Courtroom Autopsy

For over a year, two men turned the Phoenix Valley into a shooting gallery. The killings were random, the weapons kept changing, and police were already hunting one serial killer when they realized a second pair of shooters was operating at the same time. The break came from the last place anyone expected: a bar stool confession after too many drinks.

David and Ryan break down the full Phoenix Serial Shooters case, from the investigation to the trial to the appeal. You'll hear how an emergency wiretap caught Dale Hausner and Sam Dietman on tape mocking their own victims, why the prosecutor's plea deal structure was a masterclass in trial strategy, and what happened when Hausner told the judge to skip mitigation and just give him death. If you lived in the Valley during 2005 and 2006, this one hits different.

Topics discussed:

00:00 - Introduction

01:06 - Two serial killers terrorizing Phoenix at the same time

01:53 - How the killings started and escalated

04:48 - The drunken confession that broke the case

09:00 - The emergency wiretap and what police heard

17:02 - The trial: 88 counts and the verdict

19:48 - Dietman's plea deal and a brilliant prosecution move

26:00 - Hausner waives mitigation and asks for death

33:06 - The appeal: was the wiretap legal?

37:00 - The ethics of defending the indefensible

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This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique: https://www.podcastboutique.com

Gary Triano finished a round of golf at La Paloma, got in his car, and it blew up. It was his birthday. The bomb was remotely detonated, meaning someone was watching. What looked like a mob hit turned into something far more personal. His ex-wife Pamela Phillips was a state away in Colorado with what seemed like a perfect alibi, but a separate fraud investigation connected her to a co-conspirator named Ron Young, and what investigators found in his van blew the case wide open.

David Lish and Ryan McPhie break down how microcassette recordings, hotel receipts, and a $2 million life insurance policy built a purely circumstantial case that held up through two separate trials. You'll hear how competency proceedings nearly derailed everything, why the defense pointed the finger at mob associates and angry investors, how Austria's extradition conditions took the death penalty off the table, and what the recorded phone calls actually prove.

Topics discussed:

00:00 - Introduction

01:53 - Who was Gary Triano?

02:43 - The debts, the enemies, and the mob connections

04:48 - The car bomb murder at La Paloma

06:04 - The device: a remotely detonated pipe bomb

07:07 - Too many suspects, no clear lead

08:07 - A fraud case in Colorado cracks everything open

10:32 - What they found in Ronald Young's van

11:37 - The $2 million life insurance policy

13:12 - Arrests: America's Most Wanted and a chase to Austria

15:24 - Extradition conditions and the death penalty exception

16:40 - Rule 11: competency to stand trial

22:36 - Third party culpability defense and its limits

27:44 - Circumstantial vs. direct evidence and burden of proof

34:42 - The recorded phone calls that sealed the case

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-canyon-law-group/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandcanyonlawgroup/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandcanyonlawgroup/

X: https://x.com/grandcanyonlaw/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grand.canyon.law

Website: https://www.grandcanyon.law/

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique: https://www.podcastboutique.com

A husband is beaten with a hammer. His wife says an intruder did it. Then the story changes again… and again.

When police arrived at the home of Dale Harrell and Marissa Devault, they found Dale barely alive and Marissa covered in blood. What followed was one of Arizona’s most bizarre murder cases — a trial filled with conflicting stories, allegations of abuse, a suspicious attack on the defendant, a roommate with severe memory problems, and a secret relationship prosecutors claimed revealed the true motive.

In this episode, we break down the murder trial that drew constant comparisons to the Jodi Arias case. From the failed intruder defense to the prosecution’s “love triangle turned insurance scheme” theory, we analyze the evidence, trial strategy, witness credibility, and the legal issues that made this case unforgettable.

Topics discussed:

00:00 - Introduction

02:06 - The 911 call and the bloody crime scene

03:20 - Marissa’s self-defense and abuse claims

04:43 - The mysterious attack on Marissa after her release

07:36 - The multiple stories Marissa gave investigators

10:02 - The secret sugar daddy relationship revealed

13:01 - Media coverage and comparisons to Jodi Arias

17:15 - Problems with the self-defense argument

30:21 - The controversial testimony deal with Alan Flores

47:08 - Marissa’s interrogation and reenactment of the hammer attack

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-canyon-law-group/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandcanyonlawgroup/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandcanyonlawgroup/

X: https://x.com/grandcanyonlaw/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grand.canyon.law

Website: https://www.grandcanyon.law/

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique: https://www.podcastboutique.com

It was one of the most-watched trials in American history. Everyone knows the case, but almost no one knows what actually happened in the courtroom.

This episode takes you inside the 67-day Jodi Arias trial — the doomed defense strategy, the prosecutorial misconduct that led to a controversial appeal, and the media circus in and out of the courthouse. You'll hear behind-the-scenes stories and the kind of analysis only trial lawyers can give.

Topics discussed:

00:00 - Introduction

1:47 - Before the crime: Jodi and Travis’ relationship0

3:10 - The crime and the evidence0

8:30 - Jodi’s stories and claims of self-defense

10:41 - The jury verdict and sentencing

12:07 - The appeal: what went wrong at trial

15:45 - Did media coverage influence jurors?

27:03 - Defense strategy and how Jodi hurt her case

33:14 - Prosecutorial misconduct during the trial

44:15 - The duty of a prosecutor and rights of a defendant

47:31 - The Court of Appeals ruling

49:17 - Our verdict: was justice done?

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-canyon-law-group/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandcanyonlawgroup/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandcanyonlawgroup/

X: https://x.com/grandcanyonlaw/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grand.canyon.law

Website: https://www.grandcanyon.law/

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique: https://www.podcastboutique.com

In this episode, we break down Arizona v. Hicks — the landmark case that reshaped how police can search a home. What began as a gunshot call turned into a Supreme Court decision that defined the limits of “plain view” and police authority during a search.

We walk through what happened that night, how evidence was discovered, and why this case still matters today when it comes to your Fourth Amendment rights. If you’ve ever wondered what officers can legally seize during a search — and what crosses the line — this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen now to learn how one case changed the rules for searches nationwide.

In this episode, we unpack the shocking case of Richard Djerf, whose desire for revenge exploded into a horrific family massacre. Our attorneys break down the motive, the crimes, and the key evidence that brought the case to a close.A chilling story — and one of Arizona’s most haunting true-crime cases.

In today’s episode, we break down the Tison Family prison escape—one of Arizona’s most notorious criminal cases. We cover the Tison brothers’ role in helping their father escape custody, the tragic murders that followed, and how the case reshaped felony-murder law in Arizona.If you’re interested in criminal law, real case strategy, and the legal lessons behind true crime stories, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode, we dive into the landmark case of Ernesto Miranda — the man whose name became synonymous with the rights every American now hears when taken into custody. From the details of his arrest to the pivotal Supreme Court ruling, we break down how Miranda v. Arizona forever reshaped U.S. law and criminal procedure. Discover the story behind the famous “Miranda Rights,” why this case was so controversial, and how its ripple effects still protect defendants in courtrooms across the country today.

In this episode, we dive into the shocking case of Marjorie Ann Orbin, an Arizona woman whose glamorous life took a dark turn when she was convicted of murdering her husband, Jay Orbin. Known for her ties to Las Vegas show business and her seemingly picture-perfect lifestyle, Marjorie’s story became one of betrayal, manipulation, and cold-blooded crime.

We break down the evidence, the timeline of Jay’s disappearance, the gruesome discovery in the desert, and how investigators pieced together a case that revealed infidelity, financial motive, and chilling deception. Was this premeditated murder or a desperate act gone wrong? Join us as we unpack the twists and turns of a case that gripped Phoenix and made national headlines.

In this episode, we dive into the chilling case of Corey Morris, infamously known as the “Crackhead Killer.” Between 2002 and 2003, Morris was convicted of brutally murdering several women in Phoenix, Arizona. We break down the evidence that led to his arrest, the investigation that pieced together his crimes, and the courtroom battle that resulted in his conviction. From the disturbing details of the crime scenes to the strategies used by both prosecution and defense, this episode sheds light on one of Arizona’s most notorious serial killers.

Tune in as we examine how the case unfolded—and why it continues to haunt true crime discussions today.