The Victim's Shoes

Here is something no other JonBenet podcast can offer: the hosts are Jessa van der Woerd and Lexi Marra, granddaughters of Lou Smit, the legendary detective who led the investigation and championed the intruder theory until his death in 2010. The three episodes feature never-before-heard audio recordings of Smit himself walking through the evidence, explaining his reasoning in his own words. The show is short. Just three episodes released across 2020, ranging from 16 to 48 minutes. But the content is unlike anything else available. Hearing Lou Smit narrate the crime scene details and explain why he believed an intruder was responsible carries a weight that no journalist retelling can replicate. The man spent years on this case and literally came out of retirement to keep working it. The podcast has earned a 3.8-star rating from about 250 listeners. Reviews split along predictable lines: people who believe in the intruder theory love having Smit's analysis presented by his own family, while skeptics question whether the hosts can be objective given their personal connection. That is a fair critique. This is not a balanced, all-theories-considered presentation. It is a look at the case through the eyes of the investigator who knew it best, filtered through family members who clearly admire his work. If you are interested in the intruder theory specifically, or just want to hear primary source audio from the actual lead detective, this short series is essential listening.