Beyond Recognition Ep. 5: A Case for Forensics

The puzzle pieces laid in front of Homicide Lt. John are daunting: A forlorn lover, a violent gang, a series of fire bomb attacks, and a shooting in the parking lot of a popular burger joint. His search for justice takes him across the state of California and reveals how far some people will go to get revenge.The detective: Lt. JohnHomicide Lieutenant John spent more than two decades as a police officer, including 17 years as a Senior Homicide Inspector. Following his retirement from the force, John spent eight years as senior inspector in the homicide unit of his county’s District Attorney’s Office. He was then promoted to Lieutenant and now supervises other senior inspectors. He has investigated more than 400 homicide cases in his career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A girl finds herself at the mercy of the one man she's supposed to trust the most: her father. Detective Bre discovers the abuse and works to unravel the sinister mystery of the suspect's past, as well as the inner workings of a family with decades of secrets. Fortunately, Bre is able to help the young victim find a way out.The detective: Detective BreDetective Bre has been in law enforcement for nearly two decades as both a detective and a member of the Special Victims squad, investigating crimes against children, adult sex crimes and child death investigations. She is currently assigned to the Homicide Squad working cold cases. Bre grew up in a law enforcement family and shares the profession with her sister, Alia, and dad, who retired after 33 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Small Town Dicks Season 15 Starts Friday, September 20! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Attention: Today's episode was made for listeners who have already heard the entire "Beyond Recognition" series. If you haven't yet, or want to refresh your memory, we urge you to listen to all six episodes before you listen to today's episode. There are SPOILERS GALORE AHEAD!Ever wonder what Detectives Dan and Dave, Paul Holes, and Yeardley Smith would make of the police work in "Beyond Recognition?" Well, the team recently sat down to discuss all the fascinating twists and turns at the heart of one of the most consequential murder investigations in modern history. Join them as they discuss the momentous strides made in forensic science and crime scene management, the tireless and often inspired work of the detectives trying to solve the grisly case, and a few missteps made along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lead prosecutor Joseph Cooksey Jackson sits with his right-hand man, Maxwell Fyfe, discussing their mounting concerns about the forensic evidence. Jackson knows the stakes are high. The success of their case hinges on presenting complex forensic evidence in a way that a jury of laymen can understand. They don’t want any doubts, reasonable or otherwise, sneaking in. Despite the damning evidence against Ruxton, the case is entirely circumstantial, and the defense is poised to challenge the identification of the bodies.Branded as the Trial of the Century by the newspapers, the Ruxton case captures global attention with its sensational details and groundbreaking forensics. With 106 witnesses, 213 exhibits, and 126 graphic photos, the prosecution faces the challenge of making their case comprehensible and compelling."Beyond Recognition," hosted by Yeardley Smith, delves into this pivotal episode where modern forensics and legal strategy collide. Join us as we explore the intricacies of the Ruxton trial and the monumental efforts to bring a double murderer to justice. To support Small Town Dicks, visit https://smalltowndicks.supportingcast.fm/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Milligan, a reporter from the UK's biggest tabloid, News of the World, finds himself in the home of Dr. Buck Ruxton, now the prime suspect in the disappearance—and likely murder—of his wife Isabella and their nanny Mary Rogerson. Since the women vanished nearly a month ago, Ruxton has spun a web of lies, claiming they ran away to Scotland - or was it Blackpool? But with the discovery of the mutilated body parts found in Moffatt, suspicion has focused squarely on Ruxton. Milligan notes the doctor's panic as he clings to his fabricated stories, unaware that the police are closing in.As the investigation intensifies, Ruxton's arrest becomes inevitable. The authorities have identified the bodies and they are now racing to build a solid case against the doctor. From fingerprinting mutilated fingertips to using advanced photography and even maggots to tell the time of death, this case marks the birth of modern forensics. But how will all this newfangled science go down in a courtroom in 1935 England?"Beyond Recognition" hosted by Yeardley Smith, delves into this sensational case that has gripped the UK, drawing unprecedented media coverage. Join us as we uncover the truth behind Ruxton's heinous crimes and the forensic breakthroughs that brought him to justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Rogerson is desperate and furious. His sister Mary, the Ruxton family’s nanny, has been missing for nearly two weeks. Peter, defying social norms, confronts Dr. Buck Ruxton at his doorstep, demanding answers. Despite Ruxton's attempts to deflect him with tales of theft and a trip to Scotland for an illegal abortion, Peter is not convinced. He fears something terrible has happened and that Ruxton is behind it. Meanwhile, top forensic experts in the UK have begun to unmask the identities of the dismembered bodies discovered in a Scottish ravine. Using groundbreaking techniques, they piece together a puzzle as complex as any in the history of modern forensic science. And, in doing so, they begin to find a tragic answer to Peter Rogerson’s desperate query. Hosted by Yeardley Smith, "Beyond Recognition" delves into the chilling details of this case. Featuring insights from experts like Tom Wood, Paul Holes, and Professor Sue Black, this episode uncovers the revolutionary advances in forensic techniques that were employed and the critical mistakes that nearly let a killer go free. As the press begins to circle, Ruxton faces an adversary he never anticipated: the most powerful voice in the United Kingdom—the media. To binge the series or support Small Town Dicks, visit https://smalltowndicks.supportingcast.fm/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early morning of September 15, 1935, Agnes Oxley, a housekeeper at the home of Dr. Buck Ruxton, is roused from her sleep by an unexpected visitor. Ruxton, usually composed and well-groomed, stands disheveled and agitated at her door. Oxley finds his nervous behavior and insistence that she stay away from the house for the day odd to say the least. Little does she know, this is the beginning of a macabre tale.Dr. Ruxton, a respected physician, is hiding a dark secret. His increasing paranoia and jealousy have culminated in a violent outburst, leading to the brutal murder of his wife, Isabella, and their young nanny, Mary Rogerson. Over the course of a gruesome night, Ruxton dismembers their bodies, utilizing his knowledge of medicine and police forensics to meticulously conceal his crime.As the narrative unfolds, you will be taken through the chilling events of that fateful Sunday. You will hear Ruxton's elaborate efforts to cover up his actions. How he deceived friends and lied to authorities. And how his ingenious plan to cover up the murders slowly unravels."Beyond Recognition" hosted by Yeardley Smith, delves into one of the most shocking murder cases of the early 20th century. With insights from experts like Tom Wood, Paul Holes, and Professor Sue Black, this episode not only recounts the gruesome details but also examines the psychological and forensic aspects of the case. To binge the series or support Small Town Dicks, visit https://smalltowndicks.supportingcast.fm/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The leading forensic scientists from Scotland have traveled to the tiny village of Moffatt to examine the body parts discovered in a ravine by a sister and brother out hiking. Authorities do not yet know how many people were killed, or by what method, or where or when; they certainly do not know who the victims are. Whoever carried out this act of evil took great care to hide the victims’ identities, dissecting them until they were beyond recognition. It will take a monumental, groundbreaking investigation to solve this gruesome puzzle. The first order of business is to collect the evidence and, lucky for all involved, the right policeman had arrived to do just that.Meanwhile, in the northern British town of Lancaster, we meet an unusual couple. He’s a prim and proper doctor from Bombay, intent on becoming a true English gentleman. She’s a charismatic, outgoing woman ahead of her time - perhaps dangerously so. Their romance appears to be the envy of everyone in town. But their passionate relationship swiftly turns to jealousy and violence. What, if anything, does this volatile domestic situation have to do with the bodies found in the ravine?"Beyond Recognition" hosted by Yeardley Smith, delves into one of the most shocking murder cases of the early 20th century. With insights from experts like Tom Wood, Paul Holes, and Professor Sue Black, this episode not only recounts the gruesome details but also examines the psychological and forensic aspects of the case. To binge the series or support Small Town Dicks, visit https://smalltowndicks.supportingcast.fm/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a crisp autumn morning in a serene Scottish town called Moffatt. A brother and sister have gone out for a stroll through the woods. As they cross an old stone bridge, they see something in the dry stream bed below. It appears to be a severed arm, the hand reaching up from the dirt. It looks like it’s waving at them. To their horror, they learn the hand is just one of dozens of pieces of human remains scattered across the ravine.This grisly discovery, made on September 29, 1935, will trigger a murder investigation like something out of an Agatha Christie novel. News of the dismembered bodies and speculation of who they are and what happened to them, will draw the kind of global media coverage not seen since Jack the Ripper. The drive to solve the murders will spark a new era in crime scene management and forensic examination in what might very well be the first modern homicide investigation of the 20th century."Beyond Recognition" hosted by Yeardley Smith, delves into one of the most shocking murder cases of the early 20th century. With insights from experts like Tom Wood, Paul Holes, and Professor Sue Black, this episode not only recounts the gruesome details but also examines the psychological and forensic aspects of the case. To binge the series or support Small Town Dicks, visit https://smalltowndicks.supportingcast.fm/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.