Buried Bones - a historical true crime podcast with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
On Buried Bones, journalist Kate Winkler Dawson and forensic investigator Paul Holes dissect some of history’s most compelling true crime cases from centuries ago. Together, they explore these very old cases through a 21st century lens. With their years of expertise and knowledge of modern forensics, they reflect on how far science has come and bring new insight to old mysteries. Together, Kate and Paul have examined many cases including the 1932 Lindbergh baby kidnapping, the first time fingerprinting was used as evidence in a courtroom and a possible serial killer in 1960s Nashville. They ask, was the right person convicted or was someone wrongfully accused? See pictures, diagrams and evidence from each case on Instagram @buriedbonespod. Buried Bones is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including true crime, comedic interviews, news, science, pop culture and more. The network is home to My Favorite Murder hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, This Podcast Will Kill You, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, Tenfold More Wicked and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books
12 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 1h 1min
The Wash-House Murder
A brutal 1886 laundromat murder in Boston Chinatown and the grisly wounds that suggest a message more than random violence. Tensions over a cut queue hairstyle and possible racial intimidation come into play. Clues point to missing savings, rival protection rackets, shaky witness accounts, and rushed arrests that left the case unresolved.
19 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 49min
The Shooting of the Century PT 2
A return to 1955 Long Island high society to follow a shocking shooting and the messy household behind it. Forensic details about shotgun wounds and firing distance are unpacked. Marital strife, affairs, money and custody create tangled motives. A surprise prowler witness and rumors of payoffs complicate the investigation. The legal fallout and lasting public shaming are also explored.
18 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 59min
The Shooting of the Century PT 1
A 1955 Long Island murder at a wealthy estate fuels a detailed crime-scene breakdown. Photographs, maps, and ballistics are scrutinized to question the official story. Home-security concerns, odd handling of the body, and inconsistencies in the shooting narrative set up a deeper look into motives and relationships.
20 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 60min
The Freeway Phantom Murders PT 2
A deep dive into linked killings and mysterious body placements along highways. They examine taunting notes, odd handwriting, and peculiar victim contact points like bus routes. Forensic clues such as green fibers and possible bath mat links come up. The episode explores suspects with violent histories, informant leads, and the limits of early profiling and lost evidence.
24 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 1h 13min
The Freeway Phantom Murders PT 1
They reconstruct a string of 1971 Washington, D.C. child abductions and the chaotic policing of the time. Forensic details and troubling scene evidence are described in grisly detail. Witness reports, taunting phone calls, and a survivor’s lead that produced an arrest are examined. Geographic patterns and theories about the perpetrator’s behavior and movements are mapped out.
27 snips
Feb 11, 2026 • 1h 23min
The Falls Field Tragedy
A 1850s Rochester river recovery uncovers a second, mysterious body and a strange weapon. Physical clues on the bank and worn household items tie suspects to the scene. Rumors of affairs, family secrets, and a possible incestuous scandal swirl through town. A controversial trial, public campaigns for clemency, and last statements reshape the case's legacy.
15 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 1h 6min
The Haystack Murder
A 1923 California haystack fire uncovers a charred car and a smoldering body. Investigators puzzle over burned remains, tied hands, odd autopsy clues and whether the corpse is really who it seems. The case swings between staged death for insurance and a brutal homicide, ending with confession, trial, execution and lasting harm to an innocent victim and his family.
30 snips
Jan 28, 2026 • 54min
The Murder of Maria Buel
A 1832 Ohio disappearance unravels a tangled web of relationships, lies, vendettas and a mysterious old head injury. Community rumors, sheltering neighbors and tense negotiations reveal patterns of coercive control. A fatal stabbing at a fence and a trial that invokes insanity and changing legal limits on assault round out the drama.
10 snips
Jan 21, 2026 • 51min
Axed PT 2
In the gripping conclusion, Kate and Paul delve into the chilling Villisca axe murders, exploring the Moore family's tragic fate. Reverend Lynn Kelly emerges as a primary suspect with his dubious claims. Tensions rise as they investigate the motives of other suspects, including business rival Frank Jones and the violent Albert Davey. The complexities of evidence reveal how the case was muddled, leading to a shocking trial outcome. They also discuss Lynn's erratic later life, leaving lingering questions about justice and unresolved mysteries.
20 snips
Jan 14, 2026 • 1h 4min
Axed PT 1
In 1912 Iowa, the chilling Villisca Axe Murders unfold as an entire family and their guests meet a gruesome fate. The eerie discovery by a neighbor sparks a frantic investigation. The duo analyzes behavioral clues at the crime scene, including the disturbing state of the victims and the crime scene's contamination by curious townsfolk. They debate whether a singular killer or multiple offenders are responsible while exploring the mind of the perpetrator. The suspense mounts as they outline suspects leading into a deeper exploration.
