes yet. Ashley Bendiksen survived years of domestic violence that began in high school and continued into college. Today, she has transformed unimaginable pain into a mission to protect others, becoming one of the nation's leading advocates, educators, and trainers helping victims, families, and law enforcement recognize the warning signs before it's too late.
In this powerful and emotional conversation, Ashley shares her personal journey, exposes the hidden tactics of abuse, including isolation, manipulation, and control, and explains what to do when you suspect someone you love may be trapped in a dangerous relationship.
This isn't just another interview. It's knowledge that can save lives. If it helps one person recognize the signs, trust their instincts, or find the courage to reach out, it can change a family's future forever.
Join us for an unforgettable episode of GOLD SHIELDS. 
Listen. Learn. Share it. You may help save someone's life.
National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text: START to 88788
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Domestic Violence Awareness
03:09 Understanding Teen Dating Violence
05:53 Ashley Bendiksen's Personal Story
09:12 The Impact of Abuse on Identity
12:01 Recognizing Red Flags in Relationships
14:48 The Cycle of Abuse and Isolation
17:47 Moments of Realization and Change
21:00 The Importance of Support and Resources
23:49 Empowering Young Minds: The Importance of Adult Intervention
24:18 Current Advocacy and Awareness Efforts
25:00 Understanding Domestic Violence: Insights for Law Enforcement
29:02 The Complexity of Victim Responses
31:47 Recognizing Warning Signs in Teen Relationships
33:41 Messages for Young People: Finding Support
35:10 Resources for Help: Hotlines and Support Services
37:01 Building Resilience: The Role of Community
39:30 A Kid's Book About Boundaries: Teaching Young Ones
42:22 Finding Healthy Relationships: A Message of Hope

SUBSCRIBE to Youtube.com/@GoldShields
Follow GOLD SHIELDS on ALL Audio Podcast Platforms

Visit us at https://thegoldshieldshow.com
SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.instagram.com/thegoldshieldshow/
https://www.facebook.com/THEGOLDSHIELDSHOW/
linkedin.com/in/tom-smith-09676a22b

We hope you enjoy this episode of Gold Shields, let us know how we did.
Some cases stay with you forever. This was THAT CASE.
In Episode 182 of GOLD SHIELDS, retired NYPD Detective Paul Morrison, best-selling author of Knock Knock, takes us deep into a chilling investigation that gripped the Bronx; 
a relentless manhunt for a serial rapist preying on innocent victims.
The attacks. The victims. The patterns. The investigation. The escapes. And the determination of Paul Morrison and his team to hunt down a predator before he could strike again.
Hear the story firsthand from the detective who lived it—the twists, the setbacks, the pursuit, and the eventual end of a terrifying chapter that no one involved would ever forget.
THIS WASN’T JUST AN INVESTIGATION. IT WAS A RACE TO STOP A MONSTER.
🎙️ Join the MANHUNT on GOLD SHIELDS — Episode 182.
True Stories. True Heroes. Unforgettable Cases.
Timestamps
00:00 - Tom Smith opens with the show’s mission and introduces Paul Morrison
00:57 - Why Paul Morrison was the detective everybody in the Bronx knew
02:25 - From Inwood and the Dykeman projects to the NYPD
03:12 - Four years on the GM assembly line and the decision to change paths
04:10 - Rookie police work in 1984 during the crack era
05:24 - Entering the 4-4, the busiest precinct in the city
06:30 - Why radio runs never really clear in a precinct like the 4-4
08:53 - Foot posts, midnight tours, and learning the job fast
10:04 - The Walton Avenue shooting and the moment Morrison thought they might have shot a cop
12:34 - The kidnapping twist that brought the same man back into the case
14:22 - Seeing detectives arrive at a homicide and deciding that was the job he wanted
18:17 - Why Special Victims demands a different kind of detective
19:19 - Moving from the 2-3 to the 2-8 and then into Special Victims
22:02 - Why child abuse cases were the hardest part of the assignment
23:34 - The first Citywide Pattern Six rape case in the Bronx
25:40 - The shampoo bottle, the DNA clue, and the first major break
26:45 - How older cases from different boroughs started to form a pattern
28:50 - A 13-year-old victim, a rear-door entry, and a high-speed chase through the Bronx
31:12 - The first radio car delay and why it mattered so much
32:20 - Joining the task force and realizing the case was spanning years
33:01 - Nineteen total cases and how many could be proven
35:04 - Using sketch posters across the neighborhood to pressure the suspect
38:22 - The suspect changes his MO and starts attacking through windows at night
40:02 - A mistaken suspect, a lineup, and being cleared by DNA
42:02 - The 13-year-old rape in the 5-2 and the suspect using a gun for the first time
44:10 - Undercover surveillance, the shoe-tying signal, and the street identification
45:10 - The foot chase, the denim jacket, and the arrest
46:09 - The interview room, the escape, and the panic that followed
48:53 - Searching the Bronx with a key to find the suspect’s building
51:06 - The fingerprint hit that finally identified Louis Acosta
53:07 - How Acosta hid in Brooklyn, called his wife, and tormented the investigation for months
55:19 - The Brooklyn arrest and the confession in the cell
57:22 - The sentencing: 232 years in the Bronx, plus additional pleas in Queens and Manhattan
59:56 - How the case turned into a lecture and eventually a book
61:41 - Writing Knock Knock after retirement and learning to tell the story like a story
62:40 - Where to find Knock Knock
63:26 - Final thoughts on the value of studying the case and learning from detectives
64:00 - Tom Smith closes with a salute to law enforcement, military vets, and the Gold Shields audience
SUBSCRIBE to Youtube.com/@GoldShields
Follow GOLD SHIELDS on ALL Audio Podcast Platforms

Visit us at https://thegoldshieldshow.com
SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.instagram.com/thegoldshieldshow/
https://www.facebook.com/THEGOLDSHIELDSHOW/
linkedin.com/in/tom-smith-09676a22b

We hope you enjoy this episode of Gold Shields, let us know how we did.
When a life hangs in the balance, a desperate voice calls 911. On the other end of that line is a hero who must remain calm while chaos unfolds, fear takes over, and every second counts.
In this powerful episode of GOLD SHIELDS, we take you inside the world of 911 operators and radio dispatchers, the unseen heroes of law enforcement who are often the first to hear a victim’s terror, the first to recognize the danger, and the critical link between someone in crisis and the officers racing to save them.
Joining us is Erica Roberts, a 20-year veteran of emergency communications, who pulls back the curtain on a profession that demands extraordinary composure under unimaginable pressure. From chilling emergency calls to the emotional weight of handling someone’s worst moment, Erica reveals the realities, the stresses, and the responsibility these dedicated professionals carry every single day.
This is more than an interview. It’s a look inside the nightmare, and a tribute to the heroes who answer the call when someone has nowhere else to turn.
Timestamp:
00:00 Introduction to the Unsung Heroes of 911 Dispatch
03:02 The Journey into 911 Dispatching
05:46 The First Call: A Telecommunicator's Experience
08:59 The Impact of Training and Experience
12:03 A Life-Saving Call: The Story of Deborah
14:58 The Weight of Responsibility in Emergency Calls
18:06 The Role of 911 Operators in Investigations
21:02 Teamwork in High-Stress Situations
23:51 The Complexity of Emergency Calls
27:01 Reflections on September 11th and Its Impact
30:05 The Realization of the Importance of the Job
31:49 Heartbreaking Calls: The 9/11 Operators' Experience
34:35 The Emotional Toll on Dispatchers
36:56 Understanding the Dispatcher-Responder Relationship
40:32 The Lighter Side of Dispatching
50:42 Elevating the Dispatcher Profession
56:55 A Call to Acknowledge Dispatchers' Roles

SUBSCRIBE to Youtube.com/@GoldShields
Follow GOLD SHIELDS on ALL Audio Podcast Platforms

Visit us at https://thegoldshieldshow.com
SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.instagram.com/thegoldshieldshow/
https://www.facebook.com/THEGOLDSHIELDSHOW/
linkedin.com/in/tom-smith-09676a22b

We hope you enjoy this episode of Gold Shields, let us know how we did.
What does it take to crack major criminal cases—and what happens when the investigation leaves more questions than answers?
This week on GOLD SHIELDS, retired FBI agent and respected media commentator Jennifer Coffindaffer us for an inside look at her remarkable career, the high-profile investigations she worked, and the experience behind her analysis of the cases making national headlines.
From the mysterious kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie to the disturbing case involving Lindsay Clancy, we break down the details, the unanswered questions, and the investigative challenges surrounding some of the most talked-about cases in America.
🔥 Subscribe, hit the notification bell, and join us for Episode 180. 
You won't want to miss this one!
Timestamps
00:00 - Opening and introduction to Jen Coffindaffer
03:14 - Jen joins the conversation and talks about her connection to law enforcement
03:54 - Why Jen pursued a career in the FBI
05:23 - Old-school Bureau culture and career progression
07:05 - Jen’s first FBI assignment in Houston
09:51 - The Los Tíos case and its scale
11:56 - Wiretaps, informants, and debriefs
13:27 - Houston’s role in cocaine distribution
14:58 - The case’s connections to Medellín and Cali
17:52 - How an informant became central to the investigation
21:25 - Interagency tensions during the case
27:37 - Jen’s analysis of the Lindsay Clancy trial
31:18 - Psychiatric testimony and public discussion of the case
36:31 - Premeditation, jury deliberations, and the holdout juror
41:12 - The role and responsibility of juries
43:36 - Jen’s perspective on the Nancy Guthrie case
49:47 - Surveillance leads and possible paths forward
54:38 - Jen’s theory about what may have happened in the Guthrie case
57:22 - Jen discusses Breaking the Case
58:44 - Her work with the series Furious
61:21 - Closing reflections and thanks to law enforcement and military families
SUBSCRIBE to Youtube.com/@GoldShields
Follow GOLD SHIELDS on ALL Audio Podcast Platforms

Visit us at https://thegoldshieldshow.com
SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.instagram.com/thegoldshieldshow/
https://www.facebook.com/THEGOLDSHIELDSHOW/
linkedin.com/in/tom-smith-09676a22b