True Crime Time For November 11, 2026 | Veterans Day Special: Timothy McVeigh, Oklahoma City Bombing, Serial Killers & Witness Protection

On this Veterans Day edition of True Crime Time, Woody Overton honors the men and women who have served in the United States military while examining a darker side of American history: notorious criminals who once wore the uniform.

A veteran himself, Woody opens with a personal tribute to those who served, including his father, friends, and fellow service members. He reflects on the discipline, sacrifice, and lifelong impact of military service before turning to cases involving former military personnel who later committed horrific crimes.

Woody revisits the military backgrounds of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, Green River Killer Gary Ridgway, Jeffrey Dahmer, BTK killer Dennis Rader, and Son of Sam killer David Berkowitz.

He also examines violence directed against veterans, including the 1946 assault on Black World War II veteran Isaac Woodard and the deadly 1919 Centralia conflict on Armistice Day.

The episode's central focus is the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 168 people, including 19 children. Woody walks listeners through Timothy McVeigh's military service, radicalization, the bombing itself, and the extraordinary FBI investigation that led to his capture and conviction.

Drawing from FBI accounts and his own experience as a detective, Woody examines how investigators traced the rented truck, identified McVeigh, and uncovered the involvement of Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier.

Woody then explores McVeigh's 2001 execution, the unusual arrangements that allowed survivors and victims' families to witness it, and what ultimately happened to the other men involved in the bombing.

The discussion leads to an examination of the Federal Witness Security Program, commonly known as witness protection or WITSEC. Woody discusses how cooperating witnesses receive new identities, relocate, and attempt to build new lives while remaining separated from their former criminal associations.

Throughout the episode, Woody shares personal memories of military service, the Oklahoma City bombing, and his desire to return to the military following September 11, 2001.

He closes by recognizing the sacrifices of veterans, including those living with service-related disabilities, and expressing gratitude for everyone who has served.

Show Notes

Veterans Day — Honoring Those Who Served

• Woody reflects on his military service and the veterans in his family.
• The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
• How military experience can shape discipline, responsibility, and lifelong relationships.
• Woody shares his belief in the value of military service and honors veterans across generations.

This Day in History — Belle Gunness

• Born November 11, 1859, Belle Gunness became one of America's most notorious suspected serial killers.
• Multiple suspicious deaths, disappearances, and fires surrounded her life.
• Investigators discovered numerous human remains on her Indiana property.
• Whether Gunness herself died in the farmhouse fire remains disputed.

Notorious Criminals Who Served in the Military

• Timothy McVeigh: Decorated U.S. Army veteran responsible for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
• Gary Ridgway: The Green River Killer served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era.
• Jeffrey Dahmer: Served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in West Germany.
• Dennis Rader: The BTK killer served in the U.S. Air Force.
• David Berkowitz: The Son of Sam killer previously served in the U.S. Army.

Crimes Against Veterans

• The history of racist violence targeting Black veterans returning from military service.
• The 1946 assault on Isaac Woodard, a Black World War II veteran who was permanently blinded by police.
• The 1919 Centralia conflict in Washington, where violence involving American Legion members and Industrial Workers of the World members resulted in multiple deaths.
• Woody reflects on military brotherhood and the importance of recognizing every veteran's service.

Featured Case — The Oklahoma City Bombing

• On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
• The explosion killed 168 people, including 19 children, and injured hundreds more.
• Investigators traced vehicle components recovered from the bombing scene to identify the rented truck.
• McVeigh was already in custody following a traffic stop approximately 90 minutes after the attack.
• Evidence connected McVeigh to the bombing and revealed the involvement of Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier.
• Woody discusses McVeigh's military background, anti-government extremism, and the influence of Ruby Ridge and Waco.
• The FBI conducted tens of thousands of interviews and followed thousands of leads.

Timothy McVeigh's Execution

• McVeigh was convicted in 1997 and executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001.
• He declined to deliver spoken final words and instead provided the poem Invictus as his final statement.
• His final meal consisted of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
• Selected victims' relatives and survivors witnessed the execution in person.
• Additional survivors and family members watched through a special closed-circuit television broadcast in Oklahoma City.
• Woody reflects on the families' search for justice and closure.

What Happened to Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier?

• Terry Nichols was convicted for his involvement in the bombing and received multiple life sentences.
• Nichols remains incarcerated at the federal supermax prison in Florence, Colorado.
• Woody discusses Nichols' prison conditions and reported efforts to sell artwork, including restitution obligations.
• Michael Fortier cooperated with federal prosecutors and testified against McVeigh and Nichols.
• Fortier served a reduced prison sentence and was released in 2006.
• He subsequently entered the Federal Witness Security Program.

Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program

• How the U.S. Marshals Service administers WITSEC.
• Screening and eligibility considerations for cooperating witnesses.
• The process of relocating participants and establishing new identities.
• Restrictions on contact with former associates and previous social networks.
• Temporary financial assistance and the expectation of eventual self-sufficiency.
• Special protections for incarcerated witnesses.
• The consequences of violating program rules or committing additional crimes.
• Woody shares his perspective on the challenges of protecting witnesses with serious criminal histories.

Closing Tribute — Veterans and Their Families

• Woody recalls considering reenlisting after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
• He discusses Pat Tillman's decision to leave professional football for military service.
• Acknowledgment of disabled veterans and the sacrifices made by service members and their families.
• A final Veterans Day message of appreciation and respect.

Content Warning: This episode discusses terrorism, mass murder, child deaths, executions, racial violence, and serial killings. Listener discretion is advised.

Host: Woody Overton

Podcast: Real Life Real Crime — True Crime Time

#RealLifeRealCrime #TrueCrimeTime #WoodyOverton #VeteransDay #OklahomaCityBombing #TimothyMcVeigh #TerryNichols #WitnessProtection #TrueCrimeHistory

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