The Nation’s First Manhunt, retired Secret Service agent Todd Hiles and retired FBI agent Stewart Fillmore take you back to the beginning of modern federal law enforcement—to a murder that would ignite America’s very first nationwide manhunt.

When FBI Special Agent Edwin C. Shanahan was shot and killed in 1925 by Martin J. Durkin, a ruthless car thief who had already wounded four police officers to escape capture, it sent shockwaves through Chicago and the fledgling Bureau of Investigation. Shanahan’s death marked the first time an FBI agent was killed in the line of duty—and it demanded justice on a national scale.

Hiles and Fillmore unravel how Durkin’s desperate flight triggered an unprecedented, coast-to-coast pursuit that would reshape how America hunted its most dangerous fugitives. What began as one agent’s tragic death became a turning point—uniting law enforcement agencies, forging new investigative methods, and laying the groundwork for the modern FBI.

From the streets of Chicago to the train stations in Texas, Back in Crime uncovers the legacy of Edwin C. Shanahan, the determination of the men who chased his killer, and the manhunt that defined a new era of justice in America.

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Music by: Eddie Bandas

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Join retired Secret Service agent Todd Hiles and retired FBI agent Stewart Fillmore as they take you under the crime scene tape and back to a case that hits closer than ever—Todd’s own childhood.

In this gripping episode, The Boy in the Trunk, the agents travel back in crime to the quiet town where Todd grew up, after a long-lost memory suddenly resurfaces. What he once dismissed as a childhood urban legend—whispers of a boy kidnapped in broad daylight—turns out to be a true story: the 1975 abduction of 10-year-old Timothy Stempel.

What followed was a harrowing ransom scheme that stunned the community. For days, investigators raced against the clock, as the town held its breath and Timothy’s fate hung in the balance.

With expert insight and engaging storytelling, Hiles and Fillmore retrace the twists and turns of the investigation—including the shocking location where Timothy was ultimately found—and explore how this terrifying chapter from Todd’s past became one of the most formative cases they’ve ever examined.

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Music by: Eddie Bandas

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Retired Secret Service agent Todd Hiles and retired FBI agent Stewart Fillmore take you deep inside the Bureau for a gripping look at one of its most legendary figures: Melvin Purvis.

In Case 16 – The Original G-Man, Hiles and Fillmore unravel the meteoric rise and mysterious downfall of the man who took down John Dillinger and became America’s first celebrity lawman. Revered by the public but resented by his own boss, Purvis found himself in the crosshairs of J. Edgar Hoover—the powerful and ruthless director of the FBI.

What happens when a man meant to serve justice becomes bigger than the institution itself? From high-profile gangster takedowns to the silent war waged against him from within, this episode explores how Purvis went from Hoover’s golden boy to an outcast in the very agency he helped define.

With expert insight and compelling storytelling, Back in Crime dives into the untold truth behind Purvis’ FBI career, his clashes with Hoover, and the unanswered questions surrounding his tragic end. Was it a fall from grace—or something more sinister?

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Have a specific case in mind that you'd like us to explore or just want to get in touch?

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For business inquiries or opportunities to sponsor our next podcast episode, please reach out to us at ⁠hello@texascrimetravelers.com

Music by: Eddie Bandas

Contact: edbandas@outlook.com