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.

 

You can help support the show through Patreon.

We'd love to connect with listeners on social media. We are available on the following platforms:

Facebook - Facebook Discussion group - Instagram - Threads - X Formerly Twitter - Blue Sky - Twitch - Tik Tok 

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
Podcast Episodes
David Buller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:41
The shocking & brutal murder of University of Toronto College professor David Buller in 2001 took place in the middle of the day on campus, yet somehow, no one saw anything, and his killer slipped away and remains uniden…
Introducing: The Crime Scene Weekly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:42
Introducing a new podcast for the true crime-obsessed: "The Crime Scene Weekly," from our friends at ABC Audio. Every Wednesday, "The Crime Scene Weekly" brings you the latest in true crime. ABC News correspondent Brad M…
The Easter Massacre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:17
While Easter is generally a day of peace with your loved ones, that's not always the case. Fifty years ago, on March 30th, 1975, Easter Sunday was a nightmare for one Ohio family. That Sunday, James Ruppert called the po…
Wilma June Nissen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:02
On October 4th, 1978, in Iowa, a woman was found face down in a deep ditch about twenty feet from the road. No identification was found with her body, and being in an advanced state of decay, police had no way to determi…
Presenting: CRIME HOUSE TRUE CRIME STORIES [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:43
Crime House True Crime Stories is the ultimate destination for true crime fans. Every episode features two notorious cases from that week in crime history, tied by a common theme like infamous serial killers, mysterious…
Harold Henthorn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:39
By 2012, Harold and Toni Henthorn had been together for twelve years. They celebrated their anniversary by going camping and hiking at Rocky Mountain National Park. Toni's family and friends grieved after learning that,…
Lucille Johnson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:44
In 1991, Lucille Johnson, a friendly mother and grandmother was bludgeoned and strangled to death inside her home. It's a case that would become referred to by some as the 'Lego' murder because of a curious clue found at…
The Gonzales Family Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:38
In 2001, twenty-year-old Sef Gonzales called emergency services in Australia to report that his parents and sister had been murdered. There were no signs of forced entry, no apparent robbery, and so the attention quickly…
Aeileen Conway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:10
In 1986, Aeileen Conway apparently died in a fiery car accident in Okalahoma. Police ruled it an accident, but very quickly, Aeileen's husband Pat began to question his wife's death, and the official findings. Join Mike…
Cary Stayner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:35
In last week's episode we discussed the abduction and return of Steven Stayner. This week, we discuss Steven's brother Cary and the path he went down that led to multiple murders. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Cary…