Criminally Obsessed

Criminally Obsessed goes deeper — inside the investigations, the courtroom drama, and the human stories at the center of the country’s biggest true crime cases. We track breaking developments, uncover overlooked details, and bring clarity to the chaos — always with compassion for victims and the people whose lives are forever changed. Host Anne Emerson brings more than 30 years of award-winning investigative reporting to every episode. She’s covered the nation’s most high-profile trials firsthand, conducted interviews with some of the biggest names in the true crime world — from Amanda Knox to Elizabeth Smart — and has trusted sources connected to the cases dominating the national conversation.

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Yesterday · 22 min
Genealogist On Where "You Shouldn't See Foreign Male DNA" On JonBenet Ramsey
Decades after the JonBenét Ramsey murder, questions surrounding the unknown male DNA found at the crime scene remain a major focus of the cold case investigation. With major advances in DNA technology and forensic genetic genealogy, why have the samples not yet been sent for testing? In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson follows up on her John Ramsey interview by speaking with Accredited Investigative Genetic Genealogist Tracie Boyle about what could be holding up testing. After Boulder leadership said they are waiting on advanced technology because they only have one shot, Boyle walks through what obstacles could be standing in the way, whether the technology needed is actually ready now, how soon Unknown Male #1 could be identified after testing, and how investigative genetic genealogy works in true crime cases. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for ongoing true crime investigations, cold case coverage, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. You can also text us: (843) 868-8589 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tuesday · 48 min
John Ramsey: We've Got JonBenet's Killer's DNA – Why Hasn't It Been Tested?
John Ramsey, father of JonBenet Ramsey, joins investigative reporter Anne Emerson following ABC’s 20/20 special with Diane Sawyer, for this revealing interview, sharing what he believes about "Unknown Male #1" and what DNA evidence the killer left behind 30 years ago. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, John Ramsey and Nicky Ali Jackson, Ramsey family friend and Executive Director of the Center for Justice and Exoneration Network, walk through the full JonBenet Ramsey case, from the accusations against the Ramsey family to the clues left at the crime scene. They also discuss coping with loss and Christmas after JonBenet's death. John Ramsey details the $118,000 bonus figure from the ransom note, FBI profiler John Douglas telling him the writer was extremely angry at or jealous of him and wrote the note before the murder while inside the house for hours, and his belief the intruder came in Christmas night and waited. He also questions why the Boulder Police Department has not sent the DNA found at the crime scene to be tested and how close they are to identifying it now that the technology exists. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for ongoing true crime investigations, cold case coverage, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. #jonbenetramsey #truecrimepodcast #truecrimecommunity #dnaevidence #coldcase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Monday · 30 min
Filling Robert Stack's Shoes: Meet The New 'Unsolved Mysteries' Host
For decades, Unsolved Mysteries has invited viewers to help solve some of the most baffling cases in the country. Now, the iconic series is back with a new host, a new generation of viewers, and the same mission: bringing answers to families who have been waiting for them. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson sits down with Jordan Murphy, the new host of Unsolved Mysteries, to discuss the revival of the beloved series and what it means to take on a role once held by the legendary Robert Stack. Jordan reflects on the show's legacy, including the unmistakable theme music, the stories that made it a fixture of true crime television, and the responsibility of carrying its mission forward. He also explains how viewers can play an active role in these investigations, sharing tips and information that may help law enforcement move cases closer to answers. Jordan also discusses one case that has stayed with him: Nick Cordova, who was attacked and killed while FaceTiming with his children. His murder remains unsolved. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing true crime investigations, cold case coverage, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. Subscribe to Unsolved Mysteries on YouTube: youtube.com/@OfficialUnsolvedMysteries Follow Jordan on Instagram: @OfficialJordanMurphy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
November 5 · 27 min
What Happened to Christina Downer? Inside the Murder of SNL Writer Jimmy Fowlie's Sister
Christina Downer, the sister of Saturday Night Live writer Jimmy Fowlie, disappeared in September 2025. More than a year later, her former boyfriend DeLorean Bijon Brandon is facing charges in connection with her alleged murder. But with no body recovered, how does the prosecution build a case? In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson sits down with defense attorney Jack Rice to break down the evidence investigators have pieced together and the legal hurdles of a no-body homicide. Jack explains how Christina's phone washing up on a Santa Monica beach helped establish a timeline, what her digital footprint reveals about someone allegedly using her social accounts to make it appear she went off grid, and why that access points to someone close rather than a stranger. He also examines why Christina leaving her dog and car behind matters to prosecutors, the role of Kaylee Murkowski who is charged as an accessory after the fact, why her potential cooperation could be critical, and why he doesn't expect the case to reach trial. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for ongoing true crime investigations, cold case coverage, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
November 4 · 25 min
The Natalee Holloway Story You Didn't See on the News
Twenty one years after 18-year-old Natalee Holloway disappeared during a graduation trip to Aruba, her mother Beth Holloway is sharing more of her story than ever before in Taken: Natalee Holloway. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson sits down with Dani Sloane, director of Taken: Natalee Holloway, to discuss the Natalee Holloway case and the extraordinary effort Beth made to find answers about her daughter's disappearance. Dani explains why Beth decided it was time to revisit the case, what it was like to hear Joran van der Sloot's 2023 confession audio obtained during an FBI polygraph, and how the Natalee Holloway documentary brings together that confession, never-before-seen footage of extortion attempts against Beth and her attorney, and materials Beth spent years gathering. The conversation also explores the years of lies and shifting stories that kept Natalee's family searching, the role Beth played in keeping the investigation alive, and the emotional toll of living with loss. Dani shares why she wanted the series to show Natalee as more than a name in a headline or a cautionary tale, but as a young woman with hopes, dreams, and a future ahead of her. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for ongoing true crime investigations, cold case coverage, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
November 4 · 34 min
J.J. Vallow's Grandfather Calls Lori Daybell Most Evil Person as She Fights Convictions
Criminally Obsessed investigative reporter Anne Emerson interviews J.J. Vallow's grandfather Larry Woodcock after Lori Vallow Daybell's bid to overturn her convictions for the murders of her children J.J. Vallow, Tylee Ryan, and her husband's ex-wife Tammy Daybell. Lori Vallow Daybell says she deserves a new trial — arguing that her rights were violated when her original attorney was disqualified. The Idaho Supreme Court Justices are taking the appeal under advisement after hearing from Vallow's appellate attorneys at a hearing on Monday. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Larry Woodcock reacts to Lori's latest legal move, shares his most precious memories with his grandson J.J. Vallow and describes his brother-in-law, Charles Vallow, who was shot by Lori's brother in 2019. She was found guilty of conspiracy to commit Charles' murder and conspiracy to murder her niece's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux, who survived the attack. Lori Vallow Daybell's husband, Chad Daybell, was also convicted in the murders of J.J. Vallow, Tylee Ryan, and his ex-wife, Tammy Daybell. He was sentenced to death. Lori Vallow Daybell is serving multiple life sentences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
November 2 · 25 min
Inside Lindsay Clancy Hearing: Can Defense "Dream Team" Get Case Thrown Out?
There were fireworks when Lindsay Clancy returned to court Monday, November 2 – and Investigative reporter Kristin Thorne was inside the courtroom to witness the whole thing as the Commonwealth argued against Clancy's defense, a legal "dream team" made up of high-profile attorneys and prominent experts. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Thorne breaks down with Anne Emerson what she saw when Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, sparred with the judge, including their clash over the lone holdout juror who stopped 11 others from reaching a verdict. They also discuss the tense fight over scheduling a retrial date and whether the next trial would be first-degree murder or lesser charges, Reddington's push to preserve jury records with the lone juror's attorneys in the gallery, newer defense team member Martin Weinberg's argument that the case should be thrown out on double jeopardy, what Thorne noticed about Lindsay Clancy's demeanor, and what comes next: the judge has not ruled on dismissal, and prosecutors say a retrial is likely if the case proceeds, but have not made a final decision on the charges. The next hearing is scheduled for November 16. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 29 · 28 min
Why Did Bryan Kohberger Study the Real Killer Behind Ghostface?
Every Halloween, the Ghostface mask from the movie Scream is everywhere. But Scream writer Kevin Williamson was inspired by the Gainesville Ripper — real-life serial killer Danny Rolling — whose name later resurfaced in the Idaho 4 case, when Bryan Kohberger researched Rolling on Christmas Day 2022 after the murders. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Senior Investigative Reporter Anne Emerson sits down with forensic psychologist Dr. John Delatorre to trace that line from Rolling to Scream to Kohberger. Dr. Delatorre designates Rolling, who pleaded guilty to murdering five college students, a sadistic psychopath shaped by a violently abusive upbringing, and finds it significant that Kohberger, as a criminology student, repeatedly downloaded full case files to satisfy intellectual and physiological interest, focusing on killers like Rolling and Ted Bundy whose methods he felt he could mimic. The conversation then tackles the similarities between Rolling and the Idaho murders — college victims, large Ka-Bar knife, sliding glass doors and black ski masks. Dr. Delatorre contrasts Rolling’s access-driven killings camped behind a university with what he sees as Kohberger’s selective, targeted plan that devolved from meticulous to chaotic, driven by inferiority and anger. Kohberger pleaded guilty to murdering Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in November 2022. In July 2026, Kohberger filed a handwritten petition to withdraw his guilty plea. Rolling was executed in 2006. Scream 7 was released in February 2026. Subscribe for continuing true crime investigations, courtroom coverage, expert interviews, and conversations beyond the headlines. #BryanKohberger #Kohberger #TrueCrime #Idaho4 #IdahoMurders #DannyRolling #Halloween #Scream #CriminalJustice #TrueCrimePodcast #CriminallyObsessed #AnneEmerson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 28 · 25 min
Sandra Birchmore's Texts Are Now Matthew Farwell's Biggest Problem
The Matthew Farwell trial is unfolding without cameras in the courtroom. There is no livestream, no video, and no audio of the proceedings. For viewers following the case, in which the former Stoughton police officer is accused of strangling 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore and causing death to her unborn child, that means much of what happens inside the courtroom is happening out of public view. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with Nicole Moeder, a reporter for NBC10 who has been inside Boston Federal Court covering the trial. Nicole shares what she has witnessed during weeks of testimony, from the evidence being presented to the jury to the reactions she has observed from jurors, Matthew Farwell, his defense team, and Sandra Birchmore’s family and friends. Nicole discusses some of the most significant testimony so far, including 40,000 graphic text messages between Birchmore and Farwell that started when she was a teenager; testimony from Farwell’s twin brother William “Billy” Farwell, who was granted immunity; and evidence prosecutors say points to a staged suicide. She also discusses testimony that multiple people contacted law enforcement after Birchmore’s death was ruled a suicide, telling investigators they believed her relationship with Farwell warranted further scrutiny. Matthew Farwell has pleaded not guilty and maintains that Birchmore died by suicide. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing true crime investigations, courtroom coverage, expert interviews, and conversations that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 27 · 32 min
Evidence In Sandra Birchmore Case Overlooked? Death Investigator On "Things You See With A Struggle"
Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her Canton, Massachusetts apartment in February 2021. She was 23 and pregnant. Her death was swiftly ruled suicide, then changed by the state's medical examiner to undetermined in 2026 — five years later. Now, former Stoughton officer Matthew Farwell faces federal trial for killing her and covering it up. He has pleaded not guilty. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson sits down with death investigator Joseph Scott Morgan to break down the evidence and unanswered questions surrounding Birchmore’s death. The "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" host examines the position in which Birchmore was found, the duffel bag strap used as a ligature, and injuries including a fractured neck bone and broken nose. He explains why those details stand out to him as a death investigator and what questions should have been asked before the case was initially classified as a suicide. Morgan also discusses the role of the medical examiner and law enforcement in a death investigation, and why he believes the circumstances surrounding Birchmore’s death warranted a closer look from the beginning. Farwell has pleaded not guilty and maintains that Birchmore died by suicide. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing true crime investigations, courtroom analysis, expert interviews, and conversations that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 26 · 26 min
Mica Miller's Final Days: What Her Best Friend Wants You to Know
Two days after serving divorce papers to her husband, JP Miller, Mica Miller was found dead at Lumber River State Park on April 27, 2024. Her death was ruled a suicide, but questions about the circumstances surrounding her death remain. In Part 1 of this special two-part interview, Bruna Pabon shared her memories of Mica and discussed what she says Mica confided in her about her marriage, her fears, and the changes she witnessed in her friend. Now, in Part 2, Criminally Obsessed investigative reporter Anne Emerson continues her conversation with Bruna as she revisits Mica’s final days, retraces her final movements, and discusses the questions that have remained since Mica’s death. Bruna remembers the last time she saw Mica, just days before her death, when the two met at the beach and talked about Mica’s plans for the future. Bruna also retraces Mica’s final journey, visiting the gas station where she stopped and Lumber River State Park, where Mica was found. She describes walking the remote path to the area where Mica’s body was discovered and shares the questions that arose for her after retracing Mica’s movements. Throughout the interview, Bruna shares her theories about what may have happened to Mica, while acknowledging that she cannot say for certain what happened that day. She also discusses her conversations with federal investigators and her hope that Mica’s story can help other women recognize and escape abusive relationships. Important note: This interview presents Bruna Pabon’s personal experiences, recollections, and opinions, including statements she attributes to Mica Miller. These statements, theories, and any allegations discussed are not independently verified findings of fact. John-Paul Miller has not been charged in connection with Mica Miller’s death. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing true crime investigations, courtroom analysis, exclusive interviews, and expert perspectives that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 22 · 52 min
“He’s Going to Kill Me”: What Mica Miller Told Her Best Friend
Two days after serving divorce papers to her husband, Mica Miller was found dead at Lumber River State Park on April 27, 2024. Her death was ruled a suicide, but questions about the circumstances surrounding her death remain. According to her best friend, Bruna Pabon, Mica had confided in her that she feared her husband, John-Paul Miller, would kill her and make it look like she had taken her own life. Bruna says Mica made one thing clear: she wanted to live. In Part 1 of this special two-part interview, Criminally Obsessed investigative reporter Anne Emerson sits down with Bruna, one of Mica’s closest friends, to hear her firsthand account of their friendship and the deeply personal conversations they shared before Mica’s death. Bruna remembers Mica as vibrant, compassionate, and devoted to her faith. She recounts what she says Mica told her about her marriage, including concerns about control, her health and medications, and experiences she confided in Bruna after saying she had not felt safe sharing them with others. Bruna also reflects on the changes she says she witnessed in her friend and Mica’s efforts to find a way forward. Next week, in Part 2: Bruna recounts learning that Mica had died, revisits the events of Mica’s final day, and shares her perspective on the unanswered questions surrounding her death. Important note: This interview presents Bruna Pabon’s personal experiences, recollections, and opinions, including statements she attributes to Mica Miller. These statements and any allegations discussed are not independently verified findings of fact. John-Paul Miller has not been charged in connection with Mica Miller’s death. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing true crime investigations, courtroom analysis, exclusive interviews, and expert perspectives that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 21 · 26 min
Can Nick Reiner Inherit From The Parents He's Accused Of Killing? A Trust Attorney Explains
Nick Reiner, charged in the murders of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, is heading to Los Angeles probate court on October 23rd to fight for access to a trust worth more than $1.5 million that he says he needs to pay for his criminal defense. The former trustee distributed close to $350,000, which allowed Reiner to hire defense attorney Alan Jackson for about two weeks; after funds were cut off Reiner moved to a public defender. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with asset protection attorney Ann-Margaret Carrozza, a former New York state legislator who chaired her state's trust committee (and who is not involved in the case, though, coincidentally, the former trustee of Nick Reiner's trust wrote her children's trust), to break down how this trust works and why this case is so unusual. Carrozza explains revocable vs. irrevocable trusts, who controls the money as trustee, and why she believes Nick Reiner's interest may have vested when the trust was funded in 1993, the year he was born, a point his defense is likely to make since the trustee already released funds. She also explains California's slayer statute barring one who feloniously and intentionally kills from taking, why probate court can decide it now by a preponderance of the evidence without waiting for a criminal conviction beyond a reasonable doubt, and why intent could matter with reported diagnoses discussed in the episode. She addresses whether money tracing to his grandfather, Carl Reiner, changes the picture, whether money paid to defense counsel could be clawed back after a finding of responsibility, the reports of a second larger family trust, and why she expects the probate court as a court of equity to weigh Jake and Romy's interests as potential takers against Nick Reiner's need for a rigorous defense, plus what parents can take from this when setting distribution standards for their own children. Nick Reiner is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Check out Ann-Margaret's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Building and Protecting Wealth: The Laws of Your Money. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing true crime investigations, courtroom analysis, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 20 · 32 min
Alex Murdaugh Retrial: Is Harpootlian in Trouble With Judge Debra McCaslin?
What happened at the latest Alex Murdaugh retrial hearing—and is Harpootlian in trouble with the new judge? Former South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon joins Anne Emerson to break down what’s next in the Alex Murdaugh case after the evidentiary hearing on October 16, 2026 before Judge Debra McCaslin. Judge McCaslin warned both sides that she would not allow the proceedings to become a circus or permit anyone to use the courtroom as a platform for publicity or theatrics, setting a strict tone for the retrial. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson sits down with Charlie Condon, who explains why Harpootlian had to apologize after claiming Murdaugh passed a lie detector test about the murders “with flying colors,” why Judge McCaslin reprimanded both the state and the defense, and why the defense scored a win: new testing of unknown male DNA from Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails and DNA from her phone can go to defense experts. They also discuss the fight over .300 Blackout ammunition and what Condon calls a “totally revamped” defense on experts, setting up a battle of the experts at retrial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 19 · 1 hr
JP Miller on Mica Miller in Unaired Interviews: “I’m the Only One Who Tried to Keep Her Alive”
You asked for the full JP Miller interviews and now you're getting them — this Mica Miller interview special shares both unaired JP Miller interviews in order. Reporter Mike Owen sat down with South Carolina pastor JP Miller twice in 2024 after the death of his wife Mica Miller on April 27th, 2024, and ABC 15 News in Myrtle Beach only aired a few soundbites out of caution before any public allegations or charges. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson gives you both interviews in order mostly unedited, starting with the short first interview weeks after her death when church leaders abruptly ended it and told Mike to turn off the camera and then the second interview a couple months later that Mike describes as the weirdest and hardest interview he's ever done after JP started texting him practically every morning. You'll hear JP in his own words about being married to Mica, who he blames for her death, and his answer when asked if he ever abused her. JP Miller is charged with cyberstalking and making false statements to investigators. He pleaded not guilty and is not charged with anything in connection to Mica's death. For more of our Mica Miller coverage, check out our YouTube. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing true crime investigations, courtroom analysis, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. #micamiller #jpmiller #truecrimecommunity #truecrimepodcast #truecrimestories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 15 · 30 min
Murdaugh Latest: Defense "Going Crazy" Over Missing Weapons
Alex Murdaugh returns to court Friday, October 16, for an urgent pretrial evidence hearing, months before the date the judge says she won't move: an April 5, 2027 retrial in Sumter, South Carolina. The defense and prosecution have been trading a "dizzying" flurry of filings over what the jury will and won't see, and the judge is about to start making calls. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with Valerie Bauerlein, a Wall Street Journal reporter, author of The Devil at His Elbow, and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning co-creator of the podcast Camp Swamp Road, who has covered the Murdaugh case since 2021. Bauerlein breaks down the issues Judge Debra McCaslin is expected to address. The defense is asking the judge to privately review state grand jury testimony tied to a tip about the missing murder weapons and is accusing the state of failing to turn over information. They are also asking the judge to order testing of cartridges against other crimes, access to raw data from the crime scene scans, and cellphone extraction data they say the state never fully provided. Bauerlein shares why she thinks this will be a very different trial from the first one, what the South Carolina Supreme Court's decision means for the evidence jurors will hear, and what the biggest challenges will be for both sides. Alex Murdaugh is presumed innocent in the retrial. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing coverage of the Alex Murdaugh retrial, courtroom analysis, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 14 · 28 min
JP Miller Didn't Know Who I Was: Reporter on His Strange Interview with Mica Miller's Husband
Mike Owen was the first reporter to interview pastor John Paul "JP" Miller after the news broke that his wife, Mica Miller, was dead. Owen says what followed was months of daily texts from Miller, a binder of documents, and a sit-down JP Miller interview in which, according to Owen, Miller didn't seem to remember who he was. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with Owen, a former WPDE ABC 15 reporter who, as far as he knows, is the only journalist to interview JP Miller twice, in 2024. Owen takes us back to that first, tense interview, when church leaders hovered over him, told him what not to ask, and ordered the cameras off after he asked about a possible divorce. He then walks through how the relationship with Miller evolved, how the second interview came together, and what it was like to talk with Miller in person: Miller's unexpected laughter at a question about missing money, his answers about tracking Mica, and a moment when, Owen says, Miller seemed to become "a different person." Owen also shares what he heard from the community, why he put cameras on his house before agreeing to this interview, and what he thinks needs to happen for there to be justice for Mica. JP Miller has not been charged in connection with Mica Miller's death. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing true crime investigations, courtroom analysis, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 13 · 23 min
Doctor Knew Christa Pike Execution Would Fail: "She Entered as a Prisoner and Left as a Patient"
Before Christa Pike's execution attempt on September 30, 2026, a physician told a Tennessee court the procedure was likely to fail. Unpersuaded, the court moved forward with her execution -- only for their worst-case scenario to become a reality. Pike survived the two doses of pentobarbital meant to end her life and was rushed to the hospital where the extent of the adverse effects to her body is still uncertain. Now, there’s a newly-released 911 call from after the failed execution that seems to establish a pattern of chaos from inside The Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center on the night of Pike’s failed execution. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with Dr. Joel Zivot, a critical care physician and anesthesiologist who reviewed Pike's medical records as an expert for her defense. He explains the three warning signs that led him to write in his report that the execution was very likely to fail: Pike's documented history of difficult IV access, a mild blood-clotting condition, and Tennessee's recent failed attempt to execute Tony Carruthers. Dr. Zivot also educates us on the medical science behind why IV lines could have failed and how the pentobarbital that never reached her bloodstream could cause severe chemical burns to her arms. Having examined more than 200 autopsies of executed prisoners, Dr. Zivot explains why he believes lethal injection is cruel by design, why he says executions "always fail" even when they appear to succeed, and why he thinks the secrecy surrounding the process makes it impossible to fix. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing coverage of the Christa Pike case and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 12 · 23 min
Who Killed the Black Dahlia? Filmmakers Say They Know and Need Your Help Proving It
Nearly 80 years after 22-year-old Elizabeth Short's body was found in Los Angeles, the Black Dahlia case remains one of America's most famous unsolved cold cases. In this episode, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with filmmaker Jeff Thomas, producer Kimberly Lupini, and senior criminalist Leslie Thompson about their five-year investigation for Deconstructing Dahlia, why they say they have identified a still-operating Los Angeles motel as the murder scene, and why they say they know who killed Elizabeth Short but cannot name him yet. Plus they share with us exclusive pictures of the alleged crime scene and hidden room they found. Thompson describes why she started skeptical, what she says she found after removing layers of drywall down to original plaster, how presumptive testing indicated blood and suggested a major bloodshed event consistent with bludgeoning, and why mitochondrial DNA testing on blood and hairs is still pending after nearly eight decades. The team also lays out supporting claims from 1949-1950 grand jury testimony placing Elizabeth and the suspect they have identified at the motel, an eyewitness account of a bloody room found the day her body was discovered, and claims the owner cleaned it up himself. Thomas and Lupini say the final piece is Elizabeth's original medical examiner's report, which they say has never been made public and which the LAPD has refused to release, and they explain why they say that single document matters for motive and why they are asking the public for help getting it. Check out their petition here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 8 · 26 min
The Man Who Wrote Death Penalty Law Says Christa Pike's Botched Execution Was "Almost Inevitable"
On September 30, 2026 in Tennessee, Christa Pike survived a botched execution by lethal injection for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer after living through two supposedly lethal doses of pentobarbital. Prison staff called an ambulance to take her to a hospital where she is now reportedly awake and talking and moving around her room. However, she has pneumonia, a blood clot, and is unable to swallow or move her arms, which are still swollen. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with David Raybin, a Tennessee criminal defense attorney and former assistant state attorney general who drafted the state's modern death penalty statute in the 1970s. Raybin says he wasn't surprised by what happened. He argues the state ignored recommendations made after an earlier botched execution, and he calls the "we followed the protocol" defense "a damning indictment" of the system. He explains why he believes what Pike endured raises serious Eighth Amendment questions, and whether the state can legally try again. He also breaks down the judge's sweeping order to preserve all evidence from the execution, why he says the state is "drawing the blinds" on the process, and why he calls the death penalty "a luxury" Tennessee isn't willing to pay for. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing coverage of the Christa Pike case and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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