Going fishing

Going fishing

From Crime Adjacent by Chase Patrick

April 22, 2026 · 28 min · Season 8 · Episode 22

About this episode

Deputy Swanson teams up with high school senior Emily Willis to combat a cyber criminal involved in sextortion.

Deputy Swanson immediately recognized a victim of sextortion when she saw high school senior Emily Willis trudging fearfully through town. The FBI reports that more than 7,000 cases of sextortion happen every year, when blackmailers start up fake relationships with minors to get incriminating materials they can then use to blackmail those minors. Swanson, who had worked with the FBI, recognized the signs and she immediately rushed into action. But she didn't just stop Emily Willis and let her know that help was available. Swanson enlisted the high schooler's help and together, they would take down the cyber criminal who had been menacing the town for the entire year. This is part 22 of the 8th season of Crime Adjacent: the untold story of the Michigan Nightstalker. What happens if your favorite character jumps off the page and starts a podcast? That’s Crime Adjacent, the never-ending true crime thriller told weekly. With the help of devoted listeners and true crime fans, the international #1 smash hit Crime Adjacent podcast team has already captured the Bay Area's Rest Stop Killer in 2023, stopped the Mercy Street Butcher in 2019, and exposed the AmaniCorp conspiracy in 2024. But…

People in this episode

Host: Chase Patrick

Topics covered

  • sextortion
  • cyber crime
  • teen safety
  • law enforcement
  • true crime
  • Michigan Nightstalker

Keywords

  • sextortion
  • cyber criminal
  • FBI
  • Deputy Swanson
  • Emily Willis
  • Michigan Nightstalker
  • true crime

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FBI, AmaniCorp

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