Murder in Miami

Wrongful Conviction with Lauren Bright Pacheco. Ten new, inspiring episodes of Wrongful Conviction, hosted by Lauren Bright Pacheco, that celebrate the potential of human connection to empower ordinary people to overcome extraordinary odds and injustices. Real individuals who unexpectedly became one another’s personal heroes by turning tragedy into triumph. Click here to follow Wrongful Conviction with Lauren Bright Pacheco: https://link.chtbl.com/v6pEKYf2 Wrongful Conviction with Lauren Bright Pacheco is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason welcomes Lauren to the team and they chat about the upcoming season launching on May 27th. Click here to follow Wrongful Conviction with Lauren Bright Pacheco: https://link.chtbl.com/v6pEKYf2 Wrongful Conviction with Lauren Bright Pacheco is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On June 19, 1988, 20-year-old Vincent Wright and 17-year-old Anissia Johnson were robbed at gunpoint by two men outside of a convenience store in Fort Lauderdale, FL. A third perpetrator also drove up to the scene in a brown car and instructed the gunmen to steal Wright’s car, which they did. 22-year-old Sidney Holmes came under police suspicion when they discovered that he drove a similar car to that of the third perpetrator – which happened to be one of the most popular cars at the time. Sidney was placed in multiple lineups, but the circumstances in which he was identified were entirely flawed. He also had a solid alibi. Nevertheless, Sidney was sentenced to 400 years in prison for a crime in which no one was injured, and that he did not commit. The two other perpetrators were never apprehended. Lauren Bright Pacheco talks to Sidney Holmes and Brandon Scheck, Sidney's attorney. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/sidney-holmes https://www.floridainnocence.org/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the evening of October 30, 1994, Marcus Boyd and Greg Elking were sitting on Marcus’s front porch in St. Louis, MO when two men, wearing ski masks and armed with guns, ambushed them and shot Marcus several times leading to his death. Police gathered that 20 year old Lamar Johnson may have had a conflict with Marcus, so Lamar became a prime suspect. Based on fabricated identifications and the word of a jailhouse snitch, Lamar was convicted and sentenced to life without parole. Lauren Bright Pacheco talks to Lamar Johnson and Lindsey Runnels, Lamar's attorney. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-lamar-johnson-after-wrongful-conviction https://themip.org/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/288-jason-flom-with-ken-middleton-update/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/303-jason-flom-with-billie-allen/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y48Sqab0mEo Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus 9: Lesley Bickerton shares her thoughts on how politics, power and shadowy ties to the international drug trade have had negative impacts- on a global scale- before, during and since the Lonestar era. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detective Denmark deep dives into Clay Williams' medical case file and the main players of Murder in Miami contemplate their current thoughts in light of past perceptions and recent revelations about Lamar, Lonestar and loyalty. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus 8: Murder in Miami's original music and soundscaping was crafted by our audio editors and sound designers (Nikolas Harter, Evan Tyor and Taylor Chicoine) and plays an enormous role in bringing the show's era to life. In this week's bonus episode we wanted to share the uninterrupted singular Murder in Miami soundtrack created- and featuring music- by Evan Tyor, Phil Mayer, John Murchison and Taylor Chicoine. We hope you enjoy! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ron Elliott spent the night before the crash at Lamar Chester’s farm in Cleveland, Georgia. He shared his memories and thoughts about the events leading up to Chester’s death with Phil. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus 7: In 1979, a joint DEA/FBI task force in Miami busted the Black Tuna Gang, a major marijuana smuggling ring responsible for bringing 500 tons of marijuana into the United States over a 16-month period. Black Tuna’s leader, Bobby Platshorn, shares the set-up that led to his serving twenty-nine years in federal prisons- and Ron ‘The Astronaut’ Elliott’s role in it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After being told by Chester that her life was in danger, Lesley flees Cleveland, Georgia only to find herself further ensnared in a federal investigation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus 6: A movie about a cocaine snorting bear going on a brutal killing spree hits home with CB Hackworth, although it misses the mark when marketed as non-fiction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After attempting for months to locate the mysterious woman caught up with Lamar and Lonestar, Lauren finally makes contact with Lesley Bickerton, Chester’s controversial former accountant. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus 5: The late 80s were loaded with ramifications of the unprecedented influx of drugs in Miami and the officers trying to police it. Former Miami Dade Detective Jeff Lewis sheds light on one of the infamous era’s most malignant periods of crime and out of control corruption for Miami’s law enforcement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil agrees to travel to Georgia to assist Chester in assembling his graymail defense. Questions about Clay William’s unsolved murder arise when it’s linked to testimony in Operation Lonestar. Covering the sprawling investigation pulls a young reporter named CB Hackworth into Chester’s corrupting orbit and the presence of Happy Miles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus 4: Lauren shares an early childhood memory laced with cocaine and celebrity before seeking the insight of Jerry Lee Wilson- a fascinating former dope pilot who made millions as a marketing-savvy inventor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cocaine further ups the ante as the Coconut Grove group pops up on the radar of multiple levels of law enforcement. As the attention intensifies, so does the focus on ties the group- especially Chester- has with the Bahamas and its government. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus 3: Mr. Happy Miles shares the surprising inspiration that took him from The Commodore to eventually working with the cartel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chester was part of an elite circle of prolific smuggling pilots who ruled the air in the early 80s. A man known as Happy Miles was also one of the power players that sprang from Coconut Grove - and he recalls some of the incredible and illicit adventures they shared. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus 2: Phil's former girlfriend Ruth shares the strangest murder she remembers from her days as a newspaper reporter in early 80s Miami. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stanford’s path finally crosses with the man behind Intercept’s operations, dashing drug smuggler Lamar Chester. Their encounter raises serious questions as to Intercept’s underlying interest in Stanford- and their understanding of who is really employing him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.