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On a small Canadian island called Isle Madame in Nova Scotia, lobster fishing is the lucrative cornerstone of the local economy. In June 2013, an infamous local thief named Philip Boudreau disappeared after his boat, the Midnight Slider, was found capsized. Boudreau had a 28-page criminal record, frequently stole lobsters and cut traps, and terrorized residents while local police allegedly failed to act. Three men aboard the lobster boat Twin Maggie's—Dwayne Sampson, James Landry, and Craig Landry—pursued Boudreau, shot at him, rammed his boat, dragged him through the water, and sank his body with an anchor. While the men were arrested and charged, the community rallied around them, raising bail money and viewing the killing as necessary vigilante justice against an unchecked bully. James Landry confessed in an attempt to protect his family, though investigators later unraveled the details, leading to manslaughter convictions and lengthy prison sentences that deeply divided the small town.
The episode opens with a brief introduction and a sponsor message from FAIRE.
Phoebe Judge introduces herself and the episode’s focus on the Isle Madame mystery.
The narrator explains Isle Madame’s lobster fishing industry and its economic importance.
The story of the overturned boat, the Midnight Slider, and the disappearance of its owner Philip Boudreau is revealed.
Details about Philip’s upbringing, early life, and criminal history are presented.
The investigation into the murder of Philip Boudreau by the crew of the Twin Maggie’s is recounted.
The episode reflects on how the case affected the Isle Madame community and the lasting emotions it stirred.
The legal proceedings, verdicts, and sentences for James Landry, Dwayne Sampson, and Craig Landry are outlined.
The episode concludes with production credits, sponsor messages, and a final sign‑off by Phoebe Judge.
Lucrative Lobster Industrydata
Fishermen on the small island of Isle Madame brave the cold waters at 4 a.m. to pull up traps worth millions of dollars.
Do It Yourself Ethosinsight
Residents of the isolated island are accustomed to doing things themselves and do not trust the police to help them.
Mixed Community Toleranceinsight
While some residents viewed Philip Boudreau as a Robin Hood figure, others lived in fear of his threats and property damage.
Unresponsive Police Forcedebate
Journalist Jake Boudreau explains that despite clear video evidence and ongoing complaints, the police failed to investigate Boudreau's thefts.
Missing Search Panicstory
When Philip Boudreau's boat was found empty, locals searched the water without panic or fear for his life, suspecting another temporary disappearance.
Confession and Cover-Upstrategy
James Landry confessed to shooting at Philip Boudreau and ramming his boat in an effort to fall on the sword and protect his younger family members.
Residents quickly went door to door to raise money for Dwayne Sampson's bail, demonstrating strong community loyalty and agreement with his actions.
James Landry and Dwayne Sampson were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 14 and 10 years in prison respectively.
“Philip would steal the beads off Christ's moccasins, but then, if you needed them, he'd turn around and give them to you.”
“Once Philip found out it was you, he'd come back to your house and do $10,000 worth of damage.”
“The midnight slider was transported to the basement of the courthouse.”
“If each of us were able to exercise revenge and retribution as we alone determine, it would be chaos, characterized by fear and brutality.”
In 2013, a small boat called the Midnight Slider was found floating empty in the waters off of Isle Madame in Nova Scotia. “Murder is not something that occurs in this neck of the woods very often. There’s always been a tradition of taking care of families, watching out, looking out for one another.” This episode was originally released in 2022. Tickets for our brand new live show, Don't Worry with Phoebe Judge, are on sale now! Learn more and see all of our tour dates at thisiscriminal.com/live. Say hello on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts. Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more. We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery. Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop. Episode transcripts are posted on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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