A Murderous Design

Rene Guzman and Leonardo Lopez are on trial for the murders of three sheriff's deputies in 1971, and the death penalty is on the table. What were the arguments for and against capital punishment? What monumental flaw did the District Attorney make that led to a review of the case? And what was the shocking turn of events two decades later?

Thank you for listening to Season 1 of "A Murderous Design"! Let us know what you think by leaving a rating and a review, and by sharing this podcast with others that you think might like it. Also, let us know what cases you might like to see covered in Season 2! You can reach Judge Brandon Birmingham on social media @judgebirmingham

In February of 1971, deputies from Dallas and Ellis Counties converged on a house in West Dallas to serve what should have been a simple arrest warrant for the burglary of a home. What ensued was a night of terror and one of the biggest manhunts in recent history in North Texas. What happens when five lawmen are met by two criminals with nothing to lose?

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What did it take to get Dallas serial killer Charles Albright behind bars? Former prosecutor Toby Shook sits down to detail his work on the case. What is it like preparing for a murder trial? How did they track down witnesses that would rather not be found? And in the age before digital records, what did investigators have to do in order to poke holes in Albright's alibis?

Follow Toby Shook on Twitter: @toby_shook

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After the hair, the fibers, the alibis, and the witnesses, one big question still hung over the trial of Charles Albright: why did he cut out their eyes? That would remain unanswered until a year and a half later, when journalist Skip Hollandsworth published his article titled "See No Evil" for the magazine "Texas Monthly." How did he gain such access to Albright? When did an obsession with eyes start to show up? What was in the cryptic letter that Skip received when the article was published? He's here to shine some light on the curious behaviors of Charles Albright.

Read Skip Hollandsworth's article: https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/see-no-evil-3/

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The trial of Charles Albright is underway. Is the hair and fiber evidence enough to seal the deal, or is the prosecution's case hanging by a thread? Hear how prosecutors dealt with Albright's alibi, the murder that had to be thrown out, and the defense witness that provided some of the strongest evidence pointing toward a conviction. Finally, the murderous design of Charles Albright will be revealed.

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Was Dallas in the grips of a serial killer in the early 1990's? Could police have caught him sooner if they had paid closer attention to those in the margins? Hear how testimony from Dallas street walkers combined with trace evidence led authorities to the man who has become known for his peculiar calling card - a pair of empty eye sockets.

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When bodies started turning up in West Dallas in the winter of 1990 and 1991, police were stunned at this killer's calling card. This is story of the seedy sides of the big city, its inhabitants, and the overlooked victims of society who were thrust into the spotlight when they crossed paths with a genuine serial killer. What happens to the eyes of those who stop looking?

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What was it like to put Charles Mason and Charles "Tex" Watson behind bars? Judge Brandon Birmingham sits down with former Los Angeles County prosecutor Stephen Kay. Kay worked alongside Assistant District Attorney Vincent Bugliosi during the Manson family trial, as well as the trial of Tex, our main focus of the "Tex and Charlie" series. What was it like to sit in that court room? What does Kay find so unbelievable about the Tate-LaBianca murders? And what were the other cases that left an imprint on this long-time prosecutor?

Mr. Kay was also very helpful in the research of "Tex and Charlie." We are very grateful for his knowledge, time, and his willingness to give freely of both.

Tex takes the stand in his own defense. What turns him against Charles Manson? Did he try to fool the jury? What does he say that could undermine his plea of insanity?

A special thanks to Manson family prosecutor Stephen Kay for his help with research, as well as http://www.cielodrive.com/.

Join us for our next series on a mysterious serial killer in Dallas, Texas, with a specific calling card.

Was "Tex" Watson truly insane when he carried out the Tate-LaBianca killings? That's his defense, at least. In this episode of "A Murderous Design," Judge Brandon Birmingham walks you through the prosecution's efforts to poke holes in that defense. What did Tex do to undermine his plea? What was Charles Manson's direct involvement? And how did one family member attempt to prevent any further murders?