About this episode

The episode explores the case of Iain Packer, who evaded justice for nearly two decades after murdering Emma Caldwell and attacking other women.

Iain Packer lived in freedom for almost 20 years after killing Emma Caldwell in 2005. Despite strangling her and discarding her body in remote woods about 40 miles outside Glasgow, he was able to live a seemingly normal family life. Also to attack dozens of other women. We explore the decisions taken during the initial police investigation which allowed him to escape justice for almost two decades – but could he have been stopped even before Emma’s murder? We hear from his first known victim who he attacked in her family home at the age of 15. What might have happened had her cries for help been believed earlier? By the adults in her life or by the police? She also thinks Packer’s offending is much wider than we know - that he would have attacked other women while on family holidays in the US and Spain. Even alerting the FBI and trying to hire a Private Investigator. We hear from former police officers who don’t think Emma’s is Packer’s only murder, those who worked tirelessly to bring this ‘forgotten suspect’ into the dock. Come with us into the courtroom, hearing from the witnesses – and victims - whose damning evidence eventually put this murderer, and serial rapist, behind…

People in this episode

Guest: first known victim

Topics covered

• true crime
• murder investigation
• victim advocacy
• police procedures
• serial offenses

Keywords

• Iain Packer
• Emma Caldwell
• murder
• police investigation
• victim
• serial rapist
• justice

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• 4. Emma Caldwell · April 5, 2026 · 55 min
• 3. Jacqueline Gallagher & Tracey Wylde · March 29, 2026 · 39 min
• 2. Marjorie Roberts · March 22, 2026 · 43 min
• 1. Diane McInally · March 22, 2026 · 30 min

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