Cold Red Podcast

Can repeated head trauma change a person's behavior, destroy impulse control, or even contribute to violent actions?

In this episode of Cold Red, retired FBI agents Raymond Carr and James Fitzgerald sit down with renowned neurosurgeon, NFL consultant, and CTE researcher Dr. Philip Stieg to explore the disturbing relationship between Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), brain damage, aggression, and violent behavior.

From professional football players to individuals with a history of repetitive head injuries, Dr. Stieg breaks down what science reveals about the long-term consequences of brain trauma—and what researchers still don't know.

Together, Ray, Fitz, and Dr. Stieg examine how damage to the frontal and temporal lobes may affect emotional regulation, decision-making, and impulse control. They also explore a critical question for criminal investigators: How do you distinguish calculated criminal behavior from actions potentially influenced by neurological deterioration?

In this episode:

What CTE actually does to the brain and its four proposed stages

The potential connection between repeated head injuries, aggression, and impulsive behavior

Why some individuals experience personality changes while others develop cognitive decline

How brain trauma can complicate FBI behavioral analysis and criminal investigations

Whether neurological damage can influence speech, deception, and interrogation strategies

The limitations of current CTE research and the challenges of diagnosing the condition

How substance abuse, performance-enhancing drugs, and psychological stress may complicate the picture

Could brain scans eventually play a role in determining criminal responsibility?

Can brain damage help explain violent behavior—or are we at risk of confusing correlation with causation?

Join Ray, Fitz, and Dr. Stieg for a fascinating discussion at the intersection of neuroscience, forensic psychology, and criminal behavior.

🔴 SUBSCRIBE TO COLD RED for expert criminal analysis, true crime investigations, and exclusive conversations with leading experts in law enforcement, medicine, and forensic science.

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💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Do you believe a history of serious brain trauma should influence how violent offenders are evaluated in the criminal justice system? Share your thoughts in the comments.

#ColdRedPodcast #CTE #BrainInjury #TrueCrime #Neuroscience #FBI #JamesFitzgerald #PhilipStieg #CriminalPsychology #ForensicScience

Behind the Badge & Beyond the Case: Chief David Splain | Cold Red 1118

What happens when the realities of small-town policing meet the complexities of true crime? On this episode of Cold Red, Ray Carr and Fitz sit down with Chief David Splain of the Nether Providence Township Police Department to explore decades of law enforcement experience, historical homicide investigations, and his transition from police leadership to true crime author.

Chief Splain discusses his books, Blood on the Trolley and Secrets From the Closet, offering insight into the investigative details, hidden truths, and human stories behind real cases. Together, Ray and Fitz examine the unique challenges of investigating crimes in close-knit communities, why some cold cases remain unsolved for decades, and how behavioral profiling, forensic linguistics, and modern forensic technology can help uncover new leads.

Plus, the team tackles audience questions about protecting victims' families, avoiding critical mistakes during the first 48 hours of an investigation, and the evolving role of investigative genetic genealogy in cold cases.

Subscribe to Cold Red for more expert analysis, real-world investigations, and the psychology behind the cases that continue to raise questions.

Visit coldredpodcast.com for the blog and follow Cold Red on social media.

Stay safe, stay aware, and remember: it just might save your life.

Four major true crime stories. New legal battles, disturbing allegations, and serious questions about how investigations are handled.

On this episode of Cold Red Podcast, retired FBI agents Raymond J. Carr and James R. Fitzgerald break down four developing stories, examining the evidence, investigative procedures, behavioral patterns, and legal consequences.

🔴 THE CORNELL 7 INVESTIGATION
A major shift in a high-profile sexual assault investigation raises questions about local prosecutors, state intervention, and whether the case was properly handled. What happens when higher authorities take control?

🔴 "GAS STATION HEROIN" — THE KRATOM CRISIS
Deadly synthetic kratom derivatives are raising alarms across the country. From a college student's fatal overdose in Mississippi to reported deaths in Utah, Ray and Fitz examine the dangers of unregulated substances and potential criminal accountability.

🔴 GYPSY ROSE BLANCHARD — FACTS VS. INTERNET SPECULATION
Online rumors and allegations surrounding Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Ken Urker highlight the dangers of social media investigations. Fitz explores confirmation bias, digital behavior, and why speculation should never replace forensic evidence.

🔴 NOLAN WELLS — FEDERAL INVESTIGATION & TERRELL OWENS LAWSUIT
The Nolan Wells case continues to raise questions about accountability and justice. The family seeks federal intervention following a grand jury decision, while a defamation dispute involving NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens adds another legal dimension.

Four stories. Four complicated investigations. What does the evidence actually tell us?

Join Ray and Fitz as they separate facts from speculation and explain how experienced federal investigators approach these cases.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE for expert FBI analysis, criminal profiling, and true crime investigations.

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💬 LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS: Which of these four stories deserves a deeper investigation?

#ColdRedPodcast #TrueCrime #FBI #GypsyRoseBlanchard #NolanWells #Cornell7 #Kratom #CriminalProfiling #JamesRFitzgerald #RaymondCarr

Could new forensic research point investigators toward a previously overlooked Zodiac suspect? Ray Carr and Jim “Fitz” Fitzgerald sit down with researchers Chad and Kylie to examine newly acquired research surrounding the Zodiac Killer case and an individual referred to as “Subject X.” The discussion explores the Zodiac’s known crimes, behavioral profile, cryptic communications, and the linguistic patterns found in the killer’s letters. Fitz examines the case through the lens of forensic linguistics and questioned authorship, including contraction rates, British phrasing, word choice, misspellings, and other structural patterns. The researchers also present potential connections involving handwriting characteristics, blue felt-tip pen usage, schematic drawings, and distinctive phrases found in the Zodiac communications. What would it take to move this research from theory to evidence? Ray and Fitz discuss the additional forensic testing that could help confirm or eliminate “Subject X,” including archival fingerprints, travel records, and genealogical DNA. **Cold Red Podcast** brings true crime through the eyes of former FBI agents, examining behavioral analysis, forensic evidence, investigative procedure, and the questions that remain unanswered. Subscribe to Cold Red Podcast and visit coldredpodcast.com for more. #ColdRed #ZodiacKiller #Zodiac #TrueCrime #ColdCase #FBI #ForensicLinguistics #CriminalProfiling #UnsolvedMystery #ForensicAnalysis

Richard Marx recalls what it was like being at ground zero the day after September 11th.  He tells us what it was like digging through the wreckage to find clues.