Shattered

1,536

Sometimes, news stories echo in our minds for years after they’ve occurred. With each season of Shattered, we select one of those complex, true stories and take an in-depth look. Season 4 charts the life and death of Jimmy Hoffa. Season 3 tells the story of a string of murders that took place in the mid-1970s in Oakland County, Michigan. Many people know the case as the Oakland County Child Killer. Season 2 tells the story of Rick Wershe Jr., also known as White Boy Rick. At 14, Rick became the youngest FBI informant ever and helped bring down some of Detroit’s biggest drug dealers. Then the FBI abandoned him, and he became the dealer. Season 1 investigates the disappearance of Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton. The boys’ father, John Skelton, is the main suspect. Almost a decade later, the mystery of what happened to the boys remains open, with their small Michigan hometown wondering - could a father have committed an unimaginable crime?

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Recent Reviews
  • TikiRee321
    Intriguing!
    Shattered popped up when I did a search for true crime as that is what I like to listen to. I decided to start with the first season about the Skelton brothers. I thought the show was done very well. Good reporting and follow-up. I’m about to start season two. With regard to the case of the Skelton boys… so very sad that there has not been any information to their whereabouts to this day! My heart goes out to their mother!! The father is a true narcissist and one can only hope that he chooses to do the right thing and confess what he did to those children and where he put them! He is pure evil!!!
  • idsjsdx
    Fix episode order!
    ⭐️because I can’t get the episodes to play in the correct order. This needs to be fixed. Stopped listening after 3 episodes. Too much work.
  • awyvkudc
    Good not great
    1st season really good, insightful, objective, and compelling . Second season is ok but subject matter feels tired. Third season is MEH-Story telling Feels phoned in, confusing, dry and particularly rushed. It seems like the narrator is being held at gunpoint and is forced to tell this story. The timelines are incoherent and and in some cases downright ignored. Narrator forgoes discriptions of events in favor of vintage interviews which are given piecemeal, which forces listener to constantly question the order of events.
  • 121664
    Spectacular
    Listened to occk the only pod with different and intriguing thoughts thank you
  • Czybouthorses
    Hoffa
    The government should release the files to the public!
  • Curious Lo
    Hoffa
    I’ve only listen to the Hoffa podcast but it was excellent and I learned so much about Hoffa and about the JFK assassination about which I really had no idea even though I was aware of it at the time. Excellent series!
  • Siddycat
    Excellent true crime podcast!
    Excellent podcast, very well done!
  • sh0ck420
    5 star
    Great podcast if your from Michigan, this is a must listen. Even if your not a great listen.
  • vine crime fan
    Great listen
    Frustrating to hear johns accounts !!! He really is a master manipulator. Great job with the journalistic background work
  • panama133
    Victim shaming
    I really liked this podcast, but it really surprised me in the first season fourth episode when the podcaster and then his wife is questioning this poor mother for not showing enough emotion during her interviews after seven years I’m sure she’s just running on autopilot this poor woman has been through hell you’re interviewing her seven years later after she lost her children she’s done thousands of interviews. Just because this is a novelty to you does not make it new to her. She’s allowed to be emotionless if she wants while talking about a horrific event. Until you have lived through something like that beck off and show some respect, she's allowed to separate her emotions. She has prevailed in horrible circumstances.
  • Bunco Bea
    Two thumbs up!
    Very interesting podcast. Now I’m more interested in Mob Queen after listening to Hoffa!
  • Jra4776
    Great podcast
    Love this show!
  • DetroitLeLe
    Loved it.
    Great job Steve! I always loved watching you on WDIV in Detroit. Now that I’m in Minneapolis it’s great to hearing you on this podcast. Very well done.
  • Jewelsmariee
    1 and 3 great, 2 is a bust
    This series is great, and the reviews speak truth; seasons 1 and 3 are awesome. Season 2 not so much. I was not interested at all in the story of white boy rick. Good stories and investigation. My only gripe is that the episodes are too short; i dont normally listen to anything less that 20 or 30 minutes. Edit: im onto season 4 and the short episodes are REALLY getting to me. Changing review to 4 stars.
  • Ysalange
    Excessive advertising
    Constant interruptions with advertising and promotion, the balance has fallen way out with this new season. Find myself fast forwarding at least 4 or 5 times per episode and missing bits here and there. Cant listen to it unless you’re right there. No more bathtub/gardening/sewing with this pod on in the background. Cooking and working out only.
  • WadeHM
    Great podcast
    What a great job on the first episode on Jimmy Hoffa. Was living in Waterford Township when news broke he was missing. His history is intriguing and compelling and you folks are doing a great job. Can’t wait for the next episode. Wish they were longer!
  • ECT Evangelist :D
    Wow! In depth story telling!
    I am impressed with the amount of time investment the people reporting these stories make. I have binge-listened to all three seasons. I think the same people made "The Shrink Next Door," which was great too.
  • sllimaraik
    Mother a rapist, father a kidnapper & murderer
    The boys deserved better than both of their parents. Hard to empathize for either parent but the poor kids who were victims from the very beginning. The narrator doesn’t ask the right questions and his voice is monotone.
  • Nike Noodle
    Investigative Podcast (s1) Is Better...
    I loved Season 1. It had a more suspenseful investigative side to it.. But season 2 feels more like I’m a 3rd wheel listening to your conversation while you’re on the phone with some guy who talks about when he was a kid. So there’s nothing current.. just a story & probably would have a better effect if you just told it without ricks raspy voice popping in here & there. I haven’t gotten to season 3 yet but I hope it’s more like season 1 than the season 2 history of a once powerfully unlawful kid who became adult convict....
  • shakycam3
    Infuriating
    Season 1 is absolutely infuriating. It’s so obvious to anyone with a brain that the father killed those kids. Giving him 2 episodes to spew his vile fantasies and even giving that narcissistic selfish liar a voice made me very angry. I also feel the interviewer was not asking the right questions and letting him off too easy.
  • miranetsolutions
    Season 1 Episode 8 Question
    Great find & even greater listen! I am still on season 1. Did anyone else catch in Season 1, Episode 8 that the children’s grandmother said she was sad having to return the gifts she had bought the boys the Black Friday they went missing? I mean if the boys were only missing, wouldn’t you, especially a grandparent, hold onto those gifts until they returned home? Unless she already knew they were never coming home?
  • ebpingree
    I listen to them all — presentation is excellent
    This podcast is one of the best true crime ones out there. Kevin does an excellent job.
  • Light worker 73
    New listener.
    The children were not well cared for. Jill Robbinson stayed for 4 days, and another child was held 19 day.she was the only one who was bathed and dressed.
  • Natusry
    Awesome!
    I’ve always been tormented by the boys and this was a very well done podcast. Thank you!! Can’t wait for all The other seasons I need to catch up.
  • AmberWaving
    Finishing Sentences
    I've only started the FIRST season and so far, hearing the host constantly trying to end someone's sentences is super annoying. When you're interviewing someone, let them talk! You can edit any unnecessary chatter later in post but during the actual interview don't interrupt them to try finishing their sentences. SOOOO annoying. I'm hoping he stops doing this so that I can enjoy the rest of this season. I'm looking forward to Season Two about White Boy Rick. Updated: It doesn't get better the further into Season 1 I get. It's to the point where he finishes people's sentences so often I'm starting to wonder who REALLY is telling this story. Jeremy or the victims' family? Wow....talk about shady journalism. TLDR: Stop trying to finish sentences when you're interviewing people. Let them finish their thoughts!
  • Fitz2414
    Love it!
    Season 2 it’s awesome!!! White Boy Rick is off the chain he was done really wrongly glad he’s getting out! Season 1 is really good to havnt listened to season 3 yet but great job!
  • Mirandaaa!
    Season 1 & 3 on point
    The stories covered in season 1 and 3 are riveting and super interesting. I had a hard time getting into season 2. Overall great coverage. Definitely worth the listen.
  • Velvetjml
    It’s just ok
    Season one was good, season 3 was really interesting at first but then I was totally disgusted by the way they treated the Amish people. Even they way he was speaking about them like they were aliens and making fun of the culture . Then they used that young girl to get info they should have not used her voice. Did she agree to be in the podcast ? I’m not saying I believe John but the podcast is totally bias. Why even speak to him if you know he’s guilty from the start ? You actually completely believe Tanya, a convicted child molester. She’s hiding something too. She forgot about hearing they found 3 kids bones lol
  • Dog stuff is fake
    Great topic
    Sandra Ali was terrible. Played dumb never asked a real question. Should have used a real reporter at least someone who ask a real question
  • Awesome 324456
    Skip Season 1
    It literally goes nowhere. Tedious, annoying and pointless. Hopefully season 2 is better.
  • WarriorinDetroit
    Engaging, well researched and edited podcast
    One of the more engaging and well researched podcasts around. The team has shed new and interesting light on a series of cases that I thought that I already knew; the mark of a good podcast. Don’t let the Michigan connection fool you: this is not a local-only podcast.
  • Beatle Guy
    Well done
    The Oakland County child killer case has been in the back of my mind since I lived through it in the ‘70’s. Well put together, interesting podcast. Some of the audio is in rough shape, but they acknowledge that in the first episode. You guys should do one on John Norman Collins, or the murders up in Mio, Mi.
  • Biggie smalls 4 life
    Bad quality
    Not engaging and quality of the audio is poor
  • Alice's Daughter
    Koch is a sponsor?
    Anyone who takes money from the Koch brothers and runs ads for them is an immediate NO for me. I was subscribed to and listened to your podcast for two seasons. No longer. You are either desperate for money, lack any moral compass, or both. I’m out. Too many better podcasts out there who don’t take money from a downright evil corporation.
  • The Dog Knows Everything
    My gut says ...
    This is such a roller coaster ride of a story. It’s gut wrenching. It’s heart breaking. It’s unbelievable. And it’s been well researched, well written, and well told. There has to be an answer; keep talking to him and keep after him with the tough questions - I think you’ll get to him, because he’s saying things to you that he didn’t mean to say to anyone and he’s clearly back-pedaling the second he slips up. Please do it for the boys ... do it for their Mama ... do it for the community ... just do it ... please just do it ... please
  • kmjmi
    Disappointed
    I thought new information was being discussed. This is just the audio of the WDIV segments on their web site.
  • rachrae
    Bill Johnson
    Bill - I hope you read this. Your honesty and ability to share your story after all these years has helped so many, including me. You are a hero.
  • catyydid
    Shattered
    This is one of my favorite podcasts to listen to. Such a heart wrenching story! It captivated me from the beginning and held my interest the entire time. Forever praying for the Skelton boys! 🖤
  • canyoumakethismoredifficult
    Boring
    Cool if you need a nap
  • Fern Loui
    5 Stars
    Interesting, respectful and well researched. Thank you
  • indiana9
    Love
    Binge on the first two season in 2 weeks and love it!!
  • Cda5
    Shattered
    Mike has always been great reporting news. Great insight on white boy Rick. Clearly railroaded and needs to be released. Would love to see a podcast on Nate “Boone” Craft.
  • DanHum22
    Season 2 white boy rick
    Beautiful podcast!!!
  • Dixie.10
    Shattered Skelton Brothers
    I love this podcast, I am totally disgusted by John Skelton, he speaks as though he wants answers about his son, then he lets slip some of the venom he holds because the mother was given custody. He is vindictive and evil and he know what he did to these children and where they are.
  • Mile teaches
    Thoughtful
    I have been listening and find very good... so sad & makes me really think about how this Mother has survived. Host does a great job, I find him sweet 😊
  • dOlPhInS4M
    Wow
    Enjoyed every minute of Rick’s story, I pray he’s released soon, he should not still be behind bars! Listening to the Skeleton boys story now and all I have to say is, when and if it’s ever known what happened to those boys. I pray John and all of his complicit family are prosecuted and punished as such. He knows and apparently they know as well. Stupidity should not be a justifiable reason for the coward John’s family. This is absolutely heartbreaking! P.S. Has John ever been given a polygraph?
  • Indiana Fever#22fan
    Great eye opening Podcast
    Though I am proud to be an American our justice system is broke. People getting life sentences for non-violent crimes is ridiculous. Rick was used by the FBI then thrown away like garbage after they got what they wanted from him. Receiving a life sentence for drugs @17 with no possibility of parole boggles the mind. My son is incarcerated for embezzlement $10,000. He received a ridiculous sentence as well. There needs to be better sentencing guidelines. Offenders shouldn’t be left to the mercy of a judges wrath. My son is due to be released in 2021 (thankfully) the majority of his 30 year sentence was suspended. He will have served 6 years. Yet violent offenders, rapists etc. get “deals.” I’ll never understand...
  • Handgrenade53
    Hooked!
    I can’t stop listening! Every episode is absolutely intriguing. Once I found this podcast and the Covert podcast I binged them both! I was engaged at every turn!
  • bkennedy1066
    Incredible story well told.
    Listening to the White Boy Rick podcasts and blown away by the story. Using a 14 year old boy as an informant is hard to imagine, but it happened. Thoughtful and intriguing every step of the way.
  • Augusta Rose
    Excellent storytelling!
    I listened to season 1 and 2 in 2 days! Great podcast! Can’t wait for season 3.
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