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Episode

NCIS / Exhuming The Past

Podcast
Cold Case Files
Published
May 5, 2026
Duration seconds
2453
Processing state
processed
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Summary

A Navy sailor's disappearance in 1968 is initially dismissed as desertion, but decades of investigation reveal a much darker truth. This episode follows the persistence of a sister and the forensic breakthroughs that finally brought killers to justice.

Topics

  • Cold Cases
  • Forensic DNA
  • U.S. Navy
  • Criminal Investigation
  • True Crime
  • Unsolved Murders
  • Legal Proceedings
  • Criminal Justice

Highlights

  • Main idea: The Navy's official 'AWOL' classification for Andrew Muns was a cover for a much more violent reality
  • Practical takeaway: Forensic DNA from a discarded cigarette butt proved instrumental in identifying a long-unsolved murderer
  • Failure mode: Legal challenges regarding interrogation tactics nearly suppressed a critical confession in the Muns case
  • Main idea: The emotional toll of unsolved crimes can impact the health and lives of the victims' families for decades
  • Practical takeaway: Surveillance and meticulous evidence collection are essential for linking suspects to decades-old crime scenes

Chapters

  1. 1:00 The Disappearance of Andrew Muns: The 1968 disappearance of a U.S. Navy sailor from a ship in the Philippines and the Navy's initial claims of desertion.
  2. 5:00 The Weight of Unanswered Questions: The devastating impact of the unsolved case on the Muns family and the suspicion of foul play.
  3. 8:30 Identifying a Suspect: Investigators focus on Michael LeBrun, a sailor who worked in the ship's office, as a person of interest.
  4. 12:10 The Interrogation: Detectives confront LeBrun with evidence gathered from his past and his shipmates.
  5. 19:10 The Confession and Legal Battle: A struggle in the courts over whether a taped confession was obtained through legal or unethical means.
  6. 22:30 Seeking Closure: The emotional aftermath of the guilty plea and the attempt to find peace for the victim's family.
  7. 26:40 Justice for the Muns Family: The resolution of the 30-year-old case through a voluntary manslaughter plea.
  8. 30:10 The Search for Evidence: A separate investigation into a campus murder involving foot patrols and searching undergrowth.