Season Seven: The Coldest

The hosts of True Crime XS dive into the eerie parallel between two high-profile cold case developments: the arrest of 79-year-old Carol Ann Beale in Arizona for a 1975 murder, and the 2024 conviction of Arthur Massey in Massachusetts for the 1971 killing of Natalie Shublin—both solved decades later using forensic genealogy and DNA. While the Pima County Sheriff’s Office touts the Beale arrest as a major win, the hosts question whether it’s a strategic distraction from the ongoing, unsolved disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, which has consumed public attention for over 100 days. They dissect the media’s obsession with 'oldest solved case' headlines, exposing how editorial choices—like branding the Massey case as the 'oldest'—can mislead, even when the Jane Britton murder (solved in 2018) predates it. The episode reveals how cold case units, often understaffed and underfunded, rely on fresh eyes and modern tech to crack decades-old mysteries, but also highlights the emotional toll on families and the public’s hunger for closure. Ultimately, the hosts argue that true resolution isn’t just about identifying a suspect—it’s about accountability, justice, and the painful truth that some cases remain unsolved for generations.