Death Penalty 101: Does The Alleged Shooter Qualify?

Former prosecutor and author Matt Murphy maps the legal pathway from homicide to becoming a death penalty case. If the evidence is proven in court - Why Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter qualifies, the aggravating factors and how mitigation is weighed. Plus how “social influence” or online encouragement is treated at law. We also discuss potential liability for people who knew of plans in advance—conspiracy, solicitation, and aiding-and-abetting—versus protected speech. Educational discussion only; all individuals are presumed innocent. #charliekirk #tylerrobinson 

Just in: The Haro family secrets laid bare. Prosecutors say a father with a prior child-abuse conviction—who got probation in 2018 after an infant was left permanently injured—should never have been free, a “system failure” they argue set the stage for tragedy. On the mother’s side sits a 2017 Palm Springs bathtub murder tied to her brother’s conviction; on the father’s side, a 2021 coroner-confirmed overdose. Now, with murder and false-report charges filed, deputies keep searching for 7-month-old Emmanuel’s remains as reports of a jailhouse confession emerge. This episode maps the full lineage of dark secrets—and how investigators say it all converges on a potential no-body case. #truecrime #Emmanuel #EmmanuelHaro #truecrimepodcasts

Operating in the shadows—and in plain sight—organized cartels are turning human beings into a supply chain: children sold for sex, bodies targeted for organ harvesting, families shattered at the border. Investigators warn the demand is driven in large part by the U.S., and past border politics have only intensified the danger. In this episode, Ali Hopper, co-founder of GUARD Against Trafficking, pulls back the curtain on how these networks really work, who profits, and whether lawmakers are finally moving beyond speeches to action. She also shares what parents and communities can do now to spot grooming, disrupt recruitment, and protect kids.   #truecrime #humantrafficking #Border #immigrants #Organharvesting #crimestories #truecrimepodcasts

When Navy JAG officer Nicholas Kassotis went on trial for the brutal murder and dismemberment of his wife, the courtroom expected a defense grounded in law. Instead, jurors were told a story that belonged in a screenplay. Kassotis claimed an FBI agent—one who never existed—had been investigating mysterious vandals and secret threats against the couple. Kassotis even took the stand insisting this phantom agent shaped his life and career. Prosecutors countered with chilling evidence of premeditation, including a shovel, knives, and cleaning supplies bought before his wife’s murder. In the end, jurors had to decide: was this the desperate delusion of a guilty man, or the truth of a husband facing forces no one else could see? #KillerGenes #Kassotis #FakeFBIAgent #murder #wifemurdered #MindiKassotis #truecrime #truecrimecommunities #truecrimedocumentary #truecrimepodcast 

A respected California doctor. A burning mansion. A husband’s alibi that didn’t hold up. Six months later, murder charges—and a story of marriage, money, and fear that ends in tragedy. Plus, a second case where a man kills his ex-wife because she “deserved it” after allegedly murdering his current wife. Two shocking stories of domestic abuse turned deadly, from California to New York, both racing toward trial. #truecrime #domesticabuse #Shedeservedit #killerconfessions #California #newyork #northcarolina #horror #horrorstories #truecrimecommunities 

Was it an occult sacrifice? A thrill kill? Or something even darker? In this chilling episode, Melissa unpacks the brutal murder and dismemberment of 22-year-old Jaren Lockhart — a young mother lured off Bourbon Street by a twisted couple obsessed with death and control. What happened next is almost beyond comprehension: from body parts washing ashore to a possible satanic motive tied to a rare celestial event. Melissa shares exclusive behind-the-scenes insights from covering what she calls the most disturbing case of her career, and explores the common undercurrent of predatory behavior in tourism-fueled cities like New Orleans and Las Vegas — places that blur lines between pleasure, power, and danger. Content Warning: Graphic descriptions of violence, ritualistic elements, and personal stories of trauma. #neworleans #Louisiana #Mississippi #occult #ritual #blackmagic #scarystory #scarymysterystories #Horror #horrorstories #foryoupage #truecrime #truecrimecommunity #sincity #lasvegas #scarytruestories #criminalcases #scaryspookystories #crimetok #truecrimetok #killergenes #terryspeaks #margarestsanchez #Jarenlockhart #Bourbonstreet #Melissamccarty 

He was a respected dentist. A father of six. A man of faith. But behind closed doors, Dr. James Craig of Colorado was living a double life—plagued by financial ruin, secret addictions, and a mistress waiting in the wings. In this gripping episode, we unravel the shocking murder of Angela Craig—a devoted mother slowly poisoned to death by her husband’s own hand. Prosecutors say he laced her smoothies all while pretending to care for her at her hospital bedside. You’ll hear courtroom testimony, heartbreaking victim impact statements from Angela’s children and siblings.  #Poison #Husbandkillswife #truecrime #crime #truecrimecommunity #truecrimestories #truecrimepodcasts #realstories #podcasts #dentist 

Two teens in New York spent over 30 years in prison for a murder they didn’t commit — and yet, they confessed. In this episode, we dive into the psychology behind false confessions, the interrogation tactics that lead to them, and how the truth finally came to light. Then, we shift to a no-body murder conviction: Jerry Meek was sentenced to life for the presumed murder of his wife, Hope Meek — despite no body, no confession, and no witnesses. We dissect the court documents and explore whether justice was served or if a wrongful conviction is still unfolding in a case that has a small Oklahoma City perplexed.  #truecrime #truecrimecommunity #hopemeek #Brianboles #Newyork #Oklahoma #Killergenes 

What really defines a serial killer—and are we getting it all wrong? Former Orange County Deputy District attorney and author of The Book of Murder, Matt Murphy, joins us to dismantle the outdated myths and shed light on today’s most chilling predators. From prosecuting Rodney Alcala—aka “The Dating Game Killer”—to unpacking eerie parallels between Alcala, Ted Bundy, and Bryan Kohberger, this episode dives deep into the modern face of evil. Murphy delivers sharp insights on what truly makes a psychopath, and doesn’t hold back on hot takes—from the Maurene Comey firing to the P. Diddy trial and where it went wrong? And the legal circus surrounding Luigi Mangione.  A gripping and enlightening listen, you’ll walk away with a whole new framework for understanding criminal minds—prosecution and the evolving definition of darkness. #truecrime #truecrimecommunity #crime  Follow Killer Genes with Melissa on Youtube for more.

Murder by Fire: A Fatal Fire Forensic Expert Breaks Down Two Explosive Cases exclusively.  What really happened in the Ozarks when Ted Throneberry was murdered and his wife vanished without a trace? And what secrets were engulfed in flames in the California desert when 18-year-old Becky Friedli, her mother Vicki, and boyfriend Jon Hayward were killed in a house fire—with Becky’s body found burning in a wheelbarrow? In this gripping episode, fatal fire forensic expert Dr. Elayne Pope—known for her groundbreaking cadaver research and work with law enforcement—joins us to dissect two headline-making cases: 🔥 Case One: The rural Arkansas mystery of Ted Throneberry, a beloved husband whose death unraveled a shocking trail of deception and betrayal. 🔥 Case Two: The 2006 Pinyon Pines triple homicide, where two men were ultimately convicted—one a decorated war hero—but questions of guilt still haunt both sides. It’s an inferno of secrets, told through the lens of forensic science, psychology, and truth. Dr. Pope shares insights into how fire reveals the final moments of the victims—and whether those moments were staged or real. Two cases she helped crack.  #truecrime #scarystories # truecrimecommunity #truecrimepodcasts  Follow Killer Genes with Melissa on Youtube for more.