State of Execution

Aviator Charles Lindbergh was a superstar and innovator, making his 20-month-old son the world's most famous baby. Until one Tuesday night in 1932, when someone climbed into Little Lindy's window and stole him from his crib. The resulting mystery and race to save Charlie would result in the "Trial of the Century" and leave us with dozens of questions 90 years later. How did the kidnapper know the Lindbergh's would be in their new home? Who is Jafsie? Was Hauptmann truly innocent? Did the kidnapper act alone?

In 1974, Renae Wicklund would survive an altercation with Charles Campbell and report him to the authorities. His arrest and sentencing should have been the end of it, but instead Campbell had 7 years to plan his revenge and exploit the system.

Within hours of a grocery store manager's murder, Louisiana had two men in custody. Within a year, one would be on death row. But had justice really been served? How much can we trust our own eyes? Would DNA evidence free Ryan Matthews or prove the state's case?

When a family of three headed to sunny Florida, they were looking for an escape-- but they ran into the worst kind of predator. The resulting investigation spanned years, utilized new tactics, and relied on handwriting analysis. But Oba Chandler always vehemently claimed his innocence. What is the truth?

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Sources used for this episode can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R3JF70EXlFWxSxteHOLkGyoBdayqu0XIawMsKxVb0jk/edit?usp=sharing

Please email us at [email protected] with any questions!

What causes a man to kill two complete strangers two nights in a row? Why would that same man go on to petition for his own firing squad? This episode covers the life, crimes, and death of Gary Gilmore, the first man executed after the reestablishment of the death penalty in the US.
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Sources used for this episode can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JgX3vPmtiSk0DmIqyxboSPxQtRqTFmk0OMb6wjIREA4/edit?usp=sharing

Please email us at [email protected] with any questions!

States of Execution is a true-crime podcast discussing death-row cases in the United States. First episode premieres April 21st, 2021!