WILDCIDE

Fallible Forensics: Interview with Expert Dr. Jeff Kukucka

Dr. Jeff Kukucka is a professor of psychology whose work aims to understand and prevent forensic science errors. He regularly testifies as an expert witness, trains various legal audiences, and works with forensic scientists to strengthen crime lab procedures. Make sure to tune in and listen to this episode of ‘How Dr. K Ruined Science For Us’. Just kidding, we LOVE Dr. K. However, he did kind of bust the bubble of the long-held belief that forensic science is 100% reliable and infallible. Is it possible that forensic science isn’t as ‘sciency’ as we all thought and has actually lead to innocent people being convicted of crimes they didn't commit? Well, stick around as Dr. K walks us through new research and the approaches to identifying and addressing human bias in forensic science.
 
More about our Honored Guest:
Dr. Kukucka is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Towson University. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Loyola College in Maryland. As an undergraduate, he became involved in research on conformity in eyewitness memory with Dr. Kerri Goodwin (Towson University) and research on child forensic interviewing and metacognition with Dr. Maggie Bruck (Johns Hopkins Medical Institute). He then graduated from the Ph.D. Program in Psychology & Law at the CUNY Graduate Center, where he worked primarily under Dr. Saul Kassin (John Jay College of Criminal Justice). Dr. Kukucka is broadly interested in the psychological causes and consequences of wrongful convictions in the criminal legal system, with a particular focus on forensic science errors, post-exoneration adjustment, cognitive biases, and police interrogations.
 
Additional Links:
Reasonable Doubt | Psychology Today
With George Floyd, a Raging Debate Over Bias in the Science of Death - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Jeff Kukucka | Towson University
 
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe to “WILDCIDE” on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (MERCH NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE!) 
Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST.  Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
 
​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff 
​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  

Loved to Death: The Case of Lacey Ellen Fletcher

GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains graphic content around child abuse and neglect. Listener discretion advised.
The date is January 3, 2022. It had been almost 15 years since anyone had seen 36-year-old Lacey Ellen Fletcher outside of her house in her Slaughter, LA. Around 2am on the morning of January 3, Lacey’s mother Sheila Fletcher made a call to 911 stating that Lacey had stopped breathing. Paramedics and East Feliciana Parish Coroner Dr. Ewell Bickham were immediately called to 2568 Tom Drive. The coroner, law enforcement officials, and first responders who arrived on scene were met with the most horrific sight they’d seen in their careers. What law enforcement officials would soon uncover would be the beginning of the most bewildering and horrific story anyone could have imagined. What monstrous, unbelievable secrets were hidden behind the walls at the Fletcher house at the end of a sleepy cul-de-sac? Is this a case where 'loving someone to death' is possible? Or is this blatant disregard of human life? Either way, stick around for this heartbreaking roller coaster of a case while Chelsea and Bailey explore concepts from enablement, neglect, mental health issues and a family living wildly different private and public lives. 
Resources:
In an emergency, call the 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 800-25-ABUSE (800-252-2873). If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first.
 Locked-in syndrome - Resources and Support - Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (nih.gov)
PARALYSIS RESOURCE CENTER Fact Sheet – LOCKED-IN SYNDROME (christopherreeve.org)
Autism Resource Center (aacap.org)
Resource Guide | Autism Speaks
 
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe to “WILDCIDE” on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (merch coming soon!) 
Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST.  Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
 
​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff (bltzwolff@gmail.com).
​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  
 
References:
Bashinsky, R., & Alexander, H. (2022, May 26). “I can’t conceive how something like that could happen”: Colleague of louisiana dad facing murder charges after daughter, 36, was found fused to the couch by her own waste says he’s shocked by horrific details of the case. Daily Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10769793/Co-worker-Louisiana-dad-accused-murdering-daughter-locked-syndrome-shocked.html
Hutchison, J. (2024, February 9). Coroner in case of Lacey Fletcher, who was found dead, fused to a couch, says she was “literally tortured and rotted in her own body” - and is convinced her parents were not living in the house: “nobody could stand the stench.” Daily Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13066981/coroner-lacey-fletcher-dead-couch.html
Jimenez, G. (2024, February 7). Parents of louisiana woman who died on maggot-ridden couch pleaded no contest to manslaughter. The Advocate. https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/east_feliciana/lacey-fletchers-parents-plead-guilty-to-manslaughter/article_654ea708-c168-11ee-bbb5-138a84079773.html
Kalmbacher, C. (2023, June 26). Parents re-indicted on murder for sick daughter who melted into family’s couch while starving. Law & Crime. https://lawandcrime.com/crime/parents-indicted-on-murder-charges-for-the-2nd-time-in-case-where-paralyzed-daughter-melted-into-familys-couch-while-starving-and-covered-in-feces-sores-and-maggots/
Krail, J. (2022, May 6). Mom charged in daughter’s murder was placed on leave after Nakamoto exposed disturbing details of neglect. WBRZ. https://www.wbrz.com/news/mom-charged-in-daughter-s-murder-was-placed-on-leave-after-nakamoto-exposed-disturbing-details-of-neglect/
Medlicott, Jenny. (2024, February 7). Parents of woman found “melted” to maggot-infested sofa “loved daughter to death” as they face manslaughter charges. LBC. https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/woman-melted-into-sofa-usa-neglect-parents-manslaughter/
Rosato, C. (2024, March 20). Parents of Lacey Fletcher sentenced for daughter’s death. https://www.wafb.com. https://www.wafb.com/2024/03/20/parents-lacey-fletcher-sentenced-daughters-death/
Saunders, A. (2024, March 21). Parents of Lacey Fletcher, woman who “melted” into maggot-infested couch, sentenced to 40 years. Peoplemag. https://people.com/lacey-fletcher-parents-sentenced-8612500
Steinbuch, Y. (2024, February 7). Parents of Lacey Fletcher, woman found “melted” to couch, plead no contest to manslaughter. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2024/02/06/news/parents-of-lacey-fletcher-woman-found-melted-to-couch-plead-no-contest-to-manslaughter/
Woodfield, G. (2022, May 5). Exclusive: Neighbors of homeschooled autistic Louisiana woman who died smothered in her own waste say she was last seen in public 15 years ago exercising outside her house and reveal she was a “fun normal kid” into volleyball and Disney Movies. Daily Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10783477/Lacey-Fletcher-seen-public-15-years-death-neighbors-reveal.html

The Choy Family Tragedy

Buckle up, folks! We're diving headfirst into the whirlwind tragedy of the Choy Family, a real-life saga that's part mystery, part drama, and all jaw-dropping. The Choy family was a conservative, close-knit family living in a nice suburban neighborhood in Brockton, Massachusetts.  Anne Trinh-Choy and her husband Ching “Jimmy” Choy did their best to raise their daughter Frances and grandson Kenneth in a happy, hardworking household. However, not everything was as it seemed within the walls of the Choy residence. Soon, tragedy struck the Choy family that sent a ripple effect through the community. 17-year-old Frances Choy soon finds herself at the center of a mind-boggling mystery but alas, things are never as they appear. Don’t miss this special episode that aligns with the upcoming interview with Dr. Jeff Kukucka.
 
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (MERCH NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE!) 
Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews with drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff.
​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  
 
References:
Allegrini, E. (2007, August 22). Nephew will point finger to aunt in Brockton murder trial. The Holland Sentinel. https://eu.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/2007/08/21/nephew-will-point-finger-to/48336227007/
Levenson, M. (2020, October 2). Judge overturns murder conviction, citing “racial animus” in prosecutors’ emails. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/us/brockton-massachusetts-woman-freed-prison.html
Possley, M. (2020, October). FRANCES CHOY. Frances Choy - National Registry of Exonerations. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=5815
Simpson, L. (2020, September 30). Woman, 34, who spent 17 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murdering her parents in a house fire, is first woman of color exonerated in Massachusetts after prosecutors’ racist emails are revealed . Daily Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8790171/Asian-American-woman-convicted-murdering-parents-exonerated-judge-rules-racial-bias.html
Supreme Judicial Court, Suffolk. (n.d.). Frances Choy vs. Commonwealth. CHOY vs. COMMONWEALTH, 456 Mass. 146. http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/456/456mass146.html
Valencia, M. J. (2008, May 4). Boston Globe Article.. strand theatre tragedy. Brockton Firefighters | Strand Theatre. http://brocktonfirelocal144.org/?zone=%2Funionactive%2Fview_article.cfm&HomeID=87251&page=Strand20Theater20Disaster

Questionable Forensics and the Double Homicide of Cheryl Williams and Carol Bareis

In 2004, three generations of women lived together in a home in Altamonte Springs, Florida:  68-year-old Carol Bareis, her daughter 47-year-old Cheryl Williams and Cheryl’s daughter Samantha Williams. On the morning of June 17, 2004, the once quiet street of Vagabond Way was crawling with law enforcement and crime scene techs processing the double homicide of Carol and Cheryl. The mother-daughter duo had been viciously attacked, stabbed a total of 131 times between the two of them. It didn’t take long for the investigation to hone in on 24 year-old Clemente Aguirre-Jarquin, an illegal immigrant from Honduras for good reason: there was DNA evidence, fingerprint evidence, shoeprints and the recovered murder weapon all pointing to what appeared to be an open-and-shut case. However, this case quickly turns into a shocking tale of how human biases and errors in forensic science failed everyone involved. We guarantee you that after hearing this case, you’ll wonder if forensic science is as accurate as we were lead to believe.
 
**Don’t miss the follow-up interview with Dr. Jeff Kukucka on Friday 4/12/2024 as he walks us through his research in implicit human bias in forensic science.**
 
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (MERCH NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE!) 
Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews with drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff.
​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  
References:
Cassels, L. (2020, January 28). Compensation claim filed for man freed after 11 years on death row • Florida Phoenix. Florida Phoenix. https://floridaphoenix.com/2020/01/27/compensation-claim-filed-for-man-freed-after-11-years-on-death-row/
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court. (2019b, February 8). Welcome to the state attorney’s Office, 18th Judicial Circuit: Welcome To The State Attorneys Office, 18th Judicial Circuit: https://www.sa18.org/own/sitewide/STATES%20RESPONSE.pdf
FSU Law Library. (2008, February 7). Digitized legal collections. Digitized Legal Collections. https://law.fsu.edu/research-center/digitized-legal-collections
Possley, M. (2018, November 11). CLEMENTE AGUIRRE-JARQUIN. Clemente Aguirre-Jarquin - National Registry of Exonerations. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=5406
Speck, E. (2020, January 7). Man exonerated in 2004 Double murder files federal lawsuit against Seminole County. WKMG. https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/01/07/man-exonerated-in-2004-double-murder-files-federal-lawsuit-against-seminole-county/
Sullivan, D. (2018, November 16). In Tampa, man embarks on life after years on death row. Tampa Bay Times. https://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/in-tampa-man-embarks-on-life-after-years-on-death-row-20181116/
Supreme Court of Florida. (2009, March 26). Findlaw’s Supreme Court of Florida case and opinions. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-supreme-court/1045628.html. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-supreme-court/1045628.html
 

The Murder of Warren "The Reading Man" Barnes

In a two day span, from February 28th to March 1st 2021, officers from Mesa County Sheriff’s office in Grand Junction, CO would respond to four different calls in various parts of the city that were all linked in a horrific, gruesome tale of murder. They would soon identify that a recently-reported missing 69 year-old man by the name of Warren Barnes, would be identified as the victim of a vicious crime. Warren was affectionately known as "the Reading Man" due to his love for reading and was a loved staple in the community. What the community would soon learn was more horrifying than they could have imagined. The investigation quickly turned to a 19-year old by the name of Brian Cohee Jr. as the perpetrator behind this violent act of murder. Make sure to listen to this episode as Chelsea and Bailey dive into concepts from pleading insanity, mental health concerns, how the system handles significant mental health issues and what makes a murderer; is it more environment or is it more genetic? One thing is for sure, though, that the world is a little bit less of a positive place due to the loss of Grand Junction's Reading Man, Warren Barnes. 
 
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (MERCH NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE!) 
Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews with drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
 
​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff.
​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  
 
Video:
Parents Discover Teen Son's Horrifying Secret (youtube.com)
 
References:
Hagan, R. (2023, February 4). Verdict: Guilty of all charges. WesternSlopeNow.com. https://www.westernslopenow.com/brian-cohee-trial/brian-cohee-is-found-guilty-of-all-charges/
McBrayer, K. (2023, January 30). Brian Cohee: The events leading to murder. https://www.kkco11news.com. https://www.kkco11news.com/2023/01/30/brian-cohee-events-leading-murder/
McBrayer, K. (2023a, January 28). The prosecution rests their case Brian Cohee. https://www.kjct8.com. https://www.kjct8.com/2023/01/28/prosecution-rests-their-case-brian-cohee/
Klomhaus, S., & Biller, R. (2023, February 4). Cohee found guilty. Mesa County. https://www.mesacounty.us/news/district-attorney/cohee-found-guilty
Lofholm, N. (2023, February 10). Killer of Warren Barnes, Grand Junction’s “Reading man,” sentenced to life in prison. The Colorado Sun. https://coloradosun.com/2023/02/07/warren-barnes-reading-man-killer-sentenced/
Nath, D. (2024, March 26). Who is Brian Cohee and what did he do?. ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. https://www.comingsoon.net/true-crime/news/1623617-who-is-brian-cohee-and-what-did-he-do
Thornton, M. (2023, February 13). “and you also”: Memorial in grand junction honors beloved community member Warren Barnes. RMPBS. https://www.rmpbs.org/blogs/news/warren-barnes-memorial-grand-junction/

Cannibalism: Interview with Dr. Bill Schutt

Today’s interview explores everything Cannibalism. Yep, you heard that right. Tune in while Chelsea and Bailey interview author and zoologist Dr. Bill Schutt to discuss his surprising specialty of cannibalism. Although we don’t dive into the gory aspect of cannibalism, we do take a very cool dive into cannibalism from a zoological and human cultural perspective; although it does shine some light on why criminal cannibalism is so sensationalized as well. Plus hear Dr. Bill’s wild story about eating placenta. This is a Wildcide episode you definitely don’t want to miss!
 
A little about our special guest:
Dr. Bill Schutt was born in New York City and raised on Long Island by parents who encouraged his love for turning over stones and peering under logs, Dr. Schutt quickly grew a passion for the natural world, with its enormous wonders and its increasing vulnerability.
Dr. Schutt received his Ph.D. in zoology from Cornell and held a post-doctoral fellowship at the AMNH where he received a Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Grant. He has published over two dozen peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from terrestrial locomotion in vampire bats to the precarious, arboreal copulatory behavior of a marsupial mouse. His research has been featured in Natural History, The New York Times, Newsday, The Economist, and Discover. Dr. Schutt lives on Long Island with his wife and son.
Dr. Schutt is an Emeritus Professor of Biology at LIU Post and a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History. His newest non-fiction book, Pump: A Natural History of the Heart was published on September 21, 2021 and is currently available everywhere books are sold. Pump has already garnered great reviews from Publisher’s Weekly (starred review), Kirkus Reviews, The Wall Street Journal, Cool Green Science, and elsewhere. His last book, Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History, garnered widespread rave reviews from The New York Times, The Boston Globe and elsewhere. Schutt’s first book, Dark Banquet: Blood and the Curious Lives of Blood-Feeding Creatures, was selected as a Best Book of 2008 by Library Journal and Amazon, and was chosen for the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers program.
Dr. Schutt’s first novel, Hell’s Gate, was published in 2016. The Himalayan Codex (R.J. MacCready novel #2) followed in June 2017 and The Darwin Strain (R.J. MacCready novel #3) made its debut in August 2019. He is currently working on a new non-fiction book on teeth, and has also finished the first draft of his first solo novel.
 
Resources:
Dr. Schutt’s website: https://billschutt.com/
Dr. Schutt's new book, "Bite: An Incisive History of Teeth, from Hagfish to Humans” which will be out on Aug. 13: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/bill-schutt/bite/9781643751788/
 
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe to “WILDCIDE” on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (MERCH NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE!) 
Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST.  Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff 
​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  

José Doráncel Vargas Gomez AKA The Cannibal of Venezuela

February 1999 the country of Venezuela would have to decide how to navigate through their first serial killer case. This case would include a dozen male victims but also evidence of cannibalism. The media, judicial system, law enforcement staff, and thousands of citizens would be shaken to find that Jose Dorancel Vargas Gomez hunted, killed, prepared, and ate his unsuspecting victims. How would the legal system handle the country’s first ever cannibalistic serial killer? To make matters trickier, how would “Dorangel Vargas”, as the papers would mistype, be sentenced due legal restrictions around diagnosed mental illness. Bailey and Chelsea will present this heart breaking and conflicting case and dive into the world of taboo, mental illness, and the idea of justice.
 
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (MERCH NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE!) 
Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews with drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
 
​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff 
​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  
 
References:
guerrilla. (2024).https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/guerrilla#google_vignetteLuis Olavarrieta. (2022, March 28). EL CANÍBAL venezolano “ELCOMEGENTE” #DorangelVargas [Video]. YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_qFMWOuPg0Imandi, S. (2022, September 22). Dorángel Vargas: The Mad Cannibal ofVenezuela. OtakuKart.https://otakukart.com/114322/dorangel-vargas-the-mad-cannibal-of-venezuela/
 

The Heidt Family Murders

Effingham County sits on Georgia’s eastern border and is a located about 30 miles northwest of Savannah. Nestled within a small town in Effingham County lived the Heidt family who were very well-liked and a highly respected local family. The Heidt family’s patriarch was Philip Heidt who was a successful real estate developer. Philip and his wife Linda Heidt had been happily married for 41 years and together they had three sons: Philip Jr. “Craig”, Christopher, and Carey. However, in 2008, unthinkable tragedy struck the Heidt family. On the night of August 25, an intruder entered the Heidt home and silently crept through the darkness. Moments later, the house violently rang with the sound of three shotgun blasts that pierced the silence. Quickly, news of the murders shook a small community to its core. The Heidt Family murders would make local history as a tale of greed, lust, and betrayal with the shocking parricide of a picturesque, home-grown, southern family.
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (MERCH NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE!) 
Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews with drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
 
​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff 
​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  
 
References:
Associated Press. (2011, December 19). Georgia man who murdered his brother and father wants new trial. The Florida Times-Union. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/2011/12/19/georgia-man-who-murdered-his-brother-and-father-wants-new-trial/15880739007/
Charleston Post & Courier. (2024, March 15). Charleston Post & Courier recent obituaries: All of Charleston Post & Courier’s recent obituaries. Legacy.com. https://obits.postandcourier.com/us/obituaries/charleston/name/john-rast-obituary?id=23036755
CBS News. (2012, July 14). Affair leads to shocking ga. double murder. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/affair-leads-to-shocking-ga-double-murder/
Effingham Herald. (2010, February 5). Another arrest made in Heidt investigation. Homepage - Effingham Herald. https://www.effinghamherald.net/local/crime-reports/another-arrest-made-in-heidt-investigation/
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138218902/carey_albert-heidt: accessed March 13, 2024), memorial page for Carey Albert Heidt (10 Jun 1976–25 Aug 2008), Find a Grave Memorial ID 138218902, citing Bethel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Springfield, Effingham County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Theresa Hernandez -White (contributor 46523955).
Hodgin, W. (2011, April 21). Robin Heidt accused of threatening new boyfriend’s ex. Savannah Morning News. https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/crime/2011/04/21/robin-heidt-accused-threatening-new-boyfriends-ex/13434034007/
Komanecky, D. (2010, December 12). Family murders play out in Ga. courtroom. The Augusta Chronicle. https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2010/12/12/family-murder-plays-out-ga-courtroom/14568696007/
Komanecky, D. (2018, August 26). Decade passes since murders that Shook Effingham. Savannah Morning News. https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2018/08/25/decade-passes-since-heidt-murders-that-shook-effingham/10943625007/
Komanecky, D. (2010a, December 4). Robin Heidt: Threat before murders. Savannah Morning News. https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2010/12/04/robin-heidt-threat-murders/13381751007/
Reporter, D. M. (2012, January 9). “I don’t really worry what people say”: Wife whose affair with brother-in-law drove him to gun down family speaks out for first time. Daily Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2083886/Robin-Heidt-Wife-affair-brother-law-drove-gun-family-speaks-time.html
Sederstrom, J. (2023, July 20). A prominent Georgia family was gunned down in their home - and the killer surprised everyone. Oxygen Official Site. https://www.oxygen.com/dateline-secrets-uncovered/crime-news/craig-heidt-killed-brother-carey-heidt-father-philip-heidt
Staff Report. (n.d.). Tuesday night death at Heidt Home Ruled Suicide. Homepage - Effingham Herald. https://www.effinghamherald.net/local/crime-reports/tuesday-night-death-at-heidt-home-ruled-suicide/

Teen and Police Relations: Interview with Criminologist Dr. Everette Penn (TAPS Academy)

Today’s interview explores the TAPS (Teen and Police Service) Academy focusing on prevention and teen and police relations. Can we really ‘back the blue’ AND stand up and advocate for at risk youth and minority populations? We believe we can. You don’t want to miss this educational dive into the world of law enforcement with a focus on finding solutions rather than pointing fingers.
 
About our Guest:
Dr. Everette B. Penn is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Teen and Police Service (TAPS) Academy in Houston, Texas. TAPS Academy’s mission is to bridge the gap between youth and police and reduce crime through education, skill building, and service-learning TAPS Academy’s TeenPol program is a Texas Education Agency approved curriculum which grants one high school credit to students upon completion. TAPS Academy reaches over 1,500 youth annually internationally. Dr. Penn is Professor and former Department Chair of Social and Cultural Sciences at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL). He teaches juvenile justice, policing, and race and justice courses. With over 75 publications he blends academic scholarship with service to the community in order to apply theory to practice.
Annually, Dr. Penn trains police officers, government professionals and citizens to apply 21st Century police practices of community policing, procedural justice, and reducing bias to improve police and community relations. TAPS Academy was instrumental in the 2017 passage of the Community Safety Education Act of Texas, which requires all high school students, law enforcement officers and driver's license applicants to receive training to improve interactions between citizens and law enforcement during a traffic stop. Dr. Penn was a member of the law's statewide implementation committee. Through texastrafficstop.org he led the movement to keep everyone safe during a traffic stop.  Recently, his consulting company, Penn PALS (Prepares, Advises, Leads and Serves) accepted the opportunity to work directly with the Houston Police Department to reduce violent crime by researching evidence-based practices that increase community partnerships while reducing crime through effective 21st Century methods.  
 
Resources:
TAPS (Teen and Police Service) Academy- Click HERE
Dr. Penn’s Book Police and YOUth -Click HERE
crimesolutions.gov
 
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe to “WILDCIDE” on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (merch coming next week!) 
Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST.  Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff (bltzwolff@gmail.com).
​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  
 

Rodney King, Latasha Harlins, and the Los Angeles Riots of 1992

The Los Angeles riots lasted six days, from April 29-May 4, 1992. During this time there were 63 deaths, 2300 injuries, 12,000 arrests and an estimated1,100 buildings were damaged resulting in 1 BILLION dollars in damages. The LA streets were rampaged with widespread arson, looting, assault, and vandalism by enraged members of LA’s South Central, Pico-Union and Koreatown communities while chanting “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE”.
The LA riots would become the most destructive period of unrest and uprising in modern U.S. history. An allegorical bomb had detonated but what was the catalyst? It was multi-faceted: the brutal assault of Rodney King, the acquittal of the 4 LAPD officers involved, the senseless murder of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins, and the ‘slap on the wrist’ sentence for her perpetrator. Arguably, the culmination of these incidents would finally tip the scales for these LA communities.
Listen to us talk about the heartbreaking facts around these two cases. Then stay with us as we weigh in on how and why the fine line between keeping a community safe and abuse of power is crossed. Finally, walk away with hope knowing that our nation has brilliant people and organizations that work towards reducing the social distance between law enforcement and civilians.
 
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe to “WILDCIDE” on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (merch coming next week!) 
Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST.  Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
 
​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff (bltzwolff@gmail.com).
​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  
 
References:
Cannon, L. (2024, January 8). THE KING INCIDENT: MORE THAN MET THE EYEON VIDEOTAPE. Washington Post.https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/01/25/the-king-incident-more-than-met-the-eye-on-videotape/2248e35e-178b-47e9-a8db-0734f88b46e0/Linder, D. (n.d.-a). An account of the Los Angeles Police Officers’Trials(The Rodney King Beating Case).http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/lapd/lapdaccount.htmlLinder, D. (n.d.-b). Famous Trials. UMKC School of Law. RetrievedMarch 12, 2024, from https://www.famous-trials.com/lapd/579-keyfiguresRich, F. (2015, May 18). Why do America’s race riots so preciselymirror each other? Intelligencer.https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2015/05/americas-race-riots.htmlSchrader, S. (2019). Badges without Borders. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvp2n2kvWant to Understand the 1992 LA Riots? Start with the 1984 LA Olympics| The Nation. (2015, June 29). The Nation.https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/want-understand-1992-la-riots-start-1984-la-olympics/