Behind the Badge & Beyond the Case: Chief David Splain | Cold Red 1118

What happens when the realities of small-town policing meet the complexities of true crime? On this episode of Cold Red, Ray Carr and Fitz sit down with Chief David Splain of the Nether Providence Township Police Department to explore decades of law enforcement experience, historical homicide investigations, and his transition from police leadership to true crime author.

Chief Splain discusses his books, Blood on the Trolley and Secrets From the Closet, offering insight into the investigative details, hidden truths, and human stories behind real cases. Together, Ray and Fitz examine the unique challenges of investigating crimes in close-knit communities, why some cold cases remain unsolved for decades, and how behavioral profiling, forensic linguistics, and modern forensic technology can help uncover new leads.

Plus, the team tackles audience questions about protecting victims' families, avoiding critical mistakes during the first 48 hours of an investigation, and the evolving role of investigative genetic genealogy in cold cases.

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Stay safe, stay aware, and remember: it just might save your life.

Four major true crime stories. New legal battles, disturbing allegations, and serious questions about how investigations are handled.

On this episode of Cold Red Podcast, retired FBI agents Raymond J. Carr and James R. Fitzgerald break down four developing stories, examining the evidence, investigative procedures, behavioral patterns, and legal consequences.

🔴 THE CORNELL 7 INVESTIGATION A major shift in a high-profile sexual assault investigation raises questions about local prosecutors, state intervention, and whether the case was properly handled. What happens when higher authorities take control?

🔴 "GAS STATION HEROIN" — THE KRATOM CRISIS Deadly synthetic kratom derivatives are raising alarms across the country. From a college student's fatal overdose in Mississippi to reported deaths in Utah, Ray and Fitz examine the dangers of unregulated substances and potential criminal accountability.

🔴 GYPSY ROSE BLANCHARD — FACTS VS. INTERNET SPECULATION Online rumors and allegations surrounding Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Ken Urker highlight the dangers of social media investigations. Fitz explores confirmation bias, digital behavior, and why speculation should never replace forensic evidence.

🔴 NOLAN WELLS — FEDERAL INVESTIGATION & TERRELL OWENS LAWSUIT The Nolan Wells case continues to raise questions about accountability and justice. The family seeks federal intervention following a grand jury decision, while a defamation dispute involving NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens adds another legal dimension.

Four stories. Four complicated investigations. What does the evidence actually tell us?

Join Ray and Fitz as they separate facts from speculation and explain how experienced federal investigators approach these cases.

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💬 LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS: Which of these four stories deserves a deeper investigation?

#ColdRedPodcast #TrueCrime #FBI #GypsyRoseBlanchard #NolanWells #Cornell7 #Kratom #CriminalProfiling #JamesRFitzgerald #RaymondCarr

Could new forensic research point investigators toward a previously overlooked Zodiac suspect? Ray Carr and Jim “Fitz” Fitzgerald sit down with researchers Chad and Kylie to examine newly acquired research surrounding the Zodiac Killer case and an individual referred to as “Subject X.” The discussion explores the Zodiac’s known crimes, behavioral profile, cryptic communications, and the linguistic patterns found in the killer’s letters. Fitz examines the case through the lens of forensic linguistics and questioned authorship, including contraction rates, British phrasing, word choice, misspellings, and other structural patterns. The researchers also present potential connections involving handwriting characteristics, blue felt-tip pen usage, schematic drawings, and distinctive phrases found in the Zodiac communications. What would it take to move this research from theory to evidence? Ray and Fitz discuss the additional forensic testing that could help confirm or eliminate “Subject X,” including archival fingerprints, travel records, and genealogical DNA. **Cold Red Podcast** brings true crime through the eyes of former FBI agents, examining behavioral analysis, forensic evidence, investigative procedure, and the questions that remain unanswered. Subscribe to Cold Red Podcast and visit coldredpodcast.com for more. #ColdRed #ZodiacKiller #Zodiac #TrueCrime #ColdCase #FBI #ForensicLinguistics #CriminalProfiling #UnsolvedMystery #ForensicAnalysis

Richard Marx recalls what it was like being at ground zero the day after September 11th. He tells us what it was like digging through the wreckage to find clues.

Twenty-five years after September 11, questions remain about what U.S. intelligence agencies knew before the attacks—and why critical information may never have reached the investigators who needed it.

Ray Carr and James R. Fitzgerald examine the unsealed sworn declaration of Military Commissions defense investigator Donald Canestraro and its explosive allegations surrounding pre-9/11 intelligence.

The discussion examines CIA Alec Station, hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, their time in San Diego, Operation Encore, alleged Saudi connections, and testimony from former FBI investigators who believe crucial intelligence was withheld or suppressed.

Ray and Fitz also explore the difference between bureaucratic failure, deceptive omission, and active obstruction—and ask the question that remains 25 years later:

Was this simply an intelligence failure, or was critical information deliberately kept from investigators?

This is Part 1 of Cold Red’s investigation into the Canestraro Declaration.

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Cold Red sits down with Joanna Rivera to discuss the nuance of domestic violence. She dives deep into her experiences and what she is doing now to help more the conference further

Were critical investigative opportunities missed in the Nancy Guthrie case? Former FBI profiler James "Fitz" Fitzgerald and retired FBI agent Ray Carr examine the investigation from an investigative perspective, discussing the decisions they believe deserved closer attention and explaining how they would have approached the case if they had been leading the investigation. Drawing on decades of FBI experience, they break down investigative strategy, behavioral analysis, and the key moments that may have shaped the direction of the case. What would you have done differently? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.