Wickedly Judged

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. DNA Excluded Him. He Still Spent 16 Years in Prison | Jeff Deskovic DNA evidence excluded Jeffrey Deskovic before trial, yet he was convicted as a teenager and spent 16 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. In this episode of Wickedly Judged, Rebecca talks with Jeff about becoming a suspect at 16, the interrogation that led to his...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Rebecca Watkins, founder of Wickedly Judged and president of the Wickedly Judged Justice Activation Project, joins Cheryl Kelmar on The Judge’s Oath Podcast to share the personal fight that sparked her advocacy. Rebecca discusses her husband’s conviction—which she maintains is wrongful—and the years spent reviewing records, seeking answers...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Heather Wlasiuk: The Woman Behind the Fight for Pete In this special episode of Wickedly Judged , we sit down with Heather Wlasiuk for a conversation focused on her perspective, her advocacy, and what it means to stand beside someone while fighting a conviction that has already spanned more than two decades. Throughout our coverage of the...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Pete & Heather Wlasiuk: Questions Remain — Part 4 Was justice served in the Peter Wlasiuk case—or are we still missing part of the truth? In Part 4 of our continuing interview with Pete and Heather Wlasiuk , we go deeper into a case that has now been questioned and litigated for more than two decades. Patricia Wlasiuk died in April 200...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Pete & Heather Wlasiuk: The Fight for the Truth Continues — Part 3 In Part 3 of our conversation with Pete and Heather Wlasiuk , we continue digging into the questions surrounding Pete's conviction and what they believe has been overlooked, misunderstood, or misrepresented throughout the case. Patricia Wlasiuk died in April 2002 after...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. The Peter Wlasiuk Case: Pete and Heather Continue Their Story In this continuation of our interview, Pete and Heather Wlasiuk discuss the case that has kept Pete incarcerated for more than two decades and the continuing fight to challenge his conviction. Patricia Wlasiuk died after a vehicle entered Guilford Lake in New York in April 2002....

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. The Peter Wlasiuk Case: Three Trials, Two Reversals, and Questions That Remain In this episode of Wickedly Judged , we examine the case of Peter “Pete” Wlasiuk , convicted of murdering his wife, Patricia Wlasiuk, after her death at Guilford Lake in New York in April 2002. What was initially reported as a tragic vehicle accident quickly bec...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. The Investigator Who Took a Second Look: David Beers and the Pete Wlasiuk Case What happens when an experienced investigator takes a fresh look at a murder case and begins asking questions that may not have been asked the first time? In this episode of Wickedly Judged , I sit down with David Beers , an experienced private investigator and...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In Part 3 of the Wickedly Judged interview with Kent McGowen, we continue the final part of this three-part conversation and look at the broader impact of the case, the justice system, and the questions that still remain. This episode focuses on what happens after the investigation and court process: the consequences, the unanswered issues...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In Part 2 of the Wickedly Judged interview with Kent McGowen, the conversation continues with a closer look at the investigation, the evidence, and the questions that remain unresolved. This part goes deeper into the details that can shape a case: witness statements, documentation, timelines, investigative decisions, and the way evidence i...

In Part 1 of the Wickedly Judged interview with Kent McGowen, we begin the conversation by setting the stage for the case, the investigation, and the questions that continue to surround the record. This episode introduces the key issues at the center of the discussion: how the case began, what was documented, what may have been missed, and why the early decisions in an investigation can shape ever...

THE HUMAN COST” In the final episode of this series, Rebecca reflects on the emotional, financial, and psychological impact wrongful-conviction litigation has on families and communities. This episode serves as both a recap and a deeply personal conclusion to the Johnny Watkins series. Rebecca revisits: The contradictions surrounding the knife Conflicting witness narratives Archived and previously...

THE INVESTIGATION” In this episode of Wickedly Judged , Rebecca takes listeners deep inside the investigation surrounding the Johnny Watkins case and examines the reliability concerns raised throughout the record. This episode explores: How quickly investigators appeared to settle on a theory The dangers of tunnel vision and confirmation bias The role alcohol, stress, and group dynamics can play i...

HOW APPEALS REALLY WORK” In this episode of Wickedly Judged , Rebecca breaks down the harsh reality of the appellate and postconviction process in wrongful-conviction litigation. Far from the dramatic courtroom scenes portrayed in movies, appeals are often long, technical, emotionally exhausting battles centered around procedure, records, deadlines, and access to evidence. This episode explains: W...

The Record Was Never Complete” In this episode of Wickedly Judged , Rebecca examines one of the most serious issues raised in the motion for leave: whether this case ever received meaningful review when critical parts of the record were inaccessible, untranscribed, archived, or scattered across different systems for years. The episode explains why a complete record is essential to appellate and po...

“THE KNIFE” In the opening episode of this investigative series, Rebecca breaks down one of the most disputed and troubling aspects of the Johnny Watkins case — the knife. This episode focuses on: Conflicting witness statements surrounding who possessed the knife Testimony placing Caleb Angel in possession of the knife before, during, and after the stabbing Contradictions involving who allegedly d...

The Rob McCoy, Tony Viola, Dawn Pasela, and the Fight Against Wrongful Convictions” In this powerful episode of Wickedly Judged , Rebecca is joined by Rob McCoy for an emotional and eye-opening discussion surrounding allegations of wrongful convictions, prosecutorial misconduct, coercive plea tactics, and the suspicious death of Dawn Pasela. Rob shares his personal experience becoming entangled in...

Episode Notes Wickedly Judged Podcast Military Appreciation Month Special “Forgotten Warriors: Veterans Behind Bars” During Military Appreciation Month, we honor the men and women who served this country — but tonight we focus on the veterans America too often forgets. In this powerful episode of Wickedly Judged , Rebecca explores the connection between military service, trauma, PTSD, addiction, i...

Episode Notes Wickedly Judged — “Why I Went Silent — Building Something Bigger” Episode summary In this personal update episode, Rebecca shares why Wickedly Judged went quiet—and why that silence wasn’t the end of the mission, but the foundation of something bigger. Behind the scenes, she has been drafting legal motions connected to her husband’s case, building a parole packet for an upcoming June...

Episode Summary In this episode of Wickedly Judged , Rebecca sits down with Ken W. Good , a Texas bail attorney and board member of the Professional Bondsmen of Texas , for a pre-recorded conversation about “no cash bail” and the realities of bail reform . The discussion explores what bail is supposed to do, what reform is trying to fix, and why accountability and real-world outcomes matter when p...

This week on Wickedly Judged , we’re taking a brief pause from our regular case coverage for the Thanksgiving holiday. In this short, heartfelt message, Rebecca shares: Why there is no new case episode this week How holidays can be especially painful for families living with wrongful convictions Her own experience of facing an empty chair at the table while her husband remains wrongfully incarcera...

In this special full-length episode, Wickedly Judged unpacks the complete story of Joshua Lee Mosher—a man whose life was shattered by a wrongful conviction fueled by revenge, police tunnel vision, and a justice system obsessed with conviction rates over truth. Host Rebecca guides listeners through the timeline of Josh’s case, revealing how a toxic relationship with his ex, Jackie, spiraled into a...

In this follow-up episode, Wickedly Judged continues the powerful exploration of the wrongful conviction of Joshua Lee Mosher. Host Rebecca recaps the crucial details of Josh’s case—a story marked by a toxic home environment, a controversial investigation, and years of denied appeals. Picking up with the second half of a moving interview, listeners hear directly from Amanda (Josh’s sister) and Bet...

Episode Summary In this powerful episode of Wickedly Judged, Rebecca takes listeners through the harrowing journey of Joshua Lee Mosher—a man convicted of crimes he has always denied, and whose case raises urgent questions about the American justice system. Through a detailed timeline, Rebecca unpacks the events that led to Josh’s conviction, the relentless legal battles that followed, and the new...

Episode Summary In this powerful three-hour special, host Rebecca takes you deep inside the concept of due process—what it means, why it’s enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, and how its violation leads to wrongful convictions and shattered lives. You’ll hear the historical roots of due process, real-world case studies, emotional stories of injustice, and a bold vision for reform. This episode is...