The eyes of the world were on Atlanta, Georgia, during the summer of 1996. After years of careful and detailed planning, the Games of the 26th Olympiad had begun dramatically with an ailing Muhammed Ali lifting the torch to light the cauldron. Richard Jewell was thrilled to be a part of it with his job as a security guard. He’d lost his last two jobs in law enforcement and he was glad to be back in the mix, and loved the party feel of the events. But he was serious about his job. So serious that 8 days after the games had begun so gloriously, Richard flagged down the head of security to point out a stray backpack he’d noticed under a bench. He thought it looked suspicious. From that moment on, his life would never be the same.

Victimology Podcast