Torso in the Thames: Part 1 – Ritual Murder or Something Else?
02/11/25 • 39 min
On September 21, 2001, a horrifying discovery was made in London’s River Thames—the torso of a young African boy, dismembered and stripped of identity. The case was chilling, and what followed was one of the most disturbing and complex international investigations in British history.
The victim, named Adam by investigators, appeared to be the subject of a ritualistic killing. With no immediate leads, detectives turned to African communities and cultural experts for answers. In April 2002, the investigation took an extraordinary turn when Police Commander Andy Baker and his team traveled to South Africa. There, former President Nelson Mandela issued a public plea for information in a desperate effort to uncover the truth.
The search for answers led the team into the dark world of ritual sacrifice and spiritual belief systems, even consulting a witch doctor to understand the potential motives behind the crime.
In Torso in the Thames (Part 1), Martin and Helen trace the origins of the investigation, the shocking cultural dimensions of the case, and the global manhunt for a name, a motive, and ultimately, justice.
#TorsoInTheThames #TrueCrimePodcast #UKCrime #UnsolvedMurder #RitualKilling #ColdCase #ChildVictim #JusticeForAdam #BritishCrime #CrimeInvestigation
If you found this episode compelling, try:
- The Butcher of Delicias
- The Boy in the Suitcase
- Unheard: The Fred & Rose West Tapes
- Shreds: Murder in the Dock
- The Nobody Zone
............................
Share Your Thoughts and Questions: Connect with us via email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!
Follow Us: Instagram: @true.criminals
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals
Support Us: If you love the podcast, consider supporting us on Patreon for exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TrueCriminals
Connect with Martin Brunt: Twitter: @skymartinbrunt Discover more about Martin’s career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book: No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter. Read Here: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY
Connect with Helen Fospero: Instagram: @helenfospero Check out Helen’s podcast, The Convex Conversation: Listen Here. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575
Credits: True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information.
Executive Producer: Lee Mann Producer: Russell Barnes Audio Production: Andrew Chappell Music Composition: Chap Mannequin Artwork: Bleached
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On September 21, 2001, a horrifying discovery was made in London’s River Thames—the torso of a young African boy, dismembered and stripped of identity. The case was chilling, and what followed was one of the most disturbing and complex international investigations in British history.
The victim, named Adam by investigators, appeared to be the subject of a ritualistic killing. With no immediate leads, detectives turned to African communities and cultural experts for answers. In April 2002, the investigation took an extraordinary turn when Police Commander Andy Baker and his team traveled to South Africa. There, former President Nelson Mandela issued a public plea for information in a desperate effort to uncover the truth.
The search for answers led the team into the dark world of ritual sacrifice and spiritual belief systems, even consulting a witch doctor to understand the potential motives behind the crime.
In Torso in the Thames (Part 1), Martin and Helen trace the origins of the investigation, the shocking cultural dimensions of the case, and the global manhunt for a name, a motive, and ultimately, justice.
#TorsoInTheThames #TrueCrimePodcast #UKCrime #UnsolvedMurder #RitualKilling #ColdCase #ChildVictim #JusticeForAdam #BritishCrime #CrimeInvestigation
If you found this episode compelling, try:
- The Butcher of Delicias
- The Boy in the Suitcase
- Unheard: The Fred & Rose West Tapes
- Shreds: Murder in the Dock
- The Nobody Zone
............................
Share Your Thoughts and Questions: Connect with us via email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!
Follow Us: Instagram: @true.criminals
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals
Support Us: If you love the podcast, consider supporting us on Patreon for exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TrueCriminals
Connect with Martin Brunt: Twitter: @skymartinbrunt Discover more about Martin’s career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book: No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter. Read Here: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY
Connect with Helen Fospero: Instagram: @helenfospero Check out Helen’s podcast, The Convex Conversation: Listen Here. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575
Credits: True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information.
Executive Producer: Lee Mann Producer: Russell Barnes Audio Production: Andrew Chappell Music Composition: Chap Mannequin Artwork: Bleached
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
The Killing of Jill Dando: Part 2 – The Suspect, Theories, and Unanswered Questions
Who really killed Jill Dando?
In this gripping conclusion to our two-part true crime series, Sky News Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt, journalist Helen Fospero, and Detective Chief Inspector Hamish Campbell revisit the most controversial and puzzling elements of the case.
This episode takes a deep dive into Barry George—the man once convicted of Jill Dando’s murder, only to be acquitted years later. We re-examine the flawed evidence, the intense media scrutiny, and the legal battle that led to his release. But did the justice system get it right? Or did the real killer slip through the cracks?
Beyond George, we explore alternate theories that continue to capture public imagination:
- Was Jill Dando the target of a professional hit?
- Could this have been a case of mistaken identity?
- Or was it a personal grudge with deadly consequences?
With fresh insight from those closest to the investigation, we unravel the contradictions, cover the lasting impact, and ask the hard questions that still remain unanswered over two decades later.
This is not just a cold case—it's a national obsession. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation.
If you liked this episode, try:
- The Lazarus Heist
- Who Killed Jill Dando? (Netflix)
- Hunting Warhead
- The Trials of Frank Carson
- West Cork
............................
Share Your Thoughts and Questions: Connect with us via email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!
Follow Us: Instagram: @true.criminals
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals
Support Us: If you love the podcast, consider supporting us on Patreon for exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TrueCriminals
Connect with Martin Brunt: Twitter: @skymartinbrunt Discover more about Martin’s career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book: No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter. Read Here: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY
Connect with Helen Fospero: Instagram: @helenfospero Check out Helen’s podcast, The Convex Conversation: Listen Here. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575
Credits: True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information.
Executive Producer: Lee Mann Producer: Russell Barnes Audio Production: Andrew Chappell Music Composition: Chap Mannequin Artwork: Bleached
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Torso in the Thames: Part 2 – New Evidence, New Suspect
In the powerful conclusion of Torso in the Thames, Martin and Helen are once again joined by Police Commander Andy Baker to reveal the stunning new developments in this deeply disturbing case.
Forensic science brings a game-changing revelation: isotope analysis suggests that Adam—the unidentified child victim—originated from Nigeria, not South Africa as previously thought. Pollen traces confirm he was killed in London. And a small but significant clue—German-made orange shorts—adds yet another layer to the mystery.
Fueled by determination, Andy and Martin travel to Nigeria, visiting remote villages in a desperate effort to find Adam’s family and piece together his story. Then, a turning point: a media appeal prompts a tip that leads to a key suspect—someone who may finally hold the answers investigators have sought for over two decades.
Is justice for Adam finally within reach? Or will the truth slip away once again?
This is the case that shocked the world—and it’s not over yet.
#TorsoInTheThames #JusticeForAdam #TrueCrimePodcast #UKMurderMystery #UnsolvedCase #RitualKilling #ColdCaseUK #ForensicBreakthrough #NigeriaInvestigation #BritishCrime
If this episode gripped you, check out:
- The Boy in the Cellar
- The Nobody Zone
- Casefile: Unknown Victim
- The Missing Cryptoqueen
- The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann
............................
Share Your Thoughts and Questions: Connect with us via email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!
Follow Us: Instagram: @true.criminals
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals
Support Us: If you love the podcast, consider supporting us on Patreon for exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/TrueCriminals
Connect with Martin Brunt: Twitter: @skymartinbrunt Discover more about Martin’s career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book: No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter. Read Here: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY
Connect with Helen Fospero: Instagram: @helenfospero Check out Helen’s podcast, The Convex Conversation: Listen Here. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575
Credits: True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information.
Executive Producer: Lee Mann Producer: Russell Barnes Audio Production: Andrew Chappell Music Composition: Chap Mannequin Artwork: Bleached
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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