This Much is True Crime

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Lisa Hayden-Johnson convinced the country that her young son Matthew was suffering from a series of life-threatening illnesses. But the truth was far more disturbing.

From cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis to diabetes and severe allergies, Matthew was subjected to hundreds of medical appointments, made to use a wheelchair and fed through tubes, despite not having the conditions his mother claimed.

The story attracted national attention, with Matthew receiving a Child of Courage award and the family meeting figures including Tony Blair and the Duchess of Cornwall.

But behind the public sympathy was a prolonged pattern of child abuse. Hayden-Johnson was eventually convicted of child cruelty and other offences, exposing a case of fabricated or induced illness, sometimes referred to as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

How could a mother fabricate her own child's illnesses for years? Why did so many people believe her? And how was the abuse eventually uncovered?

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Produced by Podcast House.

This Much Is True Crime is proudly sponsored by the TRUE CRIME channel.

Watch TRUE CRIME on Sky 146, Freely 37, Freeview 67, Freesat 135 and Virgin 148.
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Christa Pike was supposed to become the first woman executed by Tennessee in more than 200 years. Instead, she survived her own execution.

Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 torture and murder of 19 year old Colleen Slemmer. On September 30, Tennessee attempted to execute her by lethal injection, but after two doses of pentobarbital, Pike continued breathing and was eventually rushed to hospital in critical condition.

The extraordinary failure has thrown Tennessee's execution system into turmoil. Governor Bill Lee has halted executions for the remainder of the year and ordered an independent review into what went wrong.

How does an execution go this badly wrong? And after surviving an attempt by the state to kill her, what happens to Christa Pike now?

Check out our Patreon for bonus weekly episodes and access to live recordings, plus monthly newsletters! Click here to join:
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Produced by Podcast House.

This Much Is True Crime is proudly sponsored by the TRUE CRIME channel.

Watch TRUE CRIME on Sky 146, Freely 37, Freeview 67, Freesat 135 and Virgin 148.
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In November 2001, 90 year old Mabel Leyshon was murdered inside her home on Anglesey in one of Wales's most disturbing murder cases.Her killer was 17 year old Mathew Hardman, a former paperboy who had developed an obsession with vampires and the idea that he could achieve immortality.

Mabel was stabbed 22 times before her body was subjected to a series of bizarre rituals. Hardman removed her heart, drank her blood and positioned two fire pokers at her feet in the shape of a cross.

The case became known as the ‘Welsh Vampire Murder’, but what drove a teenager to commit such an extraordinary crime? We look back at Mabel's murder, the evidence that led police to Hardman and the disturbing obsession behind the killing.

Check out our Patreon for bonus weekly episodes and access to live recordings, plus monthly newsletters! Click here to join:https://www.patreon.com/c/ThisMuchisTrueCrime

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thismuchistruecrime

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Produced by Podcast House.

This Much Is True Crime is proudly sponsored by the TRUE CRIME channel.Watch TRUE CRIME on Sky 146, Freely 37, Freeview 67, Freesat 135 and Virgin 148.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hit subscribe so you don't miss any updates.

SimpliSafe: For an exclusive 35% OFF and a FREE outdoor camera, click the link below and use the promo code: TRUECRIMEhttps://simplisafe.co.uk/build-my-system?utm_code=TRUECRIME

The case of Luigi Mangione has become one of the most closely followed criminal cases in America.

Mangione is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot dead in Manhattan in December 2024. The case has attracted extraordinary public attention, from the circumstances surrounding Thompson's death to the reaction to Mangione himself.

Professor David Wilson and Martin Frizell examine the case against Mangione, the evidence surrounding the shooting and the unusual legal questions emerging as the case progresses.

They also discuss the intense fascination with Mangione, why this particular case has captured so much attention and what could happen next as the legal proceedings continue.

Check out our Patreon for bonus weekly episodes and access to live recordings, plus monthly newsletters! Click here to join: https://www.patreon.com/c/ThisMuchisTrueCrime

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thismuchistruecrimeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thismuchistruecrime

Produced by Podcast House.

This Much Is True Crime is proudly sponsored by the TRUE CRIME channel.

Watch TRUE CRIME on Sky 146, Freely 37, Freeview 67, Freesat 135 and Virgin 148.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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SimpliSafe: For an exclusive 35% OFF and a FREE outdoor camera, click the link below and use the promo code: TRUECRIMEhttps://simplisafe.co.uk/build-my-system?utm_code=TRUECRIME

Bombshell new findings from the Thirlwall Inquiry have concluded that Lucy Letby could and should have been stopped sooner, potentially saving the lives of three of her victims.
The inquiry found serious safeguarding failures at the Countess of Chester Hospital and concluded that the failure to alert police earlier to concerns about Letby's conduct had devastating consequences for children and their families.
Professor David Wilson and Martin Frizell are joined by Christopher Morris, author of a new book examining the Lucy Letby case. They discuss the findings of the inquiry, the ongoing investigation into potential corporate manslaughter and gross negligence at the hospital, and the growing debate surrounding the safety of Letby's convictions.
While the Thirlwall Inquiry made clear its position that Letby is responsible for the crimes for which she was convicted, Morris's book brings together experts who question whether her convictions are safe and explores the possibility of the case returning to the Court of Appeal.

Check out our Patreon for bonus weekly episodes and access to live recordings, plus monthly newsletters! Click here to join:https://www.patreon.com/c/ThisMuchisTrueCrime

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thismuchistruecrimeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thismuchistruecrime

Produced by Podcast House.
This Much Is True Crime is proudly sponsored by the TRUE CRIME channel.
Watch TRUE CRIME on Sky 146, Freely 37, Freeview 67, Freesat 135 and Virgin 148.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices