It’s been more than thirty years since Pamela Smart, a 22-year-old media coordinator from Derry, New Hampshire, was convicted of plotting her husband’s murder. But the story isn’t over. In fact, it’s entering a new chapter.

Pamela’s legal team, led by attorney Matthew Zernhelt, has just filed a new habeas corpus petition — and some of the evidence behind it came directly from Mel's own investigation. Among the claims:

Inaccurate transcripts given to the jury — words allegedly spoken by Pam that were never actually audible on tape.

A defense attorney’s unauthorized admission of guilt, undermining her right to a fair defense.

Jurors influenced by the media, not the evidence.

Faulty jury instructions that failed to define deliberation and premeditation.

Over the next few weeks, Mel will be breaking down these developments, including new expert findings from Marion Davidson and a Loyola University study confirming major transcript errors that went unnoticed for decades.

If you're a listening learner, you'll hopefully get a lot out of listening to Mel read you the new Karen Read complaint.

If you want to read along, here's the court filing: https://www.scribd.com/document/951000000/Karen-Read-Lawsuit#from_embed

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In PART TWO of this mega episode--which was too big to upload, so I'm releasing it in parts--Mel + Rebecca break down Brian Walshe pre-trial updates, Karen Read's civil suit against Proctor, Bukhenik, Tully and the McAlberts, Corri Hopkins gets the sidebahs, Deitch is running for Morrissey’s job, Gaitani helps out Turtleboy, and Depetro reaches out to Rebecca.

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Watch the Brian Walshe hearing on  @Boston25News  : https://www.youtube.com/live/z26hqsgcXVY?si=JqawYIbzwdQSQ9ZY

If you want to listen to the whole complaint, tune in on Friday, November 21, 2025 to The In Between Podcast (wherever you get your podcasts) to listen to Mel read it to you.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-in-between-podcast-with-mel-barrett/id1785257330

In PART ONE of this mega episode--which was too big to upload, so I'm releasing it in parts--Mel + Rebecca break down Brian Walshe pre-trial updates, Karen Read's civil suit against Proctor, Bukhenik, Tully and the McAlberts, Corri Hopkins gets the sidebahs, Deitch is running for Morrissey’s job, Gaitani helps out Turtleboy, and Depetro reaches out to Rebecca.

TIP JAR: https://tinyurl.com/SomethingsOffTips 

You can now join the YouTube channel! Click the join button to select your favorite level. 

Join the Investigator Club (The In Between Podcast) or Crime Writer's On Patreon for the audio drop of Something's Off, AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content.

SO IN THE INVESTIGATOR CLUB: https://tinyurl.com/INVESTIGATORCLUB

SO IN PARTNERS IN CRIME: https://tinyurl.com/SOCWOPIC

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts

Watch the Brian Walshe hearing on  @Boston25News  : https://www.youtube.com/live/z26hqsgcXVY?si=JqawYIbzwdQSQ9ZY

If you want to listen to the whole complaint, tune in on Friday, November 21, 2025 to The In Between Podcast (wherever you get your podcasts) to listen to Mel read it to you.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-in-between-podcast-with-mel-barrett/id1785257330

Mel + Rebecca's coverage of the Karen Read Complaint starts at: 52:09

Something's Off with Mel Barrett + Rebecca Lavoie episode 5.5

Mel + Rebecca break down the final pre-trial hearing before the Dec 1 trial begins for Brian Walshe. We're back in Norfolk County and so are some of the characters from the Karen Read case. It gets SPICY.

AND Turtleboy responds to the Mcalberts threats.

TIP JAR: https://tinyurl.com/SomethingsOffTips

You can now join the YouTube channel! Click the join button to select your favorite level.

Join the Investigator Club (The In Between Podcast) on Patreon for the audio drop of Something's Off, EARLY and AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content, and so much more!

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Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

Something's Off with Mel Barrett + Rebecca Lavoie episode 5

Mel + Rebecca break down the case of rapist, Jesse Butler, who received no jail time even though he almost killed one of his victims, PLUS more Proctor emails in the Marbury V Mad email dump, holy shit the Epstein Files, annnnd Lindsey Gaetani releases an audio memo from one of the conspirators.

TIP JAR: https://tinyurl.com/SomethingsOffTips

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JESSE BUTLER ARREST AFFIDAVIT (WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT AHEAD): chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.newsnationnow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/108/2025/11/JESSE-MACK-BUTLER-FILES-REDACTED-2.pdf

JESSE BUTLER AND HIS SUPPORTIVE FAMILY STARING DOWN ONE OF THE VICTIM'S MOMS: https://oklahomawatch.org/2025/10/22/families-outraged-after-osu-officials-son-spared-prison-in-sexual-assault-case/

JESSE BUTLER ARREST VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p5GpGiNHfY

Jesse Mack Butler was charged with raping and choking two girls at Stillwater High School. Eleven felonies. One girl thought she was going to die. And somehow—he walked. No jail. No detention. Just therapy, community service, and a ban on social media.

In this episode, Mel breaks down exactly what he did, what the victims survived, and how the system—judges, prosecutors, schools—chose to protect him. This isn’t a case of “he said, she said.” This is a case of “she said—and they still didn’t care.”

This one’s tough. But it’s the truth.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted RAINN: https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/

TIP JAR: https://tinyurl.com/SomethingsOffTips

SOMETHING'S OFF on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SomethingsOffPod

Join the Investigator Club (The In Between Podcast) or Crime Writer's On Patreon for the audio drop of Something's Off on Fridays, AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content. SO IN THE INVESTIGATOR CLUB: https://tinyurl.com/INVESTIGATORCLUB SO IN PARTNERS IN CRIME: https://tinyurl.com/SOCWOPIC 

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! 

Something's Off with Mel Barrett + Rebecca Lavoie episode 4

Mel + Rebecca break down the MarburyVMad (Corri Hopkins) MSP email dump from the Karen Read Trial and Mel breaks down the civil case of the 1st grade shooter who shot his teacher, Abigail Zwerner.

TIP JAR: https://tinyurl.com/SomethingsOffTips

You can now join the channel! Click the join button to select your favorite level. Join the Investigator Club (The In Between Podcast) or Crime Writer's On Patreon for the audio drop of Something's Off, AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content.

SO IN THE INVESTIGATOR CLUB: https://tinyurl.com/INVESTIGATORCLUB

SO IN PARTNERS IN CRIME: https://tinyurl.com/SOCWOPIC

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

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And check out listener, Kristan Shimpi's blog, The Thoughtful Mom https://thethoughtfulmom.com/2025/11/01/somethings-off/?fbclid=IwY2xjawN52fBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeiaF6lnQKs_Mx1Id-8LZdku0mMMMiluD-VAhgB_Fu9EFNZwWs8uY0bJGYkpw_aem_TYDfVHFPSLTbIO4EMl85HA

When 36-year-old Sonya Massey—a Black mother of two—called 911 for help during a mental health crisis, she needed compassion. Instead, she was shot in the face by a white sheriff’s deputy in her own kitchen. In this episode of The In Between, host Mel Barrett walks listeners through the events of July 6, 2024, the bodycam footage that shook a community, the trial that followed, and the broader failures in policing, race, and mental health response.

We’ll hear from Sonya’s family, legal experts, and activists demanding change. This isn’t just one isolated tragedy—it’s part of a devastating pattern. And as we trace Sonya’s legacy through courtroom justice, community grief, and legislative reform, we ask: What does accountability really look like when someone dies after asking for help?

⚠️ Content warning: This episode contains detailed discussion of police violence, mental health crisis, and the fatal shooting of a Black woman. Listener discretion is advised.

TIP JAR: https://tinyurl.com/SomethingsOffTips

SOMETHING'S OFF: https://www.youtube.com/@SomethingsOffPod

Join the Investigator Club (The In Between Podcast) or Crime Writer's On Patreon for the audio drop of Something's Off on Fridays, AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content. SO IN THE INVESTIGATOR CLUB: https://tinyurl.com/INVESTIGATORCLUB SO IN PARTNERS IN CRIME: https://tinyurl.com/SOCWOPIC 

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! 

Something's Off with Mel Barrett + Rebecca Lavoie episode 3.5

Mel + Rebecca break down the preservation of Michael Proctor's messages and go on a deep dive into Samanthan Benigno's analysis of the 911 call Jen McCabe made at the scene of John O'Keefe's death. If you weren't already convinced the McCabes and Alberts had something to do with you, you might be after watching Sam's video. We'll link below.

TIP JAR: https://tinyurl.com/SomethingsOffTips

Join the Investigator Club (The In Between Podcast) or Crime Writer's On Patreon for the audio drop of Something's Off on Fridays, AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content. SO IN THE INVESTIGATOR CLUB: https://tinyurl.com/INVESTIGATORCLUB SO IN PARTNERS IN CRIME: https://tinyurl.com/SOCWOPIC 

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! 

Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts