Defending Freedom

Defending Freedom

By Combs WaterkotteTrue Crime
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Defending Freedom episodes

  • Luigi Mangione Murder Case Dismissed?

    Could the murder case against Luigi Mangione get thrown out?

    Luigi Mangione is facing an enormous legal battle, but some of the most important fights may happen before a jury ever decides whether he is guilty.

    In this video, Andrew Skoklo, a former police officer turned private investigator, examines the legal issues that could weaken the prosecution’s case, including challenges involving searches, seized evidence, statements to law enforcement, constitutional rights, and whether critical evidence could be suppressed.

    Could a successful defense challenge seriously damage the murder case against Luigi Mangione?

    • Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Pre-Trial Motions and Hearings: Can Criminal Charges Be Dismissed?
    • Fourth Amendment Rights and Illegal Searches in Missouri and Illinois
    • Unlawful Search and Seizure Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Miranda Rights and Police Interrogations in Missouri and Illinois
    • Fifth Amendment Rights and Protection Against Self-Incrimination in Missouri and Illinois
    • Probable Cause, Police Searches, and the Fourth Amendment in Missouri
    • Arraignment and Pre-Trial Motions
    4 min
  • Lindsay Clancy Jury DEADLOCKED

    In this video, a former police officer turned private investigator breaks down the Lindsay Clancy case from an investigative perspective and explains why the jury is taking so long. When a jury spends hours, or even days, deliberating, it’s easy to assume something unusual is happening behind closed doors. But a long deliberation can mean many different things.

    Are jurors divided? Are they struggling with the evidence? Is one juror holding out? Or are they simply taking their time with an incredibly serious and complicated case?

    In the Lindsay Clancy case, the jury has to weigh difficult questions surrounding intent, mental illness, criminal responsibility, and the evidence presented by both sides.

    • Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • The Criminal Trial Process in Missouri
    • Jury Deliberations, Evidence, and Verdicts
    • The Role of Mental Health in Criminal Defense Cases
    • Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Defense
    • Sentencing and Post-Trial Legal Options
    • Criminal Appeals and the Appeals Process in Missouri
    • Criminal Defense Legal Guides
    2 min
  • Was Lindsay Clancy Drugged?

    Why were crushed-up pills reportedly found in the Lindsay Clancy case?

    It’s one of the stranger details surrounding the case, and it raises some obvious questions.

    In this video, Andrew Skoklo, a former police officer turned private investigator, breaks down the Lindsay Clancy case from an investigative perspective.

    With Clancy’s mental health, medications, and state of mind already playing such a major role in the case, the reported discovery of crushed pills adds another layer to the story.

    Why were the pills crushed? Who crushed them? Were they actually taken? And could they help explain Lindsay Clancy’s condition or behavior that night?

    A former police officer and investigator looks at this detail from an investigative perspective and explains why something as seemingly small as crushed medication could become an important piece of evidence.

    Could the crushed pills tell us something investigators initially missed?

    • Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • The Role of Mental Health in Criminal Defense Cases
    • Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Defense
    • Drug Crimes Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Drug Charges and Possession Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Probable Cause, Police Searches, and the Fourth Amendment
    • The Criminal Trial Process in Missouri
    • Criminal Defense Legal Guides
    2 min
  • Will Lindsay Clancy Go Free?

    Is Lindsay Clancy’s defense really THAT strong?

    The case has always come down to more than simply what happened. The real fight is over Lindsay Clancy’s mental state, what she understood at the time, and how the jury interpreted the evidence surrounding her mental health, medications, behavior, and actions that night.

    We break down the defense’s strongest arguments, the evidence that may have moved the jury, and the one issue that could be standing between Lindsay Clancy and a verdict.

    • Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Defense
    • The Role of Mental Health in Criminal Defense Cases
    • The Criminal Trial Process in Missouri
    • Sentencing and Post-Trial Legal Options
    • Criminal Appeals and the Appeals Process in Missouri
    • Murder and Homicide Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Criminal Defense Legal Guides

    2 min
  • Will Lindsay Clancy Actually Go to Prison?

    Is the case AGAINST Lindsay Clancy stronger than people think?

    In this video, a former police officer turned private investigator breaks down the Lindsay Clancy case from an investigative perspective.

    So much of the attention in this case has focused on Lindsay Clancy’s mental health and the arguments supporting her defense. But when you look at the case from the prosecution’s side, there are details that are much harder to ignore.

    Her actions before the killings, the timeline that night, what she allegedly searched for, what she said afterward, and the steps prosecutors say she took could all be used to argue that she knew exactly what she was doing.

    The question is whether that evidence is enough to overcome the defense’s argument about her mental state.

    We break down the strongest evidence against Lindsay Clancy and why the prosecution’s case may be stronger than some people realize.

    • Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Defense in Missouri and Illinois
    • The Role of Mental Health in Criminal Defense Cases in St. Louis
    • Murder and Homicide Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • How Criminal Cases Get Started in St. Louis
    • The Criminal Trial Process in Missouri
    • Probable Cause, Police Searches, and the Fourth Amendment in Missouri
    • Criminal Defense Legal Guides
    2 min
  • Lindsay Clancy Case - Judge Declares a Mistrial

    What does a mistrial actually mean for the Lindsay Clancy case?

    After all the testimony, evidence, and jury deliberations, a mistrial can leave people wondering: Is the case over? Does Lindsay Clancy go free? Can prosecutors try her again?

    A mistrial does NOT automatically mean someone is guilty or not guilty. It means the trial ended without a final verdict. If a jury cannot unanimously agree, the judge may declare a hung jury and a mistrial.

    So what happens next?

    We break down what a mistrial means, whether prosecutors can take Lindsay Clancy to trial again, and what options both sides have if the jury simply cannot reach a verdict.

    • Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Fifth Amendment Rights and Double Jeopardy Protections
    • What Happens During the Trial Stage of a Criminal Case in Missouri?
    • Understanding Jury Deliberations and Verdicts
    • Sentencing and Post-Trial Legal Options
    • Criminal Law Glossary: Trial and Legal Terms
    • Criminal Appeals and the Appeals Process in Missouri
    • Criminal Defense Legal Guides
    5 min
  • Investigator Interview: Inside Prison and Police

    What is it really like to work inside prisons, police departments, and the criminal justice system?

    Former law enforcement officer and correctional officer Andrew Skoklo, an investigator at Combs Waterkotte Law Firm, sits down to talk about the side of crime, prison, and policing most people never see.

    From dealing with dangerous inmates and learning the unwritten rules of prison to police culture, criminal behavior, manipulation, and the moments that stay with you long after the job is over, Andrew shares stories and lessons from a career spent on the inside.

    We also cover how working around criminals changes the way you read people, what movies get completely wrong about prison, the mistakes new inmates make, and the reality of wearing a badge when nobody else is watching.

    Crime. Prison. Police. This is what it looks like from someone who actually lived it.

    • Criminal Defense Attorney in St. Louis, MO
    • Criminal Defense Legal Guides
    • How Criminal Cases Get Started in Missouri
    • Dos and Don'ts When Interacting With the Police in St. Louis
    • Understanding Your Fourth Amendment Rights in Missouri
    • Drug Crimes Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Criminal Defense Lawyers in St. Louis, MO
    40 min
  • Trump Pardon for Lindsay Clancy?

    Lindsay Clancy’s attorney just asked President Trump to consider a pardon, but can Trump actually do it?

    The short answer is no. Lindsay Clancy is facing murder charges in Massachusetts state court, and presidential pardon power only applies to federal crimes. Trump cannot simply pardon her and make the Massachusetts case disappear.

    So why would her attorney publicly ask him?

    That’s where things get interesting. Clancy’s first trial ended with a hung jury, and prosecutors now have to decide what comes next. Her attorney has acknowledged that Trump cannot legally pardon her, but suggested the President could potentially use his influence to push for a different resolution.

    So was the request really about a presidential pardon, or was it about putting pressure on the people who actually control what happens next?

    We break down what Trump legally can and cannot do in the Lindsay Clancy case.

    • Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Missouri Criminal Defense Resources and Legal Guides
    • Criminal Appeals and the Appeals Process in Missouri
    • Criminal Appeals Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Protect Your Rights and Future
    • Appeals and Post-Conviction Relief
    • What Happens During the Trial Stage of a Criminal Case in Missouri?
    3 min
  • Did Lindsay Clancy Get a Fair Trial?

    Did Lindsay Clancy actually get a fair trial?

    Her trial ended with a mistrial after seven days of deliberations, but what jurors are now saying raises some serious questions.

    According to jurors who have spoken publicly, the jury was split 11–1 in favor of finding Clancy not guilty by reason of insanity. Even more controversial, the foreperson says the lone holdout acknowledged having reasonable doubt but still refused to change his position.

    The defense tried to have the judge investigate or remove the holdout juror, arguing that he wasn't properly applying the reasonable-doubt standard. The judge declined, finding insufficient indication that the juror was refusing to follow the law.

    So was this simply how the jury system is supposed to work, or did one juror prevent Lindsay Clancy from receiving the verdict the evidence supported?

    We break down what happened inside the jury room, the 11–1 split, and why the question of whether Lindsay Clancy received a fair trial isn't going away.

    • Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Defense in Missouri and Illinois
    • The Role of Mental Health in Criminal Defense Cases
    • What Happens During the Trial Stage of a Criminal Case in Missouri
    • Understanding Criminal Appeals in Missouri
    • Criminal Appeals Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Murder and Homicide Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • How Criminal Cases Get Started
    3 min
  • Former Police Officer: Don't Trust the Police


    What do police officers really think during traffic stops, interrogations, and criminal investigations?

    Former police officer and correctional officer Andrew Skoklo pulls back the curtain on what actually happens behind the badge. From how officers can tell when someone may be lying to the interrogation tactics police are legally allowed to use, Andrew shares firsthand experiences from his career in law enforcement.

    He also explains why talking too much can be one of the biggest mistakes an innocent person makes, why detectives intentionally ask questions they already know the answers to, what officers are looking for during a traffic stop, and why he says, “Don’t trust the police.”

    The conversation goes far beyond traffic stops and interrogations. Andrew discusses police cooperation with ICE, criminal investigations, mistakes made by law enforcement, prison gangs, drug trafficking, crime scenes, wrongful accusations, and some of the most disturbing situations he encountered working inside the criminal justice system.

    Can you trust the police when you’re being investigated? Hear what a former officer has to say before you answer.

    • Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
    • Dos and Don'ts When Interacting With the Police
    • Know Your Legal Rights When It Comes to Law Enforcement in Missouri
    • Probable Cause, Police Searches, and the Fourth Amendment in Missouri
    • What to Do If You're Wanted for Questioning in Missouri
    • Can Police Search My Phone?
    • What to Do After You're Arrested in St. Louis: A Step-by-Step Legal Guide
    • The Complete Guide to Criminal Defense in Missouri
    25 min

About Defending Freedom

From the publisher's feed

Defending Freedom is a podcast with Missouri attorneys Chris Combs and Steve Waterkotte that dives into the world of criminal defense, justice, and the critical issues affecting individual rights.…