True North True Crime

In the summer of 2020, 20-year-old Shane Eric James Smith vanished in Calgary. He was last seen on June 6, and within days police believed he had been shot and killed by a friend at a southeast Calgary residence.

In the weeks that followed, the Calgary Police Service charged Ian Charles Abercrombie with homicide, and two others with offences related to the handling of Shane’s body, which has never been recovered.

Abercrombie later pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death and indignity to a human body in connection with Shane’s death — a conviction that left many feeling the sentence didn’t match the loss.

Shane’s family, friends, and volunteers have spent years searching the Bow River and surrounding areas, desperate for answers and for the chance to lay Shane to rest.
In this episode, we speak with Shane’s sister, Cassandra, about who Shane was, the painful search for his remains, and the emotional toll of a case that still leaves far more questions than closure.

PLEASE READ: Some TNTC+ episodes may be released publicly in the future. TNTC+ subscribers will always get first access.
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Music Composed by: Sayer Roberts - https://soundcloud.com/user-135673977 // shorturl.at/mFPZ0
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In this previously TNTC+ episode, we sit down with Gillian Millam, former Metropolitan Police officer from the U.K. and current Executive Director of British Columbia Crime Stoppers. Gillian began working with Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers in 2015 and went on to coordinate one of the province’s most successful programs before stepping into her current provincial role.

We discuss how the program operates, how it has changed over time, and how it fits into community safety across British Columbia, Canada. Gillian also shares her perspective on crime trends in Canada, the realities of tip management, and the key elements that make a tip truly valuable.

A clear, candid look at Crime Stoppers from someone who has been shaping the program for many years. Thank you for joining us to celebrate CrimeStoppers month!
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Music Composed by: Sayer Roberts - https://soundcloud.com/user-135673977 // shorturl.at/mFPZ0
Subscribe to TNTC+ on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/TNTC
Join our Patreon: www.patreon.com/tntcpod
Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/true-north-true-crime?ref_id=24376
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tntcpod/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truenorthtruecrime
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In July 1976, a young gas station attendant named Michael Carmen was shot and killed during a late-night robbery in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His death seemed destined to become another unsolved case in a city struggling with rising crime and few witnesses willing to speak.

But one Canadian-born detective, Greg MacAleese, refused to let it fade away. What began as his search for answers would lead to the creation of Crime Stoppers, an idea that would change community policing around the world.

In recognition of Crime Stoppers Month, this episode looks back at the murder that started it all and the innovation born from tragedy that continues to help solve cases to this day.

If you’d like to support the work of your local Crime Stoppers program, consider donating, volunteering, or sharing their message. Community involvement still makes a difference.

PLEASE READ: Some TNTC+ episodes may be released publicly in the future. TNTC+ subscribers will always get first access.
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Music Composed by: Sayer Roberts - https://soundcloud.com/user-135673977 // shorturl.at/mFPZ0
Subscribe to TNTC+ on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/TNTC
Join our Patreon: www.patreon.com/tntcpod
Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/true-north-true-crime?ref_id=24376
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tntcpod/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truenorthtruecrime
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this previously TNTC+ exclusive episode, we dive into the homicide case of Shabir Niazi out of Ajax Ontario. Shabir Niazi, who was 22 years old at the time, was found shot to death in the garage of a home on Roosevelt Avenue. The case drew significant attention due to a series of legal proceedings, including debates over the admissibility of certain evidence and the handling of Crime Stoppers tips. These procedural complexities, involving informer privilege and the integrity of tips provided to Crime Stoppers, played a pivotal role in the case's development​.
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Music Composed by: Sayer Roberts - https://soundcloud.com/user-135673977 // shorturl.at/mFPZ0
Subscribe to TNTC+ on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/TNTC
Join our Patreon: www.patreon.com/tntcpod
Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/true-north-true-crime?ref_id=24376
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tntcpod/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tntcpod
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truenorthtruecrime
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this Christmas Day episode of True North True Crime, we’re joined by Madelayne Klein and Jordan Bonaparte from The Canadian Gothic for a year-end roundtable.

Together, we reflect on the cases from 2025 that stayed with us, the shifts and trends we’ve seen across the true crime space, and how emerging tools like AI are beginning to influence storytelling and journalism. We also look ahead to what’s coming in 2026 and the stories we’ll be paying close attention to in the year ahead.

Whether you’re finishing a turkey dinner, travelling to see family, or enjoying some quiet time at home, thank you for spending part of your holiday with us. As always, we’re grateful for your trust and support, and we look forward to joining you again in the new year.
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This podcast is recorded on the territories of the Coast Salish people.
Music Composed by: Sayer Roberts - https://soundcloud.com/user-135673977 // shorturl.at/mFPZ0
Subscribe to TNTC+ on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/TNTC
Join our Patreon: www.patreon.com/tntcpod
Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/true-north-true-crime?ref_id=24376
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tntcpod/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truenorthtruecrime
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.