Based in Fact

In Season 2, Episode 1, Kyle and Lisa update the cases and topics covered during Season 1, including recent events and developments in Texas v. Reed, Echols v. Arkansas, Oklahoma v. Glossip and Texas v. Skinner. They talked about the executions of James Coddington, Benjamin Cole and Richard Fairchild and Oklahoma's challenge to the federal Bureau of Prison's interference in the execution of John Fitzgerald Hanson. Finally, they talked about some of the cases they'll talk about during Season 2.

Intro: Roberta Glass

Artwork: Ati Abdo MacDonald

Audio Editor: Emily Walker

In Episode 20, Kyle and Lisa conclude their discussion of State of Texas v. Henry Watkins Skinner.  Skinner was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in 1995 for the New Year’s Eve 1993 murders of his girlfriend, Twila Busby and her sons, Randy Busby and Elwin Caler in Pampa, Texas.  Skinner, the only member of the household to walk away that New Year’s morning, initially admitted that he fought with Twila, but blamed her for the deaths of her sons.  Early DNA testing linked Twila and Elwin to the blood soaked pants Skinner was wearing when he was arrested and testing done by the DA in 2000 further linked him to the murders.  In 2001, Skinner began pursuing DNA testing in the Texas courts.  In Part 2, we’ll recap the evidence against Skinner, his direct appeal and post-conviction claims in state and federal court and wrap up our look at the case with a discussion of the DNA testing proceedings, agreed DNA testing conducted in 2012 and the courts’ resolution of Skinner’s actual innocence claims based on those results.

Intro: Roberta Glass

Cover Art: Ati Abdo MacDonald

Audio Editing: Emily Walker

In Episode 19, Kyle and Lisa talked about State of Texas v. Henry Watkins "Hank" Skinner. In 1995, Skinner was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death for the December 31, 1993 murders of his girlfriend, Twila Busby and her sons, Randy Busby and Elwin Caler in Pampa, Gray County, Texas. Skinner has admitted that he was in the house when the murders occurred and he was the only member of the household to walk away that New Year’s morning. Early DNA testing linked Twila and Elwin to the blood soaked clothing Skinner was wearing when arrested. In 2001, he began pursuing DNA testing in the Texas courts. After his second request was denied in 2009, he sought relief under 42 U.S.C. §1983 in federal court, pursuing his claim all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In Part 1, Lyle and Lisa talk about the evidence against Skinner, his direct appeal and post-conviction claims in state and federal court. Finally, they talked about the impact of Skinner v. Switzer on Skinner’s case and his pursuit of DNA testing in state court.

Kyle and Lisa look at State of Oklahoma v. John Fitzgerald Hanson.  Hanson was facing execution on December 15, 2022 for the 1999 murder of Mary Bowles.  Hanson and his partner, Victor Miller, kidnapped Mary from a Tulsa mall on August 31, 1999.  They brought her to a dirt pit in Owasso, where they encountered the owner, Jerald Thurman.  Miller shot Mr. Thurman, then Hanson took Mary from the car and shot her to death as she lay in a ditch.  We’ll talk about the case against Hanson, his trial, direct appeal, resentencing trial, 2nd direct appeal, post-conviction claims and the life sentence in federal prison.  In keeping with the current administration’s stance against the death penalty, Bureau of Prison officials denied Oklahoma’s transfer request.  The federal officials’ decision to act outside their legal authority has prevented the State of Oklahoma from carrying out Hanson’s lawfully imposed sentence.

Audio Editor: Emily Walker

In Episode 17, Kyle and Lisa looked at the case against Richard Fairchild, who was convicted of the November 14, 1993 murder of his girlfriend's son, Adam Scott Broomhall. In a drunken rage, Fairchild struck, beat and burned the 3-year old, then threw him into a table, inflicting a fatal head injury. While advocates for Fairchild have never claimed he is actually innocent, they have challenged the OK Court of Criminal Appeal's holding that child abuse murder is a crime of general intent and have challenged Fairchild's culpability due to his alcohol and drug use and claims that he suffered from organic brain damage caused by multiple head injuries sustained during falls, fights and amateur boxing. They looked at the details of the crime, Fairchild's trial, direct appeal and state and federal post-conviction claims, along with his application for clemency ahead of his execution, currently scheduled for November 17, 2022.

Audio Editor: Emily Walker

In Episode 16, Kyle and Lisa looked at the case against Benjamin Cole, who is scheduled to face execution in Oklahoma on October 20, 2022. On December 20, 2002, Cole killed his 9-month old daughter, Brianna while his wife was out of their home doing laundry.  We’ll talk about the crime, Cole’s trial, his appeals and post-conviction claims, which have included multiple attempts by his attorneys to challenge his competency in both state and federal court.  We’ll also address some of the misconceptions regarding criminal culpability and competency to be tried and/or executed in the context of the legal system.

In Episode 15, Kyle and Lisa looked at the case against James Allen Coddington. In March, 1997, Coddington murdered his friend, 73-year old Albert Troy Hale, when Mr. Hale refused to lend him money to fuel a drug binge.  They talked about the case against Coddington, his trial, resentencing and direct appeals, along with his state and federal post-conviction claims. They also talked about the controversy surrounding his August 25, 2022 execution and the information put forth by his advocates regarding his alleged remorse and the facts of his case. They also marked the 21st Anniversary of the 09/11 attacks on New York, NY and Washington, DC and the tragic loss of lives in Shanksville, PA. Finally, they paid tribute to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on 09/08/2022.

Queen Elizabeth II - 1926-2022

In Episode 14, Kyle and Lisa wrap up their look at State of Oklahoma v. Richard Eugene Glossip, who was convicted of arranging the January 7, 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese, his boss at the Best Budget Inn in Oklahoma City.  Part 1, looked at the case against Glossip, the legal proceedings that included 2 trials, a direct appeal and state and federal post-conviction claims.  Part 2, covered Glossip’s 2015 execution dates, his challenge to Oklahoma’s use of midazolam in its execution protocol, the successive post-conviction claims raised by Colorado attorney Don Knight and his campaign in the court of public opinion, including the efforts by Oklahoma Legislators.  In Part 3, they talked about the continued campaign on Glossip’s behalf in the court of public opinion, the investigation conducted by anti-death penalty advocates from Reed Smith, LLP and their claims of “new evidence.”  Finally, they briefly previewed Glossip’s 2022 post-conviction claims and the process leading up to his execution which has been scheduled for September 22, 2022.

In Episode 13, Kyle and Lisa talk about State of Oklahoma v. Richard Eugene Glossip, who was was convicted of arranging the murder of his boss, Barry Van Treese, at the Best Budget Inn in Oklahoma City on January 7, 1997.  In Part 1, they looked at the case against Glossip, the legal proceedings that included 2 trials, a direct appeal and state and federal post-conviction claims.  In Part 2, they talked about Glossip’s 2015 execution dates, his challenge to Oklahoma’s use of midazolam in its execution protocol and the September date that did not go forward because of a drug mix-up.  Then they talked about the efforts of Colorado attorney Don Knight in the court of public opinion, Glossip’s successive state post-conviction claim and renewed efforts to influence the court of public opinion by Oklahoma Legislators.

In Episode 12, Part 1, Kyle and Lisa talk about the January 7, 1997 murder of motel owner Barry Van Treese in Oklahoma City, OK. The motel manager, Richard Eugene Glossip, was convicted of arranging that the murder with motel maintenance man Justin Sneed. After Sneed killed Van Treese, he and Glossip split about $4,000.00 in cash taken from under the front seat of Van Treese's car. Glossip came under suspicion not because of Sneed, but due to the fact that he admitted that Sneed confessed committing the murder to him and multiple inconsistent statements he made to motel employees and police about Mr. Van Treese's whereabouts on the morning after his murder. Kyle and Lisa talked about Glossip's legal proceedings, which included 2 trials, direct appeal and state and federal post-conviction claims.