Before The Ball Dropped

On New Year’s Eve, 1995, as fireworks painted the sky over Camden City, New Jersey, an unspeakable tragedy unfolded just miles away from the celebrations.In this harrowing episode, retired Detective Sergeant First Class Harry Gavel of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office recounts the most haunting case of his 11-year career in homicide. "Before The Ball Dropped" tells the true story of a home invasion that turned into a brutal double homicide and hostage crisis, leaving a three-year-old girl orphaned and a city shaken to its core.As the clock ticked toward midnight, a cold-blooded killer burst into a family's home, executing a respected physician and his wife before taking their daughter hostage. This isn't just a story about crime—it's about heartbreak, heroism, and a community that responded with swift justice. Listeners are taken inside the intense police standoff that followed, the sniper’s split-second decision, and the lifelong impact left on a child who witnessed unimaginable horror.Sensitive content ahead. Listener discretion is strongly advised.