Sam Mandez

Sam Mandez was just 14 years old when his elderly neighbor, Frida Winter, was found murdered in her home, the same home Sam had painted with his grandfather just a few summers prior. It would be years before they set their eyes on Sam as their main suspect. And while he was just a kid when the crime took place, Sam was tried as an adult and eventually sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder. Despite maintaining his innocence, he now faced a future behind bars. But what would that future *actually* look like? Today, we’re starting where a lot of other true crime stories end – in prison. 

Please be aware that today’s episode discusses incarceration, solitary confinement, severe mental illness, suicide, and self-harm. Please take care while listening.

Action Items Related to Today’s Episode:

If you’re in the United States and you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or visit their website at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. 

To learn more about solitary confinement and the movement to end its practice, I highly recommend checking out Solitary Watch at https://solitarywatch.org/.

A full list of sources, resources mentioned, and photos related to the case are available in the show notes of today's episode, https://truercrimepodcast.com/sam-mandez.

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