The murder trial that misunderstood autism - McCracken Poston

Criminal defense attorney McCracken Poston Jr. shares the incredible true story of Alvin Ridley—a man accused of murdering his wife, misunderstood for decades, and diagnosed with autism only after his trial was over.This episode covers how Alvin’s behavior was misread, how the legal system often fails adults with undiagnosed neurodivergence, and what happened when McCracken finally understood the truth.Claudie Pomares joins the conversation to explore how literal thinking, sensory processing, and communication breakdowns shaped this case—and how families can better support their neurodivergent loved ones.Episode highlights include:How a Thanksgiving turkey unlocked a pivotal piece of evidenceThe infamous moment Alvin brought cockroaches into the courtroomWhy Alvin thought “the funeral bill” was the right answer on the witness standHow hypergraphia helped prove Virginia Ridley was alive and writingThe courtroom prayer that wasn’t meant to be a prayerTo learn more about McCracken Poston’s book, Zenith Man, visit Amazon.To explore Claudie’s brain development work, visit mendability.com.