Freedom of speech and religion are two foundational parts of what this nation has to offer. They’re important to us and when we feel they’re being infringed upon, Americans speak up. What happens when freedom of religion directly causes harm to someone though? Are there limits to this freedom? Seth Welch found that there are hard limits. Not every state cracks down on how freedom of religion can put children in direct danger, but Michigan does.

Episode 165

Sword and Scale is a true crime podcast covering the dark underworld of crime and the criminal justice system’s response to it. The first episode launched January 1st, 2014 and feature stories of murder, abduction, rape, and even more bizarre forms of crime. It’s the purest form of true-crime where the raw uncensored audio tells the story. Everything from 911 calls to court testimony, interviews with victims and sometimes with perpetrators give listeners a 360 degree look at the seedy underbelly of human nature and so-called civilized society. Told from an everyman's point of view, Sword and Scale goes beyond the news clips and the sensationalist headlines to hold up a mirror to the audience and ask, "Is it us versus them? Or are we just like 'them' too?" Sword and scale proves that the worst monsters are real.

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On August 21st, 2017, the lifeless body of Nada Huranieh, a beloved fitness instructor, was discovered on the pavement just outside her expansive residence in Farmington Hills. Rather than hastily attributing her demise to a mere accidental fall from a window, law enforcement authorities refrained from jumping to conclusions. Within the confines of the house, Nada's three children stood as the sole witnesses to the incident. Thankfully, the residence boasted an impressive network of 13 security cameras, which ultimately provided the vital lead necessary for the police to uncover the truth.

Episode 263

Naomi Jones was an exceptional 12-year-old girl. She was caring, smart, ambitious, responsible, and mature for her age. On May 31st, 2017, Naomi went missing from her Pensacola apartment. In response, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office launched a massive search effort, but for nearly a week, nobody could find the young girl. Finally, on the 5th day of the search, a local fisherman found something that he would likely never forget, and the tragic fate of Naomi Jones was finally revealed.

Episode 262

65-year-old Marilyn Gandert worked for the U.S. Postal Service for over 30 years. She was a solitary woman who lived alone and was getting ready to sell her house and retire. Tragically, Marilyn was never able to enjoy her retirement. In January of 2018, her mangled and charred remains were found on a backroad in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Someone had brutally beaten and stabbed Marilyn to death, covered her in gasoline, and burned her body.

Episode 261

A group of kids playing with a mysterious app called Randonautica follow its directions to Alki Beach in West Seattle. There they find a strange black suitcase on the rocks below the pier. Intrigued, they open the case to reveal a putrid smell. Responding officers would find other bags and reveal the suitcase was filled with the dismembered body parts of two people, Jessica Lewis and Austin Wenner. Seattle would be gripped in fear until their killer was caught.

Episode 260

When Jessica Lynn Reale was 13-years-old, she was timid and untrusting. In early October of 1997, she mustered the courage to approach her 8th grade math teacher, a woman she’d only known for a number of weeks, to tell her a huge secret she had been keeping. Jessica told her teacher that she couldn’t go back home because someone had poured bleach all over her. This situation warranted a CPS report, but the involvement of the FBI or Sacramento County Law Enforcement was unexpected.

Episode 165

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