The Last 12 Weeks - Ep. 5

The Last 12 Weeks - Ep. 4

Jun 18, 202630 minSummary

In the fourth episode of The Last 12 Weeks, the series examines the complex identity and guilt of David Wood, a man currently on death row in Texas. The narrative focuses on the fundamental tension surrounding his case: whether he is a cold-blooded serial killer or a man unfairly scapegoated by the justice system. The episode features a powerful interview with Christie, a woman raped by Wood when she was thirteen. Christie provides a firsthand account of the attack and describes the psychological trauma that has shaped her life for decades. Her perspective is stark; she believes the geographical proximity of the victims' disappearances to Wood’s known locations makes his guilt undeniable. The host also gains rare access to Wood inside prison. During their conversation, Wood addresses his past, though he remains dismissive of his prior rape convictions while vehemently denying his role in the desert murders. His defense team argues that police bias and Wood's lack of moral standing made him a convenient target for investigators. Ultimately, the episode challenges listeners to grapple with the discomfort of weighing a person’s horrific past against the possibility of their innocence in a capital murder case.

The Last 12 Weeks - Ep. 3

Jun 18, 202643 minSummary

In this episode, the defense team for David Wood faces an intense, ticking-clock scenario as they scramble to exhaust all possibilities before his scheduled execution. With only weeks remaining, the lawyers pursue two desperate leads. First, they attempt to investigate a decades-old confession by Eddie Barton, a man who once claimed to have killed multiple women in the El Paso desert. Despite locating Barton in an assisted living facility, the investigators find him disoriented and unable to substantiate his past claims, leaving the team without the breakthrough they needed. The narrative also shifts to the team’s difficult decision regarding Randy Wells, a jailhouse informant whose testimony was pivotal in Wood’s original conviction. As Wells battles terminal cancer, the lawyers struggle with the ethical dilemma of whether to approach him on his deathbed to seek a potential recantation. The episode further explores the perspective of Marcia Fulton, a mother of one of the victims who has spent decades advocating for Wood’s execution. By humanizing the people caught in the aftermath of these crimes, the episode highlights the profound emotional toll and moral complexity inherent in capital punishment cases.

The Last 12 Weeks - Ep. 2

Jun 18, 202645 minSummary

In this episode of Serial, the legal team representing David Wood, who is facing execution for a series of murders from 1992, races against time to uncover new evidence. With only 58 days remaining, lead attorney Greg Warchuck and his team are under immense pressure to find a breakthrough that will force the courts to reconsider the case. They grapple with the reality that the original prosecution relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and potentially flawed "junk science," such as identical fiber matches. The episode follows the team as they pursue fresh leads, including a tip from a woman named Michelle Bradley who believes her own father may be responsible for the crimes. The attorneys must navigate the delicate balance of vetting these leads while managing the skepticism that comes with investigating "rabbit trails" in a high-profile case. As they search for witnesses and re-examine old evidence, the podcast explores the intense tension, distrust, and systemic challenges inherent in death penalty litigation, highlighting the desperate, last-minute efforts to prove innocence when the state’s original case feels increasingly fragile.

The Last 12 Weeks - Ep. 1

Jun 18, 202641 minSummary

The premiere episode of The Last 12 Weeks follows a high-stakes race against time as defense attorney Greg Warchuck attempts to halt the looming execution of David Wood, a man convicted of being the infamous Desert Killer in El Paso, Texas. Warchuck, a veteran in capital defense, maintains that Wood is innocent and believes the original 1980s investigation was built upon fabricated testimony from jailhouse informants and circumstantial evidence. The episode introduces George Hall, a former inmate who reveals a long-hidden story of police misconduct. Hall claims he and other prisoners were taken on a joyride by officers who fed them case details to secure false testimony against Wood in exchange for leniency and rewards. While retired detectives dismiss these allegations as preposterous, the narrative highlights the deep-seated skepticism surrounding the original trial. As the execution date draws near, the host accompanies Warchuck and his legal team as they navigate a hostile political landscape, attempting to convince the incoming District Attorney to authorize modern DNA testing on neglected evidence. The episode provides an intimate look at the relentless, often grueling process of challenging a decades-old death sentence.

The Last 12 Weeks - Trailer

Jun 16, 20262 minSummary

In this trailer for the new podcast series The Last Twelve Weeks, host Sarah Koenig introduces listeners to a high-stakes investigation into the complexities of the American criminal justice system. Drawing on her extensive background in legal reporting, Koenig highlights her experience embedding with a dedicated team of capital defense lawyers in Texas. The series centers on a brief and intense window of time as these attorneys fight to prove the innocence of a man branded one of the state’s most notorious serial killers before his scheduled execution. Throughout the preview, listeners are given a glimpse into the arduous process of chasing down fresh evidence, questioning alternate suspects, and attempting to navigate the painful skepticism of victims' families. The program examines the race against the clock as lawyers battle fabricated testimony and systemic obstacles in a desperate attempt to stop an execution. Produced by Serial Productions, the Marshall Project, and the New York Times, this five-part series promises an unflinching, inside look at one of the most controversial and pressurized elements of the legal system as the final deadline approaches.

The Idiot - Chapter 1

Mar 26, 202621 minSummary

In the premiere of the new Serial podcast The Idiot, host Masha Gessen explores a shocking betrayal within their own family. The narrative centers on Gessen’s cousin, Allen, a complex and polarizing figure who abruptly returns to the United States from Russia with his five-year-old son, O, after separating from the child's mother, Priscilla. What initially appears to be a chaotic custody dispute characterized by "elastic" family boundaries and international complications gradually spirals into a much darker reality. As Gessen acts as a double agent to help Priscilla navigate the legal system and track her son’s location, the family remains largely in denial, normalizing Allen’s erratic behavior. However, the facade of normalcy is shattered when Allen is arrested by the FBI at a family camping trip. The episode pivots from a story of messy domestic conflict to a chilling criminal investigation as Gessen discovers that Allen was allegedly involved in a murder-for-hire plot targeting his ex-wife. This gripping opening chapter sets the stage for a deeper examination of how an unthinkable crime can take root within an unsuspecting family.

The Preventionist - Ep. 3

The Preventionist - Ep. 2

The Preventionist - Ep. 1

The Preventionist - Trailer