Murder In The Morning | Daily True Crime News

By: Hidden Killers Podcast
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  • Summary

  • Join Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole every morning as they break down the latest true crime news and stories to kickstart your day. Stay informed on high-profile cases like Lori Vallow Daybell, Alex Murdaugh, and Bryan Kohberger, with real-time updates and analysis. Engage in discussions and interviews that delve deeper into these captivating stories. Tune in to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and immerse yourself in the world of true crime. From The Hidden Killers Podcast.
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Episodes
  • Appeal Raises New Questions in Alex Murdaugh Murder Convictions

    Appeal Raises New Questions in Alex Murdaugh Murder Convictions
    Dec 13 2024
    Alex Murdaugh’s defense team has filed a 132-page appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court, seeking to overturn his convictions for the 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. Central to the appeal are allegations of misconduct by court clerk Becky Hill and claims that the trial judge erred in allowing evidence of Murdaugh’s financial crimes to be presented to the jury.

    The disgraced attorney, once a prominent figure in South Carolina’s legal world, is serving life in prison after being found guilty of the brutal killings. Murdaugh has consistently denied committing the murders, including during his emotional testimony at trial.

    Defense attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian argue that the integrity of the trial was compromised by Hill’s alleged behavior. They cite testimony from jurors and other witnesses claiming Hill encouraged jurors to closely scrutinize Murdaugh’s testimony, implying his guilt. According to the appeal, Hill suggested that a guilty verdict would enhance the sales of her book about the trial.

    “Providing Murdaugh with the fair trial that every citizen of South Carolina would expect for himself is necessary to assure all that no one — powerful or humble, innocent or guilty, hated or beloved — is proscribed from due process and the equal protection of the law,” the defense wrote in the appeal.

    Earlier this year, Judge Jean Toal determined that Hill’s actions, while “foolish” and motivated by publicity, did not actively change jurors’ minds. However, Murdaugh’s lawyers contend that the appearance of impropriety is sufficient grounds for overturning the convictions.

    The appeal also challenges the admissibility of evidence related to Murdaugh’s financial crimes, which prosecutors argued provided a motive for the killings. The trial judge, Clifton Newman, allowed the jury to hear six days of testimony about Murdaugh’s theft from clients and his law firm, reasoning that it demonstrated his “desperation” to divert attention from his financial misdeeds.

    The defense maintains that the inclusion of financial crime evidence was prejudicial and unnecessary, writing, “The State was improperly permitted to introduce evidence of Murdaugh’s alleged financial crimes solely to impugn his character to bolster its otherwise weak case.”

    Physical evidence linking Murdaugh to the murders was minimal, the appeal asserts. The weapons used in the crimes were never found, and only small amounts of blood were detected on Murdaugh’s clothes. Defense attorneys also questioned the reliability of forensic evidence presented during the trial, including an investigator’s unrecorded experiments with an iPhone to support the prosecution’s theory about Maggie’s phone.

    Prosecutors have yet to respond to the appeal. The South Carolina Supreme Court will review the arguments, along with extensive materials from the six-week trial. A hearing is not expected for several months.

    Even if the convictions are overturned, Murdaugh is unlikely to regain his freedom. He is serving an additional 40-year sentence for financial crimes after pleading guilty to embezzling millions from clients and his law firm. As part of his plea agreement, Murdaugh waived his right to appeal those convictions.

    The case has captivated public attention due to Murdaugh’s once-powerful family’s influence in South Carolina’s legal community and the shocking allegations of betrayal and violence.

    #AlexMurdaugh #MurderTrial #LegalAppeal #SouthCarolina #TrueCrime #JusticeSystem #BeckyHill

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    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
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    16 mins
  • Former Kentucky Sheriff Claims Judge Operated Brothel Amid Murder Trial

    Former Kentucky Sheriff Claims Judge Operated Brothel Amid Murder Trial
    Dec 13 2024
    The high-profile murder trial of former Kentucky sheriff Shawn Stines has taken a shocking turn as his defense team builds a case alleging that slain U.S. District Judge Kevin Mullins was involved in illicit activities within his chambers. Stines, who was charged with fatally shooting Mullins in his chambers, claims the killing was tied to revelations of corruption and misconduct.

    The accusations against Mullins were first brought to light during the criminal investigation of former deputy sheriff Ben Fields. Fields was convicted earlier this year on charges of rape, sodomy, perjury, and tampering with a prisoner monitoring device. As part of that investigation, witness Sabrina Adkins alleged in a police interview that Mullins exchanged legal leniency for sexual favors and allowed his chambers to be used for sexual misconduct.

    Adkins detailed her claims in an audio recording obtained by NewsNation. "He does have some videotapes of some stuff in the judge’s chambers," she said. "Just with girls, sexual and stuff. I’ve seen one partly." She further alleged that Fields coerced her into performing sexual acts in the judge’s chambers, promising to tamper with her ankle monitor to keep her out of jail.

    These allegations form the backbone of a civil lawsuit Adkins filed in January 2022. In the lawsuit, she accused Mullins and Fields of using the judge’s chambers as a location to carry out assaults and other illicit activities. “There were no cameras,” the lawsuit stated, describing the chambers as a secluded area exploited by those in positions of power.

    Three days before the fatal shooting, Stines, a longtime friend of Mullins, was deposed in Adkins’ lawsuit. His attorney, Jeremy Bartley, has indicated that Adkins’ allegations and the findings from Fields’ case are central to the defense. “This is a large story. It’s a story that, in some ways, is difficult to tell,” Bartley said during a recent court hearing. He described the accusations against Mullins as “crucial” to understanding Stines’ actions.

    Adkins’ lawsuit further alleges that Fields used his authority as a deputy sheriff to intimidate her and others into compliance. The chambers, she claims, became a hub for illegal activities due to their lack of surveillance. “Fields assaulted me there more than once, and Mullins knew,” Adkins wrote in her lawsuit.

    Fields’ conviction earlier this year has already exposed significant corruption within the local justice system. Now, with the murder of Mullins, the spotlight has intensified on the alleged abuse of power by judicial officials. The revelations have sparked national discussions about systemic corruption and the unchecked authority of public servants.

    Stines remains in custody, and his trial is expected to delve deeper into the disturbing allegations surrounding Judge Mullins. The case continues to draw national attention, as it raises broader questions about the integrity of the judicial system and the lengths to which individuals might go to expose corruption.

    #CorruptionScandal #KentuckyNews #JudgeMisconduct #ShockingRevelations #JusticeSystemReform #HighProfileTrial #BreakingNews

    Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
    Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
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    11 mins
  • Donna Adelson Returns to Court with New Legal Team, Trial Proposed for June

    Donna Adelson Returns to Court with New Legal Team, Trial Proposed for June
    Dec 12 2024
    Donna Adelson, accused of orchestrating the 2014 murder-for-hire of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel, appeared in court with her new defense team after her trial was delayed by conflict-of-interest issues. The appearance marked her first since a September postponement of the high-profile case.

    Accompanied by her new attorneys, former Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford and Tallahassee lawyer Josh Zelman, Adelson appeared before Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett. Both attorneys assured the court there were no conflicts of interest in their representation. Adelson’s previous legal team had been disqualified due to conflicts involving her son Charlie Adelson, who is serving a life sentence for organizing the murder.

    Fulford and Zelman took over the case in October and have begun addressing the substantial legal hurdles that come with such a transition. Fulford, drawing on her experience as a circuit judge and interim state attorney, expressed confidence in their ability to prepare for the trial despite limited access to discovery materials. “The state attorney’s office has agreed to provide us with electronic copies of all deposition transcripts,” Zelman noted.

    Adelson, who appeared in a purple jail jumpsuit and spoke only to her attorneys, faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. Prosecutors allege she hired hitmen through her son Charlie Adelson to kill Dan Markel during a contentious custody dispute involving her grandchildren.

    During the hearing, Fulford proposed a trial window between June 16 and July 2, noting that all parties involved, including witnesses, could be available during that time. Judge Everett emphasized the importance of setting a firm trial date, citing the logistical complexities of moving prisoners and ensuring the presence of witnesses. “When that trial date is set, it is going to be firm,” he stated.

    The court set the next case management conference for February 11, when discovery is expected to be completed and deadlines for trial preparation finalized. Local attorney Don Pumphrey commented on the challenges of picking up a case at this stage, likening it to “painting in the blind.” However, he acknowledged the strengths of the new legal team, describing Fulford as a “strategist” and a strong choice for the defense.

    The case remains one of significant public interest, with Adelson being one of five individuals arrested in connection with Markel’s murder. Her son Charlie Adelson and three others are already serving prison sentences, leaving her as the final defendant to face trial.

    Judge Everett also addressed any potential conflicts arising from Fulford’s prior judicial role presiding over Markel probate matters. After reviewing the matter, he found no issues that would interfere with her representation.

    The court’s focus now shifts to ensuring all materials are handed over and preparations are completed in time for the June trial window, bringing the case closer to resolution after a decade of legal battles and public scrutiny.

    #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #Tallahassee #TrueCrime #MurderTrial

    Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
    Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
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    7 mins

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