Serial Productions Investigates Murder-for-Hire Plot in New Podcast

Serial Productions announced in March 2026 that it would be launching "The Idiot," a five-part podcast series examining a murder-for-hire conspiracy that landed the host's own cousin in federal court.

M. Gessen, a New York Times Opinion columnist, reported and wrote the series, which began releasing on March 31, 2026. The podcast was edited by Ira Glass, the renowned host of NPR's "This American Life." The production represents Serial's continued investment in deeply personal investigations into criminal cases.

The central subject is Gessen's cousin, referred to as Allen, who stands accused of hiring someone to murder his ex-wife, Priscilla. According to court records and FBI evidence presented during the trial, Allen allegedly offered $50,000 for the contract killing—$23,000 upfront with the remaining $25,000 due upon completion. At the time of the alleged plot, Priscilla was stranded in Moscow, adding an international dimension to the investigation.

The case involves multiple locations spanning continents, including Cape Cod, Russia, Zimbabwe, and a federal prison facility in California. Allen's young 5-year-old son became a factor in the family dynamics that shaped the case.

Federal authorities in San Francisco took the investigation seriously, with an undercover FBI agent operating under the alias "David" infiltrating the conspiracy. The undercover operation produced recordings that would later be played as crucial evidence during Allen's trial in federal court. Allen ultimately testified in his own defense during the proceedings.

Investigators also pursued additional charges beyond the murder-for-hire allegation. They examined a potential bribery scheme involving immigration authorities—specifically INS and ICE officials—in which Allen allegedly attempted to arrange a deportation deal worth $100,000. Money laundering allegations were also part of the broader investigation into Allen's financial activities.

Gessen's decision to publicly investigate and report on her own family's criminal case through "The Idiot" raises intriguing questions about journalistic responsibility, family loyalty, and the power of true crime podcasting to examine uncomfortable personal truths. By partnering with Serial Productions and working under the editorial guidance of Ira Glass, she brought substantial institutional credibility to the project.

The podcast's title itself—"The Idiot"—suggests Gessen's own perspective on her cousin's alleged actions and judgment. The five-part structure allows for deep examination of how such a scheme developed, the investigation that unfolded, and the legal proceedings that followed.

As international true crime audiences have become increasingly sophisticated in their consumption of podcast narratives, projects like "The Idiot" demonstrate how the medium continues to evolve beyond simple crime recounting into more complex examinations of how criminality intersects with family, immigration, and transnational issues.

The series reflects Serial Productions' track record of commissioning reported investigations into criminal cases that go beyond surface-level storytelling, employing professional journalists and editors to explore the documented facts and human dimensions of prosecuted crimes.

Sources

https://observer.co.uk/culture/audio/article/the-idiot-serial-picks-the-wrong-subject

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWqJIqCDDHc

https://www.nytco.com/press/introducing-the-idiot-a-new-podcast-from-serial-productions/

https://lithub.com/a-new-podcast-from-m-gessen-explores-an-ugly-family-secret/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwaP8E6igi4