Witnessed: Devil in the Ditch - The Secrets of the Serial Killer Whisperer

Episode Date: May 3, 2023

Texas Ranger James  Holland is celebrated as the ‘serial killer whisperer,’ solving dozens  of murders through his legendary interrogation skills. But how far does  he go to get confessions? And has he put innocent  people in prison along the way? Smoke Screen: Just Say You're Sorry  uses shocking police tapes to reveal the psychological drama behind one  murder case, and uncovers something rotten at the heart of the justice  system. Want the  full story? Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen: Just Say You’re Sorry,  ad-free right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to  brand new stories dropping on the first of  every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Just click  ‘Subscribe’ on the top of the Just Say You’re Sorry show page on Apple  Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you listen. 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

Hey, Witness listeners, Larison here. I hope you've been enjoying Devil in the Ditch. We've only got a few episodes left until our season is complete, but I want to recommend another great podcast that just dropped. It's the latest season of the True Crime series smoke screen, and it's called Just Say or Sorry. If you're loving Devil in the Ditch, you'll love this new story. On this season, we meet Texas Ranger James Holland, also known as the serial killer whisperer. Holland had a Mac for getting criminals to confess, solving dozens of cold case murders through his legendary interrogation skills.

But this wasn't your standard line of questioning. Exactly how far did this charismatic cop go to get confessions? And did he put innocent people behind bars along the way? That's what host and journalist Marie Shema wants to find out. Join him as he takes you inside the interrogation room for a front row seat to the psychodrama that unfolds between Holland and one of the men he sent down. Air Force veteran Larry Driscoll. When Driscoll confesses to the murder of a woman called Bobby Sue between Holland and one of the men he sent down, Air Force veteran Larry Dreskel. When Dreskel confesses to the murder of a woman called Bobby Sue Hill

and is sentenced to 15 years in prison, it's just another case closed for the Supercop, or so it seems. Take a listen. Sometimes, you can pinpoint the exact moment that someone's life changes forever. And even more rarely, the whole thing is captured on tape. What kind of case is it? It's murder.

These recordings take us inside a gripping drama between two men. Texas Ranger James Holland, a legendary interrogator known as the serial killer Whisperer. That's why they asked me to come in because I'm special. And Larry Driscoll, a mild-mannered Air Force veteran. Lime enforcement, I would always talk to trust him, they're there to help you. But now that's a totally different battle game. When Holland first interviews Driscoll about the murder of a woman 10 years earlier, he denies any knowledge of the crime.

But after two days of Holland's interrogations, he confesses to the brutal killing. You're thinking about afterwards? No. Sorry about what happened. Yeah, I'm sorry that it all happened. Just another case closed for the supercop. Or so it seems. I've never seen anything like it.

It's one of the most troubling interviews I've ever heard. You go into my life with what you're trying to do, and I didn't do a thing. I'm trying to save your life. I'm Maurice Shema, and as a criminal justice reporter, I've looked into a lot of disturbing cases, but this one was different, because it raises a question which you confessed to a crime you didn't commit.

Can you imagine doing that? I couldn't until I came across this story. Everyone has a breaking point. We think we do, but we do. Over six episodes, we get to know Texas Ranger James Holland, one of the most celebrated detectives of his generation. I was sort of starry-eyed for the, you know, American hero, the cowboy. Here's my white knight, right? And reveal the shocking details of the case

against Larry Driscoll. We all think of hypnosis as a truth serum. It's not a truth serum. All while trying to understand why Driscoll confessed to a murder, he swears he had nothing to do with. You do do something for me? What's that? Say I'm sorry. Sorry for what? I didn't do nothing. Just say it. Just say I'm sorry. From something else, the Marshall project and Sony Music Entertainment, Smoke Screen,

just say you're sorry, is out now. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes, or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts. [♪ OUTRO MUSIC PLAYING [♪