The Knife: A True Crime Podcast
- Episodes
- 87
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
The Knife: A True Crime Podcast is a weekly true crime podcast from journalist/producers Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton.
It's a show about people who’ve been dropped into a story they didn't start, but are left to finish. In-depth interviews take the listener behind the punchy headlines to hear what really happened from the people who lived it. The Knife reveals the ripple effect of crime.
Through empathetic, solution-oriented journalism, Hannah and Patia find the untold stories of people who’ve been touched by crime. They’re not breaking news or solving cases, they’re cutting to the heart of the experience through gripping, first-person storytelling.
Follow The Knife on Instagram @theknifepodcast and on Bluesky @theknifepodcast.bsky.social.
The Knife 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, Buried Bones and more.
Episodes 87
Did You Kill My Mother? (Part 2 of 2)
Ashlee Wlasiuk was only 10 years old when her father Pete Wlasiuk stood trial for the murder of Patty Wlasiuk. While fighting for her father's innocence, devastating secrets came to light. Among them was the …
Show notes
Ashlee Wlasiuk was only 10 years old when her father Pete Wlasiuk stood trial for the murder of Patty Wlasiuk. While fighting for her father's innocence, devastating secrets came to light. Among them was the revelation that Patty was not Ashlee's biological mother. Her real mother was a woman named Jackie, who died under mysterious circumstances. As the truth about her father began to emerge, Ashlee wondered, what else had he lied about?
Link to order Ashlee Wlasiuk’s book:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HBS1P3PR?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Did You Kill My Mother? (Part 1 of 2)
At just nine years old, Ashlee Wlasiuk lost her mother, Patty, when her parents’ truck plunged into a lake. What initially appeared to be a tragic accident soon became a murder investigation, with Ashlee’s …
Show notes
At just nine years old, Ashlee Wlasiuk lost her mother, Patty, when her parents’ truck plunged into a lake. What initially appeared to be a tragic accident soon became a murder investigation, with Ashlee’s father, Pete Wlasiuk, charged with Patty’s death. Had Patty drowned in a terrible accident, or had Pete killed her and staged the crash? As a child, Ashlee fiercely defended her father, refusing to believe he could be responsible for her mother’s death. But as the years passed, troubling questions became harder to ignore.
Link to pre-order Ashlee Wlasiuk's book for show notes:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HBS1P3PR?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallbackSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: Held at Gunpoint (with Tom Breyfogle)
Patia sits down with Tom Breyfogle, a Producer on The Knife. First, Patia tells Tom a story about Stanley Alpert who narrowly escaped a 25-hour kidnapping. Then, Tom tells Patia about a time a man popped up …
Show notes
Patia sits down with Tom Breyfogle, a Producer on The Knife. First, Patia tells Tom a story about Stanley Alpert who narrowly escaped a 25-hour kidnapping. Then, Tom tells Patia about a time a man popped up from his car's back seat, flashed his gun and told Tom to drive.
Patia’s Book Recommendation: The Responsible Party by Claire Carusillo
Tom’s Movie Recommendation: Highest 2 Lowest
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Off Record: Red River Street (with Karen Kilgariff)
Patia speaks with Karen Kilgariff (Host, My Favorite Murder) about a tragedy she witnessed at SXSW in 2014. Karen reflects on the moment an unthinkable tragedy unfolded in front of her and what it means now to …
Show notes
Patia speaks with Karen Kilgariff (Host, My Favorite Murder) about a tragedy she witnessed at SXSW in 2014. Karen reflects on the moment an unthinkable tragedy unfolded in front of her and what it means now to carry that memory.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: Behind the Bloodstains (with Anita Vita)
In this episode, Patia speaks with Anita Vida, a forensic expert specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis. Anita discusses her work examining the evidence in the appellate case of convicted murderer Paul …
Show notes
In this episode, Patia speaks with Anita Vida, a forensic expert specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis. Anita discusses her work examining the evidence in the appellate case of convicted murderer Paul Duyst, offering insight into the forensic analysis and what the bloodstain patterns revealed about the case.
Vote for The Knife - The Signal Awards
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Off Record: Lost in the Woods (with Gaby)
Hannah’s longtime friend, Gaby, tells Patia about a time she and her boyfriend set out on hike that should've been pretty quick and uneventful. But hours later, they realized they'd lost the trail. With their …
Show notes
Hannah’s longtime friend, Gaby, tells Patia about a time she and her boyfriend set out on hike that should've been pretty quick and uneventful. But hours later, they realized they'd lost the trail. With their food and water running low—and barely any cell service—Gaby and her boyfriend knew they needed help, fast.
Vote for THE KNIFE - The Signal Awards
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What happened to Rebekah? (Part 2 of 2)
Within days of learning her daughter, Rebekah Barsotti, was missing, Angela flew to Montana, desperate to find her daughter. When the search for Rebekah stopped, her estranged ex-husband's behavior became …
Show notes
Within days of learning her daughter, Rebekah Barsotti, was missing, Angela flew to Montana, desperate to find her daughter. When the search for Rebekah stopped, her estranged ex-husband's behavior became impossible for Angela to ignore. Eventually, remains were found and now, Angela is on a mission to share Rebekah's Legacy.
Rebekah's Legacy: https://rebekahslegacy.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What happened to Rebekah? (Part 1 of 2)
In the summer of 2021, Rebekah Barsotti went missing just outside of Missoula, Montana. Was her disappearance the result of a tragic accident, or something else? For Rebekah's mother, Angela Mastrovito, the …
Show notes
In the summer of 2021, Rebekah Barsotti went missing just outside of Missoula, Montana. Was her disappearance the result of a tragic accident, or something else? For Rebekah's mother, Angela Mastrovito, the subsequent search for Rebekah left more questions than answers, especially concerning her estranged ex-husband.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: Knot What it Seems
Hannah tells Patia about an online knitting community shaken by the sudden death of one of its own. But as people begin piecing together what happened, the story begins to... unravel.See omnystudio.com/listener …
Show notes
Hannah tells Patia about an online knitting community shaken by the sudden death of one of its own. But as people begin piecing together what happened, the story begins to... unravel.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fertility Scandal
In 1991, Diane Porter sought fertility treatment from the world-renowned Dr. Ricardo Asch. But just a few short years later, a scandal broke that would shine an entirely new light on what was actually happening …
Show notes
In 1991, Diane Porter sought fertility treatment from the world-renowned Dr. Ricardo Asch. But just a few short years later, a scandal broke that would shine an entirely new light on what was actually happening at the fertility clinic.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: Missing Husband
Patia tells Hannah about Craig Thetford, a man whose disappearance quickly became a grave concern to investigators. Craig's family was worried sick, except for his wife, Deana. She had a story to tell about …
Show notes
Patia tells Hannah about Craig Thetford, a man whose disappearance quickly became a grave concern to investigators. Craig's family was worried sick, except for his wife, Deana. She had a story to tell about what happened to Craig, but as her strange story deepened, not even Deana could keep up.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Munchausen by Proxy
When Tanya Reid called 911 to report that her young son was not breathing, paramedic Tony Collins was first on the scene. And what Tony witnessed that day became a key piece of a disturbing investigation.See …
Show notes
When Tanya Reid called 911 to report that her young son was not breathing, paramedic Tony Collins was first on the scene. And what Tony witnessed that day became a key piece of a disturbing investigation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: Finding the Lost Girls (with Paul Holes)
Legendary investigator, Paul Holes, joins us to discuss Finding the Lost Girls, his audiobook about the investigation into serial killer Joseph Naso and Paul’s relentless effort to identify victims and uncover …
Show notes
Legendary investigator, Paul Holes, joins us to discuss Finding the Lost Girls, his audiobook about the investigation into serial killer Joseph Naso and Paul’s relentless effort to identify victims and uncover the truth.
Finding the Lost Girls: https://www.audible.com/pd/Finding-the-Lost-Girls-Audiobook/B0GQ6MCQ2W?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fake Kidnapping. Real Terror.
One phone call is all it took to plunge Jennifer DeStefano into every mother's worst nightmare. But as the truth came into focus, so did a chilling new kind of crime. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: Surviving Psychosis (with Carolynn Murray)
What if you looked across the room, saw a bloodied body, and believed you had committed murder? Carolynn Murray has experienced the terrifying reality of psychosis. Now, she shares her story to raise awareness …
Show notes
What if you looked across the room, saw a bloodied body, and believed you had committed murder? Carolynn Murray has experienced the terrifying reality of psychosis. Now, she shares her story to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and help end the stigma surrounding psychosis and mental illness.
Carolynn's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@Psychotic.in.Seattle
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The FBI is Here
Zeke Gonzalez had worked hard to turn his life around when, one morning, on his way to work, he was arrested. Zeke couldn't seem to shake the past he'd worked hard to leave behind and soon, the rest of his life …
Show notes
Zeke Gonzalez had worked hard to turn his life around when, one morning, on his way to work, he was arrested. Zeke couldn't seem to shake the past he'd worked hard to leave behind and soon, the rest of his life would hang in the balance.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: The Love Rat
When Rebecca Gray arrived in Perth in 2016, she met Sean and they quickly fell in love. After they'd been together for over a year, Sean uncovered a trail of lies and realized Rebecca was weaving the same story …
Show notes
When Rebecca Gray arrived in Perth in 2016, she met Sean and they quickly fell in love. After they'd been together for over a year, Sean uncovered a trail of lies and realized Rebecca was weaving the same story with another man. Hannah tells Patia about this romance fraudster, or as they like to say in Australia, this "love rat."
Recommendation: The Dark Wizard (TV Series)
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Presenting – Hardcore Con with Johnathan Walton
This week we'd like to introduce you to the podcast, Hardcore Con. It's a new show from Johnathan Walton Media. What on earth could convince an Ivy League-educated journalist to fork over a shoebox with her …
Show notes
This week we'd like to introduce you to the podcast, Hardcore Con. It's a new show from Johnathan Walton Media. What on earth could convince an Ivy League-educated journalist to fork over a shoebox with her entire life savings in it to a complete stranger for safekeeping? This is an intricate and complex con involving multiple con artists. And it could happen to any one of us so pay attention to the tricks, the brain hacks and the dark psychology these A-list scammers use to successfully pull off this $50,000 con.
Check out Johnathan's other podcasts at johnathanwalton.com/podcasts
Johnathan Walton's book is Anatomy of a Con Artist
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Guardianship Fraud (Part 2 of 2)
When Julie Belshe learned her parents had been placed under private guardianship and taken from their home in September 2013, she launched a battle to get them back. Her fight exposed a disturbing, corrupt …
Show notes
When Julie Belshe learned her parents had been placed under private guardianship and taken from their home in September 2013, she launched a battle to get them back. Her fight exposed a disturbing, corrupt network that all led back to a woman named April Parks.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Guardianship Fraud (Part 1 of 2)
When Julie Belshe arrived at her parents’ Las Vegas house in 2013, they’d vanished. After a desperate weekend of searching, she located them, but their reappearance sparked a deeper mystery. What happened to …
Show notes
When Julie Belshe arrived at her parents’ Las Vegas house in 2013, they’d vanished. After a desperate weekend of searching, she located them, but their reappearance sparked a deeper mystery. What happened to her parents, and how would Julie bring them back?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: Cancer Scam Continued
As a follow-up to last week's episode, Patia and Hannah break down the fraud perpetrated by Tony Dia, the father of fallen police officer, Anthony Dia. Patia also tells Hannah about an additional victim of Lisa …
Show notes
As a follow-up to last week's episode, Patia and Hannah break down the fraud perpetrated by Tony Dia, the father of fallen police officer, Anthony Dia. Patia also tells Hannah about an additional victim of Lisa Titkemeier.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cancer Scam
When Lisa Titkemeier told her new friend Dee Lynn that she had cancer, Dee sprang into action, raising thousands of dollars to help. But what began as an inspiring story of friendship and community support soon …
Show notes
When Lisa Titkemeier told her new friend Dee Lynn that she had cancer, Dee sprang into action, raising thousands of dollars to help. But what began as an inspiring story of friendship and community support soon took a dark turn.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: The ER of Law (with Emily Galvin Almanza)
What is a public defender really up against? Emily Galvin Almanza fought for over 2000 clients in some of America's toughest courts and saw firsthand how even being accused of a crime can derail someone's life …
Show notes
What is a public defender really up against? Emily Galvin Almanza fought for over 2000 clients in some of America's toughest courts and saw firsthand how even being accused of a crime can derail someone's life. Today, we speak with Emily about her most memorable cases and her new fight to reform the criminal justice system.
Emily's book: The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: Inside a Kratom Wrongful Death Case (with Michael Cowgill)
Attorney Michael Cowgill joins us to discuss a wrongful death lawsuit involving Kratom, the widely available and largely unregulated substance sold in gas stations across the U.S. At the center of the case is …
Show notes
Attorney Michael Cowgill joins us to discuss a wrongful death lawsuit involving Kratom, the widely available and largely unregulated substance sold in gas stations across the U.S. At the center of the case is Patrick Coyne, a 39-year-old husband and father, whose death has been attributed to Kratom use. We explore the legal battle, the risks associated with the substance, and the questions surrounding oversight and consumer safety.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kidnapped at Birth (Part 2 of 2)
Paul Fronczak discovered that he was not biologically related to his parents, Dora and Chester Fronczak, but was born in New Jersey as Jack Rosenthal. He also learned he had a twin sister, Jill, who was …
Show notes
Paul Fronczak discovered that he was not biologically related to his parents, Dora and Chester Fronczak, but was born in New Jersey as Jack Rosenthal. He also learned he had a twin sister, Jill, who was missing. Paul's search for his identity had expanded. He was now looking for three people: the real Paul Fronczak who was kidnapped in 1964, the kidnapper, and his biological twin sister, Jill.
Referenced in the episode:
Paul Jack Fronczak's podcast: The Fronczak Files
Paul Jack Fronczak's books: The Foundling and True Identity
Documentary: The Lost Sons
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kidnapped at Birth (Part 1 of 2)
In 1964, Paul Fronczak was kidnapped from a Chicago hospital just one day after he was born. Miraculously found and returned two years later, he grew up unaware of his past until a childhood discovery sparked a …
Show notes
In 1964, Paul Fronczak was kidnapped from a Chicago hospital just one day after he was born. Miraculously found and returned two years later, he grew up unaware of his past until a childhood discovery sparked a search for the truth. As an adult, Paul’s investigation into his own identity uncovers astonishing secrets that rewrite everything he thought he knew.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: A Mother on Trial (with Samantha Michaels)
Investigative reporter Samantha Michaels of Mother Jones spent a year digging into Oklahoma’s controversial “failure to protect” laws—statutes meant to safeguard children, but that can also send victims to …
Show notes
Investigative reporter Samantha Michaels of Mother Jones spent a year digging into Oklahoma’s controversial “failure to protect” laws—statutes meant to safeguard children, but that can also send victims to prison. At the center of her reporting is Kerry King, a mother of four, and the fallout from a single night in January 2015, when her boyfriend, John Purdy, brutally abused both her and her four-year-old daughter, Lila.
In this episode, we speak with Michaels about her investigation and the broader implications of these laws. We also hear directly from Kerry King in a phone call from prison.
Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DEPpYkl8gI
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: Stalked Twice
Patia tells Hannah the story of LaVonne Skalias and her fight to survive two brutal attacks by her stalker, a man she barely knew. Recommendation: Girl on the Run: The Hunt For America's Most Wanted WomanSee …
Show notes
Patia tells Hannah the story of LaVonne Skalias and her fight to survive two brutal attacks by her stalker, a man she barely knew.
Recommendation: Girl on the Run: The Hunt For America's Most Wanted Woman
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Scam, Continued
Chancy Lewis, a retired schoolteacher and recent widower, struck up an unlikely online friendship after receiving a text from a wrong number. Five short weeks later, his entire world began to unravel. See …
Show notes
Chancy Lewis, a retired schoolteacher and recent widower, struck up an unlikely online friendship after receiving a text from a wrong number. Five short weeks later, his entire world began to unravel.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Off Record: A Conversation with Dusty Turner
In today's episode, we're speaking with Dusty Turner, who was recently released from prison after 31 years. Dusty reflects on the night that changed his life forever and shares with us his plans for the …
Show notes
In today's episode, we're speaking with Dusty Turner, who was recently released from prison after 31 years. Dusty reflects on the night that changed his life forever and shares with us his plans for the future.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
These are the latest 40 of 87 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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