Talk Radio 49

On July 16, 1996,  Bertha Tardy, Carmen Rigby, Robert Golden and Derrick Stewart were shot during a suspected armed robbery of Tardy Furniture in Winona, Mississippi.  Ms. Tardy, Ms. Rigby and Mr. Golden were dead when police arrived.  Sixteen year old Derrick Stewart died six days later at a hospital in Jackson, Mississippi.  A former employee, Curtis Flowers, became a suspect due to his troubled history at Tardy Furniture and his inconsistent statements regarding his whereabouts on the morning of the murders.  Several witnesses placed Flowers near the crime scene that morning and, shortly after the murders were discovered, his uncle reported a gun stolen from his vehicle that morning.  Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. Central for State of Mississippi v. Curtis Giovanni Flowers.  We’ll talk about the murders at Tardy Furniture, the evidence against Flowers, the prior trials and the U.S. Supreme Court decision that vacated his sixth conviction.  We’ll also talk about Flowers’ successful bail request, recusal of the original prosecutor, appointment of a new attorney and allegations of Flowers’ actual innocence.  We’re a live show and calls are welcome.  Our phone number is (347) 989-1171.

The show kicked off with The Golden Ticket Battle Royal and even though a terrific effort by "The Pretty Boy" Matt Odam. "The Big Man" K. Toomer put the WHOLE ASWF on notice by winning his second golden ticket briefcase. Next up we seen the impressive roll of Luke Justice Jr continue as he upset "Insane" Shane in an excellent encounter. Next up it was brother vs brother as Justin Venson took on his returning brother Daniel in an EXTREMELY personal battle. This matchup did not fail to live to its buildup either as both men beat eachother so badly that neither man was able to answer the refs ten count. Next we would see team ASWF take the 2-1 lead after Asa Morta and Ray Ray picked up the victory over Demike and Tyler Knight. In the next contest we seen Kristian Kross finally vanquish Gigglez in the Gigglez Playground matchup. After intermission we seen Tyler and Demike again this time challenging for the ASWF Tag Team Championship. And yet again they were turned away without a W by Team "WTF" as their reign continues Finally it was time for Rickey Rowland to get his hands on Michael Carnahan in the confines of a matchup. Rowland of course dominated the encounter until his own daughter turned her back on him allowin Carnahan to pick up the win. In our next contest we seen Kid Krazzy capture the ASWF Evolution Championship in an AMAZING 5 man encounter. but the celebration was short lived as Krazzy was attacked by his own trainer! And finally came the main event for the ASWF Championship it was Cataclysm vs Josh Cross for all the marbles. It appeared Cataclysm had won after the encounter but Carnahan and his cronies pulled a fast one. And the decision was reveresed but that is not all as after the encounter Cataclysm was the victim of a beatdown in which his mask came off! Visibly upset at the loss of this precious item Cataclysm laid waste to EVERYONE in the ring including Carnahan as we went off the air!

During the early morning hours of April 27, 1913, the body of 13-year old factory worker Mary Phagan was found in the basement of the National Pencil Company on Forsyth Street in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia.  The factory superintendent, Leo Max Frank, was arrested, indicted and went on trial in late July, 1913.  The most damning evidence against Frank were statements made by Jim Conley, a janitor at National Pencil Company alleging Frank’s inappropriate treatment of the girls who worked in the factory and immoral behavior with others while Conley ensured Frank had privacy.  The intense media attention in Atlanta market stoked public Anti-Semitism that bled into Frank’s trial and seemingly guaranteed that he would be found guilty and sentenced to death.  After unsuccessfully challenging his trial, conviction and sentence, Frank sought clemency which was granted in June of 1915 by outgoing Governor John M. Slaton.  In response, a lynch mob formed, calling themselves the Knights of Mary Phagan.  On August 16, 1915, Frank was forcibly taken from the prison farm in Milledgeville where he was serving a life sentence and, in the early morning hours of August 17, 1915, he was hanged from a tree near Mary Phagan’s family home in Marietta.  We’ll talk about the facts of the murder of Mary Phagan, the allegations against Frank, his controversial trial and efforts to exonerate him.  We’re a live show and calls are welcome.  Our phone number is (347) 989-1171.

On April 9, 2016, two rear-end collisions escalated into a road rage incident and the shooting death of former New Orleans Saints’ defensive end Will Smith.  Smith’s wife, Racquel, was also seriously wounded in the incident.  Cardell A. Hayes, a tow truck driver and once promising high school athlete was arrested and charged with second degree murder.  At his trial in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court in December, 2016, Hayes testified that the shooting was in self-defense, after Smith punched him and fired a gun at him.  That testimony was refuted by multiple witnesses, including three independent witnesses near the scene.  The jury voted 10-2 to convict Hayes of manslaughter for the death of Smith and attempted manslaughter for the injury to Racquel.  We’ll talk about the lives and careers of Will Smith and Cardell Hayes, the events leading up to the shooting, Hayes’ trial, his request for a new trial and the outcome of his direct appeal.  Then we’ll talk about Hayes’ pending writ to the Louisiana Supreme Court and Ramos v. Louisiana, a U.S. Supreme Court case that could impact non-unanimous felony convictions in Louisiana.  We’re a live show and calls are welcome.  Our phone number is (347) 989-1171.

On March 4, 1995, New Orleans Police Officer Ronald A. Williams, II, Ha Vu and her younger brother, Cuong Vu were murdered during a robbery of the Kim Anh Restaurant in New Orleans East.  Also at the restaurant that night were Chau, Quoc and Vui Vu, who were able to hide in the restaurant’s walk-in cooler and summon help once the perpetrators left the restaurant.  The robbery and murders were an inside job, carried out by a troubled NOPD Officer named Antoinette Frank and her 18-year old boyfriend, Rogers Lacaze.  Frank dropped Lacaze off at a nearby apartment, then went to the 7th District station, picked up a patrol car and returned to the scene with the intent to find and eliminate any witnesses.  As Frank entered the restaurant, Chau rushed out the front door where additional responding officers were gathered.  Frank’s charade as an additional responding officer was quickly exposed and she was arrested.  We’ll talk about the evidence against Frank and Lacaze, their trials, appeals and post-conviction claims and the controversy surrounding the suspected murder weapon, a 9 m.m. pistol Frank obtained from the NOPD evidence room.

This Saturday Night is the night of opportunites for EVERYONE in the ASWF! Kicking off with the Golden Ticket Battle Royal which has propelled some of the biggest career jumps in ASWF History. Including last years winner Grayson Beckett who won the ticket that night and then succesfully cashed in on X Kaliber after his match! Speaking of opportunity one tag team will receive a 'golden' opportunity as Winning The Fight has laid an open challenge out for anyone who wants to try and take their titles! Then we will see match 3 in the best of 5 series as Tyler Knight and Demike team up to face Asa Morta and Ray Ray.Also on the subject of opportunity who will get their opportunity to establish themselves as the "better brother' Will it be Justin Venson or his brother coming off a knee injury Daniel Venson and his new attitude? Will Kristian Kross be able to seize the opprotunity of finally putting an end to Giggles? Or will we see Giggles reign supreme in his play house? Will Carnahan be able to get his team a victory as he goes one on one with the owner of the ASWF "Rockin" Rickey Rowland in Match #4 of the series? Will a returning Shane be able to turn back the young upstart in Luke Justice? Or will his metoric rise to the top of the ASWF continue? And finally that brings us to Match #5 in the best of 5 series for all the marbles and the richest prize in the ASWF. Will Cataclysm be able to retain control of Rowland's company? And will he also be able to finally regain his 'trophy' the ASWF Champiionship? Or will Josh Cross cement Carnahans' control of the ASWF?  And also cement his legacy as the most dominant champion in the ASWF's 20 plus year history? All this and more will be discussed as we get you ready for the most historic night in the ASWF's history!

On August 4, 1992, Andrew Jackson Borden and his wife, Abby Durfee Gray Borden were murdered in their home on a busy street in Fall River, Massachusetts.  The murders happened about 90 minutes apart, some time after 9:00 a.m.  While the whereabouts and movements of the Borden family maid were corroborated, Andrew’s younger daughter Lizzie offered conflicting accounts and statements to family friends and police.  By Saturday, Lizzie became the prime suspect.  After giving confused and contradictory testimony at an inquest the following week, Lizzie was arrested and transferred to the jail in Taunton, the seat of Bristol County, to await trial.  In December, 1892, Lizzie was indicted on three counts of capital murder.  Though she was acquitted after trial, debate over Lizzie’s guilt or innocence persists.  Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan at 8:00 p.m. Central for a discussion of the history of Fall River, Massachusetts, the Borden Family and what we know about Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Lizzie Andrew Borden.  We’re a live show and calls are welcome.  Our phone number is (347) 989-1171.

On April 6, 2009, Abraham Shakespeare, a 2006 Florida lottery winner, used his phone for the last time and disappeared.  Dorice Donegan Moore, his financial adviser, had recently purchased all of Shakespeare’s assets, including his house, and drained the last of his cash lottery winnings, which was just over a million dollars.  Dee Dee offered different stories and gave conflicting accounts of Shakespeare’s whereabouts and reasons for leaving to friends and family, who also received suspicious text messages from a man who was functionally illiterate.  With the help of an informant who conned the con, investigators were able to build a case against Moore and in January, 2010, they recovered the weapon used to kill Abraham and located his body buried behind a house purchased by Moore and titled in her boyfriend’s name.  Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan on Tuesday, February 3, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. Central for a discussion of Shakespeare’s disappearance, the case against Moore, her trial, direct appeal and state post-conviction claims.  We’ll be joined by Merissa Green, a retired journalist from Central Florida, who has been featured on national TV for her investigation of the Abraham Shakespeare murder case.  We’re a live show and calls are welcome.  Our phone number is (347) 989-1171.

Rickey Rowland kicked us off  appearing to finally have run out of options and was about to name Michael Carnahan the new commisioner of ASWF. But,at the last moment Rowland pulled one over on Carnahan and named "Sensational" Sara commisoner! In our opening contet "The Big Man" K. Toomer continued his winning ways against William Blackwell and Matt Odam. Next up was a non title contest between ASWF Chammpion Josh Cross and "The Suicide King" Ray Ray and Cody Only. After an excellent back and forth bout between the rivals Carnahans' trifecta again attacked Ray. Forcing the referees hand to call off the bout and rule the match a no contest. Dirty Little Dave was out next as he took on both Loose Cannon and Hambone in a triple threat contest that more than delivered on their spectacular resumes. Next up we had Luke justice teaming with the returning Insane Shane against Cataclysm and Asa Morta but the real story came after the matchup as Justice suddenly attacked the returning Shane leaving the fans to wonder what happened. Gigglez waws out next to take on Evolution Champion Steve O, Troy Twain, and Justin Venson. Kristian Kross made his presence known leaving Gigglez out of the contest. Daniel Venson appeared out of nowhere and cost his brother Justin. One has to wonder what is next for these two brothers who once appeared to be so close? Following the matchup Steve O was left laying by Garion Tyr who made his claim to the Evolution Championship known.Tyler Knight and DeMike took on X Kaliber in a handicapped match for the tag team championship. After a valiant effort by X Kaliber it appeared the titles were about to come home with DeMike and Tyler. However, that is when the Maniae struck inciting a FULL RIOT in the Valiant Arena! Things are definitely getting to a boiling point between these 8 individuals. Finally in our main event Tyr lost focus and his matchup against Reggie Montgomery!

On January 26, 2020, shortly after 9:45 a.m., a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter carrying nine people on a flight from Orange County to Thousand Oaks, California crashed into a hillside near Calabasas, California.   Basketball legend, Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, teamates Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester and Coach Christina Mauser were on their way to Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy, where the girls were scheduled to play in a basketball tournament being held that day.  Alyssa’s parents, John and Keri Altobelli and Peyton’s mother Sarah Chester were also on board.  The helicopter was flown by pilot, Ara Zobayan.  There were no survivors.   Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan tonight at 8:00 p.m. Central, for a tribute to the lives of those on board for that fateful flight.  We’ll talk to Elena Smith, a certified pilot and instructor, who will provide insight into the S-76B helicopter, the terrain and weather conditions in Southern California and the factors that may have contributed to the crash.  We’ll also be joined by Cody Downs, co-host of ASWF Aftermath to talk about the careers and achievements in sports of Kobe Bryant and John Altobelli. 

In Memory of:

Alyssa Altobelli

John Altobelli

Keri Altobelli

Gianna Bryant

Kobe Bryant

Payton Chester

Sarah Chester

Christina Mauser

Ara Zobayan