5 True Crime Podcasts That Defined Serial Killer Investigations
From exonerations to cold cases solved, these podcasts brought justice and answers to audiences worldwide
**Serial**
Journalist Sarah Koenig's groundbreaking podcast follows the investigation into the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee in Baltimore. What began as a cold case review became a turning point in Adnan Syed's fight for justice. After 23 years in prison, Syed was acquitted based on insufficient evidence—a result the podcast's meticulous reporting helped facilitate. Serial demonstrated how audio storytelling could re-examine established narratives and hold systems accountable.
**Up and Vanished**
Host Payne Lindsey launched this podcast in August 2016 to investigate the 2005 disappearance of Tara Grinstead from Georgia. The 25-part series expanded to include bonus episodes and audience Q&As as the investigation deepened. The podcast's engagement with listeners created a community effort to solve a case that had gone cold, exemplifying how true crime audio can mobilize public interest around unsolved disappearances.
