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 Aug 10, 2023
Case Number 50: Ellie Nesler, The Vigilante Mom
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
The Nesler family story starts like so many others. Ellie Nesler sent son to a trusted church youth camp one summer. Month's later when Ellie finds out that a previously convicted pedophile who was working at the camp had sexually assaulted her son, she did what any mother would do. She notified the police. Unfortunately, it took well over two years for the man to face justice. It's then that Ellie changes the ending.
Tune in as Elysia explains Ellie's downward spiral and her final act in an attempt to end her family's nightmare. Meanwhile, Savannah throws tomatoes at the court and scolds Elysia for the aftermath.
Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/4th/16/561.html
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-obit-nesler-122908-2008dec29-story.html
https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-nesler30-2008dec30-story.html
https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/how-far-would-you-go-to-protect-your-child_1
https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/how-child-molestation-tore-the-nesler-family-apart/all
https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/nesler-family-timeline
https://www.denverpost.com/2008/12/29/ellie-nesler-killed-sons-accused-molester-in-courtroom-shooting/
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/04/08/Evaluation-paints-portrait-of-man-killed-in-courtroom/7421734241600/
https://rarefilmm.com/2020/02/judgement-day-the-ellie-nesler-story-1999/
Ellie Nesler Killed her son's molester in Jamestown court
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Case Number 49: The Gruesome Crimes of Taylor Schabusiness
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
This week Savannah ventures way out of her comfort zone to give you all the details of Taylor Schabusiness and her crimes against Shad Thyrion, her former boyfriend. After Shad's mother found his head in a bucket at the bottom of her basement steps, police immediately found Taylor who was presumably the last person to see him alive. Taylor was literally caught red handed!
Tune in to hear Savannah deep dive into all the gory details including what drove this woman to commit such atrocities as murders and changing her name to Schabusiness. For fun, you can create a game around how many times Elysia says "Oh my God!" or "Schabusiness!".
Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/423UisBKCJJWajgMeAEDY3?si=B7IPqIYZSau63QPOt0kgDA
https://nypost.com/2023/07/27/taylor-schabusiness-guilty-of-kiling-lover-abusing-corpse/amp/
https://nypost.com/2023/07/26/taylor-schabusiness-describes-allegedly-dismembering-abusing-lovers-body/
https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2022/03/04/what-we-know-green-bay-decapitation-taylor-schabusiness-shad-thyrion/9363885002/
https://heavy.com/news/taylor-schabusiness-husband-warren-family/amp/
https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/updates-from-the-courtroom-everything-that-happened-on-day-1-of-taylor-schabusinesss-trial/amp/
https://www.scribd.com/document/646744221/Schabusiness-Motion-to-Suppress
https://www.distractify.com/p/why-did-taylor-schabusiness-attack-her-attorney
https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/pop-culture/news-what-happened-taylor-schabusiness-mom-brother-real-last-name-family-wake-father-s-trial-testimony
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Case Number 48: The Carlie Brucia Tragedy
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
**********WARNING: This case includes extra sensitive material including a child victim, sexual assault, and addiction**********
Join us for this listener requested case that has left us reeling! On Super Bowl Sunday of 2004, 11 year old Carlie Brucia made the grave mistake of walking home alone from a friend's house. Her mom, Susan, and stepfather, Steve, immediately began looking for her but it was too late. Just minutes after leaving her friend's house, Carlie was approached and grabbed by a stranger. Find out how detectives catch the murderer, why he thought he could escape the death penalty, and the terrible aftermath as Elysia walks us through this tragic story and Savannah hates every word so much she can't sit still.
Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/video/see-no-evil-investigation-discovery/come-home-carlie
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-supreme-court/1504427.html
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/hr3107
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2013/05/29/murder-victims-mother-arrested-near-nokomis-park/29178835007/
https://people.com/crime/mom-carlie-brucia-florida-girl-killed-in-high-profile-2004-case-dies-suspected-drug-overdose/
https://www.mysuncoast.com/2021/07/26/convicted-killer-carlie-brucia-dies-prison/
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Case Number 47: John Leonard Orr AKA The Pillow Pyro, Part 2
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
When we left Captain John Orr in Part 1, he was just about to become the ATF's number one suspect in the Pillow Pyro arson cases. Hold on because the story is far from over! Elysia spills all the tea about John's dream of being a published author, the last series of fires, and how his, not one, not two, but three trials went! Meanwhile Savannah discusses a couple more brief legal lessons and confesses her love for ambiance.
Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
Burned: Pyromania, Murder, and a Daughter's Nightmare by Frank C. Girardot, Jr. and Lori Orr Kovach
https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/john-orr-arsonist-father-firefighter-murderer-family-lori-orr-kovach
https://murderpedia.org/male.O/o/orr-john-leonard.htm
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/29/636/480471/
https://www.oxygen.com/a-lie-to-die-for/crime-time/john-leonard-orr-serial-arsonist-unpublished-book-arrest/california
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Case Number 47: John Leonard Orr AKA The Pillow Pyro, Part 1
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
What comes to mind at the mention of fires in the L.A. area in the early 1990's? Eclipsed in the national news by things like police brutality, riots and the infamous OJ Simpson trial, The Pillow Pyro and the prolific string of arsons he committed is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Tune in to find out how investigators began to suspect John Orr, an otherwise esteemed air force veteran and fire captain. Elysia walks us through John's early life, who he was as a family man, and the hunt for The Pillow Pyro as Savannah picks John out of a line up and discusses her love of certain mustached men.
Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
Burned: Pyromania, Murder, and a Daughter's Nightmare by Frank C. Girardot, Jr. and Lori Orr Kovach
https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/john-orr-arsonist-father-firefighter-murderer-family-lori-orr-kovach
https://murderpedia.org/male.O/o/orr-john-leonard.htm
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/29/636/480471/
https://www.oxygen.com/a-lie-to-die-for/crime-time/john-leonard-orr-serial-arsonist-unpublished-book-arrest/california
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Case Number 46: The Terrifying Story of Lori Vallow Daybell, Part 2
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
****WARNING: This case includes extra sensitive material including child victims****
We pick up part 2 of Lori's story with as much humor as possible because things take a very disturbing turn. So, we hope you like potatoes as much as we do! Savannah dives deeper into the conspiracy, Lori's rapidly declining behavior, more murders, how the police began investigating, and Lori's trial. Meanwhile, Elysia points out the obvious red flags in Chad Daybell's claims and presents a theory on one of his and Lori's delusional beliefs.
Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lori-vallow-chad-daybell-what-did-they-do-doomsday-mom-murders-case-timeline/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/lori-vallow-case-summary-timeline-b2341368.html
https://www.newsweek.com/accused-killers-chad-lori-daybell-had-cult-like-belief-system-documents-reveal-1637138
https://coi.isc.idaho.gov/docs/case/CR22211624/032123%20Proposed%20Jury%20Instructions.pdf
https://lawandcrime.com/crime/there-was-a-lot-of-inappropriate-sexual-touching-between-alex-cox-and-his-sister-lori-vallow-daybell-dead-mans-ex-wife-claims/
The Doomsday Mother: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of an American Family - John Glatt, 2022
When the Moon Turns to BloodLeah Sottile, 2022
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Case Number 46: The Terrifying Story of Lori Vallow Daybell, Part 1
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
********WARNING: This case includes extra sensitive material including domestic violence and child victims********
How does a previously devoted mother begin to believe her children are dark spirited and the only way to save everyone is if they die? A good start is twisting her religion into a doomsday cult like conspiracy theology. Tune in as Savannah breaks down the case of Lori Vallow Daybell and opens up about her fear of the LDS church. Dig deeper with Elysia as she asks the real hard hitting questions about Lori's prophetic angel.
Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lori-vallow-chad-daybell-what-did-they-do-doomsday-mom-murders-case-timeline/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/lori-vallow-case-summary-timeline-b2341368.html
https://www.newsweek.com/accused-killers-chad-lori-daybell-had-cult-like-belief-system-documents-reveal-1637138
https://coi.isc.idaho.gov/docs/case/CR22211624/032123%20Proposed%20Jury%20Instructions.pdf
https://lawandcrime.com/crime/there-was-a-lot-of-inappropriate-sexual-touching-between-alex-cox-and-his-sister-lori-vallow-daybell-dead-mans-ex-wife-claims/
The Doomsday Mother: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of an American Family - John Glatt, 2022
When the Moon Turns to BloodLeah Sottile, 2022
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
Case Number 45: William ”Randy” Triplett, The Cash Launderer
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
When Billy and Debbie Triplett are found murdered in their Clay County home, detectives know the killer is most likely someone the couple knew. Not only because things like double homicide just didn't happen in the small town, but also the gruesome nature of what otherwise appeared to be a robbery. However, every lead went seemingly nowhere until Billy's son, Randy Triplett, entrusts some laundered cash to a friend. Literally, the cash had been washed. Laugh along as Elysia dives into the ridiculous details of Randy's actions after the murders and Savannah gives us all a legal lesson on why you aren't allowed to forge your dead father's signature to sell his car!
Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.oxygen.com/floribama-murders/crime-news/randy-triplett-robbed-slaughtered-his-father-stepmom
https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2016/04/convicted_double_killer_found.html
https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2003/06/30/son-receives-life-sentence-for-slaying-his-father/32340423007/
https://codes.findlaw.com/al/title-13a-criminal-code/al-code-sect-13a-9-3-1.html
https://www.findlaw.com/state/alabama-law/alabama-capital-punishment-laws.html
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Case Number 44: Elizabeth Holmes: TheraNOs
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Elizabeth seemingly grew up on the fast track for success. Wealthy, well connected parents, opportunities to learn all over the world, and a big enough college fund to attend Stanford University. Elizabeth was a dreamer though. Unfortunately, her dream would end very differently than so many rich kids who run Fortune 500 companies. Tune in as Savannah tells how this college drop out would go on to scam hundreds of millions of dollars away from investors and Elysia debates on the why.
Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/us-v-elizabeth-holmes-et-al
https://www.businessinsider.com/theranos-founder-ceo-elizabeth-holmes-life-story-bio-2018-4?amp
https://www.forbes.com/profile/elizabeth-holmes/?sh=761f573847a7
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Holmes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2019/02/17/4-startling-insights-into-elizabeth-holmes-from-psychiatrist-whos-known-here-since-childhood/?sh=3aaf6018366b
https://www.biospace.com/article/as-a-child-elizabeth-holmes-was-guarded-and-private-school-friend-tells-abc/
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/17/elizabeth-holmes-owes-over-25-million-to-theranos-lawsuit-says.html
https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/07/tech/theranos-rise-and-fall/index.html
Who-is-billy-evans-elizabeth-holmes-husband
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Thursday Jun 08, 2023
Case Number 43: The Assassinations of George Moscone and Harvey Milk
Thursday Jun 08, 2023
Thursday Jun 08, 2023
Join us in a little Pride history lesson as we cover the lives and deaths of two great men that played an integral part in the LGBTQ+ community! As Mayor of San Francisco and ally to the community, George Moscone used his position and privilege to open doors for many who had always been oppressed and under represented. As San Francisco city supervisor, Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to hold an elected position in the U.S. When George had an opportunity to turn the board of city supervisors in their parties favor, former fellow city supervisor, Dan White, claimed to see it as a personal betrayal. Was Dan really just the depressed and desperate man his defense team claimed him to be? Or was Dan quick to react with violence out of a lack of regard to the lives of those different than him? Tune in and decide for yourself as Elysia and Savannah give it their all! The facts, the eww's, the awe's, at least one dad joke, and some tears!
Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
Murder at City Hall: The killing of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk
https://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Myth-of-the-Twinkie-defense-The-verdict-in-2511152.php
https://advance.lexis.com/documentpage?pdmfid=1000516&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3AcontentItem%3A3S11-SJR0-003C-R37H-00008-00&pdcontentcomponentid=506037&config=00JAA0NDgwMGE5Mi01ODYxLTRkZDEtODQ0OS1mYmEyN2M3ZmZmZWQKAFBvZENhdGFsb2fyUIbYd2jFgdWUbISiHcjK&ecomp=8sm_k&earg=sr1&prid=00cf44dc-548e-49f8-8e4a-e90060e66e41&crid=2b99cafc-c901-458f-8d3b-711848efdef7
https://milkfoundation.org/about/harvey-milk-biography
https://cultureofoneworld.org/breaking-news/human-rights/legacy-of-the-late-sf-mayor-george-moscone-haunts-ghost-light/1337/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Moscone
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_White
https://www.history.com/news/what-were-the-white-night-riots
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181