About Infamous Indy Tours

By Joe Melillo

Where True Crime, Local History, and Journalism Collide

Infamous Indy Tours was founded by me, Joe Melillo, a three-time Emmy-nominated journalist, former WISH-TV reporter, and award-winning true crime podcaster. After years of uncovering Indianapolis’s most fascinating — and disturbing — stories through my work in broadcast journalism and podcasting, I realized something was missing: a way to truly feel the weight of our city’s criminal past.

So I created Infamous Indy Tours — a one-of-a-kind true crime tour in Indianapolis that brings the stories from my podcasts directly to the streets where they happened.

A Passion for Podcasting & the Past

You might know me from my two Indianapolis-based true crime podcasts:

  • Infamous Indy Podcast – A storytelling series that uncovers the most chilling, shocking, and compelling true crime stories from Indianapolis history.

  • Digging Up Dillinger – A deep dive into the life, legend, and legacy of America’s most notorious outlaw, with special focus on his Indiana roots.

The very stories you’ve heard on the Infamous Indy Podcast are featured on our tours — now told while you stand in the exact spots where history happened.

Why I Started This Tour Company

I believe history should be something you can touch. There’s nothing more powerful than standing where a historic moment occurred and hearing the real story behind it. I started Infamous Indy Tours because people deserve more than just headlines and rumors — they deserve truth, context, and connection.

These tours are meant to educate, not glorify. We walk a fine line — telling the stories of victims and perpetrators with integrity, accuracy, and respect. This is not a haunted house or thrill ride. It’s a historically grounded experience rooted in journalism, empathy, and the belief that we can learn from the past to better understand our present.

Local, Ethical, and Expert-Led

  • Hosted by a seasoned investigative reporter

  • Backed by hours of original research and interviews

  • Designed to engage, educate, and inspire curiosity

  • Focused on historical accuracy, not sensationalism


Learn More, Feel More, Understand More

Come walk with us through the shadows of Indianapolis. Hear the stories that shaped our streets — and maybe, just maybe, walk away with a deeper understanding of what it all means.

Book your tour now and experience the past like never before.