It's A Crime with Margaret McLean

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when public trust in law enforcement collides with allegations of investigator bias?In this episode, former prosecutor and law professor Margaret McLean sits down with retired Massachusetts State Trooper Todd McGhee to discuss the growing fallout from Karen Read’s civil lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and the Town of Canton.McGhee shares his perspective on the explosive text messages attributed to former State Trooper Michael Proctor and former Canton Sgt. Sean Goode, the impact these revelations have on public confidence in law enforcement, and whether Proctor should be viewed as a “bad apple” or whether the controversy raises broader questions about accountability and police culture.Together, Margaret and Todd explore how investigators are trained to remain objective, the safeguards designed to protect the integrity of criminal investigations, and what meaningful accountability should look like when an officer’s conduct comes under scrutiny.The conversation also shifts to the nationally watched Mackenzie Shirilla case, where Todd offers his reaction to the tragic 100-mph crash that killed two teenagers and discusses the broader public safety, decision-making, and accountability issues raised by the case.In This Episode:Karen Read’s civil lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and Town of CantonThe Michael Proctor and Sean Goode text message controversyPublic trust and accountability in law enforcementWhether one officer’s misconduct damages confidence in an entire professionPolice culture, investigative integrity, and reformTodd McGhee’s reaction to the Mackenzie Shirilla caseLessons for law enforcement and the criminal justice systemJoin Margaret McLean as she translates today’s biggest legal stories with insight from those who have lived them—from the courtroom to the front lines of law enforcement.#KarenRead #MacKenzieShirilla #MichaelProctor #ToddMcGhee #policecorruption #conspiracy #alanJackson

Send us Fan MailKaren Read’s latest civil lawsuit is explosive. In this episode, former prosecutor and law professor Margaret McLean is joined by seasoned Massachusetts criminal defense attorney Morjieta Derisier to examine the lawsuit Karen Read filed against the Massachusetts State Police and the Town of Canton.The lawsuit alleges that former State Trooper Michael Proctor and former Canton Sgt. Sean Goode harbored deeply rooted biases reflected in years of racist, antisemitic, misogynistic, and homophobic communications. Read argues that those biases tainted the investigation that led to her prosecution.Margaret and Morjieta break down the legal claims at the heart of the lawsuit, including negligent hiring, negligent supervision, institutional liability, and constitutional concerns involving due process and fair investigations.They also explore a broader question: Can personal bias influence the exercise of police power?The discussion examines the enormous discretion investigators possess, the role culture may play within law enforcement organizations, what departments knew—or should have known—and whether accountability should extend beyond individual officers to the institutions that employ them.This conversation goes beyond the headlines to explore public trust, police accountability, constitutional rights, and what meaningful reform might look like when serious allegations of bias emerge inside law enforcement agencies.In This Episode:Karen Read’s lawsuit against State Police and Canton PoliceThe legal significance of the Proctor and Goode text messagesNegligent hiring and negligent supervision claimsPolice culture and institutional accountabilityDue process and constitutional concernsPublic trust in law enforcementWhether bias can affect investigationsWhat Karen Read must prove to win her caseThe broader implications for the criminal justice system#KarenRead #MichaelProctor #TrueCrime #trials #Policecorruption

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, former prosecutor Margaret McLean examines one of the most controversial death investigations in recent memory: the death of 27-year-old Philadelphia teacher Ellen Greenberg.On January 26, 2011, Ellen was found dead in her apartment with 23 stab wounds, including wounds to the back of her neck. Her death was ultimately ruled a suicide, a conclusion that has been challenged by her parents, Josh and Sandee Greenberg, for more than fourteen years.Now, the case has entered a significant new chapter. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania have officially opened an investigation into the handling of Ellen’s death and the decisions made by the institutions responsible for investigating it.In this conversation, Josh and Sandee discuss:Why they believe the original investigation failedThe evidence and unanswered questions that continue to trouble themThe original pathologist’s sworn reversal of the suicide rulingConcerns about bruising, evidence handling, and chain of custodyThe impact of a crime scene that was cleaned just 24 hours after Ellen’s deathWhat they hope federal investigators will uncoverMargaret also provides legal analysis on what federal investigators can and cannot do, how corruption and misconduct investigations differ from homicide investigations, and why public confidence in the justice system depends on the integrity of the investigative process.This episode explores not only the death of Ellen Greenberg, but the broader question of what happens when a family spends more than a decade challenging the conclusions of the very institutions charged with finding the truth.The Margaret Mclean Show translates how the legal system actually works—beyond the headlines.#EllenGreenberg #FBI #Truecrime #Policecorruption

Send us Fan MailHow do you defend someone the public may have already convicted in the court of public opinion? In this episode, I’m joined  by prominent Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Silva Megerditchian to break down the explosive case against David Burke, known professionally as D4vd.Prosecutors in Los Angeles have charged David with first-degree murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait, along with continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The victim is Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were discovered last September  after his Tesla was towed and impounded near his  rented Hollywood Hills residence while he was away on tour. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently being held without bail, facing a possible sentence of life without parole or the death penalty.Burke is facing allegations that have shocked the public:First-degree murderDismemberment and concealment of a 14-year-old girl’s bodyAlleged statutory rape and continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14Special circumstance allegations including lying in wait and murder of a witnessAs a former prosecutor, I’ll translate what’s happening behind the scenes in this case, while Silva Megerditchian provides the perspective of an experienced LA criminal defense attorney who understands how high-profile murder cases are fought in California courtrooms.Together, we’ll tackle the difficult legal questions:How do defense attorneys approach a case this emotionally charged?Has D4vd already been “tried by the media”?What evidence actually matters in court—and what may unfairly prejudice a jury?How does the defense challenge a circumstantial case involving digital evidence, forensic evidence, and motive?And could California’s newer law limiting the use of rap lyrics and creative expression impact this case?We’ll also discuss one of the biggest controversies surrounding this prosecution:We’ll also discuss one of the biggest controversies surrounding this prosecution:Can D4vd’s disturbing song lyrics—including “Romantic Homicide”—actually be used against him in court?California recently passed legislation making it more difficult for prosecutors to introduce lyrics as evidence, recognizing concerns about artistic expression, unfair prejudice, and jurors confusing persona with proof.We’ll break down:When lyrics may become admissible evidenceHow judges balance artistic freedom against relevanceAnd whether prosecutors could argue the lyrics reflect motive, intent, or state of mindThis is a serious legal breakdown from both sides of the courtroom.#D4vd #TrueCrime #LegalAnalysis #CriminalDefense #CelesteRivasHerdandez #deathpenalty #Highprofiletrials #BreakingNews #MurderCase #DavidBurke #Romantichomicide

Send us Fan MailWhat happened to Holly Piirainen? This cold case has taken investigators down many dark and twisted paths, including multiple suspects, ties to an unsolved murder—to exhuming a letter buried in a coffin.On a humid August morning in 1993, ten-year-old Holly Piirainen vanished from a quiet neighborhood in Sturbridge, Massachusetts after walking with her little brother to see a litter of collie puppies.Moments later, the only sign of Holly was her lost sneaker discovered along the edge of a dirt road—an image that would haunt an entire state.In this episode, former prosecutor Margaret McLean revisits the day Holly disappeared: a summer morning boat ride on South Pond, laughter with her family at her grandparents’ cottage, and a five-minute walk that ended in tragedy.Through interviews, police reports, and eyewitness accounts—including the chilling sighting of a man in a brown pickup truck—Margaret unpacks how a peaceful community became ground zero for one of New England’s most disturbing unsolved crimes.👉 What you’ll hear in this episode:The timeline of Holly’s last morning—breakfast, boat ride, and the walk to see the puppiesHow her brother’s discovery of a single sneaker caused police to suspect a kidnapping and mobilize a massive search effort Exclusive analysis of police theories about the abduction sceneInvestigators' analysis and conclusions drawn from the girls who saw the “man in the truck”The race against time in the first critical hours of a child abduction with an FBI agent’s inputThe mysterious suspect pulled over nearby—and later caught surfing porn in a libraryThis is a story of innocence lost, a predator lurking in the woods, and a family’s thirty-year fight for justice.🎧 Subscribe to It’s A Crime with Margaret McLean for Episode 2 —“Skeleton in the Woods” — where new suspects emerge, a disturbing letter is unearthed, and long-hidden secrets finally rise to the surface.https://itsacrimemedia.com/https://www.youtube.com/@Itsacrimemedia

Send us Fan MailThe defense insists that their client Karen Read was framed for a murder she did not commit. They argue that she did not strike her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, with her SUV and leave him there to die all alone in a blizzard. Instead, they claim something sinister happened to John inside 34 Fairview in Canton, Massachusetts, the home of a fellow Boston Police Officer. They suggest he was beaten inside the house, attacked by a dog, and left outside to die. But how do they explain the debris field of broken taillight and glass near his body? The pieces of taillight match Karen's Lexus. Was there enough time and opportunity for a corrupt state trooper to smash out the taillight and secretly plant the evidence at the scene to frame her? Join former prosecutor Margaret McLean and author Kevin Lenihan for an enlightening discussion and timeline.#KarenReadTrian #KarenRead #crime #trials

Send us Fan MailJurors must decide whether the defendant, Karen Read, struck her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV, leaving him to die in a blizzard. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan called a new witness to explain the timeline of events down to the second. The data from Karen's Lexus and John O'Keefe's phone have been analyzed and correlated. What are the results? Is this the nail in the coffin for the prosecution? Or will the defense destroy their new theory in cross-examination? The prosecution has also produced stunning new evidence on how John died with the testimony of a renowned brain surgeon. How will the defense cast doubt on this witness? Has their conspiracy theory been foiled?#KarenReadTrial #Karen Read #trial #HankBrennan

Send us Fan MailThe retrial of Karen Read is more heated and twisted than ever before! Join criminal defense attorney Michael Rusconi and your host former prosecutor Margaret McLean as they analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecution's case. Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan is leading the charge against Karen Read with her own TV interviews! Hear how she challenges a key prosecution witness.  Did Read admit that she hit her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe? How many witnesses heard her incriminating statements and are they credible? Are witnesses conspiring to protect a politically connected police officer and his family? Or is the defense spinning an intricate tale to save their client?#KarenRead #KarenRead #trial  

Send us Fan MailThe retrial of #karenread is off to a dramatic start! Join former Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Jack Lu and your host Margaret McLean as they dissect and analyze both sides in this spectacular trial! You will receive the best trial analysis out there with these seasoned experts. How will the opening statements be scored? Which side is winning and why? What mistakes have the lawyers made and where do they shine. The big question: will the defendant Karen Read be convicted of second degree murder, manslaughter, or leaving the scene? Or will the defense reveal a dark law enforcement coverup?

Send us Fan MailIt's time for the sensational murder retrial of Karen Read, and here's the latest news. Find out why District Attorney Michael Morrissey hired a new special prosecutor: criminal defense lawyer Hank Brennan. He defended Whitey Bulger and now he's going to be prosecuting Karen Read. What can we anticipate from him? Joining me for this episode is Jerry Thornton, who worked in the court system for thirty years, and blogs about the case for Barstool Sports. We'll be discussing what to expect this time: conspiracy theories, police coverups, witness intimidation, dueling experts, weird butt dials in the middle of the night, mysterious scratches, and much, much more. Will justice for the victim Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe prevail? What will happen to Karen Read?#buzzsprout #karenreadtrial #hankbrennan #johnokeefe

Send us Fan MailSandra's family is enraged at the blatant level of corruption within the justice system. It appeared as if Sandra would never get the justice she deserved. The state was going to let crooked police officer Matthew Farwell off the hook with no criminal charges. It was time to stand up for Sandra and go on the offensive. Find out what the family did to fight for justice. Why did the FBI get involved? Hear all about the federal investigation and resulting federal grand jury probe. Will Farwell finally be arrested on federal charges? Could he ultimately get the death penalty?#crime #canton #sandrabirchmore #justiceforsandrabirchmore  #KarenRead  #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #lawenforcementcoverup #forensics #suicide #legalanalyst #commonwealthofmassachusetts #policeexplorerprogram #matthewfarwell #canine #massachusetts #nicoleparker #nicoleparkerfoxnews #grandjury #FBI

Send us Fan MailEvidence is building against Stoughton Police Officer Matthew Farwell in the Sandra Birchmore homicide investigation. Crime scene forensics point to a struggle and strangulation at the hands of another. But there's even more. Farwell is unraveling. Delve into the psychology of a criminal mind. Find out what the Massachusetts State Police, the State Medical Examiner, and the Norfolk County District Attorney decide to do with Sandra's case. Will a homicide be covered up?#crime #canton #sandrabirchmore #justiceforsandrabirchmore  #KarenRead  #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #lawenforcementcoverup #forensics #suicide #legalanalyst #commonwealthofmassachusetts #policeexplorerprogram #matthewfarwell #canine #massachusetts #nicoleparker #nicoleparkerfoxnews

Send us Fan MailSandra Birchmore’s death appears suspicious yet Massachusetts State Police investigators are leaning toward closing the case out as a suicide. But who was that masked man lurking in her apartment the night she died? Sandra’s phone registered eight steps—her last—while he was still there. Investigators would discover that this man had a longstanding relationship with Sandra. They would also learn that digging too deep could unearth an underbelly of corruption. A murder prosecution would destroy too many lives—lives that cops prefer to protect.#crime #canton #sandrabirchmore #justiceforsandrabirchmore  #KarenRead  #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #lawenforcementcoverup #forensics #suicide #legalanalyst #commonwealthofmassachusetts #policeexplorerprogram #matthewfarwell #canine #massachusetts #nicoleparker #nicoleparkerfoxnews

Send us Fan MailTwenty-three-year-old Sandra Birchmore was unexpectedly found dead in her apartment. Yet, there was something off about Sandra's death from the very beginning. The odd position of her body, a broken necklace...a masked man on surveillance footage. Police investigate the scene looking for evidence suggesting that Sandra ended her own life or that she was the victim of a sophisticated killer. Listen to exclusive interviews from an expert in forensics and staged suicides, and from Sandra's family and a friend. As you peel back the layers, a dark truth will begin to emerge.#crime #canton #sandrabirchmore #justiceforsandrabirchmore  #KarenRead  #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #lawenforcementcoverup #forensics #suicide #legalanalyst #commonwealthofmassachusetts #policeexplorerprogram #matthewfarwell #canine #massachusetts #nicoleparker #nicoleparkerfoxnews

Send us Fan MailAfter 22 hours of jury deliberation, the Commonwealth v. Karen Read came to a shocking conclusion. Find out what happened and why. Learn about additional doctored police videos, the battle of the accident reconstruction experts, John O'Keefe's injuries, the medical examiner's opinion, and the lawyers' opposing theories during closing arguments. And then decide for yourselves: is Karen Read guilty of murder or manslaughter OR is she the innocent victim of a massive law enforcement coverup? #crime #canton  #KarenRead  #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #Drkenlang #AdamLally #dogbite #legalanalyst #commonwealthvkarenread #canine #massachusetts #nicoleparker #nicoleparkerfoxnews #jerrythornton #barstoolsports

Send us Fan MailIt doesn't get any better than this if you're into solving true crime conspiracies. Joining me is Barstool Sports' Jerry Thornton, who has been following the Karen Read trial from its inception.  We discuss the expert testimony from both sides regarding Jen McCabe's infamous Google search at 2:27 AM, the Albert's re-homed non-barking German Shepherd, the suspicious scratches on John O'Keefe's arm, what Brian Albert and his wife Nicole were doing during his "butt dials" to ATF Agent Brian Higgins, and much more. Will defense attorneys David Yannetti and Alan Jackson prevail with their dark theories of a massive law enforcement coverup? Is prosecutor Adam Lally making his case again Karen Read?#crime #canton  #KarenRead  #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #Drkenlang #AdamLally #dogbite #legalanalyst #commonwealthvkarenread #canine #massachusetts #nicoleparker #nicoleparkerfoxnews #jerrythornton #barstoolsports

Send us Fan MailDefense attorneys David Yannetti and Alan Jackson scored when they got access to the lead investigator's personal cellphone due to the federal investigation into public corruption.  Can jurors get beyond the vulgar testimony from Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor when he was forced to read his disgusting text messages ridiculing Karen Read? Was he so biased against the defendant that he refused to investigate other suspects? Will it taint testimony from other witnesses? Will jurors take it out on the government and find Karen Read guilty despite evidence against her? John O'Keefe's family listened and watched as jurors rolled their eyes. Can justice be served?#crime #canton  #KarenRead  #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #Drkenlang #AdamLally #dogbite #legalanalyst #commonwealthvkarenread #canine #massachusetts #nicoleparker #nicoleparkerfoxnews #michaelproctor

Send us Fan MailThe 15 minute timeline leading up to John O'Keefe's murder is the nuts and bolts of prosecutor Adam Lally's case.  Witnesses such as Jennifer McCabe, Matt McCabe, Brian Albert, Brian Albert Jr., Nicole Albert, Caitlin Albert, Julie Nagle, Sarah Levinson, Brian Nagle, and ATF Agent Brian Higgins testified as to what they saw or didn't see.  What exactly did they observe about Karen Read"s SUV outside 34 Fairview Road on that tragic night? Was the black Lexus SUV a murder weapon? Was this merely an accident amounting to  OUI manslaughter? Or, was O'Keefe beaten inside the home by Brian Higgins, Brian Albert, and Colin Albert? Defense attorneys Adam Jackson and David Yannetti believe Karen Read was framed and the victim of a massive law enforcement coverup. Why did Jenn McCabe "butt dial" John O'Keefe multiple times near the time of his death? Were they searching for his phone and why? Listen to their blistering cross examinations!#crime #canton  #KarenRead  #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #Drkenlang #AdamLally #dogbite #legalanalyst #commonwealthvkarenread #canine #massachusetts #nicoleparker #nicoleparkerfoxnews #jenmccabe #buttdial #davidyannetti #Adamjackson #hankbrennan #brianalbert

Send us Fan MailThe jury has been sworn in and the trial of Karen Read is off to a dramatic start with the stunning accusation that  lead investigator, State Police Trooper Michael Proctor searched the defendant's phone for nude photographs of her according to defense attorney David Yannetti. Will that prejudice the jury? How is prosecutor Adam Lally planning to prove that Karen Read intentionally killed her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe? Did she really confess? How convincing is the forensic investigation? Was evidence planted? And there's an undercurrent of a federal investigation...have jurors figured it out?#crime #canton  #KarenRead  #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #Drkenlang #AdamLally #dogbite #legalanalyst #commonwealthvkarenread #canine #massachusetts #nicoleparker #nicoleparkerfoxnews

Send us Fan MailWas Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe struck by Karen Read's car or was he severely beaten and left for dead? Evidence tampering, lies, conflicts of interest, and the framing of an innocent woman by law enforcement and prosecutors. These are the accusations being made by the defense in the sensational Karen Read case. Outrageous? Maybe not...https://itsacrimemedia.com#crime #canton  #KarenRead  #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #Drkenlang #AdamLally #dogbite #legalanalyst #commonwealthvkarenread #canine #massachusetts #nicoleparker #nicoleparkerfoxnews

Send us Fan MailThe Commonwealth v. Karen Read  is the most explosive murder trial I've seen in a decade. As a former prosecutor and legal analyst, I'll tell you all about it and provide you with expert coverage of this high profile trial. In this episode you'll learn about prosecutor Adam Lally’s case. How was Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe killed? Who discovered his body and under what strange circumstances? I'll discuss the unusual investigation with former homicide detective and forensic expert, Dr. Ken Lang.  Why were police targeting O'Keefe's girlfriend, Karen Read? Did she make incriminating statements? What exactly led to an arrest in this case?#crime #canton  #KarenRead  #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #Drkenlang #AdamLally #dogbite #legalanalyst #commonwealthvkarenread #canine #massachusetts 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, you will enter into the mind of a deranged sociopath...there's a bone fragment in Brian Walshe’s hacksaw. What did they find in Brian's Volvo? Ana wrote a love note to Brian right before he butchered her on New Year’s Eve—what did it say? And the story gets darker. You will learn what Brian threw into dumpsters and the results of the forensic investigation. #crime #anawalshe #missingpersons #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #cohasset #brianwalshe #canine #serbia 

Send us Fan MailInvestigators are scrambling to find Ana Walshe, and focusing on her husband Brian Walshe. Did he murder his gorgeous, loving wife and mother of their young children? Is the blood in the basement her’s? What did they find in the dumpsters? Parts of her? Her clothing? Tools to dismember a body? If they can’t find Ana’s body, how will they build a case? Join Margaret with her panel of experts as they discuss the ongoing investigation. Time is of the essence. 

Send us Fan MailAna Walshe remains missing after six days. A massive search is underway, and a suspicious fire breaks out in her former home. How will this case be investigated? Are police closing in on a suspect? Are they applying pressure on Ana's husband, Brian Walshe?Margaret dives right in with help from one of the leading arson investigators in the state. Learn about the forensics involved. She will also explore Brian Walshe's criminal history--he is awaiting sentencing in a Federal art fraud case involving the fraudulent sale of Andy Warhol paintings. What did the FBI reveal about Brian's criminal mind in that case? Learn about the specific radio frequency monitoring bracelet that he wears, and how it helps create a timeline for detectives.  Will they execute search warrants in the Walshe home?#truecrime #crime #missingpersons #anawalshe #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #Massachusetts #Cohasset #brianwalshe

Send us Fan MailAna Walshe, a 39 year old married mother of three young children goes missing in the affluent coastal town of Cohasset, Massachusetts.  Ana is gorgeous, well liked, and a successful business woman. She heads out of her home to work in Washington D.C. on New Year's Day...and vanishes. It takes three days for anyone to report her missing.  Why?What was her husband, Brian Walshe, doing?  Why didn't he report her missing? Explore how police search for Ana and investigate this case with interviews from a renowned canine handler, the Cohasset police, and residents of Cohasset. #crime #anawalshe #missingpersons #buzzsprout #truecrime #investigations #cohasset #brianwalshe