A gripping true crime story of survival, justice, and the power of a mother’s love.
A mother’s love is fierce. A mother’s fight for justice is unstoppable. When Lydia Lerma discovers the unthinkable has happened to her son, she refuses to wait for justice - she hunts for it.
The Hunter is a thrilling true crime documentary following one woman’s relentless pursuit of a criminal which turns into a high-stakes international manhunt. From the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the streets of Mexico, Lydia stops at nothing - risking her own safety to bring him to justice.
This series contains very strong language and deals with sexual abuse.
Email the team thehunter@bbc.com (mailto:thehunter@bbc.com)
Host: Anaya Echo Hawk
Producer and writer: Emma Weatherill
Sound designer: Melvin Rickarby
Production management: Juliette Harvey
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
The Hunter is a BBC Studios Audio production
If journalism is the first draft of history, what happens if that draft turns out to be flawed? The History Bureau revisits the defining stories of our times with the reporters who first covered them. What did they get right first time around? And, in the chaos and confusion of unfolding events, what did they miss?
New season: Putin and the Apartment Bombs. In September 1999, just weeks after a 46-year-old Vladimir Putin became Prime Minister, four bombs blew up four apartment buildings across Russia, killing hundreds of people while they slept. The attacks plunged the country into panic. Families fled their homes. Residents patrolled their blocks around the clock. An entire nation paralyzed by fear. But who did it? It's a mystery that has fuelled some chilling theories. The government blamed Chechen militants. Many reporters agreed. But then the whispers started. Was something even more sinister going on?
Episodes are released daily on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Or you can listen to the full season now, first on Apple Podcasts with BBC Podcasts Premium.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
17 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT
What to listen to next: World of Secrets
Global investigations from the BBC. Uncovering gripping stories from around the world and telling them episode by episode. Delve into a World of Secrets.
Latest season: The Child Cancer Scam. Your child is critically ill. It’s the worst news you can get. But to make the situation even more awful, you struggle to afford the care they need. So when someone tells you a foreign sponsor can help raise the money, you’ll do anything. You make a video: your child begs for help from strangers online. But it comes to nothing. You wait and wait for the cash that was donated. It never comes, and all the while your child is fighting for their life.
Episodes are available weekly on the BBC App or wherever you get your podcasts. Or you can listen to the full season now, first on Apple Podcasts with BBC Podcasts Premium.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
17 Nov 2025
BONUS: "This is such a cool, badass native lady"
How did Lydia’s son react to listening to The Hunter? In this bonus episode, producer Emma Weatherill brings Lydia Lerma and Anaya Echo Hawk back to answer your questions, share their raw reactions, and reveal the moments that stayed with them long after the series ended.
This episode contains some strong language and deals with sexual abuse.
Email the team thehunter@bbc.com (mailto:thehunter@bbc.com)
If you are in the UK and have been affected by the issues in this series, please visit BBC Action Line (https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/) to find information on organisations that can help.
In the US, there are a range of services available through the Traumatic Stress Institute which provides an A – Z helpdesk and helpline (https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/hotline-list/). Wherever you are in the world, you can search for an appropriate service at www.findahelpline.com. (http://www.findahelpline.com/)
Host and producer: Emma Weatherill
Guests: Lydia Lerma and Anaya Echo Hawk
Sound designer: Melvin Rickarby
Production management: Juliette Harvey
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
The Hunter is a BBC Studios production
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
10 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
The Trial: "Here’s my redemption"
Justice hangs in the balance. After everything she’s sacrificed, justice is finally within reach. But the legal system is unpredictable, and the fight is far from over. As Lydia prepares for the battle of her life, she realizes this isn’t just about her son - it’s about every survivor still waiting for their day in court.
This episode contains very strong language and deals with sexual abuse.
Email the team thehunter@bbc.com (mailto:thehunter@bbc.com)
If you are in the UK and have been affected by the issues in this series, please visit BBC Action Line (https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/) to find information on organisations that can help.
In the US, there are a range of services available through the Traumatic Stress Institute which provides an A – Z helpdesk and helpline (https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/hotline-list/). Wherever you are in the world, you can search for an appropriate service at www.findahelpline.com. (http://www.findahelpline.com/)
Host: Anaya Echo Hawk
Producer and writer: Emma Weatherill
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
Sound design: Melvin Rickarby
Legal review: Oriana Williams
Editorial review: Michael Fadda
Production management: Juliette Harvey and Elaina Boateng.
Production Executive: Laura Jordan Rowell.
Development: Anya Saunders and Georgia Moseley
Production Creative Director: James Cook
Director of Audio: Richard Knight.
The Hunter is a BBC Studios Audio production
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
3 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
The Chase: "I was not going to rest"
A high-stakes pursuit through the streets of Cuauhtémoc. Lydia is torn between her need for justice and fear of blowing the operation. As she wrestles with her own past and the weight of her mission, she’s forced to decide: how far is too far?
This episode contains very strong language and deals with sexual abuse including a description you might find distressing.
Email the team thehunter@bbc.com (mailto:thehunter@bbc.com)
If you are in the UK and have been affected by the issues in this series, please visit BBC Action Line (https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/) to find information on organisations that can help.
In the US, there are a range of services available through the Traumatic Stress Institute which provides an A – Z helpdesk and helpline (https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/hotline-list/). Wherever you are in the world, you can search for an appropriate service at www.findahelpline.com. (http://www.findahelpline.com/)
Host: Anaya Echo Hawk
Producer and writer: Emma Weatherill
Sound designer: Melvin Rickarby
Production management: Juliette Harvey
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
The Hunter is a BBC Studios Audio production
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
27 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
The Predator: "Death would be too easy"
In Mexico, with danger at every turn, Lydia is closer than ever - but getting too close could mean risking everything. The FBI warns her to stand down, but she’s come too far to quit. With tensions high and tempers flaring, a plan is set in motion. But nothing prepares her for what she sees when the moment finally arrives.
This episode contains some strong language and deals with sexual abuse.
Email the team thehunter@bbc.com (mailto:thehunter@bbc.com)
If you are in the UK and have been affected by the issues in this series, please visit BBC Action Line (https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/) to find information on organisations that can help.
In the US, there are a range of services available through the Traumatic Stress Institute which provides an A – Z helpdesk and helpline (https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/hotline-list/). Wherever you are in the world, you can search for an appropriate service at www.findahelpline.com. (http://www.findahelpline.com/)
Host: Anaya Echo Hawk
Producer and writer: Emma Weatherill
Sound designer: Melvin Rickarby
Production management: Juliette Harvey
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
The Hunter is a BBC Studios Audio production
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
13 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
The Phone Call: "I'm going to make you famous"
A taped confession should mean justice - but what if the predator disappears? As Lydia struggles to keep her family together, the weight of what’s to come is unbearable. Then, an unexpected turn leaves her questioning whether justice will ever be served.
This episode contains some strong language and deals with sexual abuse.
Email the team thehunter@bbc.com (mailto:thehunter@bbc.com)
If you are in the UK and have been affected by the issues in this series, please visit BBC Action Line (https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/) to find information on organisations that can help.
In the US, there are a range of services available through the Traumatic Stress Institute which provides an A – Z helpdesk and helpline (https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/hotline-list/). Wherever you are in the world, you can search for an appropriate service at www.findahelpline.com. (http://www.findahelpline.com/)
Host: Anaya Echo Hawk
Producer and writer: Emma Weatherill
Sound designer: Melvin Rickarby
Production management: Juliette Harvey
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
The Hunter is a BBC Studios Audio production
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
8 Jul 2025
The Prey: "I need to get eyes on this guy"
To catch a predator, think like one. Lydia builds a digital dragnet, using social media and online sleuthing to track her prey’s escape route. Lydia begins piecing together a trail, using instincts honed in the wilderness and from her Lipan Apache heritage. But when new evidence surfaces, she realizes she’s not the only one searching.
This episode contains very strong language and deals with sexual abuse.
Email the team thehunter@bbc.com (mailto:thehunter@bbc.com)
If you are in the UK and have been affected by the issues in this series, please visit BBC Action Line (https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/) to find information on organisations that can help.
In the US, there are a range of services available through the Traumatic Stress Institute which provides an A – Z helpdesk and helpline (https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/hotline-list/). Wherever you are in the world, you can search for an appropriate service at www.findahelpline.com. (http://www.findahelpline.com/)
Host: Anaya Echo Hawk
Producer and writer: Emma Weatherill
Sound designer: Melvin Rickarby
Production management: Juliette Harvey
Executive Producer: Joe Kent
The Hunter is a BBC Studios Audio production
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
8 Jul 2025
The Revelation: "I could kill my children's father": 1
The Hunter is a thrilling true crime documentary following one woman’s relentless pursuit of a criminal which turns into a high-stakes international manhunt.
2 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
The Hunter: Trailer
When justice turned its back, a mother stepped forward - and refused to stop until the predator was found.
Inside a recent episode
What to listen to next: World of Secrets
Published 17 Dec 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Like when he said, leave in ten minutes or it's going to be a mess, I also felt like we need to go. Because this is not a safe environment for us. Children are being exploited when they're at their weakest. They use Anna to raise funds for their own benefit, not for her. We have no money for my treatment. I want to be a normal kid. I want to go to school. Please help me, please. This is World of Secrets. Season 10. The Child Cancer Scout. A BBC World Service investigation into a global, shape -shifting network targeting children. […]
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