Podcast on Crimes Against Women

A predator rarely “shows up” as a stranger in the dark. Sometimes he shows up as a trusted helper with a badge, a friendly smile, and the perfect reason to be near your child. In the final episode of Season 7, we talk with Conference on Crimes Against Women presenter Chris McGhee, the father of a survivor and a relentless advocate for criminal justice reform, to unpack how sexual assault grooming actually works and why it can fool entire families.Chris breaks down grooming as a deliberate playbook: selecting vulnerability, building trust, crossing boundaries in small steps, then using shame and fear to keep a victim quiet. He shares how his daughter Grace was targeted by a school resource officer who first positioned himself as a mentor, then weaponized his authority, his community reputation, and Grace’s relationships to trap her. We connect these real-world details to the grooming model described by Dr. Georgia Winters and Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic so listeners can recognize the patterns, not just the headlines.We also talk about the aftermath: PTSD, triggers, and the unique pain of watching a case end in a plea deal that doesn’t feel like justice. Chris explains how disappearing-message platforms like Snapchat can complicate investigations, and how survivors can experience secondary victimization while navigating reports, interviews, and court decisions. Finally, we focus on prevention and change: open parent-teen communication, removing blame from children who were manipulated, and pushing for anti-grooming laws and accountability when mandated reporters abuse power.If you care about child safety, sexual assault prevention, and real criminal justice reform, listen through and share this with someone who needs the language to spot grooming sooner.

“What were you wearing?” sounds like a question, but it often functions like a verdict. From the the 2026 Conference on Crimes Against Women in Dallas, we sit down with Dr. Mary Simmerling and Dr. Denise Huskins Quinn to unpack the What Were You Wearing exhibit, a traveling art installation that recreates the everyday outfits survivors wore during sexual assault and pairs them with stories, audio, and case artifacts. The result is confronting and deeply human, designed to put the work of bearing witness back on the community and to dismantle victim blaming in real time.Mary traces the exhibit back to a poem she wrote after her own assault at 18 and explains why art can reach places training manuals cannot. Denise shares the harrowing facts of her 2015 kidnapping and rape, and the second trauma that followed when police and media pushed a false narrative that the crime was fabricated. We talk about confirmation bias, interrogation tactics like the Reid technique, and the impossible “credibility tests” survivors get trapped in, from being judged as too emotional to not emotional enough.We also dig into what it means to make a problem “visible” when shame and silence keep so many stories hidden, and how the team thoughtfully includes well-known cases, including their work with the family of Gabby Petito. Finally, we preview a new companion installation built around another loaded question: “Why didn’t she just leave?” and the life-or-death realities of domestic violence, resources, and lethality risk during separation.

Someone tells you they love you, mirrors your values, and makes you feel seen in a way you haven’t felt in years. Then they vanish, come back with an excuse, and your body floods with relief. That cycle is not romance. It’s a strategy, and it’s driving a surge in romance fraud, catfishing, and online dating scams that leave victims with financial loss and trauma that looks a lot like PTSD.In this episode we sit down with Anna Rowe, founder of catchthecatfish.com and part of lovesaid.org, to map the real mechanics behind these crimes against women: mirroring, love bombing, isolation, and trauma bonding. Anna shares how a perpetrator can maintain overlapping relationships, how shame keeps people silent, and why the most damaging moment is often what happens after the fraud is exposed when victims meet disbelief from friends, banks, or even police.We also get practical about what’s changing right now: deepfakes, face swap video, and voice cloning that can make a scammer look and sound “verified” on calls and voice notes. We unpack celebrity romance fraud, the “pig butchering” romance-plus-crypto investment scam, and the first responder toolkit Anna built to help law enforcement respond without blaming the victim and to safeguard people from repeat targeting, spyware, and data resale.If you’ve ever dated online, have a loved one who has, or work in victim services, this conversation will change how you spot coercive control in a digital relationship. 

Every January, we're reminded of the chilling reality of stalking and its devastating repercussions. This month, we echo the courage of Debbie Riddle, who transformed her grief into advocacy after the murder of her sister Peggy by a stalker. Together with Jennifer Landhuis from the Stalking Prevention Awareness and Resource Center (SPARC), we tackle the difficult nuances of stalking, from the subtle signs to the overt, with a critical eye on how law enforcement and the public acknowledge and respond to such danger. Their insights expose the gaps in our system and ignite a vital discussion on the need for consistent intervention against this crime.The narrative of Peggy's ordeal is both heartbreaking and a powerful catalyst for change. Debbie's relentless pursuit to raise stalking awareness has not only memorialized her sister but has also pioneered educational reforms. We reflect on the systemic failures that had dire consequences and highlight the importance of initiatives like Stalking Awareness Month. By examining Debbie's journey and Jennifer's expertise, the episode underlines the crucial role of education and the immediate need for law enforcement to develop a deeper understanding and more effective protocols when facing stalking cases.As we wrap up this intense episode, we underscore the importance of community response and SPARC's role in providing resources to better address stalking cases. We delve into the trainings offered to criminal justice agencies, the alarming prevalence of stalking, and the available support systems on college campuses. This session is not just a tribute to Peggy but a call to action for everyone to participate in the national day of action against stalking, to bring awareness and to restore a sense of safety for those affected.