Patience | Criminal Podcast

Criminal | A Podcast About Crime

  • Aug 7, 2026
  • 31:20
  • Full Episode

One Saturday morning in 2018, the police showed up at Patience Rousseau’s door, and started asking her questions about something she’d posted on Facebook after she’d had a miscarriage.

Caroline Kitchener’s article for The Washington Post is “She said she had a miscarriage — then got arrested under an abortion law.” (https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2024/abortion-law-nevada-arrest-miscarriage/)

Criminal is a show about people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Hosted by Phoebe Judge. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Join Criminal Plus on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, listener chat rooms, behind-the-scenes content, and more membership perks. https://www.patreon.com/Criminal

Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. https://pod.link/809264944

Say hello on Twitter (https://twitter.com/criminalshow) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/criminal_podcast) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thisiscriminal) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@criminal_podcast)

Sign up for our occasional newsletter, which includes a note from Phoebe, behind-the-scenes photos, and things our team has been enjoying lately. https://thisiscriminal.com/newsletter

We also make the podcasts This is Love (https://pod.link/1337100398) and Phoebe Reads a Mystery (https://pod.link/1503921457).

Artwork by Julienne Alexander: http://www.yssrs.com/. Check out our online shop: https://shop.thisiscriminal.com/

Episode 334 originally published September 25, 2025. https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-334-patience-9-25-2025

Music in this episode: “Fissure Forming” by Blue Dot Sessions “Throughput” by Blue Dot Sessions “Eleven Count” by Blue Dot Sessions “Our Digital Compass” by Blue Dot Sessions “Filtris - Low Down” by Blue Dot Sessions “Dear I Wish” by Blue Dot Sessions “Akonan” by Blue Dot Sessions “San Diego Sunday” by Blue Dot Sessions “Fellowships of Paper” by Blue Dot Sessions

Brief Summary

Patience Russo was arrested after a miscarriage, charged under a 1911 abortion law, and later exonerated after serving time in prison.

Key points

  • Patience's Miscarriage and Arrest. Patience Russo faces police questioning about a miscarriage and the cross in her yard.
  • Unexpected Support. Patience receives a life-changing call from a retired lawyer who believes in her innocence.
  • Public Defender's Admission. During a hearing, Patience's public defender admits he failed to represent her properly.
  • A Miscarriage of Justice. The judge describes Patience's case as a total miscarriage of justice.
  • Patience's Release. After over two years in prison, Patience is finally released.
  • The Search for Abel. Patience learns about her child's remains after years of uncertainty.

Tension

75/ 100High tension

More from Criminal | A Podcast About Crime

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.

Start a Case

Join Team Forensic Files

Regular case drops, breaking crime news, and podcast premieres, straight to your inbox.

or

Forgot your password?