Investigative journalists and True Sunlight Podcast co-hosts  Mandy  Matney and Liz Farrell — and attorney Eric Bland — (reluctantly) discuss the latest (and perhaps most pathetic and reaching) strategy from Dick Harpootlian in his quest to get Alex Murdaugh’s murder charge overturned. Cousin Eddie’s text messages to Alex! Messages that literally don’t help Alex’s case one bit. 

Also on the show … why is the legacy media helping Russell Laffitte advertise his Palmetto State Bank stock? 

Plus listeners are outraged by the 2024 recording of South Carolina assistant attorney general Heather Weiss telling Scott Spivey’s family why she “can’t” charge Weldon Boyd and Bradley Williams with killing Scott. And they should be! 

Mandy, Liz and Eric talk about why the prosecution’s reasons for not charging Boyd and Williams are weak, ill-informed and dishonest and why the citizens arrest law in South Carolina would even apply in this case. 

☕ Cups Up! ⚖️

Episode References

“New text messages fuel Alex Murdaugh's push for new trial” - Fox News, July 15, 2025 📰

“Alex Murdaugh defense says they didn’t have texts missing from SLED timeline” - Court TV, July 17, 2025 📰

Listen to TSP 108 🎧

“Dead Man’s” Law - SC SECTION 19-11-20 ⚖️

Premium Resources

Exculpatory Evidence and Brady Violation from EB’s Law Library 🎧

Russell’s Consent Motion to Continue Sentencing Hearing - July 10, 2025 📄

“Stand Your Ground” Case Law 📄

Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️

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Investigative journalists and True Sunlight Podcast co-hosts Mandy  Matney and Liz Farrell — and attorney Eric Bland — are back at it, discussing the latest in crime, corruption and the courts. 

In today’s episode Mandy and Eric share an update in the Stephen Smith case, plus their stories from the very successful walk held over the weekend in Hampton, South Carolina, after the 10th anniversary of Stephen’s death.  The event gathered over 120 people to walk in person and virtually raising over $12,000 for Stephen Smith’s scholarship and investigation funds.  Seeing Sandy happy and meeting the new Agent in charge of Stephen's case is entirely encouraging. 

Also on the show, we're looking at what went down last week in the Scott Spivey wrongful death case. 

Plus Mandy and Liz ask Eric to explain South Carolina’s citizens’ arrest law, which is what Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office used to as an argument against charging Weldon and Bradley. 

And finally, Russell Laffitte and Alex Murdaugh will be celebrating a reunion this fall. Find out why to today's jam-packed show!

☕ Cups Up! ⚖️

Episode References

Beth Braden’s FB Post about “Walking with Stephen” Event 🌐

“Hampton Co. community walks to bring awareness to Stephen Smith cold case, searches for answers” - WTOC, July 12, 2015 📰

Eric Bland on Julie Grant’s Opening Statements discussing Stephen’s case - starts around the 16:13 timestamp 🎞️

“Who Killed Stephen Smith? Ten Years With Hope But Without Answers... A Premium Soundbites Episode” 🎧

COJ Anthems

Liz Farrell’s FB post with HCPD Drug Bust Video 🌐

SC Code of Law on Citizen’s Arrest ⚖️

Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️

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Join hosts Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore as they take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever — where a single clue can crack a case wide open.

From shocking murders to serial killers, Clues dives into all the forensic details and brilliant sleuthing of the world's most infamous cases. CLUES is a Crime House Original, powered by PAVE Studios. Follow and listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

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We’re taking a break from Cup of Justice to bring you a special Premium episode of Soundbites, typically reserved for LUNASHARK Premium Members.  Today’s episode is dedicated to the tragic and perplexing case of Stephen Smith. 

This episode, from journalist Beth Braden, librarian Kate Thomas, and producer Sam Berlin, aims to review "what we knew and when we knew it" about Stephen's unsolved homicide.

Stephen Smith, a bright 19-year-old nursing student with aspirations of becoming a doctor, was found dead in the middle of Sandy Run Road ten years ago on July 8, 2015. Despite a seven-inch gash on his forehead and blunt force trauma to his head, initial investigators were stumped, and while the coroner believed it was a shooting homicide, a pathologist controversially ruled it a hit-and-run.

This episode delves into the details of the investigation while also providing an intimate look into who Stephen Smith truly was: a kind, funny, generous, and studious young man with a clear plan to become "Dr. Stephen Smith". His legacy also lives on through the Stephen Smith Scholarship fund, established to help need-based nursing students.

A $50,000 reward is available for information leading to an arrest. If you know something or know someone who knows something, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please send tips to SLED at [email protected] or call 803-737-9000.

We invite you to show your support by joining the "Walking With Stephen" memorial event in Hampton, South Carolina, on July 12, 2025.

Episode Resources:

Sign up for the “Walking With Stephen” Memorial Walk on July 12, 2025 🚶🏻‍➡️

“Who Killed Stephen Smith?” Spotify Playlist 💚

Donate to the Stephen Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund 💚

"News Agency sued over mistaken 'person of interest' in Stephen Smith case. 'We apologized.'" - Greenville News, Feb 7, 2024 📰

“MOTION DENIED - Alex Murdaugh New Trial Hearing With Justice Jean Toal” - LUNASHARK Media YouTube, Jan 29, 2024 🎞️

Tips can be email to SLED at [email protected] or call 803-737-9000 ℹ️

Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️

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Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell of True Sunlight Podcast sit down with Sarah Turney, the creator of “Voices for Justice” podcast, to talk about the latest in her sister’s case and Sarah’s fight for answers. 

In 2001, Alissa Turney was just 17 years old when she disappeared on her last day of junior year in Phoenix, Arizona. Sarah and Alissa’s father, Michael, told police that Alissa had run away from home. The police believed him — and for years, so did Sarah, who was only 12 at the time of Alissa’s disappearance and thought she had the best father ever. 

Around the time Michael Turney was indicted for unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices (IE… bombs and manifestos), Sarah began to question who her father really was but it wasn’t until she saw her sister’s case file that she truly started connecting the dots… 

Mandy and Liz have an in-depth conversation with Sarah about the genesis of how she came to suspect her father in her sister’s disappearance and what she’s learned about criminal investigations, the power of true crime media and the importance of amplifying the voices of victims and their families in their own searches for justice. 

☕ Cups Up! ⚖️

Episode References

Sarah Turney on Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok

Sarah’s Podcast - “The Voices of Justice” - First season is dedicated to Alissa’s case

“Family Secrets: The Disappearance of Alissa Turney” on AppleTV

“Missing girl's stepdad gets 10 years in union hall bomb plot” - East Valley Tribune, Sept 28, 1010

“Grand Jury Indictment Returned on Michael Turney for 2nd Degree Murder in Death of Alissa Turney” - Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Aug 20, 2020

“An Arizona man was cleared in his stepdaughter’s disappearance. His son is convinced he’s guilty.” - NBC News, Dec 1, 2023

“20/20 ‘Since You've Been Gone’ Preview - The case of missing Arizona teen Alissa Turney” video - ABC News, Sept 16, 2023

“Michael Turney sues for $300,000 over arrest for killing stepdaughter” - Phoenix New Times, Jan 24, 2024

Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️

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A week after the shocking dismissal of Michael Colucci’s 10-year-old murder charge because of prosecutorial misconduct on the behalf of SLED and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Bishop Venters — the daughter of Sara-Lynn Moore Colucci, whom Michael is accused of strangling to death in May 2015 — says she’s ready to fight for a new trial. 

Bishop, whose biological father died under tragic circumstances a few years earlier, was about 8 years old when Michael, her mother’s new husband, adopted her. She was just 11 when Michael told her that her mother had died in an accident. 

After her mother’s death, Bishop says Michael and his mother Doris kept her away from her maternal grandparents, telling her they were bad people. She would later learn that her grandparents were suing for custody of her. And after Michael’s arrest, Michael abandoned his adopted daughter and moved to the beach, leaving Bishop in the care of Doris and her husband Ivo, where Bishop wasn’t allowed to speak about or show emotion about her mother’s death. 

Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell sat down with Bishop to talk about what life was like before and after her mother’s death, what she thinks happened the day Sara-Lynn died, her thoughts on the judge’s decision last week as well as her strong conviction to continue her grandparents’ fight for justice.   

☕ Cups Up! ⚖️

Episode References

“Urge SC Attorney General to PRIORITIZE the Re-Indictment of Michael Colucci” - Change.org Petition

About Childhood Trauma from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network 🌐

“Judge declares second mistrial in Michael Colucci murder case” - WCBD, June 17, 2025 📰

“SLED agent grilled at Murdaugh trial botches Michael Colucci murder case. Will it impact what's next?” - The Post & Courier, June 22, 2025 📰

“Ivo Colucci, Summerville jeweler accused of murdering wife, dies in hospice care” - ABC News 4, Nov 9. 2020 📰

Premium Resources

Colucci Case Overview ⚖️

Michael Colucci’s 2016 ⁠Arrest Warrant⁠ & ⁠Murder Indictment⁠ 📄

⁠Estate of Sara Lynn Colucci’s Amended Wrongful Death Lawsuit - April 18, 2018⁠ 📄

⁠Michael Colucci’s Answer to Amended Wrongful Death Lawsuit - May 3, 2018⁠ 📄

Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️

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Investigative journalists and co-hosts of True Sunlight Podcast Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland discuss the heinous details contained in court documents about what suspended South Carolina Representative RJ May has been accused of doing and why it was important for the U.S. Attorney’s Office to get so graphic. 

Over the course of five days in 2024, RJ May is accused of sharing 220 different child-sex abuse videos — including videos of babies being raped, bestiality with children and sex acts between toddlers and grown women and men. He shared those videos 479 times with other “like-minded pedophiles,” according to court records. 

Even more stunning is that while the FBI conducted its investigation, RJ May remained a lawmaker and even got re-elected — despite the powers that be allegedly being aware of the nature of that investigation. RJ May’s case should serve as a wake-up call for everyone. 

Also on the show, Michael Colucci’s retrial is this week. Mandy, Liz and Eric talk about the incredible accusations made in the motion to dismiss that Colucci’s team filed Friday, accusing SLED and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s Office of sitting on “conclusive evidence” that Michael’s wife, Sara-Lynn Colucci — whom Michael is accused of killing — had plans to hang herself. 

☕ Cups Up! ⚖️

Episode References

“Will RJ May be expelled from SC House? Here’s what would need to happen” - The State, June 13, 2025

Mandy’s FB post on RJ May’s federal indictment

“Retrial begins for Summerville jeweler charged with murder in wife's 2015 death” - ABC 4 News, Updated June 16, 2025

The Colucci Case Spotify Playlist

Premium Resources

Robert May - June 12, 2025 - Federal Brief Supporting Detention⁠

⁠Michael Colucci’s Motion to Dismiss for Government Misconduct - June 13, 2025

Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️

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Opening statements rock the courtroom as federal prosecutors accuse Sean “Diddy” Combs of running a decades-long criminal enterprise built on violence, sex trafficking, and power. The defense hits back hard, painting it all as a toxic relationship, not a RICO case. Then Cassie Ventura takes the stand, and everything changes. Her voice may be quiet. Her story is not.

https://wondery.com/shows/the-rise-and-fall-of-diddy/

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Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland —talk about the retrial of murder suspect Michael Colucci, who is accused of strangling his wife Sara-Lynn Moore Colucci 10 years ago in Summerville, South Carolina, and how the age and health of his high-profile (and high-cost) attorney contributed to the constant trial delays. 

Is this yet another trick of the defense attorney trade in South Carolina? Leveraging an attorney’s health in court to benefit defendants … and further hurt victims? 

Also on the show it’s been four years since Alex Murdaugh murdered his wife and son … and why phrasing it that way matters. 

Plus churchy business bro “Pastor” JP Miller marries his alleged longtime mistress Suzie Skinner in a highly public (but still dumpy) beach ceremony. There’s a lot to say there.

☕ Cups Up!  ⚖️

Episode References

“Colleton County man goes to trial, accused of setting wife on fire, killing her” - Live5, Nov 4, 2024 📰

“Judge threatens Sean Combs with removal over interactions with the jury” - The Washington Post, June 5, 2025 📰

Read how Mandy first learned about the double homicide in chapter 10 of “Blood on Their Hands” 📖

Colucci Soundbites Premium Episode 🎧

Premium Resources

Michael Colucci’s Motion In Limine: Prejudicial Terms - April 29, 2024⁠ 📄

⁠EB’s Law Library - Burden of Proof⁠ 🎧

Relive LUNASHARK Media’s live stream of ⁠Alex Murdaugh’s double homicide trial⁠ on YouTube🎞️

⁠MMP Episode 1⁠ - Published just two weeks after the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh on June 7th, 2021 🎧

Upcoming Events

Michael Colucci re-trial set to begin on June 16th, 2025 ⚖️

Walking With Stephen event on July 12th 💚

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This week we're diving into some of the most frustrating systems many Americans face, starting with healthcare. Liz joins us from Rhode Island and shares a harrowing family emergency and the implications of her uncle’s hospital stay...

The conversation pivots to the striking similarities between the healthcare system and the South Carolina bond system, highlighting the lack of uniformity and how the discretion involved feels like gambling. And consequently, the disturbing Nathan Cureton case, where a man with a violent history was released on bond to attend a graduation just days before an alleged kidnapping and murder-suicide… it all raises serious questions about public safety and the system's decision-making.

We broaden our critique of the criminal justice system, discussing the frustration with police thoroughness and the feeling among the public that they have to be "part-time detectives". This includes a deep dive into the confusing circumstances of the Chris Skinner case, involving his drowning death, the police and coroner ruling it an accident despite video suggesting suicide, and baffling police interviews that seemed to lack interest or key questions.

Finally, Mandy shares a personal update – she's been notified that Bill Padget wants to depose her in a long dead lawsuit that feels more like harassment. We discuss the process, the challenges for journalists facing legal action years after reporting a story, and Mandy's strong feelings about the lawyer and lawsuit… 

It's a raw look at confusing, costly, and sometimes dangerous systems that feel rigged against the average person… but that’s why we’re talking about it to educate and hopefully entertain!

☕ Cups Up!  ⚖️

Episode References

Katie Couric Gets A Colonoscopy on TODAY 🎞️

Mandy’s Facebook Post about Nathan Cureton 🌐

“SC Judge Alison Lee, ex-Obama nominee, retires from the bench” - The State, May 18, 2023 📰

Little River Victim’s Facebook Video 🌐

Upcoming Events

Michael Colucci re-trial set to begin on June 16th, 2025 ⚖️

Walking With Stephen event on July 12th 💚

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Members⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ also get access to episode videos, case files, live trial coverage and exclusive live experiences with our hosts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more and join with Promo Code "COJ25" for your first month free! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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