Charles Raby is tried for the murder of Edna Franklin. The murder weapon is missing, and no physical evidence ties him to the crime. But he’s up against a powerful prosecutor’s office, and his attorneys call no witnesses. The jury sentences him to death.
If you’d like to support our work, go to theintercept.com/donate — your donation, no matter what the amount, makes a real difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep. 3: The Trial

Harris County, Texas, has sent more people to death row than any jurisdiction in the nation. Among them is Charles Raby. He confessed to the grisly murder of an elderly woman in Houston in 1992. But the evidence tells a different story — one in which the state went after the wrong man. In the second season of Murderville, Intercept reporters Liliana Segura and Jordan Smith explore faulty forensics, the fallibility of memory, and a system ill-equipped to acknowledge its mistakes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

News

Documentary

True crime

Intercept Senior Editor Andrea Jones speaks with Jordan Smith and Liliana Segura — the reporters behind Murderville, Texas — on The Intercept’s podcast Intercepted. They discuss how they learned about Charles Raby’s death penalty case and his innocence claim and the investigative reporting that ensued, such as talking to key individuals involved, including detectives. They also talk about how they met Linda McClain, the daughter of the woman who Raby was convicted of murdering in 1992. They also share an update from McClain.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Scenes of Murderville, Texas

A homicide detective reveals something unexpected about the practices of the Houston Police Department. He says he cleared the alternate suspect in the murder of Edna Franklin — but it turns out the suspect’s alibi was a lie.
If you’d like to support our work, go to theintercept.com/donate — your donation, no matter what the amount, makes a real difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep. 9: The Other Suspect

Charles Raby’s early life was defined by abuse and neglect. His own behavior later took a toll on the people who knew him, many of whom remain certain that he killed Edna Franklin. No one is more convinced than his ex-girlfriend, who has a surprising story about Charles that she says proves his guilt. Charles is adamant the story isn’t true. But memories are complicated things.
If you’d like to support our work, go to theintercept.com/donate — your donation, no matter what the amount, makes a real difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep. 8: Memories

Charles Raby says he confessed to protect his girlfriend, Merry Alice Gomez. Some people don’t believe this — as they understand it, Charles had only known Merry Alice for a few weeks when Edna Franklin was murdered. Why would he lie for a woman he barely knew? But it turns out this premise was incorrect. And there’s a lot more to Merry Alice’s story.
If you’d like to support our work, go to theintercept.com/donate — your donation, no matter what the amount, makes a real difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep. 7: Merry Alice

Linda McClain has always believed that Charles Raby killed her mother. But when she finds out about the evidence concealed at trial, it raises new questions. And she has insight into the death penalty that most people don’t: Charles isn’t the only person she’s known on Texas’s death row.
If you’d like to support our work, go to theintercept.com/donate — your donation, no matter what the amount, makes a real difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep. 3: The Trial

Download our free app to listen on your phone