In Her Defence: 50th Street
Amber Tuccaro was 20 years old when she left her infant son with a friend at a motel on the outskirts of Edmonton, and got into a vehicle with an unknown man. She was never seen alive again. But Amber left an important clue: A chilling recording of what appear to be the final moments of her life, and the voice of the man who may be her killer. Days after police released that recording to the public, Amber’s remains were found in a field outside the city. She would be one of five women whose bodies were discovered in that area, and one of dozens more found in rural areas around Edmonton, the victims of a suspected serial killer – or killers. Following the success of the hit first season, In Her Defence: 50th Street takes listeners to Amber’s home in the Indigenous community of Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, retracing the final days of Amber’s life, and revealing suspects and information that have never before been made public. In Her Defence: 50th Street explores the flawed police investigation into Amber’s disappearance and death, and asks serious questions about her unsolved murder. Was Amber’s case compromised by what her family alleges was a racist and biased police investigation? And does it mean a serial killer is still out there?
Episodes
The first two episodes of In Her Defence will be released on October 10th. Follow now so you don’t miss a new episode.
Theme song, “The Fighter,” by Jenn Grant.
If you’re experiencing intimate partner violence, you can find resources and your nearest shelter at sheltersafe.ca.
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Wes Naslund gets a phone call from his brothers at the farm. Friends and family describe the domestic abuse they suspect was going on in the Naslund house. A fight at the bar leaves Miles seriously injured, and things at the farm reach a breaking point.
Learn more about this podcast and domestic violence in Canada, or sign up for our newsletter at tgam.ca/inherdefence
E-mail the reporter, Jana Pruden, at jpruden@globeandmail.com
Helen Naslund speaks from prison for the first time. Helen describes how she met and married Miles, and the only time she tried to leave. Early one morning in September 2011, two gunshots crack through the house.
Learn more about this podcast and domestic violence in Canada, or sign up for our newsletter at tgam.ca/inherdefence
E-mail the reporter, Jana Pruden, at jpruden@globeandmail.com
If you’re experiencing domestic violence and w...
Wes Naslund talks about growing up with his father. Miles Naslund is reported missing, but no one seems to care he’s gone. Helen and her family live with a haunting secret. One day in 2017, almost exactly six years after Miles was reported missing, two men show up at Helen’s work.
Learn more about this podcast and domestic violence in Canada, or sign up for our newsletter at tgam.ca/inherdefence
Email the reporter at jpruden@globeand...
Helen is interrogated by police officers who say they understand the abuse she’d been living with, and know that something had to happen for her to get free. Someone she loves has betrayed her. Her life – and the lives of her sons – are all on the line.
Theme song, “The Fighter,” by Jenn Grant.
Learn more about this podcast and domestic violence in Canada, or sign up for our newsletter at tgam.ca/inherdefence
E-mail the reporter at jp...
The 1987 case of Angelique Lavallee provides a roadmap for the “battered woman defence.” Canada’s first female Supreme Court justice, Bertha Wilson, attempts to expose systemic sexism in the justice system. Helen is charged with first-degree murder, and has to decide whether to accept a plea deal or go to trial.
Elizabeth Sheehy’s book is Defending Battered Women on Trial: Lessons from the Transcripts.
Theme song, “The Fighter,” by J...
Helen is sent to prison for the death of her husband. Around the country, people object to her sentence and the way she’s treated in court. In the isolation of prison, Helen wonders whether she’s done something wrong by accepting the deal, and has to consider what to do next.
Theme song, “The Fighter,” by Jenn Grant.
Learn more about this podcast and domestic violence in Canada, or sign up for our newsletter at tgam.ca/inherdefence
Em...
Appealing a plea deal is a long-shot, but defence lawyer Mona Duckett wants to take it on. The Crown says justice has been served. The Court of Appeal considers Helen’s future.
Theme song, “The Fighter,” by Jenn Grant.
Learn more about this podcast and domestic violence in Canada, or sign up for our newsletter at tgam.ca/inherdefence
E-mail the reporter at jpruden@globeandmail.com
If you’re experiencing intimate partner violence and wa...
Did Helen really kill Miles? A burning question remains. As Helen works toward release from prison, we think about what made Miles who he was, and consider the legacy of his violence.
Theme song, “The Fighter,” by Jenn Grant.
Learn more about this podcast and domestic violence in Canada, or sign up for our newsletter at tgam.ca/inherdefence
E-mail the reporter at jpruden@globeandmail.com
If you’re experiencing intimate partner violence...
In this special bonus episode, our host Jana Pruden sits down with Crime Story’s Kathleen Goldhar to discuss the question, “How should we deal with women who kill their abusers?”
You can listen to more incredible tales of true crime every week on Crime Story. Find them in your podcast app, or here: https://link.chtbl.com/DreYfAFB
Plus, details of In Her Defence season 2 are coming soon!
Do you recognize this man’s voice?
Coming this fall, In Her Defence: 50th Street investigates the unsolved murder of Amber Tuccaro, who disappeared from the Edmonton area in 2010. Amber left an important clue: A haunting recording of what appear to be the final moments of her life – and the voice of the man who may be her killer.
Do you have information about Amber’s murder? Contact reporter Jana Pruden at jpruden@globeandmail.com or...
Amber Tuccaro flies south to Edmonton with her baby and a new friend, and vanishes. Amber’s family doesn’t trust the police investigation, and her relatives and friends do everything they can to find her and bring attention to her case. Police find a stunning piece of evidence.
E-mail the reporter, Jana Pruden, at jpruden@globeandmail.com
Learn more about this podcast at https://www.theglobeandmail.com/podcasts/inherdefence/#01
Amber’s cousin gives us a tour of Fort Chipewyan, the northern Alberta community where Amber was raised. We learn about Amber’s life before she disappeared, and about the threats that were facing Indigenous women in Edmonton. The police investigation changes significantly after the discovery of a recorded phone call that seems to record the final moments of Amber’s life – and the voice of the man who may be her killer.
Police decide to release the tape to the public, hoping someone will recognize the voice of the man who was with Amber when she disappeared. Amber’s remains are found in a field outside the city, close to where four other women have been found, raising the spectre of a serial killer. A raven visits.
Email the reporter, Jana Pruden, at jpruden@globeandmail.com
Learn more about this podcast at https://www.theglobeandmail.com/podcasts/i...
A notorious serial killer prompts a broad reckoning around the murder of Indigenous women and girls in Canada. Amber’s family files an official complaint around how her missing persons investigation was handled, and a review of the case forces a public apology — with an unexpected twist. Questions persist about Evangeline, the last person known to have seen Amber alive.
Email the reporter, Jana Pruden, at jpruden@globeandmail.com
The release of the voice brings out a flood of tips and suspects. Experts study the tape for clues about the voice, while police come to realize the recording doesn’t have the investigative value they once hoped. Amber’s biological brother says he knows who killed Amber.
Email the reporter, Jana Pruden, at jpruden@globeandmail.com
Learn more about this podcast at https://www.theglobeandmail.com/podcasts/inherdefence/#01
What was Amber doing when she disappeared? Police provide some new information about the rest of the phone call, and their investigation. Amber’s mother faces a serious new threat, but vows to keep fighting.
Email the reporter, Jana Pruden, at jpruden@globeandmail.com
Learn more about this podcast at https://www.theglobeandmail.com/podcasts/inherdefence/#01
Our cover art is a painting of Amber by Lauren Crazybull. Our theme song is No...
In this bonus episode, we share Jana's interview with The Decibel's Menaka Raman-Wilms. Follow The Decibel for more stories from The Globe and Mail's newsroom, delivered to you every weekday morning.
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