1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: This episode contains content that may be disturbing to some listeners. 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: Please check the show notes for more information. 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 2: Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis. This is a 4 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 2: story about OJ Simpson, but it's likely not the O. J. 5 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 2: Simpson story you know. This OJ Simpson's story takes place 6 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 2: after he was acquitted for the grisly murder of his 7 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 2: ex wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. 8 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 2: This is a story about O. J. Simpson in an 9 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 2: armed heist that sounds like something out of a Cohen 10 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,639 Speaker 2: Brothers movie. It's a story about a group of bungling 11 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 2: burglars the CD underbelly of Las Vegas in a raid 12 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 2: by federal agents. Before this story, though, there was a 13 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 2: time when OJ Simpson gracefully danced through nf fell backfields 14 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 2: to the sounds of record breaking music. Figurative music, but 15 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 2: great music, no doubt, Unlike that music I played for 16 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 2: you at the top of the show. That wasn't great music. 17 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 2: That was a preset loop from my mellotron called Boss 18 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 2: Fight MK. 19 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: Two. 20 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,399 Speaker 2: I played you that loop because I can't afford the 21 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 2: rights to Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie, And why 22 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 2: would I play you that specific slice of not actually 23 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 2: Frankie Valley Cheese. 24 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: Could I afford it? 25 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 2: Because that was the number one song in America on 26 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 2: September thirteenth, two thousand and seven, And that was the 27 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 2: day OJ Simpson led a ragtag group of bumbling criminals 28 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 2: into a tiny room at the Palms in Las Vegas 29 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 2: to steal valuable sports. 30 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: Memorabilia at gunpoint. 31 00:01:55,240 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 2: On this episode Bungling Burglars, the Underbelly of Las Vegas 32 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 2: and the squeezing of the juice himself. Oh J Simpson, 33 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 2: I'm Jake Brennan, and this is Disgraceland. Walter Alexander knew 34 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 2: that it was feudile to resist the siren call of 35 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 2: a blackjack table. And why would he resist him? He 36 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 2: was in the one place in the world where the 37 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 2: answer to every question was yes, deal me in, Yes, 38 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 2: hit me, Yes, another G and T Yes, slot machine handled? 39 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 2: Why the fuck not? 40 00:02:57,919 --> 00:02:59,239 Speaker 1: Craps table Let's rock. 41 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 2: His nickname sounded lucky whenever someone said it. No one 42 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 2: called him Walter. They all called him Goldie. With a 43 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 2: nickname like Goldie, how could he loopse the sound of 44 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 2: the dice bouncing on the felt and the epileptic tension 45 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 2: of flashing lights, the smell of mid shelf cologne, unfiltered camels, 46 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 2: and lysol vegas. Baby Goldie could see it, smell it, 47 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 2: taste it. September thirteenth, two thousand and seven, when Goldie 48 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: first stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac at 49 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:31,959 Speaker 2: McCarran Airport, the desert wind slapped him in the face. 50 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 2: It was hot and gritty, and the sun was relentless. 51 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 2: It burned, it beat down. Its heat is a dry heat, 52 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 2: he thought to himself. Then why the fuck am I 53 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 2: soaking in sweat? He found shelter and the string of 54 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 2: climate controlled casinos along the strip. Inside, the sound of 55 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 2: cards shuffling through dealer's fingers played like a loop in 56 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 2: his head. Goldie was in town for a wedding, more 57 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 2: like a four day bacchana. With a wedding is the 58 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 2: cherry on top. If the promise verbal agenda stuck and 59 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 2: there'd be parties, booze, table games, luck would be a lady. 60 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 2: If he was lucky, it was going to be an 61 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 2: epic weekend. It was going to be a weekend of yes. 62 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: And so when Goldie cell rang out of the blue 63 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 2: and he answered it and heard the voice of his 64 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 2: golfing buddy OJ Simpson on the other line, and OJ 65 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 2: had this thing that needed to get done. Is no 66 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,919 Speaker 2: way Goldie was going to say no. He remembered that 67 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 2: OJ was in Vegas for the same wedding. But OJ 68 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: wasn't calling to talk about the impending nuptials. He had 69 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: some more pressing business to discuss. 70 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: Goldie, you got to. 71 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,479 Speaker 2: Combine my room at the Palms and bring Spence with you. 72 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 2: Spence was Spencer aka Michael McClinton, another mutual friend whose 73 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,679 Speaker 2: checkered passed included bus for illegal firearms, drug possession and pimping. 74 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,840 Speaker 2: OJ sounded impatient. Time was wasting Goldie and Spence needed 75 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 2: to powwow with impronto. Goldie told OJ to hang tight, 76 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 2: he tracked down Spence and they'd be over later that day. 77 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: In his room at the Palms, OJ laid it down 78 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 2: straight for Goldie and Spence. His friend Tom Ricchio, co 79 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 2: owner of an auction house called Universal Rarities, had just 80 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 2: delivered some fresh intel, and the intel was troubling. Two 81 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 2: memorabilia dealers known to Riggio, Al Beardsley and Bruce Ramone 82 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 2: were shacked up in Room twelve oh three at the 83 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 2: Palace Station, a hotel and casino a few minutes up 84 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 2: the road from the Palms, and they were sitting on 85 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,600 Speaker 2: a bunch of sod after stuff, OJ's stuff. 86 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: Highly sowd after highly valuable OJ. 87 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:36,119 Speaker 2: Simpson sports memorabilia, and that stuff was stolen. It didn't 88 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,239 Speaker 2: belong to them, It didn't belong to anyone but OJ, 89 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 2: or so OJ thought, like the football he was carrying 90 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 2: in nineteen seventy three when he rushed for over two 91 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 2: thousand yards and beat Jim Brown's ten year record, and 92 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:49,679 Speaker 2: like the ring that had belonged to his late ex wife, 93 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 2: Nicole Brown Simpson, like the signed photo of Jeggar Hoover 94 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 2: that had been a personal gift from the former FBI director. 95 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 2: Missing stuff wasn't exactly new to OJ. Most of his 96 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: personal belongings flew the coup ten years before, in nineteen 97 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 2: ninety seven, after he lost a wrongful death civil suit 98 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 2: brought on by the families of his ex wife Nicole 99 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 2: and her friend Ron Goldman. OJ, of course, had been 100 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 2: infamously acquitted of their murders only a year before that 101 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: in nineteen ninety six, and would have been dubbed the 102 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 2: Trial of the century, and though he came out on 103 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 2: top on that murder trial, he wasn't so lucky with 104 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 2: the civil suit. He lost that, which meant that he 105 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 2: owned thirty three point five million dollars in damages. He 106 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 2: didn't have the money, so he defaulted on his mortgage. 107 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 2: He was evicted from his Brentwooden mansion, and the Goldmans 108 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 2: then went after his assets. His nineteen sixty eight Heisman 109 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 2: trophy gone, his Pro Football Hall of Fame certificate gone, 110 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:50,119 Speaker 2: his beloved golf clubs adios, a gold Rolex watch. 111 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: Scott Douche OJ. 112 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 2: Wondered if some of those items were among the batch 113 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 2: of memorabilia that Al Beardsley and Bruce Fromome were sitting on. 114 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,120 Speaker 2: Fuck him if he couldn't find out, because he was 115 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 2: going to ruin twelve oh three at the Palace Station 116 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 2: and he was gonna get his stuff back. He had 117 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,679 Speaker 2: already reached out to the LA branch of the FBI 118 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 2: to find out if they wanted in on the operation. 119 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 2: An undercover sting he mentioned as a sign j Edgar 120 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 2: Hoover photo. Thought maybe it lended some street credit. Hoover 121 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 2: had practically deputized OJ on the spot when he gave 122 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: it to him. 123 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: At least that's what OJ told him. 124 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 2: The FBI boked no, so OJ sweetened the pot. They 125 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 2: could stream the sting live on TV. Ratings would be bananas. 126 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: The Fence told OJ that what he was proposing wasn't 127 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 2: a sting and that they wouldn't be involved. OJ knew 128 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 2: he couldn't trust the FBI. The FBI didn't have his back. 129 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 2: Couldn't he trust Goldie and Spence? Would they help him? 130 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 2: Did they have his back? Goldie had OJ's back, no problem, 131 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 2: no questions necessary. Goldie had known OJ for about ten years. 132 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,239 Speaker 2: They met on a golf course. When they weren't golfing, 133 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 2: they were a partying. Goldie valued his friendship with Oj 134 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 2: because it opened doors for him. He used his French 135 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 2: as leverage when he interviewed for jobs as a real 136 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 2: estate agent and wanted to impress a potential firm. Goldie 137 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 2: had OJ's back no matter what. Even in two thousand 138 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 2: and two, when OJ was caught tuling his power boat 139 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 2: through the manity protected waters of Biscayne Bay, Florida, Goldie 140 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 2: stood by his friend, even when OJ refused to pay 141 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 2: the sixty five dollars fine and move on. 142 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: With his life. 143 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 2: OJ maintained his innocence and Goldie maintained his loyalty. I've 144 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: always got your back, Juice, Goldie told me. But what 145 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 2: about heat? OJ asked, can you guys get some heat? 146 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 2: And Goldie looked at Spence. It was an unexpected development. 147 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 2: You won't need to use them at all, which he 148 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 2: had it. Just keep him tucking your belt under your 149 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 2: jacket in case we need to flash him and let 150 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 2: everyone know we mean business. Spence pulled his concealed weapons 151 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 2: permit from his wallet. Yeah, don't you worry about that, 152 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 2: he responded, I can bring plenty of heat. June seventeenth, 153 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety four, the four h five Freeway, Los Angeles. 154 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 2: The Heat sat next to OJ on the back seat, 155 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 2: a three point fifty seven Mac loaded. Next to the 156 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,679 Speaker 2: gun was his passport, a change of clothes, fake go te. 157 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 2: He told Al Callings to keep driving. Al Callings, former 158 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 2: linebacker who finished his professional football career in nineteen seventy 159 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,959 Speaker 2: nine with the forty nine Ers the same year and 160 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:18,559 Speaker 2: same team, as OJ. 161 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 1: Tried to stay calm. 162 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: Collins and OJ were running again, but this time it 163 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 2: wasn't on the gridiron. This time it was in a 164 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 2: white Ford Bronco going north on the four h five 165 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 2: reel slow, a phalanx of five o's pulling up the rear. 166 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 2: OJ was supposed to turn himself into the LAPD. Instead, 167 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 2: he bolted and the LAPD gave chase and the entire 168 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,440 Speaker 2: country watched. The two hours sixty mile chase remains a 169 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 2: monumental media event that captured the nation's collective attention. Cars 170 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 2: pulled over on the side of the freeway to watch 171 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 2: the Bronco drive by. Crowds appeared on bridge overpasses, homemade 172 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 2: cardboard signs in hand, encouraging the Jews to keep on running. 173 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 2: OJ's buddy Bob Costas, cut into NBC's coverage a Game 174 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 2: five on the NBA Finals to give a play by play. 175 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 2: It was seen live on television coast to coast by 176 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 2: around ninety five million people. But this was no game. 177 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 2: There was a warrant out for OJ's arrests. He'd been 178 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 2: declared a fugitive wanted for the brutal murders of Nicole 179 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 2: Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. 180 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: Their bodies have. 181 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 2: Been found shredded outside Nicole's Brentwood condo. Just days earlier, 182 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 2: OJ sat in shock in the Broncos backseat. His mind raced. 183 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 2: He didn't know what the fuck he was doing. He 184 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 2: told Al to keep driving. He looked out through the 185 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 2: windshield at the four oh five and the freeway lay 186 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 2: ahead of them, a concrete turf with no end zone 187 00:10:44,280 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 2: in sight. OJ Simpson came from out of nowhere. Clarence 188 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 2: Stewart was pulling into a parking spot outside the Palms 189 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 2: in Las Vegas when OJ, his friend, jumped in front 190 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 2: of his car. Clarence slammed on the brakes. It was 191 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 2: around dinner time. OJ needed a lift. He was headed 192 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 2: to the Palace Station, just a few minutes down the 193 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 2: road wouldn't take long. 194 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: OJ was running late. 195 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 2: For a meeting. Well, who was more of a setup 196 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 2: than a meeting. OJ told Clarence about the two memorabilia dealers, 197 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 2: Al Beardsley and Bruce Vermone, who were sitting on a 198 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 2: bunch of his personal belongings in a room at the 199 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 2: Palace Station, and that OJ's dealer friend Tom Ricchio had 200 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 2: set up this quote unquote meeting with these other dealers 201 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 2: under false pretenses. The dealers with the goods had no 202 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 2: idea that OJ was involved or would be attending the meeting. 203 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 2: Another of OJ's friends, Charlie Erlick, was posing as a 204 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 2: prospective buyer, but of course Charlie wasn't a real buyer. 205 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:07,199 Speaker 2: OJ was running a sting, plain and simple. The dealers 206 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 2: had OJ's stuff, footballs and pictures and other memorabilia. OJ 207 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 2: was going to take back what was rightfully his. Clarence 208 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 2: was confused. He and OJ had been lounging at the 209 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 2: Palm's pool earlier in the day. Place was party town central. 210 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 2: OJ sitting there in a cabana, random strangers asking if 211 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 2: it was really him, the juice and the flesh girls 212 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 2: sitting on his lap for photos. Nothing like being acquitted 213 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 2: for a double murder to lock down that celebrity game. 214 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 2: The pool was all fun in games, so OJ didn't 215 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 2: say a damn thing about a stak. Furthermore, it sounded 216 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 2: a lot more like a steal than a stak. Clarence 217 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 2: thought about that time a few years ago. In two 218 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 2: thousand and five, when OJ was busted for stealing satellite TV. 219 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:53,319 Speaker 2: The FEDS raided his Miami home and found bootmotors, illegal 220 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 2: devices specifically used to pirate cable Direct TV. Had him 221 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 2: over a barrel twenty five large in fines. Not that 222 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 2: Clarence was a goodie two shoes. Clarence knew about fucking 223 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:06,839 Speaker 2: up on an OJ sized scale. 224 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 1: Back in eighty seven. 225 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 2: Clarence tried to sell cop to an undercover officer in Louisiana. 226 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 2: He copped a guilty plea for possession. In these days, 227 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 2: he worked as a mortgage broker in Vegas and tried 228 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 2: to fly a little strainer. 229 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 1: But for OJ, sure he'd fly crooked for a hot minute. 230 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 2: And so Clarence drove OJ over to the Palace Station 231 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 2: along with Charlie, the guy who was posing as the buyer. 232 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 2: Clarence brought his own friend, Charles Cashmore along for the ride, 233 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 2: and as the four walked into the Palace Station's lobby, 234 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 2: OJ said that Tom Ricchio would meet them inside. OJ 235 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 2: failed to mention that there were two other guys waiting 236 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 2: for them inside as well. So it came as a 237 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 2: shock to Clarence that not only were there two more 238 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 2: characters in this burgeoning posse, but that they were packing 239 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 2: heat as well. And those two guys were Goldie in Spence. 240 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,559 Speaker 2: Goldie and Spence weren't dressed casually like everyone else. They 241 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 2: looked like crocketted tubs from Miami Vice, slick suits, one 242 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 2: purple one black bulges at their sides, and told everyone 243 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 2: they were packing. Spence had lent Goldie as twenty two 244 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 2: Bretta Goldie had it stuffed at his waistband. Spence concealed 245 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 2: the forty five caliber Ruger semi automatic. Whatever confidence Clarence 246 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 2: had been feeling earlier suddenly slipped away. He didn't know 247 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 2: what was going on anymore. It wasn't expecting guns, but OJ, 248 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 2: assessing his makeshift six man offensive line, was feeling confident. 249 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: He was ready. 250 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 2: He was ready to reclaim what was rightfully his. He 251 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 2: was going in jumbo stacked. OJ's team made their way 252 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 2: to room twelve oh three. Al Beardsley and Bruce Ramon 253 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 2: and the dealers inside the room had no idea what 254 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 2: was about to go down. It was seven point thirty 255 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 2: eight pm, fourth in goal. 256 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: In the hallway. OJ began to get upset. 257 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 2: And the closer they got to the hotel room door, 258 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 2: the more pissed off he became. Took a deep breath 259 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 2: so they wouldn't fly into a rage, and then OJ 260 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 2: called an audible. He signaled to Spence, flash your heat 261 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 2: and he get in the room, look menacing. Spence took 262 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 2: the cue. No fucking around. It was time to rush. 263 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 2: The knock on the door and the door opened. Tom 264 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 2: Ricchio entered the room, first with Charlie as a supposed 265 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 2: sports collector, and then Goldie, and then Spence, Clarence, then 266 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 2: Cash Moll and then a beat. 267 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: And then Oj walked in. Last in the air went 268 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:27,479 Speaker 1: out of the room. 269 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 2: Bruce Ramon was in the middle of a phone call. 270 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 2: He dropped the receiver and it dangled on its cord. 271 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 2: Albeard's the unmissible at six foot six and three hundred pounds, 272 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 2: couldn't believe he was face to face with his hero, 273 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 2: Oj Simpson. Spence had the ruger in his hand. He 274 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 2: pointed it around the room Goldie first, stal Oj looked 275 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 2: at all the goods laid out on the bed. He 276 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 2: wanted to find his. He saw footballs, some were signed 277 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 2: with the details of the records he'd broken while carrying 278 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 2: them in a game. He saw an All American team ball. 279 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 2: He was pretty sure that was his, too. He saw 280 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 2: that one Ja Agger Hoover photo. He saw a ziploc 281 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 2: bag of his ties, fucking. 282 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: Neckties, assholes. 283 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 2: He saw a shit that wasn't even his signed Pete 284 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 2: Rose baseballs and Joe Montana lithographs. Don't let nobody out 285 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 2: of this room, he said to no one in particular, 286 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 2: eyes still scanning the tens of thousands of dollars of 287 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 2: merchandise on the bed, And the room itself was small, 288 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 2: nothing fancy, thirty five bucks a night, and now there 289 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 2: were nine men stuffed inside it. Some like Goldie and 290 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 2: Spence were relishing the role of armed muscle. Others like 291 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 2: Clarence and Cashmore didn't know what they were supposed to 292 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 2: be doing. Albeardsley and Bruce Vermon. Meanwhile, we're freaking the 293 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 2: fuck out. Spence held his arm out and pointed the 294 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 2: rugor of Bruce. Bruce's face drained of blood. Spence thought 295 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 2: about OJ's raged up advice. Look menacing, You guys are lucky. 296 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 2: We're not in la he said, the forty five tight 297 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 2: in his hand. If we were, you'd all be on 298 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 2: the floor, on the floor, why, Clarence thought, watching the 299 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 2: scene play out in disbelieve, on the floor because this 300 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 2: is a stick up, or on the floor, because they'd 301 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 2: all be dead. Al beards Lee, the unlucky sports memorabilia collector, 302 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 2: made a move towards the bed. His hand went down 303 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 2: where the shitty mattress meant the shittier frame. Clarence panicked 304 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 2: the dealer was going for his own gat. Clarence was 305 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 2: sure of it. Clarence sprang into action. Within seconds had 306 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 2: al up against the wall. OJ had turned his detention 307 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:19,399 Speaker 2: from the swag laid out of the bed to the 308 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 2: commotion Spence with the forty five drawn, Clarence pinning the dealer. 309 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: Shit was getting out of hand, chill. 310 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 2: OJ said, thinking to himself about how best to tone 311 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 2: down the excitement in the room. And maybe Spence should 312 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 2: put the gun away, Maybe they should back up and leave. 313 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,360 Speaker 2: It was supposed to have been so simple, so easy 314 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 2: in and out, but shit went south faster than a 315 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 2: white Bronco going north. OJ told the guys to back 316 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 2: up whatever they could. They needed to split. If they 317 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 2: hung around much longer, the police would get involved, and 318 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 2: police were the last thing Oj Simpson needed. Brentwood, January first, 319 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty nine, three point fifty eight am. All was 320 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 2: not quiet on New Year's Day At three sixty North 321 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 2: Rockingham Avenue. Nicole Brown Simpson was screaming bloody murder into 322 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 2: her telephone. When the LAPD arrived, they found her hiding 323 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 2: in the bushes outside her Brentwood mansion. 324 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,159 Speaker 1: She was in her bra and sweatpants. She was covered 325 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: in mud. 326 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:20,360 Speaker 2: Her face was beaten, her lips split, swollen cheek, blackened eye, 327 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 2: large handprint on her neck. She kept repeating the same 328 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 2: line over and over. 329 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: He's going to kill me. 330 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,919 Speaker 2: He's going to kill me, He's going to kill me. 331 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 2: It was the same exact line Nicole had spoken on 332 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 2: the nine to one one call that brought the police 333 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,679 Speaker 2: to her house in the first place. The LAPD was 334 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 2: intimately familiar with. 335 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 1: Three sixty rocking hand. 336 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 2: This was the ninth time the cops had been to 337 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 2: that address for a domestic disturbance call. Sometimes there was 338 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 2: shouting and other times, like in nineteen eighty five, there 339 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 2: was a car smashed in with a baseball bat. When 340 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 2: the police arrived that time, they found oj still clenching 341 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 2: the bat, still pulsing with rage. So naturally, Nicole found 342 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 2: it insulting when, on this the ninth time, the cops 343 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 2: had to ask her just exactly who was going to 344 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 2: kill her. She awkwardly covered up her exposed body with 345 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 2: her arms, and she knew. The cops knew Oj. She 346 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:16,680 Speaker 2: told him that her husband had kicked her, slapped her, 347 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 2: he had tried to kill her, and every time she 348 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 2: made a call like this to the la fucking pe 349 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 2: they didn't do anything about it. They came out to 350 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 2: the house, did this little song and dance, said what's 351 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 2: up to Oj? And then everyone went back to whatever 352 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 2: it was they were doing. This time, he needed to 353 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:33,119 Speaker 2: be different. This time, she demanded the arrest him. OJ 354 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 2: appeared at the gate near the entrance to the house, 355 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 2: half dressed. He waved to the cops. He told him 356 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 2: not to worry. It was a family matter, no need 357 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 2: to make a big deal out of it. He and 358 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 2: Nicole could resolve and on her own, and the cops 359 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 2: pushed back. They were placing OJ Simpson under arrest for 360 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 2: beating his wife. He needed to get dressed and go 361 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 2: with them. OJ backed away from the gate, but within 362 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 2: seconds the cops had lost sight of him. He's going 363 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 2: to kill me, Nicole repeated. A cop dre the blanket 364 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 2: over her shoulders. Behind the house, a car engine started. 365 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 2: It idled for a moment, and then the sound of 366 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:11,360 Speaker 2: hasty acceleration. Before the cops could put OJ in cuffs. 367 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: He was gone. 368 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 2: The real lights of his blue Bentley faded down the 369 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 2: back streets of Brentwood, destination unknown. 370 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: We'll be right back after this. We're, We're, We're. 371 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,399 Speaker 2: Bruce Ramone ran as fast as he could to the 372 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 2: lobby of the Palace Station. He needed a phone, He 373 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 2: needed the police, and he needed to call the police 374 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 2: from the hotel lobby because his cell phone had been 375 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 2: stolen by OJ fucking Simpson, who had it along with 376 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 2: the All American Team football, the three game balls signed 377 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 2: with significant dates, the j Edgar Hoover photo, the neckties, 378 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:59,199 Speaker 2: the baseball signed by Pete Rose, and the Joe Montana lithographs. 379 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 1: OJ at olive. 380 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 2: OJ's crew had busted in his Bruce Fromong's hotel room 381 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 2: and hastily thrown all that stuff into boxes and pillowcases. 382 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 2: And then before they left, not even ten minutes after 383 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:13,679 Speaker 2: they burst into the room, one of the guys with 384 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 2: one of the guns, the one they called Goldie, yanked 385 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,879 Speaker 2: the hotel room's phone cord out of the wall. OJ 386 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 2: looked at Bruce and said, give me your cell phone. 387 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 2: Bruce knew OJ was just buying time to get the 388 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 2: fuck back to wherever it was he was staying in Vegas, 389 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 2: probably a nicer room than Bruce would ever see in 390 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 2: his life. But now standing in the lobby of the 391 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 2: Palace station waiting for police dispatch to answer his call, 392 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 2: Bruce was livid. Did that just happen? Had he been 393 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:43,879 Speaker 2: robbed at gunpoint by OJ Simpson? OJ walked out of 394 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:47,159 Speaker 2: the hotel room with something like eighty grand and merchandise that, 395 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:50,359 Speaker 2: as far as Bruce was concerned, no fucking way that 396 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 2: ship belonged to OJ. Bruce had legally acquired that merchandise. 397 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 2: When officers finally showed up, Bruce told them what happened. 398 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 2: He had just been robbed by OJ's Simpson. One cop 399 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 2: looked at the other chuckle looked back at Bruce to 400 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,159 Speaker 2: determine if he was jerking their chains. OJ Simpson. The 401 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 2: cop said, who else was here? Al Collings? The other 402 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 2: cop laughed, Yeah, Should we put out an EPB for 403 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 2: a white Ford Bronco. Back at the Palms, O. J. 404 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 2: Simpson was drunk and he was trying to calm down 405 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 2: his makeshift high screw. The severity of what had just 406 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,879 Speaker 2: happened back in room twelve oh three was starting to 407 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 2: hit them, even if OJ was trying to brush the 408 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 2: whole thing off his shoulder. Charlie wondered if they'd all 409 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,439 Speaker 2: go to jail. Spence was trying to remember what crazy 410 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 2: shit he shouted in the heat of the moment. Goldie 411 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:37,439 Speaker 2: regretted carrying a gun into the room. Clarence wanted to 412 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 2: fly straight again. 413 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:40,679 Speaker 1: Don't worry, OJ was telling them. 414 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 2: We got nothing to worry about. Just say there were 415 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,680 Speaker 2: no guns. As long as there were no guns, were cool. 416 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,159 Speaker 2: I didn't see any guns. Did you guys see any guns? 417 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 2: And the other guys couldn't believe what they were hearing. 418 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:53,479 Speaker 2: Did OJ think this was a joke? Of course there 419 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 2: were guns. Of course. Al Beardsley and Bruce Fromong were 420 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 2: on the phone to the cops right now, and it 421 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 2: was only a matter of moments before the cop started 422 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,639 Speaker 2: picking them off one at a time. OJ reminded them 423 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:06,200 Speaker 2: all that no matter what the shit they took belonged 424 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 2: to him. Well, okay, not to Pete rose Balls with 425 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,920 Speaker 2: the Joe Montana photos and Bruce froming cell phone, but shit, 426 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 2: most of it belonged to him. Now, man, this isn't funny. 427 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 2: The crew was telling OJ, this is armed robbery. We're 428 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:20,680 Speaker 2: all going to get arrested. We're all going to jail. 429 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:25,120 Speaker 2: Oj sat silent for a moment. Music faintly played over 430 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 2: the pa and the Palms lounge where they all sat together. 431 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 2: He began to tune out the noises in the casino, 432 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 2: the ringing bells, the tumbling dice, the cascading coins, and focused. 433 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,959 Speaker 1: On the music, just the music. 434 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 2: He looked around the table, He looked into the eyes 435 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 2: of the six guys who were trying to get him 436 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 2: to see the light, to face the music. It was 437 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 2: in that moment that Oj conceded silently to himself that 438 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 2: perhaps he had done something. 439 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:54,479 Speaker 1: Truly horrible, you know. 440 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 2: June twelfth, nineteen ninety four, eleven forty five pm, eight 441 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:04,480 Speaker 2: seventy five South Bundy Drive, Brentwood, Sakru Bostep could hear 442 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:08,919 Speaker 2: music drifting from his neighbor's condo, real faint. He guessed 443 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,159 Speaker 2: that a window or a door had been left open. 444 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 2: He couldn't hear anything else. He stood on the sidewalk 445 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 2: on South Bundy, his wife at his side. He held 446 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 2: an Akita on a leash. The dog wasn't his, and 447 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 2: he wasn't so much walking the dog as the dog 448 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 2: was walking him. It led him here and it stopped 449 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 2: near a palm tree. A breeze blew through the thick 450 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 2: palm leaves and quivered the security system warning sign that 451 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 2: was planted in the front lawn. The dog had been 452 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:41,360 Speaker 2: found by Sukru's neighbor earlier in the evening. Its paws 453 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 2: and legs were stained with blood. The dog appeared unharmed, 454 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 2: though Sakru offered to watch the akita overnight. It was 455 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 2: late and they'd looked for the owner in the morning, 456 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 2: but the dog was restless. The dog wanted to walk, 457 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 2: so Sakru and his wife took the akita for a 458 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 2: late night's stroll up the street and had stopped here 459 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:06,719 Speaker 2: eight seventy five South Bundy. The dog panted as it 460 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 2: stood still. It tilted its head and pricked up its ear. 461 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 2: Sukru had gone inside the house, he would have found 462 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 2: lit candles glowing in the master bedroom, a drawn tub 463 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:20,920 Speaker 2: TV on, a melting pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, 464 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 2: two kids sleeping soundly upstairs. Sakaru looked to see if 465 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 2: he could tell where the music was coming from. That's 466 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:32,199 Speaker 2: when he saw the blood. It was splattered on the 467 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 2: stone walkway, obscured by the darkness. It slashed a path 468 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,160 Speaker 2: all the way to the front door of the condo, 469 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 2: and that's where the body was. A woman's body slumped 470 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,159 Speaker 2: at the bottom of the stairs leading out of the condo. 471 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,399 Speaker 2: She was blonde and wore a short black dress. But 472 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:50,439 Speaker 2: Sukaru wasn't focusing on the blonde or the black. It 473 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,880 Speaker 2: was the red that caught his eye. He could see 474 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 2: the blood glistening in the moonlight. It looked like someone 475 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 2: had dumped a bucket of blood at the base of 476 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 2: the woman's head. It had seeped into the gap between 477 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 2: each stone and the walkway. It seemed to be creeping 478 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 2: up on the sidewalk, crawling its way into the light. 479 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 2: The woman's body was tainted with blood splatter, her entire 480 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 2: face smothered in deep crimson. The knife wounds were everywhere. 481 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:16,199 Speaker 2: She had been stabbed in her throat, stuck deep in 482 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,680 Speaker 2: the jugular. There was a hole in her spine. Her 483 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 2: head was hacked up, her throat was carved up. Her 484 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 2: neck had been sliced so deeply, almost from ear to ear, 485 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 2: that her head was practically detached from her body. Sakar's 486 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 2: stomach jumped to his throat. He squeezed one of his 487 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 2: hands on the dog leash and the other onto his 488 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 2: wife's hand, and that's when Sakru noticed another body, a man's, 489 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 2: just a few feet away from the woman's. The body 490 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 2: was dumped on the ground. One leg of his blue 491 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,440 Speaker 2: jeans was soaked in deep crimson red. His blue jeans 492 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 2: weren't even blue anymore, and there was a gaping hole 493 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 2: in his neck. He'd been stabbed in the chest and 494 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 2: in the abdomen. He bled from his head and his face. 495 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 2: He bled from his stomach and his legs. His blood 496 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 2: oozed into the ferns and dirt, and the Akita, at 497 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 2: the end of the least, just stood there panting. It 498 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:07,720 Speaker 2: didn't bark or wine. Sakru too, was silent. He was 499 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 2: a resident of Los Angeles, which meant that he knew 500 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 2: all about the evil things that happened in the middle 501 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 2: of the night and the evil people capable of it, 502 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 2: Charles Manson, the Hillside Strangler, the Freeway. 503 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 1: Killers, Richard Ramirez. Just like the Akita. 504 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:27,360 Speaker 2: Couldn't bark, Sucu couldn't describe what he was looking at, 505 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,199 Speaker 2: nor did he want to. All he knew was that 506 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 2: it was the work of something undeniably evil, and that 507 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:35,360 Speaker 2: it would. 508 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 3: Haunt him forever. 509 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 2: Everyone knew OJ Simpson was guilty. The evidence was overwhelming, 510 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:09,880 Speaker 2: the testimony from his former friends was damning. His defense 511 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,640 Speaker 2: was laughably transparent. No matter where he tried to place 512 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 2: himself on that faithful night in question, or who he 513 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 2: tried to lay blame on for the actions that were 514 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:22,400 Speaker 2: so obviously his, OJ came up short in the eyes 515 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 2: of the men and women selected to decide his faith 516 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 2: and so, on October third, with the entire world watching, 517 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,920 Speaker 2: a jury of his peers found O. J. Simpson guilty 518 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 2: of all charges October third, two thousand and eight. 519 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: That is not October. 520 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 2: Third, nineteen ninety five, when OJ was originally on trial 521 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 2: for the murders of his ex wife, Nicole Brown Simpson 522 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 2: and her friend Ron Goldman. 523 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: No. 524 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 2: OJ was found guilty for his role in the two 525 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 2: thousand and seven robbery at the Palace Station in Las Vegas, 526 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 2: in which he stole memorabilia that he thought rightfully belonged 527 00:28:58,280 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 2: to him. 528 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 1: For that was guilty guilty of. 529 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 2: Conspiracy to commit a crime, guilty of burglary with a 530 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 2: deadly weapon, guilty of first degree kidnapping with the deadly weapon. 531 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 2: In all, there were twelve counts in this time. OJ 532 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 2: Simpson was found guilty of every. 533 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 3: Single one of them. 534 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 2: The Las Vegas judge called OJ arrogant and ignorant. She 535 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 2: sentenced him, along with Clarence Stewart, the only friend in 536 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 2: the heist gang that didn't flip on OJ at the trial, 537 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 2: to at least fifteen years in prison. She also made 538 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 2: it clear that her ruling had absolutely nothing to do 539 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 2: with the ruling that OJ had received thirteen years ago 540 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 2: to the day. 541 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 1: That would be the ruling. 542 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 2: Of October third, nineteen ninety five. On that day, the 543 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 2: phone rang at the West Los Angeles Bureau of the LAPD. 544 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:50,760 Speaker 2: The police were needed immediately. There was a developing situation. 545 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 2: It was escalating. Someone might get hurt, so the police 546 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 2: were sent out three sixty North Rockingham. 547 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 1: Avenue, Brentwood. 548 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 2: The cops knew that adre all too well, But this time, 549 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 2: unlike the other nine times it had been called to O. J. 550 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:08,959 Speaker 2: Simpson's home, the cops weren't called to refere a domestic disturbance. 551 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 2: There was a party going on at three sixty North 552 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 2: Rockingham and the cops were needed to provide protection. They 553 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:19,960 Speaker 2: were needed to provide protection for Oj Simpson. Earlier that day, 554 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:22,520 Speaker 2: OJ had been acquitted for the murder of his ex 555 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 2: wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman. The vertic split 556 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 2: the country in half. The trial had lasted over a year. 557 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:32,160 Speaker 2: It was both a monumental turning point in American media 558 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 2: and also. 559 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 1: A total shit show. 560 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:38,040 Speaker 2: OJ dominated the news, from nightly newscast to interview shows 561 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 2: and tabloids to pillars of upstanding journalism. Attorneys, judges, and 562 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 2: witnesses were transformed into celebrities. The entire trial felt more 563 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 2: like a scripted soap opera than real life. Over the 564 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:51,600 Speaker 2: course of the year, the trial became less about the 565 00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 2: murderer more about race in America, and specifically race in 566 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 2: Los Angeles, where the televised beating of Rodney King by 567 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 2: lapdas officers and the subsequent riots in nineteen ninety two 568 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 2: were still a fresh wound. Following the not guilty verdict 569 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 2: on October third, nineteen ninety five, Oj rode in a 570 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:13,400 Speaker 2: van back to his place on Rockingham Up in Brentwood, 571 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:17,320 Speaker 2: and the LAPD worked crowd control as more vehicles began 572 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 2: to arrive rolls, royces, limousines, tinted windows, vans loaded with 573 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 2: crates of champagne. The fancy cars snaked their way past 574 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:29,160 Speaker 2: hedgerows and wrought iron gates. The party went on into 575 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 2: the night, but it didn't last for long. Despite OJ's acquittal, 576 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:36,080 Speaker 2: more than half of the country thought he'd done it. 577 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 2: A deal OJ had struck to be interviewed live on 578 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 2: pay per view TV collapsed, and so did the twenty 579 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 2: million dollars pay day that came along with it. He 580 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,680 Speaker 2: was dropped by his agent in the talent company that 581 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 2: had represented him for two decades, and the exclusive Riviera 582 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:53,880 Speaker 2: Country Club didn't renew his membership. Brentwood neighbors put up 583 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 2: makeshift signs leading to OJ's mansion. One sign read welcome 584 00:31:57,720 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 2: to the neighborhood home of a Brentwood Butcher. Then the 585 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 2: Goldman family took OJ to court for the civil suit 586 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:06,840 Speaker 2: the following year, and that's when he lost it all, 587 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 2: the mansion, the money, the memorabilia. As the New Century 588 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 2: dawned and the years dragged on, OJ, a free but 589 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 2: financially ruined man, found he still had some friends out 590 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 2: on the golf course. 591 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:20,920 Speaker 1: Friends. 592 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:22,840 Speaker 2: It would play up his involvement at the center of 593 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 2: the trial of the Century has nothing more than a joke. Friends, 594 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 2: It would laugh each time he'd accidentally drop his golf 595 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 2: glove on the green and say, oops, Oj, you did 596 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,800 Speaker 2: it again. His friends like OJ had fallen from what 597 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 2: they thought was grace. X cons Guys with records for 598 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 2: controlled substances and illegal firearms. Guys busted for prostitution and 599 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:48,120 Speaker 2: for schemes to defraud investors. Guys who weren't strangers to felony, 600 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 2: thefter slinging dope guys didn't believe the bullshit that the 601 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:54,720 Speaker 2: house always wins, whether that proverbial house was the lapd 602 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 2: or a jury of one's peer shit. 603 00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:57,720 Speaker 1: They all said, just look at OJ. 604 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 2: And so if OJ came to the con golfing buddies 605 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:03,480 Speaker 2: with a shoddy smash and grab plan to get his 606 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:06,600 Speaker 2: stuff back, and the proverbial house was a Vegas casino, 607 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:10,400 Speaker 2: they needn't be worried, They'd say, yes, Vegas was the 608 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:13,960 Speaker 2: place for yes. And there was no luck like OJ's luck. 609 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 2: OJ could defy the odds of a casino, he could 610 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 2: be their rabbits foot, but in Vegas there was no luck. 611 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 2: There was only Disgrace. I'm Jake Brennan and this this Disgraceland. 612 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 2: Disgraceland was created by Yours Truly and is produced in 613 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:49,840 Speaker 2: partnership with Double Elvis. Credits for this episode can be 614 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:53,480 Speaker 2: found on the show notes page at disgracelamppod dot com. 615 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 2: If you're listening as a Disgraceland All Access member, thank 616 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:59,360 Speaker 2: you for supporting the show. We really appreciate it. And 617 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:01,720 Speaker 2: if not, you can become a member right now by 618 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 2: going to disgracelampod dot com slash Membership. 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