Court Junkie

Kelsey Smith was just 18 years old when she was abducted from a Target parking lot in Overland Park, Kansas in June 2007. Finding her would take a battle with a cellular phone company and heartbreaking surveillance video from Target, that shows that no one is ever really safe, even if you're running a simple errand in broad daylight. A special thank you to Kelsey's mom, Missey Smith, for speaking with me for this episode. To learn more about the Kelsey Smith Foundation and the Kelsey Smith Act, please visit kelseysarmy.org. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie. Music featured in this episode:    - Summertime instrumental 1 by cdk (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/cdk/13112    - Like Music (cdk Mix) by cdk (c) copyright

In this episode, I take you behind-the-scenes of each case I covered in the Court Junkie podcast, as well as go over the latest updates. You'll also hear from Pravin Varughese's mom and family friend, as well as other Court Junkies.  Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie. Music featured in this episode: - Improvisation On Friday... by Alex (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/17253 Ft: The3amAssociation - CAliformia Road by dilating_times (c) copyright 2014 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/dilating_times/44880 - summertime instrumental 1 by cdk (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/cdk/131

We all have cases that we follow and that stick with us, whether it's on a personal level or because we're oddly fascinated with them. In this episode, I count down the top cases that affected me the most this year.  Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie. Music featured in this episode: - Improvisation On Friday... by Alex (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/17253 Ft: The3amAssociation - CAliformia Road by dilating_times (c) copyright 2014 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/dilating_times/44880 - summertime instrumental 1 by cdk (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/cdk/13112 - Falling In b

In August 2012, 66-year-old John Wise went to the Akron General Medical Center to visit his ailing wife of 45 years. He would leave there in handcuffs. It's a case that isn't as it seems and the twists and turns may leave you with more questions than answers. It's a case that begs the question, does the act outweigh the intent? Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie. 

In this Brief, I speak with Russ Richelsoph, a criminal defense attorney from Tempe, Arizona. Russ talks about how he chooses his expert witnesses, what sort of credentials expert witnesses need to have (the answer might surprise you), and what it's like to cross examine an expert witness. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

In Part 2 of this episode, Kristine and her newly-formed defense team fight to win back her freedom. Armed with advances in fire science, a potential Brady violation, and some shocking revelations about the State's evidence at trial, Kristine and her team fight till the very end. A special thank you to Kristine Bunch for helping me tell her story. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie. Music featured in this episode: Like Music (cdk Mix) by cdk (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/cdk/48915 Ft: Phasenwandler Homesick (Keymix) by keytronic (c) copyright 2014 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Keytronic/47457 Ft: Kizzylotus Paper Planes - Durden ft. Ai

In part 1 of this episode, you'll hear about one woman's nightmare come true. In 1995, 21-year-old Kristine Bunch was abruptly awoken in the early morning hours to discover that her house was on fire. After escaping the flames, she watched in horror as firefighters were unable to save her 3-year-old son who was still trapped inside. Within hours of being released from the hospital, she discovered that detectives had a theory about the fire - someone had started the fire on purpose, and their main suspect was Kristine.  A special thank you to Kristine Bunch for helping me tell her story. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.   Music featured in this episode: Like Music (cdk Mix) by cdk (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.

In this Court Junkie Brief, I speak with Alan Hirsch,  a professor and chair of the Justice and Law Studies program at Williams College, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Alan has also testified as a false confessions expert in over 25 different trials across 16 different states. We talk about why people falsely confess to crimes they didn't commit, the different techniques law enforcement uses in their interrogations and cases involving false confessions. Visit Alan's website - http://www.truthaboutfalseconfessions.com/.   Note: At the time of this recording, Brendan Dassey was set to be released from prison. However, after this was recorded, the federal court blocked his release. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

Ryan Poston and Shayna Hubers had been dating on and off for about a year when one night in October 2012, a 911 call was placed from Ryan's condo. When officers arrived, they found Ryan dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Shayna claimed it was self-defense even though Ryan had been shot 6 times. I'll go over Shayna's bizarre behavior, the details from the trial, and tell you about a shocking new development that just might change everything. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

On February 24, 1986, John Ruetten came home from work to find his newlywed wife on their living room floor, dead from 3 bullet wounds to the chest. Investigators concluded it was a burglary gone wrong, but the case went unsolved for decades. 23 years later, DNA testing that hadn't been available before was conducted and who the new evidence pointed to was shocking.  In Part 2, you'll hear the conclusion of Stephanie's interrogation, the evidence presented at trial, and the final outcome of the case. Check out the full unedited interrogation - https://youtu.be/JT21CI4GRUM  Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

On February 24, 1986, John Ruetten came home from work to find his newlywed wife on their living room floor, dead from 3 bullet wounds to the chest. Investigators concluded it was a burglary gone wrong, but the case went unsolved for decades. 23 years later, DNA testing that hadn't been available before was conducted and who the new evidence pointed to was shocking. In Part 1, you'll hear the details of the crime, how the investigation progressed over the years, and audio from a very interesting interrogation. Check out the full unedited interrogation - https://youtu.be/JT21CI4GRUM Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

Trying someone for murder without knowing the location of the victim's body happens a lot more than you might think. The phrase "no body, no crime" just isn't true. I spoke with Tad DiBiase, a former federal homicide prosecutor and expert on no body murder cases, about the first no body case he tried, what the stats on these types of cases are, and how these cases can affect jury selection.  Court Junkie Briefs are additional episodes I've created that focus on a singular courtoom-related issue. I'll be speaking with legal experts, analysts, attorneys, forensic pathologists, etc., to help us all get a better understanding of our justice system.  Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

I'm excited to announce that I'll be releasing an additional episode series called Court Junkie Briefs. These episodes will focus on a singular courtroom related issue, such as inadmissible evidence and how it can affect a case, murder without a body cases, sunshine laws, and more. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

17-year-old Alexis Murphy was a popular teenager from Shipman, Virginia with her whole life ahead of her. In August 2013, she was looking forward to her senior year of high school when she had an encounter with a man at a local gas station that would change everything. Although Alexis is still missing, the Commonwealth of Virginia went after her accused abductor and charged him with murder. Can the Commonwealth prove their case without a body? If you have any information about the whereabouts of Alexis Murphy, please contact the Nelson County Sheriff's Office at (434) 263-7050. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

Judge Shanes made his decision last Friday on Melissa's request for a new trial. I attended the hearing and will go over the ruling as well as what's next for Melissa and her team. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

Just days after releasing my original episode about Erica Parsons, there was a major breakthrough in the case. In an expected yet tragic ending to the Erica Parsons case, Rowan County investigators announced on Friday that they found Erica's body.  The Rowan County Sheriff said in the press conference that Erica loved angels and so they are accepting donations from the public to erect an angel monument in her honor. Donations can be mailed to:  Prevent Child Abuse Rowan County 130 Woodson Street Salisbury, NC 28144 Be sure to include "Erica's Angel" on your donation. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

In April 2006, the small city of Medicine Hat in Alberta, Canada, was shocked by an unthinkable murder no one ever saw coming - A 12-year-old girl convinces her 23-year-old boyfriend to murder her entire family. I speak with the first investigator on the scene and talk to him about the crime itself as well as the latest developments - which might shock you too.  Warning: this episode contains some disturbing details, but they're important to understanding the severity and complexity of the case. NOTE: I'd like to make a correction about my reference to the "town of Saskatchewan." Saskatchewan is actually a province and not a town. Sincere apologies to my Canadian friends!  Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

Could a jailhouse conversation be the key to finding out what happened to Erica Parsons? Erica Parsons had been missing from her home in Salisbury, North Carolina for two years before she was finally reported missing to police by her adoptive brother. Erica's adoptive mother told police she went to live with her biological grandma - someone police say does not exist. I talk to Brooklyn Parsons, Erica's adoptive sister,  who has recently visited her father, Sandy Parsons, in prison. What he tells her could finally provide answers on what really happened to Erica.  Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

I attended day 3 of Melissa Calusinski's evidentiary hearing. Her attorney, Kathleen Zellner, had filed a Post Conviction Relief Petition, based on possible new evidence. Day 3 of the hearing included testimony from an imaging expert who makes some shocking clams about the x-ray images.  Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

19-year-old Pravin Varughese was a college student at Southern Illinois University when he was mysteriously found dead in the woods after leaving a party. Investigators believe he died from hypothermia but a second autopsy reveals he may have died from blunt force trauma. A 22-year-old man came forward to say he got into a fight with Pravin the night he died. Will Pravin's family finally get the answers they're looking for? A special thank you goes out to Pravin's mom, Lovely Varughese, and Monica Zukas for helping me with Pravin's story.  Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.