About This Episode
What is this episode about?
The episode "EP2: Believe Me: Fighting For Joanna" from REAL covers the moment a Facebook post exposes Derek Alldred for who he really is, and how Joanna's reports to the police go unanswered despite her attempts to get justice. The episode traces her fight to be believed by authorities even as evidence of Derek's true identity surfaces online.
The case behind the episode
The episode is built around Derek Alldred: Datingsvindleren fra Minnesota, the case of Derek Mylan Alldred, a man from Minnesota who defrauded at least 25 women across multiple U.S. states through online dating and false identities. Among the publicly named victims from Minnesota are Missi Brandt, Linda Dyas, Kimberly Nelson and JoAnn Venhuizen. His crimes spanned several states, including Texas, Minnesota, California, Hawaii and Nevada, and were ultimately prosecuted in a federal case at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division. In 2018, Alldred was sentenced to 24 years in prison. The exact period over which his crimes were committed has not been confirmed across sources.
Hosts and release
Naomi Channell created REAL, an independent true crime podcast built on audio documentaries that dig into real-world criminal cases. The show is an independent production available on Spotify. This episode runs 43 minutes and centers on Joanna's sister Vicky's continued fight for accountability, alongside Joanna's own struggle to have her case taken seriously by police.
