Across two continents and with multiple aliases, Joseph Maloney has stayed on the run, nearly 60 years after he is alleged to have murdered his estranged wife in Rochester by poisoning her at their son’s 5-year-old birthday party.
Now, a podcast from Ireland’s RTÉ , entitled “Runaway Joe,” is hoping it can bring new attention to the story of Maloney. Not only does it tell the compelling saga of Maloney’s escapes from both American and Irish authorities, but the podcast also has another goal: Its producers and reporters want Maloney found.
“We genuinely set out to try our very best to find him, and we’ve actually gotten much further than we ever thought we would,” said Liam O’Brien, a podcast producer.
On Friday, the fourth episode of the podcast aired. Initially, there were plans for six episodes, but it is now open-ended, airing weekly, both because of a wealth of material and the vigorous push to find Maloney, who would now be 88.
“I think everybody involved in this case would like to see justice for June,” retired former Assistant District Attorney Wendy Lehmann said of Maloney’s wife, June Fisk Maloney. She died in June 1967 after allegedly being poisoned by wood alcohol placed in her drink.