New Podcast Revisits Notorious El Paso Serial Killings

Nearly 40 years after a series of killings shocked the Borderland, one of El Paso's most notorious criminal cases is once again in the national spotlight. A new five-part podcast from The Marshall Project, Serial Productions and The New York Times revisits the David Leonard Wood case, taking listeners inside the final weeks leading up to what was supposed to be his March 2025 execution.

For many El Pasoans, the story is sadly familiar. For everyone else, The Last 12 Weeks is an introduction to a case that changed the city forever.

The David Leonard Wood Case Changed El Paso Forever

The summer of 1987 became one of the darkest chapters in El Paso history.

Six girls and young women disappeared and were later found buried in the Northeast El Paso desert, marking the city's first experience with a serial killing case of this magnitude.

David Leonard Wood eventually became the focus of investigators and was convicted of capital murder in 1992. He was sentenced to death and became known as "The Desert Killer."

Why A National Podcast Is Revisiting The Case Now

The Last 12 Weeks isn't simply a retelling of the crimes.

Instead, the series follows Wood's defense team during the final 12 weeks before his scheduled March 13, 2025 execution date. Host Maurice Chammah and producer Alvin Melathe were given rare access as attorneys searched for witnesses, examined evidence and made their final legal arguments.

All five episodes of The Last 12 Weeks will be released on Thursday, June 18, and will be available wherever you get your podcasts.

The podcast also features interviews with Wood, his legal team and family members of the victims, while exploring the broader questions surrounding the death penalty and the justice system.

This also isn't the first time the case has been explored in podcast form. Former El Paso investigative reporter Stephanie Valle previously dedicated an episode of her podcast, Borderland Crimes, to the case, underscoring just how deeply the story remains woven into the fabric of the Borderland.

The Story Isn't Over Yet

Part of what makes this case so significant is that it still isn't over.

Wood has maintained his innocence for decades and has had two execution dates halted by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Most recently, his March 2025 execution was stopped just two days before it was scheduled to take place.

Additional hearings and requests for DNA testing are still pending, meaning the David Leonard Wood case remains an active part of El Paso's story rather than a closed chapter.

True crime podcasts often revisit cases because they're mysteries. But in El Paso, this story carries a different weight. It's a case that changed the community and left a lasting impact on countless families. Now, one of the Borderland's most infamous stories is reaching a national audience and reminding people that some chapters of a city's history are never truly forgotten.