Snow Files

Some straight talk and Jamie’s thoughts on the last hearing…

Join Bruce, Tam, Lesley and Ray as they vigorously unpack the glaring issues surrounding the fingerprint evidence from Episode 30 - The Truth is at Our Fingertips

Crimes, even cold cases, are solved every day with fingerprint matching technology. Multiple fingerprints were collected as evidence from the Clark Oil Station on the night of the crime, but only one print was suitable for the FBI Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) in 1991. When testing was requested in 2008, McLean County State’s Attorney Bill Workman stated in court that “fingerp...

Questions, answers and discussion from Episode 29 - Bad Blood

In 2008, the Exoneration Project filed a motion for DNA testing of the blood, clothes, bullets, and fingerprints gathered at the crime scene in 1991. That was finally whittled down to an agreement to test the blood sample that was collected from the floor. And that sample, incredibly, turned out to match the victim’s blood. We know from reports from the first officer on the scene, the paramedics,...

As we continue to chip away at the upcoming blood trail episode, we hope you’ll enjoy this Snow Files Rewind from Season 1. It’s a great introduction - especially for our new listeners - to Jamie’s trouble with his trial attorneys. Episode 4 – Nobody Bat’s a Thousand - outlines the issues with Jamie’s appointed trial counsel – a stroke patient and a mentally ill alcoholic who went to prison after...

Questions, answers and discussion from Episode 27 - Did Bill Little Fight Back?

Before Bill Little’s untimely death on March 31, 1991, he told his family and friends he would confront someone who tried to rob him until he saw a gun. The night of the crime, he tried to insist his friends stay at the store with him, and even called to ask them to return. Minutes prior to his murder, he pressed the no sale button three times, and someone rang the silent alarm. Bill was found lyi...

Questions, answers and discussion from Episode 26 - Rage Against the Crime Scene.

After Officer Williams turned the crime scene over to Sgt Irvin, Crime Scene Investigator in training Randall McKinley was the first CST to arrive, followed by CST Ed Kallal from the Illinois State Police. In this episode, we methodically walk you through their steps from arriving on the scene on March 31st, 1991 to receipting all of the evidence on April 3rd, 1991. This episode covers their obser...

Questions, answers and discussion from Episode 25 - Body of No Evidence.

After Officer Williams turned the crime scene over to Sgt Irvin, Crime Scene Investigator in training Randall McKinley was the first CST to arrive, followed by CST Ed Kallal from the Illinois State Police. In this episode, we methodically walk you through their steps from arriving on the scene on March 31st, 1991 to receipting all of the evidence on April 3rd, 1991. This episode covers their obser...

In Season 1, we learned that Jamie Snow was convicted based on the faulty witness identification and jailhouse informants with no corroboration - and although physical evidence was obtained from the crime scene, it has yet to be tested. Snow Files Season 2 features a deep dive into the forensics in the Jamie Snow case. We will examine police reports, coroner reports, and evidence logs to flesh out...

In our Season 1 Finale, contestants Jamie, Tam, and Lesley play a trivia game moderated by Bruce, to test our memory of who said what, and how they affected Jamie’s case. We run down the crime scene witnesses, lawyers, informants and guests we have discussed in episodes 14 – 23. Listen in to see if you could convict someone of murder based off your own memory, and join us for Season 2 in May when...

Former small-town Quincy, Illinois prosecutor, Curt Lovelace, was arrested in 2013 for the murder of his deceased wife. Cory Lovelace had passed away in her bed eight years before, until a cold case detective with seemingly ulterior motives reviewed the case. Curt’s bond was set at $5 million, and he would spend two years in jail enduring two trials. At the time of Curt's arrest, he had recently r...

On February 17, 2021, Democratic Representative Anne Stava-Murray of the 81st District read and filed a bill to the Illinois General Assembly to amend statues governing the eligibility for parole or release. As drafted, bill HB2399, “Provides that a person serving a term of natural life imprisonment is eligible for parole or mandatory supervised release.” If passed, Jamie would be eligible for a p...

In part one of Episode 22, Jamie explained how losing a parent at a young age can impact a child’s self-perception and greatly affect their coming of age moments. But what happens to a child when the state takes a parent untimely by our own criminal justice system? What if that conviction is faulty? What are the costs to that child and their coming of age? Hear Jamie’s children answer these questi...

Mitigating factors are considered by a judge during sentencing in efforts to reduce the sentence based on circumstance. Jamie did not kill Bill Little. However, the State of Illinois presented petty troubles he faced as a minor as disturbing delinquent behavior, which they claimed proved Jamie has always been down a bad path, incapable of any rehabilitation. In response, Jamie’s legal team had him...

On May 10th, 2001, Jamie Snow was sentenced to natural life in prison for a murder he did not commit. Jamie had lost all faith in his incompetent public defenders, but had one last Hail Mary in him. Jamie filed a motion to fire his lawyers two months prior, only to find out they beat him to it, and they were already trying to quit. The state and the judge would not allow it. So Jamie and his team...

Jamie reflects on the atmosphere during the closing arguments, how he felt, what was going through his mind, how his family was treated by the court, and even his physical reactions to the stress of being on trial for murder. Jamie also gives a huge shout out to our transcriptionists led by Pamela Westby: Melinda Wargacki, Cathy McElhaney, Caywood Yamnik and Jinger Fiola.  And another HUGE shout o...

On January 15th, 2001, closing remarks were delivered in the murder case against Jamie Snow in the circuit court of the eleventh judicial court, before the Honorable Donald D. Bernardi and the Jury in McLean County, Illinois. State’s Attorney Teena Griffin delivered over one hundred pages of lecture to the jury, embellished with her own false narratives, great literary quotes, creepy crawly innuen...

Jamie answers questions he received about his testimony including his co-defendent Susan Powell, correctional officer Mary Burns, Susan's brother Tim Powell and he also gives an update on Julie Knight. If you haven't listened to the testimony episodes, listen here: Jamie Takes the Stand: Part 1: https://snowfiles.podbean.com/e/ep-19-part-1-jamie-takes-the-stand/ Jamie Takes the Stand: Part 2: http...

In 2001, Jamie Snow took the stand in his own defense against the charge of murder. Jamie’s legal team was extremely underprepared, and explained to him that if he did not testify, he wouldn’t win his case. He had one night’s notice that he would take the stand. But Jamie was hopeful. He figured if he told the truth, he didn’t have to prepare, he would be good. Jamie was on the stand for a very lo...

In 2001, Jamie Snow took the stand in his own defense against the charge of murder. Jamie’s legal team was extremely underprepared, and explained to him that if he did not testify, he wouldn’t win his case. He had one night’s notice that he would take the stand. But Jamie was hopeful. He figured if he told the truth, he didn’t have to prepare, he would be good. Jamie was on the stand for a very lo...

Julie Knight first told police about Susan Claycomb's alleged "confessions" in 1997 after Knight had been taken to the Bloomington Police station because of unspecified legal trouble. Knight made another statement in April 1999 a few days after losing custody of her children. Shortly after, it became a family affair. Knight's mother, brother and father also made statements to police implicating Su...