88. Somebody Knows Something: The Detectives Behind the Podcast

The Consult: Real FBI Profilers

PodcastOne

Talk Radio, True Crime

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 11 June 2025

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley is joined by Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit. Elgin PD recently launched a podcast titled Somebody Knows Something, which follows one of their active cold case investigations. We talk about the case, what led them to start the podcast, and how they balanced investigative integrity, public outreach, and storytelling. It’s a rare look at how detectives are using new platforms to generate leads and keep cases in the public eye.

For more information about the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit, please visit their website: https://epdopendata-cityofelgin.hub.arcgis.com/pages/cold-cases

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Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	In the consult, we discuss cases involving violence, sexual violence, abduction, and murder.
0:08.1	Sometimes the cases we discuss involve children.
0:12.1	Listener discretion is advised. I'm going to be able to be. I'm going to
0:24.6	I'm going to Welcome to the consult.
0:45.3	I'm Julia Cowley, retired FBI agent and profiler.
0:49.3	Today I'm joined by two detectives who are doing something that I think is truly innovative in the
0:56.5	world of law enforcement.
0:59.4	Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartagnan are here from the Elgin, Illinois Police
1:05.2	Department's Cole Case Unit.
1:08.0	And they're here to talk about their podcast, which is called Somebody Knows Something.
1:14.8	And this is a show that is produced by the department. Is that correct?
1:19.8	Yes. In partnership with the radio station. Yeah. So it's a show produced by the department itself.
1:25.8	And it gives listeners a very rare inside look at a real
1:31.5	cold case investigation. So welcome, Andrew and Matt. I appreciate you being here.
1:37.9	I thank you for having us. Yeah, thanks for having us. Before we get started, I just want to talk about
1:42.2	the first season of your show.
1:48.0	In the first season, I think you've done, were there 10 episodes?
1:50.0	We're recording our 10th episode this week.
1:52.2	We have episodes as well.
1:55.2	That's kind of an introduction, but it'll end up being about 12 episodes total.
1:56.9	Yeah, about 12 episodes. And this first season has focused on the disappearance of 23-year-old Karen Sheepers who went missing on April 16th of 1983.
2:08.3	And I discovered your show after the first episode was released.
	...

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