The Detroit Free Press launched “Where Secrets Die: The Disappearance of Derrick Henagan,” an eight-part true-crime series built on long-form investigative reporting, to subscribers on Tuesday, April 2.
“Secrets” tells the story of Henagan, a downstate man who moved to Michigan's remote Upper Peninsula in the winter of 2007-2008 and then disappeared. Follow veteran freelance reporter John Wiseley as he investigates the Henagan case after getting a news tip about a triple murder. Wisely's reporting revealed serious concerns about the police, and one officer in particular.
“Once I understood the meaning of this story, I couldn't walk away from it,” Wisely said. “I almost quit because of the coronavirus, but I couldn’t.
“An unsolved murder in a remote location slipped through the cracks. There are myths surrounding this case online and there are serious questions about the police,” he said. “I've spent a lot of time talking to people around me and I want their opinions to be heard.”
Subscribers to The Free Press have early access to all eight episodes of the series, starting with the first three episodes on Tuesdays, at freep.com/secrets. After that, new episodes will drop every week. We will also introduce some of the photos and records that Wisely unearthed while reporting on this incident. If you're not a subscriber yet, join now to get access to the show.
Wiseley has been a reporter in Michigan for more than 30 years, covering government, politics, crime, courts, education and investigations. He is a three-time recipient of the Wade H. McCrea Award for the Advancement of Justice and a two-time Regional Emmy Award winner. In 2018, he received the Best Investigative Reporting Award from the Michigan Associated Press Media Editors and was part of the Free Press team that received the group's First Amendment Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Pursuit of Freedom of Information was. The Detroit chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists named him Wisely Journalist of the Year in 2003 for his article that led the state Legislature to pass a bill that brought search warrants sealed after 9/11 back into public scrutiny. was selected. Wiseley is a native of Detroit and graduated from Wayne State University.
“Secrets” was also produced by Darcy Moran, Garrett Tiedemann, Tad Davis, Robin Chung, Adrian Roberts, Kathy Kieliszewski, Jim Schaefer, and Anjanette Delgado.
Our theme song is “Abyss,” an original song by Detroit musicians Camila Cantu and Brian Castillo.
If you have something to share with Wisely about the Derrick Henagan case, you can contact him via encrypted email at wiselyj@proton.me.
The Free Press has won the Michigan Press Association's “Podcast of the Year” award for the fourth year in a row. Listen to all shows at freep.com/podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Anjanette Delgado is editor-in-chief and leads the audio team at the Detroit Free Press. twitter: @anjdelgado. Become a subscriber.
