The Letter is a new original true crime podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Amy Donaldson. This 8-part narrative series tells the story of the brutal murder of Zachary Snarr, which took place in Salt Lake City, UT, on August 28, 1996. The Letter weaves a story of forgiveness, guilt, and what happens after the headlines die down and the real story begins.

On Zach Snarr’s last day alive, he got up early to help his father at work, he cleaned the kitchen for his mother and he made his sister laugh. But on August 28, 1996, the 18-year-old never came home from his date with Yvette Rodier at a reservoir outside of Salt Lake City. Instead, two police officers and a chaplain came to ring the bell. It was every parent’s nightmare, a devastating loss that rocked a community and shattered lives. But Zach’s mother, Sy Snarr, finds hope from a most unlikely place and it comes in the form of a weekly phone call. Get more information and photos on our website, theletterpodcast.com.

Head to https://link.chtbl.com/TheLetterPodcast to listen to the second episode. 

Researched and reported by Amy Donaldson

Written by Amy Donaldson and Andrea Smardon

Production and sound design by Andrea Smardon

Mixing by Trent Sell

Special thanks to Nina Earnest, Becky Bruce, KellieAnn Halvorsen, Ryan Meeks, Ben Kuebrich, Josh Tilton and Dave Cawley

Main musical score composed by Allison Leyton Brown

With KSL Podcasts Executive Producer Sheryl Worsley

For Lemonada Media, Executive Producers Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs

And Executive Producers Paul Anderson and Nick Panella with WorkHouse Media.

The Letter is produced by KSL Podcasts and Lemonada Media in association with WorkHouse Media.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For far too long, the United States has put mental healthcare on the back burner. Through enormous advocacy and the initiation and rollout of the 988 hotline, a theoretical lifeline is now at the fingertips of every American. But in a country with a deep history of criminalizing mental health, will 988 live up to its potential? Today, Stephanie explores how 988 came to be, along with all the promise and peril it carries. Weekly special correspondent Zak Williams shares his personal mental health journey, how stigma impacted his father, Robin Williams, and how the actor’s death inspired him to become a mental health activist. We also meet Congressman Seth Moulton, mental health advocate Keris Myrick, Executive Director of the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline John Draper, and Director of the Sozosei Foundation Melissa Beck.

Listen to more of Call for Help by visiting https://link.chtbl.com/CallForHelp.  

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In all 50 states, people caught up in the criminal justice system can be
charged fines and fees for everything from the cost of police transport during
arrests, to the cost of room and board for their time behind bars. In this episode,
Jay learns about the back story of how Pay to Stay policy was inspired by a killer
clown. And he speaks to experts and journalists about how Pay to Stay policies
lock people into a never-ending cycle of debt and involvement with the criminal
justice system.

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Host Jay Ellis is a fan of crime scene investigation TV shows - he’s even acted in
them! But in this episode, he learns that all the fancy forensic science the heroes
of those shows use to solve crimes are not as good as they seem on TV. Jay speaks
to experts about how forensic practices were developed and why they aren’t the
reliable science they seem to be. He takes listeners on a field trip to the one
forensic lab in the country that’s getting it right and speaks with a woman who
spent 13 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit because of bad forensic
evidence used against her at trial.

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Host Jay Ellis has dealt with shoplifters first-hand, back when he was a teenaged retail manager at a high-end shoe store. But he never learned about the other side of the story - what motivates people to shoplift and what happens to them if they’re caught. In this episode, Jay learns that people can become convicted felons for stealing as little as $200 in value in some states, because of Felony Theft Thresholds written into state law. Jay hears from people who have first-hand, personal experience dealing with the fallout of felony theft convictions. He also speaks to experts who unpack why these policies aren’t helping anyone. Listeners can learn more about felony theft policies in their own states, and find out what they can do to help increase felony theft thresholds at raisethethreshold.org.

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In season one of The Untold Story, host Jay Ellis (Insecure, Top Gun: Maverick, Mrs. America) took us on a journey to understand policing and its pitfalls. Now, he's back to tell you about some of the things that can happen after you get arrested. You might be aware that America's criminal justice system incarcerates more individuals than any other country. But did you know that you can have your life ruined for stealing something as small as a pair of jeans? Or that the forensic evidence used against you may not be based in scientific fact? Or that once you get out of prison, you might be hit with a large bill for your stay? The Untold Story Season 2: Criminal Injustice takes a hard look at the system we've built and asks: Does it need to be this way? And what can we do about it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jay Ellis is back, exploring no-knock raids through the eyes of a family who, unlike Breonna Taylor, survived a terrifying evening of mistaken identity. Joined by experts, Jay explores a system that allows for warrants, raids, and civil-asset forfeiture. Netta and DeRay also join to share a blueprint for how Breonna’s life could have been spared.

Learn more at endallnoknocks.org and nixthe6.org

Thank you to the Cash App for sponsoring our show. Download the Cash App in the App Store or Google Play store today.

For additional resources, information, and a transcript of this episode, visit https://www.lemonadamedia.com/theuntoldstory 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.