About This Episode
What is this episode about?
The episode "Raynella, Part 1" from Criminal covers the death of Raynella Dossett Leath's husband, found dead in their bedroom. On March 13, 2003, Raynella Dossett Leath called 911, saying she had just come home to find him dead. When police arrived, the lead investigator examined the scene and felt that something was off, telling the reporter, "I'm not saying it stinks, I'm just saying it's strange." The episode draws on Diane Fanning's book Her Deadly Web as a source for the story's details.
The account follows the earliest hours of the investigation, focusing on the 911 call, the scene inside the home, and the instinct of the investigator who first arrived and questioned the official version of events. As the first installment in a two-part story, the episode sets up the circumstances that led detectives to doubt the simple explanation of a natural or accidental death.
Hosts and release
Phoebe Judge hosts the show, which is produced by Lauren Spohrer. Criminal is a true crime podcast that has explored stories of people who have committed wrong, suffered wrong, or found themselves in the gray areas between since its first broadcast in January 2014. The show releases new episodes weekly, on Fridays. This episode, numbered 388, runs 32 minutes and was released on November 13, 2026.
