What would you do if a bit of online research led you to something deeply disturbing?

In this episode of The Crime Scene Insiders, we're joined by Joshua Richards, founder of OSINT Praxis, to take a closer look at the world of Open-Source Intelligence, and the very real consequences it can sometimes uncover.

Josh discovered OSINT while he was still a student, fascinated by the puzzle of piecing together information from publicly available sources. He started out by showing Minecraft players what could be found about them from nothing more than a username. But that curiosity soon led him down a much darker rabbit hole, when he came across posts involving the sale of human body parts and plans to kidnap people.

Using OSINT techniques, Josh began investigating what he'd found. Starting with little more than an email address, he was eventually able to identify the person behind the posts and pass the information on to law enforcement. Years later, he learned that the individual had been arrested, and that the investigation had potentially saved the lives of two people.

But this episode isn't just about that investigation.

We talk about what Open-Source Intelligence actually is, how seemingly insignificant pieces of information can be connected, and just how much we unknowingly leave behind online. Josh explains how he approaches an investigation, what public records and data breaches can reveal, and why your digital footprint may be far bigger than you realise.

If you've ever wondered how private you really are online, Josh has some practical advice, from passwords and two-factor authentication to social media privacy and understanding what you're putting out there.

We also get into the ethics of OSINT, the line between information being publicly available and it being appropriate to use, and why Josh is careful about the investigations he takes on. And we look at the growing role of AI, and why Josh isn't convinced that current tools are ready to replace the human side of investigation.

This is a fascinating, and at times unsettling, look at what can be uncovered when you know where to look.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of violent crime and kidnapping.

Useful links: If you'd like to get into OSINT, Josh recommends the free UK OSINT community at osint.uk (Discord: osint.uk/discord). If you've come across something concerning online, Crime Stoppers offers a completely anonymous way to report it. And if you'd like to use your skills to help find missing people, take a look at Trace Labs.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is life really like as a private investigator?

In Episode 39, we're joined by Paul Hagan, an experienced private investigator and author of Looking Beneath the Surface, to hear about a career that has taken him into extraordinary, unpredictable and at times dangerous situations.

Paul shares stories from his years as a PI, from surveillance jobs that didn't go to plan and investigations that put his own life at risk, to one particularly devastating betrayal that left him rebuilding his life from scratch.

But Paul's career eventually became deeply personal. While writing his book, he began looking into the past of his estranged brother, Dean Hagan, and that research eventually led him to take a closer look at the 1986 murders of Brian Price and Susan Tetrault. Dean stood trial for the murders and was acquitted. No other suspects have been identified, and the murders remain unsolved, with questions still surrounding what, if any, involvement Dean may have had.

Paul tells us about approaching the case not just as an investigator, but as a brother. We discuss his thoughts on the evidence surrounding the case, the questions around motive and opportunity, and why so much still remains unanswered.

This episode follows on from Episode 32, where we explored the murders with Brian's son, Ray Price, and former Met detective Alan Jackaman, who was involved in the original investigation.

It's important to stress that Dean Hagan was acquitted of the murders, and any discussion of his possible involvement remains speculation.

Paul's book, Looking Beneath the Surface, is available here:

https://www.amazon.com/Looking-Beneath-Surface-Paul-Hagan/dp/B0H4M22QZ2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&sr=1-1

Join us as we take you back under the barrier tape.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When you hear the word "cult", what comes to mind?

For many of us, it's the infamous groups we've seen in documentaries and true crime programmes: Jonestown, Heaven's Gate, the Manson Family. But what if our understanding of cults is much narrower than it should be?

In Episode 38, we're joined by Kacey Baker, creator and host of the award-nominated podcast Cult Vault, to explore the psychology of cults, recruitment and coercive control, and why almost anyone could be vulnerable to manipulation.

Kacey has spent years speaking to cult survivors, researchers and experts, and has completed postgraduate research into the psychology of coercive control. We talk about what actually makes a group a cult, why "how easy is it to leave?" is often the clearest way to spot a cult from the outside, and how manipulation can begin with something as seemingly innocent as finding friendship, community or a place where you feel you belong.

We discuss love bombing, isolation, dependency, loaded language, the "us versus them" mentality and why leaving isn't as simple as "just walking away".

But coercive control doesn't only exist within traditional religious cults.

We explore how the same mechanisms can appear in abusive relationships, workplaces, gangs, wellness movements and online communities — and how social media has created new opportunities for recruitment, manipulation and control.

We also look at the warning signs that friends and family might notice, what happens when someone finally leaves, why recovery can be so complicated, and how Kacey's own understanding of cults changed through listening to survivors.

It's a fascinating conversation that challenges some of the assumptions we might have about who joins cults, why they stay, and whether we would really recognise one if we encountered it ourselves.

Because perhaps the most uncomfortable question is this: could it happen to you?

You can find more from Kacey, including Cult Vault's episode archive and support resources for anyone affected by coercive control or cult involvement, at cultvaultpodcast.com.

Join us as we take you back under the barrier tape.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.