Crime Girl_S1_Ep1_The Defense Never Rests
In the inaugural episode of the Crime Girl podcast, your host Grace Taylor Segal delves into the intriguing career of F. Lee Bailey, a controversial yet brilliant criminal defense lawyer.
Bailey's high-profile cases, such as those involving Albert DeSalvo (the Boston Strangler), Sam Shepherd, and Carl Coppolino, are explored in detail.
The episode covers Bailey's courtroom tactics, the media's impact on justice, and his unwavering commitment to providing a defense for all, even the most notorious figures.
Join Grace as she uncovers the complexities and ethical dilemmas within these monumental cases.
References
If you want to dive deeper into the cases we talked about in this episode, here are some classic books, films, and TV shows that explore these crimes and the incredible legal mind of F. Lee Bailey:
The Boston Strangler – Albert DeSalvo (and George Nassar)
- The Boston Strangler by Gerold Frank – Pulitzer Prize–winning book on the murders that terrorized Boston.
- Confessions of the Boston Strangler by Richard P. Candela – explores the doubts about DeSalvo’s guilt and the shadow of George Nassar.
- The Strangler by Susan Kelly – argues that DeSalvo may not have committed all of the killings.
- Films: The Boston Strangler (1968) starring Tony Curtis and Henry Fonda; Boston Strangler (2023) on Hulu.
- Documentaries: Crimes of the Century: The Boston Strangler (CNN), The Boston Strangler: The Untold Story (2008).
Dr. Sam Sheppard – The Case That Inspired The Fugitive
- Endure and Conquer: The Story of Dr. Sam Sheppard by F. Lee Bailey and Harvey Aronson – Bailey’s own account of the retrial.
- Mockery of Justice by Cynthia L. Cooper – a deep dive into the case and how justice was nearly lost.
- Films/TV: The Fugitive (1963–1967 TV series) and the 1993 film starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones; My Father’s Shadow: The Sam Sheppard Story (1998).
- Documentary: A&E Biography: Dr. Sam Sheppard.
Carl Coppolino – Murder by Injection
- The Defense Never Rests by F. Lee Bailey – includes the entire Coppolino trial story.
- Murder by Injection by Sidney D. Kirkpatrick – a full account of this strange and chilling case.
- TV: Dominick Dunne’s Power, Privilege & Justice (episode on Coppolino); Deadly Affairs (Investigation Discovery).
About F. Lee Bailey
- Books: The Defense Never Rests, For the Defense, and Cleared for Approach.
- TV/Film: Bailey is featured in O.J.: Made in America (ESPN, 2016) and portrayed by Henry Fonda in The Boston Strangler (1968).
Crime Girl Facebook Group
Timecodes
00:00 Introduction to Crime Girl Podcast
00:45 Fascination with Crime Stories
00:58 Spotlight on F. Lee Bailey
02:10 Bailey's Early Influence
05:29 The Boston Strangler Case
07:13 The Sam Shepherd Case
09:20 The Carl Coppolino Case
10:56 Bailey and the O.J. Simpson Trial
12:17 Legacy of F. Lee Bailey
13:01 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser
