Yet another disappointing true crime podcast that is more fiction than fact. Agreed, law enforcement made some mistakes but that doesn’t mean there is a coverup. It is sad what happened to this young woman but let’s stop with the victim mentality and trying to spin this into a crime story. There is no proof of a crime having been committed so let’s not call this a true crime podcast.

Updating my original review to say S4 was the best told yet. It’s hard to describe how good this podcast is but I don’t think anyone else is doing true crime serials at the level of Dark Hills. Dana Goodyear does a great job immersing you in time and place. I tend to want to look up pictures of people if I’m really sucked into a true story, but I also found myself looking up pictures of Malibu when I listened to this. She gets interesting people who were there to help tell the story and gives them free reign to speculate but doesn’t give over narrative control to them- she keeps the story tracking with her own narration.

Not a true crime fan but this is sensitively done so far. But I cannot bear listening to Malcolm Gladwell peddling/trying to neutralize the evil of the companies he’s shilling for

Blown away by the journalistic ethics, writing and compelling nature of this podcast - keep up the great work!

I have enjoyed every season of List Hills. The stories are woven together in such a way that you can’t wait for the next episode to find out more. Dana‘s writing is so insightful. I love the editing of the interviews and her thoughts and the music. Makes me happy that I actually have a one hour commute to work.

Was looking forward to season four, then quit after 20 minutes. The journalist is more interested in presenting how dirty and bad the cops might be than openly looking into what happened.

This is a good podcast. However, if you are not a subscriber you need to know that this podcast has the more annoying commercials than any I have ever listened to. I will avoid Pushkin in the future.

The podcast’s episodes would be better spent discussing mental health and substance abuse issues rather than spinning conspiracy theories about law enforcement’s alleged involvement in her unfortunate death - with absolutely no evidence.

This is so beautifully told, I was hooked moments in. Responsible and respectful investigation into a tragic event. I am so angry at the system which allows this kind of tragedy to occur day after day.

I will give the next season a shot on account of Pushkin, but Goodyear is awful. The presentation/narration is the ilk of a cut-rate network procedural creating a lack of any authenticity whatsoever. Goodyear is an absolute hack.

Listening to these first few episodes, I am finding myself screaming about how inaccessible mental health emergency services are. I tried many times to get a 5150 for my mother who had some of the same symptoms/behaviors as Mitrice and over and over the police told me there is nothing they can do unless there is immediate harm to herself or others (which, I said there was…). A friend of mine was killed by her ex boyfriend after begging authorities to protect her from his concerning mental health behaviors. This idea that generally “people have the right to be left alone” coming from an institution that historically never leaves anyone alone???? Insane.

Journalists have to ask difficult questions, even about the victim. The fact that the victim was a mentally ill drug addict is, whether you want to admit it or not, and important part of the story that you’ve dismissed.

The host is excellent and the podcast is informative and riveting. However, the background music is too loud and erratic and threatens to ruin all the other hard work on this podcast.

So a mentally Ill person had a break from reality and wandered into the wilderness and died from exposure. Case solved.

I would give this 10 stars if I could. Season 2 is Immersive, intriguing, & I’m compulsively listening over & over to every word, every detail. Back then, in Santa Barbara, I recall my parents (& the entire town) feeling the chill of Verna & Douglas’s horrible deaths. Jean’s death too. THIS is THE CASE which has long haunted me with its darkness. I hope Dana Goodyear, a talented writer, will also publish a New Yorker article - a long one. The production’s sound - the music, her interviews, archival interviews, all interspersed with ocean waves - is first rate. I’ve gone on to read & study the entire appeal- which was rigorously upheld, but with an interesting dissent. I’m so eager to learn more about this case which everyone here was talking about, & which I have always needed to understand. The latest episode, in which John laments the loss of Dougie, his childhood friend, will break your heart. … So, after the conclusion of Season 2, I initially a bit disappointed that Dana didn’t cover the Appeal in detail, because I personally was so intrigued that I was compelled to delve into it. But now, I finally realize that the intricacies of the Appellate case were not her focus: This is NOT a “legal” podcast; rather Ms. Goodyear’s exceptional reporting is more an immersion into the cultural aspects and the people themselves. It’s a matter of contextual analysis. Her writing and reporting is a cut above. The New Yorker doesn’t exactly publish mediocre authors. As far as a few reviewers who wrote Dana “betrayed” the daughters at the end, I disagree with that accusation. I went down the famous rabbit hole to read all the reasons people were signing the petition brought forth by the daughters, & to me, the signers were misguided - albeit loyal. I also feel pained that the daughters are hurting even now, & feeling so much sorrow. They are tragic victims of their father in my opinion. The Appellate Court’s decision makes the facts of Fred Roehler’s guilt quite clear. (I wonder if his personality is such that he - allegedly - is narcissistic? I’m not a professional psychologist, & I shouldn’t speculate. No matter what, they still love their remaining parent, & that’s admirable. The pain they have suffered is - I can’t imagine having my beloved father in prison, & growing old there. Heartbreaking all around. Season 1 is wonderfully done, probing poignantly into the horrible tragedy of the loss of this young father through murder by a man suffering from mental illness. That Dana Goodyear delves into this is commendable. Season 3 is an original. Surf culture is & has always been unique, to say the least. Season 4: Mitrice more than deserves this furtherance into what really happened! Clearly, it appeared for years that her death, her very probable murder, was simply being brushed aside. She should not have died. I am appalled that she was abandoned by the very people who were duty-bound and morally bound to protect her. Lost Hills indeed!

Everyone of those ignorant cops should have been fired. There is no excuse for them not getting her on a 72 hour hold.

I can’t believe I am just finding this podcast, but I am binge listening and want MORE

This podcast is so well done, from the in-depth reporting to the production quality. Only one I’ve ever paid for so I can listen to it early!

Good Season

This is absolutely phenomenal. The reporting is spot on and there are so many twists and turns. This is so thoughtfully done and I couldn’t stop listening once I started. As an aside Dana’s voice is also very soothing! Can’t wait to see what case she works on next!!!!!

This isn’t an overall review of the show. So far it’s interesting and I will keep listening! But…There is a LOT of science connecting the use of marijuana in adolescence/early adulthood, when there is a family history of mental Illness with the onset of psychotic illness. I just listened to episode two and I found it hard to listen to because of the way it was framed that drug use was not part of the picture of cause but only used as self medication. Maybe but doubtful. One google scholar search by the podcasters doing due diligence and one sentence about the connection could lead to SO many conversations between parents and friends… friends and friends…that might prevent the onset of a manic episode or schizophrenia in a young person. It’s just such a shame not to use your platform to spread awareness. I get that it’s important not to victim blame and marijuana is considered safe by many but as a mental health provider, there are those particularly vulnerable to any psychoactive drug changing their brains and the group most vulnerable are young people with a family history or severe and persistent mental illness.

I’ve always been captivated by Dana Goodyear’s writings in the New Yorker (from her Gary Snyder profile to her long form essay about the Malibu campground serial killer). She has a way with words that distinguishes her from your average, good but pompous, magazine journalism. She is also a poet! So it’s not surprising at all that Goodyear’s long form podcasts are both engaging and poetic — she goes for the nebulous realm where truth lies. And she succeeds, as far as holding the listener’s attention goes. The case of Fred Roehler is particularly riveting. The details are murky, and his detractors and supporters hold strong beliefs about his guilt or innocence. By the end, I was ready to judge him one way (I won’t say, as I don’t want to spoil), then I found myself following Goodyear’s own expression of her opinion. Now, I’m not sure — but I lean toward her view. Some reviewers resent Goodyear’s giving her opinion at the end. I sympathize, but there is nothing journalistically unethical about presenting an opinion at the end. And, as a professor of mine once hammered, the end is the only place where an opinion should be given. The case of the Malibu campground killer is more straightforward—pretty obvious a deranged lunatic did it. But the story is enchanting nonetheless. And it deters me from wanting to risk camping in Malibu. Or does it? I haven’t listened to the other seasons, but I look forward to them. Goodyear’s podcast haunts my thoughts for days after listening. Like a great poet, her work just does not leave you.

Dana Goodyear is SUCH a good host and writer. I def listen to this show for her and I would follow her anywhere

OMG such a ride and great conclusion! We have historically been so captivated by such tormented characters. I love revisiting history and getting a clearer perspective so going forward we can steer ourselves in a better direction. Great storytelling, thank you.

I don’t understand how you can spend so much time highlighting very serious issues with the evidence used to convict, then at the very end make a hard turn and say “it doesn’t matter, because I think he’s guilty anyway”. This went from journalism to opinion so quickly I got whiplash. No additional reflection on the evidence and where the trial went wrong or how she thinks the evidence supports her opinion, just “the evidence was probably garbage, but I think this guy is a liar”. This was exceptionally off putting. I feel bad for his daughters and the way the host talks about them at the end after they opened up to her and made themselves so vulnerable. It feels very exploitative of them and not in good taste. I will never listen to a podcast by this host again. Not only do I have a problem with her ethical choices, her pacing is terrible and she includes so much irrelevant information that makes the story drag on endlessly. There was no reason for this story to need 10 episodes. I actually found it painful to listen to at times because it got really boring. I wish I gave up and didn’t finish it, but I’m almost glad I did so I could write this review and let the host know what I think.

Good but slow story that has a distractingly amount of long advertisements.

Best podcast ever

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Intriguing storytelling focusing on California beach culture and history. I grew up with Gidget and the Beach Boys only in the media as a backdrop and hearing the details of the origins of these cultural icons opened up so much more texture and nuance to my memories.

She's good. Keeps interest, the stories are interesting. Who doesn't like a little undiscovered Malibu. Worth it for the interview with Rob Lowe about Malibu alone.

So much detail around meh characters. The other seasons are great. Hope #4 is better

Now listening to the third season, and each one is is fascinating as the last. Thank you so much for this. I truly enjoy them. Compelling. An easy binge.

Content aside, the sponsors of the latest series are an online casino and a consumer plastics manufacturing company. Seriously? Do better.

This story was not very interesting to me and could have been shortened to three episodes in my opinion. Probably more interesting to people who are really into surfing but I ended up fast forwarding a lot and skipping entire episodes because I just don’t care about all these other people’s opinions of the guy.

All Lost Hills had me binge listening. Great job, well told and well researched! Enjoyed it so much! Can’t wait for more , may be first time to subscribe for this!

I’ve listened to all three seasons of this show and it’s well done! The seasons have been varied, but the constant thread of California beach culture ties them together. Good stuff!

Each season of Lost Hills has been so interesting. Season 3 is so captivating and eye-opening! Learned a lot about surf culture and it’s evolution. The concept of localism and how it plays a roll transcends Malibu and really invades everywhere and everything. We just don’t often see it. Very powerful listen. Highly recommend!

I know this is based on true events but the way this story is told, makes it sound like a fictional story. I think the efforts made to make this podcast entertaining go a bit far. Almost cheesy.

My first podcast experience with Dana and it’s not my typical genre. TBH I simply found it after I completed another cast and needed something to listen to on my morning walk. She has a great narrative style - curious and thoughtful without grandstanding. Details are well researched and she presents them engagingly and flawlessly. I have since looked up some of her writing and enjoyed everything I have consumed so far. Highly recommended.

A fascinating story, thoughtfully done. The host does a great job in transporting you to the time period and showing the impact of this icon, and not shying away from his dark and sad reality.

I’ve loved all the Lost Hills Seasons. This season was a little different and it was cool to hear all about CA and the surf scene that I could only dream about as a southern girl in Georgia. The bonus episodes at the end with all the ladies were great!! I was particularly struck at the segregation that took place on the beach back then. Also, Chelsea’s definition of freedom. May everyone feel that freedom everywhere!! Looking forward to what Dana has cooking for next season!!

Goodyear is a good orator, but she has a bias towards her “kookiness”. A lot of her historical data omits facts to support an already drawn conclusion. Worth listening to for the interviews from Matt Warshaw and Henry Ford though.

I really liked season one, but loved season two. Have not listened to season three yet. I believe the jury got it right in season two. But my question is: if Jeanne were murdered as well, wouldn’t it have been in the hot tub? If so, is there a difference in the water between the hot tub and the pool which could determine that? Specifically, with the temperature difference, would there be different organisms or different cleaning agents?

I am just on season 3 episode 3. If it doesn’t pick up soon, I will find a different one. There was way too much time spent on surfing the first few episodes. At this point, they don’t have many more episodes to tell the story.

Our Fitzpatrick family arrived at Topanga Beach in 1960, who knew what the impact that would be? I’ve surfed and skateboarded ever since, and Miki Dora was integral to shared experiences at Malibu, Topanga, Biarritz and other locations. Denny Aaberg and I have shared many experiences, too, but as a 12 year old I had one asset Denny didn’t have that Miki needed—access through our house to the uncrowded waves at Topanga Beach. Thus, my relationship with Miki was distinct from many other’s. He was always more a big brother, always considerate, always kind, and funny…even when Interpol was after surfers in Biarritz in 1969.

Clear, concise, factual. Very well done, please please, continue.

I really enjoyed the surf lore of this story. Shame you had to try to paint Mik as a bad guy.

It’s really engrossing, well reported and told. Two thumbs up.

More opinions than analysis. More splaining than presentation. Would love to hear this story told by a mature journalist.

Such a great and thoroughly researched and entertaining podcast.