True Crime Prevention Podcast

In this episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul DelPonte speaks with Jody Plauché, a survivor of childhood abuse who became an advocate for victims.

Jody shares his harrowing experience of being groomed and abused by his karate instructor, Jeff Doucet, and the subsequent events that led to his father's dramatic act of revenge. The conversation delves into the psychological impact of abuse on children, the importance of parental...

In this episode of True Crime Prevention, Paul DelPonte and guest Lori Flowers delve into the world of romance scams, focusing on Lori's personal experience as a victim. They discuss how scammers exploit vulnerabilities, the grooming process, and the emotional manipulation involved in these schemes. Lori shares her story of being scammed through LinkedIn, highlighting the trust-building tactics used by the scammer and the eventual ...

What can families learn from one of the most haunting missing-persons cases in modern history?

In this episode of True Crime Prevention, we’re joined by Jason Brick, safety expert and author, to discuss travel safety through the lens of the Natalee Holloway case—and the real-world lessons families can take from it today.

Together, we break down how quickly everyday travel can turn dangerous, what warning signs are often missed, and...

What happens when survival turns into a lifelong fight for justice—and change?

In this episode of True Crime Prevention, we sit down with Keri Potts, President and Founder of A Fight Back Woman., to share her powerful story of survival, advocacy, and empowerment. In November 2008, Keri survived an assault and attempted rape while studying abroad in Rome, Italy.

What followed was a grueling, two-year battle through the Italian crimi...

It’s been more than 30 years—and the question remains: who killed the four girls at the Austin yogurt shop?

In this episode, True Crime Prevention sits down with the Brett and Alice of The Prosecutors Podcast to examine the chilling facts, lingering mysteries, and controversial turns in the Austin Yogurt Shop Murders.

From false confessions to destroyed evidence, we explore how this case became a cautionary tale of investigative fail...

When 22-year-old Gabby Petito went missing during a cross-country road trip, the nation watched — and mourned — as her story became a tragic symbol of intimate partner violence hiding in plain sight.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the True Crime Prevention Podcast, we are joined by Gabby’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, who speaks candidly about Gabby’s life, the warning signs that were missed, and the urgent lessons eve...

2025 was a year that kept true crime at the center of the national conversation. In this special episode of the True Crime Prevention Podcast round up episode, we’re joined by Sheriff Aaron Hanson of Douglas County, Nebraska to break down some of the biggest and most talked-about cases of the year.

From the shocking developments in the Bryan Kohberger case, to the explosive allegations and legal fallout surrounding Sean “Diddy” Com...

On this episode of the True Crime Prevention Podcast, we revisit the tragic and mysterious murder of JonBenét Ramsey, the six-year-old beauty pageant star found dead in her Boulder, Colorado home in 1996. Decades later, her case still captures the public’s attention—but beyond the mystery, there are important lessons for families and communities about crime prevention and child safety.

Join NCPC’s Executive Director Paul DelPonte a...

21-year-old Ohio State student Reagan Tokes never made it home the night she left work on February 8, 2017. What happened in the hours that followed shocked Ohio, exposed catastrophic failures in the criminal justice system, and forever changed one family’s life. In this powerful episode of True Crime Prevention, Reagan’s mother Lisa and sister Makenzie sit down with host Paul DelPonte to share Reagan’s story in their own words: th...

"It can happen to anyone."

When Devon Michaels took what he believed was a Percocet, he had no idea it was a fake — and laced with fentanyl. His death devastated his family and sparked a mission to protect other young people from the same danger.

In this powerful episode of True Crime Prevention, Ava Michelle (Netflix’s "Tall Girl," & "Dance Moms") and her mother Jeanette Cota open up about losing their brother and son to a fak...

On Thanksgiving night in 2009, what should have been a warm family celebration turned into one of the most shocking and tragic family crimes in modern American history. Paul Merhige arrived at his relatives’ home for dinner but before the night was over, he had executed a calculated plan of murder that left four family members dead, including a 6-year-old Makayla Sitton.

In this powerful episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul ...

In 2002, the DC Sniper terrorized a city and leaving more than a dozen dead. But behind the headlines was a chilling personal story few knew: Mildred Muhammad, the ex-wife of the sniper, was the real target all along.

In this gripping episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul DelPonte speaks with Dr. Muhammad as she reveals the chilling reality behind the headlines, the courage it takes to speak out, and her experiences living wi...

What happens when one survivor refuses to stay silent?

In this episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul DelPonte speaks with Erin Merryn — a survivor turned national advocate whose story inspired Erin’s Law, landmark legislation that teaches children about safe and unsafe touches. Erin opens up about her personal experience with childhood abuse, the subtle grooming tactics predators use, and why open conversations about personal...

When entrepreneur and business owner Shay Onorio checked her bank account one Saturday morning, she never would have imagined that she would be the victim of identity theft. What followed was a nightmare of stolen identities, drained accounts, and a battle to reclaim what was hers.

In this episode of True Crime Prevention, Shay shares her story of dealing with financial crime and identity theft and the devastating emotional toll it ...

A normal school day turned into horror... and one mother’s life changed forever. When Lori Alhadeff’s 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, her tragedy became a call to action.

Determined to make sure no other family endures the same pain, Lori co-founded Make Our Schools Safe and helped pass Alyssa’s Law, requiring silent panic alarms in schools to save precious seconds when every second co...

Anthony Graves spent 18 years behind bars—12 of them on death row—for a crime he didn’t commit. Wrongfully convicted of a brutal 1992 murder, Graves was exonerated in 2010 after years of fighting to prove his innocence. In this episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul DelPonte speaks with Graves about how he survived nearly two decades in the Texas prison system, the failures that led to his wrongful conviction, and his mission ...

When Celisia Stanton fell victim to a financial scam, it changed her life forever. What started as a moment of misplaced trust quickly spiraled into a painful lesson about how easily anyone can be deceived.

Now, Celisia is using her experience to educate others.In this episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul DelPonte talks with Celisia about how the scam unfolded, what she learned from the experience, and how you can protect yo...

She thought she was safe in bed. Instead, she came face to face with one of America’s most infamous serial killers.In 1978, college student Kathy Kleiner Rubin survived a brutal attack inside her Florida State University sorority house at the hands of Ted Bundy. While two of her friends were murdered that night, Kathy lived to tell the story — and to share a message of strength, resilience, and hope.On this episode of True Crime Pr...

She thought it was just another showing. Instead, it was a trap.In September 2014, Arkansas real estate agent Beverly Carter walked into a home to meet a new client. Hours later, she was reported missing. Days later, her family learned the unthinkable—Beverly had been kidnapped, ransomed, and murdered in a crime that shocked the nation.On this episode of True Crime Prevention, host Paul DelPonte sits down with Beverly’s son, Carl C...