Iain Packer lived in freedom for almost 20 years after killing Emma Caldwell in 2005. Despite strangling her and discarding her body in remote woods about 40 miles outside Glasgow, he was able to live a seemingly normal family life. Also to attack dozens of other women. We explore the decisions taken during the initial police investigation which allowed him to escape justice for almost two decades – but could he have been stopped even before Emma’s murder? We hear from his first known victim who he attacked in her family home at the age of 15. What might have happened had her cries for help been believed earlier? By the adults in her life or by the police? She also thinks Packer’s offending is much wider than we know - that he would have attacked other women while on family holidays in the US and Spain. Even alerting the FBI and trying to hire a Private Investigator. We hear from former police officers who don’t think Emma’s is Packer’s only murder, those who worked tirelessly to bring this ‘forgotten suspect’ into the dock. Come with us into the courtroom, hearing from the witnesses – and victims - whose damning evidence eventually put this murderer, and serial rapist, behind bars for good.

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If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast and need mental-health support or want to talk about your feelings, visit the Hub of Hope to find services in your area.

If you think you might have information about any of the people we’ve mentioned you can get in touch with us at bewarebook@bauermedia.co.uk

Written, created, presented and produced by Collette McGonigle

Presented and produced by Callum McQuade

Executive Producers - Laurence Bassett & Henrietta Harrison

Sound Design - James Stodd & Michelle Homan

Designer - Ben Watkins

Production Manager - Sarah Nicholls

Legal Counsel - Jonathan McNaul for Bauer Media Group and Caroline Marshall for Reviewed & Cleared

Head of Production - Cat Moran

Chief Creative Officer, Podcasts - Lucie Cave

Director of News and Sport, Scotland and Northern Ireland - Lorraine Herbison Hollinshead

Beware Book is a Rayo Original podcast by Bauer Media