In Episode five, host Mel Barrett, goes on a deep dive into the prosecutor in Veronika's case: Pier Hess Graf

Pier Hess Graf didn’t just prosecute the alleged victim in this case, she went hard at Veronika Rodriguez, asking for up to 16 years in prison for reporting her own sexual assault. I wonder where that kind of resentment and unrelenting spite comes from. Did getting accused of sleeping her way into the DA’s office create internalized misogyny in Pier Hess Graf? Why has she never brought a sexual assault case before Veronika’s? Is her ambition to fit into the boy’s club so great that she hates women because of it?

Pier Hess Graf will be remembered as a DA who inspired fierce loyalty and fierce opposition. You can respect her relentlessness in court and still demand she follow ethics. You can back law enforcement and still expect independence. You can acknowledge false accusations exist–though in my opinion, not in Veronika’s case–and you can still refuse to build a system that punishes reporting itself.

Those aren’t contradictions. They’re the bare minimum for a justice system worthy of the word justice.

Please share. Veronika's sentencing happens on August 20, 2025 so sharing this episode helps get the word out about what really happened in her case.

Back story: Veronika Rodriguez reported her rape to police. She even had evidence to prove it happened. Still police didn't believe her and turned her from victim, to accused, to convicted.

Mel hadn’t planned to make a several episode push about one subject in between seasons, but this story has fallen into her lap and she can’t look away. Veronika has been tried and convicted of making a false report of sexual assault and felony wiretapping in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvaia. She is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2025.

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In this episode of The In Between Podcast, Mel spends an hour discussing the alleged assault of Veronika Rodriguez with the man she accused...Fahad Pervez

Please share. Veronika's sentencing happens on August 20, 2025 so sharing this episode helps get the word out about what really happened in her case.

Back story: Veronika Rodriguez reported her rape to police. She even had evidence to prove it happened. Still police didn't believe her and turned her from victim, to accused, to convicted.

Mel hadn’t planned to make a several episode push about one subject in between seasons, but this story has fallen into her lap and she can’t look away. Veronika has been tried and convicted of making a false report of sexual assault and felony wiretapping in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvaia. She is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2025.

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In this episode of The In Between Podcast, Mel goes on a deep dive into the investigation and even manages to score an interview with an elusive guest.

Please share. Veronika's sentencing happens on August 20, 2025 so sharing this episode helps get the word out about what really happened in her case.

Back story: Veronika Rodriguez reported her rape to police. She even had evidence to prove it happened. Still police didn't believe her and turned her from victim, to accused, to convicted.

Mel hadn’t planned to make a several episode push about one subject in between seasons, but this story has fallen into her lap and she can’t look away. Veronika has been tried and convicted of making a false report of sexual assault and felony wiretapping in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvaia. She is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2025.

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This is a dark week for TIBP, as Mel is currently investigating the Veronika Rodriguez case which is very much a living, breathing story. A new episode about Veronika’s story will air next tuesday, August 5, 2025. 

Season One of TIBP, which re-investigates the Pamela Smart case, didn’t just revisit a high-profile trial—Mel's reporting uncovered new evidence, new witnesses, major discrepancies between the wiretaps and transcripts, and a constitutional violation during trial when Pamela’s own defense told the jury she was guilty—without her consent. A new habeas petition is in the works, her first real shot at a new trial in 35 years. Mel also found a juror who admitted to convicting based on a false media report—and a witness who can testify to that. This is no longer just a podcast—it’s become a story with legal traction, so for those of you who haven’t listened to season one, Mel wanted to drop the first episode–Live Free or Die–here while you await the concluding weeks of Veronika’s story. 

And if you’re looking for ad-free bonus content, don’t forget to subscribe to the TBIP club at the researcher level to gain more access to content, behind-the-scenes looks at cases, and lives with special guests.

Your support keeps this train on the tracks and we couldn’t do it with out you. So please hit the subscribe button, rate, and review to keep us moving.

And now…Season One, episode one of the In between podcast: Live Free or Die, the Pamela Smart story. 

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It's getting wild. Here's an update about the case. 

This one's important. Please listen, share, rate, review.

Veronika Rodriguez reported her rape to police. She even had evidence to prove it happened. Still police didn't believe her and turned her from victim, to accused, to convicted.

Mel hadn’t planned to make a several episode push about one subject in between seasons, but this story has fallen into her lap and she can’t look away. Veronika has been tried and convicted of making a false report of sexual assault and felony wiretapping in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvaia. She is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2025.

Join the club for AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content of The In Between Podcast: https://patreon.com/TheInBetweenPodcastwithMelBarrett?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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In part two of the Veronika Rodriguez Story, Mel digs into who Veronika is and how she got caught up in the fight for her life and liberty. 

Veronika Rodriguez reported her rape to police. She even had evidence to prove it happened. Still police didn't believe her and turned her from victim, to accused, to convicted.

Mel hadn’t planned to make a several episode push about one subject in between seasons, but this story has fallen into her lap and she can’t look away. Veronika has been tried and convicted of making a false report of sexual assault and felony wiretapping in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvaia. She is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2025.

Join the club for AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content of The In Between Podcast: https://patreon.com/TheInBetweenPodcastwithMelBarrett?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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Host, Mel Barrett, is bringing you another case that will blow your mind.

Veronika Rodriguez reported her rape to police. She even had evidence to prove it happened. Still police didn't believe her and turned her from victim, to accused, to convicted.

Mel hadn’t planned to make a several episode push about one subject in between seasons, but this story has fallen into her lap and she can’t look away. Veronika has been tried and convicted of making a false report of sexual assault and felony wiretapping in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvaia. She is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2025.

Join the club for AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content of The In Between Podcast: https://patreon.com/TheInBetweenPodcastwithMelBarrett?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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To email Pam your condolences, go to SecurusTech.net and add Pam as a contact. Here's her info: 

PAMELA SMART 

93G0356 

Bedford Hills Correctional Facility

You'll have to pay for stamps, but it's a minimal cost. 

If you'd like to donate to Pam's legal fight, donate here: https://www.payit2.com/f/supportpamelasmart

All the money raised goes to Pam's legal team who are working pro-bono right now to file her new Habeus Petition. They have a VERY STRONG case and have already paid experts for their time, but as they're in Maryland, they'll all need to travel to New Hampshire for hearings, so your donation goes to funding a good legal team, expert witnesses, travel, and administrative expenses. 

If you'd like to donate to Pam directly for commissary (food, toiletries, etc), go here: jpay.com and enter in the same info for Pam as above.

Thanks for all you do, lovely listeners. I'd love to get a campaign going for Pam like the one created for Karen Read. 

If you're interested in being involved, have ideas, or just want to know more, feel free to email: [email protected]

Join host, Mel Barrett, as she wraps up the Karen Read case, analyzes the post trial media, discusses what's next for the investigation and her own work on other cases.

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Subscribe for updates about the second trial and catch Mel on Crime Writers On The Readathon with Rebecca Lavoie as they discuss the new trial.

This will be a regular thing throughout the trial so join the conversation here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/595523?view=expanded

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Rebecca + Kevin from Crime Writers On and your host, Mel break down what happened on the final day of the Karen Read retrial - including a wild thing that happened in a parking lot in Dedham.