Predator Hunters: Who is Detective Tony Godwin?
Predator HuntersDetective Tony Godwin is not a household name...yet. But with the arrival of the new true-crime series Predator Hunters, that’s beginning to change. A veteran investigator with decades of experience, Tony’s a specialist in one of the most disturbing areas of modern policing. Not to mention a man who has helped take hundreds of dangerous offenders off the streets.
We take a look at his impressive career ahead of the news series Predator Hunters, which starts Thursday, 14th May on Crime+Investigation.
A career built in law enforcement
Tony Godwin’s story began long before television. A career police officer based in Texas, he’s had more than three decades of experience in law enforcement. Over that time, he has worked as a criminal investigator and built a reputation as a relentless and methodical detective.
Before his police career took off, Godwin was a military policeman, giving him an early grounding in discipline and investigative work. During his long service, he has collaborated with major federal agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security and the U.S. Secret Service. These partnerships reveal the scale and seriousness of the cases he handles.
Tony’s work has not gone unnoticed. Godwin has been inducted into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame, a recognition given to officers who have made a significant impact in their field.
Entering the world of online predators
While many detectives spend their careers working on traditional crimes, Godwin carved out a niche in a rapidly evolving and deeply troubling area: online child exploitation.
He became a key figure in the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force in North Texas. This was a specialist unit dedicated to tracking down predators who use the internet to target minors. Tony’s work has directly contributed to the arrest and removal of hundreds of predators.
The premise of Predator Hunters
Tony’s experience now forms the backbone of Predator Hunters, a 10-part documentary series that takes viewers inside real investigations for the first time.
Premiering on Crime+Investigation on 14th May 2026, the show follows Godwin and his ICAC Task Force as they work on active cases. Each episode highlights three separate investigations, beginning with the first digital clue and ending with arrests.
Viewers are shown real chat logs, undercover exchanges, bodycam footage and interviews with investigators. But rather than dramatising events, the show presents them as they unfold, how predators operate and highlight both the technical and emotional challenges.
A team effort
Although Godwin is the central figure, Predator Hunters emphasises that these operations are never a one-person job.
The ICAC Task Force includes a mix of detectives, digital analysts and undercover officers, from agencies like the FBI. Their combined expertise allows them to track suspects across jurisdictions, analyse digital evidence and carry out arrests safely.
Why his work matters
The focus on Godwin’s work is extremely important as online exploitation becomes increasingly more concerning. The internet has made it easier for offenders to contact and groom victims, often anonymously and across huge distances.
Detectives like Godwin operate on the front line. Their work is both preventative and reactive; their role is to intervene before abuse can take place.
The cases featured in Predator Hunters show just how urgent preventative work is. Some involve suspects arranging to meet children in person. Others reveal networks of exploitation that could otherwise remain hidden.
From investigator to public figure
For most of his career, Tony Godwin worked largely out of the public eye. The launch of Predator Hunters brings his work and the realities of investigations into living rooms across the world.
But the aim isn’t fame. Instead, the series is both a warning and an education, shedding light on a hidden threat and the people working to stop it.
A relentless pursuit
At its core, Tony Godwin’s story is one of persistence. From his early days in law enforcement to leading complex digital investigations, his career shows the changing nature of crime.
Predator Hunters may introduce him to a wider audience, but the work itself remains the same. He identifies predators, builds cases and ensures they are brought to justice before they can do harm.
It’s not easy or glamorous work. But as the series makes clear, it is necessary. And in the hands of investigators like Godwin, it’s making a real difference.
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And don’t miss Predator Hunters on Thursday 14th May, where Tony reveals never-before-seen details on some of his most gripping cases.
