S2E4: Catching the Killer of Neil LaFave

About this episode

The episode discusses the murder of Wisconsin game warden Neil LaFave and the investigation that followed, highlighting the use of one of the first wiretaps in a Wisconsin murder case.

On his birthday in 1971, Wisconsin game warden Neil LaFave went out to post “No Hunting” signs. He never came home. The next morning, searchers found his body buried in a shallow grave. The brutality stunned investigators: multiple gunshots, and a horrifying attempt to conceal the crime. Suspicion quickly centered on a young poacher with a history of conflict with LaFave. But proving it would take something new: one of the first wiretaps ever used in a Wisconsin murder case. What followed was a breakthrough that changed the investigation, and revealed just how far someone was willing to go to avoid getting caught. Want more Blood Trails? Check out the Case File . Follow Blood Trails on  Apple , Spotify , YouTube , iHeart , Pandora , Amazon . Connect with  Jordan Sillars  and  MeatEater MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Blood Trails on Instagram Jordan Sillars on  Instagram MeatEater on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , Youtube , and Youtube Clips See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Jordan Sillars

Topics covered

• true crime
• murder investigation
• wiretap
• poaching
• law enforcement

Keywords

• Neil LaFave
• murder
• Wisconsin
• wiretap
• poacher
• investigation
• true crime

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Blood Trails

Places: Wisconsin

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• S2E5: The Assassination of Tommy Ballard · May 14, 2026 · 57 min
• S2E3: The Murder of Timothy Blyth · April 30, 2026 · 1h 20m
• S2E2: The Search for Bob Smith · April 23, 2026 · 1h 10m