1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: Murder on Songbird Road is a production of iHeart Podcasts. 2 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:11,120 Speaker 1: Previously on Murder on Songbird Road. It's crucial to recognize 3 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: the ripple effect of Beverly's conviction on her immediate family, 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: and in Jaden's case, those ripples were more like shock waves. 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 2: Miss Jade, missed, my mom, miss a lot of people. 6 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 3: I made Mom promise to stay strong in the jail, 7 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 3: and I'll stay. 8 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 4: Strong for her. 9 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: In August of twenty twenty four, nearly four years after 10 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: Jade's murder, Renee and Jaden were reunited with Beverly's three 11 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: youngest children. 12 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:38,959 Speaker 5: And I can already see Julian every single while. 13 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:42,919 Speaker 1: The autopsy also revealed evidence that may have been mishandled, 14 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: and it involved a towel that was apparently tossed into 15 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: the body bag used to transport Jade to the morgue. 16 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 3: I just don't understand what person that was at that 17 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 3: crime scene that thought that that was the right thing 18 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 3: to do. 19 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 6: It's crazy. 20 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: What else is crazy? Of time it took for the 21 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: then forensic pathologists to turn around Jade Beasley's autopsy. It 22 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: took over a year to turn around the autopsy. Did 23 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: you ever get any reason as. 24 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 6: To why I did not. 25 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: At the end of August twenty twenty four, Bob and 26 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 1: I were back in Marian again, knocking on doors on 27 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: or around Songbird. 28 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 5: Road, and I was looking out the window and then 29 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 5: the camera was videotaping him, and. 30 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 4: He just kept knocking and knocking and waiting, and I 31 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 4: was an answer. 32 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 1: So a shirtless guy and he looked like he was 33 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: under the influence of drugs or a mental illness. 34 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 7: Yeah, he did. 35 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 3: I have not been here in thirty years and more. 36 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: They still have the video, really really wow. And guess 37 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: who now has the video? 38 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 8: You? 39 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: Yep, I'm Lauren bred Pacheco and this is Murder on 40 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: Songbird Road. Over the past ten episodes, you've heard the 41 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: many pieces that came together to form an unfathomable story 42 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: of heartbreak. You have listened to the devastating aftermath, families 43 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: torn apart, relationships destroyed, siblings separated, and a community fractured 44 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: by the shocking, controversial, and brutal murder of Jade Beasley. 45 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 3: The biggest thing for me is that we were able 46 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 3: to be boots on the ground and investigate, to really 47 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 3: be able to kind of unpeel this onion. It just 48 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 3: had to be boots on the ground what we were 49 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 3: able to discover in this case, because remember we didn't 50 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 3: get the discovery in total. You know, we didn't have 51 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 3: that advantage, which again to me, speaks volumes, Lauren. I mean, 52 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 3: the fact that we were never provided with that always 53 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 3: tells me that they have something to hide. What is 54 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 3: the motivation of people not wanting to answer questions or 55 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 3: not providing information? It should make you suspicious, it certainly 56 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 3: does me. But us being able to get down there 57 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 3: to Marian as many times as that we did, and 58 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 3: go and knock on doors and talk to people face 59 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 3: to face and have that communication and that contact with them, 60 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 3: it's just a different thing. I mean, that's it's because 61 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 3: we care. It would be really easy to be. 62 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 6: Just like guy I tried check that off the list. 63 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 9: You know. 64 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 3: It's that persistence that is what drives these things. The 65 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 3: persistence is what creates information for us that we can 66 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 3: use to potentially lead us to other information which can 67 00:03:58,160 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 3: potentially lead us to answers. 68 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: Bob Mada and I didn't take on covering this case 69 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: or Beverly's conviction without a great deal of forethought. We 70 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: also didn't enter this investigation with preconceived notions. 71 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 6: I cannot say this enough. 72 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 3: When you and I got into this in the beginning 73 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: of it, neither one of us had formed any kind 74 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 3: of opinion as to innocence or killed at all. 75 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: I agree, But also I think that the fact that 76 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: we went in with no agenda right is what ultimately 77 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: motivated us, because if we were just literally convinced she 78 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: was innocent or convinced she was guilty, we would have given. 79 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 6: Up totally, totally. 80 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 10: There would be no. 81 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:48,799 Speaker 1: Point right once you really land where we have landed now, 82 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: and that was not an easy place to land, because 83 00:04:54,160 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: what you're doing is you're opening yourself up for not 84 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: just criticism, but real animosity. Yeah, because people like to 85 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: believe if something was tried that it's done, it's finished. 86 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,280 Speaker 1: You don't go back and muddy. 87 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:15,679 Speaker 5: Up the waters. 88 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: And it's a difficult thing too, because we know that 89 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: we're dealing with very real lives and very real emotions, 90 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 1: very real grief and trauma. It has taken us well 91 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 1: over a year and a half to reach the point 92 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 1: we're at now. 93 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 3: I think that some of the bad facts, as we 94 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 3: call them, that exists will still have people wondering because 95 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 3: some people can never get over those bad facts. Once 96 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 3: that gavel hits after twelve people have deemed somebody guilty, 97 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 3: it's really hard to erase it completely because the mindset 98 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 3: being that, all right, well, no matter how screwed up 99 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 3: the trial was, the fact is that they had enough 100 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 3: evidence to convince it. You're that she did it, despite 101 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 3: the fact that it went unchecked and unchallenged, which is 102 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 3: really the entire point of a trial, you know, to 103 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 3: vet the evidence from beginning to end. This thing was 104 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 3: just a railroad job in the sense of what was 105 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 3: allowed in and how it flowed and just all the 106 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 3: little things that happened. We can't do it justice in 107 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 3: terms of really articulating just how messed up this trial was. 108 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:28,799 Speaker 10: You know what, you just gave me the words. 109 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: It was a railroad job that went off the rails. 110 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 5: It was that bad. 111 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 6: It was that bad. 112 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 1: So now, in terms of where we have landed, let's 113 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: just quickly address that. I do understand how people can 114 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 1: still have some reservations about what you and I have 115 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: referred to as bad facts, but it is undeniable that 116 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: Julia Beverly did not get a fair trial. 117 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 6: Right. There's no Quoestan. 118 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: We were told that what we now have video of 119 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: was an impossibility, that nobody's knocking on doors. We believed 120 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: it when we went down on the first trip. We 121 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: looked around and said, nobody has ring camera footage here. 122 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: This isn't the place where you get foot traffic, and 123 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: lo and behold, that's exactly what happened. And if they 124 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: had done a proper investigation, they would have discovered it 125 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: within two months of the murder. We have spent far 126 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: more time investigating this case than the four days that 127 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: had been spent when former Williamson County State's Attorney Brandon 128 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: Sonati announced Jade Beasley's death at the same press conference 129 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: in which he announced Julia Beverly's arrest, Although he spun 130 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: it this way. 131 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 11: There's, as I said, you know, any given time, twenty 132 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 11: people working this, you know, like I said, working around 133 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 11: the clock. These things just don't happen overnight. 134 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 9: You know, we have to you know, we have to. 135 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 11: Follow the rules. You know, we have to you know, 136 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 11: conduct these investigations we have you know, under you know, 137 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 11: constitutional safeguards and constraints, and you know, ideally like it 138 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 11: to be wrapped up and tied up now, but unfortunately 139 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 11: I said it's not. It's still going to take some time. 140 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: It took just four days for the investigation to conclude 141 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: it had gathered enough evidence to arrest twenty nine year 142 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: old Julia Elaine Beverly, though even that decision came with 143 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: a disclaimer pursue it. 144 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 11: To Supreme Court rule, I must remind the public that 145 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 11: charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed 146 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 11: innocent and is entitled to a fair trial, on which 147 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 11: the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a 148 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:47,959 Speaker 11: reasonable doubt. 149 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: The state was tasked with the burden to prove Julia 150 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: Beverly's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Having processed everything you've 151 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: now heard, do you think they met that burden? Here 152 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: is the opinion of one former juror. 153 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 9: After listening to the podcast and listening to you guys, saw, 154 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 9: I feel like I've definitely got a different perspective of 155 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 9: reasonable doubt. 156 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 12: I kind of feel like because you're coming up. 157 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 13: With different alternatives to what there supposedly was, and I 158 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 13: feel like it's a different ball game. 159 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: In our previous episode, we shared audio from ring camera 160 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: footage of an unknown intruder banging on a door on 161 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 1: Songbird Road, just weeks after Jade Beasley's murder. Here is 162 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: that jurors reaction to seeing that video? 163 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 12: So many thoughts, so many thoughts. I know some people 164 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 12: will be like, oh, but that was two months later. Okay, 165 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 12: it was two months later. But also it was only 166 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 12: two months later, and it was a man matching the 167 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 12: same description and stuff, the same body build that Julie games. 168 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 12: And if this man was clearly on drugs, you should 169 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 12: have been on drugs two months earlier trying to get 170 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 12: somebody else's house and stumbled upon Jays. 171 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: If you had seen that video during the trial, do 172 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 1: you think that would have changed things in terms of 173 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: the jury's deliberation. 174 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 12: I think it could have, guess. I think the fact 175 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 12: that the guy matching the same description was trying to 176 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 12: get into another house on the same road. 177 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: So let me ask you this, had you been given 178 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 1: everything that was presented in the podcast, how would that 179 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 1: have impacted the deliberation in your opinion? 180 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 12: Honestly, after listening to you and Bob, if the defense 181 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:58,680 Speaker 12: could have presented a case like you guys, did I 182 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 12: feel like we would have had to have said, should 183 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 12: work with guilty. 184 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: Additionally, on April third of twenty twenty one, so less 185 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 1: than two months after the video of the unknown porch 186 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: intruder was taped on Songbird Road, there was a home 187 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: invasion in Marion committed by an intruder brandishing a knife. 188 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: A woman told police a man had come in through 189 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: an open window and threatened her with a knife. She 190 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: was injured, but the assailant fled the scene. At the time, 191 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 1: police were asking anyone who might have seen something or 192 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: who might have video surveillance in the area to contact 193 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: them with information, but that request was apparently contradicted when 194 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: a local crime watch page posted the incident and people 195 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: began weighing in with tips and speculations. Here's Renee High Tower. 196 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 8: There was a post on the crime watch page run 197 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 8: by Becky Grimes, and there was a lot of people 198 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 8: commenting under there saying that there was a lot of 199 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 8: similarities in the incident with Jade. 200 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 5: There was another intruder breaking into a home with. 201 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 8: A knife, threatened to harm this woman actually did cut her, 202 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 8: I believe, and then got away, and they were striking similarities. 203 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 8: Then I started noticing the comments disappear and I sent 204 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 8: a direct message private message to Becky Grimes. I told 205 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,199 Speaker 8: her some people are more comfortable speaking on her and 206 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 8: I said, I know the police are watching the page 207 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 8: because they get tips from social media all the time. 208 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 8: And she said, yeah, I know they're watching my page. 209 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 8: And she said they're the ones who told me to 210 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:43,199 Speaker 8: take it down when it. 211 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 14: Veers into Julie's case. And I said to police and 212 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 14: she said yes. And I was just in disbelief, shocked 213 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 14: that she just said that. 214 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: Becky Grimes, the woman who ran that Facebook page, has 215 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: subsequently passed away, but high Tower has shared the text 216 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: message exchange with her that backs Renee's version of the events. 217 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 1: High Tower then went to the Marian police station in person. 218 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 2: I went down to that police station and I was 219 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 2: telling the alswer, this sounds a lot like my daughter's. 220 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 5: He first takes my information, he's got his pain going, telling. 221 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 2: Him it looks a lot like my dog. He put 222 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:23,959 Speaker 2: his pen down and sat back in his chair and 223 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:28,959 Speaker 2: just stared at me and didn't say another word. And 224 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 2: I said, well, I think it connects. You're not even 225 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:34,440 Speaker 2: listening to me. You're not right now, I said, I 226 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 2: he was just going to quit listening your time and I left, 227 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 2: and I realized, this is never going to be any 228 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 2: kind of help from law enforcement whatsoever. 229 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: Why wouldn't law enforcement want possible tips pertaining to Jade 230 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:48,439 Speaker 1: Beasley's murder? 231 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 3: What can you take away from it other than that's scary, 232 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 3: and it's scary for all the reasons that Flom was 233 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 3: talking about. 234 00:13:57,720 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 6: That that other part of these. 235 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 3: Wrong convictions that people just tend to kind of forget about, 236 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 3: which is when they convict the wrong person, that the 237 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 3: actual killer is still roaming free, free to create havoc 238 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,959 Speaker 3: and make mischief and kill people. Further, which, if you're 239 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 3: the community that's the taxpayer that's paying for these people's 240 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 3: salaries who have a job. 241 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 6: To do, that would upset me and it should upset you. 242 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 5: What are they afraid of? 243 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 8: What? 244 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: Why would an investigation be afraid of people questioning the 245 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: investigation in the early stages of it, offering another option 246 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: that would have forced them to deviate from their tunnel vision. 247 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: Murder on Songbird Road will return after the break. Now 248 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: back to mur on Songbird Road. While the podcast was 249 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: in production, Julia Beverly from prison was also going through 250 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: trial transcripts, journaling and sharing thoughts with Renee. One recovered 251 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: memory she experienced was that the door to the bathroom 252 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: Jade was in was locked, and that Beverly spent time 253 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: finding pliers to unlock it. Here's Renee. 254 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 5: I don't know if she had them in her hand 255 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 5: or where she put them. Don't know where they went to, 256 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 5: but she had to go to the laundry room to 257 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 5: get them out of this toolbox. 258 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: Okay, I'm just wondering after exactly, but that's important because 259 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: they could conceivably be in the crime scene photos. Sure enough, 260 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: when we finally received the inventory listing, those pliers were 261 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: mentioned and were found next to the bathroom a top 262 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 1: of laundry basket in the hall. Beverly also recalled seeing 263 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: a crime scene photo of the interior front door knob, 264 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: depicting a short light hair in embedded in what appears 265 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: to be blood. This is significant because of the hair's 266 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: length and color. Beverly's hair is dark, long and curly, 267 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: and Jade's hair fell past her shoulders. Here's Renee. 268 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 5: She said there's a picture, and she remembers it now 269 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 5: that she's seen it in testimony. There's a hair in 270 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 5: the blood on the doorknob of the front door collected. 271 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 5: Possibly don't know, but no, for sure it wasn't tested. 272 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 5: A light colored hair and she said it may be 273 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 5: an inch and a half long at best. She said 274 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 5: you could see it plain as day. 275 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: I wonder where that is. 276 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, So I was like, you've got to be 277 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 5: hidden me. There's a hair, Yes, there's a hair. 278 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 1: And whose blood is on the doorknob? 279 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 5: Jade's And that's the thing. There weren't very many samples. 280 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 5: I think it was twenty nine samples that were sent off. 281 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: Now was it the inside or the outside doorknob? 282 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 6: The inside? 283 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 5: And then she said that she could because she had 284 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:07,719 Speaker 5: a storm door and then the inside door. And Julie 285 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 5: said she could swear in the pictures there was blood 286 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,640 Speaker 5: on the storm door, on the inside of the storm door. 287 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 5: And they never tested it because they said, oh, it 288 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 5: looks like mud, never tested, never swapped, so it looks 289 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:24,920 Speaker 5: like somebody brushed against it going out. 290 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,680 Speaker 1: I've reached out to Williamson County with a foyer request 291 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 1: for that photo, along with several others. My request was 292 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:36,439 Speaker 1: denied and I shared the response with Bob. Does that 293 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 1: surprise you? 294 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 3: No, I mean, at this point of course, not your 295 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:45,120 Speaker 3: foyer request. Journey has been legendary. I mean you've gone 296 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 3: up to the age. I mean you've gotten some results, 297 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 3: but it's still just been like pulling teeth. 298 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 6: It's been pulling teeth. 299 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, Well, we get are the things that they think 300 00:17:56,200 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 3: are probably benign, the least problematic for them. They're the 301 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,399 Speaker 3: things that they think can't hurt them. And we're still 302 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:07,959 Speaker 3: finding shit. We're still finding just inconsistencies and things that 303 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 3: bug us, which only adds fuel to the fire in 304 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 3: terms of us wanting to see more that the concept 305 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 3: that there was an unknown hair on the inside of 306 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 3: the door that was covered in blood could only indicate 307 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 3: that it could have been left. 308 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 6: How wasn't that tested. 309 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 1: I've also reached out to the Williamson County Sheriff and 310 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 1: the state's attorney for explanation as to why it took 311 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:40,239 Speaker 1: over fourteen months and a court order to complete and 312 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: file Jade Beasley's autopsy report while they've ignored my request. 313 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: Former crime scene investigator Katie Hartman finds the turnaround time 314 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:50,240 Speaker 1: highly unusual. 315 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,679 Speaker 10: Since you reached out to me, I talked to another 316 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 10: friend of mine who is a lieutenant with their homicide 317 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 10: that just to double check with him because he would 318 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 10: receive the final pathology reports on our homicide victims. And 319 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 10: I asked him what was the longest he ever had 320 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 10: to wait. He said, at the most three months, So 321 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 10: I thought it was an extraordinary amount of time to 322 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 10: get a final report from the pathologists. Do we know, Lauren, 323 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 10: was the pathology report done? It just wasn't released, so 324 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 10: we don't know. 325 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: We just know that it wasn't in the discovery and 326 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: the court had to compel the completion of the report. 327 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 10: And the reason why I asked that is it's dated, 328 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 10: as you know, twelve six, twenty twenty. These findings are 329 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:49,919 Speaker 10: precise and they are final, so I wonder if it 330 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 10: was finished in twenty twenty, but it's been held up 331 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:59,680 Speaker 10: for whatever reason or whatever mistake or whatever miscommunication for 332 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 10: two years. 333 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 1: When the defense went to reference, it realized that it 334 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 1: hadn't been filed and so asked for it, and the 335 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: court had to compel to get the finished autopsy, which 336 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: again wasn't signed until February fourth, twenty twenty two. It 337 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: wasn't signed, it wasn't submitted, it wasn't filed, it wasn't completed. 338 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:32,119 Speaker 10: So it wasn't submitted to the state. No. I mean, so, 339 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 10: how can prosecution charge anybody with murder without a final 340 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 10: finding from a pathologist who did the autopsy? That's what 341 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 10: I want to know. Do you understand what I'm asked? 342 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 10: There's a lot in this autopsy that I cannot understand 343 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 10: how it was not submitted immediately and why things weren't 344 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 10: followed up on. There's a few things in here that 345 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 10: should have been. 346 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 6: Followed up on. 347 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 10: She had round contusions in the autopsy. She refers to 348 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 10: them as circular contusions. I think one's on her jaw. 349 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:10,920 Speaker 1: So implying that she was hit with an object. 350 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 10: Possibly or somebody had a ring on or something like that. 351 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 10: You know, you got to look at all these things. 352 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,920 Speaker 10: That's evidence. I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not ANME. 353 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,440 Speaker 1: ME is an abbreviation for medical examiner. 354 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 10: I'm a cramecy investigators. So if I'm having a meeting 355 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 10: with a prosecutor about a murder case, I'm gonna ask 356 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 10: do you have everything you need? Do you have all 357 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 10: of my reports? Do you have the me's report. I mean, 358 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 10: I don't get why you can prosecute or have a 359 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 10: prosecution without an autopsy report. How's that allowed. 360 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: We do not wish to sensationalize the autopsy's findings in 361 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:53,640 Speaker 1: a graphic way. But in addition to the circular contusions, 362 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: there are other things mentioned in the autopsy that may 363 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 1: have benefitted preparation for both the defense and prosecution if 364 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: more thoroughly examined and or tested. For example, Jade's next 365 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: showed scratches and keeping with attempted strangulation, and there were 366 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 1: hairs found on her body. 367 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:18,440 Speaker 10: The autopsy is a part of the investigation. It's there 368 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 10: to answer calls death, manner of death, everything, what exactly 369 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 10: killed the person. I mean, these things are in here 370 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 10: about what exactly killed her and how, But there are 371 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 10: so many other facts that are raised, or injuries that 372 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 10: are raised that no one even questioned. We're doing things 373 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 10: that a defense attorney should have looked at and said, 374 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 10: well what about this and what about that? And while 375 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 10: a prosecutor didn't bring up some things, you know, you 376 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 10: can use some of these injuries to compare to Beverly's. 377 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 10: Does she work rings? What about a fair nail clippings? 378 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 10: We've got those, let's send them. I mean, I don't 379 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:06,880 Speaker 10: understand any of it. I don't get it. 380 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 1: You're preaching to the converted and speaking of nail scrapings. 381 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 1: While Jades were tested, there was something discovered but not 382 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:19,200 Speaker 1: further tested, that was a bit buried during the trial. 383 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:24,440 Speaker 1: Here is Beverly's defense attorney's closing statement from the transcript, verbatim. 384 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 1: The DNA could have told us something from the nails 385 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:33,400 Speaker 1: if the state hadn't been so short sighted defendants. Exhibit 386 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:36,880 Speaker 1: seven was shown to doctor Reich after he was asked 387 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: was it only X or only female DNA found under jade? 388 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: And he had to say, no, no, it's not. These 389 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: are jades nails. These are the white chromosomes. It might 390 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,359 Speaker 1: have been a minuscule amount popping on two different areas, 391 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 1: but it's there. It just doesn't fit the state's theory. 392 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 1: I'm done with this now, Judge. Of course, we'll never know, 393 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:04,400 Speaker 1: or we don't know what was on Julie's hands, what 394 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:08,400 Speaker 1: was under Julie's nails. The state also decided to not 395 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: test it might not fit their story unknown male DNA 396 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: under Jdb's Lee's fingernails, which was downplayed at trial. 397 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:25,440 Speaker 3: If you're a person that's out there and you hear 398 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 3: of all the things that weren't done, that do exist 399 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:31,159 Speaker 3: that should have been done in terms of evidence and 400 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 3: things that should have been tested, and you're still sitting 401 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 3: there thinking like, well, I don't care she did it. 402 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 3: I just pray that you never get into law enforcement. 403 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 3: I pray that you never get on the bench. I 404 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 3: pray more than anything that you never become a prosecutor, 405 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 3: because you have to look at everything. This is about 406 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:54,880 Speaker 3: getting to the truth, no matter what the truth is. 407 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:58,640 Speaker 3: This isn't about convictions, This isn't about wins. 408 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,680 Speaker 6: That's the con that you have with prosecutors. 409 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 3: They are elected officials. The thing that they run their 410 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 3: campaigns on is convictions that in and of itself is 411 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:13,359 Speaker 3: a conflict of interest with the truth because the truth 412 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:14,640 Speaker 3: takes a back seat. 413 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:26,920 Speaker 1: We'll be right back with Murder on Songbird Road. Here 414 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:32,200 Speaker 1: again is Murder on Songbird Road. We started this podcast 415 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 1: by asking whether Julia Beverly was truly guilty of the 416 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:38,879 Speaker 1: murder for which she was convicted. Could a mother of 417 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 1: four with no history of violence have brutally stabbed an 418 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 1: eleven year old girl she had raised as her own 419 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 1: for nearly eight years, or was there a rush to judgment, 420 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:51,199 Speaker 1: one that began on the day of the murder and 421 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 1: continues to this day. As we've dealt deeper into the case, 422 00:25:55,359 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: we've encountered individuals whose perspectives on Beverly's conviction have evolved. 423 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 4: It's the life we're talking about, and it's Jade's life 424 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 4: as well. There's just too many fishy things. It's supposed 425 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:12,200 Speaker 4: to be beyond a reasonable doubt, and in my opinion, 426 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:13,159 Speaker 4: that's not what it was. 427 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:16,760 Speaker 1: That's Brittany, the woman who created a gofund me page 428 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: to help the Beasley family cover funeral expenses for Jade. 429 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: She also believed she was on the phone with Jade's grandmother, Sheila, 430 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 1: when Renee high Tower was desperately seeking information on the 431 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: day of the murder. 432 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:30,640 Speaker 4: We were on the phone and all of a sudden, 433 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:37,560 Speaker 4: she received the news and she told me Jade committed suicide. 434 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:40,919 Speaker 4: And I said, oh my gosh, what could she have 435 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 4: been going through to do that? And I think she 436 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:49,879 Speaker 4: just said, I don't know. Then we got off the 437 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 4: phone because she got that call from Renee. 438 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: Here are her thoughts after having heard the issues we've 439 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 1: raised over the course of this podcast. 440 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 4: Looking back in hindsight, and I'm guilty of saying things 441 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 4: and being manipulated by the media, and the things people 442 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 4: were saying were god awful, and she hadn't had trial. 443 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 4: And this is a small community. People believe the media. 444 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:19,479 Speaker 4: People believe, Oh, the police don't lie. Oh if the 445 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 4: court said she's guilty, they're right. 446 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:22,439 Speaker 12: You know. 447 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 4: People just don't understand corruption. And people were saying the 448 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:32,400 Speaker 4: meanest things. It shouldn't have been held in this jurisdiction, 449 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 4: I mean, death threats. 450 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 1: Even do you think, looking back that there was any 451 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:42,520 Speaker 1: presumption of innocence for Beverly before trial? 452 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 4: Absolutely not know that it should have never been held 453 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 4: around here. It should have been in a I don't know, 454 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 4: a different state. But there's no way that they could 455 00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:58,720 Speaker 4: have picked a juror that didn't. 456 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 5: Already see all that stuff. 457 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,879 Speaker 4: And then there was other things. But that made me 458 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 4: start having an open mind and started questioning things. Why 459 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 4: was her phone the only one dropped to in forensic 460 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 4: They said, this isn't CSI Miami. We can't test everything. 461 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 4: What this is a murder of an eleven year old? 462 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 4: What do you mean that's a screwed up thing to say. 463 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:29,680 Speaker 4: I was convinced by the media because they made it 464 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:35,280 Speaker 4: sound like she went to a dumpster as if she 465 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 4: was dumping a bunch of stuff or a huge bag 466 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 4: or something like that in a dumpster on like the 467 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 4: side of hawks. 468 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:46,720 Speaker 6: And then truth is she. 469 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 4: Was by a gas pump and threw away something very 470 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 4: small in one of the small trash cans by the 471 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 4: gas pumps. So that's manipulation by the media. And then 472 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 4: the number of Titans Jade was stabbed is apparently incorrect. 473 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 5: It was not. 474 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:09,680 Speaker 4: I think one hundred and twenty is what was going around. 475 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: In fact, Jade Beasley's autopsy report details fifteen specific stab 476 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: wounds to her neck and torso, with additional injuries identified 477 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 1: as scratches and marks consistent with defensive wounds. Yet the 478 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 1: inflated number continues to circulate in news reports, on social media, 479 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 1: and even in the courtroom. Special Prosecutor Jennifer Mudge reference 480 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 1: to this in her sentencing statement, as seen verbatim in 481 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 1: the transcripts. Sometimes on TV or in real life, prosecutors 482 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 1: pound on the table when someonould get shot or stabbed. 483 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 1: Not one, not two, not three, not four. If I 484 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 1: did that in this case, we'd be here till five 485 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:57,640 Speaker 1: o'clock to night. So I'm not going to do that 486 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 1: and before senten and saying Julia Lane Beverly to fifty 487 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 1: five years in prison without the possibility of parole, Judge 488 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:07,120 Speaker 1: Stephen Green said. 489 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 3: This, Okay, I have to agree that this case was horrific. 490 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 3: You have an eleven year old child stabbed over a 491 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 3: hundred times. I believe the testimony was at least one 492 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 3: hundred and four times throughout a home. 493 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 1: All right, So do you find it interesting that even 494 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 1: after she was convicted, you know, at the sentencing, why 495 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 1: perpetuate false information? 496 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 3: I mean to drive it home for Mudge, as if 497 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 3: she didn't know that he was going to sensor to 498 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 3: the max or right around it. 499 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 6: I guess as to her, that's why. 500 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 3: As to the judge, I don't know for the judge 501 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 3: to be kind of adding in, chiming in beyond what 502 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 3: he's doing legally, and on top of that, to be 503 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:02,600 Speaker 3: mistating what the evidence actually was and symptomatic of the 504 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 3: problem with this case and with this trial. You know, 505 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 3: it's what we've seen for the last year and change. 506 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:14,440 Speaker 3: This was a one sided trial that ended in one 507 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 3: sided sentencing, with untruths being spoken to the very end 508 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 3: all the way through. 509 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 1: Danny Vaie was a local reporter during the time of 510 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 1: Jade's murder, and subsequently reported on the investigation, trial and 511 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:31,120 Speaker 1: sentencing before accepting a job out of state. Here are 512 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:33,960 Speaker 1: his thoughts on Beverly's case in light of the issues 513 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: we've raised. 514 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 15: It's definitely taking turns that I didn't expect it to take, 515 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 15: especially with the treatment of Julia Beverly. 516 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 9: I mean, I don't know if I have any words 517 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 9: to describe it. 518 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 15: I mean, it was just so horrible the way she 519 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 15: was treated, especially when she had her baby. Nobody deserves that. 520 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 15: I don't think anybody even knew in the media that 521 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 15: she was pregnant by the time. The big takeaways is 522 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 15: just like it's a big lesson. 523 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 16: Of what not to do in a murder investigation like. 524 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 7: This, because there was a lot of things they didn't do, 525 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 7: and me at the time, not being as experienced in 526 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 7: these kinds of cases and covering these kinds of cases, 527 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:16,360 Speaker 7: I didn't know what to ask. 528 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 16: These are elected officials that people are entrusting to do 529 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:24,960 Speaker 16: their due diligence, and they're going to hang on the 530 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:28,760 Speaker 16: words of those elected officials. And it just sads to 531 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:31,720 Speaker 16: kind of realize all these years later that we may 532 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 16: have been misled. 533 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 1: What would you ideally like to see happen, knowing what 534 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:42,360 Speaker 1: you now know and having had the proximity to it 535 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:43,320 Speaker 1: as it unfolded. 536 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 16: I definitely would like to see all the angles explored. 537 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 16: I definitely would like to see the people that were 538 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 16: on that witness list who weren't call called. I think 539 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 16: there was a lot of things that could have been 540 00:32:56,760 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 16: done differently with everything uncovered, and just it's easy. 541 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 6: To hide stuff. It's so easy to hide the smallest thing. 542 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:11,760 Speaker 16: You know that to the media, to a wider audience 543 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:15,000 Speaker 16: that it doesn't seem significant, but to the person's happening 544 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 16: to it's the world. 545 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 1: We recognize that there are individuals who were and still 546 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:26,360 Speaker 1: are deeply upset by our decision to revisit the conviction 547 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:30,600 Speaker 1: of Julie Beverly. However, it's important to emphasize that justice 548 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 1: for Jade and justice for Julie are not mutually exclusive, 549 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 1: and even as this podcast comes to a close, we 550 00:33:38,440 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 1: remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing both. Thanks to 551 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 1: the generosity of Jason Flahm, Julie Bevely's appeal is receiving 552 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:50,720 Speaker 1: the attention and legal representation it rightfully deserves. 553 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:55,360 Speaker 17: Let's start with what I've heard unfold over the last 554 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:58,560 Speaker 17: seven minutes of the last episode, which with the thing 555 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:05,960 Speaker 17: was episode ten, which had me rewinding and going, excuse me, 556 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:09,960 Speaker 17: I mean the fact that you guys found the video. 557 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 17: I don't have the right word. It reminds me of 558 00:34:14,200 --> 00:34:22,320 Speaker 17: the fact that we live in an era in investigative 559 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:29,760 Speaker 17: journalism slash criminal justice in general, where we as podcasters 560 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:33,439 Speaker 17: oftentimes have to do the work that should have been 561 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 17: done in the first place, and could have been much 562 00:34:36,239 --> 00:34:38,719 Speaker 17: more easily done by people who we pay with our 563 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:39,640 Speaker 17: tax dollars. 564 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:39,759 Speaker 2: To do it. 565 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:43,360 Speaker 17: But you and Bob did it, and you found the 566 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:46,280 Speaker 17: smoking gun. Crazy. 567 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 1: It's kind of heartbreaking too, because if you think about 568 00:34:49,719 --> 00:34:53,120 Speaker 1: the fact that that couple they closed the day she 569 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:56,960 Speaker 1: was arrested, They moved in the day after, and keep 570 00:34:56,960 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 1: in mind, that was four days after Jade easily was 571 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:05,200 Speaker 1: brutally murdered next door, not down the street, not in 572 00:35:05,239 --> 00:35:10,320 Speaker 1: a neighboring town, in the adjacent property, and no official 573 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:13,880 Speaker 1: anybody ever knocked on that door, and if they had, 574 00:35:14,239 --> 00:35:16,840 Speaker 1: that would have been the first thing on that couple's 575 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:20,160 Speaker 1: minds when they had that ring camera footage. 576 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:25,799 Speaker 17: You can't help just feeling a sense of how it's 577 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 17: a combination of awe, gratitude and also discussed right the 578 00:35:31,719 --> 00:35:35,640 Speaker 17: idea that this was allowed to go on, It's still 579 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:39,120 Speaker 17: going on, right She's still in prison right right now. 580 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:41,640 Speaker 17: And I think about this often. Maybe you guys do too, 581 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:46,680 Speaker 17: the idea that while we're sitting here, I'm in my 582 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:50,120 Speaker 17: home studio talking to you and gonna go out the door, 583 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:53,120 Speaker 17: and we're going about our lives. Meanwhile, Julie, if you 584 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:58,080 Speaker 17: juxtapose what her reality is right now, right separated from 585 00:35:58,080 --> 00:36:03,080 Speaker 17: her kids, dealing with gleam deprivation of every kind, like 586 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:06,799 Speaker 17: she is literally in hell right now, being deprived of 587 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:10,000 Speaker 17: every single thing that a human being needs to survive 588 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:11,960 Speaker 17: and thrive and be healthy. 589 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:16,120 Speaker 1: In an attempt to remedy the situation, and because of 590 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:20,200 Speaker 1: Jason Flamm's generosity, Beverly is now being represented by Chicago 591 00:36:20,239 --> 00:36:22,720 Speaker 1: based defense attorney Kathleen Zelner's firm. 592 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 18: My name is Joanna Klozawska. I am an associate for 593 00:36:28,440 --> 00:36:32,279 Speaker 18: Miss Kathleen Zelner. You know, the basic facts of the 594 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:38,120 Speaker 18: case that there was a third party male DNA left 595 00:36:38,239 --> 00:36:44,600 Speaker 18: under the victim's fingernails, really sparked our interests from the beginning. Currently, 596 00:36:44,640 --> 00:36:49,760 Speaker 18: the briefs on appeal have both been submitted from both sides. 597 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:54,680 Speaker 18: We filed the brief on appeal on Beverly's behalf in 598 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:58,320 Speaker 18: July of twenty twenty four, and then the state filed 599 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:03,080 Speaker 18: its brief in Sember of twenty twenty four. We filed 600 00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:07,480 Speaker 18: a reply brief in October of twenty twenty four. 601 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:10,640 Speaker 1: All of this leading up to both sides arguing the 602 00:37:10,640 --> 00:37:13,719 Speaker 1: case in front of a panel of judges in February 603 00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:14,880 Speaker 1: of twenty twenty five. 604 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:20,040 Speaker 18: The oral argument was held just last Friday, February twenty first, 605 00:37:20,520 --> 00:37:25,520 Speaker 18: before three justices of the Fifth District Appellate Court. And 606 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 18: so now we are just waiting on a written opinion, 607 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:31,839 Speaker 18: which could take several. 608 00:37:31,560 --> 00:37:34,799 Speaker 1: Months, and we will update you as soon as they 609 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 1: reach a verdict. But here's Bob's take on the path ahead. 610 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:42,360 Speaker 3: Well, best case scenario is that the appellate court grants 611 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:46,400 Speaker 3: her a new trial and kicks it back down. And 612 00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:50,040 Speaker 3: this is best case scenario, And that the State's attorney's 613 00:37:50,040 --> 00:37:52,839 Speaker 3: office decides not to proceed on it again, that's best 614 00:37:52,880 --> 00:37:56,840 Speaker 3: case scenario. Next best case scenario is that they do 615 00:37:57,120 --> 00:37:59,839 Speaker 3: decide to proceed on it again, all the corrections are 616 00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:03,640 Speaker 3: made with respect to what's coming in, what's staying out 617 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:06,080 Speaker 3: in terms of evidence, and she goes to trial. 618 00:38:06,680 --> 00:38:10,600 Speaker 1: But the brutal reality is there is no scenario in 619 00:38:10,640 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 1: which Julie Beverly finds out next week she's walking out 620 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:20,920 Speaker 1: a free woman. No, no, As we bring this podcast 621 00:38:20,960 --> 00:38:24,480 Speaker 1: to a clothes at least for now, we leave you 622 00:38:24,520 --> 00:38:28,920 Speaker 1: with these questions. Do you believe Julia Beverly is guilty 623 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:32,360 Speaker 1: of murder? Do you believe she had the presumption of innocence? 624 00:38:32,920 --> 00:38:36,200 Speaker 1: Do you believe she received a fair trial? Do you 625 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:39,960 Speaker 1: believe the state proved her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt? 626 00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:43,240 Speaker 1: Or do you think there was a rush to judgment 627 00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:46,359 Speaker 1: one that began the day of the murder and continues 628 00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:47,040 Speaker 1: to this day. 629 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:48,680 Speaker 6: It's never gotten better. 630 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:51,759 Speaker 3: There was never a point where either of us were like, oh, well, 631 00:38:52,040 --> 00:38:52,600 Speaker 3: there we go. 632 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:56,320 Speaker 6: The ship was righted. And because it never happened. 633 00:38:56,480 --> 00:39:00,279 Speaker 1: Even if you believe she's guilty, you cannot deny that 634 00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:03,600 Speaker 1: it was not a fair trial, and for that reason alone, 635 00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:06,480 Speaker 1: she deserves a proper day in court. 636 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:07,879 Speaker 12: One of my. 637 00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 1: Favorite quotes is that justice will not be served until 638 00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:16,359 Speaker 1: those who are unaffected or as outraged as those who 639 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:20,000 Speaker 1: are a lot of people have reached out to us 640 00:39:20,160 --> 00:39:24,319 Speaker 1: outraged when they have put together the pieces of what 641 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 1: went into Beverly's conviction. Where do you suggest they vent 642 00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:33,439 Speaker 1: that outrage right now? 643 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:40,280 Speaker 3: The most effective tools social media. Frankly, between Reddit, Twitter 644 00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:45,600 Speaker 3: or x Facebook pages Facebook groups, you can have a 645 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:50,759 Speaker 3: loud voice, and advocacy comes in many different forms. Advocacy 646 00:39:50,840 --> 00:39:54,920 Speaker 3: is about using your voice. Advocacy is about using your 647 00:39:55,719 --> 00:39:58,799 Speaker 3: mind and writing letters or emails, whatever the case may be, 648 00:39:58,920 --> 00:40:02,799 Speaker 3: whatever you have to make your voice heard somehow it 649 00:40:02,840 --> 00:40:03,720 Speaker 3: can affect change. 650 00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:05,279 Speaker 6: It really can, It really can. 651 00:40:06,120 --> 00:40:10,520 Speaker 1: And in Illinois, the good news is that the Attorney 652 00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:17,360 Speaker 1: General has implemented a conviction Integrity Unit. We will link 653 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:24,359 Speaker 1: to that information as well as information to contact the 654 00:40:24,360 --> 00:40:29,520 Speaker 1: Governor of Illinois. Bob and I, along with our production team, 655 00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:33,640 Speaker 1: deeply appreciate you and everyone else who has taken the 656 00:40:33,640 --> 00:40:37,120 Speaker 1: time to listen to this investigation. We also want to 657 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:40,759 Speaker 1: extend our heartfelt thanks to the many individuals who have 658 00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:45,719 Speaker 1: contributed their thoughts, expertise, and voices to this podcast. A 659 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:49,600 Speaker 1: very special thank you goes out to innocence activists Jason 660 00:40:49,640 --> 00:40:54,719 Speaker 1: Flomm and his wife, Kalia Ali, whose remarkable empathy, compassion, 661 00:40:54,840 --> 00:40:58,840 Speaker 1: and generosity have paved a path forward for Julia Beverly, 662 00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:03,240 Speaker 1: a journey we will continue to update as it infolds, because, 663 00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:07,880 Speaker 1: as British Statesman Benjamin Disraeli put it, justice is truth 664 00:41:08,239 --> 00:41:20,080 Speaker 1: in action. Murder on Songbird Road is a production of 665 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:24,720 Speaker 1: iHeart Podcasts. Our executive producers are Taylor Chaqoine and Lauren 666 00:41:24,719 --> 00:41:28,759 Speaker 1: Bright Pacheco. Research writing and hosting by Lauren Bright Pacheco. 667 00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:33,600 Speaker 1: Investigative reporting by Bob Matta and Lauren Bite Pacheco. Editing, 668 00:41:33,719 --> 00:41:37,879 Speaker 1: sound design and original music by Evan Tyer and Taylor Chaqoine. 669 00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:43,160 Speaker 1: Additional music by Asher Kurtz. Archival elements courtesy of wsil 670 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:46,960 Speaker 1: News three. Please like, subscribe, and leave us a review. 671 00:41:47,080 --> 00:41:50,440 Speaker 1: Wherever you're listening. You can follow me on all platforms 672 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:53,200 Speaker 1: at Lauren Bright Pacheco and email the show with thought, 673 00:41:53,280 --> 00:42:14,960 Speaker 1: suggestions or tips at Investigating Murder at iHeartMedia dot com. 674 00:42:15,080 --> 00:42:18,480 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from Bob Mada, check out Defense Diaries, 675 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:23,320 Speaker 1: and for more podcasts from iHeart Podcasts, visit the iHeartRadio app, 676 00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:27,000 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get the stories that matter 677 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:29,000 Speaker 1: to you. Thanks for listening,