{"id":1535,"date":"2026-06-12T14:04:41","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T14:04:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=1535"},"modified":"2026-06-12T14:04:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T14:04:41","slug":"aurora-police-produce-their-own-true-crime-podcast-in-hopes-of-catching-a-cold-case-killer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=1535","title":{"rendered":"Aurora police produce their own true-crime podcast in hopes of catching a cold-case killer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The video clip posted online Monday has all the trappings of a true-crime show, including urgent dramatic music, photos of a bloody crime scene, a flash of a smiling victim\u2019s face and a catchy name: \u201cThe White Whale.\u201d<\/p>\n

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But the one-minute clip isn\u2019t part of a traditional true-crime production. It\u2019s a video created by the Aurora Police Department to promote the agency\u2019s new podcast, a four-episode look into an unsolved 2016 homicide that investigators hope will spur new tips in the cold case.<\/p>\n

Aurora\u2019s foray into the true-crime genre is an unusual approach for Colorado police departments \u2014 while a handful of agencies have produced podcasts, the shows typically include straightforward question-and-answer sessions designed to educate residents on the basics of policing or offer insight into the profession.<\/p>\n

The Aurora police podcast is intentionally framed to feel like a true-crime show, said Joe Moylan, spokesman for the department. The genre is known for retelling the stories of real violent crimes and packaging the evidence and facts of the case in an air of mystery, relying on sensationalism, morbid curiosity and storytelling techniques to keep listeners engaged.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to tap into that audience,\u201d Moylan said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very popular genre; there have been a lot of instances recently where a tip from a podcast has helped solve a case.\u201d<\/p>\n

The police-produced podcast is, in some ways, part of a long tradition of law enforcement seeking to connect directly with residents, particularly on social media. But the reality of the true-crime genre also means a police-produced podcast raises questions about ethics and the use of public resources, said Kelly McBride, senior vice president at The Poynter Institute, a Florida nonprofit focused on media ethics.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the time when a true-crime podcast jumps in to solve a cold case, it\u2019s because the police have failed,\u201d she said. \u201cThey are<\/em> the police. They have all the investigative tools available to them, including the ability to just tell their story. So why create a form of entertainment around it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Moylan said the hope is that the unusual approach will generate more attention on the case than traditional methods of sharing information. The police department has for years sought tips on the 2016 killing of Chelsea Yasser, but none have yet panned out.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMy best days at work are when I push out a news release or we kick something out on social media and we find out after the fact that a member of the public saw it, we got a good tip on it, we made an arrest and we solved the case,\u201d he said. \u201cIf doing something a little bit different generates some interest, and we are able to get that final piece of the puzzle and solve this case, it would definitely be a cool thing to be a small part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

A criticism of the true-crime genre \u2014 and mainstream media \u2014 has been the tendency for podcasters and journalists to focus on sensational, high-profile murder cases, often with white female victims, said Michael Tracey, professor emeritus in the Department of Media Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever I lecture about JonBen\u00e9t Ramsey, I point out that 804 children under the age of 12 were murdered in America in 1996 and you heard about just one,\u201d he said, adding later that it remains to be seen how Aurora police handle their podcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it done professionally and ethically with a real aim at solving a crime?\u201d he asked. \u201cIf it is only the dead white girl syndrome, that raises some serious issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

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