Episode 134: Colin Pitchfork the Footpath Phantom the First Killer Ever Caught with DNA

Episode 134: Colin Pitchfork the Footpath Phantom the First Killer Ever Caught with DNA

From Murder Coaster by Christa Carmen and Matthew Brockmeyer

February 11, 2026 · 1h 23m · Episode 150

About this episode

This episode discusses Colin Pitchfork, the first killer caught with DNA evidence, and the chilling details of his crimes.

Colin Pitchfork, the Footpath Phantom, was a murdering serial rapist who haunted the dark woods and paths of South Leicestershire England, stalking teenage girls like a troll in a fairy tale, and who would become the first killer ever caught and convicted with DNA evidence, a bizarre story with more twists, turns and red herrings than any mystery novel. MURDER COASTER PODCAST Hosted by Christa Carmen and Matthew Brockmeyer Website: www.murdercoasterpodcast.com Facebook: Murder Coaster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murdercoasterpodcast/ Creepy Amusement Park theme by Brandon Fiechter and Derek Fiechter, used with permission and many thanks. FEATURING THE SONG: “Easy to Love Hard to Find” by Roy Williams courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Listen to Roy Wiliams on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/40fdTbomIApeeJW70KRHpw REFERENCES: The Blooding: The Dramatic True Story of the First Murder Case Solved by Genetic "Fingerprinting" by Joseph Wambaugh. Bantam, April 20, 2016. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0804150705 BBC NEWS June 15, 2023 by Alex Smith Colin Pitchfork: Double child killer and rapist to be released BBC NEWS October 30, 2025 by Liam Barnes Double child killer Colin Pitchfork to…

People in this episode

Hosts: Christa Carmen, Matthew Brockmeyer

Topics covered

  • DNA evidence
  • serial killer
  • true crime
  • forensics
  • Colin Pitchfork

Keywords

  • Colin Pitchfork
  • DNA
  • true crime
  • forensics
  • serial rapist
  • South Leicestershire

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC NEWS, True Crime Archives

Books & works: The Blooding: The Dramatic True Story of the First Murder Case Solved by Genetic "Fingerprinting"

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