Burden of Proof
Burden of Proof is a True Crime Podcast run by two paralegals, who happen to be generations apart! Elysia (Gen X) and Savannah (Gen Z) met at their law firm, and discovered a lifelong bond and mutual love for true crime. Come with them as they tell each other a new case each week, and use their paralegal experience to breakdown the legalities of what happens when the criminals get caught!
Episodes
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Case Number 74: The Brutal Murder of Corey Parker
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
When 25 year old Corey Parker was found brutally stabbed in her Jacksonville Beach apartment, investigators immediately had their suspicions that she knew her killer. Unfortunately, determining the identity of the perpetrator wasn't so easy. Being a social butterfly with many friends and acquaintances made narrowing down the persons of interest a little more difficult. Having several different DNA samples from the crime scene certainly did not help either.
After ruling out all those suspected from Corey's list of friends, detectives had no choice but to wait for more leads. Over a year later, when a reward was offered for more information, a couple local residents recalled a former coworker who lived in the building next to Corey and how he lied about his need to leave town shortly after her murder.
Join us for this listener requested case as Elysia shocks Savannah with the plot twist she never saw coming and we discuss the difficulties of believing a man who claims innocence when DNA places him at the crime scene.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
Dateline: Rear Window S24 E48
Man's Spit on Ground Solves Murder of a Young Woman Nearly 10 Years Later | Cold Case Files | A&E
https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=93742&page=1
https://www.news4jax.com/news/2018/07/16/man-sentenced-to-life-in-ragtime-waitresss-murder-hopes-for-new-trial/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times/52685934/
https://fdc.myflorida.com/offenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=126916&TypeSearch=AI
https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/first-district-court-of-appeal/2015/15-2003.html
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-district-court-of-appeal/2142745.html
Written closing argument to evidentiary hearing of 2018
https://coreyparker-murder-trial.blogspot.com/2013/06/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28843849/#:~:text=The%20contamination%20of%20crime%20scene,that%20can%20cause%20deceptive%20investigations.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140406115654/http://jacksonville.com:80/tu-online/stories/083102/nes_10315305.shtml
https://web.archive.org/web/20140406115650/http://jacksonville.com:80/tu-online/stories/042705/met_18587233.shtml
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Case Number 73: The Barbecue Pit Murders
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Upon welcoming their adopted daughter, Marlene, into the family, Jim and Naomi Olive almost immediately began to struggle with parenthood. With Jim often away working, Naomi was left to face motherhood and her mental health disorder alone much of the time. This dynamic continued and by Marlene's teen years the toll it took on Marlene was evident.
After they chose to prescribe a cocktail of drugs to "help" Marlene, she really began to spiral. That was when she met Charles David Riley. It was love at first site for Charles and Marlene eventually found a reason to love him back. Despite an age gap and his proclivity to deal and abuse drugs, Jim and Naomi gave the young couple their blessing. A decision they certainly came to regret.
Tune in as Savannah shares this teenage killer tale as old as time. Girl meets boy, boy would do anything for girl, girl says kill my parents. Meanwhile, Elysia has many questions as to why teen killers do what they do.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SykOF4p8ZmU&t=233s
Determinately-Sentenced Nonviolent Parole Process - CDCRca.govhttps://www.cdcr.ca.gov › blog › proposition-57-determi…
https://gabrielaguraiiblaw.com/minors-charged-as-adults-california/#:~:text=Under%20Proposition%2057%2C%20California%20bars,juvenile%20records%20can%20be%20sealed.
https://alchetron.com/Barbecue-murders
https://criminaldiscoursepodcast.com/marlene-olive/
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Case Number 72: Richard Huckle, Britain’s Worst Pedophile
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
********WARNING: This case contains child victims of sexual abuse********
As a student Christian missionary, Richard quickly figured out that he would be whole heartedly trusted with the children. After getting away with his first crime against a child in Cambodia, he decided foreign, poverty stricken communities were easy targets. He then earned his certificate to teach English as a second language and moved through East Asia ultimately settling in Malaysia. Under the premise that he was teaching English and a professional travel photographer he took advantage of the villagers who had accepted him.
Through a rather complicated investigation, Richard was finally caught after 9 years of abusing what is believed to be hundreds of children. Once imprisoned, he found a fate far worse than most of us could imagine.
Keep your "vom bucket" close by as Elysia tells this incredibly disturbing story about Britain's worst Pedophile and the final encounter he had with sex offender, Paul Fitzgerald. Meanwhile, Savannah attempts to delay the story with more palatable conversation, some of which we've saved for you at the end so be sure to listen past the credits!
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nULEpeA4v7k
The Predator Within the Christian Church: Richard Huckle (True Crime Documentary)
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/13/shining-a-light-on-the-dark-web-how-the-police-ended-up-running-a-paedophile-site
https://mapsexoffenders.com/sex-crimes-richard-huckle/
https://www.thelawpages.com/court-cases/Richard-Huckle-17648-1.law
https://www.sundayworld.com/crime/cannibal-killer-who-raped-and-murdered-paedophile-richard-huckle-committed-first-sex-offence-at-12/39813976.html
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Jan 04, 2024
Case Number 71: The Senseless Murder of Karen Gregory
Thursday Jan 04, 2024
Thursday Jan 04, 2024
Karen Gregory had just taken the next big step to moved in with her boyfriend. While he was away on a business trip out of state, she was going to spend the time unpacking and settling in to their new home. When Karen failed to answer the phone or contact him for nearly two days, he began to worry and called friends, family and a friendly neighbor.
That neighbor was the first to discover Karen's body and call first responders, or was she? It was another neighbor, George Lewis, that investigators inevitably had to set their sights on despite not wanting to believe the fireman and neighborhood watch leader could be responsible. However, he insisted that all he was guilty of was panic and making a bad decision not to call authorities.
Join us as Savannah shares this story of a not so watchful neighborhood and learns what the Florida panhandle is while Elysia shares her deep fear of central Florida. Correction: Gulfport is, in fact, in the Tampa Bay area and not in the Florida panhandle. Geography is clearly not our strong suit.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.oxygen.com/an-unexpected-killer/crime-news/karen-gregory-killed-by-neighborhood-watch-captain-george-lewis
https://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/former-firefighter-george-lewis-convicted-in-1984-gulfport-murder-dies-in/2186636/
https://medium.com/the-crime-center/the-community-trusted-him-but-he-was-a-killer-inside-247cbce33cef
https://thekillerqueenblog.com/the-person-you-least-suspect-the-murder-of-karen-gregory/
https://wickedness.net/murders/karen-gregory/
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-district-court-of-appeal/1070509.html
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Dec 28, 2023
Case Number 70: A New Year’s Double Homicide
Thursday Dec 28, 2023
Thursday Dec 28, 2023
Brandon Hutchinson's life had always been riddled with trouble, but when he moved to Missouri to get away from it all he found himself in deeper trouble than ever before. The addiction he had been trying to run away from only grew worse when he began working for his cousin's new husband, Freddie Lopez. One bad decision led to another on New Year's 1995 when Freddie's party began to come to an end leaving Brandon alone with Freddie's right hand man, Michael Salazar, and brothers Ronald and Brian Yates.
Though each of the men have slightly differing accounts, what is known for sure is that the Yates brothers ended up shot multiple times, first to disable them and eventually to execute them. Brandon, Michael and Freddie all faced the same consequences until a deal was made and a sudden turn of events provided an opportunity to see how different the court system can be when a defendant has money.
Join us to hear this insane he said, he said, he said story as Elysia tries to make sense of it all and Savannah gives the what for on reality tv.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
I Am a Killer S2: A Silent Order
https://www.courts.mo.gov/SUP/index.nsf/0/7bc362df8b773d8286256eeb00693bac/$FILE/SC85548_State_brief.pdf
https://law.justia.com/cases/missouri/supreme-court/1997/79453-0.html
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/mo-court-of-appeals/1130365.html
https://web.mo.gov/doc/offSearchWeb/offenderInfoAction.do
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/crimprof_blog/2004/12/missouri_death_.html
https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/mans-death-sentence-overturned/article_f1afdaac-889d-516a-a3a0-857141c8f517.html
https://www.fossettmosherfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Brandon-Scott-Hutchison?obId=8675383
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
Case Number 69: Swim Crossed Lovers, Colin Howell and Hazel Stewart
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
It was lust at first sight when the successful Dentist, husband and father, Colin, met the younger wife and mother, Hazel, at their children's swim lessons. They quickly began an affair and were anything but discreet. Once caught by church elders, they agreed to end the relationship and attend counseling with their spouses. However, the two started their affair again and came up with a plan on how they could be together and not lose their good standing in the church.
Thanks to some questionable determinations from investigators, Colin and Hazel were free to be together for years. Of course, it didn't quite turn out to be the fairytale ending they had hoped.
Tune in as Savannah shares how this narcissistic abuser destroyed everyone he touched and how having an affair turned into hiding bodies. Meanwhile, Elysia has very little commentary other than she hates everything about it and wants to crawl out of her skin.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.irishmirror.ie/tv/secret-colin-howell-hazel-stewart-27420573
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9736585/Murdering-dentist-Colin-Howell-power-says-accomplice-Hazel-Stewart.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Howell
https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/Murder-and-Lust-in-The-Baptist-Church
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Case Number 68: The Conviction of Chris Wright
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Chris Wright was living the dream in 2007. He was newly married to his beautiful wife, Bianca, lived in the equally beautiful Salt Lake City, and worked a successful career in real estate. Everything changed though, when he took his neighbor up on an offer to introduce him to Ken Doleszar. Ken was a potential investor for Chris' latest real estate project.
When Ken was gunned down in front of an eye witness just two weeks before he was due to invest in the deal, Chris and Bianca's lives were flipped upside down. The case built on a questionable eye witness testimony, a lack of expert testimony, and mostly circumstantial evidence somehow still managed to convince a jury that Chris Wright was the shooter.
Join us for this lengthy but truly wild ride where Elysia gives not only the facts of the case, but the conspiracy theory as to why it's possible Chris was set up. Meanwhile, Savannah does a terrible job at disclaiming that we're not saying who did it, but she's definitely saying Chris is innocent. Also, stay tuned after for the rest of our conversation on our confidence in driving trains versus flying planes!
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Links mentioned in episode:
https://innocenceproject.org/
https://thewrongwright.com/
Sources:
https://thewrongwright.com/
Dateline: S20, E21 Suspicion
https://casetext.com/case/state-v-wright-102534
https://casetext.com/rule/utah-court-rules/utah-rules-of-appellate-procedure/title-5-general-provisions/rule-23b-motion-to-remand-for-findings-necessary-to-determination-of-ineffective-assistance-of-counsel-claim
https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=52826422&itype=cmsid
https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/news/ci_4336239
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Case Number 67: The Tinder Murder of Sydney Loofe
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Despite using safety precautions when meeting a date from the ever popular app Tinder, Sydney Loofe was not prepared for what was to happen the night of November 15, 2017. Her date, Audrey, had spent some time gaining Sydney's trust and that night and convinced her to meet at her apartment. Unfortunately, Audrey was not who she claimed to be.
Audrey was actually Bailey Boswell, a woman in her twenties who had lured several women into a cult created by her much older boyfriend, Aubrey Trail. This time was different though. Instead of luring Sydney into a fantasy sex scandal revolving around vampires and witches, they lured her to their apartment with the intention of killing her.
Tune in as Savannah shares the gruesome details of how and why these two decided murder was the ultimate goal and Elysia dies on the hill that romantic relationships like this should not exist though she's too flabbergasted to concisely state it's because of the imbalance of perceived power.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Links to Trafficking Information and Ways to Help:
The Sydney Loofe Memorial Scholarship
The Set Me Free Project
The Polaris Project
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sydney_Loofe
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21241820/
https://omaha.com/the-murder-of-sydney-loofe-a-timeline-of-the-case/html_7855d868-3dac-11ec-801f-93818f3bc651.html
https://delanirbartlette.medium.com/the-bizarre-disappearance-and-murder-of-sydney-loofe-68838e87b225
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Nov 30, 2023
Case Number 66: Paul Stephen Kruse, Financial Advisor Turned Criminal
Thursday Nov 30, 2023
Thursday Nov 30, 2023
Paul Kruse wasn't about the life he grew up in. He dreamed of living a life of luxury and he legitimately did for a little while. When things fell apart and he was forced to work for more modest means, he decided he was willing to lie, cheat and steal his way to the life he wanted.
He might have gotten away with his scheme for longer had he not made gross advances toward the underage daughter of his assistant, Amy. She knew something was sketchy about his business and wanted him to pay for trying to take advantage of her child. Little did Amy know that turning him in to the FBI would be just the beginning!
Tune in as Elysia gives all the details on this unbelievable case of fraud, pedophilia, and murder for hire and Savannah laughs until she "can't" and tries to end the show.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/27/how-to-blow-the-whistle-on-your-boss-and-live-to-tell-about-it.html
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2013/07/31/jacksonville-con-man-who-tried-hire-hitman-sentenced-30-years-prison/15820988007/
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/jacksonville-man-convicted-orchestrating-scheme-defraud-attempting-murder-witness-and
https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-kruse-1
https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/jacksonville/press-releases/2013/florida-man-sentenced-to-30-years-in-prison-for-orchestrating-fraud-scheme-attempting-to-murder-witness-and-murder-for-hire
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca11/13-13787/13-13787-2015-02-10.html
https://www.palmbeachfederaldefense.com/2023/06/the-application-of-the-sophisticated-means-enhancement-in-federal-fraud-cases#:~:text=The%20Sophisticated%20Means%20Enhancement%20holds,carry%20out%20the%20fraudulent%20scheme.
https://www.justice.gov/action-center/locate-prison-inmate-or-sex-offender
American Greed: A Mother's Costly Revenge S10 E3
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Nov 23, 2023
Case Number 65: The Guy Family Thanksgiving
Thursday Nov 23, 2023
Thursday Nov 23, 2023
When Joel and Lisa Guy hosted their children and grandchildren for Thanksgiving of 2016, they had no idea their dreams of retirement would be abruptly destroyed. Joel Michael, their youngest and only biological child together, was less than happy for them. After all, how is a 28 year old man supposed to live if Mom and Dad can no longer afford to pay his bills?
When Joel Michael arrived for the holiday, he came prepared with a to do list and plastic totes in tow. His sister noticed him behaving oddly but never could have suspected what his real intentions were. The following Monday police received a call that Lisa Guy had not shown up to work which was especially odd because it was also her retirement celebration. A welfare check on her would prove to be the most gruesome scene the officers had ever encountered.
Join us for this special Thanksgiving episode when you can stomach some gore as Savannah chokes out the horrific way this son "fixed" his financial dilemma and Elysia explains why it's unwise for anyone to assume they know what they will inherit after a parent's death.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/3-grisly-thanksgiving-family-murders-that-will-make-you-hug-your-family-tighter-this-season
https://allthatsinteresting.com/joel-guy-jr
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/12/01/at-thanksgiving-his-sisters-said-he-was-fine-but-days-later-he-dismembered-their-parents-police-say/
https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/Diabolical-Stew-of-Human-Remains-The-Dismemberment-Murder-of-Joel-and-Lisa-Guy
https://www.oxygen.com/homicide-for-the-holidays/crime-news/joel-lisa-guy-killed-by-son-after-thanksgiving-party
https://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/OpinionsPDFVersion/Majority%20Opinion%20-%20State%20of%20Tennessee%20v.%20Joel%20Michael%20Guy%2C%20Jr.%20-%20E2021-00560-CCA-R3-CD.pdf
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181