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653
August 3, 2018

Crime Scene

Every crime scene hides a story. In this week's show, we hear about crime scenes and the stories they tell.

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A crime scene investigator in England.

OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images

An updated version of an episode from 2000.

Note: The internet version of this episode contains un-beeped curse words. BEEPED VERSION.

Prologue

Medical Examiner D.J. Drakovic, in Pontiac Michigan, explains how every crime scene is like a novel. (5 minutes)

By

Ira Glass
Act One

Grime Scene

Reporter Nancy Updike spends two days with Neal Smither, who cleans up crime scenes for a living, and comes away wanting to open his Los Angeles franchise, despite the gore — or maybe because of it. (12 minutes)

By

Nancy Updike

Song:

“Papa Don't Take No Mess, Pt. 1” by James Brown
Act Two

What Police Cannot Do

Actor Matt Malloy reads a short story by Aimee Bender, from her book “The Girl in the Flammable Skirt," about what can be and cannot be recovered from a crime scene, or from anywhere. (12 minutes)

By

Aimee Bender
Matt Malloy
Act Three

A Criminal Returns to the Scene of the Crime

Sometimes criminals return to the scene of their misdeeds — to try to make things right, to try to undo the past. Katie Davis reports on her neighbor Bobby, who returned to the scene where he robbed people and conned people. This time, he came to coach little league. (22 minutes)

By

Katie Davis

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402: Save the Day
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James Spring had hit his late 30s, and found his life utterly unremarkable.

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This American Life is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange.

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