Small Town Dicks

Paul Holes begins the story in 1970s Visalia, California, when the Golden State Killer was just beginning to make a name for himself. Before the East Area Rapist, before the Original Night Stalker, there was the Visalia Ransacker, a prolific offender breaking into homes and leaving fear behind. Paul walks Yeardley, Dan, and Dave through the early crimes, the killing of Claude Snelling, the shooting of Officer McGowan, and the case files that first pulled Paul into what would become a career-defining 24-year pursuit.

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What is Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes?

This is a 10-part limited series from Small Town Dicks, Paul Holes tells the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer.

Across ten episodes, Paul joins Yeardley, Dan, and Dave for a firsthand account of one of the most significant cold case investigations in American history. From the early crimes of the Visalia Ransacker to the East Area Rapist attacks, the Southern California homicides, and the DNA breakthrough that finally identified Joseph DeAngelo, Paul walks listeners through the evidence, the setbacks, the mistakes, and the personal toll of doggedly pursuing a case for decades.

This is a rare, firsthand account of the work, the weight, and the persistence behind a case that forever changed the way crimes are investigated.

Small Town Dicks Presents: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes is an Audio 99 production.

Written by Paul Holes and featuring Detective Dan, Detective Dave, and Yeardley Smith.

Produced by Jessica Halstead and Monika Scott.

Executive produced by Ben Cornwell and Yeardley Smith.

Edited by Katie McMurran and Soren Begin, with additional editing by Cristina Bracamontes.

Sound supervision by Logan Heftel.

Design and social media by Andrew Polk.

Theme music composed by Logan Heftel.

Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠antonfloquet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Stream all episodes at smalltowndicks.com/goldenstatekiller.
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In the final part of this three-part series, retired FBI agent Scott brings us to the end of one of the most significant domestic terrorism cases in American history. Justice is served for the people of Oklahoma City. But for Scott, closing a case like this doesn't mean leaving it behind. Some cases stay with you. This is one of them.

Retired FBI agent R. Scott Crabtree was born in Herington, KS and raised in Omaha, NE. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps before getting his college degree in accounting, aconomics, and business.

During his nearly 25 years career with the Bureau, Scott was assigned to five different field offices, including New York City, their largest office, and the Salina, KS, Resident Agency, a one-person office, as well as two tours at FBIHQ in Washington D.C. Scott was the lead Kansas investigator of the Oklahoma City Bombing. He later led the Cyber Crime Squad in New York where he worked cases including the "I Love You" virus. After that, he led a rapid task force in Seattle that helped capture the D.C. snipers. After his retirement, Scott was recruited by a non-profit contractor firm where he was able to continue his work supporting and enabling operational, intelligence and information-sharing functions in numerous law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Scott's book about his work with the Oklahoma City bombing case, called Under 80 Hours, was published in 2025.
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In part two of this three-part series, retired FBI agent Scott comes face to face with a key second suspect in the Oklahoma City bombing. What follows is an hours-long interview that requires as much patience as it does skill. The suspect's story shifts and changes, and Scott has to navigate every contradiction carefully, pushing just enough without pushing too far. One wrong move and it all falls apart. Scott needs this to hold up in court.
Retired FBI agent R. Scott Crabtree was born in Herington, KS and raised in Omaha, NE. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps before getting his college degree in accounting, aconomics, and business.
During his nearly 25 years career with the Bureau, Scott was assigned to five different field offices, including New York City, their largest office, and the Salina, KS, Resident Agency, a one-person office, as well as two tours at FBIHQ in Washington D.C.
Scott was the lead Kansas investigator of the Oklahoma City Bombing. He later led the Cyber Crime Squad in New York where he worked cases including the "I Love You" virus. After that, he led a rapid task force in Seattle that helped capture the D.C. snipers.
After his retirement, Scott was recruited by a non-profit contractor firm where he was able to continue his work supporting and enabling operational, intelligence and information-sharing functions in numerous law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Scott's book about his work with the Oklahoma City bombing case, called Under 80 Hours, was published in 2025. 
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The Oklahoma City Bombing was one of the most devastating attacks in American history, and its story has been told many times. But never like this.
Retired FBI agent Scott was on the case in the chaotic hours after the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. In part one of this three-part series, Scott takes us through the turbulent days immediately after the bombing, as he races to pin down a suspect.
Retired FBI agent R. Scott Crabtree was born in Herington, KS and raised in Omaha, NE. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps before getting his college degree in accounting, aconomics, and business.
During his nearly 25 years career with the Bureau, Scott was assigned to five different field offices, including New York City, their largest office, and the Salina, KS, Resident Agency, a one-person office, as well as two tours at FBIHQ in Washington D.C.
Scott was the lead Kansas investigator of the Oklahoma City Bombing. He later led the Cyber Crime Squad in New York where he worked cases including the "I Love You" virus. After that, he led a rapid task force in Seattle that helped capture the D.C. snipers.
After his retirement, Scott was recruited by a non-profit contractor firm where he was able to continue his work supporting and enabling operational, intelligence and information-sharing functions in numerous law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Scott's book about his work with the Oklahoma City bombing case, called Under 80 Hours, was published in 2025. 
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Paul Holes has never told the full story of the Golden State Killer case like this before. 
This summer, Small Town Dicks presents a special 10-part limited series: Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes. 
Across the series, Paul will tell the full story of his 24-year pursuit of the Golden State Killer, from the earliest case files to the DNA breakthrough that helped identify Joseph DeAngelo. 
Chasing the Golden State Killer with Paul Holes premieres July 10, with new episodes every Friday on the Small Town Dicks podcast feed. 
To join our SuperFam please visit ⁠smalltowndicks.com/superfam⁠- Super Fam level members will get each episode a day early and ad free. - Super Duper Fam level members will be able to binge all 10 episodes ad free on July 10
Photo courtesy of Anton Floquet | ⁠antonfloquet.com
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