Police Launch Serialized True Crime Podcast “Countdown To Capture”
While their intentions are different than most, a real police department joined the serialized true crime podcast world with “Countdown To Capture” series.
If you read the sub-heading above and are shocked, it’s totally understandable. Real police doing a true crime podcast is like a group of employees from Staples trying to make an NBC sitcom about office supplies. Yet, it’s totally true. But if you read the sub-heading and thought the podcast would be garbage, you’re wrong. Instead, Countdown To Capture, a product of the Newport Beach Police Department, is intriguing and exceptionally produced.
The show is in a serialized format, detailing the crimes of fugitive Peter Chadwick. In the prologue, host Jennifer Manzella makes it clear that the objective of the podcast is to find Chadwick (missing since 2015) and bring him to justice.
While I don’t want to give away any spoilers, the case covers a missing woman, Q.C Chadwick, the prime suspect, Peter, and their three helpless children.
Manzella, the heart and soul of Countdown To Capture, is a charming host with an engaging voice. The story, while still developing, is well-told and captivating.
Currently, the show has released a prologue and five episodes. According to the Mercury News, the true crime podcast is slated for six episodes, meaning there’s one more still on deck.
UPDATE: ALL EPISODES ARE NOW AVAILABLE (ABOVE)
The NBPD set up a website dedicated to the show where you can read more about the case, listen to all episodes, and potentially report a tip. Per the site, Peter Chadwick is wanted by the United States Marshall Service, with rewards offered for his capture.
“Peter Chadwick is a wanted man. After he was arrested for the 2012 murder of his wife (Q.C. Chadwick), Peter was released on bond… and then disappeared. He has been a fugitive from justice since January 2015.
With the partnership of the United States Marshal Service and the support of the City of Newport Beach and private donors, we are now offering up to $100,000 total reward for Mr. Chadwick’s capture.”
The first official episode was released on September 18th, with new episodes dispersed a few days between one another.
As far as I know, this is the first serialized true crime podcast released by a real police department. For that matter, I think it’s the first true crime podcast of any sort released by a real police department.
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Combined, the Countdown To Capture serialized true crime podcast has over 100,000 plays on SoundCloud.