Rough Cut

On this episode of They Walk Among America… A single block located between 5th and 6th avenue on 47th Street in New York is known as the Diamond District. The bustling epicentre of New York's diamond and jewellery sales industry sprang up on 47th Street in the 1920s and continues to be one of the most popular locations for jewellery shoppers today. The Diamond District expanded during WWII when thousands fled Nazi-occupied Europe and set up shop in New York City. The Diamond Dealers Club, which was founded in the 1930s as a place for dealers and brokers to store their diamonds, has described the arrival of new traders as follows: “Their influx into America, together with the unprecedented economic boom that took place in the country in the post-war period, shifted the balance of the diamond trade from Western Europe to New York. Indeed, immigration has long been a decisive factor in the growth of the U.S. diamond sector, and the DDC, both then and today, traditionally has served as a melting pot for a diverse group of nationalities and cultures”. Many store owners and workers in the Diamond District were Orthodox or Hasidic Jews. A small place that contained such valuable products was always bound to attract undesirables, but in 1977 the disappearance of two diamond cutters proved that pressure was only good for diamonds…

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One For Gain And One For Revenge / Where Is Danny's Body?

Daniel Hathaway, more commonly known as Danny, left his home at a travellers site off Gretton Brook Road in Corby, Northamptonshire. Shortly after receiving a phone call, the 44-year-old, who worked as a mechanic, had told Diane, his partner of around 15 years, that he was just popping out. Still dressed in his blue-grey overalls with a green logo that read “Just Transits”, Danny exited the blue and cream-coloured double-decker bus where he lived with his partner and their children, Samuel and Ellie. Danny was expected back home later that evening on Wednesday, February 7th, 2007…

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Home Invasion

On this episode of They Walk Among America… Mary Lyons was beginning her shift at the Bank of America branch office in Maple Croft Plaza, in Cheshire, Connecticut. It was the 23rd of July, 2007, a Monday, so Mary knew that it was going to be a busy day. By 9:30AM, there was already a line of customers, ready to go about their financial transactions after the weekend. A middle-aged woman approached the counter. Mary noticed immediately that she had a terrified look in her eyes. Her face was ashen. The woman quietly told Mary that her name was Jennifer Petit, and that she and her family were being held hostage at their home by two men. She needed to withdraw $15,000 to bring to the men, one of whom was in her car in the parking lot waiting for her to return. Jennifer told Mary that if police were contacted, her children and husband would be killed...

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A Parent's Nightmare

On this episode of They Walk Among America… Sabre Springs is a planned high-end community in San Diego, California. It’s a typical residential community where many people go to raise their families within close proximity to employment and good schools. Around 9,000 people were living in Sabre Springs in February 2002 when something destroyed the community's perceived serenity. Before then, parents had no issues with letting their children play in the neighborhood, or leaving a window unlocked in the two-storey tract homes. Children went to school and came home to play with friends, cycling their bikes past neighbor's houses, never aware of the danger lurking behind closed doors until it was too late…

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Unsolved / Sarah Benford

It is estimated that around 170,000 people are reported missing each year in the United Kingdom. Of that number, approximately 98,000 are adults, and more than 70,000 are children. The average age for a first-time runaway is 13, and one out of four missing children will have been the victims of physical or sexual abuse. Children living in residential care are three times more likely to run away than peers living with their families. Those in care are also more vulnerable to abduction and grooming. While most of these missing people do eventually return home, a small percentage turn up dead, and an even smaller number still remain missing…

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REPLAY - Unsolved / Rikki Neave

REPLAY. There has been a significant update to the investigation since this episode was released, so we are re-releasing it as a refresher, before a detailed case update is published in several days time. ****** Ruth and Dean Neave lived on Redmile Walk in the Welland Estate of Peterborough. Social services were highly involved with the family. The children were placed on the at-risk register, and Ruth was vocal with authorities about not being able to cope — she even threatened that she might hurt her children…

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They Walk Among America Announcement

You may be wondering why there has been a delay in the release of the next episode of They Walk Among America. Fear not. The team will be back soon, with some exciting changes. The same They Walk Among America team is working behind the scenes to bring you the podcast, but there has been a change in front of the microphone. We are lucky enough to welcome Nina Innsted from Already Gone. She will be hosting the podcast from the next episode…

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The Bus Stop Killer / Levi Bellfield - Part 1

In 2022, a convicted murderer made a startling confession. The prisoner had been incarcerated for killing young women over a two-year period between 2002 and 2004. Levi Bellfield claimed he had been responsible for attacking a mother and her daughters in 1996. Michael Stone was found guilty of the murders of Lin and Megan Russell, and the attempted murder of Josie Russell, in 1998, but Stone had always claimed he was innocent. Bellfield has a reputation for confessing to things or withholding information when it suited him. Spending time, toying with the police and victims' loved ones seemed like a pastime for a man with nothing but time on his hands… (Part 1 of 2).

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Fertility Fraud

On this episode of They Walk Among America… For the majority, it begins with a positive test. That clear line that lets you know your life is going to change forever. The excitement and anticipation builds over what feels like an eternity until expectant parents get to hold their new baby in their arms. However, for many, the journey to become parents is long and difficult. Instead of a joyous moment, people who struggle with fertility issues face numerous doctor appointments, medical procedures, hormonal treatments, invasive interventions, and often insurmountable loss…

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Breaching Bail / A Mother & Daughter Murdered

The pathologist found bruises and abrasions on Sandra's hands as though she had been in a physical altercation. There was also an abrasion on the left side of her neck. The cable tie had been pulled up and back towards the left side of her throat, something inconsistent with a self-inflicted injury. The use of cable ties in suicides was almost unheard of…

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