Let's Talk About Murder - The Alford Plea

Today we’re taking a cross-Canada road trip, but not the fun kind with snacks and a playlist. We’re looking at how each province approaches domestic violence: the risk assessments they use, the red flags they miss, and the very real lives caught in the gaps.📌 1. ShelterSafe.ca (Canada-wide)Website: https://www.sheltersafe.ca An interactive map of women’s shelters across every province and territory. Listeners can click their region and immediately find 24/7 shelters, phone lines, and crisis intake options.This is one of the best resources for people needing physical safety right now.📌 2. 1-800-VICTIM-LINK (1-800-842-8465)Free, confidential support across Canada. Helps with:Domestic violenceSexual assaultLegal informationSafety planningConnecting to local servicesExcellent for people who don’t know where to start.📌 3. 211 Canada (Call or Text 2-1-1)Website: https://211.ca Available nationwide. Provides:Emergency housingCounsellingCrisis supportsSafety planningHelp accessing social services211 is great because you can say anything — “I need help,” “I’m scared,” “I don’t know what to do” — and they direct you.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Danger isn’t always outside the door. Sometimes, it’s climbing up the wall.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When 52-year-old Timothy Pasa was found murdered, the story that unfolded was anything but simple - what was revealed was a plan so calculated it still makes seasoned investigators shake their heads.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Coercive control doesn’t start with bruises. It starts with rules. Restrictions. Apologies that don’t sound like apologies.In this episode, we’re sitting down to talk about the kind of control that doesn’t always leave marks — but absolutely destroys lives.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A missing grandmother, a secret buried in the Illinois woods, and a family story that twisted itself into something almost unbelievable.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Murder, we’re talking honestly about the red flags too many people miss… and the systems that still turn away from them. These are the patterns survivors describe, the behaviours families wish they’d known to name sooner, and the signs that should never be ignored.It’s not an easy conversation — but it’s one that saves lives. Let’s talk about what family violence really looks like before the headline, before the crime scene, before the tragedy. Because recognizing the signs is how we break the cycle.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jackie Schwingel was bright, curious, and only two years old — still at that age where every day is a new discovery. But what unfolded made it devastatingly clear: this wasn’t a medical mystery. This wasn’t an accident. This was the result of one adult’s reckless, selfish, and utterly avoidable behaviour. Travis Ray Thompson didn’t just make a mistake — he made a choice. A choice that cost Jackie her life.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The “Not Criminally Responsible” verdict. You’ve heard it in headlines, you’ve seen the outrage online, and maybe you’ve wondered how someone can admit to a violent act and still be found not responsible for it.In this episode, we’re breaking down what NCR really isSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A 24-year-old from Alberta, moved thousands of miles to the remote Shetland Islands to live with someone she trusted — only to be murdered in the most brutal, isolating way imaginable. She died in a hot tub with more than 50 injuries inflicted.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we’re digging into one of the justice system’s strangest little loopholes — the Alford plea. It’s that magical moment in court where someone stands up and says, “I’m innocent… but also, yes, I’ll take the conviction, thanks.”It’s bizarre, it’s controversial, and it raises all kinds of questions about pressure, power, and what “justice” actually looks like when the truth gets negotiated. So grab your coffee — we’re unpacking why this plea exists.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy