Court Junkie

On Saturday, November 16, 2014, police officers responded to the call of a bar fight at a local bar in Akron, Ohio. As they neared the scene, the call changed - an officer was down and in need of immediate assistance. When they arrived, they found an off-duty police officer lying in the parking lot. He had been shot twice, and the shooter was on the run.   Sponsors in this episode: Summersalt Swim...

35-year-old Kendra Hatcher was tragically gunned down in the parking garage of her high-rise apartment building in Dallas, Texas, in September 2015. The investigation into her murder would uncover a sinister plot to have her killed. Would all the suspects be caught and be brought to justice?    Sponsors in this episode: First Day Back - a really great unique podcast about people returning from the...

On December 16, 2000, 31-year-old Mike Williams went duck hunting, only to never be heard from again. Authorities told reporters that they suspected he got into a boating accident, drowned, and was eventually eaten by alligators. But 17 years and two arrests later, would the truth finally come out?   NOTE: If you're interested in this case, the Minds of Madness Podcast has also covered it this wee...

In this New Years episode, I take a look back at some of the episodes I covered 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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi...

In December 2012, 18-year-old Jerrod Murray was arrested and charged with the murder of 18-year-old Generro Sanchez, a fellow college student. In a chilling interrogation, Jerrod matter-of-factly describes the murder and when asked if he has any remorse, he says no. But would the laws in Oklahoma make it easy for Jerrod to not face responsibility for what he did?   In the episode, I speak with Gen...

In July 2007, a man in a trench coat walked into the crowded New York New York Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, and opened fire.    At his trial, his defense would argue that his intent had not been to kill, but to be killed. What would the jury think?   Sponsors in this episode: Up And Vanished - In a one-night special TV event, Oxygen brings to life Payne Lindsey's hit true crime podcast "Up...

In December 2013, 20-year-old Heather Elvis mysteriously vanished in the middle of the night and hasn't been seen or heard from since. I covered Heather's disappearance and the first trial of one of the suspects in Episode 45. This episode covers the trial of the second suspect.    Law enforcement and prosecutors are convinced they know what happened to Heather - but would a jury believe their the...

On February 18, 2002, 23-year-old Marine Sergeant Todd Sommer collapsed at the home he shared with his wife, Cynthia. An autopsy concluded that Todd had died from a heart attack, but years later, Cynthia was arrested and charged with murder.    A special thank you to Allen Bloom, one of Cynthia's attorneys, for speaking with me about the case.    Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as lit...

On October 28, 2009, there was a fatal encounter between 57-year-old Mark Stover and 42-year-old Michiel Oakes. Prosecutors say Michiel committed premeditated murder, but Michiel says it was something else. Who will the jury believe? 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 mo...

On August 20, 2008, a tragedy occurred at the football practice at Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Louisville, Kentucky. A 15-year-old boy lost his life and a 37-year-old coach would soon face charges in his death.    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 episode...

In this Court Junkie Brief, I interview Stanford Law Professor Michele Dauber, who led the recall campaign against Judge Aaron Persky, the judge who presided over the Brock Turner case from Episode 58.  We discuss why she decided to start the campaign, Judge Persky's sentencing history, and death threats she received as a result of her efforts.  You can follow Professor Dauber on Twitter @mldauber...

In January 2015, a call of an unconscious female came into the Santa Clara County Sheriff's office in Palo Alto, California. Deputies responded to a fraternity house on the Stanford campus and found an unresponsive woman who had been sexually assaulted, lying on the ground outside, behind a dumpster. The suspect was a freshman at Stanford, and the trial and sentencing that followed would make nati...

In 1998, a newborn baby was stolen from the University Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida. The mystery would go unsolved for 18 years, until a teenager in South Carolina made a shocking discovery.   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 T...

In Episode 34, I covered the case of Kelly Cochran, who was accused of murdering her former lover, Christopher Regan. At her trial, Kelly maintained her innocence and instead placed the blame for Christopher's death on her husband, Jason Cochran, who had mysteriously passed away before the case went to trial. In addition to Christopher's death, Kelly was charged with Jason's murder too.    In this...

In May 2009, a tragedy hit the small St. Louis suburb of Columbia, Illinois. A loving mother and her two young sons were found dead in their beds. But who would do such a thing, and why? CORRECTION: In the episode, I refer to a woman "who was having an affair with" a married male. I should have instead said that she was "the woman with whom he was having an affair."  Please consider supporting Cou...

In July 2011, 27-year-old Laura Ackerson went to pick up her two children from her ex-boyfriend's house, only to never be seen or heard from again. The former boyfriend is immediately a suspect, but he quickly points the finger at his new wife. After two trials, will we finally get the answers to what happened to Laura? Disclaimer: This episode contains some graphic testimony. Listener discretion...

Darren Sharper retired from the NFL a sports hero, after helping lead the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl victory in 2011. But just three years later, some shocking allegations would surface and prove that everything wasn't as it seemed. Thank you to Ramon Antonio Vargas, for helping me with this case. Follow him on Twitter @RVargasAdvocate or email him at rvargas@theadvocate.com. Please consid...

On December 6, 2011, police officers in Princeton, Massachusetts responded to a 911 call from a prominent dentist's home. When they arrived, they found the dentist's wife lying on the ground, underneath a broken third-floor window.  Was it suicide, murder, or a tragic accident? Thank you to Melissa Hanson from MassLive.com for her help with this episode. Follow Melissa on Twitter - Twitter.com/Mel...

In February 2017, 21-year-old Reagan Tokes disappeared after leaving the restaurant where she worked in Columbus, Ohio.  Clues found in her abandoned car would lead investigators to her killer - but his criminal past would have everyone questioning just how well the system works - or doesn't.  For more information on the Reagan Tokes Act, check out this article - https://www.10tv.com/article/reaga...

In November 2006, a young pregnant mother was found dead in her home near Raleigh, North Carolina. Investigators immediately suspected her husband, who had a seemingly rock-solid alibi - he was hundreds of miles away on a business trip at the time of the murder. Or was he? In Part 2, we finally hear Jason's side of the story - but is it enough to keep him out of prison? Note: WRAL.com has some fan...

In November 2006, a young pregnant mother was found dead in her home near Raleigh, North Carolina. Investigators immediately suspected her husband, who had a seemingly rock-solid alibi - he was hundreds of miles away on a business trip at the time of the murder. Or was he? Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie wi...

In April 2013, the small community in Valley Springs, California, was shaken by a mysterious intruder who allegedly broke into a home and senselessly murdered an 8-year-old girl.  But after an arrest was made, there seemed to be more questions than answers.  Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month a...

In 2007, 15-year-old Jennifer Mee gained national attention as the "Hiccup Girl," a teenager from Florida whose hiccups would not go away. Just a few years later, she would re-emerge after being charged with first-degree murder.  Jennifer's trial was interesting because there was one thing all sides could agree on - Jennifer herself did not pull the trigger. So would the punishment fit the crime?...

On May 29, 2016, a white SUV mysteriously drove off a cliff in Hana, a town at the eastern end of Maui, in Hawaii. Inside the SUV were identical twin sisters - Alexandria and Anastasia Duval - but only one of them would survive, while the other would be charged with second degree murder.  Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie. Help support...

In September 2014, 50-year-old real estate agent Beverly Carter went to meet a couple interested in purchasing a house she was showing, only to never be seen again. Her body was found days later and a man no one in her family knew was taken into custody. In this episode, I speak with Beverly's son, Carl Carter Jr., about what this tragedy was like for his family, and how he was able to cope during...