Golubski On Trial: What we know

Explicit content warning

11/20/24 • 21 min

More than two years after being arrested, Roger Golubski finally has a trial date set. On Dec. 2, the former Kansas City, Kansas, detective will face federal prosecutors, his alleged victims and a jury over charges that he kidnapped and raped vulnerable Black women using the power of his badge. In our new podcast season, “Overlooked: Golubski On Trial,” we’ll be exploring the history of the case and reporting what happens in the courtroom.

Previous Episode

Chapter 6: Untouchable

Residents of Kansas City, Kansas, had been sounding alarms about detective Roger Golubski and corruption in the police department for decades. But city leaders did nothing, and Golubski retired in peace while the families of his victims mourned. It wasn’t until a year after KCUR started working on this podcast that the FBI finally arrested Golubski — on just a fraction of his alleged crimes. What does justice even look like after all this time?

Next Episode

Golubski On Trial: Roger is dead

Roger Golubski was found dead of an apparent suicide on the day — the very hour — his federal trial was supposed to begin. That means that the case against him, which would have featured multiple women testifying about the abuses Golubski allegedly perpetrated, is dead as well. How did this trial fall apart? How do victims feel about it? And who will be held accountable now — if anyone?