Texas Justice Prevails: Texas Deputy Steve January Arrested Killers For 34 Years

Texas Justice Prevails: Texas Deputy Steve January Arrested Killers For 34 Years

Author: Robert Riggs June 12, 2023 Duration: 31:31

Steve January, the Chief Deputy of the McLennan County Sheriff in Waco, Texas, was a lawman cut from denim of the old west.

Hundreds of officers recently paid their last respects to January, whose life was not cut short by a bullet from his many face-offs with killers but by cancer. 

I’m Robert Riggs with a story about an officer who fought many a round seeking justice inside the crime scene tape.

L to R Robert Riggs & Chief Deputy Steve January Hold “Yellowstone” Hoodie Worn By Nicole Sheridan

Steve and I were last pictured together holding up a barrel racing jacket given to the Sheriff’s office by Nicole Sheridan, the wife of Taylor Sheridan.

Yes. Taylor Sheridan, The creator of Yellowstone, a true-life Texas cowboy, and cousin of January’s boss Sheriff Parnell McNamara.

I met McNamara and January in May 2022 to discuss their cold case unit.

In honor of Steve’s memory, I am rebroadcasting the episode.  

After hearing the original, many of you commented that you wished you had a pair of straight-talking, no-nonsense Texas lawmen like January and McNamara watching over your community.

Their motto is “Riding Herd On The Lawless.”

And they are about as Texas as you can get.


In closing, here’s my reporter’s recap and reflections.

Steve January was a lawman who would not quit when trying to find justice for the victims of crime.  

He stood up the cold case unit to solve cases once considered unsolvable. 

That was Steve, and the law-abiding citizens of Central Texas will miss him. 


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
How A Single Hair Caught A Killer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:31
The previous episode showed how homicide detectives solved 50-year-old cold cases. They analyzed old evidence using new DNA extraction technology pioneered by Othram, a forensic genealogy lab in Texas. Othram provided ne…
Heat2: The Hollywood Shootout In Which Life Imitates Art [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:53
As I stood in the LA office of the FBI’s bank robbery coordinator, veteran FBI Agent Bill Rehder pointed to a wall plastered with bank surveillance photos. 33-year veteran FBI Agent Bill Rehder Ran The FBI Bank Robbery S…
This Bank Gets Robbed Every Day – Former FBI Agent Don Bentley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:33
There’s a bank in Quantico, Virginia, that gets robbed every day. And I am going to take you there. Hello. I’m Robert Riggs. In this episode of True Crime Reporter®, former FBI Agent Don Bentley takes us inside the FBI A…
When First Responders Need Help This Is Why They Call SWAT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:29
In the previous episode, Inside Story Of The Deadliest Attack On Police Officers Since 9/11, the negotiator for the Dallas SWAT team revealed the inside story about the mass killer who ambushed Dallas officers during a B…
Inside Story Of The Deadliest Attack On Police Officers Since 9/11 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:21
On the evening of July 7, 2016, Black Lives Matter protesters marched in downtown Dallas and other cities nationwide. They peacefully gathered in response to the police shootings of two black men, Philando Castile and Al…
Tales of Murder and Mayhem from Former Prosecutor Bill Johnston. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:53
The True Crime Reporter® Podcast features stories and interviews from the respective careers of investigative reporter Robert Riggs and former U.S. prosecutor Bill Johnston. Listeners have asked how both of them got invo…