Top 10: The Most Shocking, Captivating & Confusing Trials of 2024

In this special #Top10 episode, Josh dives into the trials that captivated, stunned, and even left us confused in 2024.

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News Brief: Liam Payne Arrests Made / Sydney Powell New Trial / Jay-Z Attorney Smackdown & More!

In this #NewsBrief: charges in #LiamPayne’s death, #SydneyPowell conviction overturned and a judge's ruling in favor of a woman accusing #JayZ and #Diddy of assault when she was 13.

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Hidden True Crime: How Lauren & Dr. John Matthias Took a Chance and Built a Life & Podcast Together

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! In this episode, Joshua Ritter sits down with Lauren and Dr. John Matthias, the duo behind the hit podcast and YouTube channel ‪@HiddenTrueCrime‬.

• Lauren, a journalist and former news anchor, and Dr. John, a forensic psychologist, discuss how their shared fascination with the mysteries of true crime brought them together—from their first conversation discussing a grisly murder to their marriage and eventual decision to launch Hidden True Crime.

  They discuss their unique approach to storytelling, combining psychological insights with investigative depth, and how the Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow case inspired them to start their podcast during the pandemic. Lauren and Dr. John reflect on the evolution of their work, their connection with their audience, and their plans for the future.

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News Brief: Blake Smear Campaign Exposed / Luigi Cries Foul / Baldwin Prosecutor Calls Quits & More!

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! Today, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

• #BlakeLively has accused her #ItEndsWithUs” director and co-star #JustinBaldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the movie and a subsequent effort to “destroy” her reputation in a newly filed legal complaint.

• #LuigiMangione, the man accused of fatally shooting #BrianThompson, the CEO of #UnitedHealthcare pleaded not guilty on Monday to state murder and terror charges while his attorney complained that comments coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough to receive a fair trial.

• The effort to prosecute #AlecBaldwin for the fatal shooting of cinematographer #HalynaHutchins in 2021 ended on Monday when the special prosecutor withdrew her appeal of the judge’s decision to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge during the actor’s trial.

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Ian Runkle: How an Unexpected Leap Into YouTube Changed Everything

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! In this episode, Joshua Ritter sits down with Ian Runkle, a criminal defense and firearms lawyer from Alberta, Canada, and the creator of the popular YouTube channel ‪@RunkleOfTheBailey‬ .

• Ian shares with Josh the evolution of his legal career, his ambitions for the future, and the inspiration behind his YouTube channel. He also dives into how he got started in competitive shooting and the passion that keeps him pursuing it.

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M*rder Charges for Mangione! / Miami Brothers Jailed / Jay-Z Fires Back & More!

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! Today, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

• #LuigiMangione, the man accused of the brazen assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO #BrianThompson, waives extradition to return to New York to face additional charges.

  Legal troubles continue to escalate for Tal and Oren Alexander, high-profile real estate moguls, and their brother, Alon, accused in a sprawling federal sex trafficking scheme.

  The unnamed woman who brought sexual assault claims against rap icon #JayZ, admits to some “mistakes” in her allegations.

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Joseph Scott Morgan: The Impact of a Life Spent Investigating Death

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! In this episode, Joshua Ritter interviews Joseph Scott Morgan, the Distinguished Scholar of Applied Forensics at Jacksonville State University, host of the Body Bags podcast, and one of the nation’s most experienced death investigators.

• Joseph shares his fascinating career journey, from being one of the youngest coroner investigators in the country to becoming a Senior Investigator in Atlanta, where he helped establish national guidelines for medicolegal death investigators. He reflects on his transition to teaching forensic science at the college level, his experiences in high-profile media commentary, and the creation of his podcast, Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan, which is now in development as a television series.

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Luigi Mangione Captured! / Jay-Z Under Fire / Daniel Penny Speaks & More!

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! Today, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

• After a days-long manhunt, #LuigiMangione, the man authorities now believe responsible for the brazen assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO #BrianThompson, is fighting his extradition back to New York.

• Grammy award winning rapper, producer and music mogul #JayZ has been slapped with a lawsuit alleging he assaulted a 13-year-old girl along with embattled fellow rapper Sean #Diddy Combs.

• #DanielPenny, the military veteran accused in the death of #JordanNeely, a volatile, mentally ill man on a New York subway, has been acquitted and speaks to the media for the first time.

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Andrea Burkhart: A True Fighter, Both In and Out of the Courtroom

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! In this episode, Joshua Ritter interviews Andrea Burkhart, a seasoned criminal defense attorney and YouTuber who has brought her nearly two decades of legal experience to the world of true crime commentary.

• Andrea shares her journey from practicing law in Washington State to starting her YouTube channel, where she analyzes high-profile cases. As an experienced trial and appellate litigator, Andrea’s unique perspective sheds light on the complexities of the legal system and the stories behind the headlines.

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Daniel Penny, Hero or Villain? / YSL Shocking Conclusion / Melody Farris Speaks & More!

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! Today, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

• Deliberations are underway in the highly anticipated trial of #DanielPenny, a military veteran charged in the death of #JordanNeely, a homeless man, during an erratic subway encounter in New York City.

• After nearly two years since jury selection began and a year of tumultuous proceedings, the longest-running criminal trial in Georgia history has reached its conclusion. #DeamonteKendrick, known as rapper #YakGotti, was acquitted on all charges, while #ShannonStillwell was convicted solely of gun possession.

• #MelodyFarris, the wife of a prominent Atlanta attorney, received a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years for murdering her husband and burning his body. During her sentencing, Farris used her final moments in court to shift blame onto her son.

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Natalie Lawyer Chick: A Channel Driven by a Lifelong Passion for Justice

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! In this episode, Joshua Ritter sits down with Natalie Whittingham Burrell, a criminal defense lawyer and public defender who has made her mark in the true crime world with her YouTube channel, ‪@natalielawyerchick‬!

• Natalie reflects on her path to becoming a lawyer, the inspiration behind her work in the public defender’s office, and how her passion for justice has only strengthened throughout her career.

  Learn about what inspired her to revive an old YouTube channel—once focused on beauty content—and transform it into a platform where she dissects high-profile cases with clarity and precision, offering viewers a deeper understanding of the stories dominating the headlines.

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News Brief: Brian Camp Not Guilty! / Menendez Roadblock? / Karen Read New Evidence & More!

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! Today, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

• Massachusetts man Brian Camp has been found not guilty of manslaughter for the shooting death of his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend, Johnathan Letendre.

• On Monday, a judge delayed until January his decision on whether to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion 35 years ago.

• Karen Read returned to court this week for an evidentiary hearing. Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan requested Judge Beverly Cannone to authorize access to Read’s parents’ phone records, a move her defense attorney, Elizabeth Little, denounced as a “fishing expedition.”

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The Gift That Changed Everything: Bob Motta and the Story Behind “Defense Diaries”

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! This week, Josh sits down with Bob Motta, criminal defense attorney and host of true crime podcast Defense Diaries.

• Bob shares the fascinating story behind how his podcast started—a project sparked by a box of cassette tapes given to him by his father, a defense attorney for serial killer #JohnWayneGacy, containing their recorded conversations during trial preparation.

  After years of holding onto the tapes, Bob launched Defense Diaries during the pandemic, using them to explore the Gacy trial from a legal perspective while centering the victims' stories.

  In this conversation, Bob reflects on his own work as a defense attorney, his journey navigating true crime storytelling, and how Defense Diaries became a powerful platform for true crime and legal storytelling.

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Swift Justice for Laken Riley / NYC Subway Chokehold Trial / Susan Smith Denied Parole & More!

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! Today, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

• Venezuelan man #JoseIbarra was convicted on Wednesday in the death of Georgia nursing student #LakenRiley. He has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in a case that became a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration.

• Trial continues for #DanielPenny, the Marine veteran at the center of a fatal New York City subway chokehold incident. Penny is charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of #JordanNeely in May 2023.

• 30 years after the drowning deaths of her two children, South Carolina woman #SusanSmith stood before a parole board pleading for mercy. It was the first parole hearing for Smith, who is serving a life sentence after a jury convicted her but decided to spare her the death penalty.

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The Story of “Pretty Lies And Alibis”: GiGi McKelvey’s Unexpected Journey to True Crime

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! In this episode, Joshua Ritter interviews GiGi McKelvey, host of ‪@PrettyLiesAndAlibis‬ and boots on the ground correspondent for Law & Crime Network. GiGi takes us through her journey, from working as a surgical technician to launching Pretty Lies And Alibis during the pandemic—a channel that now boasts nearly 70,000 YouTube subscribers.

• Known for her in-depth coverage of high-profile legal cases, GiGi tells Josh how she discovered her passion for true crime and what led her to where she is today.

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GUILTY in Delphi! / Kouri Richins Wants Out / Karen Read New Evidence & More!

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! Today, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

• Seven years after the murders of #AbbyWilliams and #LibbyGerman, two teenage girls in #Delphi, Indiana, #RichardAllen has been convicted for their brutal slayings bringing an end to a case that captured the attention of the nation.

• #KouriRichins, the Utah mother accused of poisoning her husband and then writing a children’s book about grief, again requests the court to set bail before her approaching murder trial.

• The retrial of Mansfield woman #KarenRead gears up as attorneys discuss a series of motions, including a request from both sides to push back the trial start date, setting the stage for the state of play.

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From Courtroom to Newsroom: How Vinnie Politan Became Court TV’s Lead Anchor

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! In this episode, host Joshua Ritter interviews Emmy award-winning legal journalist and Court TV anchor, Vinnie Politan. With 30 years experience reporting in the true crime world, Vinnie shares his journey from prosecutor to one of the most recognizable faces in legal broadcasting.

• A popular presence on the original Court TV, Vinnie has led coverage of the nation’s most compelling trials and hosted legal and news programs on HLN, Sirius XM, and NBC in Atlanta.

🚨Courtroom Confidential is now available as a podcast on all major streaming platforms! Check it out!

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Delphi Judgment Day / JP Miller Arrested! / Young Thug Goes Free! & More!

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! Today, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

• Over seven years after the brutal slayings of teen girls #AbbyWilliams and #LibbyGerman, jurors will now decide the fate of #Delphi man #RichardAllen, charged with arguably the most notorious murders in Indiana state history.

• #JohnPaulMiller, a North Carolina pastor, first came under public scrutiny after the mysterious circumstances surrounding his estranged wife #MicaMiller’s death, now the FBI has raided his home, and he has been arrested for assault.

• #YoungThug, the Grammy award-winning rapper at the center of Georgia’s longest-running criminal trial, takes a mid-trial plea deal offered to him by Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, and walks free.

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The Story Behind Surviving The Survivor: Joel Waldman’s Unexpected Path to True Crime YouTuber

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! Today, host Joshua Ritter sits down with Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist Joel Waldman. With more than two decades of experience crafting stories, including long-form documentaries, Joel started ‪@SurvivingTheSurvivor‬, one of the fastest-growing shows on YouTube, with his Holocaust survivor mother, Karmela Waldman.

• #STS has quickly become a top destination on YouTube for expert breakdowns of major true crime cases, but it wasn’t always that way. Joel shares with Josh how his extensive journalism career laid the foundation for launching STS and its evolution from podcast to a daily YouTube show.

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GUILTY Verdicts for Boone and Simon / Richard Allen’s Confessions & More!

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! Today, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

• Two major verdicts reached the same day: #SarahBoone was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend, #JorgeTorres, who was discovered in a suitcase in their Winter Park, Florida home. #LeilaniSimon was convicted on all counts for the murder of her toddler, #QuintonSimon, whose remains were found in a landfill.

• In the #Delphi murder trial, jurors hear recordings of alleged confessions by #RichardAllen. But does his deteriorating mental state cast doubt on his admissions? Allen faces charges for the 2017 murders of Indiana teens #AbbyWilliams and #LibbyGerman.

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