High-ranking executives at the Columbus Zoo are caught in a wild fraud scheme and experience an epic fall from grace. Marissa Gibson, who investigated their crimes, is here to tell us this bizarre story. And it all starts with a most unlikely whistle-blower. 

High-ranking executives at the&nbsp;Columbus Zoo&nbsp;are caught in&nbsp;a wild&nbsp;fraud scheme&nbsp;and&nbsp;experience an epic&nbsp;fall from grace.&nbsp;Marissa Gibson,&nbsp;who investigated&nbsp;their crimes,&nbsp;is here&nbsp;to tell us&nbsp;this&nbsp;bizarre&nbsp;story. And it all starts&nbsp;with a most&nbsp;unlikely whistle-blower.&nbsp;

The Knife: A True Crime Podcast is a weekly true crime podcast from journalist/producers Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton.
It's a show about people who’ve been dropped into a story they didn't start, but are left to finish. In-depth interviews take the listener behind the punchy headlines to hear what really happened from the people who lived it. The Knife reveals the ripple effect of crime.
Through empathetic, solution-oriented journalism, Hannah and Patia find the untold stories of people who’ve been touched by crime. They’re not breaking news or solving cases, they’re cutting to the heart of the experience through gripping, first-person storytelling.
Follow The Knife on Instagram @theknifepodcast and on Bluesky @theknifepodcast.bsky.social.
The Knife is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including true crime, comedic interviews, news, science, pop culture and more. The network is home to My Favorite Murder hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, This Podcast Will Kill You, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, Buried Bones and more.

The Knife: A True Crime Podcast is a weekly true crime podcast from journalist/producers Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton. It's a show about people who&rsquo;ve been dropped into a story they didn't start, but are left to finish. In-depth interviews take the listener behind the punchy headlines to hear what really happened from the people who lived it. The Knife reveals the ripple effect of crime. Through empathetic, solution-oriented journalism, Hannah and Patia find the untold stories of people who&rsquo;ve been touched by crime. They&rsquo;re not breaking news or solving cases, they&rsquo;re cutting to the heart of the experience through gripping, first-person storytelling. Follow The Knife on Instagram @theknifepodcast and on Bluesky @theknifepodcast.bsky.social. The Knife is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including true crime, comedic interviews, news, science, pop culture and more. The network is home to My Favorite Murder hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, This Podcast Will Kill You, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, Buried Bones and more.

The Knife: A True Crime Podcast

Off Record: Scandal at the Zoo (with Marissa Gibson)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cdba0f41-51fe-476f-a3c9-b3cb01612e2d/transcript

Paul Fronczak discovered that he was not biologically related to his parents, Dora and Chester Fronczak, but was born in New Jersey as Jack Rosenthal. He also learned he had a twin sister, Jill, who was missing. Paul's search for his identity had expanded. He was now looking for three people: the real Paul Fronczak who was kidnapped in 1964, the kidnapper, and his biological twin sister, Jill. 

Referenced in the episode:  

Paul Jack Fronczak's podcast: The Fronczak Files

Paul Jack Fronczak's books: The Foundling and True Identity 

Documentary: The Lost Sons 

Paul Fronczak discovered that he was not biologically related to his parents, Dora and Chester Fronczak, but was born in New Jersey as Jack Rosenthal. He also learned he had a twin sister, Jill, who was missing. Paul's search for his identity had expanded. He was now looking for three people: the real Paul Fronczak who was kidnapped in 1964, the kidnapper, and his biological twin sister, Jill.&nbsp;
Referenced in the episode:&nbsp;&nbsp;
Paul Jack Fronczak's podcast: The Fronczak Files
Paul Jack Fronczak's books: The Foundling and True Identity&nbsp;
Documentary: The Lost Sons&nbsp;

Kidnapped at Birth (Part 2 of 2)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/02c2312c-d60e-4f27-84fc-b45601298464/transcript

In 1964, Paul Fronczak was kidnapped from a Chicago hospital just one day after he was born. Miraculously found and returned two years later, he grew up unaware of his past until a childhood discovery sparked a search for the truth. As an adult, Paul’s investigation into his own identity uncovers astonishing secrets that rewrite everything he thought he knew. 

In 1964,&nbsp;Paul Fronczak was kidnapped from a Chicago hospital just one day after he was born. Miraculously found and returned two years later, he grew up unaware of his past until a childhood discovery sparked a search for the truth. As an adult, Paul&rsquo;s investigation into his own identity uncovers astonishing secrets that rewrite everything he thought he knew.&nbsp;

Kidnapped at Birth (Part 1 of 2)  

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b9b324b2-ba75-44c6-9fc4-b449011a3ef4/transcript

Investigative reporter Samantha Michaels of Mother Jones spent a year digging into Oklahoma’s controversial “failure to protect” laws—statutes meant to safeguard children, but that can also send victims to prison. At the center of her reporting is Kerry King, a mother of four, and the fallout from a single night in January 2015, when her boyfriend, John Purdy, brutally abused both her and her four-year-old daughter, Lila. 

In this episode, we speak with Michaels about her investigation and the broader implications of these laws. We also hear directly from Kerry King in a phone call from prison. 

Article: https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2022/08/failure-to-protect-domestic-abuse-child-oklahoma-women-inequality-prison/ 

Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DEPpYkl8gI 

Investigative reporter Samantha Michaels of Mother Jones spent a year digging into Oklahoma&rsquo;s controversial &ldquo;failure to protect&rdquo; laws&mdash;statutes meant to safeguard children, but that can also send victims to prison. At the center of her reporting is Kerry King, a mother of four, and the fallout from a single night in January 2015, when her boyfriend, John Purdy, brutally abused both her and her four-year-old daughter, Lila.&nbsp;
In this episode, we speak with Michaels about her investigation and the broader implications of these laws. We also hear directly from Kerry King in a phone call from prison.&nbsp;
Article:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2022/08/failure-to-protect-domestic-abuse-child-oklahoma-women-inequality-prison/">https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2022/08/failure-to-protect-domestic-abuse-child-oklahoma-women-inequality-prison/</a>&nbsp;
Documentary:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DEPpYkl8gI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DEPpYkl8gI</a>&nbsp;

Off Record: A Mother on Trial (with Samantha Michaels)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/29d9e17a-7233-4edd-afcf-b4480154eb57/transcript

Off Record: Scandal at the Zoo (with Marissa Gibson)

In 1 playlist(s)

The Knife: A True Crime Podcast

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips