Wrongful Conviction Podcasts

On April 5th, 1990, Bernhardt and Cora Hartig, both 81, were shot to death in their Atwater, OH home with a .25 caliber gun. Miles away, 18-year-old Tyrone Noling was involved in two non-violent robberies – in one, he stole a .25 caliber gun and in the second, it accidentally discharged, hurting no one. This gun, however, was not the Hartig murder weapon, and despite other, more viable suspects, Portage County investigators targeted Tyrone and convinced his friends to testify against him. All witnesses have since recanted, but after more than 3 decades, Tyrone is still on death row. Jason talks to Tyrone Noling and Brian Howe, Tyrone's attorney, with an update from attorney Dan Nadratowski on Tyrone's pending clemency petition before Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. To learn more and get involved, visit:http://www.tyronenoling.com/ Read the Ohio Parole Board’s clemency recommendation:https://drc.ohio.gov/about/resource/reports/clemency-reports/clemency-report-for-tyrone-noling Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In December 1999, the body of an unidentified young woman was found beaten to death in a forest preserve near North Chicago in Lake County, IL. Ten days after the body was discovered, Jeremy Tweedy, Jason Johnson and Jason Strong were brought in for questioning after Tweedy mentioned the woman's death to an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute. Police charged 24-year-old Jason Strong with first-degree murder and concealing a homicide and charged Tweedy and Johnson with concealing a homicide. Officers furnished a narrative about the circumstances of the victim's death to the two purported "witnesses," Tweedy and Johnson, both of whom agreed to testify against Jason Strong in exchange for lesser prison sentences. On October 18, 2000,  Jason Strong was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 46 years in prison.  https://www.wrongfulconvictionpodcast.com/with-jason-flom Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One evening in March, 2003, a fire broke out in Deborah Nicholls' Colorado Springs, CO home, killing her three children. Her husband suffered significant burns, but escaped. After a 2-year investigation, it was determined that the fire was not accidental, and that Deborah and her husband started it for the insurance money. The trial was a battle of the experts – one presenting the junk science of arson evidence, one asserting that the science was outdated. The former triumphed, and Deborah was sent to prison for the murder of her children. Maggie speaks to Deborah Nicholls, Deborah's father, Douglas Baumgardner, and Deborah's attorneys, Anne-Marie Moyes, Director of the Korey Wise Innocence Project and Kathleen Lord, Staff Attorney at the Korey Wise Innocence Project. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/149-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-arson-evidence/ https://www.colorado.edu/outreach/korey-wise-innocence-project/ https://giving.cu.edu/fund/korey-wise-innocence-project-fund District Attorney John Newsome: https://www.denverpost.com/2009/01/15/former-springs-da-cited-for-official-misconduct-for-misusing-funds https://gazette.com/news/newsome-i-sincerely-apologize/article_4886ac0d-fb7c-5c21-b7a2-15ea6c12ef4e.html Assistant District Attorney Amy Mullaney: https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/report-da-drove-county-vehicle-after-drinking-8-beers/73-343049675 Attorney Representing Tim Nicholls: https://gazette.com/news/respected-colorado-springs-attorney-dennis-hartley-disbarred-over-misdeeds/article_c137be7a-c37e-11e9-aace-b7dbb10e4465.html  May 07, 2010 20/20 episode Burned, The Amanda Gutweiler story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X8Bk8oBNG8  If you'd like to write to Deborah, send mail to: Deborah Nicholls #144097 PO BOX #392005 Denver, Co 80239 Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ronald Miller and Lori Johnson of Rockford, IL had a daughter, G.M., in 2010. In 2015, several days after an argument between Johnson and Miller in which Miller threatened to sue Johnson for full custody, Johnson reported Miller to DCFS. Shortly after, she obtained an order of protection which ended all contact between Miller and his daughter. Johnson claimed G.M. had told her that Miller touched her inappropriately and proceeded to bring her daughter to Carrie Lynn Children's Center to record a video accusing her father of sexual abuse. Before the trial, G.M. took back her accusation, telling her mother, her therapist, and the trial prosecutors that the abuse never happened. The trial proceeded anyway, and this information was not shared with the jury.  The prosecutors presented the testimony of a pediatric nurse admitted as an “expert in the field of child abuse.” Trial counsel called no experts for the defense, and Miller testified in his own defense. He was convicted by the jury on all three counts and sentenced to twenty years.  To learn more and get involved, visit:https://www.lengoodmanlawoffice.com/ Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baltimore, Maryland likes to call itself Charm City. But you have to wonder: Is the nickname ironic?  Consider one of the city's star cops, a sergeant so accomplished that he earned his own nickname, the Golden Boy.  But Golden Boy led a double life. Said one of those who encountered him in the street.  "I was robbed by the Baltimore City Police….with a gun … armed robbery."  No one believed the allegation. Then a GPS tracker was discovered where it shouldn't have been; next, a wiretap went up on a cop's phone. An FBI agent couldn't believe what she was hearing. Are these guys  gangsters? And then … an insider turned witness. "Like Rambo said, burn it down. And that's what I did."  Welcome to Charm City, where it was sometimes difficult to tell the protectors from the predators. A podcast from Orbit Media reported and produced by the BBC and hosted by Jessica Lussenhop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 11, 1993, a riot broke out at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, OH, primarily due to tensions between the prisoners and the guards. The riot went on for 11 days resulting in 10 deaths and millions of dollars in damages. 23-year-old prisoner Keith LaMar was a witness to the riot, and although there was no physical evidence linking him to any involvement in the riot, the prosecution focused on him presumably because he refused to aid them in their investigation. Many incentivized and coerced prison informants testified that Keith was the leader behind the riot while the prosecution failed to present the exculpatory evidence in their possession that others were responsible. Thus, Keith became one of the five prisoners convicted of the murders and blamed for the riot. Keith was sentenced to death. Jason talks to Keith LaMar and Keegan Stephan, Keith's attorney.  To learn more and get involved, visit:  https://www.keithlamar.org/https://www.instagram.com/justiceforkeithlamarhttps://www.facebook.com/justiceforkeithlamarhttps://twitter.com/freekeithlamar PayPal: [email protected]: @justiceforkeithlamarCash App: $justiceforkeithlamar Petitions:https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/justice-for-keith-lamar-ldf-1/https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/free-keith-lamar Native Sons Literacy Program:https://www.nativesonsliteracy.org/donate-to-native-sonshttps://www.nativesonsliteracy.org/scholarship Memoir and Music:https://www.keithlamar.org/merchandisehttps://www.albertmarques.com/video Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In October 1997, Skip Clark was killed in York, PA. Police officers decided that the death was gang related, and that two gangs were out for each other after having a dispute. Tysheem Crocker was dragged into the conversation. The State argued that he and others plotted to retaliate against their rival gang, and that Skip was caught in the middle. Despite four witnesses testifying that they knew who the killer was and that it was not Tysheem, and despite the fact that his whereabouts were accounted for at the time of the crime, Tysheem was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/036-jason-flom-with-lorenzo-johnson/ https://www.change.org/p/mayor-c-kim-bracey-and-abolitionist-law-project-we-want-the-corruption-in-tysheem-crocker-s-case-investigated-and-all-relevant-documents-turned-over-that-pertain-to-the-case https://www.change.org/p/i-hope-this-helps-justice-for-tysheem-crocker?fbclid=IwAR05Aqx78BUzLsZeEH7Yo1GaAZvZruPvsFEdeMuUYTsTFei-xPQMnp8MfGMhttps://www.facebook.com/justuiceforTysheem/ n.com/COULD-HAPPEN-ANY-US/dp/0982814488https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B074SPJV6N/about Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1999, an 18-year-old bartender named Bobby Gumpright told a lie that sent an innocent man, Jermaine Hudson, to prison for 22 years. Burden of Guilt explores the harsh realities of Jim Crow-era Louisiana in 1898 that helped seal Hudson’s fate—and the unlikely friendship that has grown between the two men since Gumpright came forward with the truth.  Listen here and subscribe to Burden of Guilt s2 on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crying Wolf is a gripping true crime podcast that follows the story of Lee Harris, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to 90 years in prison after a coerced confession. In prison, he formed a deep bond with fellow inmate Robert, who vowed to clear Lee's name. After two decades of relentless effort, exposing corrupt detectives, prison informants, and with the help of a determined defense attorney, Robert succeeded. In 2023, Lee walked free—only to die suddenly a few months later. This podcast delves into the chilling legacy of Detective Richard Zuley, notorious for extracting false confessions, and the deep-seated corruption that plagues Chicago’s justice system. With Lee gone, Robert is determined to continue the fight, exposing the city’s dark history and pursuing justice for the wrongfully convicted. Join us as we unravel a story of friendship, betrayal, and the quest for redemption.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder,  and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.”  David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death & Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish?  New episodes of The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance are every Tuesday and Friday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maggie Freleng, along with Executive Producers Gilbert King and Jason Flom bring you the first episode of Maggie’s new documentary series, years in the making: Bone Valley Season 3 | GRAVES COUNTY.  In it Maggie takes us to a small town in Graves County, Kentucky, where a terrible discovery on the front lawn of a middle school invites a string of amateur and professional investigators to try to solve a murder. Maggie is the latest investigator to get pulled in. And she’ll take all of us along as she teases out this complicated web of rumors and lies, and perhaps even the truth. In this special preview of Chapter 1, we hear from Victoria Caldwell. Her account of the killing of Jessica Currin would become the driving force in the conviction of Quincy Cross and others for the murder of Jessica Currin.   You can hear Chapter 2 right now in the Bone Valley feed. New episodes of Bone Valley Season 3 | GRAVES COUNTY are available every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Tomorrow we’ll bring you the next, new episode of Wrongful Conviction. Graves County is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Bone Valley Season 3 | GRAVES COUNTY,  Maggie Freleng takes us to a small town in Graves County, Kentucky, where a terrible discovery on the front lawn of a middle school invites a string of amateur and professional investigators to try to solve a murder. Maggie is the latest investigator to get pulled in. And she’ll take all of us along as she teases out this complicated web of rumors and lies, and perhaps even the truth. In this special preview of Episode 1, we hear from Victoria Caldwell. Her account of the killing of Jessica Currin would become the driving force in the conviction of Quincy Cross and others for the murder of Jessica Currin.  To hear this chapter in its entirety, visit Lava for Good/Graves County Graves County is hosted by Maggie Freleng, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the hosts of Lava For Good’s Wrongful Conviction, and is executive produced by Gilbert King.  New episodes of Bone Valley Season 3 | Graves County are available every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Graves County is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Season 1 of Bone Valley, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King tells a story of a man, Leo Schofield, fighting to prove his innocence in the case of his wife Michelle’s murder. In Season 2, “JEREMY” Gilbert King brings us a story about her actual killer, Jeremy Scott, fighting to prove his guilt. The State of Florida does not believe either man. Bone Valley Season 3 | GRAVES COUNTY is a new story about a new case. A story that shares many familiar themes with the first two seasons of Bone Valley - an unspeakable crime, a dubious investigation, half-truths that ensnare innocent people, and heartbroken families caught in the middle. GRAVES COUNTY is hosted by Maggie Freleng, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the hosts of Lava For Good’s Wrongful Conviction and is executive produced by Gilbert King. Maggie is going to take us to a small town in Graves County, Kentucky, where a terrible discovery on the front lawn of a middle school invites a string of amateur and professional investigators to try to solve a murder. Maggie is the latest investigator to get pulled in. And she’ll take all of us along as she teases out this complicated web of rumors and lies, and perhaps even the truth. Bone Valley Season 3 | GRAVES COUNTY will be available every Wednesday beginning September 17 wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, starting September 17, subscribe to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Season 1 of Bone Valley, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King tells a story of a man, Leo Schofield, fighting to prove his innocence in the case of his wife Michelle’s murder. In Season 2, “JEREMY” Gilbert King brings us a story about her actual killer, Jeremy Scott, fighting to prove his guilt. The State of Florida does not believe either man. Bone Valley Season 3 | GRAVES COUNTY is a new story about a new case. A story that shares many familiar themes with the first two seasons of Bone Valley - an unspeakable crime, a dubious investigation, half-truths that ensnare innocent people, and heartbroken families caught in the middle. GRAVES COUNTY is hosted by Maggie Freleng, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the hosts of Lava For Good’s Wrongful Conviction. Maggie is going to take us to a small town in Graves County, Kentucky, where a terrible discovery on the front lawn of a middle school invites a string of amateur and professional investigators to try to solve a murder. Maggie is the latest investigator to get pulled in. And she’ll take all of us along as she teases out this complicated web of rumors and lies, and perhaps even the truth. Bone Valley Season 3 | GRAVES COUNTY will be available every Wednesday beginning July 30 wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, starting July 30, subscribe to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to be a victim, or a villain? What happens when the line between the two starts to blur? On 7th July 2010, Kelly Harnett says her abusive boyfriend murdered a man right in front of her.  So how did she end up in prison for it? Anna Sinfield - the journalist behind the global number 1 podcast, The Girlfriends, returns with her toughest story yet. This series isn’t a whodunnit. It’s not even really about what happened. It’s about how a woman who was a victim of domestic violence became a villain in the eyes of the law. Found guilty of murder and locked up for over a decade; Kelly Harnett taught herself the law. And as she battled to overturn her conviction, she became a beacon of hope, fighting for the freedom of the abused women locked up alongside her. Listen here and subscribe to The Girlfriends: Jailhouse Lawyer on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1987, 18-year-old Michelle Schofield was found dead in a phosphate pit in Florida. Two years later, her husband, Leo Schofield, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison. Fifteen years after his conviction, previously unidentified fingerprints found in Michelle’s car were matched to Jeremy Scott—a violent teenager who lived nearby.  Host Gilbert King uncovers startling new evidence that Jeremy is responsible for the murder of Michelle Schofield as well as a string of additional murders. But when Gilbert coaxes a confession out of Jeremy, the State of Florida refuses to believe him.  Gilbert King digs deeper, uncovering chilling details of Jeremy’s past crimes and the darkness he’s carried with him. As their unlikely connection grows, Gilbert helps Jeremy confront the painful truths of his violent history while navigating the fractured relationship between Jeremy and the son he never knew. With new revelations and a search for redemption, Bone Valley takes unexpected turns—bringing haunting questions of justice, forgiveness, and the possibility of change. Gilbert King is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Devil in the Grove, which led to the exonerations of four innocent men. Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Absolute, Season 1: Taser Incorporated is at once a tale as old as time - a true believer learns the hard way that the costs of lofty ambition and hubris just might outweigh even the most optimistic upside - and a thoroughly modern story of technology overtaking the very people it is meant to serve.  In this case:  the ubiquitous electric gun carried by cops everywhere and inspiring comedic shenanigans in movies like The Hangover. Host and documentarian Nick Berardini has been obsessed with this story for his entire adult life. With Absolute, Season 1: Taser Incorporated, he left no stone unturned.  Taser, Inc., now known as Axon, the 800-pound gorilla in the paramilitary police equipment industry, is led by its charismatic CEO and co-founder, Rick Smith.  Fueled by a self-described religious dedication, Smith’s Star Trek obsession, and an ambitious vision of a world without gun violence, Rick leads Taser, Inc. to be the key tech supplier to virtually every police force in America. But as stories of alleged misuse, deaths, and serious injuries from Tasers begin to emerge, Taser, Inc. and Rick arrive at a crossroads between Rick’s vision and reality, with cops and the citizens they are sworn to serve and protect paying the price. Absolute, Season 1: Taser Incorporated is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Jeremy Scott confessed to the murder of Michelle Schofield, the State of Florida refused to believe him. In Bone Valley, Season 2, author Gilbert King digs deeper, uncovering chilling details of Jeremy’s past crimes and the darkness he’s carried with him. As their unlikely connection grows, Gilbert helps Jeremy confront the painful truths of his violent history while navigating the fractured relationship between Jeremy and the son he never knew. With new revelations and a search for redemption, the story takes unexpected turns—bringing haunting questions of justice, forgiveness, and the possibility of change. Gilbert King is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Devil in the Grove, which led to the exonerations of four innocent men. Bone Valley Season 2 will be available every Wednesday beginning April 9 wherever you get your podcasts. Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy William “Bill” Hardy, a 23 year veteran, was ruthlessly gunned down in the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 19, 1995, authorities began to look for the person responsible for killing one of their own. As tips flooded in, two men quickly emerged as lead suspects. Prosecutors individually charged both men, Toforest Johnson and Ardragus Ford, as being a "sole gunman", but their trials led to very different outcomes. For nearly 30 years Toforest has been sitting on death row in Alabama, with an execution date fast approaching. Listen in as Maggie is joined by Tenderfoot TV’s Jaime Albright as they review this controversial case and the bizarre evidence that placed a potentially innocent man behind bars.Up and Vanished Weekly is available on Wednesdays. Check it out here.https://lavaforgood.com/earwitness/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to season two of The War on Drugs podcast, co-hosted by comedian Clayton English and Greg Glod, advisor to Stand Together on Criminal Justice and Drug Reform. This season, we’re bringing you real stories from real people—artists, athletes, and influencers like B-Real, Marcus King, Ricky Williams, John Osborne, and many others who lived the impacts of the War on Drugs firsthand. We’ll explore how drug policy isn’t just a political issue—it’s personal. We’ll talk about pain management, mental health, overcoming addiction, entrepreneurship, and the fight for personal freedom. The War on Drugs isn’t over. And the stories we share this season prove it. The War on Drugs will be available every Tuesday beginning March 18 wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing a new show from host Maggie Freleng: Join "Up and Vanished" creator Payne Lindsey and Maggie on Up and Vanished Weekly. Each week, Payne and Maggie, along with special guests, take a fresh look at some of the most puzzling crimes, and shine a spotlight on the cases that have stumped investigators and law enforcement for far too long. From the team at Tenderfoot TV, this is Up and Vanished Weekly. Up and Vanished Weekly is available now. Follow the show here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pulitzer Prize winner and iHeartPodcast 2024 Social Impact Award Honoree Maggie Freleng brings compelling stories of redemption and justice with new episodes of Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng starting September 9, 2024. Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In season three of Ozarks True Crime, host Anne Roderique-Jones returns to her home state of Missouri to report on the case of Sandra Hemme: a person living with mental illness who could soon become the longest-known wrongfully convicted woman in the United States. Anne speaks with journalists, lawyers, and mental health professionals to try and uncover why Sandra was found guilty of a murder, despite no solid evidence that she committed the crime. Follow along as we travel back to Missouri for Sandra’s evidentiary hearing, where her lawyer’s will be presenting never-heard-before evidence in hopes to set her free. Ozarks True Crime: The Sandra Hemme Story, is an editaudio Original production.  Connect with us:Instagram: anniemarie_ / editaud.io Twitter: @editaud_io / @AnnieMarie_See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers (who all say they are innocent!) turned jailhouse-lawyers. In prison they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away. They set out to turn the tables on Scarcella while still in prison. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they would succeed. Thirty years later, more than 20 people Scarcella helped put away have walked free. In the media he’s the “disgraced detective,” the rogue cop who hoodwinked an entire system.  For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast ... where justice is done (and undone). Welcome to The Burden. The Burden is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leo Schofield’s parole hearing in Tallahassee, FL, April 17th, 2024 with reporting from Gilbert King and Kelsey Decker. Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second season of PROOF: Murder at the Warehouse takes Susan Simpson and Jacinda Davis to Manteca, CA where they reinvestigate the murder of 18-year-old Renee Ramos. On June 5, 2000, Ramos’ body was found buried under a pile of debris inside the shell of a new Home Depot building. Despite tips hinting at alternate suspects - tips that were ignored until now - Renee’s boyfriend, 18-year-old skateboarder Jake Silva, and Ty Lopes, the 33-year-old uncle of one of Jake's close friends were arrested for her murder. The questionable testimony of a 14-year-old boy was the key evidence used to convict them both to life in prison. Ty Lopes was killed in prison in 2011. Twenty-three years after Renee Ramos was murdered, Jake Silva remains in prison and maintains he is innocent. In season two of PROOF: Murder at the Warehouse, Susan and Jacinda travel the streets of Manteca, reinvestigating the case against Jake and Ty – and in the process uncover long-overlooked evidence about what really happened to Renee. Follow the case as Susan and Jacinda uncover long overlooked evidence about what really happened to Renee by listening to PROOF: Murder at the Warehouse wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lava for Good’s critically acclaimed Wrongful Conviction podcast, co-hosted by celebrated criminal justice reform advocate and founding board member of the Innocence Project Jason Flom, and Pulitzer prize-winning podcast host and producer Maggie Freleng, returns with gripping new episodes that delve into harrowing stories highlighting pervasive issues in the criminal justice system. Flom and Freleng speak with individuals who were wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit. Some have been fully exonerated and reunited with family and friends while others continue to languish in prison. Their cases underscore shocking systemic failures and outright biases within the legal system. Episodes will alternate between the two hosts every Monday and Thursday beginning January 8, 2024. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi, Wrongfrul Conviction fans! Tenderfoot TV, iHeartPodcasts, and Campside Media have teamed up for a riveting podcast called Radical. Hosted by journalist Mosi Secret, Radical investigates an Atlanta crime story to assess if justice was truly served. Since you enjoyed our show, we think you'll like this podcast too. Don't just take our word for it, though. Check out this trailer and start listening on 12/5! Show Description: On March 16, 2000, two police officers were shot in one of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods. One officer died and the other claimed the shooter was Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, the leader of a local mosque. Once known as H. Rap Brown, a charismatic leader of the Black Power Movement, and an honorary officer in the Black Panther Party, Al-Amin was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. But was Al-Amin truly guilty? Or was it payback for decades of work against the establishment? Listen to Radical on the iHeartRadio app, or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twenty-two-year-old Elma Sands is found murdered in a Manhattan well on January 2nd, 1800. Her lover, wealthy and well-connected Levi Weeks, is accused of the barbaric offense. Weeks brings in the nation’s best legal defense team – none other than Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr – to clear his name while a pandemic-stricken New York City buzzes with scandal. This six-episode true story unfolds over the unbelievable two-day trial that laid the sexist roots of today’s justice system. Through flashbacks & testimony recreated in modernized language and narrated by Allison Flom, Erased: The Murder of Elma Sands investigates history’s chronic erasure of women and highlights the toils of Catherine Ring, a 27-year-old Quaker woman who took on the nation’s best legal team to preserve her cousin Elma’s name. Starring & Executive Produced by Allison Williams ("Get Out", "Girls") as Catherine Ring, Tony Goldwyn ("Scandal," "Ghost") as Alexander Hamilton, Barry Scheck (Innocence Project Founder) as Aaron Burr, and Jason Flom (Wrongful Conviction) as Judge John Lansing. Erased: The Murder of Elma Sands is released weekly, starting next Wednesday, October 18th, wherever you get your podcasts. Or, to hear all six episodes right now, ad-free, subscribe to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Erased: The Murder of Elma Sands is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the production team that brought you the Wrongful Conviction series and Bone Valley, here is Episode 1 of our new podcast: Earwitness. If you like what you hear, you can listen to episode 2 right now wherever you get your podcasts or by clicking this link: http://lavaforgood.com/earlanding Journalist Beth Shelburne meets with former Alabama Attorney General Bill Baxley, who explains why he is deeply disturbed by the wrongful conviction of Toforest Johnson for the murder of Deputy Bill Hardy. Through her reporting on the case, Beth, like Baxley, is convinced that Toforest has no connection to the murder. She sets out to conduct an in-depth investigation into why detectives targeted him in the first place, how he was convicted, and why the State of Alabama is still seeking his execution today. Earwitness will be available every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts. To hear episodes a week early and ad free, subscribe to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Earwitness is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One July night in 1995, Deputy Sheriff William G. Hardy was shot behind the Crown Sterling Suites hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. At the same time as the murder, at least ten people saw Toforest Johnson four miles away, at a popular nightclub called Tee's Place. But detectives zeroed in on him as a main suspect in Deputy Hardy’s murder anyway, ultimately resulting in Toforest being tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. For over a quarter century, Toforest has been confined to a 5’ by 8’ cell on Alabama’s death row. In 2019, investigative journalist Beth Shelburne began covering the case, going down a disturbing rabbit hole revealing many unsettling facts that cast grave doubts about Toforest’s guilt. The facts she found tear at the very foundation of the American criminal justice system: No eyewitnesses or physical evidence tied Toforest to the murder; the state tried to convict a different man for the same crime; and perhaps most disturbing of all, Toforest’s conviction relied on an ‘earwitness’ – a woman who claimed to have eavesdropped on an incriminating phone call, a woman whom prosecutors paid for her testimony, in secret. That payment was not disclosed to the jury, Toforest, or his lawyers until after he had been on death row for 17 years. From the team behind the award-winning hit podcast Bone Valley, Lava for Good’s Earwitness is an 8-episode docuseries that asks the question, “How did an innocent man end up on death row — and why is the state still trying to execute him over the objection of the prosecutor who put him there?” Shelburne’s unprecedented access to key players—the lead detective, lead prosecutor, witnesses, jurors, and the earwitness herself— illuminate a story filled with disturbing twists, frustrating ambiguities, and shocking admissions. The story of Toforest Johnson and the state's enthusiasm for the death penalty in the face of such troubling evidentiary flaws brings to light the failings of a criminal justice system run amok. Earwitness will be available every Tuesday beginning September 19 wherever you get your podcasts. To hear episodes 1 week early and ad free, subscribe to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Earwitness is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of The War on Drugs, Grammy and Oscar award winning singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge joins our hosts Clayton English and Greg Glod for a personal and thought-provoking conversation about advances in plant-based medicine in treating conditions such as depression, PTSD, opioid withdrawal, and addiction. To learn more, visit: https://www.etheridgefoundation.org/ The War on Drugs is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we present a special episode of The War on Drugs podcast. Hosts Clayton English and Greg Glod are live on stage with some of the top names in podcasting including Jason Flom from Wrongful Conviction, Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown from Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know and Gilbert King from Bone Valley to discuss the intersection of the War on Drugs and wrongful convictions. Recorded Live at iHeart Media in Atlanta, GA on April 26th, 2023 Featuring hosts from the following podcasts; Bone Valley Stuff They Don't Want You to Know  The War on Drugs  Wrongful Conviction To see photos and a video of the entire event go to; https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/s1e11-lava-for-good-live-the-war-on-drugs-did-anyone-win/ This event is the first of an ongoing series of recorded discussions from Lava for Good aimed at amplifying the voices behind Podcasts with a Purpose. To hear Lava for Good podcast episodes 1 week early and ad-free, subscribe to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. All Lava for Good+ subscribers enjoy early access and ad-free episodes from Bone Valley, Wrongful Conviction, The War on Drugs and all other Lava for Good podcasts on Apple Podcasts. Please click here to take part in our listener survey. Your feedback will help inform how we make podcasts in the future. Complete and candid answers will help us continue to bring you unparalleled access and insight into the heart of social justice in America. So please go to lavaforgood.com/survey and participate today. Thank you for your support. To learn more, go to: Stand Together -  https://standtogether.org/issues/criminal-justice-reform/ Stand Together Blog - https://standtogether.org/news/criminal-justice-podcasts-discuss-pressing-issues/  The War on Drugs is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.

Alphabet Boys reveals the secret investigations of the FBI, CIA, DEA, ATF, and other alphabet agencies. Hosted by journalist Trevor Aaronson, this podcast exposes secret undercover recordings that the government never wanted you to hear, along with the entrapment schemes federal agents set up to target unsuspecting Americans. We explore cases that are both dangerous and absurd while asking this question: Are America’s top cops catching criminals -- or creating them? Season one is “Trojan Hearse.” During the rage-filled summer of 2020, a mysterious, cigar-smoking antifa warrior rolls into town. He wears military fatigues, speaks with a raspy voice, and drives a hearse filled with guns. He also keeps a very big secret. Listen to Alphabet Boys on the iHeartRadio App or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the trailer for the new podcast called The War on Drugs from Lava for Good Podcasts. If you like what you hear you can find and follow The War on Drugs wherever you listen to podcasts. https://lavaforgood.com/wodlanding/ In 1971, President Nixon declared drug abuse ‘public enemy number one’— the first salvo in America’s War on Drugs. Fifty years later, with drug overdoses in the US at a record high, are we any closer to ‘victory’? The War on Drugs has a more profound effect on society than any of us really understands. It is embedded in the fabric of our culture and permeates our daily lives in visible and invisible ways – perhaps the most daunting pandemic we face. Lava for Good’s The War on Drugs podcast, co-hosted by comedian Clayton English and Greg Glod, senior criminal justice fellow at Americans for Prosperity, examines the true cost of five decades of policy, policing, and persecution. Special guests, including diverse subject matter experts, peel back the surface of this complicated period of US history, showing the ways the War on Drugs has fueled over incarceration, exacerbated addiction and hampered economic progress. By shining a spotlight on how our communities have crumbled under the weight of this so-called ‘war,’ we can explore the politicization of public health policy, institutional racism and classism in the legislation and administration of criminal law, and how decriminalization and other alternatives could bring the fruitless ‘war’ to an end.  The War on Drugs will be available every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts. The War on Drugs is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pulitzer prize winning podcast host and producer Maggie Freleng returns for Season 2 of Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng. Maggie shares intimate conversations, in her unique and celebrated style, with men and women who have spent years in prison for crimes they did not commit. Some have been fully exonerated and reunited with family and friends while others continue to languish in prison with some even facing execution on death row. Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng will be available every Monday beginning January 9th right here in the Wrongful Conviction Podcasts feed. Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Gilbert King receives a message from a Florida judge who claims that there is an innocent man in prison, wrongly convicted of murdering his wife back in 1987. King and researcher Kelsey Decker meet Leo Schofield in prison and learn about the disappearance of 18 year-old Michelle Schofield.  Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1987, 21-year-old guitarist Leo Schofield was pursuing his rockstar dreams when his teenage wife Michelle was found dead in a phosphate mining pit in Lakeland, Florida. Two years later, Leo was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murder he has always denied. Fifteen years after Leo’s conviction, previously unidentified fingerprints from Michelle’s car matched Jeremy Scott—a troubled teen with an extensive history of violence who lived near the young couple at the time. Jeremy has now confessed to Michelle’s murder. Yet Leo Schofield remains behind bars. Bone Valley is a chilling story of murder and the miscarriage of justice. In his three-year investigation, host Gilbert King peels open the layers of this case and uncovers startling new evidence that Jeremy is responsible for yet another murder – his fourth – and one that has remained unsolved...until now. With heartrending clarity and suspense, Bone Valley exposes the catastrophic flaws in the American criminal justice system, documenting the story of these two men in their desperate search for truth and redemption. This groundbreaking true crime podcast series returns King to central Florida, where his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Devil in the Grove led to the exonerations of the Groveland Four. https://lavaforgood.com/bone-valley/ Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1987, 18-year-old Michelle Schofield was found dead in a phosphate pit in Florida. Two years later, her husband Leo was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.Fifteen years later, previously unidentified fingerprints matched Jeremy Scott--a violent teenager who lived nearby. Jeremy has since confessed to Michelle’s murder. Yet Leo Schofield remains behind bars.In Bone Valley, a groundbreaking 9-episode podcast, host Gilbert King uncovers startling new evidence that Jeremy is responsible for a string of murders.King is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Devil in the Grove, which led to the exonerations of four innocent men.Bone Valley will be available every Wednesday beginning September 21 wherever you get your podcasts.Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

Lava For Good is proud to launch a new guest-hosted series in our Wrongful Conviction Podcast feed. Every week starting September 12, we will debut a special episode featuring a unique guest. These hosts range from the formerly incarcerated and leading criminal justice advocates to award-winning journalists and progressive influencers. Guest Hosts include:Amanda KnoxBeth ShelburneDavid Rudolf & Sonya PfeifferEarlonne WoodsGilbert KingJimmy DennisKemba SmithLaura NiriderLauren Bright PachecoPatrick PursleyThe guest hosted episodes of Wrongful Conviction will be available every Monday beginning September 12 right here in the Wrongful Conviction Podcasts feed. Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom will continue to publish on Thursdays. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

SuaveThe Sentence (Episode #1)“The very last word she said was ‘You can become a voice for the voiceless.’ And I was just like, ‘Damn, why am I letting this lady mess up my high?’”We meet Suave, a man who has been serving a life sentence at a Pennsylvania maximum-security prison since he was a teenager. And we learn about his decades-long relationship as a source with journalist Maria Hinojosa. Suave has come to terms with the fact that he will never leave the confines of Graterford prison. That is until a Supreme Court ruling suddenly grants him a second chance to fight for his freedom.For all episodes, click here.CREDITSFrom Futuro Studios, a division of Futuro MediaDistributed by PRXExecutive Producer: Maria HinojosaHost and Producer Maggie FrelengProducer: Julieta MartinelliEditors Marlon Bishop, Audrey QuinnEngineer: Stephanie Lebow Audience Development: Luis Luna, Grace Varela

Today we want to tell you about a new show from our friends at Voyage Media called Borderline. Hosted by Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds), it’s a true crime show with an incredible story that we think you will like. Here’s a trailer. If you like what you hear, you can find Borderline at borderlineseries.com or by searching Borderline anywhere you get podcasts. Enjoy.

Maggie Freleng, renowned podcast host and producer of the Webby nominated Unjust & Unsolved, Suave and Murder in Alliance has joined the team at Lava For Good Podcasts as a host on Wrongful Conviction Podcasts. Starting May 2nd, Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng will share intimate conversations, in Maggie’s unique and celebrated style, between Maggie and the men and women who have spent years in prison for crimes they maintain they did not commit. Some have been fully exonerated and reunited with family and friends while others continue to languish in prison with some even facing execution on death row. Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom is now moving to Thursdays, and Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng will be available every Monday beginning May 2nd right here, on the Wrongful Conviction Podcasts feed.Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co No 1.

The is a re-release of Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom, Season 2, Episode 11. New episodes drop every Tuesday on the Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom feed. Please search and subscribe to be the first to hear them. Record Industry promoter and manager Bill Underwood was given a life sentence for some old charges under the newly minted draconian laws of the war on drugs. His daughter Ebony Underwood eventually made it her life's work to gather the voices of other survivors of parental incarceration to affect change. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.wegotusnow.org/donate  https://www.ebonyunderwood.info/  https://inprison.net/ https://www.change.org/p/president-trump-30-years-is-too-long-free-our-father-william-underwood https://underwoodlegacyfund.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9a07wKuq4A https://lavaforgood.com/righteous-convictions Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom is a production of Lava For Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The is a re-release of Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom, Season 2, Episode 10. New episodes drop every Tuesday on the Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom feed. Please search and subscribe to be the first to hear them. James Anderson and Jason discuss the shortcomings of public defense, sentencing disparities, and the RAND Corporation's work on racial equity in our criminal legal system. https://www.rand.org/ https://lavaforgood.com/righteous-convictions Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom is a production of Lava For Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a 30 year veteran of the Michigan Department of Corrections, Andy Potter has gained invaluable experience doing one of the toughest jobs in the country. After years of putting this knowledge to work through his leadership in the Michigan Corrections Organization, Andy founded his own organization. One Voice United incorporates corrections officers and other frontline staff into the discussion of criminal justice reform. They believe corrections reform is a foundation of criminal justice reform, and through One Voice United, Andy bridges the gap between various parties and political agendas in order to achieve one common goal – reform.  To learn more and get involved, visit: https://onevoiceunited.org/ https://lavaforgood.com/righteous-convictions/ Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The is a re-release of Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom, Season 2, Episode 9. New episodes drop every Tuesday on the Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom feed. Please search and subscribe to be the first to hear them. Katie Schaffer teams up with Jason to discuss penal education programs, bail reform, and making our carceral system more humane. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.communityalternatives.org/ https://envisionfreedom.org/ https://justiceandopportunity.org/ https://lavaforgood.com/righteous-convictions Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom is a production of Lava For Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Redlitz, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, has made a career of capitalizing on emerging technologies, but a visit to San Quentin made him recognize another great investment, the vast untapped human talent languishing in our nation's prisons. The Last Mile was co-founded by Chris in 2010 as an organization with the goal of breaking the cycle of incarceration by providing education and career training. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://thelastmile.org/ https://lavaforgood.com/righteous-convictions/ Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The is a re-release of Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom, Season 2, Episode 8. New episodes drop every Tuesday on the Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom feed. Please search and subscribe to be the first to hear them. Kris Brown, President of Brady United chats with Jason about the impact of gun violence, the NRA and the legacy of Jim and Sarah Brady. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.bradyunited.org/ https://lavaforgood.com/righteous-convictions Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Record Industry promoter and manager Bill Underwood was given a life sentence for some old charges under the newly minted draconian laws of the war on drugs. His daughter Ebony Underwood eventually made it her life's work to gather the voices of other survivors of parental incarceration to affect change. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.wegotusnow.org/donate  https://www.ebonyunderwood.info/  https://inprison.net/ https://www.change.org/p/president-trump-30-years-is-too-long-free-our-father-william-underwood https://underwoodlegacyfund.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9a07wKuq4A https://lavaforgood.com/righteous-convictions Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom is a production of Lava For Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.