PLEASE BE ADVISED: This story contains subject matter that some may find upsetting. Listener discretion is advised.

In the sweltering bayous of southern Louisiana, Dwight “Jerome” Bergeron grew up hard. As a boy, he trapped raccoons, muskrats, and nutria for pocket money, learning survival before he ever learned opportunity. He left school in the 11th grade, trained in plumbing at Vo-Tech, and once dreamed of repairing helicopters in the Army, a dream that died when his recruiter told him his certificate wasn’t enough.

Instead, Dwight built a life for himself and his children on the bayou. But in the early 1990s, everything changed. His kids were removed from his home and placed with adoptive parents. Soon after, accusations surfaced, claims that Dwight had harmed the very children he loved. There was no physical evidence. Medical exams were inconclusive. But the state had some powerful words from his own children, testimony that was enough to secure his conviction.

Dwight was sentenced to life, while his partner Angela, under intense pressure from prosecutors, took a plea deal she said was forced upon her. Both went to prison.

Now, decades later, the children, now adults, have spoken. In sworn statements and letters, they insist their father never harmed them, that they were manipulated as kids, and that their testimony was built on lies told to keep them from returning home.

Dwight has spent his life behind bars maintaining his innocence, while his children fight to clear his name. Echoes from the Bayou is the story of a man condemned on the word of children, the family torn apart, and the haunting possibility that Louisiana’s justice system got it wrong.

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PLEASE BE ADVISED: This story contains subject matter that some may find upsetting. Listener discretion is advised.

In the sweltering bayous of southern Louisiana, Dwight “Jerome” Bergeron grew up hard. As a boy, he trapped raccoons, muskrats, and nutria for pocket money, learning survival before he ever learned opportunity. He left school in the 11th grade, trained in plumbing at Vo-Tech, and once dreamed of repairing helicopters in the Army, a dream that died when his recruiter told him his certificate wasn’t enough.

Instead, Dwight built a life for himself and his children on the bayou. But in the early 1990s, everything changed. His kids were removed from his home and placed with adoptive parents. Soon after, accusations surfaced, claims that Dwight had harmed the very children he loved. There was no physical evidence. Medical exams were inconclusive. But the state had some powerful words from his own children, testimony that was enough to secure his conviction.

Dwight was sentenced to life, while his partner Angela, under intense pressure from prosecutors, took a plea deal she said was forced upon her. Both went to prison.

Now, decades later, the children, now adults, have spoken. In sworn statements and letters, they insist their father never harmed them, that they were manipulated as kids, and that their testimony was built on lies told to keep them from returning home.

Dwight has spent his life behind bars maintaining his innocence, while his children fight to clear his name. Echoes from the Bayou is the story of a man condemned on the word of children, the family torn apart, and the haunting possibility that Louisiana’s justice system got it wrong.

One Minute Remaining LIVE in Melbourne get your tix now

EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!

Apple + HERE

Patreon and find us on Facebook here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: This story contains subject matter that some may find upsetting. Listener discretion is advised.

In the sweltering bayous of southern Louisiana, Dwight “Jerome” Bergeron grew up hard. As a boy, he trapped raccoons, muskrats, and nutria for pocket money, learning survival before he ever learned opportunity. He left school in the 11th grade, trained in plumbing at Vo-Tech, and once dreamed of repairing helicopters in the Army, a dream that died when his recruiter told him his certificate wasn’t enough.

Instead, Dwight built a life for himself and his children on the bayou. But in the early 1990s, everything changed. His kids were removed from his home and placed with adoptive parents. Soon after, accusations surfaced, claims that Dwight had harmed the very children he loved. There was no physical evidence. Medical exams were inconclusive. But the state had some powerful words from his own children, testimony that was enough to secure his conviction.

Dwight was sentenced to life, while his partner Angela, under intense pressure from prosecutors, took a plea deal she said was forced upon her. Both went to prison.

Now, decades later, the children, now adults, have spoken. In sworn statements and letters, they insist their father never harmed them, that they were manipulated as kids, and that their testimony was built on lies told to keep them from returning home.

Dwight has spent his life behind bars maintaining his innocence, while his children fight to clear his name. Echoes from the Bayou is the story of a man condemned on the word of children, the family torn apart, and the haunting possibility that Louisiana’s justice system got it wrong.

One Minute Remaining LIVE in Melbourne get your tix now

EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!

Apple + HERE

Patreon and find us on Facebook here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: This story contains subject matter that some may find upsetting. Listener discretion is advised.

In the sweltering bayous of southern Louisiana, Dwight “Jerome” Bergeron grew up hard. As a boy, he trapped raccoons, muskrats, and nutria for pocket money, learning survival before he ever learned opportunity. He left school in the 11th grade, trained in plumbing at Vo-Tech, and once dreamed of repairing helicopters in the Army, a dream that died when his recruiter told him his certificate wasn’t enough.

Instead, Dwight built a life for himself and his children on the bayou. But in the early 1990s, everything changed. His kids were removed from his home and placed with adoptive parents. Soon after, accusations surfaced, claims that Dwight had harmed the very children he loved. There was no physical evidence. Medical exams were inconclusive. But the state had some powerful words from his own children, testimony that was enough to secure his conviction.

Dwight was sentenced to life, while his partner Angela, under intense pressure from prosecutors, took a plea deal she said was forced upon her. Both went to prison.

Now, decades later, the children, now adults, have spoken. In sworn statements and letters, they insist their father never harmed them, that they were manipulated as kids, and that their testimony was built on lies told to keep them from returning home.

Dwight has spent his life behind bars maintaining his innocence, while his children fight to clear his name. Echoes from the Bayou is the story of a man condemned on the word of children, the family torn apart, and the haunting possibility that Louisiana’s justice system got it wrong.

One Minute Remaining LIVE in Melbourne get your tix now

EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!

Apple + HERE

Patreon and find us on Facebook here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: This story contains subject matter that some may find upsetting. Listener discretion is advised.

In the sweltering bayous of southern Louisiana, Dwight “Jerome” Bergeron grew up hard. As a boy, he trapped raccoons, muskrats, and nutria for pocket money, learning survival before he ever learned opportunity. He left school in the 11th grade, trained in plumbing at Vo-Tech, and once dreamed of repairing helicopters in the Army, a dream that died when his recruiter told him his certificate wasn’t enough.

Instead, Dwight built a life for himself and his children on the bayou. But in the early 1990s, everything changed. His kids were removed from his home and placed with adoptive parents. Soon after, accusations surfaced, claims that Dwight had harmed the very children he loved. There was no physical evidence. Medical exams were inconclusive. But the state had some powerful words from his own children, testimony that was enough to secure his conviction.

Dwight was sentenced to life, while his partner Angela, under intense pressure from prosecutors, took a plea deal she said was forced upon her. Both went to prison.

Now, decades later, the children, now adults, have spoken. In sworn statements and letters, they insist their father never harmed them, that they were manipulated as kids, and that their testimony was built on lies told to keep them from returning home.

Dwight has spent his life behind bars maintaining his innocence, while his children fight to clear his name. Echoes from the Bayou is the story of a man condemned on the word of children, the family torn apart, and the haunting possibility that Louisiana’s justice system got it wrong.

One Minute Remaining LIVE in Melbourne get your tix now

EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!

Apple + HERE

Patreon and find us on Facebook here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: This story contains subject matter that some may find upsetting. Listener discretion is advised.

In the sweltering bayous of southern Louisiana, Dwight “Jerome” Bergeron grew up hard. As a boy, he trapped raccoons, muskrats, and nutria for pocket money, learning survival before he ever learned opportunity. He left school in the 11th grade, trained in plumbing at Vo-Tech, and once dreamed of repairing helicopters in the Army, a dream that died when his recruiter told him his certificate wasn’t enough.

Instead, Dwight built a life for himself and his children on the bayou. But in the early 1990s, everything changed. His kids were removed from his home and placed with adoptive parents. Soon after, accusations surfaced, claims that Dwight had harmed the very children he loved. There was no physical evidence. Medical exams were inconclusive. But the state had some powerful words from his own children, testimony that was enough to secure his conviction.

Dwight was sentenced to life, while his partner Angela, under intense pressure from prosecutors, took a plea deal she said was forced upon her. Both went to prison.

Now, decades later, the children, now adults, have spoken. In sworn statements and letters, they insist their father never harmed them, that they were manipulated as kids, and that their testimony was built on lies told to keep them from returning home.

Dwight has spent his life behind bars maintaining his innocence, while his children fight to clear his name. Echoes from the Bayou is the story of a man condemned on the word of children, the family torn apart, and the haunting possibility that Louisiana’s justice system got it wrong.

One Minute Remaining LIVE in Melbourne get your tix now

EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!

Apple + HERE

Patreon and find us on Facebook here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One Minute Remaining LIVE in Melbourne get your tix now

EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!

Apple + HERE

Patreon and find us on Facebook here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trinity Mattherson is not a man who claims he is a saint, he's not a man who says he did no wrong in his life. He is a man who grew up on the streets, with little to no rules from inside his home, a home where his parents battled drug and alcohol dependecy. From a young age Trinity would need to learn how to look after himself, how to provide and care for not only his own well being but also his mothers.

That need, he said, took him to the streets, as a white kid in a black neigbourhood he foundhimself as one of the few white guys joining the notorious street gang, the bloods.

Spending most of his adolescence locked up in various juvenile facilities Trinity bounced around until he eventualy found himself in an adult facility after he and two others made a daring escape.

In 2002, Trinity paroled to Michigan looking to make a fresh start away from the people and places he knew would only mean touble. 

Nine months after his arrival he was attacked while attempting to break up a fight at a crowded house party. Two people are shot in the melee and Trinity says he was wrongfully convicted of the shooting of one of the men involved in the altercation. 

Multiple witnesses were questioned by the police, with just one pointing the finger at Trinity. That witness, who originally identified the shooter as being a light-skinned black man, was released from probation the day after giving his testimony. The other victim maintained it was a light skinned black man who had the weapon and had shot at them.

Even though none of the victims received life threatening injuries, because of his prior record, Trinity was sentenced to serve 42 to 72 years in prison.

This is his story.

One Minute Remaining LIVE in Melbourne get your tix now

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Trinity Mattherson is not a man who claims he is a saint, he's not a man who says he did no wrong in his life. He is a man who grew up on the streets, with little to no rules from inside his home, a home where his parents battled drug and alcohol dependecy. From a young age Trinity would need to learn how to look after himself, how to provide and care for not only his own well being but also his mothers.

That need, he said, took him to the streets, as a white kid in a black neigbourhood he foundhimself as one of the few white guys joining the notorious street gang, the bloods.

Spending most of his adolescence locked up in various juvenile facilities Trinity bounced around until he eventualy found himself in an adult facility after he and two others made a daring escape.

In 2002, Trinity paroled to Michigan looking to make a fresh start away from the people and places he knew would only mean touble. 

Nine months after his arrival he was attacked while attempting to break up a fight at a crowded house party. Two people are shot in the melee and Trinity says he was wrongfully convicted of the shooting of one of the men involved in the altercation. 

Multiple witnesses were questioned by the police, with just one pointing the finger at Trinity. That witness, who originally identified the shooter as being a light-skinned black man, was released from probation the day after giving his testimony. The other victim maintained it was a light skinned black man who had the weapon and had shot at them.

Even though none of the victims received life threatening injuries, because of his prior record, Trinity was sentenced to serve 42 to 72 years in prison.

This is his story.

One Minute Remaining LIVE in Melbourne get your tix now

EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!

Apple + HERE

Patreon and find us on Facebook here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trinity Mattherson is not a man who claims he is a saint, he's not a man who says he did no wrong in his life. He is a man who grew up on the streets, with little to no rules from inside his home, a home where his parents battled drug and alcohol dependecy. From a young age Trinity would need to learn how to look after himself, how to provide and care for not only his own well being but also his mothers.

That need, he said, took him to the streets, as a white kid in a black neigbourhood he foundhimself as one of the few white guys joining the notorious street gang, the bloods.

Spending most of his adolescence locked up in various juvenile facilities Trinity bounced around until he eventualy found himself in an adult facility after he and two others made a daring escape.

In 2002, Trinity paroled to Michigan looking to make a fresh start away from the people and places he knew would only mean touble. 

Nine months after his arrival he was attacked while attempting to break up a fight at a crowded house party. Two people are shot in the melee and Trinity says he was wrongfully convicted of the shooting of one of the men involved in the altercation. 

Multiple witnesses were questioned by the police, with just one pointing the finger at Trinity. That witness, who originally identified the shooter as being a light-skinned black man, was released from probation the day after giving his testimony. The other victim maintained it was a light skinned black man who had the weapon and had shot at them.

Even though none of the victims received life threatening injuries, because of his prior record, Trinity was sentenced to serve 42 to 72 years in prison.

This is his story.

One Minute Remaining LIVE in Melbourne get your tix now

EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!

Apple + HERE

Patreon and find us on Facebook here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.