The Mark

The Mark

Author: Audio 99 April 17, 2026 Duration: 52:02

In 1994, wealthy Newport Beach businessman Bill McLaughlin is shot and killed in his own kitchen. His girlfriend Nanette Johnston and her secret boyfriend, ex-NFL player Eric Naposki, are immediately suspicious…but the stories don't hold and prosecutors can't make charges stick. The case goes cold, leaving Bill's family without justice for over a decade. Fifteen years later, Orange County DA Matt Murphy picks it up, determined to finally prove what really happened and who arranged it.

Matt Murphy is a legal analyst for ABC News and an attorney in private practice in Southern California.  He was a Senior Deputy District Attorney in Orange County California. Matt Murphy spent 21 years assigned to the sexual assault and homicide units where he prosecuted some of the most notorious murder cases in the state of California.  He completed 132 jury trials in his career as a prosecutor, including 52 while he was assigned to the homicide unit.  He worked as an adjunct professor of law for 7 years. 
 
In addition to his work for ABC news, Mr. Murphy is in private practice representing victims of sexual abuse and some select criminal defense cases. He's also been regularly appearing on NewsNation with Elizabeth Vargas, Chris Cuomo and Ashleigh Banfield providing analysis on Criminal cases in the news. He also one of the co-hosts on MK True Crime with Megyn Kelly and is kicking off a brand-new podcast In the Well with his longtime friend and colleague Mark Geragos. Matt published his first book, The Book of Murder - A Prosecutor's Journey Through Love and Death, in 2024, which was an instant Best Seller, and he is currently drafting his second book.


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
Blood-Boiler, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:12
When Detective Robert opens an investigation into a fellow officer, he doesn’t yet realize the scope of what he’s about to uncover. The suspect, Darren, is a well-connected cop, and the woman accusing him is terrified to…
Sorry, Not Sorry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:13
When Detective Constable Simon becomes the sole detective on the remote island of Rothesay, he sets his sights on cleaning up the town’s growing drug problem. But just months into his new role, his investigations begin t…
There Are Monsters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:22
Detective Lindsey is assigned a stack of cold cases, but one file stops her in her tracks: the brutal assault of a woman whose attacker was never caught. A DNA match points to a previously convicted offender.As Det. Lind…
High Noon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:27
It’s Deputy Alia’s day off, but instead of relaxing, she’s called in to negotiate with a barricaded suspect who has murdered his loved one. What follows is a tense and tragic police negotiation, as Alia uses her training…
FAFO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:26
A man’s body is found face down with his hands zip-tied behind his back, launching Detective Aaron into a months-long homicide investigation to uncover the victim’s identity and the truth behind his death. This intense r…
Lie, Deny, Justify [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:23
In a quiet desert town, a well-loved schoolteacher vanishes without a trace. Lieutenant Matt joins the search. The teacher’s husband has little to say, but the investigation goes on, eventually leading to a chilling disc…
Quicksand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:48
What starts as a carjacking by three suspects escalates into a tense hostage situation inside a fast food restaurant. On his very first call as a police negotiator, Lieutenant Ryan works to pull off a high-stakes hostage…
Time's Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:57
Disturbing photos of an employee’s young family member are found stored on his work computer, launching a police investigation led by Detective Carrie. As the case unfolds, she uncovers a startling pattern of predatory b…
What Went Wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:38
Before he was Deputy Chief, D.C. Dan was a patrol officer in a quiet small town. When he’s called to a violent stabbing, he’s confronted by disturbing details. What unfolds is a troubling case that ultimately sets DC Dan…
No One Called [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:07
In 1980, officers respond to reports of a body found on the grounds of a community college. For 35 years, the murder of Barbara Mae Tucker remains unsolved. Almost to the day of the anniversary, the cold case lands on De…