Unjustly

Minisode - Segregated Proms

In 2014, Wilcox High School in Georgia, made history when they held their first official integrated prom. Prior to this, proms and other school events were segregated with separate white and black proms. And the sad news is, this is not the only school committing this racist injustice. Join us for a minisode as we explore how some counties in the south have been getting away with segregation within their communities and schools in modern day times. 

 

Sources:

• https://eji.org 
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segregated_prom
• https://www.history.com/news/prom-racist-history-19th-century-origins
• http://www.promnightinmississippi.com/the-film
• https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91371629
• https://observer.com/2019/05/prom-integration-dance-segregation-still-happens/ 
• https://abcnews.go.com/US/georgia-teens-fed-segregated-proms/story?id=18880791
• https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/segregated-proms-an-ongoing-controversy-in-georgia 

Taser Confusion

On the heels of the shooting of Daunte Wright in Minneapolis, we decided to examine the issue of fatal mistakes made by officers who have used their gun on a suspect when they claim to have meant to use their taser. Join us as we explore three separate cases that have led to death due to this taser confusion. These are the stories of Daunte Wright, Oscar Grant, and Eric Harris, 3 unarmed men mistakenly shot by police. Learn what criminologists have said about these cases and the issues surrounding taser confusion.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Daunte_Wright 
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/04/13/daunte-wright-family-brooklyn-center-police-shooting/7204061002/ 
• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/daunte-wright-was-stopped-expired-plates-driving-while-black-may-n1263878 
• https://oscargrantfoundation.org/about/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Oscar_Grant#Closing_arguments_and_verdict
• https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/10/06/920895464/california-district-attorney-says-probe-of-oscar-grant-killing-will-be-reopened
• https://abc7news.com/oscar-grant-shooting-fruitvale-station-plaza-alameda-county-da/9569604/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_shooting_of_Eric_Harris 
• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/robert-bates-imprisoned-tulsa-reserve-deputy-speaks-jail-cell-n587161
• https://www.cnn.com/2015/04/14/us/taser-gun-confusion/index.html 

Minisode - Shankar Patel: Life Without

Join us for a minisode of a listener submission story! On November 19, 1991, Usha Patel entered her garage with the intention of picking up her 7 year old daughter from school when an assailant ambushed the 29 year old, fatally stabbing her in the cheek and chest. More than 20 years later, her husband, Shankar Patel would be arrested for her murder. His family is now fighting for his freedom.

Sources:

https://www.life-without.org/ 

 

 

Antonio Tsialas & Greek Life

A Cornell University freshman found dead in an upstate New York ravine in October 2019, attended a fraternity party with seven drinking rooms the night before he went missing.  Join us as we explore what may have happened to lead up to Tsialas's death and the botched investigation by campus police. Many involved in Greek life, in addition to unaffiliated students, are now questioning the basis of its existence while weighing the decades of baked-in harm it has imposed on students. The history of racism, sexism, classism, and mental and physical abuse within these organizations is hard to ignore. 

 

*Note: We mistakenly refer to Anthony's last name as Tomasello, however that is his mother's last name. His correct last name is Tsialas. 

 

Sources:

·      Saul Martinez for The New York Times

·      Veronica Freeman for BestColleges.com Blog

·      Katie Reilly for The New York Times

·      Ben Kesslen for NBC News

·      Terry Nguyen for Vox

·      Mariah Stewart for Insight into Diversity

 

 

Minisode - Alford v. Hertz

This episode examines some current events of wrongful convictions. This is the story of Herbert Alford, who was convicted of a murder he did not commit due to the negligence of the Hertz car rental company. How could a popular corporation ignore multiple subpoenas to provide evidence of someone's innocence and the trial proceeds irregardless? Join us as we discuss how Hertz jumbled this case that should have never gone to trial. As a bonus, we discuss other current events such as a possible wrongful conviction in Australia which new genetic information may explain the death of a woman's four children. 

 

Sources: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/11/us/herbert-alford-hertz-lawsuit-receipt.html

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/11/976185483/eight-miles-a-time-stamped-receipt-and-an-overturned-conviction-lead-to-a-lawsui

https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2020/12/09/murder-charges-dismissed-herbert-alford-michael-adams-2011/6504978002/

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/12/07/drug-murder-trial-lansing/95082034/

https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2018/10/10/murder-conviction-appeal-shooting-gun-crime-marijuana/1575610002/

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/lsj/name/michael-adams-obituary?pid=154282399

https://www.kctv5.com/news/us_world_news/genetics-may-free-a-woman-convicted-of-killing-her-4-babies-and-help-other-parents/article_9f4b159b-506c-5129-be3d-737821467819.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/06/23/man-saves-pennsylvania-police-officer-fiery-car-that-daylan/3241496001/

 

Not Guilty Serving Life

How can someone be found NOT GUILTY of a murder but still be sentenced to life in prison? This is the unbelievable story of Terrance Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne, currently serving life in a Virginia prison. Two men wrongfully accused and given unprecedented plea deals in a state court for the murder of a police officer. But what happens when the family of the victim is not happy about the plea deals and gets the FBI involved? Join us as we explore the injustice that happened to these two men in federal court. Innocent of a murder but spending a lifetime in prison due to a legal loophole that allowed the Judge to sentence these two men even though they were found not guilty by a jury. Hear from the team fighting to free Richardson and Claiborne and learn how you can help them! 

 

Sources

• https://www.notguiltyservinglife.org 
• An article in ABC 8news by: Kerri O'Brien
• An article in Black Enterprise by Charlene Rhinehart
• http://jarrettadamslaw.com website
• An article in unbelievable facts.com
• An article in CNN by Trisha Gopal, Dominique Turner and Evan Chung
• An interview with Amanda Knox on Crime Story 

Missing Maya Millete

Today's episode hits close to home for cohosts Sandee and Stephany as this missing person's case is currently happening blocks from their homes. Maya "May" Millete was last seen in Chula Vista on January 7th, 2021, after getting in a fight with her husband. It wouldn't be for another 3 days until her husband filed a missing person's report. Join us as we explore the facts of this case and theorize on what could have happened as we try to bring more awareness to this case.

Hear from locals in her county on what they believe happened to Maya. Stay till the end of the episode to hear Maya's beautiful voice singing and playing guitar. 

If you have any information or tips please contact the Chula Vista Police Department at 619-6915139 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477, you can remain anonymous. Maya is Filipino, 5'2" and 105 lbs. She has brown hair and brown eyes. 

Please help us find Maya.

Guy Paul Morin

This is the wrongful conviction of Guy Paul Morin from Canada. Morin was convicted of the October 1984 rape and murder of his nine-year-old next-door neighbour, Christine Jessop of Queensville, north of Toronto, Ontario. DNA testing led to a subsequent overturning of this verdict. Join us is we explore who the real killer was and how Canadian officials launched their own investigation into how this injustice occurred. 

Minisode - Jared Witt

Join us for our first minisode and listener submission! This is the story of Jared Witt, a dear friend of one of our listeners. Witt served in the military for decades and completed many deployments. But these deployments took a toll on his mental health and it began to decline. After leaving the military Witt experienced mental health issues as well as periods of homelessness. He was depressed and feeling defeated. But when he began insisting to his ex girlfriend that she repay a large sum of money that she owed him she instead accused him of sexually assaulting her daughter. Witt was arrested without any evidence and crucial witnesses were not interviewed.  His attorney convinced him to take a plea deal. Is Witt guilty? Or is he the victim of a DA who was trying to clear his name in a Supreme Court case accusing the department of not taking action against sexual assaults? 

Save Richard Glossip

In 1997 in Oklahoma City, a motel owner was brutally murdered in his own motel. Money was stolen from his car in what looked liked a robbery gone bad. Soon after, the maintenance worker Justin Sneed, confessed to the murder. But, in exchange for leniency, he stated that the motel manager Richard Glossip hired him to do the murder. With no physical evidence, Glossip was sentenced to death on the sole testimony of the murderer who gave conflicting statements multiple times. This is the crazy story of how a man is now wrongfully sitting on death row and has been within minutes of execution 3 different times. Join us as we explore the lack of evidence, the hasty investigation, the tunnel vision of the interrogators, the DA who destroyed evidence, and what the real evidence actually points to. Help us to save Richard Glossip.