Fearless In The Face Of Murder: Unstoppable Detective Johnny Bonds

Fearless In The Face Of Murder: Unstoppable Detective Johnny Bonds

Author: Robert Riggs May 23, 2023 Duration: 27:52

God forbid if I ever was murdered, I would want Johnny Bonds on the case.   

His name sounds like a film noir detective. Johnny Bonds is the stuff true crime legends are made of. 

In 1972, he became the youngest officer ever assigned to the elite homicide division in Houston, Texas. 

He had a sixth sense of how to approach people or investigations.

He relentlessly hunted down killers and challenged powerful politicians who got in the way of justice. 

Bonds became known as “The Cop Who Wouldn’t Quit” for relentlessly pursuing the contract killers who murdered a Houston couple and their baby for life insurance benefits. 

The brutality of the case and the cold-blooded nature of their killers shocked Houston residents in 1979. 

If Bonds had not bucked politics and fearlessly challenged a faulty murder-suicide ruling by the powerful medical examiner at the time, the killers would have gotten away with murder.

Former Harris County District Attorney Johnny Holmes said of Bonds. “He kept looking for the truth when others gave up.”

In this episode of the True Crime Reporter® podcast, I sat down with Holmes to discuss the highlights of his 40-year career in law enforcement.

We go inside the crime scene tape to discuss the motives of murder. 


FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast 

SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter

THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps.

TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about


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
From Convict To CEO — Turning Inmates Into Business Entrepreneurs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:21
Many U.S. prisons are trade schools for crime. High recidivism rates underscore the failure of the current criminal justice system. Released and rearrested inmates pass through an expensive revolving door. The Texas pris…
Police Waited To Subdue Killer While Uvalde School Children Lay Dying [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:18
A 77-page report by a special committee of the Texas House of Representatives concluded that no one was able to stop the gunman from carrying out the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, in part because of “system…
A Love Triangle Ends In An Alleged Murderous Fit Of Jealous Rage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:13
25-year-old Anna Moriah Wilson, known as “Mo” was an up-and-coming professional cyclist in gravel racing. Friends described her as a beacon and light and energy. But another cyclist, Kailin Armstrong allegedly snuffed ou…
The Watergate Scandal  — A Tale Of Bribery And International Intrigue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:57
Many of you have asked how Robert became an investigative reporter. After all, most of the stories you hear on this podcast come from my reporter’s notebook. Riggs’ career path has zigged and zagged since I received a de…
Stop The Killing – How To End The Mass Shooting Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:41
Katherine Schweit headed up the FBI’s active shooter program, where she authored the bureau’s landmark research about mass shootings and how to respond best to save lives. In the wake of the massacre of children and thei…
She Butchered Her Sons And Took A Nap. She Was Freed To Kill. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:00
For many years, Texas had a law and order image. Politicians campaigned for office about getting tough on crime. A gubernatorial candidate’s TV ads featured actors wearing black and white overalls swinging sledgehammers…
Jail House Romances: Why Do Women Fall In Love With Serial Killers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:15
Can you imagine yourself falling in love with a serial killer or murderer to the point you will give up your family, career, and even your life for them? A veteran Alabama jail officer, Vicky White, did just that in Apri…
The Greatest Escape From Texas Death Row Since Bonnie & Clyde [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:36
In this vintage photo 1993, Peabody Award-Winning Investigative Reporter Robert Riggs stands on a guard tower overlooking Texas Death Row. Poking up behind him to the right of the large spotlight is the steeple of the pr…