Digging Up Dillinger

After a short break the gang is back with Travis and Mike talking to Joe about the new projects we are all working on. Infamousindytours.com

Join us on Episode 29 of Digging Up Dillinger as we explore the infamous Crown Point Jail and John Dillinger's daring escape. See the history come alive!In this episode, we uncover the fascinating story of John Dillinger's escape from the Crown Point Jail. Watch as we delve into the history of this infamous criminal and his daring prison break!In this episode, we uncover the fascinating story of John Dillinger's escape from the Crown Point Jail. Watch as we delve into the history of this infamous criminal and his daring prison break!

Melvin Purvis was a ladies man, Who knew?! This episode we go over some letters Todd discovered in the Dillinger files. If you love history this is the episode for you! 

A new found article showcases what Dillinger's grave looks like underground!  What a huge find for the team and as the weather warms a trip to the gravesite is in order! 

The Indiana State Museum is the WORST! I can't believe this is an episode we have to cover but this organization sucks. After contacting Travis to inquire about the alleged Dillinger baseball glove, the Museum gives us the run around,making us jump through hoops for nothing. Money, not History, seems to be the motivation, you be the judge.     

The gang brings in a "Pendulum Dousing" experts to see if we could get a lead from the "otherside"! An interesting tactic used by law enforcment and FBI investigators for decades. The team asks a few serious questions at the end to see if we could get a lead on John Dillinger's death. 

The gang is back after a long holiday break. This episode we give the updates we've been working on as a crew and new insight into the crazy 16 hour TikTok Ban of 2025. 

Crime historian Paul Maccabee spent 12 years researching his book, “John Dillinger Slept Here: A Crooks Tour of Crime and Corruption in St. Paul” – based on tens of thousands of FBI files released to him under the Freedom of Information Act and interviews with more than 200 police officers, gun molls, retired FBI agents and family members of Public Enemies-era gangsters. This week ont he podcast Joe Interviews him from his home in St. Paul MN. 

Mike puts on a 'Show and Tell' with some real-life Dillinger artifacts. This episode is best enjoyed on our YouTube channel. 

 The gang hangs out again after a short break, this time going over the details of the recent DNA results. The DNA comes from the pants John Dillinger was wearing the night he was allegedly shot at the Biograph Theater. 

The gang talks to the Director and Founding Director of Indiana K9 Search and Recovery, the team that helped us search the Dillinger family property.

This week's episode, Sherry McCollum joins the gang to talk about the resent K9 search on the old family farm property in Moorsville Indiana. 

The gang starts the episode discussing the famous Johnny Depp and his involvment with the Thompsons. Could getting a hold of the actor pay off in the end for the new age Dillinger Crew? 

The Gang revists the Mapp discussion after Joe pulls it out the safety deposit box. Specifically we examine the timeline and cities associated with the Dillinger gang to see if there are any connections to the information left behind. 

Nephew of John Dillinger joins us on the podcast for another round. We hit him with some viewer questions and discuss some of the artifacts hidden in Mike's garage. 

The closest living relative of John Dillinger, Mike Thompson sits down with the gang to talk about the podcaat!  A huge wealth of knowledge, Mike brings us stories and facts we have been dying for! 

Auther Ron Offen, co-author of the book 'Dillinger: Dead or Alive' had some serious writer credits. Much of his research and papers are stored in one place, The University of Chicago Library. Joe takes a trip to the college to dive into what they have in the special research section. The Gang dicusses the findings and if it means anything to the investigation. 

The Gang takes on some new research. Our own Todd Hiles found a news article buried in the FBI files showcasing what Melivn Pervis says happend to Dillinger. The interesting part is, all of it is on the record, but does that make it true? We dive deep on this episode of Digging Up Dillinger. 

Imagine one day your digging on the family farm, with a film crew filming, and all of a sudden you put your shovel in the ground and 'Crack'! A ball jar is under the ground and a piece of american history is sitting right at your feet. That is exactly what happened at the Dillinger family farm and to our own Stewart Fillmore. This episode we talk about the day that happened and what the map means in our opinion. 

 Throughout this case, Hollywood has tried to help tell the story of these two mysteries. Paul Lima was the producer at the forefront of the first real attempt at this case being on TV. He joins the gang for an interview to talk about the project he was a part of. 

 On December 3, 1949, the Mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana, Al Feeney, wrote a letter to Terre Haute, Indiana Mayor Ralph Tucker. The letter was relatively short> Was it a hoax, a joke?  Was it a secret?  The gang covers the letter in the best way they how! 

In July 1959 and July 1963, two handwritten letters were received by the Indianapolis Star newspaper and Emil Wanatka Jr., respectively, by someone claiming to be Dillinger. Both letters were signed “John H. Dillinger.” Although I am not a handwriting expert, my analysis and observation of certain specific characteristics of the handwriting in the respective letters appear to show they were written by the same person. In addition, a single photograph was included with each letter. Both photographs appear to be the same man and consistent with what have been the chronological ages of Dillinger in 1959 (age 56) and 1963 (age 60). The man does have certain facial features, including the shapes of the eyes, nose, mouth and hairline that appear similar to Dillinger 

The team gets together on John DIllinger's Death anniversary to answer viewer questions and remember the gangster as this mystery turns 90 years old.

The FBI's use of John Dillinger's fingerprints marked a significant milestone in law enforcement history, highlighting the effectiveness of fingerprint identification in solving crimes. Dillinger, a notorious American gangster during the 1930s, was known for his string of bank robberies and escapes from custody, making him a high-profile target for law enforcement.On July 22, 1934, after a series of bank heists and a prison escape, John Dillinger was fatally shot by FBI agents outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. Following his death, the FBI used his fingerprints to positively identify his body. This identification was crucial in confirming the end of Dillinger's criminal career and bringing closure to his reign of terror.The use of fingerprints in identifying Dillinger not only underscored the FBI's growing capabilities in forensic science but also demonstrated the importance of systematic record-keeping and cross-referencing of criminal identities. Dillinger's case reinforced the significance of fingerprints as a reliable method of identification, influencing future practices in law enforcement worldwide.Moreover, Dillinger's fingerprints were not only used for identification purposes but also served as a deterrent to other criminals, showcasing that law enforcement agencies could effectively track and apprehend even the most notorious offenders through meticulous forensic techniques. Thus, John Dillinger's fingerprints not only played a pivotal role in his posthumous identification but also contributed to the advancement of modern forensic science and the capabilities of law enforcement agencies in combating crime.

John Dillinger's missing tooth became an intriguing aspect of his legend. During his criminal career in the early 1930s, Dillinger's missing front tooth became a distinctive feature that often helped authorities and the public identify him. According to reports, he lost this tooth during a confrontation with police or during a scuffle in prison, depending on the source.This missing tooth added to his image as a daring and defiant figure, emphasizing his run-ins with the law and his ability to evade capture. It also contributed to the folklore surrounding Dillinger, as it was a detail that people remembered and associated with his outlaw persona

 The next part of the Fillmore Report focuses on the heart condition reported by the autopsy physician. The discrepancies continue, and the new-age Dillinger gang is working through the case.  

The eyes are the windows to the soul and that saying is true in this case. The person shot on July 22nd was reported to have brown eyes, which difers from everything known about John DIllinger. We go over more of the report put together by reired FBI agent Stewart Fillmore. 

Another deep dice into the Fillmore Report. The ears are so different but is it the smoking gun for our case?  Follow along as we dive deep into the details surrounding the imposter theory.

The Fillmore Report as we call it was put together and written by our own Stewart Fillmore. It is the basis of our arguments about if John Dillinger was shot at the Biograph Theater on July 22, 1934. Stewart will explain why he wrote the report and go over the first of the major arguments. 

This episode we focus on the basics of the John Dillinger Story. We want everyone to be caught up so they can listen to the rest of the show with this basic knowledge. From his birth, to his jail time, to his bank robbing, to his death, we cover it all this episode. This is the perfect place to start if you are just jumping in!

Welcome to the Digging Up Dillinger Podcast, presented by Infamous Indy. Host Joe Melillo introduces the new Dillinger Gang of 2024, Travis Thompson, the Great-Nephew of 1930's gangster John Dillinger, Retired FBI agent Stewart Fillmore and Retired Secret Service Agent Todd Hiles. We will start this journey with a quick introduction to the team and why we feel so passionate about solving this mystery.

Welcome to the Digging Up Dillinger Podcast, presented by Infamous Indy. Host Joe Melillo introduces the new Dillinger Gang of 2024, Travis Thompson, the Great-Nephew of 1930's gangster John Dillinger, Retired FBI agent Stewart Fillmore and Retired Secret Service Agent Todd Hiles. We will start this journey with a quick introduction to the team and why we feel so passionate about solving this mystery.