A Baldwin County-based true crime podcast has its first season now available "pretty much anywhere you can listen to podcasts," such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio, where listeners can tune in to hear about potential wrongful convictions and cold cases in Alabama and other states.

"Skeptical: An Investigative Podcast" was started in 2018 by Neeli Faulkner, founder of podcast media company Murder Creek Media, which has nine volunteer team members. Faulker is also the host and executive producer. The podcast's first season premiered from September 2024 to the end of January.

Faulker was inspired by another true crime podcast, "Up and Vanished," which she said helped solve a cold case involving Tara Grinstead, a teacher from Georgia. She said her first case was motivated by "a simple Google query" where she searched "wrongful conviction Alabama."

It was then that she found the case of Daniel Blan and his sister's online petition for his innocence.

"From there," she said, "the investigation began."

Soon, her "passion project" grew into something more.

"I've always been passionate about shedding light on wrongful convictions, so I knew I wanted 'Skeptical' to focus on that mission," Faulkner said. "… Throughout my investigation, I uncovered new evidence that is now part of Daniel's post-conviction appeal. It's a reminder that one person can make a difference."

Blan was convicted of murdering his adoptive father, who was a teacher at Verbena High School and lived in Rockford, about an hour north of Montgomery, in 1994. Blan was 26 when he was charged. He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Faulkner said any case updates, whether they are caused by the podcast or not, will be added as bonus episodes.

Several case review requests have been sent to the team through their website page at www.murdercreekmedia.com. Faulkner said each of the five cases requested this past month are all set in Alabama.

She said Alabama cases "are more feasible to us at this time" but that the team is open to cases from any location. The next season to be released will be based in Missouri.

"Which has presented some challenges for our volunteer team," Faulkner said. "Investigating cases outside our home state required additional time and money, especially since we can't always conduct in-person interviews or access records as quickly."

Faulkner said the team is made up of volunteers who all work full-time in addition to researching information for the podcasts, leaving "evenings, weekends and spare moments to these cases." She said this results in "late-night research, weekend phone calls and constant group chats."

All nine team members contribute to "Skeptical" and other podcasts under Murder Creek Media, but Faulkner said the goal is, as the team grows, to "assign dedicated teams to different cases so we can cover more stories simultaneously."

Listener involvement is encouraged for those who "are passionate about investigative work." A volunteer link for case researchers is available on the website. Faulkner said even though the company is volunteer-based at the moment, she hopes to eventually bring on full-time team members.

Another podcast through Murder Creek Media, focused solely on cold cases in Mobile County, is "Murder in Mobile County." This podcast, according to their website, is coming soon to podcast platforms.

Faulkner said "Murder in Mobile County" is first focusing on the 1981 cold case of Brenda Harden Peters who was found stabbed to death at "an area off Todd Acres Road in Mobile." Faulkner said anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Sgt. J. T. Thorton with Mobile County Sheriff's Office at (251) 574-8720. Anonymous tips can be submitted on Murder Creek Media's website.

Perspectives of victims' families "are incredibly important" to the Murder Creek Media team, and while remaining dedicated to "seeking the truth," Faulkner said they work to "approach each case with compassion and respect." She said it is important for the team to maintain the investigations "integrity" by working to "remain unbiased," especially since details discovered "could eventually find its way into a courtroom."

With "both positive and negative feedback" from families, Faulkner said the team is invested "in the pursuit of truth and justice" but does not wish to "diminish anyone's experience."

"Some families appreciate our commitment to telling these stories in an honest and thoughtful way," Faulkner said. "For others, especially with potential wrongful conviction cases, some may disagree with our findings or feel that revisiting the case is difficult. We try to approach those situations with empathy because we know these cases have a deep emotional impact on everyone involved."

Faulkner said the team with "Skeptical" hopes to "cover all the cases that are thrown our way" to provide relief to families of cold case victims or those who were potentially wrongfully convicted.

"'Skeptical' stands out because we focus exclusively on cases involving potential wrongful convictions," Faulkner said. "These cases take time – digging into the facts, possibly uncovering new evidence and navigating an incredibly slow post-conviction process means we can't release quick-turn episodes."

She said one episode could reflect "months, even years, of research, interviews and fact-driven storytelling." The typical process in researching these cases involves collecting defendant documents such as "trial transcripts and court records" and public information then organizing interviews and reaching out to "individuals connected to the case."

"Investigating cold cases has given us a deeper appreciation and understanding for the challenges law enforcement face when solving crimes without a clear suspect," Faulkner said.

After enough information is gathered on the case, the script is then written up. This involves what she calls one of the more challenging parts of the job because she has to write "a compelling narrative using only factual information."

"We rely on the truth to capture our listeners' attention," she said, "hoping that the story itself will inspire them to become advocates for justice."