All posts by admin

James Renner is an award-winning journalist, and author of True Crime Addict, the definitive book on the Maura Murray disappearance. He also hosts the podcast, The Philosophy of Crime. In 2019, he founded The Porchlight Project which raises money for new DNA testing and genetic genealogy for Ohio cold cases. In May, 2020, James Zastawnik was arrested for the murder of Barbara Blatnik, thanks to the work of genealogists funded by the Porchlight Project.
Uncategorized

Reviews Are in for The Philosophy of Crime

2 Comments

Here’s what people are saying about the new season of The Philosophy of Crime:

Philosophy of Crime
Philosophy of Crime

For my fellow true crime fanatics thirsty for something more; a more introspective, varietal look at this phenomenon we call true crime, look no further. This is the podcast I didn’t know I needed. – Kristen32

People are polarized by Renner. I get it. Just listen. – SailorFamiLee

Initially, I was really intrigued by title of this podcast but was hesitant to listen to or subscribe after I discovered James Renner was at the helm. SO … here I am, years later, binge listening to one of the most well-thought-out and thoroughly researched podcasts I’ve ever listened to. – ssoozee

I could not stop listening once I started. It went from listening at work, to the car and kept going while making dinner. – G Lunn

Uncategorized

Season 4 is Here!

Philosophy of Crime

New episodes of The Philosophy of Crime begin today! Available everywhere you get podcasts.

Here’s the full release schedule:

May 4: “Do Serial Killers Every Really Have Multiple Personalities?”

May 11: “What Are Grand Juries and Why Do They Need to Go?”

May 18: “Tried As An Adult, Still a Kid.”

May 25: “Should We Defund the Police?”

June 1: “Renner’s 2nd Law of True Crime Dynamics.”

June 8: “Killer Art, Or: How to Love Thriller While Still Hating Michael Jackson.”

Uncategorized

The Porchlight Project Solves Another Case!

James Renner in New London.

The Case of the Bones in the Barn has been solved at last, and the answer leads to even more mysteries. For our second case, The Porchlight Project assisted the New London, Ohio Police Department to determine the identify of the young woman whose bones were found wrapped up in newspaper in an old barn, there. I was personally interested because the barn was located just a few doors down from a suspect in the Amy Mihaljevic case.

The Porchlight Project funded DNA testing and genetic genealogy, which led investigators to conclude that the bones belonged to one Hallie Armstrong, an eighteen-year-old schoolteacher who died in 1881.

Read the full story here.

Uncategorized

New Vox Article Explores The Joseph Newton Chandler Case and the Role of DNA Sleuths

The strange case of the man who called himself Joseph Newton Chandler is one of my favorite true crime mysteries of all time – and the inspiration behind my novel, The Man from Primrose Lane. So it was a honor to be interviewed by Katya Cengel for her new piece of long-form nonfiction, which appeared on Vox.

Investigative journalist James Renner, who reported on the Chandler case and even wrote a novel loosely based on it, believes Ruff and those like her who are running from something terrible should be able to disappear.

“What right do we have to open up those doors?” he asks.

He makes an exception for rape and murder, and he is not the only one who believes the Nichols case may have involved both. Because of Robert Nichols’s various eccentricities and the time he spent in California in the late 1960s and early ’70s, when the Zodiac Killer was active there, some web sleuths and even members of law enforcement, like Elliott, who says he can’t rule it out, suspect Nichols could be the killer.

Check out the entire article here.