Real Cases. Real Cops. Real Talk.
Crime Time Inc.
Former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean bring you inside Scotland's most gripping criminal cases. Real investigations. Real insight. No fluff.
5
Seasons
268+
Episodes
★ 5
Apple Podcasts
Fresh Episodes
Latest Episodes
S6 · E11 · 38:49
Marina Habe: The Driveway Clues, Manson Theory & Rodney Alcala Connection
In Episode 4 of our Marina Habe series, we return to the strange detail at the centre of the case: the return of Marina’s red MG Midget to the driveway of her West Hollywood home in the early hours of December 30, 1968. Marina’s mother, actress Eloise Hardt, was reportedly woken by the sound of a car with a bad muffler. From her window, she saw a man near Marina’s MG and a black sedan leaving the scene. But she did not see Marina. By morning, the car was still there. Inside were Marina’s date clothes, a small purse with money still inside, and the keys. Missing were her main purse and the glasses she reportedly needed to drive. Those small details raise big questions. Why were the keys left in the car? Why were the driving glasses missing? Why was one purse left behind while another was later found near Marina’s body on Mulholland Drive? And what should we make of the handbrake, reportedly pulled all the way up? This episode examines the driveway evidence through the lens of the questions a good detective would ask — not to force an answer, but to show why no simple version of the night fits every known fact. We also revisit a question raised by former detective Simon McLean: what was happening inside the Habe household that night? Did Eloise Hardt have a partner at the time? Was the house searched? And was Paul MacNamara, the Hollywood publicity man later connected to Eloise, ever formally interviewed? Public accounts of his relationship to Eloise are inconsistent, which makes the surviving record even harder to untangle. The episode then widens the lens to examine three major threads that have followed Marina Habe’s murder for more than fifty years: The Rodney Alcala connection — Alcala, later known as the Dating Game Killer, was active in Hollywood in 1968 and attacked Tali Shapiro only months before Marina was murdered. But does his known pattern fit Marina’s abduction, captivity and murder? The Manson Family theory — Marina Habe has long been linked in speculation to Charles Manson and his followers. We separate what is documented from what rests on anonymous claims, later books, and discredited researchers. The Mulholland Drive pattern — eleven months after Marina’s body was found near Mulholland Drive, another young woman, Reet Jurvetson, was discovered nearby. Her murder, like Marina’s, involved extreme knife violence and remained unsolved for decades. We also look ahead to Rose Tashman and the wider cluster of young women attacked, murdered, or missing around the Los Angeles hills in that period. This is not an episode about easy answers. It is about the clues that do not sit comfortably, the theories that became louder than the evidence, and the possibility that Marina Habe’s murder may have been part of something larger. More than fifty years later, the question remains: Who killed Marina Habe? 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. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 · E10 · 18:51
Marina Habe: Hollywood Royalty, War Secrets and the Family Behind the Murder Victim.
Who was Marina Habe before she became a murder victim? In this special Crime Time Inc. episode, we step away from the crime scene and explore the extraordinary family history surrounding Marina Habe. Born into a world of Hollywood glamour, political influence and wartime intrigue, Marina's life was anything but ordinary. Her father, Hans Habe, was a bestselling author, psychological warfare specialist and key figure in rebuilding the German press after World War II. Her mother, Eloise Hardt, moved in elite Hollywood circles and maintained close ties with legendary film director John Huston and his family. From childhood holidays in Ireland with future Hollywood stars to connections reaching from Beverly Hills to Washington political circles, Marina's upbringing placed her at the centre of an extraordinary network of powerful and influential people. This episode examines the people, relationships and family history that shaped Marina's world long before her disappearance and murder in December 1968. But this story is not over. During our review of the case, Simon raised several important questions about the circumstances surrounding Marina's disappearance, the return of her car, and who may have been present at the family home that night. Further research has uncovered additional information that rarely appears in modern accounts of the case. In our next and final Marina Habe episode, we revisit the timeline, explore overlooked details, and examine whether important questions remain unanswered nearly six decades later. 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. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 · E9 · 55:09
Marina Habe: Detective Review
Ex murder squad detectives Tom and Simon discuss Alex’s detailed breakdown of the 1969 murder of 17-year-old Marina Habe and focus on unanswered investigative basics amid widespread online speculation. They debate whether Marina’s wealthy, well-connected background and the affluence of key figure John Hornburg could have influenced early police responses, drawing parallels to how status can affect law enforcement attention. Reviewing the known timeline—Hornburg, the Troubadour nightclub, the returned MG Midget, and a man seen by Marina’s mother entering a dark sedan—they argue the case suggests local knowledge and a personal motive, not a random abduction or immediate crime of passion, especially given the estimated time of death and stomach contents indicating she ate shortly before being killed. They emphasize the need to thoroughly “bottom out” Hornburg and the unnamed boyfriend, examine potential crime scenes for blood evidence, and avoid premature links to serial killers, biker gangs, or Charles Manson. 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. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Hosts
Straight From the Case Files
Tom Wood
Co-Host
Tom Wood is a retired detective, former Deputy Chief Constable and bestselling author of "Ruxton: The First Modern Murder". With decades of experience in Scottish law enforcement, Tom brings unparalleled insight into criminal investigations and forensic history.
Simon McLean
Co-Host
Simon McLean is a former detective and undercover cop. His experience spans organised crime, serious assault, and complex criminal networks across Scotland.
Chris Burt
Producer
Chris Burt is the producer of Crime Time Inc, handling all aspects of audio production, post-production, and digital content.
Listener Reviews
What Listeners Say
Absolutely Gripping
“Tom and Simon bring an authenticity to true crime that you just can't fake. Having two actual detectives walk you through these cases is incredible. Essential listening.”
— ScottishCrimeFan · Apple Podcasts
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