Matthew David Keirans

Matthew David Keirans

Author: Emash Digital & Mike Ferguson, Mike Morford May 17, 2026 Duration: 52:26

In one of the most unbelievable identity theft cases ever uncovered, William Woods lost far more than his credit score — he lost his freedom, his name, and nearly his sanity after authorities mistakenly believed he was the imposter.

This week, Mike and Morf examine the shocking decades-long deception carried out by Matthew David Keirans, a man who stole another person's identity in 1988 and successfully lived as "William Woods" for more than 30 years. What began with a stolen wallet at a hot dog stand in Albuquerque eventually spiraled into fraudulent loans, wrongful imprisonment, psychiatric institutionalization, and one of the most disturbing miscarriages of justice imaginable.

The real William Woods repeatedly insisted he was telling the truth — only to be dismissed as delusional, jailed during the COVID-19 pandemic, placed in solitary confinement, and forced to take psychiatric medication after courts ruled he was mentally incompetent.

The case finally unraveled thanks to an Iowa detective determined to separate fact from fiction using fingerprints, records, and ultimately DNA evidence.

 

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Criminology is an Emash Digital production hosted by Mike Ferguson and Mike Morford. 


Each Saturday night, the details of history's most infamous crimes are unpacked and examined in Criminology. Hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Morford move beyond the headlines to explore the full scope of a single case, from the initial events and investigation to the lasting impact and unanswered questions. Their approach is thorough, presenting the facts and narratives that have defined these well-known stories, yet they avoid sensationalism in favor of a clear-eyed analysis. You'll hear a methodical reconstruction of each episode's subject, providing context and perspective that goes deeper than a standard retelling. This true crime podcast is built for those who appreciate a detailed narrative, released consistently every weekend. The result is a engaging and thoughtful examination of criminal history, one famous case at a time. Tune in for a comprehensive dive into the annals of crime, where the focus is on understanding the how and why behind the stories we think we already know.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Criminology
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