28 episodes

The Crime Beat podcast digs deep into fascinating true crime stories, exploring new twists along the way with award-winning Southern California News Group reporter Keith Sharon’s fresh interviews of criminal masterminds, some of their victims and the detectives trying to piece together what really happened. Each season explores a different crime, beginning with the biggest bank heist in American history.

Crime Beat Southern California News Group: Keith Sharon, reporter for the Orange Count

    • True Crime
    • 4.6 • 350 Ratings

The Crime Beat podcast digs deep into fascinating true crime stories, exploring new twists along the way with award-winning Southern California News Group reporter Keith Sharon’s fresh interviews of criminal masterminds, some of their victims and the detectives trying to piece together what really happened. Each season explores a different crime, beginning with the biggest bank heist in American history.

    Across the Street

    Across the Street

    We meet Cathy Torrez, Mary Bennett and the people in their neighborhood. The last person we meet is Sam Lopez, who lives across the street.
    About Season 2:
    On Feb. 12, 1994, Cal State Fullerton honor student Cathy Torrez didn't come home after working the evening shift in the photo department at Sav-On. A week later, her body was discovered stabbed to death in the trunk of her own car.
    “Crime Beat,” Season 2 focuses on Cathy's mother, Mary Bennett, and her extraordinary quest for justice. It took 21 years for Mary's wish to come true: The man who lived across the street was convicted of Cathy's murder.
    In this season, we will take you behind the scenes of the investigation, playing old interviews from cassette tapes taken from the 1994 police archives, conducting new interviews with people involved in the case and reporting new stories that have never been published.

    • 36 min
    Letters of Intent

    Letters of Intent

    We reveal the content of 18 letters between Cathy and Sam. The letters were discovered after Cathy died.

    • 29 min
    Cathy Can't Remember

    Cathy Can't Remember

    Sam Lopez takes Cathy on a date, and she comes home drugged with slashed tires and no panties.

    • 27 min
    What Happened to Albert

    What Happened to Albert

    In the months before she died, Cathy was dating Albert Rangel, who wanted more from the relationship than Cathy could give him.

    • 32 min
    Find the Car

    Find the Car

    Cathy doesn't come home after working a shift at Sav-On. People from her family and the community send out search parties trying to find her.

    • 33 min
    Probable Cause

    Probable Cause

    WARNING: This episode includes details from Cathy Torrez's autopsy report that might disturb some listeners. Skip to 9:40 to avoid those details.
    Police believe Sam Lopez is lying about his movements on the night Cathy disappeared. But they can't arrest him because they don't have probable cause.

    • 44 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
350 Ratings

350 Ratings

krnlmbch ,

Season 2

I’ve listened to 50-75 different “true crime”podcasts, and this was one of the best. Tragic story Cathy had an incredible mom & family! Inspiring, the youth in the story; intelligent driven, hard-working, loving, loyal and respectful. Tragic, to see it all stolen from them. Very engaging story...binged it all in 1 night! Minimum and not annoying ads👍🏻! The host, narration are great! This particular “story” is new, not redone by every podcaster out there. The sound & whole production are above average. Look forward to more from this host👍🏻

Memaof4 ,

Detailed Investigative Journalism

Just finished Season Two. Really weaves a thorough detailed story from initial events, to dogged pursuit of the truth, to final outcome. Leaves no stone unturned. Great facts and interviews.

Bschora ,

Obnoxious Ads, wrong locations, painful recordings.

S2. Why is there no Walnut Street on Google Maps in Placentia CA? There is S & N Walnut Avenue. What’s With That?

Example, S1, Ep4, 27-minute mark... the narration is backed by an intense wiry electric guitar and it is ANNOYING.

So far, 3 Stars... will see how it goes. The story is good. Sound effects are wrecking it. May have been helpful if there was some volume available, but it’s turned all the way up, and I’m having trouble hearing the audio without earphones.

Fini. I had a very hard time listening to all the recorded interviews. They are old and really hard to hear. It was painful. I skipped Eps 12 & 13 entirely. Would have preferred narration, and that would have cut the entire story length in half.

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