Death Row Diaries

Merry Christmas from Death Row Diaries! Charles Manson was a spindly little crackhead born to an alcoholic prostitute mother. He spent his early life committing petty crimes which escalated to pimping and then murder by proxy. In Part 1, Matt Ralston and William Noguera discuss Manson's early criminal career and the formulative years which led to his eventual coup during the Summer of Love.

Rodney Alcala garnered himself the nickname of the Dating Game Killer because he appeared on The Dating Game, a popular show in the 1970's, while at the height of his dastardly quest to kill as many people as possible. He mostly chose to murder young girls and boys, as they apparently put up less of a fight. When Alcala was finally arrested, his victim count had reached horrifying heights. This man was truly a monster.

Lawrence Bittaker was an evil munchkin who helped pioneer the use of an Econoline to torture innocent victims in the forest. He was labeled "The Toolbox Killer" because of a toolbox he carried which featured several instruments of torture. He made audio recordings of several of his murders, which were so disturbing that his lawyer vomited uncontrollably when forced to listen to them. He was pure evil, and died in San Quentin State Prison, on Death Row, at the age of 79, having outlived many kind, charitable, humanitarian men.

In Part 2 of the Kevin Cooper case, Matt Ralston and William Noguera further break down his case, and attempt to determine whether an innocent man has been sitting on San Quinten's Death Row for over thirty years.

Kevin Cooper escaped from a mental hospital in 1983. This shouldn't have come as much of a surprise, he had escaped from various settings eleven times prior to this. Soon after, a brutal triple homicide would take place near a home where Cooper was hiding out. He was soon convicted, but, is it possible others are to blame? Kevin Cooper's case has caused a national uproar, with many believing he was framed. Matt Ralston and William Noguera discuss Kevin Cooper's fight to prove his innocence in the face of a mountain of the State's evidence against him.

Clarence Ray Allen was a gangster who had other people do his killing. Usually young, stupid, and naive people. As a participant in organized crime, Allen was doing pretty well for himself. But he got greedy, and ended up taking out a hit on the lives of several innocent people who were aware of some of his transgressions. Allen is also suspected of murdering three innocent people who another man, named Kevin Cooper, was convicted of killing. Clarence Ray Allen was the last person executed in California in recent history. He was killed by lethal injection in January of 2006, taking several secrets to his shallow grave.

In Part 2 of their discussion on Stanley "Tookie" Williams, hosts Matt Ralston and William Noguera discuss the murder case which landed Williams on San Quinten State Prison's Death Row. The guys also discuss Williams' life behind bars, and William shares his experiences in communicating with Williams, and speaks to his character. Death Row Diaries is the only podcast hosted live, from Death Row.

In Part 1 of the story of Stan "Tookie" Williams, hosts Matt Ralston and William Noguera discuss his formative years and descent into gang life. Williams was one of the most noteworthy prisoners to ever pass through San Quinten State Prison. Among his accolades, he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize while behind bars. He authored several books discouraging young people from following in his footsteps. He was executed in December of 2005, at fifty one years of age. While the Governator of California refused to stop his execution, many still see it as a miscarriage of justice.

Donald Jay Beardslee got caught up in a drug deal which led to the deaths of two innocent young women. His defense seemed to be that he didn't have the backbone to do the right thing and exit the situation. He was executed in January of 2005, the first under the watch of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Hosts Matt Ralston and William Noguera discuss Beardslee's case and why he was a forgettable wallflower while behind bars in San Quentin State Prison.

Stephen Wayne Anderson ran into the woods at a young age and was never really right in the head. He soon became a ruthless killer of everyone from elderly women to fellow prisoners. While awaiting execution on Death Row he began writing poetry, which garnered him a few awards and fed his massive ego. He was executed by lethal injection in January of 2002, in San Quentin State Prison, after a final meal of grilled cheese sandwiches and radishes.