https://simplecast.com Behind the scenes of our daily newscasts. 2025 WBIR-TV en Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:13 +0000 https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/6098cf24-9697-4609-a607-524736e5879b/d36d93f8-ed20-4c40-bf19-ad16edc18740/3000x3000/behind-20the-20headline-20podcast-20gfx.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com episodic Behind the scenes of our daily newscasts. WBIR false https://feeds.simplecast.com/DRvVXbZW wbir, knoxville, 10news, robin wilhoit, tennessee, behind the headline TEGNA DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM d5905bff-3721-4ba7-8544-2ef34acc990d Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-sean-finnegan-case-7fKY6NDu Behind the Headline: The Sean Finnegan Case TEGNA 00:48:02 A Knoxville woman with a history of drug addiction and homelessness thought she found a haven when Sean Finnegan and his girlfriend, Rebecca Dishman, opened up their Oak Ridge home to her in late 2019. It was anything but. Eight months later, police found Jennifer Paxton's body under a bed in the apartment. Investigators would soon learn she had been tortured, strangled to death and placed in a freezer. In this episode of Behind the Headline, we'll hear how the case unfolded through the journalists who covered the crime and trial. A Knoxville woman with a history of drug addiction and homelessness thought she found a haven when Sean Finnegan and his girlfriend, Rebecca Dishman, opened up their Oak Ridge home to her in late 2019. It was anything but. Eight months later, police found Jennifer Paxton's body under a bed in the apartment. Investigators would soon learn she had been tortured, strangled to death and placed in a freezer. In this episode of Behind the Headline, we'll hear how the case unfolded through the journalists who covered the crime and trial. oak ridge, wbir, behind the headline, channel 10, ellis rold, knoxville, robin wilhoit, john north, anderson county, jennifer paxton, true crime, murder, sean finnegan, rebecca dishman false full 9 2 7a19d527-4487-40d9-8b1f-87972eadfc88 Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:00:39 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/storm-of-the-century-the-blizzard-of-1993-shXcq2GV Storm of the Century: The Blizzard of 1993 TEGNA 00:39:40 In March 1993, a historic blizzard hit East Tennessee. In this Behind The Headline, Robin sits down with Todd Howell and Gene Patterson to recall the event. In March 1993, a historic blizzard hit East Tennessee. In this Behind The Headline, Robin sits down with Todd Howell and Gene Patterson to recall the event. knoxville, blizzard, 1993 false full 9 2 c00541af-0a1e-4ce3-b420-7b2919cbfc3e Mon, 16 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (Robin Wilhoit, John North, Jamie Satterfield) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-execution-of-billy-ray-irick-7d9yckbL Behind the Headline: The Execution of Billy Ray Irick Robin Wilhoit, John North, Jamie Satterfield 00:51:55 In 1985, a Knoxville family trusted a man they knew to watch their 7-year-old daughter for a short time. That would end in a horrifying crime that called for the death penalty. In this episode of Behind the Headline, we revisit the murder of young Paula Dyer, the decades-long legal fight that followed and the 2018 execution of Billy Ray Irick. In 1985, a Knoxville family trusted a man they knew to watch their 7-year-old daughter for a short time. That would end in a horrifying crime that called for the death penalty. In this episode of Behind the Headline, we revisit the murder of young Paula Dyer, the decades-long legal fight that followed and the 2018 execution of Billy Ray Irick. wbir, behind the headline, knoxville, billy ray irick, robin wilhoit, john north, jamie satterfield, true crime, murder, 10news, paula dyer, tennessee false full 7 2 6006fbd9-8f8d-4d62-b591-d06376f22067 Mon, 9 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-house-of-horrors-the-joel-guy-jr-case-o11rrPfk Behind the Headline || House of Horrors: The Joel Guy Jr. Case TEGNA 00:52:02 Just days after Thanksgiving 2016, officers doing a wellness check made a gruesome discovery inside a home in a quiet West Knox County neighborhood. A couple was found dead and dismembered. Investigators said what they found inside that "house of horrors" was unlike anything they'd ever seen. Just days after Thanksgiving 2016, officers doing a wellness check made a gruesome discovery inside a home in a quiet West Knox County neighborhood. A couple was found dead and dismembered. Investigators said what they found inside that "house of horrors" was unlike anything they'd ever seen. wbir, behind the headline, knoxville, robin wilhoit, true crime, 10news, kassi trimmier, disappearance false full 6 2 c0aafba0-516d-4930-923f-1d814a16642d Mon, 2 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-torso-murder-kq9cQHg2 Behind the Headline: The Torso Murder TEGNA 00:43:03 In 1986, a series of grisly discoveries across Knoxville shook the city. Body parts, placed in bags and suitcases, were discovered in different parts of the area. At Mead's Quarry in South Knoxville, a man stumbled across what he thought was part of a mannequin in a trash pile. He soon realized it was no mannequin, but a man's torso. The days that followed led to calls from across the area of similar horrifying discoveries, eventually leading investigators to literally piece together the victim's case and arrest two people who were part of a love triangle that soured. On this episode of Behind the Headline, we look back at how the case unfolded from the eyes of two journalists who covered it, and hear from them about how this was unlike anything they had ever covered before or after. In 1986, a series of grisly discoveries across Knoxville shook the city. Body parts, placed in bags and suitcases, were discovered in different parts of the area. At Mead's Quarry in South Knoxville, a man stumbled across what he thought was part of a mannequin in a trash pile. He soon realized it was no mannequin, but a man's torso. The days that followed led to calls from across the area of similar horrifying discoveries, eventually leading investigators to literally piece together the victim's case and arrest two people who were part of a love triangle that soured. On this episode of Behind the Headline, we look back at how the case unfolded from the eyes of two journalists who covered it, and hear from them about how this was unlike anything they had ever covered before or after. action 10, wbir, behind the headline, east tennessee, knoxville, robin wilhoit, true crime, gene patterson, 10news, darrell debusk false full 5 2 c8bc57c5-058d-4e8e-8c67-261c489f2833 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-disappearance-of-kassi-trimmier-IfIugYmx Behind the Headline: The Disappearance of Kassi Trimmier TEGNA 00:43:18 Before she became a headline, Kassi Trimmier was a 3-year-old child whose disappearance shattered her family and stunned the Knoxville community. In 1992, she disappeared under circumstances that immediately raised alarm. It left her family desperate for answers and the community on edge. On this episode of Behind the Headline, we hear from the journalists who covered the search for the child, the arrest of a suspect and his eventual release, the discovery of Kassi's body three years later, and the guilty plea from the person who killed her. Before she became a headline, Kassi Trimmier was a 3-year-old child whose disappearance shattered her family and stunned the Knoxville community. In 1992, she disappeared under circumstances that immediately raised alarm. It left her family desperate for answers and the community on edge. On this episode of Behind the Headline, we hear from the journalists who covered the search for the child, the arrest of a suspect and his eventual release, the discovery of Kassi's body three years later, and the guilty plea from the person who killed her. wbir, behind the headline, knoxville, robin wilhoit, missing children, knox county, true crime, murder, 10news, kassi trimmier false full 4 2 5998011c-a950-4807-b703-92ac4908d0e6 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-dr-pedigos-scandal-s1_i5cH3 Behind the Headline: Dr. Pedigo's Scandal TEGNA 00:43:10 Former medical examiner Dr. Randall Pedigo's actions made him the center of a criminal case in the mid-1990s that exposed sexual assault, led to a violent shooting at his home, the collapse of a long medical career and a courtroom reckoning. We walk through the timeline, from the first allegations by victims to the day of the gunfire at Pedigo's house, his violent arrest, removal from office and trial. Former medical examiner Dr. Randall Pedigo's actions made him the center of a criminal case in the mid-1990s that exposed sexual assault, led to a violent shooting at his home, the collapse of a long medical career and a courtroom reckoning. We walk through the timeline, from the first allegations by victims to the day of the gunfire at Pedigo's house, his violent arrest, removal from office and trial. wbir, chuck denny, behind the headline, knoxville, michael patrick, robin wilhoit, john north, knox county, randall pedigo, jennifer leslie, true crime, 10news, knoxville news sentinel false full 3 2 a9a8e428-9aa2-4284-a716-e2e90c21ed54 Mon, 9 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-mclean-love-triangle-7Z_WsG21 Behind the Headline: The McLean Love Triangle TEGNA 00:48:33 In 2007, a 911 call from a North Knoxville home set in motion a case that would grip East Tennessee and raise questions about love, betrayal and violence. What began as a complicated love triangle involving husband and wife Eric and Erin McLean ended in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Shawn Powell, a former student of Erin. We go beyond the breaking news to hear from the journalists who covered the McLean case and how it unfolded over the years, the relationships at the center of it, and how a tangled personal life became the backdrop for a murder that still resonates years later. In 2007, a 911 call from a North Knoxville home set in motion a case that would grip East Tennessee and raise questions about love, betrayal and violence. What began as a complicated love triangle involving husband and wife Eric and Erin McLean ended in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Shawn Powell, a former student of Erin. We go beyond the breaking news to hear from the journalists who covered the McLean case and how it unfolded over the years, the relationships at the center of it, and how a tangled personal life became the backdrop for a murder that still resonates years later. wbir, behind the headline, shawn powell, knoxville, erin mclean, robin wilhoit, eric mclean, 10news, tennessee, west high school false full 2 2 00c7d130-2fa3-45c2-b742-78c0dfe8db5f Mon, 2 Feb 2026 16:05:38 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-emma-walker-case-y8WPVg8k Behind the Headline: The Emma Walker Case TEGNA 00:44:23 The Nov. 2016 murder of 16-year-old Emma Walker stunned East Tennessee and drew national attention. In this episode of Behind the Headline, we go beyond the interviews and video to hear from the journalists who covered this story over several years. The Nov. 2016 murder of 16-year-old Emma Walker stunned East Tennessee and drew national attention. In this episode of Behind the Headline, we go beyond the interviews and video to hear from the journalists who covered this story over several years. wbir, emma walker, behind the headline, william riley gaul, knoxville, robin wilhoit, shannon smith, true crime, 10news, leslie ackerson, central high school, journalism false full 1 2 51cbc995-e2d1-43c5-9ed5-502eab6cd8db Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:39:19 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-inskip-shootout-MiXUFxz4 Behind the Headline: The Inskip Shootout TEGNA 00:43:09 On Dec. 4, 1989, three bank robbers holed up in a home on Inskip Drive, and gunshots started flying. Hear from photojournalists and reporters who braved real danger. On Dec. 4, 1989, three bank robbers holed up in a home on Inskip Drive, and gunshots started flying. Hear from photojournalists and reporters who braved real danger. wbir, behind the headline, knoxville, inskip shootout, robin wilhoit, true crime, 10news, tennessee, jessie castro adams false full 10 1 6710efc5-8176-4959-8e56-c23b43f23485 Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:39:11 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-gatlinburg-wildfires-AFdrHWRX Behind the Headline: The Gatlinburg Wildfires TEGNA 00:41:33 On Nov. 28, 2016, Sevier County was forever changed by devastating wildfires that claimed the lives of 14 people. We look back on how the coverage unfolded that day. On Nov. 28, 2016, Sevier County was forever changed by devastating wildfires that claimed the lives of 14 people. We look back on how the coverage unfolded that day. behind the headline, wildfires, sevier county, robin wilhoit, gatlinburg, 2016 gatlinburg wildfires, tennessee false full 9 1 a970bd33-5612-42c9-a6a6-0b859998f387 Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:39:02 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-campbell-co-high-school-shooting-G3QYQfsI Behind the Headline: The Campbell Co. High School Shooting TEGNA 00:33:23 On a typical morning in 2005, a 14-year-old opened fire on his school administrators at Campbell Co. High School. We explore the tragic day and trials that followed. On a typical morning in 2005, a 14-year-old opened fire on his school administrators at Campbell Co. High School. We explore the tragic day and trials that followed. campbell county, kenneth bartley jr., wbir, behind the headline, east tennessee, true crime, 10news, school shooting false full 8 1 c4ca683e-6f4f-4076-992a-b0acfc44102e Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:38:46 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-knoxville-job-corps-murder-g2M0ydvV Behind the Headline: The Knoxville Job Corps Murder TEGNA 00:53:36 Thirty years ago, Christa Gail Pike tortured and killed an acquaintance on the University of Tennessee Ag campus near Tyson Park. Pike and her 17-year-old boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, suddenly turned on Colleen Slemmer, cursing her and taunting her. Pike slashed Slemmer's neck with a box cutter. Satan worshipers both, they carved pentagrams into her. When Slemmer tried to run away, Pike and her accomplice chased the girl down and resumed the attack. Pike slammed a piece of asphalt repeatedly into Colleen's head, fatally fracturing it. As the victim lay dying, Pike reached down and plucked a bit of bone from the left side of her skull as a souvenir. Revisit the 1995 Knoxville Job Corps Murder, how it horrified a community, the trial that followed and the long shadow this case has cast over East Tennessee. Thirty years ago, Christa Gail Pike tortured and killed an acquaintance on the University of Tennessee Ag campus near Tyson Park. Pike and her 17-year-old boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, suddenly turned on Colleen Slemmer, cursing her and taunting her. Pike slashed Slemmer's neck with a box cutter. Satan worshipers both, they carved pentagrams into her. When Slemmer tried to run away, Pike and her accomplice chased the girl down and resumed the attack. Pike slammed a piece of asphalt repeatedly into Colleen's head, fatally fracturing it. As the victim lay dying, Pike reached down and plucked a bit of bone from the left side of her skull as a souvenir. Revisit the 1995 Knoxville Job Corps Murder, how it horrified a community, the trial that followed and the long shadow this case has cast over East Tennessee. behind the headline, robin wilhoit, john north, wbir 10news, colleen slemmer, true crime, christa gail pike, knoxville job corps murder, death row case false full 7 1 3d80066a-edce-4e08-8779-a0bb058a6570 Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-black-widow-trials-ldmr6J1n Behind the Headline: The "Black Widow" Trials TEGNA 00:50:10 A prominent nurse, a respected Tennessee prosecutor, a disgraced judge, two deaths and three trials with different outcomes: We dig into the story of Raynella Dossett Leath from the eyes of two longtime Knoxville court reporters who witnessed the many twists and turns. A prominent nurse, a respected Tennessee prosecutor, a disgraced judge, two deaths and three trials with different outcomes: We dig into the story of Raynella Dossett Leath from the eyes of two longtime Knoxville court reporters who witnessed the many twists and turns. black widow trials, wbir, behind the headline, knoxville, robin wilhoit, raynella leath, john north, knox county, judge richard baumgartner, jamie satterfield, true crime, 10news, judge paul summers, david leath, ed dossett, tennessee false full 5 1 0c406878-5abf-40de-a04b-4cb8bb1b8cb9 Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-one-year-after-helene-_3j8hu7z Behind the Headline: One Year After Helene TEGNA 00:38:28 It's been one year since Hurricane Helene ripped through East TN and Western NC -- a storm that left lasting scars on the people and the places hit hardest. We revisit some of the most impactful stories from the storm, and speak with journalists who were on the ground covering both the heartbreak and hope that emerged. It's been one year since Hurricane Helene ripped through East TN and Western NC -- a storm that left lasting scars on the people and the places hit hardest. We revisit some of the most impactful stories from the storm, and speak with journalists who were on the ground covering both the heartbreak and hope that emerged. wbir, behind the headline, east tennessee, appalachia, knoxville, robin wilhoit, abby ham, cocke county, 10news, sam perez, asheville, william winnett, hurricane helene, libby cunningham, north carolina false full 6 1 68b8a050-7761-4cb3-beef-8e0b2d6825b5 Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-zoo-man-JSbzQBvL Behind the Headline: The "Zoo Man" TEGNA 00:47:25 wbir, behind the headline, knoxville, wbir+, robin wilhoit, thomas huskey, true crime, zoo man, 10news, the zooman case false full 3 1 81510f90-346b-4490-9eb0-9041ff73140a Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-bay-st-louis-20-years-later-ykLGcQ9w Behind the Headline: Bay St. Louis 20 Years Later TEGNA 00:34:37 wbir, mississippi, behind the headline, channel 10, knoxville, new orleans, hurricane katrina, robin wilhoit, john becker, louisiana, 10news, bay st. louis, tennessee false full 4 1 f48a1629-5fe8-4c30-aa47-bdc0a5b2ecf8 Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-christian-newsom-murders-FKjiEFiV Behind the Headline: The Christian-Newsom Murders TEGNA 00:58:02 Two young lives were lost in 2007 in one of the most horrifying murder cases in East Tennessee. Nearly 19 years later, their families continue to fight for Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. WBIR anchor Robin Wilhoit sat down with two longtime Knoxville journalists, Jamie Satterfield and John North, to talk through the scars this case has left on the victims' families, East Tennessee as a whole, and even themselves. Two young lives were lost in 2007 in one of the most horrifying murder cases in East Tennessee. Nearly 19 years later, their families continue to fight for Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. WBIR anchor Robin Wilhoit sat down with two longtime Knoxville journalists, Jamie Satterfield and John North, to talk through the scars this case has left on the victims' families, East Tennessee as a whole, and even themselves. wbir, behind the headline, christopher newsom, knoxville, robin wilhoit, john north, christian-newsom, jamie satterfield, true crime, 10news, channon christian false full 2 1 dde5fa36-3000-4ff0-97a1-0d88c9fa8443 Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000 DIGITALSUPPORT@TEGNA.COM (TEGNA) https://behind-the-headlines.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-headline-the-lillelid-murders-ykD89SHN Behind the Headline: The Lillelid Murders TEGNA 00:37:08 On April 6, 1997, six young people kidnapped the Lillelid family and shot the father, mother and their two young children in rural Greene County, Tennessee. Only 2-year-old Peter survived. No one knew his identity, so doctors wrote his name down as John Doe. On our first episode of Behind the Headline, we revisit the events of that night nearly 30 years ago from the eyes of a reporter who covered the tragedy, and hear from Peter himself at different points in his life as we followed up with him over the decades. On April 6, 1997, six young people kidnapped the Lillelid family and shot the father, mother and their two young children in rural Greene County, Tennessee. Only 2-year-old Peter survived. No one knew his identity, so doctors wrote his name down as John Doe. On our first episode of Behind the Headline, we revisit the events of that night nearly 30 years ago from the eyes of a reporter who covered the tragedy, and hear from Peter himself at different points in his life as we followed up with him over the decades. wbir, behind the headline, east tennessee, lillelid murders, knoxville, wbir+, robin wilhoit, peter lillelid, greene county, true crime, 10news, brittany bailey, gina stafford false full 1 1