Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations
Investigative storytelling uncovering unsolved murders, missing persons, and small town mysteries in North Dakota and the Midwest.
James Wolner | Investigative Journalist & Creator of Dakota Spotlight · James Wolner
Show overview
Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations has been publishing since 2019, and across the 7 years since has built a catalogue of 251 episodes, alongside 8 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 170 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence, with the show now in its 99th season.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 32 min and 49 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. It is catalogued as a EN-language True Crime show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 38 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 53 episodes published. Published by James Wolner.
From the publisher
Dakota Spotlight is a true crime series investigating unsolved murders, cold cases, and missing persons in North Dakota and the Midwest. Hosted by investigative journalist James Wolner, each season takes a deep dive into one case, from rural crime and small town murders to decades-old disappearances. Through meticulous research, exclusive interviews, and on-the-ground reporting, Dakota Spotlight brings forgotten crimes back into the public eye and gives voice to victims and their families. Alongside full investigative seasons, the show also features shorter standalone episodes that explore individual mysteries in a single sitting. If you are drawn to investigative journalism, small town true crime, and real crime stories based on actual events, Dakota Spotlight offers gripping and respectful storytelling you will not forget.