All Just A Game: The Unsolved Murder of Harriet Riley
All Just A Game: The Unsolved Murder of Harriet Riley

All Just A Game: The Unsolved Murder of Harriet Riley

October 13, 2025 1:00am
28:12
0
Episode 72

In 1975 Sacramento, a young girl named Harriet went out to play at the park and never returned home. Her concerned mother called police and tragically, the next day, her body was found in a dumpster just a mile away. Police quickly focused on two local boys who claimed it was all part of a child’s game that went terribly wrong. But as you’ll hear, there’s so much more to this story. Her father — a decorated veteran — was also murdered, there were other attacks on children nearby, and the details of the story simply don’t add up. Fifty years later, questions remain about how this case was handled and whether justice for Harriet has ever truly been within reach.TIPS: the  Sacramento Sheriff's tip line is (916) 874-8477 Case suggestions: simplertimecrimepod@gmail.comIG: @simplertimecrimepodYoutube: https://youtube.com/@simplertimecrimepod?si=OlCWQ2Ky8qFaof02TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simplertimecrimep?_t=8s31x9iCrNv&_r=1Music By Universfield: https://pixabay.com/music/mystery-dramatic-atmosphere-with-piano-and-violin-143149/Special thanks to Michael Vincent for this case request!Source Material:https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/1k3cx6f/an_airforce_sergeant_is_gunned_down_in_his/?share_id=A9erT051caSXqTrTegOrx&utm_content=2&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee/182731430/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-body-discovered/182731726/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-no-clues-found/182731795/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-shock-anger-caution/182731841/https://www.newspapers.com/article/oroville-mercury-register-harold-sr/182734825/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-no-motive/182734951/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-stephanie-black/182736182/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-james-black/182736220/https://www.newspapers.com/article/enterprise-record-stephanie-black-found/182736385/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-more-details/182737214/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-child-play-part-2/182738770/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-petition-dropped/182739503/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-losing-leads/182739666/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-naacp/182739721/https://prettydeathseller.com/2017/11/05/harriet-riley/https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/local-law-enforcement-agencies-hoping-to-shed-new-light-on-cold-case-murders/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/a-simpler-time-true-crime--6665681/support.

Episode Details

Duration:28:12
Published:October 13, 2025 1:00am
File Size:25.8 MB
Type:audio/mpeg

About This Episode

In 1975 Sacramento, a young girl named Harriet went out to play at the park and never returned home. Her concerned mother called police and tragically, the next day, her body was found in a dumpster just a mile away. Police quickly focused on two local boys who claimed it was all part of a child’s game that went terribly wrong. But as you’ll hear, there’s so much more to this story. Her father — a decorated veteran — was also murdered, there were other attacks on children nearby, and the details...

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