The Doodler

by San Francisco Chronicle / Ugly Duckling Films / Sony Music Entertainment

744

The Golden State Killer. The Unabomber. Ted Bundy. You’re probably familiar with these serial killers. But in the mid-1970s, another monster terrorized San Francisco’s gay community. He was coined “The Doodler,” and he may have been responsible for as many victims as the Zodiac Killer, yet you’ve probably never heard of him. Plagued by a complicated investigation, a frightened public, and the hesitation of many to come forward, the case went cold, and a killer walked free. Nearly 50 years later, a renewed hunt for a forgotten serial killer seeks to change that.Have a tip? Email thedoodlerline@gmail.com, call (415) 570-9299, or visit TheDoodlerPod.com.The Doodler is part of The Binge - subscribe to listen to all episodes, all at once, ad-free right now. From serial killer nurses to psychic scammers – The Binge is your home for true crime stories that pull you in and never let go. Follow The Binge Crimes and The Binge Cases wherever you get your podcasts to get new stories on the first of the month, every month. Hit ‘Subscribe’ at the top of the The Doodler show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com. The Binge – feed your true crime obsession. A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recent Episodes

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Recent Reviews

BlindedByTheLight505

Meh

I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts and this one is well done in the technically sense. As far as being interesting, there wasn’t much actual information about the case that held my attention. I was so so bored. And not for lack of interest in the community or in the history of the LGBTQ community, either. There just wasn’t much in the way of actually delving into the crimes. Lots of background on the victims and lots of info on methodology, which is important, but not much about the actual crimes. I don’t think I’d recommend it to anyone as a true crime listen. Maybe for the info on the reliability of sketches but that’s about it.
Bellamammal

Propaganda

Absolute propaganda. And not even written well.
Kaliapad

Never heard of this one

Super interesting case is not known of. So sad and frustrating that this guy has been free all these years. I can only hope that some of the leads end up pointing at the right guy. He caused so much pain and fear
BigTeddyBAW

Compelling, informative, & Interesting

Until listening to this podcast I’d never even heard of the “Doodler.” This podcast shed light on the culprit’s horrific crimes both by outlining relevant details and, when possible, giving listeners a deeply personal look at his victims, defining them for who they were, not by what he did to them. Further, the show contextualized what life was like for members of the lgbtq+ community in 1970’s San Francisco, detailing how fear of the police, of arrest, and of being outed by the media made solving these crimes a huge challenge. I’d recommend that anyone interested in True Crime stories and/or lgbtq+ history/issues should give this very well-done podcast a try.
rudypa

Solid SF Crime Story

Fagan has the cred, and sometimes cynicism and salt, that only comes from decades on the streets of SF writing about the issues that matter. This podcast was both interesting and entertaining, especially for this native son of SF. I was left wanting more and feeling like we had to all pitch in to solve this. There are so many unknowns but developing the character background of the various people involved then and now makes this true crime mystery a binge-worthy podcast. I skipped Starbucks and with the money saved, leaped over the paywall and into this story. Worth it!
monitheseeester

Woke

I hate the “woke” part of this podcast. I’m done!
Cococreator90

Disheartening

I think it’s pretty crazy to say how important it is for stories like these to be told, and how they’ve been ignored, and then put all episodes save one behind a paywall. It really makes me think that the most important thing ISN’T the story and solving this case.
james lisicky

Waste of time!

Read wiki instead you can get more information on the suspects. This was a waste it gave no information on suspects it’s just a biography of each suspect . You can learn more on wiki
Nullity

1 non sub ep??

No ty
zatuk10

Blah

The title of the podcast should be “Lets speculate”
frustrated withyou

A biography

I got 5 episodes in and it hasn't been about the killer or catching them, or even tracking them. It's been a biography of people on the peripheral of the case ( victims, cops, etc) Not a true crime podcast in my opinion.
Bridgeybear

True crime

I listen to a lot of podcasts and a lot of them are true crime. Most of them don’t have a resolution. I don’t love listening to unsolved cases, but this one made me happy to know a bit more history. It also made me cry in the last three minutes of the last episode. That’s rare.
LHT22277

Episodes removed

Why were most of the episodes removed forcing people to do a paid subscription if they want to listen past episode one?!!
dante 451

Enjoyed myself

Was given the heads up about this podcast from a coworker. Amazing what was going on in San Francisco in the 1970s. RIP uncle Earl.
wilfulgreen

Silliness

To say that a person doesn’t create their life is foolish & to compare a killing as more or less dramatic No way can these out do children’s destruction, children who have not created a life by their choices
Jra4776

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great Podcast. Definitely recommend
Starttime

Doodler

Great series
cantlisten,tooboring

Boring

There is nothing here but speculation.
rayray916

Will it ever finish?

Weekly updates stopped while listeners are hanging then there was an update this morning. I downloaded it and was so disappointed they were simply uploading an add for a different podcast. Ridiculous. Horrible take on true crime and so disappointing to have what could be a powerful story mishandled and not told to completion. If something is keeping updates from being posted, take a 30 second clip and say that, don’t simply stop posting the weekly episodes!
Rosseauxx

The serial killer you never heard about

Kudos to the host for picking up a cold case that nobody else seemed to care about. The episodes are brief and packed with information and the host provides access to survivors and other witnesses to the original events. He contextualizes the historical and political issues of the era including racism, homophobia, and problematic issues about policing that resonate today. His reporting is sensitive, informed, and passionate—exactly the spirit needed by journalists who want to make a positive different in a cold case. I await the final few episodes.
BU8

The Problem is the Host

I love this case and the victims’ stories. The problem is the host. He sounds goofy and out of touch so his personality doesn’t translate very well. Moreover, his constant reminiscing about being a reporter ‘back in the day’ is weirdly repetitive and dislodges the narration from the case. Bad editing so the host’s investigator friend (I can’t even remember his name) is wooden and has no discernible personality besides dropping some facts from their research. At one point, I thought they were frenemies because their recorded conversations seemed so forced. As a person in my 30s, each episode sounds like some interesting but loopy story told by my grandfather. If this series wants to capture the attention of listeners under the age of 50 then they should get a younger co-host to balance out the current host’s mature sensibilities. Overall, I do give the producers their props for creating a podcast series on a very old, deep cold case which was clearly mishandled by LE in the 70s. I do like that the early episodes shine a bright spotlight on how LE mistreated the LGBTQ+ community in the 60s and 70s, as well as today.
arrrrrrrghh!

Mediocre

Given how little actual content there is here—once you take out repetition & advertisements—this should have had 3 fewer episodes. The story itself, while memorable, is not memorably told.
DQ4me

Weak and melodramatic

Understand that in a decades-old murders one has to start somewhere, but there seems nothing substantive. Really, we have to wait until episode 7 to announce that the name of the psychologists name might have been spelled differently? Does not convey they dug very deeply into this one. The reporter has the Chris Cuomo simpleton reporting style that sounds more appropriate for an infomercial or sport event. I do hope this springs more leads but is not exactly inspiring.
Kboyd14

Empty and Dated

Sadly I tried to finish it but, it just wasn’t good. I know people put a lot of time in this, but the ton of this from the LGBTQ+ stand point seems like something that would be relevant back in 2001 not 2021… and I had hoping it was leading to something, but really all it is is a show about “huh, maybe that! But maybe this!” Without any real solid evidence to back up the claims other than what the writer felt.
impQ

Doesn’t do the stories justice

Given the subject matter, this story really needed a queer Black host. The host clearly means well and cares about justice for the victims, but the storytelling falls flat because he just doesn’t have the necessary perspective to handle the issues of race and sexuality involved here in a way that brings anything especially insightful to the table.
Suedebskillz

Just meh.

It’s not bad but it’s not good. I gave it several episodes but just can’t get interested.
shavdjflw

Zzzzzzz

This needs more action. I’ve listened to tons of true crime podcasts and this is one of two that made me wish I didn’t waste my time on it.
Tilly on the hill

Hijacked

This show is hijacked instantly.Way too many ads and interruptions. I tried skipping ahead but it was crazy trying to keep up so I gave up after episode 4. It’s a shame really.
Waynestaticluva

Meh

It was good at first then I found myself not paying attention as much. I personally got bored with the story.
Gutty rhythm

No substance

Just asks a bunch of questions and theories. No answers. Each episode is an account of how they hoped to learn something,but reached a dead end and learned nothing. I listened to Half thr episodes and quit.
ptwas

Mismatch between host and topic

Host’s delivery feels too...jaunty for a show about a serial killer. Sometimes I read ppls reviews where they complain about ads and think “how do you think these things are paid for” but I mean there are a LOT of ads, and not sure if it’s because he’s a journalist but the reliance on “my nameless producer uses this product and he thinks...” is just...silly.
tricky-p

Highly recommended

60s and 70s SF characters really come alive in this well told story. He really humanizes the victims. And paints a fascinating landscape of The City.
PrestonRudd

Episodes are too short !

25 minute episodes plus commercials. I wish they were more in depth like the podcast “your own backyard” about the disappearance of Kristin Smart.
hillpritch

Thank God it’s free

I’m listening to episode 7 and my God.... I feel like you read the episode description and you don’t have to listen to any of the episodes! But it’s free and I’m just invested, I fast forward a lot though. This killer would probably make a great Netflix crime series, I don’t think podcasts are a great medium for murder shows. Or maybe just not this one, this is my first.
CharlieCopper

Actual Investigative Reporting

So many true crime podcasts just regurgitate information that is widely available online. On top of this, they often get facts wrong. This podcast is different. It’s a fascinating story with so many different angles. The host does great interviews with the people closest to the story, and uncovers new information about the case. My current favorite.
PodJake

Horrendous

This is an awful podcast.
brucklynn

Commercials

20/25 mins an episode and about 3/4 stops in the podcast for commercials...smh
LetThemHitTheFloor

Another white man playing victim

Someone please tell this old white man he’s not the victim of this story. He spends so much time talking about how hard the experience is for him that it’s hard as a listener to keep track of the narrative.
ThisAppSucksKillYourself

Good but too many ads

Great entertaining story but waaaay too many ads
Jess0099

Podcast centers the host and not the story

Yikes, this is a miss. The host constantly and insufferably centers himself in the story and offers precious little actual content on a grim story that could have done so much more to shine a light on a little-known serial killer who targeted a marginalized community. It’s so, so bad.
_clam_chowder_

Story doesn't flow

I really tried to like this podcast, but the story just doesn't flow. Too many interview recordings even tho they don't contain anything meaningful. The only true crime podcast that doesn't peak my curiosity to "solve" the case.
NYC131313

Another interesting idea ruined

A compelling case but this podcast is 50% ads, each episode is only 20 minutes and covers very little new or exciting information. It’s mostly a history of the San Francisco LGBT scene in the 70s which is interesting, but not the premise of the podcast. Finally, what is up with this guy’s voice? Native Californian who talks with an obviously fake mix of southern and cowboy accent. It’s like he’s aiming for a Wild West affect but lands short on a Texas drawl. It’s so weird and pretentious.
Whaaaambulance

Dull

Poorly paced, bland, and boring.
portola_steve

Great host

Really enjoying Kevin Fagan so far, hopefully more stories to come in the future! Excited for the Doodler to continue as well.
Jose.nelson.alves

Engaging

One of the most engaging criminal podcast in a while, if you life in SF this is the one to listen, Don’t listen to the naysayers it will get you hooked from the first episode
mike********

A must skip podcast even if desperate

Boring, more commercials than content, story doesn’t flow.
code_in_my_robe

Impressive first episode

I downloaded the second. Hopefully it and subsequent episodes will be as good. A side note, I live near the SF Bay Area and I had never heard of this killer
M. Caringer

Weak

4 episodes into this podcast series and no more information about The Doodler is given than the first few minutes of Episode 1. This series is about past social injustices with almost nothing offered in way of The Doodler. Annoying and Boring. I won’t waste my time on Episode 5. You shouldn’t either.
Irrepressible Maggie G

Thank you

Thanks for heads up! Appreciate you taking time for review so I didn’t have to waste mine. YouROCK!
friendly woods

important topic

The first episode is terrible . They should take it down and do it over. After that it gets better and better. Some of the research is just amazing. I don't know if they can catch this guy, but they are certainly giving it all they can.