My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Hosted by Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This episode covers two distinct criminal cases driven by relentless persistence. The guest explores the decades-long pursuit of Kalinka Bamberski's killer by her father Andre, following her suspicious death in Germany in 1982 and the local authorities' refusal to properly investigate or prosecute her stepfather, Dr. Dieter Crombach. After years of legal roadblocks, tribunals, and a controversial cross-border kidnapping orchestrated by sympathizers, Crombach was finally convicted of voluntary homicide in France in 2011. The hosts then examine the infamous 2001 Who Wants to be a Millionaire cheating scandal in the UK, where Army Major Charles Ingram won the top prize with the help of coordinated audience coughs from his wife Diana and fellow contestant Tecwin Whitick, leading to a high-profile fraud conviction and widespread public disgrace.
Hosts introduce the episode and play a series of commercial spots from Zillow and OnDeck while setting the tone for the show.
Karen and Georgia greet listeners, tease spooky season content, and briefly recap past episodes to re‑engage new listeners.
Karen recounts a memorable customer‑service call that highlighted the power of listening and recognition.
The hosts preview a TikTok video offering advice on avoiding risky situations, framing it as a playful warning for listeners.
The hosts introduce the cold case of Kalinka’s death, outlining the key facts and the father’s quest for justice.
Details of Kalinka’s family, her move back to Toulouse, and the initial shock of her death are explained.
Andre receives the autopsy report, revealing unusual evidence that fuels his suspicion of foul play.
Andre’s plan to kidnap Dieter, the execution of that plan, and the subsequent trial and sentencing are recounted.
The episode concludes with Dieter’s death, the impact on the family, and reflections on justice and perseverance.
Hosts introduce the million-pound question and Charles begins answering, setting the stage for the cheating allegations.
The production team starts investigating Charles, noting suspicious coughing and phone records, and the police are called in.
The trial presents audio evidence of coughing, phone logs, and testimonies, leading to guilty verdicts and suspended sentences.
A Father's 30-Year Quest for Justicestory
The hosts introduce the tragic 1982 death of 14-year-old Kalinka Bamberski in Germany and her father Andre's tireless multi-decade campaign to hold her stepfather accountable.
Suspicious Autopsy Findings Ignoredinsight
Andre uncovers glaring issues in the German autopsy report, including the stepfather's inappropriate presence during the exam, unperformed toxicology screenings, and evidence of physical trauma.
Desperate as the statute of limitations approaches in 2009, an operative contacted by Andre orchestrates Crombach's abduction in Germany and dumps him bound in France to face trial.
Burning Through Lifelines Earlydata
Major Charles Ingram quickly depletes his audience and phone-a-friend lifelines by question five, setting up an unusually risky gameplay strategy.
Uncovering the Auditory Cuesinsight
Millionaire production crew members review audience tapes and discover a pattern of bizarre coughs keyed to the correct multiple-choice answers.
Public Laughter at Trial Audiostory
During the criminal trial, prosecutors play audio recordings of Tecwin Whitick's coughs, prompting immediate laughter from reporters and the public gallery.
“I think we should sit here and watch TikToks.”
“The first unusual thing Andre notices about the autopsy report is that in addition to the medical examiner and two police officers being present, Dieter, the stepfather, had also been present during the autopsy.”
“She tells him that Kalinka has died in her sleep, 14-year-old Kalinka, and that her husband, Dieter, tried to revive her, but he couldn't.”
“He says when he tried to wake her up, he found her unresponsive. He had tried to administer several stimulant injections to revive her, but they hadn't worked.”
“Charles has made it now to question 15, the million pound question.”
“He was only about 10 or 15 feet directly in front of me, and the way he was coughing was rather bizarre.”
“The prosecution makes a strong case in court.”
“I should make one thing clear, and I'll only say it once and then move on. We didn't cheat on that show.”
This week, Georgia covers the murder of Kalinka Bamberski and her father’s 30-year quest for justice and Karen tells the story of the Who Wants to be a Millionaire cheating scandal. For our sources, please visit https://www.myfavoritemurder.com/episodes. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/3UFCn1g. Head to social media to share your favorite moments from this episode. Instagram: instagram.com/myfavoritemurder http://instagram.com/myfavoritemurder Facebook: facebook.com/myfavoritemurder http://facebook.com/myfavoritemurder TikTok: tiktok.com/@my_favorite_murder http://tiktok.com/@my_favorite_murder Send your hometown stories to [email protected] mailto:[email protected]. Join the Fan Cult to access ad-free episodes of My Favorite Murder. Members also receive merch store discounts, exclusive audio and video content and more! Visit www.fancult.supercast.com http://www.fancult.supercast.com/ to join. Shop for My Favorite Murder and other Exactly Right merchandise here: www.exactlyrightstore.com http://www.exactlyrightstore.com/. Rate, review and follow My Favorite Murder on the iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you like to listen. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14,880 words · 8 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated