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Artwork for Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words

Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words

Justin Shepherd
Black Dahlia
Elizabeth Short
Los Angeles
Kidnapping
Sonya Massey
George Hodel
Mark Hansen
Robert Red Manley
California
Justice System
Law Enforcement
Trauma
American Horror Story
Sean Grayson
Lie Detector Tests
Cleveland Torso Murders
Chicago
Los Angeles Examiner
Ruth Boulding
Hollywood Canteen

Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words is a podcast that strips away the sensational headlines and lets the people at the heart of true crime stories speak for themselves. From survivors and families to investigators, journalists, and insiders, these are raw, unfiltered conversations that rarely make it into mainstream coverage.Hosted by Justin Shepherd, a creator and advocate with millions of fol... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes33Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words

Latest Episodes

What happens when the terrorism you've spent years confronting through diplomacy becomes a devastating reality for your own family?

This week on UNHEARD: True Crime in Their Own Words, Justin Shepherd sits down with Jim Cain, former United States Am... more

YouTube

Welcome to the premiere of UNHEARD: This Week in True Crime, a new weekly series hosted by independent journalist Justin Shepherd.

Every Friday, we're breaking down the biggest true crime stories, shocking courtroom developments, ongoing investigati... more

She reported her supervisor to human resources. He lost his job. Then he showed up at her home and nearly beat her to death.

On July 15, 2024, Nichole Roberts, a casino dealer at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, was brutally attacked by her former superv... more

On November 27, 2016, 38-year-old mother of three Janina Jefferson arrived at her workplace in Appalachia, Virginia. She never made it home.

Janina was ambushed and shot multiple times outside the water treatment plant where she worked. Investigator... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Nichole Roberts
Casino dealer at Virgin Hotels and survivor of a violent attack
Virgin Hotels
Episode: He Nearly Killed Me After I Reported Him to HR: Nichole Roberts
Brooke Jefferson
Janina Jefferson's niece and advocate for justice in her case
Episode: Her Accused Killer Vanished Without A Trace: Janina Jefferson
Don Fieselman
Former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sergeant and cold-case homicide investigator.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Episode: Inside Las Vegas: Organized Crime, Sex Trafficking & Cold Case Murders with Don Fieselman
Julie DeVercelly
Mother of Gary DeVercelly Jr.; advocate for hazing reform
Private citizen
Episode: His Fraternity Put a Backpack on Him Instead of Calling for Help | Gary DeVercelly Jr.
Gary DeVercelly
Father of Gary DeVercelly Jr.; advocate for hazing accountability
Private citizen
Episode: His Fraternity Put a Backpack on Him Instead of Calling for Help | Gary DeVercelly Jr.
Jennifer Soto
Jason Abarca's mother
Family of Jason Abarca
Episode: The Death of Jason Abarca Doesn’t Make Sense
Benito Soto
Jason Abarca's stepfather
Family of Jason Abarca
Episode: The Death of Jason Abarca Doesn’t Make Sense
Dan Catullo
Emmy Award-winning director and filmmaker
Producer/Director (works including 4000 Days, Protect the House, Breathe)
Episode: BONUS EPISODE: Seven Men Accused. No Criminal Charges. The Cornell Case and Fraternity Culture | Dan Catullo
Beatrice Keul
Former Miss Switzerland / international model who discusses her experiences involving Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein
Beatrice Keul
Episode: Beatrice Keul: Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein & The Story She Waited 30 Years to Tell

Host

Justin Shepherd
Creator and advocate focused on true crime and overlooked voices

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 208 ratings
  • Outstanding Podcast

    5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BHW6585
    United States11 days ago
  • How do we Overturn the Prosecutor accountability issue???

    In Florida! Let me help

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    floridaamanda
    United States2 months ago
  • Bad sound

    Poor sound quality

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ipshee
    United States2 months ago
  • Concept of the podcast is great but….

    the host never lets their guest speak! He continuously interrupts them with personal anecdotes that don’t relate to what they’re saying and frankly, don’t matter to the case. If you want to give a voice to victims & their families then do so. If you want to make a podcast about yourself and your life, do that instead. I also agree with other reviews- the sound quality is a huge issue. It goes in and out constantly even when the host isn’t interrupting the guest. Difficult to focus on the episode... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ToriKat74
    United States3 months ago
  • Sound quality

    Am I the only one who gets weird sound quality on these audios? It seems like the people he interviews the sound distorts.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Nikkidebbaudt
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners value the firsthand focus on survivors, families and people directly involved in cases, rather than headline recaps.
Audio quality is a recurring concern, with reports of distortion, choppiness and difficulty hearing guests.
Some listeners say the host interrupts guests, talks about himself too much or speaks too quickly, which can distract from their stories.
Positive reviews describe the interviews as sincere, compassionate and informative, with a strong sense of the host's commitment to victims.
Some listeners object to the framing or claims in particular episodes, especially when they feel a complex case is presented too one-sidedly.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#169
South Korea/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#225
Colombia/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

He Nearly Killed Me After I Reported Him to HR: Nichole Roberts
Q: What else do you want to share that I didn't ask or that we didn't talk about?
Roberts recommends Victims of Crime in Nevada, which helped her with a temporary protection order, guidance, and medical bills. She also calls attention to the risk of workplace retaliation when an employee reports a supervisor.
He Nearly Killed Me After I Reported Him to HR: Nichole Roberts
Q: Were there red flags that you might have missed, or was this completely out of left field?
Roberts says she later recognized warning signs, including lies about car accidents and suspicious behavior, but she trusted what Sarria told her and did not realize he was using drugs until after his suspension.
Her Accused Killer Vanished Without A Trace: Janina Jefferson
Q: What can you tell us about their relationship?
Brooke describes escalating warning signs, including Jones lying about Janina's son, firing a gun at a block party, playing the recording at home, and taking money Janina had saved. Janina separated from him, filed for divorce, and obtained a protective order after he strangled her at work.
Her Accused Killer Vanished Without A Trace: Janina Jefferson
Q: Who was Janina Jefferson to you, and what was the background on this story?
Brooke remembers Janina as a bubbly, loving, strong-willed, creative woman who loved her children and art, brought the family together, and believed people could change.
Inside Las Vegas: Organized Crime, Sex Trafficking & Cold Case Murders with Don Fieselman
Q: How do you get to a point that these people will finally tell you something they've sworn they would take to the grave?
Fieselman describes using evidence, careful interviews and an understanding of the individual's motivations rather than relying on a formula. He says people may talk when they believe their story will hold up, and that listening without prematurely treating omissions as lies can keep communication open.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words

What is Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Long-form interviews put survivors, families, investigators, attorneys, advocates and journalists at the center of true-crime stories. Conversations examine cases through firsthand experience, from missing-person investigations and cold cases to abuse, hazing, high-profile trials and alleged failures within the justice system. Justin Shepherd guides the interviews, which often connect an individual account to wider questions about accountability, media coverage, campus safety and criminal justice reform.

The format favors personal testimony and expert context over case recaps, with guests ranging from relatives seeking answers to professionals who worked on or reported on major cases. Episodes are emotionally direct and can be heavy, while... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words:

1. Frozen Files
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3. The Binge Cases: Doctor Billions
4. The Final Hours with Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole
5. Betrayal Season 6

How many episodes of Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words are there?

Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words launched a year ago and published 33 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words?

Recent guests on Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words include:

1. Nichole Roberts
2. Brooke Jefferson
3. Don Fieselman
4. Julie DeVercelly
5. Gary DeVercelly
6. Jennifer Soto
7. Benito Soto
8. Dan Catullo

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