The Mark

The Mark

Author: Audio 99 April 17, 2026 Duration: 54:36

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
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…
Small Town Dicks Returns April 18 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32
The wait is over. Season 16 of Small Town Dicks will kick off on April 18th.Join our SuperFam to get early and ad free episodes, exclusive bonus content and access to our SuperFam community. www.smalltowndicks.com/superf…