From Dallas Homicide Detective to TV Star to Forensic Interview Expert and Saltwater Fishing Charter

John Palmer Retired Dallas Police DepartmentPhoto byLaw Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Pocast

Dallas, TX – John Palmer's storied career began in the trenches of the Dallas Police Department, where he rose to prominence as a celebrated Homicide Detective. Palmer later gained national fame as a star of the A&E series "First 48," where his expertise in forensic interviewing became widely recognized. After retiring from the force, Palmer transitioned to teaching forensic interviewing to Federal Agents. Alongside his teaching career, he pursued his passion for saltwater fishing and currently operates as a charter boat captain in Georgia.

In a recent podcast episode, Palmer recounts his extraordinary career, including a harrowing investigation into multiple murders committed by a member of the prison gang, the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. Working in collaboration with detectives from the Dallas and Mesquite Police Departments, Palmer was instrumental in apprehending the suspect involved in several heinous killings.

The investigation began on August 1, 2006, when the suspect brutally murdered a man by slitting his throat, wrapping him in a chain-link fence, and dumping his body in the Trinity River bottoms. Shortly thereafter, the suspect witnessed the horrific torture, sexual assault, and strangulation of a woman in his own kitchen. Her body was subsequently folded into a plastic tub, covered with cement, and discarded in Lake Ray Hubbard.

The case took a dramatic turn following a police chase, during which the murderer expressed a desire to die in a shootout. His girlfriend, however, intervened, saving his life by refusing to let him die. That day, police arrested five other members of the Aryan Brotherhood crew. The following day, the group's leader was captured in New Mexico. In total, seven members of the Aryan Brotherhood were charged with the murders of Anthony Ormwell Clark and Breanna Taylor.

These gruesome murders shocked the usually peaceful Mesquite neighborhood and drew significant attention even in crime-hardened Dallas. The brutality and sophistication of these killings underscored the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas's menacing influence beyond prison walls and into suburban areas.

The primary suspect eventually accepted a plea bargain, agreeing to two concurrent life sentences, which led to the murder charges against his girlfriend being dropped.

In the podcast episode, Palmer delves into the grim realities of police work, particularly homicide investigations, and addresses the media's misconceptions about the interview process. He also discusses his seamless transition from policing to teaching forensic interviews and ultimately becoming a saltwater fishing charter captain in Georgia.

You can listen to Palmer's gripping account on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, where he shares his incredible journey from a law enforcement career to his current life on the open seas.

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Attributions

First 48 In Dallas

Dallas Police Department

Dallas Observer