The Coldest Case In Laramie - Podcast Rankings and reviews

It’s a well done podcast, the story is interesting, the investigating is top notch. But what left the biggest impressions were the mundane take-always which I suspect are more the reality of unsolved murders. I think the field of podcasting is becoming too sensationalized. Juicy police and justice system corruption, gory murder details, obvious salacious evidence that isn’t as compelling when you see the full picture. It doesn’t do justice to the victims. This one does. To all victims. It’s good work and reminds me that good work isn’t always about entertainment.

I enjoyed the story overall, but found Kim’s overall sleuthing, interviewing, and analysis to be lacking. Who cut the phone lines? What was Fred’s relationship to Shelly? Why was he always spending time away from his wife? Why did he lie (including to his wife) that he was a Navy Seal? That interrogation was hardly browbeating, his confession sounded odd, but why dismiss it so out of hand? Just because things aren’t in the police file, doesn’t mean they didn’t happen, this is lazy and irresponsible journalism. Some things may have been innocently left out, misplaced, who knows it’s been so many years. It seems Kim just wanted to be done and tie this up with a neat bow that Fred didn’t do it. I’m not so sure. I did enjoy most of it, but it left me empty with the conclusion at the end that I thought was rushed and lazy.

Fantastic reporting, with the added interest of Kim’s personal experience of growing up in Laramie. I liked how the show revealed how flawed memories can be, and even Kim’s own memories of the place were skewed. And that’s human nature, our memories are not fact, especially with the passage of time. Oh, I think Fred is innocent, kind of a loser, but not a killer.

Loved the lens of a reporter going home, excellent use of historic primary source materials and empathetic interviewing to show how loose ends don’t always tie up how we wish, condolences to Shelly’s family on their loss

I have lived in Laramie and was born in Wyoming. I can understand some of Barker’s issues with Laramie but it was too much to compare it to Kabul? Like really? She comes off very privileged and does little to recognize her bias. She seemed more concerned with her personal connections to the story than the victim and her family. No plausible explanation as to why Shelli was murdered, no motive. few details about the crime scene were explained. Barker went totally soft on the main suspect when given the chance to interview him and his wife, despite their stories changing. Did he and Shelli ever interact prior to the murder? Why did he spend so much time away from his wife at his friends apartment? Why did you lie about killing people? Lots of questions could have been asked and she just,,,didnt?? It almost felt like she wanted to prove him innocent. Barker also acted very sketchy and cold in interviews with witnesses and others, especially Michelle. She even kind of makes fun of her at one point. She also basically tells her that her memory is wrong. The nerve!!! You weren’t there!! You’re telling me to believe shadily obtained police “evidence” over Michelle’s decades of fear and grief?? And then she tries to make a point about memory and infallibility when she cannot even prove that her memory is incorrect. The racism was handled carelessly as well. The case is still unsolved and all Barker managed to do was try to embarrass and discredit witnesses while generalizing an entire town because of high school angst.

Also i dont trust Laramie PD for a second. They have had numerous scandals and i would not be at all surprised to hear of a coverup. Why Barker doesn’t consider this more strongly is beyond me, especially since she’s such a hater. Like why wouldn’t you go after the police department of the town you describe as “mean?”

Narrator commits the cardinal sin of journalism and makes the entire first episode about themself and their experiences with the town rather than telling the story itself. Long-winded generalizations and exaggerations abound to the point that I personally could not make it through the first episode. If a podcast is only as good as the host telling its story then this one fails on all fronts.