Podcast Network 49

On December 17, 1999, Robert Pruett was reprimanded for attempting to take a bag lunch, called a Johnny, out to the prison yard by Daniel Nagle, a by-the-book correctional officer at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s McConnell Unit. Pruett was angered by Nagle’s reprimand and the disciplinary write-up. Later that afternoon, Pruett was seen by several inmate witnesses in an altercation with Nagle, was stabbed multiple times and died after suffering cardiac arrest. Other inmates saw Pruett strip his bloodied clothing, stuff it through a gas port out to the yard and change clothes. Pruett made inculpatory admissions to inmates and corrections officers. Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan on Sunday, June 13, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. for Episode 14 of Clear and Convincing, State of Texas v. Robert Lynn Pruett. We’ll talk about the 1995 murder that resulted in Pruett’s 99-year sentence at the age of 15, the murder of Daniel Nagle, the evidence linking Pruett to the murder and the various post-conviction claims raised on his behalf in state and federal court. We’ll also talk about the results of post-conviction DNA testing in 2013 and 2015 and Pruett’s controversial execution on October 12, 2017. We are a live show and, as always, calls are welcome at (347) 989-1171.

On April 23, 1996, Stacey Stites was raped and murdered in Bastrop, Texas. For a year, Stacey’s case remained unsolved, with no viable suspects until April 4, 1997, when DNA linked Rodney Reed to the crime. Initially, Reed denied knowing Stacey, but at trial, he claimed that he and Stacey were involved in a secret interracial relationship. While this defense was successful once before, the jury at his 1998 trial rejected the claim and convicted him of capital murder. After multiple prior rape victims testified during the punishment phase, Reed was sentenced to death. Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. Central for Clear and Convincing Episode 30, State of Texas v. Rodney Reed. We are a live show and, as always, calls are welcome at (347) 989-1171.

On February 20, 2009, Chiquita Tate, a Baton Rouge attorney was found murdered in her downtown office, which showed signs of a fierce life-and-death struggle between Chiquita and an unknown attacker. Police were summoned to the office by Chiquita’s husband, Greg Harris, who claimed she failed to come home the night before and that he’d been unable to reach her by phone for several hours. The only apparent clue seemed to be a clump of hairs found in Chiquita’s open hand and the fact that Chiquita’s wallet was found in a shady part of town the night before. Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. Central for Clear and Convincing Episode 31, State of Louisiana v. Greg Harris, a/k/a Greg Ficklin. We’ll talk about Chiquita’s promising legal career, the investigation of her murder and the clues that led to her husband, Greg. Then we’ll talk about Harris’ trial, conviction, direct appeal and state post-conviction claims. We are a live show and, as always, calls are welcome at (347) 989-1171. https://www.cafepress.com/clearandconvincing?fbclid=IwAR3esFZ7QzJq3h0rNKo2tPxAH9tUJ4bzxkBXRVFEbtWpgrjo5CxAM2am9Gg

Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. Central for Season 4 of Clear and Convincing. In Episode 1, Michael and Lisa will talk about developments in many of the cases they’ve covered during their first 3 seasons, including developments in Commonwealth v. Abu-Jamal, Tennessee v. Alley, Arizona v. Arias, Wisconsin v. Avery and Dassey, Texas v. Carty, California v. Cooper, Florida v. Dippolito and Mississippi v. Flowers, among other cases. We’ll talk about the outcome of the King’s Bench challenge filed on behalf of Maureen Faulkner in an effort to remove Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner, the outcome of Jodi Arias’ direct appeal and the next stage for Dalia Dippolito’s challenge to her conviction. We are a live show and, as always, calls are welcome at (347) 989-1171.

On November 15, 2004, Tom and Jackie Hawks were tied to an anchor and dragged into the Pacific Ocean from their 55-foot yacht Well Deserved by Skylar Deleon, John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Alonso Machain. Their bodies have never been found. Prior to taking their lives, Deleon forced to couple to sign sale papers transferring the yacht to him and his wife, Jennifer Henderson Deleon and Powers of Attorney, giving the Deleons control over all of Tom and Jackie’s finances and assets. It was that aspect of the scheme that led to Deleon and his accomplices, including Jennifer, being charged with felony murder, making them eligible for a death sentence. Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. Central for Episode 3, State of California v. Jennifer Lynn Henderson. We’ll talk about Tom and Jackie Hawks, their lives and family, then we’ll talk about Deleon’s criminal history the murders of Jon Jarvi and Tom and Jackie Hawks and the investigation that led to the arrest, trial and convictions of Deleon, Henderson, Kennedy and Machain. We are a live show and, as always, calls are welcome at (347) 989-1171.

In the early morning hours of October 2, 1999, Steven Beard called 9-1-1 in Austin, Texas to report a medical emergency. First responders initially thought Beard was experiencing sudden complications after a recent surgery. A shotgun shell found on the floor of Beard’s bedroom suggested a more sinister scenario. Beard’s second wife, Celeste, did her best to keep her friend Tracey Tarlton’s name out of the investigation. Celeste also refused to allow investigators to speak to her husband and counseled her children and their friends to refuse to cooperate in any investigation. Tarlton was soon linked to the shooting and initially charged with assault. When Steven Beard died in January of 2000, the charge was upgraded to murder. When Celeste remarried, Tarlton broke her long held silence. Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan tonight at 8:00 p.m. Central for Clear and Convincing, Episode 4, State of Texas v. Celeste Beard Johnson. We’ll talk about the evidence implicating Celeste Beard, her trial, conviction and sentence and direct appeal. We’ll also talk about her unsuccessful state post-conviction claim and her late-filed federal habeas claim, which was dismissed by the federal court. We are a live show and, as always, calls are welcome at (347) 989-1171.

At 2:40 a.m. on December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson, an author and former mayoral candidate, contacted Durham County 9-1-1 services to summon help for his wife, Kathleen. Peterson claimed that Kathleen, who appeared to have fallen on a narrow, back staircase, was still breathing. After disconnecting, he called 9-1-1 back and reported that his wife was no longer breathing. Kathleen’s injuries, the copious amounts of blood on the staircase and the inconsistent statements from Peterson led police to suspect that her death was no accident. Peterson’s 2003 conviction for first degree murder was vacated in 2011 after a prosecution expert was accused of malfeasance in several cases, including Peterson’s. Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan and special guest Michelle D. on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. Central for Clear and Convincing, Episode 5, State of North Carolina v. Michael Iver Peterson. We’ll talk about the case against Peterson, the documentary “The Staircase” and the information the filmmakers left out. We are a live show and, as always, calls are welcome at (347) 989-1171.

Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. Central for State of Texas v. Yolanda Saldivar. Selena Quintanilla-Perez was a vibrant and exceptionally talented performer and fashion designer, whose life was cut short by Saldivar on March 31, 1995. Saldivar was suspected of embezzling money from both Selena’s fan club and Selena’s businesses in Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Texas. At some point, either after she was confronted about missing funds, or as a means of covering her scheme, Saldivar removed business records and resisted returning the records, which were necessary to prepare the business’ tax returns. We’ll pay tribute to Selena’s life and legacy, including dispelling some of the myths about Selena’s career, her family and her marriage. Finally, we’ll talk about the evidence against Saldivar, her trial, direct appeal and unsuccessful state and federal post-conviction claims.

Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, for Clear & Convincing, Episode 6, Women in Horse Racing. For a change of pace, we’ll talk to Natalie Voss, Editor-in-Chief at The Paulick Report and 3-time Eclipse Award winner. Natalie joins us to talk about the expansion of the roles held by women in horse racing. We’ll also talk to Natalie about her work, including her award-winning articles, many of which deal with important issues, including jockey health, regulatory developments and making sure thoroughbreds are safe when their racing careers end. Natalie received her bachelor's degree in equine science with honors from the University of Kentucky. Her work includes investigative features, breaking news and profiles on a variety of topics, with her byline appearing in the Paulick Report, Business Lexington magazine, Chevy Chaser, Southsider, Chronicle of the Horse, The Horse magazine, The Blood-Horse, Quarter Horse News, American Racehorse, Acreage Life, Veterinary Practice News, BirdTalk, and Equine International among others. She’s a 3-time Eclipse Award winner and has been nominated a record 4-time nominee for the Stanley Bergstein Writing Award for investigative reporting. She’s also a proud board member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association and the Kentucky Horse Council. For more about Natalie, visit her website at http://www.natalievoss.com/about-1.

On the afternoon of November 8, 2002, police in Stamford, Connecticut responding to a 911 call, found the body of Anna Lisa Raymundo in the entryway of her condominium. She had been beaten and stabbed by an unknown assailant. Her case would remain unsolved until March 23, 2003, when Sheila Davalloo, was arrested in connection with the attempted murder of her husband, Paul Christos. Davalloo, a research scientist at Purdue Pharma, was a co-worker of Nelson Sessler, Raymundo’s boyfriend at the time she was murdered. Detectives investigating the attack on Christos made the connection between Davalloo’s voice and the still unidentified 911 caller. Davalloo was subsequently linked to Raymundo’s murder based on DNA evidence found in the bathroom of Raymundo’s condo. After Davalloo’s conviction in the attempted murder of her husband in 2004, investigators and prosecutors built a murder case against Davalloo, who was eventually indicated in 2007. In 2012, Davalloo, who represented herself at trial, was convicted Raymundo’s murder. Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. Central for Clear and Convincing, Episode 7, State of New York v. Sheila Davalloo and State of Connecticut v. Sheila Davalloo. We’ll talk about Davalloo’s crimes, her separate trials in New York and Connecticut and the convictions that resulted in consecutive prison sentences that will keep Davalloo behind bars for a minimum term ofs 75 years. We are a live show and, as always, calls are welcome at (347) 989-1171.