In 1977, a stranger calls Ruth Finley to blackmail her about a secret from her past. The caller escalates to stalking her on the streets, sending terrifying poems in the mail, and threatening her life. The case sets off a years-long manhunt, one of the most expensive and infamous in Wichita history, to catch the man known as The Poet. A serial killer named BTK, with a knack for bad poetry, already had the city on edge. So when Ruth goes to the police, they start to wonder: are The Poet and BTK the same person? The police try to protect Ruth at all costs. At one point stationing officers in the home she shares with her loving husband. Still, The Poet keeps finding ways to get to her. At the dawn of criminal profiling and serial killers, it’ll take a whole new strategy to finally crack this case. And when they do, it opens up bigger, scarier mysteries about the human psyche. Binge all episodes of The Poet, ad-free by subscribing to The Binge. Search and follow The Binge Crimes and The Binge Cases feeds on Apple Podcasts and hit Subscribe, or visit GetTheBinge.com. From serial killer nurses to psychic scammers – The Binge is your home for true crime stories that pull you in and never let go. New episodes drop on the first of every month. Join our free newsletter for behind-the-scenes details at Patreon.com/TheBinge. The Binge – Feed your true crime obsession. A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What this show covers
true crimeinvestigationmotivepolice investigationfamily mysterysurveillanceserial narrativesuspicious deathHarrison casetrialevidencehealthcare fraudmedical corruptionpatient safetyspine surgery
What listeners will find here
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Bridget believes her husband’s death was no accident, and a year after his burial she’s ready to say that in court. This episode centers on the moment she moves from private certainty to public accusation—before events cut that chance short.
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