In An Instant

What happens when the very body meant to protect kids in the justice system shows up, again and again, for everyone except the two children who lost both parents? In this episode, Maria Liza breaks down what came out during the civil trial: how a court-appointed commissioner supported the young man who caused the deaths of two people and his parents throughout the proceedings, while never once sho...

In the second half of this two-part segment, Margaret Petros returns to the work an advocate actually does in the room, from showing up at sentencing to pushing back when restitution gets treated as an afterthought. From there the conversation turns to what restitution means beyond the dollars. We talk about accountability, about how being made whole, or being ignored, shapes a victim's healing, a...

When the facts aren’t on your side, throw everything you can at the jury and hope something sticks. In this sneak peak, Maria Liza introduces Occam’s razor as a lens for understanding what really happened in Ammen v. Morales - and previews an upcoming episode unpacking the defense’s shifting theories, one by one, against the one fact nobody disputes.

With the wrongful death trial now just days away, Maria Liza reflects on jury selection, the moment a case stops being paperwork and becomes twelve strangers deciding whether her sister Grace and her brother-in-law Greg's deaths will be met with accountability. A raw, personal look at what it means to prepare for trial after over three and a half years of fighting for justice, and a call to pay at...

Margaret Petros has spent forty years standing beside victims of violent crime, and in this first half of our conversation she traces the path that brought her there. She arrived in the United States from Iraq at fifteen, carrying the weight of discrimination and displacement, and that early experience became the foundation for a lifetime of advocacy. As the driving force behind Mothers Against Mu...

In the years since the fateful night on November 4, 2022 I have watched a system that was supposed to protect my family fail them at every turn - from DA Wagstaffe's office to Attorney General Bonta himself. What happens when the system built to protect victims becomes the second injury? I sit down with Michael Gates - attorney, former Huntington Beach City Attorney, and candidate for California A...

Career prosecutor and DA candidate Daniel Chung joins us to make the case for change in Santa Clara County's justice system. A Bay Area native who spent nearly two decades inside the very office he's running to lead, Daniel breaks down what he calls a "revolving door" for violent and repeat offenders, the years-long delays leaving victims' families without justice, and the policy reforms he'd put...

Join us in this heartfelt episode as Maria Liza reflects on the complexities of grief, loss, and the search for justice during the holiday season. She delves into the profound impact of cumulative grief, specifically Grace and Greg, marking four difficult Christmases without them. Maria Liza also shares juggling parenting responsibilities and navigating the intricate web of legal challenges w...

On the 3-year anniversary of the deaths of Greg and Grace, the pain and suffering continue for each of us, in different ways and for various reasons. Imagine for a moment how we felt when critical evidence was shared with us after Morales’ sentencing that could have changed the course of our case—a case where the defendant(s) have yet to show us any remorse or accountability, even working hard to...

In this episode, we take a closer look at the developing narrative surrounding the tragedy that have affected countless individuals. Throughout the last year, significant new information has surfaced that could have shifted the trajectory of our case. Maria Liza confronts the persistent inaccuracies in media portrayals, shedding light on the serious misrepresentations at play. Additionally, this e...

In Part II of Whatever It Takes, Maria Liza and Jeff discuss a troubling family that attempted to take the girls out of state. They emphasize the importance of having a trust and a will in place, and express heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported them since November 2022, especially during another recent family death. 

In this episode, Maria Liza brings insights from some community members, along with a troubling discovery from juvenile rehabilitation that highlights concerns. She also reveals a finding from juvenile rehabilitation in San Mateo County that emphasizes the need for a focus on victims who are intended to be considered, yet have not received the necessary attention in the 30 months since the cr...

Happy 45th Birthday Grace! I love you.

I had been contemplating what to say regarding Kyle Harrison's sentencing for the past few weeks. However, after hearing about his passing this weekend, I felt it was important to share my initial thoughts.

In Part I of Whatever It Takes, my husband, Jeff, and I delve into how our lives changed in a heartbeat on the night of November 4, 2022, along with the subsequent developments that have occurred. There's a lot to unpack and discuss!

Maria Liza talks about the failures of the current judicial system with her friends, who have supported her since her family's tragedy. They've attended court on significant dates and express how the system has failed the victims, particularly as street racing has become increasingly common.

In this episode, Maria Liza shares her victim impact statement and her requests for sentencing. Since the time of this recording, it was confirmed that Judge Etezadi did not consider any of Maria Liza's requests. Additionally, defense attorney Nowack mentioned during the sentencing that Mr. Morales was unable to write an apology letter due to a pending civil lawsuit.

The Kangaroo Incident marked the beginning of a transformative journey for Maria Liza. Join us to discover the motivation behind her podcast and what topics are on the horizon. This platform is dedicated to revealing the Truth, steering clear of the narratives often spun by the media.