FRAMED: An Investigative Story

Frederick Freeman was sitting in St. Clair County Jail pending his April 1987 trial. He was facing first-degree murder charges in the death of St. Clair Community College student Scott Macklem, a member of a prominent Croswell, MI family. The motive for the killing seemed improbably thin; Port Huron police asserted that Freeman had shot the young man out of jealousy, based on his brief, two-month relationship with Macklem's fiancée, Crystal Merrill. The real hurdle was the fact that Freeman was seen 436 miles away right about the time of the shooting. Combined with the fact that no credible evidence of Fred's guilt could be found, the case should have been quite difficult to prove. However, the prosecution had a novel approach to presenting their case, and a truly imaginative theory of how a cash-strapped, 23-year-old who sometimes landed on the wrong side of the law could have accomplished what seemed to be impossible... Framedpod.com

The shocking murder of St. Clair Community College student Scott Macklem cried out for justice, and the State of Michigan was determined to hold someone accountable for the crime – even in the face of a seemingly airtight alibi. But considering the methods and theories used to achieve that goal, we must question whether justice can possibly be served when a case relies heavily on conjecture, supposition, wild theories, faulty hypnosis, and unreliable witnesses. To understand the present, we must disassemble the past and learn how we arrived where we are today… Framedpod.com

Julia Cowley of The Consult podcast joins me to discuss the first two episodes of this season. With her significant training and experience with the FBI, Julia talks about the evidence and the behaviors exhibited by the perpetrator as well as by the prime suspect in the case. Website: Framedpod.com Social media: @FramedPod

In the previous episode, we learned of the brutal November 5, 1986, murder of well-regarded St. Clair Community College student Scott Macklem. The Port Huron Police Department, who began their investigation moments after their arrival at the campus parking lot, interviewed several people present at the crime scene that morning. Evidence was scant, and pressure to solve the crime was enormous, as the victim was the son of a beloved and politically influential local family. 1986 was also an election year, further adding to the burden of obtaining justice. Additionally, Scott left behind a young fiancée who was pregnant with the couple's first child. The stakes could not be higher, and law enforcement was determined that the young man's killer would swiftly be brought to justice. Framedpod.com

When a shotgun blast rang out on a frigid November morning on the campus of St. Clair Community College in Port Huron, MI, students within earshot assumed it was a firecracker or a car backfiring, or perhaps even a tire had blown out. But the truth was that a young college student named Scott Macklem had been pitilessly executed. Police settled quickly on a single suspect; a brash young man who was leading a somewhat alternative lifestyle. Framedpod.com

In season two of Framed, we attempted to piece together exactly what happened in the Buddhist Temple Massacre at Wat Promkunaram. The end result of our research efforts produced, what we hope, is the clearest picture of what happened to the nine victims of Arizona's deadliest mass shooting. In spite of our efforts, there were still a few questions we were unable to answer in Season 2. So, the Framed Team kept digging, looking for those missing puzzle pieces. And, what we found has the potential to change the narrative that surrounds this case. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Framed Team has assembled the pieces to this jigsaw puzzle in a way that no one ever has, to reveal a picture no one's ever seen. To the question, what exactly happened inside the Wat Promkunaram temple on a warm summer night in 1991… we have an answer, and we think we can prove it See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Framed Team has assembled the pieces to this jigsaw puzzle in a way that no one ever has, to reveal a picture no one's ever seen. To the question, what exactly happened inside the Wat Promkunaram temple on a warm summer night in 1991… we have an answer, and we think we can prove it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The rules that govern what evidence is admissible and what is inadmissible can be complicated. Often times our common sense understanding of what a relevant fact is doesn't line up with what the law allows jurors to hear. The gap between the two views can be vast. In this case, the evidence the jury used to reach their verdict was remarkably different than the evidence we've covered so far. On this episode of Framed, we're going to explore why. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The task force interviewed every single person that spent time with their three juvenile suspects. Literally hundreds of inmates were interviewed and, by our count, at least forty of them provided relevant information to the task force. We aren't going to go over every single statement from every single snitch, but we will go through enough of them to help you see the bigger picture. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Framed, we're going to focus on our material fact witnesses. The girlfriends, and ex-girlfriends. The close confidants, the classmates, the acquaintances, and the rivals. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode we're going to focus on those individuals who fall somewhere between witnesses and suspects; a group often referred to by law enforcement as "persons-of-interest." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"It's time to give it up. I want you to start telling me what happened on August 9th, what your involvement was, and who all was there at the Temple. Let's just get this out and get it over with." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"It wasn't me! It must have been the guy I loaned my rifle to..." A new suspect enters the interrogation room. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On October 23, 1991, the task force received some good news. The crime lab had identified the murder weapon. It was a Marlin twenty-two-caliber long rifle. The owner of the weapon was brought in for questioning. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A tip came in on the hotline that promised to bust this case wide open. In three days time, the task force had five suspects in custody... but each suspect had a different story to tell. In a case where everything depends on what people say, how do you decide who you're going to believe? Music for Season Two was created by The Captain (TrueCrimeGarage) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The deadliest mass shooting in Arizona's history occurred on August 10th, 1991. Nine victims were executed in the Wat Promkunaram Buddhist Temple, located in Waddell, Arizona. Twenty-one shots were fired in total. The gunmen didn't miss once. By the time the bodies were discovered they were cold to the touch. The shooters had long since fled the scene, leaving, as it seemed, without a trace. As news of the slayings spread, temple members gathered outside the crime scene, anxious to know the answer to one question. Why? Why did they have to kill them? Music for Season Two was created by The Captain (TrueCrimeGarage) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On August 10th, 1991, nine victims were arranged in a circle and executed in a Buddhist Temple outside of Waddell, Arizona. The Framed Team spent two years combing through every piece of evidence, every misstep, and every alibi to try and figure out what exactly happened in the Wat Promkunaram Temple and, maybe more importantly, why it happened.  Framed Season 2 premieres on January 6th. Binge ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/framed See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're still missing the biggest piece of all. Where is Brian Carrick's body? Can you help us finish this puzzle and finally lay Brian to rest? This is the final episode of season one. Music by: Sergey Cheremisinov twitter: @FramedPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We walk you through Brian Carrick's last day, from an early morning kiss from mom, to the moment he drew his last breath. We have all the pieces, now it's time to solve this puzzle. Music by: Sergey Cheremisinov Follow Framed on twitter: @FramedPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A tale of deceit, double-dealing, and manipulation. "Criminals flock together. They don't ordinarily commit their crimes in broad daylight." – Patrick Kenneally Music by: Sergey Cheremisinov Follow Framed on twitter: @FramedPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two small town detectives with personal ties to the people involved were assigned to this case. One knew the victim's family and was working tirelessly to solve this mystery. The other… Music by: Sergey Cheremisinov Follow Framed on twitter: @FramedPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was an accident. Things got out of hand. That was the testimony of four felons looking for deals... Music by: Sergey Cheremisinov Follow Framed on twitter: @FramedPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A suspect on the run. A police chase like none other ends along a partially frozen creek. On the suspect, the police find drugs, money, and blood. Music by: Sergey Cheremisinov Follow Framed on twitter: @FramedPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brian Carrick walks into Val's Foods and never leaves again. Who sees him? Brian's coworkers tell us where they were and what they saw during the last fifteen minutes of Brian's life. Music by: Sergey Cheremisinov Follow Framed on twitter: @FramedPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A frightened witness comes forward with information, but is the information reliable? What happened that night in the southeast corner of Val's Foods? Music by Sergey Cheremisinov Follow Framed on twitter: @FramedPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've met our suspects. It's time to understand their motives. Who had reason to harm Brian Carrick? Music by Sergey Cheremisinov Follow Framed on twitter: @FramedPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On December 20th of 2002, Brian Carrick disappeared, leaving nothing behind but a pool of blood and a trail of clues to follow. Two theories have divided the once close-knit community of Johnsburg, Illinois. Fifteen years later, people are still asking… Who killed Brian Carrick? Music by: Sergey Chermisinov Follow Framed on twitter: @FramedPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One unsolved crime has divided a community for more than a decade. This season on Framed we will go beyond the narratives and try to answer the question of what happened one fateful night in 2002. Framed premiers on August 21st, 2018. Music by Sergey Cheremisinov See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.