Best of True Crime Reporter® 2021 – Serial Killer Kenneth McDuff

Best of True Crime Reporter® 2021 – Serial Killer Kenneth McDuff

Author: Robert Riggs December 28, 2021 Duration: 27:23

In this “Best Of True Crime Reporter®”, we take you back to the first episode in our series about serial killer Kenneth Allen McDuff.

It was a Webby Award Honoree for Best True Crime Podcast in 2021.

McDuff is the only criminal in Texas history to have received three death sentences.

Serial Killer Kenneth Allen McDuff being escorted to a holding cell in the Texas Death Chamber. McDuff, was believed to be the only condemned inmate in the nation ever paroled and then returned to death row for two more murders.  He was sentenced to die in the electric chair in 1966 for killing Robert Brand, one of three teenagers he was charged with randomly killing.  But McDuff was later paroled after the death penalty was overturned.  He was sentenced in two different cases to die by lethal injection for the murders of Melissa Northrup and Colleen Reed.  McDuff was executed shortly after this photograph was taking on November 17, 1998.
Serial Killer Kenneth Allen McDuff is being escorted to a holding cell in the Texas Death Chamber. McDuff was believed to be the only condemned inmate in the nation ever paroled and then returned to death row for two more murders. He was sentenced to die in the electric chair in 1966 for killing Robert Brand, one of three teenagers he was charged with randomly killing. But McDuff was later paroled after the death penalty was overturned. He was sentenced in two different cases to die by lethal injection for the murders of Melissa Northrup and Colleen Reed. McDuff was executed shortly after this photograph was taken on November 17, 1998.

Yet he got out of prison under a cloud of corruption after murdering three teenagers.

An FBI profiler, the late Roy Hazelwood, described McDuff to me as the Great White Shark of serial killers.

Yet most people have never heard of McDuff.


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Robert Riggs has spent decades as an investigative reporter, and in True Crime Reporter, he applies that relentless, document-driven approach to the stories that haunt us. This isn't just a retelling of grim headlines; it's a meticulous walk through active case files, historical injustices, and the societal undercurrents that allow crime to flourish. Each episode feels like you're sitting across from Riggs as he lays out his notes, connecting dots between evidence, witness accounts, and the often-overlooked details that change a narrative. You'll hear the tension in the pursuit of truth, the weight of unresolved questions, and the quiet impact on communities and families left in the wake of violence. The podcast moves beyond the sensational to examine the cultural and systemic factors at play, offering a sober, deeply researched perspective. Listen for long-form narratives that build like a detective's board, where every piece of audio, every interview, and every document serves a purpose. It’s for those who want to understand the 'why' and the 'how' as much as the 'who,' presented with the clarity and authority of a seasoned journalist who knows the terrain. This is a journey into real stories, handled with the care they demand, and it naturally becomes an essential listen for anyone fascinated by the intersection of human behavior, justice, and the news.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

True Crime Reporter
Podcast Episodes
Hard Time In Hell Among Texas Most Dangerous Prisoners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In this episode, I’m going to take you behind the high walls and razor wire into the dark corners of the largest prison system in the world. David Stacks, a former Texas prison warden with 30 years of frontline experienc…
Echoes of Evil: Serial Killer Kenneth McDuff 25 Years Later. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:59
This episode marks a somber milestone. The 25th anniversary of the execution of Kenneth Allen McDuff – a name that chills the soul of the men and women in law enforcement who hunted him down – and the families of his vic…
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Duration: 38:06
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Duration: 40:40
Former NCIS Special Agent Joe Kennedy established the first federal cold case homicide unit. Starting in 1986 with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Kennedy investigated crimes involving sailors and marine…