Эпизоды
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Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast of the San Diego DA’s office breaks down her victory in the double murder trial of TikTok star Ali Abulaban.
Facts:
On May 29, 2024, 32 y.o. Ali Abulaban was found guilty of two counts of 1st degree murder for the murders of Ana Abulaban and Rayburn Barron. This was a brutal, tragic murder stemming from domestic violence. The defendant, Abulaban, seemingly had it all as he was a successful social media star called “Jinnkid”.
This trial received a lot of publicity and was prosecuted by our very own Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast of the San Diego DA’s office. You can rewatch part or all of the trial on CourtTV.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. If you are in San Diego County, you can go to One Safe Place in San Marcos, or the Family Justice Center in downtown San Diego.
Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at 3 laws on the books: 2 are real, 1 is fake; can you guess which one is the fake?
A. PC538a: It’s illegal to send a “letter to the editor” in another person’s name with the intent to lead the newspaper to believe that such letter was written by that person.
B. PC538b: It’s illegal to wear insignia of a secret society with the intent to deceive and intent to obtain aid within the State.
C. PC538c: It’s illegal to post on social media in another person’s name with the intent to cause social retribution to that person.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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Real estate scams are on the rise. Deputy District Attorney John Dunn talks about recent fraud schemes and how to protect yourself.
Recently in San Diego, a couple learned their vacant land parcel that they’ve owned for a decade was sold without them knowing it, in what’s called a seller impersonation fraud.
Bio: John Dunn has been a Deputy District with the San Diego District Attorney’s Office for approximately 12 years. He has been assigned to the El Cajon Branch, the Juvenile Branch, the Family Protection Division, the Major Narcotics Division and is currently assigned to the Real Estate Fraud Unit in the Economic Crimes Division. John has taught within the office and to law enforcement agencies on various topics. John is also a reservist in the United States Marine Corps.
If you live in San Diego County,
Sign up for alert by clicking here: https://www.sdarcc.gov/OwnerAlert/You can report a fraud here: https://www.sdcda.org/preventing/real-estate-fraud/Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books and quiz the panelists to see if they can guess which law is fake. 2 are real, 1 is fake--can you guess which one is the fake?
A. In Michigan, restrictive covenants cannot prohibit home brewing of beer.
B. In California, adverse possession is established after 5 years.
C. In Boulder, Colorado, it’s illegal to have upholstered furniture on your porch.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 San Diego Podcasts!
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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Пропущенные эпизоды?
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On July 21, 2023, 20 year-old Adam Thomas of Sacramento was tried for 1st degree murder for the death of his brother, Trenton Thomas. Trenton was found shot to death by a crossbow in a park in San Diego. Was it an accident or was it a murder? Deputy District Attorney Christina Eastman joined the podcast to discuss this trial.
Facts:
Adam drove from Sacramento to San Diego and told his family he was going to San Diego to visit Trenton for his birthday. Adam and Trenton went to a park in San Diego and Adam blind folded his brother so that he could surprise him with his birthday gift. While blindfolded, Adam went to the trunk, grabbed a crossbow, and shot his brother in the head. Trenton ran over 100 feet but succumbed from his injuries after pulling the arrow from his head. Adam fled the scene and tossed the crossbow into a canyon, which was later found by police. Officers investigated the case and served a search warrant of Adam’s home and car in Sacramento, finding a matching quiver for the crossbow and handwritten directions to the park. Adam admitted everything, except said he was giving his brother the crossbow as a gift and it accidentally discharged.
Deputy District Attorney Christina Eastman prosecuted the case and convinced the jury it was 1st degree murder. Adam Thomas was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books and quiz the panelists to see if they can guess which law is fake. 2 are real, 1 is fake--can you guess which one is the fake?
A. In Indiana, it's illegal to sniff model glue with the intent to cause a condition of euphoria.
B. In New Hampshire, it's illegal to hypnotize a person with the intent for that person to commit a crime.
C. In Texas, it's illegal to sell or offer to sell your organs.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 San Diego Podcasts!
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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Author N. Leigh Hunt joins the podcast and talks about his book "I Don't Like Mondays: The True Story Behind America's First Modern School Shooting". This book uncovers key details behind the 1979 school shooting at Cleveland Elementary School, in the San Carols community of San Diego, CA.
On the morning of January 29, 1979, 16 y.o. Brenda Spencer shot several elementary children and adults, killing principal Burton Wragg and custodian Mike Suchar, who both died trying to help the children. Spencer infamously said "I don't like Mondays" when asked why she committed the murders. Spencer pled guilty to two counts of murder and assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 35-life in prison. The Boomtown Rats released a song in July 1979 with the title "I Don't Like Mondays" which was very controversial and still popular in the UK.
N. Leigh Hunt spent years researching and uncovering shocking details from officers, investigators, and lost police dispatches. He has interviewed people who were on the scene and local reporters who spoke with the perpetrator directly after her shooting spree. Hunt has even cultivated an unlikely rapport with the killer and shed light on previously unknown details about her upbringing and influences.
Click here to purchase the book from Amazon (we do not receive any money for this referral).
Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books and quiz the panelists to see if they can guess which law is fake. 2 are real, 1 is fake--can you guess which one is the fake? The theme this episode is the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 section 54 – nuisances by persons in the thoroughfares (in the London Metro area).
A. It’s illegal to slide upon ice or snow to the common danger of the passengers.
B. It’s illegal to use insulting words or behaviour during the time of divine service.
C. It’s illegal to ring a door-bell without lawful excuse.
Thank you to all of our listeners! We sincerely appreciate all of you and thank you for listening to our show. Please be sure to leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DAs Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 San Diego Podcasts!
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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Deputy District Attorneys Teresa Pham and Jorge Del Portillo talk about their trial strategies in prosecuting People v. Jade Janks.
On December 21, 2022, Jade Janks was found guilty of first degree murder. Janks murdered her former stepfather, Tom Merriman, after discovering nude photographs of herself on Tom's computer. Tom was the founder of the Butterfly Farms in Encinitas, CA and the murder took place in Solana Beach, CA.
This case received lots of publicity and was featured on CourtTV.
FACTS:
On December 23, 2020, Tom was transferred from Scripps Hospital to an aftercare facility and Jade Janks decided to clean Tom’s apartment for him before he was discharged. While she was cleaning Tom’s apartment, she discovered nude photos of herself on his computer. She was so disturbed by the discovery that she couldn’t shower alone and feared Tom would be discharged early and come home.
She began plotting the murder and sought help from a “fixer”, Alan Roach, who was a friend of a friend. The plan was to dose Tom with sleeping pills, get him to his bed, suffocate him, and stage it to look like an overdose.
On December 31, 2020, Janks dosed Tom after picking him up from Aviara Healthcare, but the fixer never showed up. The fixer sent his buddy Brian Salomon to help out, but when she asked Brian to strangle Tom, Brian immediately left.
Janks called her friend Adam for help. When Adam showed up, she confessed to dosing , suffocating and strangling Tom to death. She asked Adam to move Tom’s body into a wheelbarrow and into Tom’s bed to make it look like an overdose. Adam didn’t want any part of it and left.
Adam reported to the police that his friend confessed to murdering Tom. When authorities were looking for Tom, they couldn’t find him. When they brought Janks in for questioning, she claimed not to know where he was.
After hours of searching inside the property, in the early morning hours of Jan 2, 2021, detectives found Tom’s body buried under a pile of trash. After arresting Janks and searching her cell phone, detectives found very suspicious text messages including:
I just dosed the hell out of him.I really didn’t want to involve that many people.It’s going to be Weekend at Bernie’s.I can’t keep a kicking body in my truck. (*says truck but likely meant trunk)An autopsy found no signs of strangulation but did find toxic levels of zolpidem, otherwise known as Ambien.
Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books and quiz the panelists to see if they can guess which law is fake. 2 are real, 1 is fake--can you guess which one is the fake? The theme of this episode are laws from the Solana Beach Municipal Code.
A. It’s illegal to have an apiary in a residential zone.
B. It’s illegal to tattoo a person’s skin if it has a rash or pimples.
C. It’s illegal to have bamboo over 15 feet tall.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 San Diego Podcasts!
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan was re-elected in 2022 after a rare uncontested election. DA Stephan returns to the podcast to discuss her accomplishments in her first term and some of her goals for her next term. DA Stephan discussed a recent school threat assessment conference and a new app to help the homeless find an available bed. DA Stephan also discussed the success of opening the new family justice center in the North County--One Safe Place.
Crime or Fiction: Each week we quiz the panel on laws on the books or crime related facts; 2 are real, 1 is fake, and see if you can guess which one is the fake.
A. The youngest DA in San Diego history was William McNealy, 21 years old, elected in 1870.
B. In England and Wales, the common law right to pursue a private prosecution was repealed by UK Parliament in 2017.
C. The United States is the only country in the world where citizens elect their District Attorneys.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Thank you to all of our listeners out there, and please leave a review on Apple or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to follow us on social media; you can find the links below.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 San Diego Podcasts!
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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San Diego Human Trafficking prosecutor Flavio Nominati joins the podcast to discuss the crime of human trafficking. January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and we wanted to speak with our local expert on this important topic. Deputy DA Flavio Nominati tells us about how he prosecutes these crimes, what are the red flags to look for, and what parents can do. He also discusses how young boys are often overlooked as targets of human trafficking. If you're in San Diego County, make sure to check out "Human Trafficking 101" on January 10, 2023 between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at One Safe Place, 1050 Los Vallecitos Blvd, San Marcos, CA 92069, or the Spanish version on January 13, 2023 at the same place.
Report suspected human trafficking activity by calling 1-888-3737-888 or texting BeFree (233733).
We took a long break because Jorge Del Portillo was in a murder trial in the case against Jade Janks, which was covered by CourtTV. More on that case in the future!
Bio: Flavio Nominati has been a prosecutor for approximately 11 years. In that time, he has been assigned to a diverse array of specialized units, including Domestic Violence, Elder Abuse, Juvenile Prosecution, Crimes Against Peace Officers, and the Gang Prosecution Unit. Currently, he is assigned to the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force. In this capacity he serves as the Human Trafficking Team Leader for the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division. He works with approximately 10 Task Force officers (TFOs) as they develop their human trafficking cases. In addition, he serves as the Executive Chair of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force
Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books; 2 are real, 1 is fake, and I quiz my panel of experts to see if they can guess which one is the fake. The theme this week is sex laws.
A. In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to maintain a brothel, which is defined as a house with 16 or more women living together, unintentionally banning most sororities since 1951.
B. In California, it is illegal to inveigle a person under 18 into a house of ill fame.
C. In Sweden, prostitution is legal, but it is illegal to be a “John” or customer of sex work.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 San Diego Podcasts!
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Deputy DA Ben Barlow joins the podcast to talk about prosecuting domestic violence cases, the impact of these crimes, and helping survivors recover from abuse.
Harris County, Texas reported that 35% of homicides in its county were related to domestic violence. Atlanta reported 25% of homicides in its county were related to domestic violence. Domestic violence is a topic that is, unfortunately, always in the news. Just recently, in McGregor, TX, 5 people were shot dead in a suspected domestic violence rampage. And in San Bernardino, California, a suspect was on the run after killing the mother of his child and abducting their 15 year-old child. Tragically, the 15 year-old girl was killed after the suspect began shooting at the police and her death is still under investigation.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. If you are in San Diego County, you can go to One Safe Place in San Marcos, or the Family Justice Center in downtown San Diego.
Bio: Benjamin Barlow began his career as a prosecutor in the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in 2010. During his career, he has served in the South Bay office, the Vista Office, the Sex Crimes Division, and the Family Protection Division. He was first elected to the DDAA Board in 2014 and re-elected in 2016. Mr. Barlow was elected Vice President in 2018 and elected as President in 2020 and reelected in 2022.
Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books; 2 are real, 1 is fake, and see if you can guess which one is the fake. The theme of this episode is the history of domestic violence laws.
A. In 1899, California was the first state to criminalize domestic violence.
B. In 1871, the Alabama Supreme Court was the first in the nation to rescind the legal right of men to beat their wives.
C. In 1911, the first Family Court in the nation was established in Buffalo, NY.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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Detective Anthony Tripoli with the San Diego Sheriff's Department joins the podcast to talk about investigating fires, what makes it an arson under the law, and what it takes to dismantle a bomb.
Arson has been in the news lately, from wildfires to buildings being set on fire during protests, and attempted arsons at the home of political figures. Earlier this year in San Diego, a suspected arson was started at the home of County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher.
On September 12, 2022, authorities are investigating an arson case at the home of the mayor of Vancouver, Washington.
And in another case from last month, in Auburn, Washington, the bomb squad is looking for the suspect who placed a bomb in a car of a funeral attendee and causing it to explode.
Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books; 2 crimes are real, 1 is fake, and you have to guess which one is the fake. The them this episode is: fire laws.
A. In Florida, it’s illegal to fail notify your neighbor of a dangerous fire you started on your property.
B. In Illinois, it’s illegal to eat in a restaurant that is on fire.
C. In Racine, WI, it’s illegal to refuse to aid a firefighter.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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Frank Figliuzzi was the assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, where he served 25 years as a special agent and directed all espionage investigations across the government. He is a national security contributor and regular columnist for NBC News and MSNBC. He is the host of the popular podcast “The Bureau with Frank Figliuzzi” and he is the author of the national bestseller “The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau’s Code of Excellence.”
Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books; 2 are real, 1 is fake, and can you guess which one is the fake?
A. It’s illegal to attempt to modify the weather.
B. It’s illegal to skydive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
C. It’s illegal to drill beyond the earth’s crust.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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A dangerous trend is happening across the country called street takeovers, where numerous cars block an intersection and perform dangerous stunts. Police in Bristol, Connecticut said they have seen a rise in takeovers, and recently in Los Angeles, California witnesses said 2 women died after fleeing from a street takeover. And it's happening in San Diego, too. According to an NBC report, the San Diego Police Department has identified 172 people or vehicles that were involved in these street takeovers.
San Diego Police Sgt. John Ampol joins the podcast to discuss the dangers and consequences of street takeovers.
Laws on the Books Quiz: 2 are real, 1 is fake; can you guess which one is the fake?
A. In Nevada, it’s illegal to ride a camel on the highway.
B. In Alabama, it’s illegal to ride a motorcycle without wearing shoes.
C. In Vermont, it’s illegal to ride a snowmobile on a highway.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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In April, an investigative report from the North Carolina State Auditor states a North Carolina charter school falsified student records and misused school funding, to the tune of $400K. Earlier this year a man in Minnesota was charged with misspending $30M dollars in federal funding for meals for children, spending it instead on luxury cars and lakefront properties. Other charter school scandals have been reported throughout the country.
San Diego Deputy DA Leon Schorr joins the podcast to discuss the A3 Charter School Fraud case. Deputy DA Schorr led the prosecution team that uncovered a scheme that defrauded California of $400M. After a year of investigation, thousands of pages of discovery, and the testimony of 70 witnesses, a San Diego grand jury returned a 235-page indictment. The prosecution team secured numerous convictions, recovered $230M in stolen funds, and imposed a $37M fine against the main two fraudsters.
Quiz: 2 are real, 1 is fake; can you guess which one is the fake?
A. Charles Ponzi, convicted of mail fraud in 1920, schemed his investors by promising them a 50% return in 45 days if they invested in his business of buying and selling postal reply coupons.
B. The phrase “If you believe that, then I've got a bridge to sell you” comes from the crimes of George C. Parker, who in the late 1800s was convicted of fraud after duping customers by selling them the Brooklyn Bridge.
C. The term “con man” comes from “confidence man”, a term attributed to Frank Murphy who was convicted of fraud in 1929 after selling fake stocks outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Please leave a rating and review wherever you listen to the podcast. Thank you for listening!
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old fatally shot 19 students and 2 teachers, and wounded seventeen other people, at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, United States. Earlier in the day, he shot his grandmother in the forehead at home, severely wounding her.
There have been 119 school shootings since 2018, in which 88 people have died and 229 people were injured, according to Education Week.
San Diego is no stranger to school shootings. From the San Diego Union Tribune:
"In January 1979, a 16-year-old killed the principal and a custodian and injured nine others at the now-closed Cleveland Elementary School in the Lake Murray neighborhood. In August 1996, a master’s degree student shot and killed three San Diego State University professors on campus. In March 2001, there were two shootings: one in which a 15-year-old killed two students and injured 13 others at Santana High School in Santee, and another in which an 18-year-old injured five at Granite Hills High School in El Cajon."
And finally in 2010, 41 y.o. Brendan Liam O’Rourke entered Kelly Elementary School and shot at several children, striking two 2nd graders who fortunately survived after they were life flighted to a hospital. O’Rourke was charged with seven counts of attempted murder and seven counts of assault with a gun and prosecuted by our current District Attorney and guest, Summer Stephan.
Our hearts go out to the Uvalde community as they try to recover from this horrific tragedy.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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DUI fatalities have spiked in San Diego County. 2021 marked the most fatal DUI crashes in two decades. Our county typically averages around 15-20 DUI fatalities annually, but 2021 saw more than 37 DUI fatalities. The average blood alcohol content (BAC) of someone arrested for DUI was .18%. Summer Stephan announced a half-million dollar grant from the Office of Traffic and Safety that is used to combat this growing problem.
Guest Bio: Cally Bright has been a Deputy District Attorney at the San Diego DA’s Office for over 20 years. Seven years ago, she started up our DUI Homicide Unit, and as the head of the unit, she is responsible for prosecuting DUI Homicides and Vehicular Manslaughter cases.She has taught for numerous organizations and institutions, including California Western School of Law and the National Advocacy Center in South Carolina. Cally has received numerous awards, including the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.’s) Prosecutor of the Year for San Diego County in 2010, the MADD Prosecutor of the Year for the State of California in 2014, and the MADD Pursuit of Justice Award in 2018
Laws on the Books Quiz: 2 are real, 1 is fake; can you guess which one is the fake?
A. In Wisconsin, the state can forfeit your car after your second DUI conviction.
B. In Utah, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .05% or higher, making it the state with the lowest threshold for DUIs in the United States.
C. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets the legal limit for piloting a plane at .04% or higher.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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Deputy DA Scott Pirrello joins the podcast to discuss his fight against elder abuse.
Background: The Wall Street Journal recently reported a surge in elder abuse cases, stoked by the pandemic. “Elder Abuse Spreads, Stoked by the Pandemic.”
In Pittsburgh, 2 people were initially arrested for elder abuse for neglecting the care of a 76 year old woman, and used the woman’s money for their personal use and admitted to not bathing her possibly for years. A third person also in charge of caring for her was arrested the next day on December 23, 2021.
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, as of 2018 there were 52.4 million adults 65 and over in the United States. For the first time, in 2034, it is anticipated that older Americans will outnumber children. Global estimates from a recent meta-analysis reflect that one in six elders, or 15.7%, in the community experienced past year abuse.
Bio: Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello is the Head of Elder Abuse Prosecutions for the San Diego District Attorney’s Office and has been a prosecutor for 16 years. Since 2009, Scott has been assigned to the Family Protection Division prosecuting Elder Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Child Abuse cases. Scott now focuses exclusively on prosecuting all varieties of Elder Abuse including physical, financial, sexual, and neglect cases. Scott is an expert in Elder Abuse enforcement, prosecution, and on the multi-disciplinary team approach to Elder Abuse prevention.
Check out his Op-Ed in the San Diego Union Tribune, entitled "We need more than education to stop elder scams. We need law enforcement."
Laws on the Books Quiz: 3 are real, 1 is fake; can you guess which one is the fake?
A. In Japan, the country with the oldest population, elder abuse laws prohibit caregivers from committing psychological abuse, including negative or injurious speech.
B. In Niger, the country with the youngest population, it’s illegal to import an elder from another country in order to collect the government’s elder caregiver benefits.
C. In the United States, in 1986, the “Gray Panthers” successfully lobbied Congress to prohibit employers from imposing a mandatory retirement at the age of 70.
D. In China, it’s illegal to neglect or snub elderly parents.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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We review podcast stats, quiz stats, provide an update on cases, and discuss crime news we didn't get to cover. We also play some of our funniest moments from this year and some outtakes. Thanks for listening and have a happy new year!
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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A Best Buy in Minneapolis, a Louis Vuitton store in Chicago, and a Nordstrom in Walnut Creek, CA were all struck recently by organized retail theft. But even before these high-profile thefts in the news, some cities have been plagued by constant theft. Wal-Greens in San Francisco had to close 5 stores due to rampant and brazen shoplifting. A Safeway in SF’s Castro neighborhood previously was open 24 hours a day, but will now operate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m due to the relentless shoplifting.
In San Diego, it’s been a problem as well. A couple years ago, a 7-Eleven reported constant shoplifting, noting that the thieves would come in and steal something every day. Even before the pandemic, in California we’ve seen an uptick in theft after the passage of Prop 47, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
Bio: Anna Winn was hired as a Deputy District Attorney in the previous century. She prosecuted various types of crimes for years until she found THE coolest people to work with. Of course that means bank investigators, financial crimes detectives, and anyone who knows that “ORCA” is not a whale. For the past 10 years, Anna has been assigned to the San Diego Regional Fraud Task Force, prosecuting cases from both local and federal law enforcement officers. Anna’s caseload includes defendants committing identity theft, manufacturing counterfeit money, and embezzling more than $100,000. To spice up her caseload, Anna also prosecutes rings of thieves who (wrongly) think they can take whatever they want from retail stores without penalty.
Laws on the Books: Each week we end the episode on a light note and look at the laws on the books and do a quiz. 3 are real, 1 is fake; can you guess which one is the fake?
A. In Florida, it’s illegal to steal the manure from a commercially registered animal of the bovine class.
B. In Delaware, it’s illegal for a pawnbroker to take or receive as a pledge any artificial limb.
C. In New Jersey, felony theft is set at $200 or greater, which is the lowest threshold for felony theft in the United States.
D. In Colville, Washington, the mayor is authorized to issue one reward in the amount of $150 to anyone who furnishes information that leads to the identification and conviction of person who has stolen municipal property.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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San Diego County is the 5th most populous county in the United States, and the second most populous county in California. The City of San Diego is, by many measures, one of the safest major cities in the United States. The San Diego DA’s office is the second largest DA’s office in California and has 1,000 employees.
Bio: Summer Stephan was the first DA in San Diego to rise through the ranks as a prosecutor to become the elected DA. As a trial prosecutor, she tried more than 100 jury trials, including cases of complex homicides, sexually-violent predators, child molestation, sexual assaults, school shooting, and human trafficking-related cases. She served as Chief of the DA’s North County Branch and Chief of the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division, a special victims unit she pioneered, and an area of the law where she is a national leader, named a “Modern Day Abolitionist” and received numerous awards.
Summer served on the Governor’s Task Force for High-Risk Sex Offenders and Sexually-Violent Predators. She spearheaded the innovative “Know the Price” campaign, which focused on reducing sexual assaults on college campuses. She also led the award-winning “The Ugly Truth” human trafficking awareness campaign as well as the “San Diego Opioid Project,” aimed at reducing opioid overdoses. Summer led a coordinated effort to protect the community from targeted mass violence with a School Threats Task Force that implemented a unified protocol with all 42 school districts in San Diego County. In addition, she began an effective Veterans Treatment model in North County inspired by a heroic Marine Corps veteran.
In June of 2018, San Diego County voters overwhelmingly elected Summer as District Attorney, a career prosecutor who has devoted her life to protecting children and families, and providing justice to the most vulnerable.
Show: DA Stephan talks about human trafficking, the prosecution of the Kelly Elementary School shooter, domestic violence, the opening of the North County Family Justice Center, the new Elder Justice Center, and much more.
Laws on the Books: Each week we end the episode on a light note and look at the laws on the books and do a quiz. 2 are real, 1 is fake; can you guess which one is the fake?
In North Carolina, it’s illegal to have a bingo game last more than 5 hours.In South Carolina, it’s illegal to operate a dance hall within a quarter of a mile of a church.In Severance, Colorado, it’s illegal to throw snowballs.Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys John Lewin, Habib Balian, Ethan Milius, Euguene Miyata, and Rob Britton join the podcast and discuss the prosecution of Robert Durst. In this episode, the prosecutors discuss organizing discovery, preparing clips for cross examination, how they decided who would do opening and closing argument, whether they could prove the case without the cadaver note, changing Durst's catheter bag, what surprised them during Durst's testimony, and who would play John Lewin if they made a movie about this case.
The trial of Susan Berman's murder lasted over 4 months, had over 100 witness, had over 180,000 pages of discovery, and over 1,000 clips from interviews and trial footage that were presented to the jury in an organized and seamless way. Durst was tried and convicted of 1st degree murder on September 17, 2021 for the murder of Susan Berman, and the jury agreed Durst killed her because she was a witness in the disappearance of Kathie Durst who Durst allegedly killed in 1982. Durst was sentenced to life without parole on October 14, 2021.
Facts:
Kathie Durst mysteriously disappears on January 31, 1982. One of the last people to hear from her was the dean of Albert Einstein Medical School, where Kathie allegedly called in sick and said she wasn’t going to be able to attend her rotation. In November 2000, it becomes public that the police reopened the investigation into Kathie Durst’s disappearance. On December 24, 2000, a woman named Susan Berman is found murdered execution style in her home in Los Angeles. Who was Susan Berman? A close friend of Robert Durst and the daughter of a mobster. She was also someone who told others that she in fact placed the call to the dean of the med school and pretended to be Kathie, thus creating an alibi for Robert Durst. The police later receive a note postmarked December 23, 2000, saying there was a “cadaver” at Susan’s address in Beverly Hills, except “Beverly” is misspelled as “Beverley.”
On October 9, 2001, body parts of a person named Morris Black are found floating in Galveston Bay, Texas. Durst is arrested that day but posts bail and skips his hearing, only to be arrested a month later for shoplifting a sandwich. Durst is acquitted of murder on a claim of self-defense, even though Durst admitted to dismembering Morris Black after Black was shot and killed during a struggle with Durst.
A movie called “All Good Things” starring Ryan Gosling is released and is essentially a rendition of the crimes by Durst. After seeing the movie, Durst reaches out to the makers of the film and sings them praise, saying it’s essentially accurate. The makers of that film make The Jinx: The LIfe and Deaths of Robert Durst in 2015, where Durst sits down for an interview that lasted 20 hours over the course of several years. During the filming of The Jinx, the makers confront Durst with the writing of “Beverley” on the cadaver note and comparing it to a letter that Durst himself wrote to Susan Berman in the past (known as the "Sareb letter" after her son Sareb found the letter). It’s written the same way and Beverley is misspelled the same way. At the end of the documentary, Durst is caught on a hot mic and says “There it is. You’re caught. What did you do? Killed them all of course.”
On March 14, 2015, Durst is arrested in New Orleans and had a loaded .38 caliber revolver with one spent shell casing, 5 ounces of marijuana, $42K in cash, his passport, maps of Louisiana, Florida, and Cuba, and a flesh toned latex map. Police later discovered an additional $117K in cash sent by a friend. Durst eventually pled guilty to a federal firearm charge and then was extradited to California to face charges of the murder of Susan Berman.
Laws on the Books:
Each episode we look at the laws on the books. 3 are real, 1 is fake. Can you guess which one is the fake?
A. In New York, it is illegal to commit adultery.
B. In Galveston, Texas, it is illegal to bury a body except in a cemetery.
C. In Beverly Hills, it is illegal for a person to discover a body or acquire the first knowledge of the death of a person and fail to report it.
D. In Louisiana, it’s illegal to wear a facial disguise calculated to conceal one’s identity (except during specified activities such as Halloween, Mardi Gras, etc.).
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys John Lewin, Habib Balian, Ethan Milius, Euguene Miyata, and Rob Britton join the podcast and discuss the prosecution of Robert Durst. In this episode, the prosecutors discuss investigating the case, interviewing Durst, preparing for trial, and catching a fabrication by Durst while he was on the witness stand. (Spoiler alert: there is a reference to the movie The Usual Suspects.)
The trial of Susan Berman's murder lasted over 4 months, had over 100 witness, had over 180,000 pages of discovery, and over 1,000 clips from interviews and trial footage that were presented to the jury in an organized and seamless way. Durst was tried and convicted of 1st degree murder on September 17, 2021 for the murder of Susan Berman, and the jury agreed Durst killed her because she was a witness in the disappearance of Kathie Durst who Durst allegedly killed in 1982. Durst was sentenced to life without parole on October 14, 2021.
Facts:
Kathie Durst mysteriously disappears on January 31, 1982. One of the last people to hear from her was the dean of Albert Einstein Medical School, where Kathie allegedly called in sick and said she wasn’t going to be able to attend her rotation. In November 2000, it becomes public that the police reopened the investigation into Kathie Durst’s disappearance. On December 24, 2000, a woman named Susan Berman is found murdered execution style in her home in Los Angeles. Who was Susan Berman? A close friend of Robert Durst and the daughter of a mobster. She was also someone who told others that she in fact placed the call to the dean of the med school and pretended to be Kathie, thus creating an alibi for Robert Durst. The police later receive a note postmarked December 23, 2000, saying there was a “cadaver” at Susan’s address in Beverly Hills, except “Beverly” is misspelled as “Beverley.”
On October 9, 2001, body parts of a person named Morris Black are found floating in Galveston Bay, Texas. Durst is arrested that day but posts bail and skips his hearing, only to be arrested a month later for shoplifting a sandwich. Durst is acquitted of murder on a claim of self-defense, even though Durst admitted to dismembering Morris Black after Black was shot and killed during a struggle with Durst.
A movie called “All Good Things” starring Ryan Gosling is released and is essentially a rendition of the crimes by Durst. After seeing the movie, Durst reaches out to the makers of the film and sings them praise, saying it’s essentially accurate. The makers of that film make The Jinx: The LIfe and Deaths of Robert Durst in 2015, where Durst sits down for an interview that lasted 20 hours over the course of several years. During the filming of The Jinx, the makers confront Durst with the writing of “Beverley” on the cadaver note and comparing it to a letter that Durst himself wrote to Susan Berman in the past (known as the "Sareb letter" after her son Sareb found the letter). It’s written the same way and Beverley is misspelled the same way. At the end of the documentary, Durst is caught on a hot mic and says “There it is. You’re caught. What did you do? Killed them all of course.”
On March 14, 2015, Durst is arrested in New Orleans and had a loaded .38 caliber revolver with one spent shell casing, 5 ounces of marijuana, $42K in cash, his passport, maps of Louisiana, Florida, and Cuba, and a flesh toned latex map. Police later discovered an additional $117K in cash sent by a friend. Durst eventually pled guilty to a federal firearm charge and then was extradited to California to face charges of the murder of Susan Berman.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.
Questions and comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts
Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts
Website: https://sdddaa.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/
Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs
Instagram: @sandiegoddas
Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"
Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.
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