Nathaniel Frum

There's no shortage of serial killer content out there. Documentaries on streaming services, TV shows, movies, fiction thrillers that sit on bestseller lists for weeks. But in Clifford Olson's case, there was no long, winding, twist-filled road to catching him. Because for a long time, police didn't know there was a him to catch. Until Olson told them. Until he was able to get something in return.

There's no shortage of serial killer content out there. Documentaries on streaming services, TV shows, movies, fiction thrillers that sit on bestseller lists for weeks. But in Clifford Olson's case, there was no long, winding, twist-filled road to catching him. Because for a long time, police didn't know there was a him to catch. Until Olson told them. Until he was able to get something in return.

Olson proposed a deal. $10,000 for each body. For each child he led the RCMP to.

Olson proposed a deal. $10,000 for each body. For each child he led the RCMP to.

This season on Calls from a Killer, from CBC's Uncovered.

This season on Calls from a Killer, from CBC's Uncovered.

Calls from a Killer was written and produced by me, Nathaniel Frum, Arlene Beinen, and senior producers Ashley Mack and Andrew Friesen. Additional writing by Alina Ghosh. Mixing and sound design by Evan Kelly. Emily Connell is our digital producer. Executive producers are Cecil Fernandez and Chris Oak. Tanya Springer is the senior manager, and Arif Noorani is the director of CBC Podcasts.

Calls from a Killer was written and produced by me, Nathaniel Frum, Arlene Beinen, and senior producers Ashley Mack and Andrew Friesen. Additional writing by Alina Ghosh. Mixing and sound design by Evan Kelly. Emily Connell is our digital producer. Executive producers are Cecil Fernandez and Chris Oak. Tanya Springer is the senior manager, and Arif Noorani is the director of CBC Podcasts.

Tune in next week for an all-new episode of Calls from a Killer from CBC's Uncover. Or you can binge the whole series by subscribing to our True Crime Premium channel on Apple Podcasts. Just click on the link in the show description.

Tune in next week for an all-new episode of Calls from a Killer from CBC's Uncover. Or you can binge the whole series by subscribing to our True Crime Premium channel on Apple Podcasts. Just click on the link in the show description.

I grew up in the United States, even though both my parents are Canadian. So there are certain cultural icons north of the border that seem like a quirky novelty, as well as a source of pride to me as a kid. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are a good example. Like Nelson Eddy during the golden age of Hollywood, singing Song of the Mounties in Rosemarie.

I grew up in the United States, even though both my parents are Canadian. So there are certain cultural icons north of the border that seem like a quirky novelty, as well as a source of pride to me as a kid. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are a good example. Like Nelson Eddy during the golden age of Hollywood, singing Song of the Mounties in Rosemarie.

a proud, noble police officer in his Red Surge uniform and Stetson hat mounted on his horse. The Mounties were the cartoon Dudley Do-Right, or square-jawed, upright constable Benton Fraser in the TV show Due South.

a proud, noble police officer in his Red Surge uniform and Stetson hat mounted on his horse. The Mounties were the cartoon Dudley Do-Right, or square-jawed, upright constable Benton Fraser in the TV show Due South.

They were an incorruptible force for good, maybe a little too earnest, but effective. The Mountie always gets his man. If I had a rose-colored view of the RCMP, that was also due in large part to my grandfather, Peter Worthington. Pete viewed the RCMP fondly, and the cops liked Pete. Throughout his journalism career, they had a good working relationship.

They were an incorruptible force for good, maybe a little too earnest, but effective. The Mountie always gets his man. If I had a rose-colored view of the RCMP, that was also due in large part to my grandfather, Peter Worthington. Pete viewed the RCMP fondly, and the cops liked Pete. Throughout his journalism career, they had a good working relationship.

He cultivated reliable sources in the Mounties and became their go-to reporter when they wanted to get a story out. Pete knew they had their faults, but he wasn't about to burn a bridge at the expense of a scoop. Until recently, I never really gave much thought to the RCMP and what their function is in Canada. They're like the Canadian FBI, but also not.

He cultivated reliable sources in the Mounties and became their go-to reporter when they wanted to get a story out. Pete knew they had their faults, but he wasn't about to burn a bridge at the expense of a scoop. Until recently, I never really gave much thought to the RCMP and what their function is in Canada. They're like the Canadian FBI, but also not.

They serve as state police, sorry, I mean provincial police, but not in all provinces. Ontario and Quebec have their own. Also, in many places in the country, there are no local police forces. So, contrary to what you'd think of a federal authority that investigates serious crimes, it's up to the nearby RCMP detachment to do traffic stops and respond to 911 calls.

They serve as state police, sorry, I mean provincial police, but not in all provinces. Ontario and Quebec have their own. Also, in many places in the country, there are no local police forces. So, contrary to what you'd think of a federal authority that investigates serious crimes, it's up to the nearby RCMP detachment to do traffic stops and respond to 911 calls.