In this episode, Maya and Darren uncover the story of 17-year-old Marcus Johnson, whose wrongful conviction in 1976 hinged on a confession tape that sat forgotten in an evidence locker for decades. When a court clerk discovered the reel-to-reel recording in 2023, it revealed the troubling interrogation techniques that led to a teenager spending 12 years behind bars for a crime he didn't commit.

About the Show

Recorded Truth: Stories of Injustice Preserved on Tape is a bi-weekly investigative podcast that uncovers forgotten audio recordings that reveal miscarriages of justice, police misconduct, and systemic failures in the American legal system. Each episode examines a different case where audio evidence has been crucial in understanding—or sometimes overturning—wrongful convictions.

Meet Your Hosts

Maya Patel

A former public defender turned investigative journalist with 12 years of experience in the criminal justice system. Maya brings her legal expertise to break down complex concepts while approaching each case with analytical precision and unwavering compassion.

Darren Washington

A sound engineer and audio archivist with 15 years of experience working with historical recordings for a major museum. Darren's technical expertise helps authenticate and analyze the audio evidence central to each episode, bringing both technical insight and historical context.

Shadows of the City: New York in the 1970s•Sep 21, 2025 12:25:08 PM

The Detective's Ledger: Death, Deception, and the Code of Silence

In this episode, Michael and Vanessa unravel the mysterious death of Detective Frank Malloy and the coded notebook he left behind. As they decode his cryptic entries, they expose a web of corruption that persisted even after the Knapp Commission's investigation into NYPD misconduct. Follow the journey of a young Village Voice reporter determined to reveal the truth about framed suspects and the officers who betrayed their badges in 1970s New York.

About the Show

Shadows of the City: New York in the 1970s is a narrative investigative historical podcast series that delves into the darker side of New York during one of its most turbulent decades. Each episode uncovers forgotten stories of corruption, crime, and the people who navigated a city on the brink, bringing to light the complex realities that shaped modern New York.

Meet Your Hosts

Michael Donovan

A former crime reporter for the New York Times in the 1990s, Michael brings decades of journalistic experience and personal connections to New York's law enforcement community through his uncle, who served as an NYPD detective during the 1960s-70s. His deep, measured delivery and meticulous research provide historical context that grounds each episode in authentic detail.

Vanessa Rodriguez

An accomplished investigative journalist specializing in police reform and criminal justice, Vanessa offers incisive analysis that bridges past and present. As a first-generation New Yorker whose parents lived through the city's turbulent 1970s, she brings both professional expertise and personal connection to the stories, challenging listeners to see the systemic patterns that connect historical corruption to contemporary issues.

Untold Streets: America's Hidden Histories•September 21, 2025

The Vanished Witness: When Justice Disappeared in Harlem

In this episode, Marcus and Elena uncover the troubling case of Terrell Jackson, a young man convicted of a 1973 Harlem bodega robbery based solely on one eyewitness's testimony. When that witness, Mrs. Loretta Wilson, recants her identification and then mysteriously vanishes before she can testify, the case exposes the darker side of 1970s policing practices. Against the backdrop of a city in fiscal crisis, this forgotten injustice reveals how easily the scales of justice could be tipped in an era of unchecked police power.

About the Show

Untold Streets: America's Hidden Histories is a deep-dive narrative podcast that uncovers forgotten stories from America's urban past, focusing on cases of injustice, corruption, and the individuals caught in systems larger than themselves. Each episode blends atmospheric storytelling with meticulous historical research, transporting listeners to pivotal moments that shaped our cities but never made the history books.

Meet Your Hosts

Marcus Reynolds

Former investigative journalist with 15 years at the Chicago Tribune, Marcus Reynolds brings firsthand understanding of urban dynamics from his upbringing in the Bronx during the 1980s. With a master's degree in Criminal Justice and years interviewing witnesses and victims of wrongful convictions, Marcus left mainstream media to pursue stories that weren't getting attention, combining his journalist's eye for detail with a passion for uncovering hidden truths.

Dr. Elena Suarez

Cultural historian Dr. Elena Suarez specializes in 20th-century urban America with a focus on marginalized communities. After teaching at Columbia University for a decade, she joined the podcast full-time, bringing academic rigor and compassionate analysis. Her doctoral work focused on witness testimony reliability in high-profile cases from 1960-1990, and as a first-generation American whose parents emigrated from Cuba, she offers unique perspectives on American urban history.

In this episode, Marcus and Eliana uncover the disturbing legacy of Commander Jon Burge and his 'midnight crew' who systematically tortured suspects in Chicago's Area 2 police district from the 1970s to 1990s. From electric shock to suffocation, these brutal tactics led to countless false confessions and wrongful convictions. Discover how brave whistleblowers, community activists, and victims fought through decades of cover-ups to expose the truth, eventually leading to landmark reparations and police reforms that continue to shape Chicago today.

About the Show

After Dark: Chicago Confidential is a true crime podcast that explores the shadowy underbelly of Chicago's history, focusing on corruption, conspiracy, and criminal justice. Each episode delves into cases where the line between law enforcement and lawbreakers blurred, examining police corruption scandals that shaped the city's reputation. With its soothing yet compelling storytelling style, After Dark: Chicago Confidential delivers hard-hitting investigative content perfect for nighttime listening.

Meet Your Hosts

Marcus Reed

A former Chicago Tribune investigative journalist with 15 years of experience covering the city's crime beat. Marcus grew up in Chicago's South Side and brings historical context and journalistic rigor to the show, along with personal connections to many neighborhoods affected by police corruption.

Eliana Cortez

A former public defender turned criminal justice reform advocate with firsthand experience in Chicago's legal system. Eliana brings both legal expertise and compassion to the stories they cover. Her family immigrated from Mexico to Chicago when she was young, giving her a unique perspective on community-police relations.

In this episode, Dave and Alex dive into the sweltering summer of 1980 in New York City, when the metropolis earned its notorious 'Fear City' moniker. They explore the perfect storm of socioeconomic factors that created an unprecedented crime wave, the rise of citizen responses like the Guardian Angels, and the psychological impact that transformed the subway system into a symbol of urban decay. Through firsthand accounts, archival clips, and expert analysis, they reconstruct a pivotal moment that would shape the city's identity for decades to come.

About the Show

Concrete Shadows is a true crime podcast that explores the gritty underbelly of urban America throughout history. Each episode dives into a specific time period and location, examining the social factors, key players, and notorious crimes that defined an era. The podcast blends historical context with vivid storytelling, creating an immersive experience that transports listeners to the streets where these stories unfolded.

Meet Your Hosts

David 'Dave' Ramirez

A former crime beat reporter for the New York Post who grew up in the Bronx during the 1980s-90s. With his deep network of contacts including former police officers, reformed criminals, and community activists, Dave brings firsthand experience and authentic street-level perspective to Concrete Shadows.

Alexandra 'Alex' Chen

A criminal psychologist and documentary filmmaker whose parents immigrated from Taiwan to Queens in the late 1970s. Alex specializes in analyzing the sociological aspects of crime waves and how they reflect broader cultural shifts, bringing an academic perspective balanced with genuine curiosity to each episode of Concrete Shadows.

This is Shadows on Delancey, a podcast about crime, memory, and the spaces between truth and evidence. I’m your host, Rachel Moran.

Today, we’re going back to New York City—specifically, the Lower East Side. It’s November 2014. A 29-year-old man named Daniel Ruiz leaves a bar on Delancey Street just after midnight. He never makes it home.

What follows is a case filled with leads, contradictions, surveillance gaps, and years of questions that prosecutors were never able to turn into charges.