Best Tara Watson Podcasts (2025)

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#484 - Juicy Forearms, DBW and Zone 3 in the Bedroom 56:36

Play Pause

7m ago56:36

56:36

What’s it like to share a bank account with John Robins? Austerity Robins: a notification to his device every single time you make a purchase, no matter how small. Well we find out because nothing can get past him, with, in his own words “notifications echoing through his empty life.” Extraordinary scenes today as Dave got chatted up on the way in …

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#483 - Freezer Cupboards, Adrian’s Chipper and Not Feeling Like I’m On Fire 55:22

3d ago55:22

55:22

The UK’s motorways are now one tour bus quieter. Which perversely probably makes the roads noisier given John’s silent approach whilst inhabiting the Sad Van. And what celebrations happened at the post-tour party at The Palladium? Debauchery and several kilos of Producer Dave's favourite over the counter pharmaceuticals? Not quite. Rather it was a …

1
#482 - Zzamph, #VanMems and Potential Curry Gone Mad 1:06:31

6d ago1:06:31

1:06:31

Confidence is the word of the day, with differing meanings for both of our heroes. Does John have enough of the stuff to go through with his edgy scripted intro? Is Elis sufficiently supplied to make his 5th Cymru Connection in a row? It’s all to play for, and play we must. The other word on everyone’s lips is farewell, as the boys bid adieu to the…

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#481 - The Mega Bond, £14.67 Savings and Dressed As A Big Kefir 56:46

10d ago56:46

56:46

We’re at a crossroads. A vape crossroads. For the dual forces of quicker marathon times and health effects are coming together to fight against the temptations of fruity mist. And John must make a choice. Elsewhere it’s a show of rare beasts: Elis takes it upon himself to get in the grill of a listener and do the sacking, and we dole out a good rad…

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Episode 127: Where is Diane Augat? 1:16:48

12d ago1:16:48

1:16:48

40-year-old Diane Augat left her sister's Hudson, Florida home the morning of April 10, 1998, and never returned. Just a few days later, Diane's mother received a disturbing voicemail with Diane screaming for help before the call disconnected. Diane's family became even more terrified when Diane's severed finger was found alongside a Florida highwa…

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#480 - Hot Trees, Exhaustion Tears and Let It Be Birds 1:03:34

13d ago1:03:34

1:03:34

What’s the best way to round off 39 hours of no sleep? Invite 7 young girls round for your daughter’s birthday sleepover, that’s how! Were there tears? Of course! Did said tears belong to Elis or the kids? Listen to find out. Elsewhere we’re answering the question, ‘is mid-October too early to be talking about Christmas?’ Not in these parts it ain’…

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#479 - Going Cockleless, Lamb In Bed and The Elis James Clerical Universe 45:12

17d ago45:12

45:12

This show has been many things, but right now this a cockles podcast. Elis’s homecoming show in Swansea was very much tied to whether he could get cockles at breakfast which sets us off on a cockle rollercoaster. But will Dave like them? There’s also a very intense Ask Us Anything, and a 1.5 times playing of the jingle. Plus, what meat would you ea…

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Episode 126: The Disappearance of Patricia Spencer and Pamela Hobley - An Oaktober Fest Special 1:00:12

18d ago1:00:12

1:00:12

On October 31, 1969, Patricia Spencer (16) and Pamela Hobley (15) vanished from Oscoda, Michigan. Both skipped school and were last seen walking along River Road, possibly heading to a homecoming game or Halloween party. Patricia was vibrant and family-oriented; Pamela was rebellious, recently engaged, and rumored to use drugs. Initially considered…

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#478 - Zones, Curry Pyjamas and Pre-Time Speeches 1:07:38

20d ago1:07:38

1:07:38

By BBC Radio 5 Live

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#477 - Oasising, The Sero Clan and Trapped in Neasden 50:45

24d ago50:45

50:45

It’s 3 croaky voices in the studio today because Elis and Dave have Oasised once again, and poor old John is unwell. Luckily that means a general vibe alignment is struck, but, crucially, the standards do not slip. For Elis and Dave both have tales of struggling to get out of Wembley, and John wonders which of his awards would be best suited to bea…

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Episode 125: Psychic Detectives - An Oaktober Fest Special 1:09:27

27d ago1:09:27

1:09:27

When faced with an unsolved case, sometimes authorities are willing to think outside of the box.... but consulting a psychic???? While some police agencies and investigators claim to have received valuable information from psychics in real cases, there is a general skepticism within law enforcement and the public due to a lack of concrete evidence …

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#476 - Explicit Cakes, Sewer Coffee and A Sexual Holiday to Cardigan 59:27

27d ago59:27

59:27

Having conquered the earthly plane, Elis and John are taking to the skies. Can they become the first podcast to be recorded entirely in space? Or will the anecdote well run dry too quickly? Back down on Earth there’s a debut trip to Birch Services for Johnny JR, Elis is positively giddy after the pair run round the natural sights of Llandudno, and …

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#475 - Two Pint Problems, Yaris Rats and Carry On Loving Britain 1:12:14

1M ago1:12:14

1:12:14

It’s a huge episode for loving Britain, but more importantly it’s a huge episode for cagoules. This is the UK’s number 1 cagoule podcast, and a very special guest has got Elis barking like a waterproof dog in heat. If you’re anti-outer layers then this is not the place to be. It’s slightly lighter ground on the anecdote front as John has just writt…

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Episode 124: The Disappearance of Tara Calico 1:22:27

1M ago1:22:27

1:22:27

Tara Leigh Calico, a 19-year-old college student, vanished on September 20, 1988, during a 35-mile bike ride on New Mexico State Road 47. Known for her active and organized nature, she left with her mother’s pink Huffy bike and a Sony Walkman. When she didn’t return by noon, her mother, Patty Doel, found her Boston cassette tape on the roadside and…

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#474 - The Shusher, Donning Donnington and Content: The Movie 58:00

1M ago58:00

58:00

In a life full of achievements John may have finally topped the lot. In his 5 year battle with the word game that most people stopped playing a few years ago, John has finally come out victorious. Yes, he’s Wordled in one. It’s a big day. But the main question is, did it make him happy? There’s another chapter of Elis and John’s Road To Nowhere, in…

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#473 - James Acaster, The Sad Van and Anne Tuna 56:40

1M ago56:40

56:40

473 episodes in and there is still room to excavate the vast intricacies that make up the Pompeii dig of John Robins’ mind. Grab your JCB because there’s a dump truck’s worth to uncover off the back of the latest adventures from the Sad Van. And it all boils down to one thing, as the hotels John’s willing to stay in simply say so much about the man…

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RE-RELEASE The Mysterious Death of Tina Watson 57:22

1M ago57:22

57:22

Imagine looking at your scuba diving vacation photos and seeing the figure of a woman laying lifeless on the bottom of the ocean floor.... When Gabe and Tina Watson go on their scuba diving honeymoon, Tina drowns and only Gabe comes home. Was it a tragic accident or did Gabe drown his wife? Sources: O’Loughlin, T. (2017, July 15). Husband admits ki…

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#472 - 47 Kisses, #NoPowerUps and The More Money than Sense Boys 1:01:58

1M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Move over Oxford Union, debating has a new home! As Elis and John towers has turned into a hotbed of discourse and deliberation. The big topics are given the respect they deserve and the order of service for today is as follows: What’s the saddest song ever written? Hotels: budget or bespoke? And finally, are baths rubbish? Aside from heated argume…

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#471 - John’s Critical Path, Elis’s 0.0% Curry and Dave’s Not So Silent Alarm 1:05:18

2M ago1:05:18

1:05:18

What starts off as a huge day for John (book deadline day) turns into a massive (massive it is) day for poor old Dave. As the saying goes: ‘The best laid plans of podcast producers often go awry’, and Dave’s idea for the team to record remotely gets derailed quite spectacularly by a faulty alarm system. Brace yourselves for the most stressed you wi…

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Episode 123: Where is Ben Tyner? 1:20:00

2M ago1:20:00

1:20:00

When a riderless working horse was found frightened and alone on the side of a logging road, the ranching community in Merritt, British Columbia immediately knew that something was very wrong. It was quickly determined that the horse belonged to 32-year-old cowboy, Ben Tyner. A huge search and rescue team immediately went into action but the only c…

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#470 - Old Man Bum, A Dream A Dream of Beef and Lust: 12 Bodies That Changed My Life 1:16:28

2M ago1:16:28

1:16:28

The boys have been busy bees recently and the show’s in danger of turning into a Michael Palin travelogue. Elis has returned from France and regales us with stories of visits to ex-military factories, intense chats with German families and Isy’s attempts at speaking French. Then it’s time for the first instalment of Elis and John’s Road to Nowhere,…

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#469 - The New Beans, In John’s Time and Eating Margaret Mountford’s Hair 48:53

2M ago48:53

48:53

The boys are fresh from driving around the country for charity with Ian Botham, which of course means Elis is exhausted and tour newbie Dave is absolutely fine. And there’s more bad news for Mr James as the Elis vote is being split in the Listeners’ Choice vote at the British Podcast Awards. He’s going to get pilloried by one co-host or maybe both.…

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Episode 122: The Galapagos Affair 1:46:21

2M ago1:46:21

1:46:21

The Galapagos Affair is a gripping tale of idealism, conflict, and mystery set on the remote Floreana Island in the Galapagos during the early 1930s. In 1929, Dr. Friedrich Ritter and Dore Strauch, both disillusioned with modern life, left their spouses in Germany to pursue a solitary, Nietzsche-inspired existence on Floreana, building a home calle…

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#468 - Noble John, Sugar Me Twice and Good Old Gent 54:50

2M ago54:50

54:50

The ripples of last week’s Elis James mega-rant are still being felt right across the BBC, and despite vowing to ignore the call to pen John’s obituary, Elis has rowed back and done just that. Brace yourself for some emotional heft and candid commentary on John’s propensity for darts at university. But John’s made of sterner stuff these days and re…

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#467 - Chiles Miltree, Toddler Watson and King of the Nerds 59:36

2M ago59:36

59:36

There’s a surprise in the offing for John. Not that that’s a surprise to him. Nothing gets past old Sherlock Robins. Especially Producer Dave positioning a phone on a table at a very slight angle. But said surprise leads to some incredible finds about Johnny JR which leave Elis and Dave’s jaws on the floor. This was not what had been intended. Else…

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Episode 121: The Death of Jaleayah Davis 1:05:41

2M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

After a night out with friends, 20-year-old Jaleayah Davis is found dead in the middle of a busy highway. A bizarre crime scene, suspicious friendships, a missing key ring and violent injuries that don't add up....was her death the result of a horrific accident or something more sinister? Sources: Jaleayah Davis - Case Documents and Details - Gavin…

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#466 - The UK’s Dumb Plums, The McFlurry Route and The Menutality Monster 1:11:08

2M ago1:11:08

1:11:08

Today’s episode is filled with the big questions of our age. These are the things that government top brass are pouring over day in, day out: Is Martin Lewis up there with Galileo and Mozart? Can you put goodwill on your shelf? And most divisively, is wee ever fine in a paddling pool? It’s a show that asks questions rather than answers them, and yo…

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#465 - Mr Headinhands, Kirsty’s USP and The Stomach Microbiome of My Instagram 50:24

2M ago50:24

50:24

Elis made a bad decision the other day. And if you had a million guesses as to what that decision was then you won’t even get close, even when given the clue "Welsh culture". He's insistent it isn’t the outcome he wanted but John and Dave aren’t sure they believe him. Quite frankly it’s one of the most baffling conversations ever had on this show. …

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Episode 120: The Death of Dr Gilbert Bogle and Margaret Chandler 1:02:13

2M ago1:02:13

1:02:13

In 1963 Chatswood, Sydney, Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler, both married to others, were found dead near the Lane Cove River after a New Year's Eve party. Their partially nude bodies suggested a romantic encounter, but no cause of death was found, with poisoning suspected due to purple blood. Despite extensive testing, no toxin was ide…

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#464 - Aloof Disinterest, Raised By Rats and A Sixth Form State of Mind 1:02:19

2M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

Memory lane is today's destination of choice, as John dons his rose-tinted glasses to reminisce about the time 'an arrangement was made' for him to return to his secondary school to assist in its production of Guys and Dolls. Was he officially invited back? Did John simply turn up because he had nothing else on? We're still not entirely sure, but t…

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#463 - The Trifecta of Value, Celya AB and A Bin Bag of Marmite 1:02:17

2M ago1:02:17

1:02:17

There’s huge news in the rural Bucks area as the Trifecta of Value begins to take shape - pending planning application rulings. It’s one of many wins for John, but the spectre of the biggest loss in many a year hangs over him. But he is unwilling to reveal it in his losses column. Someone should have cottoned on to this sly behaviour by now. Away f…

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Episode 119: What Happened to Mateusz Kawecki? 1:09:42

3M ago1:09:42

1:09:42

When 30 year old Mateusz Kawecki left his home in Germany to witness the birth of his first child, he checked in with his father and advised him he had been delayed due to bad traffic. Unfortunately, days went by and Mateusz never arrived and was never heard from again. Five months after he disappeared a mysterious discovery in the barn of his fami…

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#462 - Burger, Sell Me Your Suitcase and Topless Dave In Front of An Olive 1:12:29

3M ago1:12:29

1:12:29

John’s been chained to a typewriter diarising his life experiences, and he's so confident about his memoir that he’s written “this is a good book” in Bic on its cover. Something all the great authors do, and he clearly has confidence in his witty emotionally hefty prose. But anyway, in this chapter of the Elis James and John Robins show we’re whisk…

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#461 - Elis, Man City’s Back Four and Will The Drummer From Coldplay 1:01:42

3M ago1:01:42

1:01:42

We start in the anecdote Wild West. Specifically it was wild [north] west London for Elis as he’s been to Oasis in credibility damaging seats. The best seats in the house, surrounded by some of the most famous people in the country. He *could* have asked for General Admission. But he didn’t and that suggestion is shoved up the tunnel of anguish. Ci…

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Episode 118: Christina Whittaker (Part 2 of 2) 1:10:21

3M ago1:10:21

1:10:21

In 2009, 21-year-old Christina Whittaker, a new mother from Hannibal, Missouri, disappeared after a night out with friends on November 13. She was last seen after being escorted out of Rookie’s Sports Bar around 11:45 p.m. for disruptive behavior, having been previously banned from the establishment. Witnesses reported her being heavily intoxicated…

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#460 - John’s 50 Kids, Nish Kumar and The Cobbles Sing Their Plaintive Lament 1:01:03

3M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

It’s a lament time of year. It’s an Edinburgh time of year. A time when John yearns for the crippling comedic examination which is the Edinburgh Festival. For he cannot experience that emotional rollercoaster this year. He can’t sit on a stage and call himself a C*** after someone shouts “have you had a ploughman’s” during the most emotionally heft…

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#459 - Josie Long , Verge Christ and Mammary Glands In The Runner Beans 53:47

3M ago53:47

53:47

Elis has secured a last minute Oasis ticket, but the big question is… what *does* he wear??? Will Liam stop during Champagne Supernova and pick him out specifically? Meanwhile, John has had two prawn vindaloos and there’s been ‘interest’ down below. This is all amidst the great wildflower debate which continues apace, and Elis is on the end of a lo…

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#458 - Simon Davies’ Uncle, #CigsNotPigs and The Protective Wall of Human Community 59:53

3M ago59:53

59:53

It’s a big show for Elis’s confidence. After failing to clinch the first quint-connection last week, he was already on the ropes. But throw in a Made Up Game question harking back to school maths, and another tense outing of the Cymru Connection, and he may (does) turn into a man on the edge. And for said Made Up Game we have a very special guest i…

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Episode 117: Christina Whittaker (Part 1 of 2) 1:12:24

3M ago1:12:24

1:12:24

In 2009, 21-year-old Christina Whittaker, a new mother from Hannibal, Missouri, disappeared after a night out with friends on November 13. She was last seen after being escorted out of Rookie’s Sports Bar around 11:45 p.m. for disruptive behavior, having been previously banned from the establishment. Witnesses reported her being heavily intoxicated…

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#457 - Becoming Compost, Squire Dave and #SenseTheSoil 1:03:20

3M ago1:03:20

1:03:20

Elis and John vibes in the areoh! Producer Dave has been to see Oasis and talks the boys through the various ‘ingredients’ that made it a night to remember. He also recounts a living nightmare he’s just experienced including missing equipment, an excitable crowd in Oxford, and a cat that can’t stop weeing. Elsewhere there’s all the accoutrements th…

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Episode 116: Where is Phoenix Coldon? 1:26:53

3M ago1:26:53

1:26:53

Phoenix Coldon, a 23-year-old African American woman, disappeared on December 18, 2011, after driving away from her parents’ home in Spanish Lake, Missouri. Her 1998 black Chevy Blazer was found abandoned two weeks later in East St. Louis, Illinois, but she was never located. Phoenix, an only child, was homeschooled, talented in fencing and piano, …

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#456 - Mad Foxes, Papa Podium and 40 Rhodris 57:52

3M ago57:52

57:52

Elis is on the precipice of glory. Just two things stand between him and immortality. First up is the chance to be crowned the fastest dad in all of key stage 1 at his son’s sports day. We know he plays football a lot and we know he cycles to Brighton sometimes, but can Elis do it on an overcast Thursday in South London? Secondly, our very own son …

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#455 - Badly Well, Warm Panic and A Defence of Yodelling 43:26

3M ago43:26

43:26

It's a very smell heavy show today but the aromas aren't good as listeners inform Elis and John of a quite literal VW barrel of eggs and a queasy French exchange tale. Meanwhile Maisie Adam is very very hungover after England’s dramatic quarter final win, and Dave gets sacked twice in the first 10 minutes after his lads trip to Mallorca. Of course …

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Episode 115: The Mandela Effect 1:11:25

4M ago1:11:25

1:11:25

The Mandela Effect, named by paranormal researcher Fiona Broome in 2010, refers to collective false memories where groups misremember events or details, like Nelson Mandela dying in the 1980s (he died in 2013). Psychological studies, such as Loftus and Palmer’s 1974 experiments, demonstrate how language can distort memories, while Broome suggests a…

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#454 - Swiss Arrogance, All Cars are the Same and One of the UK’s SUVs 52:05

3M ago52:05

52:05

Elis needs a new car. But how can John advise him on his next whip when shackled by the understandable constraints of undue product prominence? Well John has been on a special course, the Balance BBc (Hons) at a local uni, in order to undertake this difficult task and be What Car?* for the impartial content generation. Can he navigate such tricky w…

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#453 - Decking or Necking, Dad of the Year and Too Handsome to Focus 50:44

4M ago50:44

50:44

Elis is back from Euros Trip No. 1 and he’s Dad of the Year. A far more prestigious award than the 2008 accolade of the same name won by Peter Andre and sponsored by “Daddies Sauce”. Yes, his daughter not only experienced an unforgettable time watching the Welsh women, but she also saw her two favourite artists in eight days. Could Elis now become …

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Episode 114: The Challenger Tragedy 1:16:15

4M ago1:16:15

1:16:15

In an effort to reinvigorate interest in the Space program, NASA launched the "Teacher in Space" program, in 1984. The beautiful, brilliant and charismatic high school social studies teacher, Christa McAuliffe, was selected out of 11,000 applicants and the country fell in love with the teacher and the space program once again. Tragically, a well-do…

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#452 - Here Lies The Volkswagen Barrel of Eggs 58:09

4M ago58:09

58:09

After many moons of service the mobile terrarium / paint dump / dodgem, the VW Barrel of Eggs, is no more. And today’s show is in tribute to that trusty steed. Currently lying in state, when it makes its final journey on the back of a low loader to the scrapheap make sure to line the streets of South London and doff your cap. Yes this is the only p…

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#451 - OG Guffer, Rodders (A) and The Man Is Your Husband 1:18:52

4M ago1:18:52

1:18:52

John’s annoyed because Elis and Dave have used all their material before the mics came on. Chin wagging like old ladies at the salon. But as is often the case we are saved by delving into the depths of insignificance. Some people think that the mines of inconsequentiality had run dry on this show. That the pick axes couldn’t uncover anything more m…

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Episode 113: Cindy James - The Unknown Event 1:29:51

4M ago1:29:51

1:29:51

After separating from her husband of 15 years, Cindy James, a nurse in Vancouver, Canada, was brutally stalked and harassed. Despite nearly seven years of reported incidents of harassment, threatening calls, physical and sexual assaults, and other forms of abuse, police concluded that her claims were likely fabricated, possibly to gain attention or…