The Devil's in the Details

The Devil's in the Details

Author: Audio 99 December 9, 2022 Duration: 50:14

Crime scene investigations are rarely as dramatic - and definitive - as what you see on TV shows like CSI. That does not make them any less crucial to solving the case. Host Paul Holes takes us through a case he worked on in the late 1990s, where a claim of self-defense was ultimately turned on its head after a thorough and objective look at the nearly invisible trace evidence left behind after the body of a gay man was found dumped in a ditch.


The detective: Paul Holes is a bestselling author, podcaster, television host and retired cold-case investigator with the sheriff’s and district attorney’s offices in California’s Contra Costa County. During his 27 years as an investigator, Holes used his behavioral and forensic expertise in such notable cases as the Zodiac murders, Golden State Killer, and Jaycee Dugard kidnapping. In May 2022, Holes published “Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases” - which became an instant New York Times bestseller. Paul teamed with FBI and Sacramento DA to help identify Joseph DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer, the most prolific serial predator in U.S. history.  In 2019, he teamed up with Oxygen to host ”The DNA of Murder with Paul Holes” and in November he’s launching a new original series with HLN called, ”Real Life Nightmare with Paul Holes.” 






Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


There’s a certain texture to crime stories that unfold in close-knit communities, where everyone knows each other and the shock of a crime reverberates through every street and diner. Small Town Dicks, produced by Audio 99, explores exactly that terrain. This isn't a sensationalized look at crime; instead, it delves into the intricate, often overlooked investigations that happen in smaller municipalities. Each episode feels like sitting down with the detectives and officers who were there, hearing them walk through the details of a case from the first call to the final resolution. You’ll get a raw, ground-level view of police work, far from the glossy procedural dramas. The conversations naturally weave in elements of society and local history, showing how a community's culture and relationships can both complicate and aid an investigation. By focusing on true crime from a small-town perspective, the podcast reveals universal truths about human nature and justice. It’s a compelling listen for anyone curious about the real stories behind the headlines and the dedicated people who work to solve them. The depth of these firsthand accounts makes for a uniquely authentic and gripping experience every time you tune in.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Small Town Dicks
Podcast Episodes
Epilogue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:18
In 1973, two seemingly unrelated murders in Toronto leave families shattered and the public searching for answers. Detectives chase every lead, but the case goes cold.Decades later, Detective Sergeant Steve reopens the i…
A Race Against Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:22
After the end of a rocky relationship, a woman returns to her ex’s home to collect her things. But what should have been a simple exchange spirals into violence. In the aftermath, the suspect barricades himself inside, r…
Judas Kiss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:33
A stepfather has seemingly unfettered access to his three young stepchildren—both during his relationship with their mother and long after she leaves him. But when one of the children bravely discloses that she’s been se…
Dead Weight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:16
A woman is stabbed dozens of times in her own home and left for dead. With little to go on, Detective Aaron must follow every possible lead—a boot print, a knife, a curiously timed trip across state lines, and a web of f…
Deadlock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:04
Retired Detective Constable Ron is called to a crime scene as a hostage negotiator. A repeat offender facing drug charges has barricaded himself in an attic, refusing to surrender. As a crowd gathers outside, the standof…
Unintended Consequences [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:07
A man viciously assaults his ex-girlfriend in a brutal, repeated act of violence. Determined to stop him for good, Prosecutor Kristin pours everything into building an airtight case. But once inside the courtroom, the pr…
Square One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:33
When a 9-year-old girl vanishes without a trace in 1984, a rural Canadian town is left reeling. Law enforcement quickly zeroes in on a suspect—a quiet, socially awkward neighbor. But as the case unfolds, doubts about his…
Cold Blooded [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:21
After years of adventure on their dream yacht, a retired couple decides to sell it and move closer to their grandchildren. The buyers—a charming young couple with a toddler—seem perfect. They don’t haggle on price; their…
Justice for Carla, Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:48
In the conclusion of this two-part case, Paul Holes turns to DNA evidence in the search for Carla Walker’s real killer. But decades-old lab errors and missing samples threaten to derail the investigation. Despite the obs…
Justice for Carla, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:53
In part one of this two-part case, our very own Paul Holes explains how a cold case from 1974 landed on his desk. Seventeen-year-old Carla Walker was brutally murdered on her way to a dance, and suspicion quickly fell on…