PODCAST · society
Crime Beat
by Curiouscast
People know their hometowns by streets, a favourite restaurant or the local mall. Crime Reporter Nancy Hixt knows hers by the crime scenes she's been to over the past 20 years. Journey deep inside some of Canada’s most high-profile criminal cases. Each episode will take you inside the story to give you details you didn't hear on the news. Winner of the 2020 & 2023 & 2025 Edward R. Murrow Award (RTDNA). Nominated as Best International Podcast at the 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards.
Episodes
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Documenting a Serial Killer | 13
In the spring of 2024, the identity of a serial killer was finally unmasked. In the award-winning three-part series, Global News Senior Crime Reporter Nancy Hixt shared how he terrorized teenage girls and young women in the 1970s and documented the decades-long cold case investigation, which...
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Last Call Part 03 | 12
A young woman vanished after a night out on the town. The aspiring nurse’s loved ones held out hope she would be found safe, but after months of searching, their worst fears came true. Join Global News Senior Crime Reporter Nancy Hixt as she shares how investigators finally uncovered the shocking...
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Last Call Part 02 | 11
The sudden disappearance of a 24-year-old aspiring nurse left her family and friends desperate for answers. There were no footprints of life, and investigators struggled to find evidence of where she could be. Join Global News Senior Crime Reporter Nancy Hixt as she shares details of a shocking...
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Last Call Part 01 | 10
A young woman was about to begin an exciting new career path, but missed a scheduled appointment with her father. As her family began to retrace her steps, they realized no one had seen or heard from the 24-year-old for several days. Join Global News Senior Crime Reporter Nancy Hixt as she shares...
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A Fatal Decision | 09
A heavy-duty pickup truck was driving erratically and cut into traffic. Onlookers were shocked to see a woman chasing behind it on foot. It was a chaotic scene that very quickly turned violent. The driver fled the scene, sparking a major crimes investigation. Join Global News senior crime…
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Righting a wrong, the story of Maryam Rashidi
Maryam Rashidi’s life focused on creating opportunities for her son. But in 2015, both Rashidi and her husband were laid off from their jobs in the oil and gas industry. June 7, 2015, was her fourth shift working at a Calgary gas station — a job she took to make ends meet. That morning, Rashidi...
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The Night Shift Part 02 | 08
As homicide detectives investigated the violent beating death of a sandwich shop clerk, they soon realized the young woman wasn’t the only one savagely attacked that night. As the hunt for a killer intensified, Global News Senior Crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares how evidence discovered from a...
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The Night Shift Part 01 | 07
Two men arrived at a local sandwich shop and found the store clerk lying in a pool of blood. They called for help, but despite their best efforts, the young woman passed away. That’s when officers noticed the cash register was missing. Join Global News Senior Crime reporter Nancy Hixt as she…
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Vanished Part 02 | 06
When a young mother and toddler disappeared, police were shocked to learn their footprints of life came to an abrupt stop. Interviews with loved ones led detectives to identify and interview a suspect- but there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him. Join Global News senior crime reporter Nancy…
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Vanished Part 01 | 05
Just days away from a family Easter dinner in 2019, a young single mom and her 22-month-old daughter vanished. As time passed, their loved ones became increasingly concerned and contacted the police. Join Global News senior crime reporter Nancy Hixt as she shares shocking details of the...
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Rerelease: Meika Jordan, The Broken Princess
On this episode of Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt goes through the evidence as it was uncovered by investigators in their quest for justice for Meika Jordan. Contact: Instagram: @nancy.hixt Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyHixtCrimeBeat/ Email:...
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Fighting For Meika | 04
A six-year-old girl was rushed to the hospital after her father and stepmother said she had fallen down the stairs. But Meika Jordan’s injuries didn’t match that explanation. Her hair was matted with clumps missing, her tiny body was covered with bruises, a third-degree burn covered the palm of…
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Golden Years Gone Part 03 | 03
In 1994, a beloved senior was found beaten to death in his rural Alberta home. Despite exhaustive efforts, the killer eluded arrest. More than a year later, a Calgary senior disappeared. A note was left behind suggesting he’d gone fishing, but a search of the home revealed something much more...
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Golden Years Gone Part 02 | 02
In August of 1995, a beloved father and grandfather vanished. A note was left on his kitchen table, suggesting he had gone fishing, but Bill Vomastic’s family was suspicious. As loved ones took a closer look at his home, they found signs of violence and reported him missing to the police. Join...
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Golden Years Gone Part 01 | 01
A beloved senior was found beaten to death in his home in rural Alberta- leaving neighbours and surrounding communities shaken and fearful for their own safety. The 75-year-old lived a frugal life, officials believed he was targeted for the little money he had. Join Global News Senior Crime...
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Sneak Peek: Golden Years Gone
A rural Alberta community was shocked when a beloved senior was found beaten to death in his own home. Despite exhaustive efforts by investigators, the murderer eluded arrest. You can hear the whole story now - one month early - only on Amazon Music....
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New Season Coming Soon
Global News Senior Crime Reporter Nancy Hixt, has been covering stories of senseless and horrific violence for 30 years. . This season she'll take you inside shocking cases that show how careless people can be with human life. And what happens when greed and selfishness take over. You might…
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I Survived A Serial Killer
They each met him online and knew him only as 'Bruce.' He gained their trust, only to turn on them when they were at their most vulnerable. In this episode, two men reveal their near-death experiences at the hands of notorious serial killer Bruce McArthur. The exclusive details of their 9-1-1…
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A Random Encounter
64-year-old Annie Hang-Kam Chiu was looking forward to retirement when she was viciously murdered. Within approximately three hours, her killer had turned himself in. The accused surrendered to the police carrying a type of homemade-looking bomb-like device… but what investigators would uncover...
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Who Killed Sonia?
Police say they won’t quit until they find Sonia Varaschin’s killer. The investigation into the 42-year-old nurse’s death began when she didn’t show up for work at a Mississauga pharmaceutical company. Her remains were discovered a week later in Caledon, approximately 12 kilometres from her home....
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Shootout at the Duke
When a dispute outside a Toronto tavern between a jealous boyfriend and several gang members ends in a hail of gunfire, a young woman new to the city is killed. Four others are wounded, including a woman who discovers she’s pregnant when doctors try to remove the bullet. Another wounded man…
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Closure
In 1983, Susan Tice, a 45-year-old mother of four was found raped and stabbed to death in her Toronto home. Four months later, across town, 22-year-old Erin Gilmour returns home from work and is attacked the same way. The women didn’t know each other, and both cases remained unsolved for decades....
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The Legacy of Jordan Manners
In May of 2007, 15 year old Jordan Manners was gunned down in a hallway at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute, marking the first time a student was shot and killed inside a Toronto school. Catherine McDonald looks back at the murder, its impact on the community and his family, and how this tragic...
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Before My Eyes
Driving home from work, Royi Flescher could never have imagined what he was about to encounter. And when Soula Berdoussis pulled over, she thought she was stopping to help at the scene of a car accident. What unfolded next would change them forever – as they found two women brutally stabbed…
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Alicia Ross, Everyone’s Daughter
When Alicia Ross disappeared, it led to one of the biggest missing person searches in Ontario’s history. Reporter Catherine McDonald reconnected with Alicia’s mother to tell her story as part of the TV documentary series, inspired by the podcast.. For more info, please go to...
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Special Announcement
As a senior crime reporter for Global News for almost 30 years, Nancy Hixt has been lucky enough to work with some amazing journalists. She's working hard on the next season but until then she has a special series of Crime Beat for you. In each episode, you’ll ride along with Catherine McDonald,...
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Listen Next... Stop Rewind: The Lost Boy | Through A Glass Darkly | 1
Taj Khyber Rowland knows he’s not who people think he is but he can’t quite remember how his life went so off course. He decides to spool backwards, to his younger self. A daredevil seven year old Chellamuthu, living happily, but in abject poverty, with his large family in rural India. But when...
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Narrowing in on a killer: The Kelly Cook Story
In the summer of 1981, a group of teenagers stopped to scout a path around a lake in southeastern Alberta when they came across something that would haunt them even 40 years later. It was the body of Kelly Cook, the backup babysitter. Her murder remains unsolved. In this rerelease, join Global…
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Kelly Cook: The Back-up Babysitter - Part 2
In 1981, Kelly took a job to babysit for Bill Christensen. The 15-year-old was never seen alive again. What most people don’t know is that Kelly was not the killer’s first choice. She was the “backup babysitter.” Christensen's first choice was a 17-year-old girl, but she already had plans so she...
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Kelly Cook: The Back-up Babysitter - Part 1
Kelly Cook was a young girl who was abducted from Standard, Alta., 38 years ago. She had taken a job babysitting someone new — and then, she was gone. Her body was found June 28, 1981 in an irrigation canal south of Taber. Investigators said it was obvious someone had gone through a lot of work…
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Uncovering A Serial Killer - Part 3 | 14
Nearly 50 years after the mysterious deaths of four women, police finally got a break in the case. Historical homicide detectives used cutting-edge techniques to uncover a serial killer. Join Global News senior crime reporter Nancy Hixt as she shares how a husband and father became a monster, and...
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Uncovering A Serial Killer - Part 2 | 13
From 1976 to 1977, four young women were found dead, their bodies dumped outside of Calgary city limits. The first two were deemed “undetermined deaths.” The third and fourth were considered murders, and police felt the same offender was likely responsible. For decades, the four families were…
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Uncovering A Serial Killer | 12
In the late 1970s, there were a series of mysterious deaths. First, two jr. high girls were found in an underpass west of Calgary. Seven months later, another young woman was found in a ditch, beaten and strangled to death. Just months after that, a fourth woman was found strangled to death.…
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Coming Soon: Uncovering a Serial Killer
In the 1970s, two young girls were found dead in an underpass. Seven months later, the body of a young woman was discovered in a ditch. And… just months after that, a fourth woman was found strangled to death. Their cases went cold. On the season finale of Crime Beat, Nancy Hixt, a Senior Crime...
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Benevolence Betrayed Part 2 | 11
The spring of 1999 was filled with excitement about new adventures for Audrey Trudeau. After several years in Calgary, the physiotherapist had a new opportunity back home in Ontario, and she was looking forward to spending more time with her siblings. Her house was listed for sale, and she was...
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Benevolence Betrayed | 10
An esteemed physiotherapist moved to Calgary in search of a fresh start. Audrey Trudeau quickly gained the respect and admiration of her colleagues at the Rockyview General Hospital and became well known for her kind and generous spirit. Then, on the eve of an exciting new opportunity, she...
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Shattered Dreams Part 2 | 09
When a beloved chef was murdered outside of his future restaurant, the case became a true whodunnit as homicide detectives struggled to find a motive or suspects. Join Global News senior crime reporter Nancy Hixt as she shares how investigators cracked the case and uncovered the senseless motive...
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Shattered Dreams | 08
A highly respected, executive chef was weeks away from realizing his dream of opening his own restaurant in March of 2020 when he was violently killed. Join Global News Senior Crime reporter Nancy Hixt as she shares how detectives followed a complicated trail of evidence to uncover a senseless...
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Deadly Rumours - Part 2 | 07
When police responded to allegations of disturbing confinement, torture and murder of a Calgary woman at a downtown rooming house- there was no evidence of foul play. But two officers instinctively felt they should persist. Learn how these tenacious investigators worked to solve a crime they...
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Deadly Rumours | 06
In the spring of 2006 Calgary Police received an ominous call from someone worried a woman was being held captive in a downtown rooming house. Officers responded but found nothing suspicious. But over the next few days there were other similar reports made to police alleging disturbing violence…
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The Day Mark Mariani Came Face-to-Face With Evil | 05 (Re-release)
On Oct. 1, 2010, Mark Mariani, 47, was given new hope, thanks to medical advancements. He suffered from Crohn’s disease for more than half of his life. and doctors told him he might not need his colostomy bag anymore. The next night, he headed to his favourite western bar to do some two-steppin’...
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Face-to-Face with Evil | 04
An innocent man was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and was brutally beaten and stomped to death. On this episode of Crime Beat, Global News senior crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the latest developments on the senseless murder that happened less than 15 years ago. She’ll provide insights...
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Inside Forensics: Solving a Murder in the Mountains | 03
In 1990, the peace and tranquility found in Banff National Park was shattered by the first murder there in twenty years and there was a lot of pressure on police to solve the case. There were no witnesses to the homicide and only one key piece of evidence that could positively identify the…
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Murder in the Mountains - Part 2 | 02
A young woman was found murdered in 1990, investigators worked tirelessly to find a viable suspect. But the case went cold. A reward was offered for information leading to an arrest, and the case was even featured by Unsolved Mysteries. Join Senior Crime reporter Nancy Hixt as she shares what...
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Murder in the Mountains | 01
The popular resort town of Banff was rocked with its first homicide in twenty years. A young woman and taxi driver from Quebec was robbed and stabbed to death. Join Global News Senior Crime reporter Nancy Hixt as she explains how the case went cold, despite the tireless efforts that went into...
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Crime Beat returns March 4th
There’s no limit to how far criminals will go… to cover their tracks… But investigators will go even further to uncover the truth… Nancy Hixt is a senior Crime Reporter for Global News. This season on the Crime Beat she takes you from the crime scene to the courtroom and inside some of Canada’s...
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Gone in an instant - The Hunt for Talal Amer Part 1 | 14
On a cool spring evening in 2022, chaos erupted as police received reports of two erratic drivers and then gunfire. One of the vehicles fled the shooting scene at high speed and moments later was involved in a violent and deadly crash. Senior crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the story of a mother...
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Gone in an instant - The Hunt for Talal Amer Part 2 | 15
In the spring of 2022, chaos erupted in southeast Calgary. There were reports of two erratic drivers, followed by a shooting. Moments later, a violent collision. Angela McKenzie, a mother of five, died at the scene. Join Nancy Hixt, senior crime reporter for Global News as she explains what led…
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Inside Corrections | 12
If you’ve ever watched shows like Prison Break or Orange is the New Black you probably have an idea of what life behind bars is like or a dramatized version of it. On this special episode of Crime Beat, Global News senior crime reporter Nancy Hixt gives you an exclusive look inside jail and…
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Incendiary Circumstances - Part 2 | 11
On November 17, 2004 a young Calgary family settled in for the evening. At about 9pm, the husband left for work as a security guard, while his wife stayed home with their two children. In the middle of the night, she woke to the sound of shattered glass. Within minutes the entire home was…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
People know their hometowns by streets, a favourite restaurant or the local mall. Crime Reporter Nancy Hixt knows hers by the crime scenes she's been to over the past 20 years. Journey deep inside some of Canada’s most high-profile criminal cases. Each episode will take you inside the story to give you details you didn't hear on the news.
Winner of the 2020 & 2023 & 2025 Edward R. Murrow Award (RTDNA).
Nominated as Best International Podcast at the 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards.
HOSTED BY
Curiouscast
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Crime Beat have?
Crime Beat currently has 154 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Crime Beat about?
People know their hometowns by streets, a favourite restaurant or the local mall. Crime Reporter Nancy Hixt knows hers by the crime scenes she's been to over the past 20 years. Journey deep inside some of Canada’s most high-profile criminal cases. Each episode will take you inside the story to give...
How often does Crime Beat release new episodes?
Crime Beat publishes regularly with 154 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Crime Beat?
You can listen to Crime Beat on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Crime Beat?
Crime Beat is created and hosted by Curiouscast.
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