
Crime Analyst
byLaura Richards
True Crime
If you are curious about the ‘who dunnit’ and the ‘why dunnit’ and how and why victims become footnotes in their own murders, Crime Analyst is for you. Hosted by world renowned and award-winning Criminal Behavioural Analyst Laura Richards.
Episodes(40 episodes)
Ep 348: Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 15
In this remastered episode, Laura analyzes the police report filed by Officer Pratt and Officer Robbins and answers a number of burning questions including: whether it was known and recorded by police that the van belonged to Gabby, and; what’s happened to the police officers involved in the case?
The 99-page Moab City Police Investigative Review of the 12th August Gabby and Brian Police Stop was published on 12th January 2022. Laura shares the headlines of the review and begins her analysis of the review report starting with how it was communicated by the media.
Trigger warni...
Published: Jun 25, 2026Duration: 43m 1s
Episode 347
Ep #347: Analysing Judge Rowland's Sentencing Remarks in the Hampshire Gang Rape Case, Part 3
Three teenage boys were convicted of 17 sexual offences, including 11 rapes of two separate girls, one at knifepoint. They were sent home with a £26 fine.
This case should alarm everyone – and it is far from isolated. Laura continues her analysis of Judge Nicholas Rowland’s sentencing remarks including the lack of understanding by the Judge regarding grooming, the power imbalance, vulnerability, coercion, planning and exploitation and the boys’ histories which has resulted in a flawed risk assessment and unduly lenient. Laura has examined the case in referring to the problematic sentencing guidelines and the context of rising levels of ma...
Published: Jun 22, 2026Duration: 1h 12m 15s
Ep 346: Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 14
In this remastered episode, Laura continues to deconstruct Officer Pratt’s footage of the police stop of Gabby’s van with startling revelations including how Laura believes that the Utah law was not only misunderstood but was also misapplied – and it’s probably not what you think. You might believe you have heard everything there is to say, but you really haven’t.
Trigger warning: Listener discretion is advised. This episode may be upsetting and/or triggering and it will be angry making.
Wyoming Crime Scene Visit: Laura recently recorded an exclusive episode based in Wyoming where she retraces G...
Published: Jun 18, 2026Duration: 1h 10m 19s
Episode 345
Ep #345: Analysing Judge Rowland's Sentencing Remarks in the Hampshire Gang Rape Case, Part 2
Three teenage boys were convicted of 17 sexual offences including 11 rapes of two separate girls, one at knifepoint. Despite this, Judge Nicholas Rowland determined that none of the boys should go to prison as he did not want to ‘criminalize them unnecessarily.’
To understand this egregious decision that has quite rightly sparked national outrage, Laura shares her forensic deconstruction of Judge Rowland’s 23-page sentencing remarks in the context of the sentencing guideline and the increasing levels of male violence to girls and women. It’s worse than you might have thought.
This is not just...
Published: Jun 15, 2026Duration: 56m 28s
Episode 344
Ep 344: Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 13
In this remastered episode, Laura reflects on information shared by Brian Entin, particularly regarding whether there was a planned and co-ordinated strategy after Gabby was killed as well as about Brian’s finances, which provides a new perspective about what he told police.
Laura also deconstructs information gleaned from Park Ranger Melissa Hulls in the only interview she gave. You won’t want to miss this.
Wyoming Crime Scene Visit: Laura recently recorded an exclusive episode based in Wyoming where she retraces Gabby Petito's final footsteps, shares new crime scene observations and behavioural analysis, and compares Brian...
Published: Jun 11, 2026Duration: 50m 57s
Episode 343
Convicted Serial Rapists Walk Free With £26 Fine
Two separate girls were raped by three boys, one at knifepoint, in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, in November 2024 and January 2025. The three teenagers filmed the rapes and posted them on-line, blatantly laughing. The case went to trial, and they were found guilty of 11 counts of rape out of 17 sexual offences. However, Judge Nicholas Rowland stated, ‘None of you need go to prison today’ and that he didn’t want to crimiminalize them UNNECCESSARILY. This case has rightly caused national and international outrage and Laura is calling for the Judge to be investigated and for a judicial accountability framework. Anger is not enough –...
Published: Jun 7, 2026Duration: 52m 47s
Episode 342
Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 12
In this remastered episode, Laura discusses a significant update in Gabby Petito’s case. On Monday 8th August 2022, almost a year to the date of the Moab City Police stop of Gabby’s white van, Gabby’s mother, Nichole and step-father Jim Schmidt and Gabby’s father, Joe and step-mother Tara Petito filed a notice of intent to sue Moab City Police in Utah.
The lawsuit went ahead accusing the Police of “negligent failure” to first understand the law and enforce it. They also accuse Moab City Police of “wrongful death” stating that Gabby’s “death was caused by their wron...
Published: Jun 4, 2026Duration: 21m 38s
Episode 341
Outsmarting My Psychopath Ex-Husband, Dirty John Meehan with Tonia Bales
When Tonia Bales married John Meehan, she had no idea that the charming man she fell in love with would later become known to millions as "Dirty John." Psychopaths don’t stand out - in fact they do everything to blend in - but there are some tell-tale signs you need to know.
Together, Laura and Tonia decode and share the signs whilst discussing Tonia’s new book, When You See It: How I Outsmarted and Outlasted Dirty John, and the untold story of what it was really like being married to one of America's most notorious coerc...
Published: Jun 1, 2026Duration: 1h 9m 35s
Episode 340
Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 11
In this remastered episode, Laura continues her fascinating interview with Brian Entin, senior National Correspondent for NewsNation and discusses how ‘strategic’ Brian Laundrie and his family may have been as well as other information that may come to light from the civil suit Gabby’s parents have filed against the Laundries.
Laura highlights the National Parks Police did not release their body worn camera footage from the police stop and Brian Entin reveals that he tracked down Park Ranger Melissa Hulls. You won’t want to miss this.
#GabbyPetito #HerNameWasGabbyPetito #CrimeAnalyst #Expert #Analysis #Behaviour #TrueCrime #Podcast...
Published: May 28, 2026Duration: 50m 28s
Episode 339
Breaking the Terror: Bringing a Sadistic Abuser to Justice with Miriam Lake, Part 2
Laura asks Miriam about Michael Egan’s abuse of her brother and mother and Miriam shares how she broke through the terror and fear to hold Egan accountable for his cruel and sadistic abuse as well as the devastating long-term impact of life-changing trauma.
Listen as Laura identifies the patterns of behaviour, manipulation, coercive control, and missed opportunities to safeguard and protect. Together, Laura and Miriam explore:
• Miriam’s courageous fight for accountability and justice;
• The lasting impact of coercive control and sadistic abuse;
• The early warning signs and grooming behaviours;
• The l...
Published: May 25, 2026Duration: 51m 23s
Episode 338
Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 10
In this remastered episode, Laura interviews Brian Entin, senior National Correspondent for NewsNation, who covered Gabby’s case from the start. Laura pivoted to this important interview with Brian as Brian Laundrie’s so-called confession letter had been found and the Judge allowed Gabby’s parents lawsuit against Christopher and Roberta Laundrie to proceed.
Brian posted up outside the Laundrie’s home in Florida for months. He also went to Spread Creek in Wyoming where Gabby’s body was found. Brian shares important information about the location in relation to Brian’s so-called confession letter.
Join Laura f...
Published: May 21, 2026Duration: 1h 4m 37s
Episode 337
Terror Behind Closed Doors: A Sadistic Coercive Controller with Miriam Lake, Part 1
Miriam Lake was terrorized as a little girl by Michael Egan, a coercive controller who groomed the family through charm and love bombing before subjecting Miriam, her siblings, and mother to years of sadistic abuse. Listen as Laura identifies the patterns of behaviour and missed opportunities to safeguard and protect. Together, Laura and Miriam explore:
The early warning signs and grooming behaviours
The language of coercive control
How coercive control creates fear, silence, and compliance within families
Why victims and survivors struggle to report abuse for years
The importance of understanding patterns -not isolated incidents
How systems can fail...
Published: May 18, 2026Duration: 48m 1s
Episode 336
Ep 336: Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 9
In this remastered episode, Laura discusses the other police body worn cameras and highlights new key information available from Officer Pratt’s footage, which was released on Friday 1st October.
It took Moab City Police Department more than 14 days to release the second video. Laura shares why she believes it took them so long, highlighting three concerning and significant events that happened across that time in Moab City Police Department.
This is uncomfortable information to hear - but it’s important if we are to truly learn from Gabby’s brutal murder in slow motion. You wo...
Published: May 14, 2026Duration: 49m 49s
Episode 335
Con Men and Coercive Control: The Psychology of Deception with Sarah Ferris, Part 2
Laura continues her interview with Sarah Ferris moving beyond the initial deception to unpack the deeper patterns, behaviours, and mindset of a conman - and what we must learn from it.
Laura and Sarah profile Peter Cowell, who posed as an Admiral, extracting money from senior leaders, veterans and even targeting former police detectives for an organisation he called IntSAR – the International Sea Air Rescue Service, a global humanitarian project with a military-style structure. It turns out, it is a work of fiction.
Drawing on both lived experience and behavioural analysis, Laura...
Published: May 11, 2026Duration: 51m 35s
Episode 334
Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 8
In this remastered episode, Laura continues to break down Gabby and Brian’s behaviour using the police body worn camera footage from the Moab City Police Department.
Laura focuses on evidence that Brian is thinking about himself, whilst an emotional Gabby self-abandons and prioritizes Brian’s needs over her own, as well as how sexism, a gender bias and misogyny played a role in green lighting and reinforcing Brian’s coercively controlling behaviour.
Laura shares important indicators of coercive control and new information about Brian’s financial situation which catches him in multiple lies to law enforc...
Published: May 7, 2026Duration: 1h 7m 4s
Episode 333
Con Men and Coercive Control: The Psychology of Deception with Sarah Ferris, Part 1
We all like to think we would know a conman when we see one – that’s what savvy Sarah Ferris thought when her sister Emma introduced her to the man she met on Tinder. His name was Andrew Tonks – only it wasn’t. His real name was Andrew W C Tonks Thomson. After six months of dating him he conned her out of more than $250,000.
Together with her sister, Sarah, and a brilliant group of women – they didn't let him get away it and turned the tables on him. They made a podcast about it as it happe...
Published: May 4, 2026Duration: 57m 27s
Episode 332
Ep 332: Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 7
This remastered series is to honour Gabby and ensure the warning signs of coercive control are understood. It’s the difference between life and death for so many.
Determined to decode the patterns of coercive control and escalating risk, Laura deconstructs the behaviours that were visible - but too often minimised or misunderstood - with forensic precision.
Join Laura for this remastered investigative series which provides news updates in the case regarding the Utah Supreme Court oral argument in the wrongful death lawsuit appeal, deeper analysis and vital learning to help prevent future harm.
...
Published: Apr 30, 2026Duration: 51m 40s
Episode 331
Australia’s Landmark Coercive Control Conviction with Sam Bouffler, Part 2
Laura continues her in-depth analysis of the landmark case Police v Callum Fairleigh with survivor Sam Bouffler, moving beyond the initial conviction to further unpack the patterns, behaviours, and responses that shaped this significant outcome.
Key Analytical Takeaways:
• Escalation and Pattern Recognition: How coercive control intensifies over time and why early identification of the pattern - not individual incidents - is critical.
• Serial Perpetration: there’s always a history and multiple victims.
• The Impact on Victims: Understanding the psychological and emotional toll of sustained coercive control and why victims may not be able to l...
Published: Apr 27, 2026Duration: 1h 2m 40s
Episode 330
Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 6
This remastered series is to honour Gabby and ensure the warning signs of coercive control are understood. It’s the difference between life and death for so many.
Determined to decode the patterns of coercive control and escalating risk, Laura deconstructs the behaviours that were visible - but too often minimised or misunderstood - with forensic precision.
Join Laura for this remastered investigative series which provides news updates in the case regarding the Utah Supreme Court oral argument in the wrongful death lawsuit appeal, deeper analysis and vital learning to help prevent future harm.
...
Published: Apr 23, 2026Duration: 47m 10s
Episode 329
Ep 329: A Line in the Sand: Sam Bouffler and the Landmark Coercive Control Conviction, Part 1
In a landmark moment for justice in Australia, New South Wales has seen its first full-time prison sentence handed down for the crime of coercive control. In this episode, Laura deconstructs the case of Police v Callum Fairleigh, analyzing the behavioral patterns that led to this historic conviction and what it means for the future of victim protection.
Laura moves beyond the headlines to center the experience of Samantha, the survivor who bravely shared her story to ensure others feel less alone. Laura provides a trauma-informed analysis of the "drip-drip" nature of this abuse—from digi...
Published: Apr 20, 2026Duration: 58m 34s