Episode Details

Today's Podcast revolves around a conversation between Simon and Tom, discussing missing persons, procedures, historical perspectives on child theft, and various anecdotes related to missing persons cases. Simon reflects on a story from 1984 involving a baby who was stolen from outside a post office on the Isle of Bute.

Initially, the conversation delves into the challenges of identifying missing persons, discussing the importance of swift action and proper procedures. They touch on cases where missing persons were found deceased, emphasising the need for quick responses and proper threat assessments in such situations.

Tom recounts instances where missing persons were found in unexpected locations, highlighting the difficulties in conducting searches, especially in rural areas and around institutions like hospitals. The conversation turns to the lack of a national register for missing persons until relatively recently, which resulted in a lack of coordinated efforts in handling missing person cases across different regions.

They discuss cases involving unidentified bodies in mortuaries and the challenges of connecting missing persons with found remains. The conversation also touches on cases involving illegal immigrants and the hardships they face due to lack of documentation, leading to vulnerabilities and exploitation.

Tom reflects on the changes in handling missing persons cases, citing improvements in systems and the establishment of a national database that facilitates better coordination and information sharing among law enforcement agencies. He mentions the historical prevalence of child theft and its economic value in earlier times.

Finally, in an unexpected twist, Simon is reunited with a very special person almost 40 years since their last meeting.

You can buy the books mentioned in the podcast by clicking the links below

Tom's Best Selling Book:

Ruxton: The First Modern Murder Paperback Edition

Ruxton: The First Modern Murder Kindle Edition

Simon's Best Selling Book:

The Ten Percent Paperback Edition

The Ten Percent Kindle Edition

About Crime Time Inc.

Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic.

This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history.

Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work.