The Jury's Verdict

It is undeniable that most people have done something as a result of being pressured by others before. While being pressured can happen in a variety of scenarios, it can cause many issues, especially in terms of the law. For instance, when Brooke Skylar Richardson was accused of killing her infant by the police, she denied it in the interrogation room multiple times before switching up her story to agree with the police that she had killed her baby. But while the prosecution argued that this was clearly a confession, the defense argued that she had given in to pressure from the investigators.

So the question became, was Brooke telling the truth when she gave her "confession" or was she simply telling the police what they wanted to hear? It was up to the jury to decide.

When everyone first heard that Mackenzie Shirilla, Dominic Russo, and Davion Flanagan got into a tragic accident that killed Dominic and Davion and left Mackenzie fighting for her life, everyone flocked to give Mackenzie, the "victim," support. But as the truth about what happened that day in July 2022 came to light, everyone started to realize that Mackenzie was not a victim but rather a cold-blooded murderer.

When many of us think of terrorist attacks, 9/11 will come to mind. While 9/11 has drastically shaped our nation today, sometimes our society tends to focus on the group and people who committed 9/11 rather than focusing on those who had to suffer because of it. Through this episode of our I SURVIVED Series, we showcase the immense suffering, hardship, and pain that the victims of 9/11 had to endure rather than talking about who caused those feelings of anguish.

Terry Marker, John Harris, American Airlines Flight 444, Percy Wood, Janet Smith, Diogenes Angelakos, John Hauser, James V. McConnell, Nicklaus Suino, Hugh Scrutton, Gary Wright, Charles Epstein, David Gelernter, Thomas J. Mosser, and Gilbert Brent Murray, were all victims of the Unabomber or Ted Kaczynski. Kaczynski led a nationwide bombing campaign for almost two decades and killed three people while injuring dozens. However, despite doing such horrific things, our society tends to remember him, rather than those that deserve to be remembered, such as his victims. So in this episode of our I SURVIVED Series, we will be focusing on all those names listed above and their stories.

This episode details the stories of many people who had the misfortune of encountering Bonnie and Clyde in their lives. And while there are countless victims of Bonnie and Clyde, many of them, we do not know about, because there is simply no information available on them. However, in this episode, we highlight the stories of those we do know about. So we can remember them, and honor them, instead of doing the same for someone who might not deserve it as much. This is the story of John N. Bucher, Sheriff Eugene Moore, Howard Hall, Doyle Johnson, Officer G.H. "Boots" Bailey, Officer Harry McGinnis, Edward Bryan Wheeler, H.D. Murphy, and Constable William "Cal" Campbell.

This episode details the stories of many people who had the misfortune of encountering Al Capone in their lives. And while there are countless victims of Al Capone, many of them, we do not know about, because there is simply no information available on them. However, in this episode, we highlight the stories of those we do know about. So we can remember them, and honor them, instead of doing the same for someone who might not deserve it as much.

I SURVIVED SERIES

In this episode, we highlight the aftermath of the Ted Bundy attacks at FSU and how the investigators worked to build a strong case against him. We showcase the effects the attacks had on those who were subject to them and the trial and sentencing that, ultimately, brought Ted Bundy to justice.

I SURVIVED SERIES

This episode showcases the stories of Elizabeth Kloepfer, Caryn Eileen Campbell, Julie Lyle Cunningham, Denise Lynn Oliverson, Lynette Dawn Culver, Susan Curtis, Margaret Elizabeth Bowman, Lisa Janet Levy, Kathy Kleiner, Karen Chandler, and Cheryl Thomas, who all had the misfortune of encountering Ted Bundy. This episode tries to focus on and remember their stories, instead of remembering the man that killed them. Because in this way, we can keep their memory alive and have them survive through us.

I SURVIVED SERIES

This episode showcases the stories of Karen Sparks, Lynda Ann Healy, Donna Gail Manson, Susan Elaine Rancourt, Roberta Kathleen Park, Brenda Carol Ball, Georgeann Hawkins, Janice Ann Ott, Denise Marie Naslund, Hitchiker from Idaho, Nancy Wilcox, Melissa Anne Smith, Laura Ann Aime, Carol DaRonch, and Debra Jean Kent, who all had the misfortune of encountering Ted Bundy in their lives. Except in this episode, we try to focus on and remember their stories, instead of remembering the man who killed them. Because in this way, we can keep their memory alive and have them survive through us.

In American history, there have been countless notorious criminals. These criminals have committed heartless acts, usually over and over and over again. These criminals have ruined lives, prevented futures, and have given heart-wrenching pain to more friends and families than we can ever imagine. But it seems as though society rewards these criminals by remembering them and often glorifying them while forgetting the victims. For instance, you all know the names of Ted Bundy, Jeffery Dahmer, and Al Capone. But do you know the names of Kathy Kleiner, Anthony Sears, and James Clark? Chances are, probably not. So I’ve decided to start a series called I Survived. I’ll upload weekly episodes, right here, on The Jury’s Verdict podcast page, talking about America’s notorious criminals, but with an emphasis on their victims. Because the real people we should be talking about, remembering, and glorifying are the victims and not the criminals. And we can start doing this by talking about their stories, instead of focusing on the perpetrators. I hope you guys enjoy this series and make sure to tune in for the first episode.