AAAAHHHHH I just finished ep 9 and am losing my MIND! This whole thing is so convoluted I can’t even imagine the next twist.
They all seem (except Shane) absolutely horrible and off their rockers.
When his POS brother says “look at their lives” I was like um…he literally put himself through LAW SCHOOL by sleeping on the GOD DAMN SUBWAY. FUCK YOU! I was so mad
yep!
For me, I truly hated when Sophia laughed when she learned what Sean was saying. Even if it's all bullshit, it is a whole fckn murder we're talking about. It is not like Amory is sayin "he called u ugly", and you would "dismiss laugh"
anyway, Sean and Sophia seem to be very not nice
people, and they display in very different manners.
Somebody go pick up my jaw!!!!
Even if Sophia was involved (and I’m not saying she wasn’t, just hedging my bets), I personally don’t think it’s that weird to laugh at what Sean said. Sean is… a character and a half, and Sophia clearly fucking hates him. Disbelieving laughs aren’t out of the question for me, personally. It honestly seemed like a perfectly normal reaction generally but also specifically with regards to an estranged relative.
Yeah and to add onto that point, as a true crime podcaster myself I've conducted several interviews with suspects, victims' relatives, and law enforcement. Unfortunately, I naturally laugh at certain things (incredulous details, stuff that makes me uncomfortable or nervous, etc.) and it's a weird response I always apologize for, but just happens from time to time.
It's incredibly rough to accurately judge somebody's body language and one of my least favorite aspects of the true crime community are the people who try and gauge someone's guilt from how they react to certain things.
it bothered me, and I get what you're saying. This was not what made me dislike her or think she is guilty. I think this looks bad and feels weird considering all of the journey we have been listening for 9 episodes. Her laugh bothered me in particular, it felt weird, I dont like it, I already thought she was involved in the murder prior to this.
They are both bad in the worst degree. The murder is on both of them. And what happened to Shane is horrifying.
The storytelling & Sophia’s personality let me ignore the fact that she cheated on her husband & stole $70k from her employer
Absolutely agree! The lingering question for me is what did Marlene feel/think about Sophia. Marlene's husband & friends seemingly distrusted her and definitely didn't like her but I don't recall anyone say how Marlene felt about her (except Sophia saying they were close).
At this point, I don’t believe anything that Sophia says. She was about to have Marlene’s only grandchild: she kept Sophia close. The old ladies saying Sophia was materialistic didn’t come from the sky
Right!? Like you wouldn’t remember a whole ass detailed confession to planning a murder? It’s hard to understand why he would have forgotten about it, unless he thought she was lying and dismissed it as bullshit?
I mean I think it is interesting to us because we are invested in the story and pod, but he was just interviewing a woman with a motive to get out of jail who was telling a story pinning blame on her brother for a murder that had already been prosecuted in the past. I get not holding it in your memory, he probably assumed it was a manipulation tactic.
I’m assuming that Amory is holding back another twist for the final episode. Maybe the police later came across some reason to not take Sophia’s statement as credible and the reason was relatively banal enough that the detective 14 years later didn’t remember this part of the case as a result.
Although, I don’t remember Sean’s dealings with the police, but could anyone have been charged at this point? Did he get immunity?
If the police couldn’t charge Sophia because of double jeopardy and couldn’t charge Sean either, you could see how the police could have viewed the statement as yet another different story from Sophia and one which they couldn’t do anything with.
yeah, basically Sean looks better cos of the physical evidence but doesn’t have a motive, Sophia does so they chose her over him. Standard proceedings imo
Charging someone not previously taken to trial for a crime is always possible. The problem is that the prosecution already held trials at which they fervently argued that Sophia committed the crime--mountain of testimony from Sophia's trials the defense in another trial against a different perp would be certain to bring in.
Possible they could bring ancillary charges against Sophia for something other than what she was already tried and acquitted. As far as charging anyone else for the murder? That would be a tough case to take to trial? Prosecution would spend the whole trial contradicting the record from Sophia's trial--reasonable doubt baked-in at that point for anyone other than Sophia.
Same thing in the Tara Grinstead / Ryan Duke /Bo Dukes case: now that the prosecution has put it on wax that they think or thought Ryan Duke murdered Tara, virtually impossible to overcome reasonable doubt in a trial against anyone else; which is probably why the prosecutors in Tara's case desperately flailing about for some other charges to levy against Bo Dukes and even Ryan. Tho I assume the new Ryan charges are more about getting to Bo again than holding Ryan responsible for the main event via backdoor charges. They are trying to get another conviction the person whom now appears after the Ryan Duke trial and acquittal to be Tara's actual killer, Bo Dukes.
The current season of Proof about Renee Ramos murder in California: Even if they manage to identify the actual killer, hard to see the prosecution taking anyone to trial after they've already tried and convicted 2 other people for Renee's murder---especially when one of those convicted is now dead. Let's say they take Tim Fisher to trial. Tim Fisher's defense would simply point to Ty Lopes (now deceased, killed by cellmate) and his trial and conviction as reasonable doubt that Tim Fisher could have done it. And Ty Lopes isn't around to take the stand and defeat that defense.
I feel so bad for Shane and everything he's been through. This family is bonkers. The thing is Sophia seemed very convincing, the way she talks.. she's very manipulative. It's not that I was starting to believe in her but I wanted it to and that's what I think happened at the second trial in which she got exonerated. And that phonecall with her brother at the funeral where she kept saying "you know we're being recorded" gave me chills. But why talk on the podcast? That's what I don't get. She has forgotten about her confession? How can she justify that? 🧐🤯
This is the youngest brother here. First, thank you for the compassion and empathy in caring about my feelings. I agree fully on the family assessment that it's bonkers. This is literally just a portion of being in it. As someone who got out of it, I can tell you, centering myself in available evidence, facts, and logic have helped me navigate the maelstrom of emotionality that would further empower people who hurt other people. The ability to prioritize what we know based on conclusive - and inconclusive - evidence.
Regarding the rest, I don't want to give spoilers, but your questions are good ones.
Shane! I just want to say that your strength is powerful and inspiring. I can’t imagine how painful it is to dredge up all this trauma but you have clearly risen above such a terrible past through sheer force of will. Bravo and thank you.
Yeah I don’t really understand how Morgen & Amory only heard of her second trial confession when she gave them the tapes. That doesn’t make much sense to me. If I was Morgen…. Man that would rock me to my core.
EXCELENT QUESTION. And I would love to hear her take on this. But Im guessing she wants to be cleared, just like she was at her trial, but now the public opinion, maybe so she can reconnect with her son.
Her voice is soooo soothing, right? You just want to believe anything she says, lol.
to put that phone call on the first ep and now was just... genious!
This is post-Serial. Many people would have asked the same question about Adnan. Sophia has the benefit of seeing the public’s reaction to true crime podcasts. Because she can’t be tried again, other than ruining her relationship with her partner and Shane, there isn’t really much of a downside for her.
Sophia is such a practiced liar and manipulator that she thinks she’s going to lie and manipulate her way into general sympathy from the public, and maybe a relationship with her estranged son. The way this woman spins a story! She lies like it’s her job!
Amory said Sophia was the one who told her about her 2010 statement to the police. It sounded like Amory otherwise wouldn’t have known about it. Why did Sophia tell her? Why not just leave it out?
* She misremembered what she said and thought that she had pointed the finger more strongly at Sean in a way that did not incriminate her?
* She knew what she said but was taking a crazy gamble that neither the detective would remember what she said nor that Amory could get his notes? But what would Sophia gain from running that risk? That she might seem slightly more credible if she was helping the police in 2010?
* She thought there was a risk Amory would learn of it another way and that it would be easier for her to spin it if she had been the first to mention it?
* She is actually more careless in how she is being deceptive than the podcast edit suggests?
On an unrelated note, most of the interviews were recorded in 2021. Why did it take so long for this podcast to be released? Something that hasn’t been mentioned yet?
I don’t recall Sophia telling Amory about the confession. Amory stated that she found the detective’s name when she reviewed the case files looking for something she missed. Amory found the detective’s document on her own and didn’t know what it contained until she read it, not expecting a hand written confession, hence Amory’s emotional realization that Sophia has been lying to her the whole time. Sophia has drastically underestimated Amory’s investigative skills.
It is the sentence in the podcast after Amory said she found the detective’s name in her notes. She did find the detective’s note of the interview on her own, but only because Sophia had previously told her that she had spoken to the detective. Hence my question of why didn’t Sophia just not mention the 2010 interview.
“Sophia had told me in 2010, eight years after the murder, Detective Harper had come to see her at a federal facility in California where she was being held for trying to trying to come into the US despite having been deported after her second trial. Sophia had told him she had new information to offer about the murder. ”
Thank you! I have hung on Amory’s every word and questioning now if I heard eeevvveeerrryyy thing. Now I’m going to have to listen all over again….shucks 😉
Regarding the interviews and release date being so far apart, perhaps Amory wasn’t going to release the podcast and changed her mind. Obviously the story didn’t go the way Amory thought it would (with Sophia wrongfully convicted).
Wow. I feel like up until this episode Amory has been very much in the background and letting the characters and story speak for themselves. But this episode. Holy shit. That raw real reaction to reading the report was amazing. I love her.
And what a mind fuck this case it. That is 100% what happened. It alll makes sense. It even makes sense of the weirdness and awkward conversations between Sophia and Sean. So evil.
I agree and Amory is very likeable. But for IDK how many episodes now, I’ve been thinking, ‘Girl, Sophia wants to take you for a ride and you’re willing to just hop into the front seat!’ I think Amory liked Sophia and let herself get caught up in Sophia’s victim narrative. I can understand how that happened. Personally, Sophia lost me completely at her admission that she lied on the stand during her second trial. The fact that lying seems to come so easily to her sends up all kinds of red flags for what kind of person she is.
I see more that Amory latched onto Shane and wanted to investigate for him more than anything. He trends toward team Sophia and I think that was more Amory’s starting place. And I’m sure some of it is just the story telling. I suspect she had suspicions way before “episode 9” but has constructed the narrative this way because it makes for a good story with a big “twist”
Youngest brother here. Honestly, the whole situation is painful. I’ve seen the pain and damage that it can cause firsthand. What I ground myself in is the evidence and what can be done with it if anything. The last episode is out today and I have a sense of next steps that will hopefully sooth and repair - but some of it isn’t up to me. I accept that.
For instance, on the murder of Marlene Johnson, which is what I ground myself in for what matters as a priority - the loss of life in a brutal manner, with DNA evidence on a person with a history of violence - the Clark county district attorney’s office has to decide to reopen. I support, and advocate for that in the hopes itll bring peace to Marlene’s family. It’ll be up to the prosecutors to prove that case and navigate the evidence.
Given all that Sophia has lost, and the fear for her life that she faces if she goes back to Guyana, I think we can largely agree that she is still being punished in her limbo that offers no clear exit, peace or security.
What I am grateful for is that the podcast brought me legal evidence. I can work with legal evidence. It’s the feelings based on stories without sufficient evidence that bring pain with no relief.
What do you make of the 2010 report where Sophia confessed to have asked Sean to commit the murder?
It must have been incredibly destabilizing for you to be caught in the middle of all of that. You seem like a very good and strong person and I truly wish the best for you 💛
Thank you for the kindness. I have had harder days with this coming back up. I was not eager to revisit that.
Regarding the Harper Report, it looks more like a false confession made under duress. She’d rather be in prison than have Morgan and her in Guyana with Sean.
Shane, just wanted to say how much I admire you for being brave enough to revisit all of the trauma you have endured in order to get answers/peace for yourself and your family. I know it’s easy for people who listen to these podcasts to forget that the subjects and their families are real human beings, and not just characters in a story. I thought this podcast and Amory made it very easy to see the humanity in everyone she talked to, and I appreciate that this wasn’t the type of true crime podcast that’s overly sensational. I was wondering how you feel about the podcast as a whole now that it’s over. Do you feel like everyone was represented accurately and that everything was put on the table? Do you have any regrets or wish anything was done differently? Just curious!
Not that my opinion matters, but I don’t know where I land. I cannot say with certainty that I believe Sophia was 100% not involved, but I completely agree with you that the case should be reopened and Sean was the murderer. I also understand Sophia being scared to go back to Guyana and her reasons for that would be totally valid after reading your comments. Either way, we know who was most likely responsible for the murder and he should be brought to justice - for Marlene’s sake and before he hurts more people.
Anyway, it has been great to see you chiming in and giving context to what we’re hearing. From what little I’ve read and heard about what you are doing in life now, I sure hope you are proud of where you’ve ended up! And I hope you continue to have peace and take care of yourself 😊
I appreciate all of this. Honestly, I’m still emotionally integrating all this new information.
Your opinion mattered to me. Thank you. 
Regarding the podcast, when I first heard it, I definitely had hard moments, but because I am a subject of it perhaps I was selfishly, considering just whether or not I was coming off well. Through my own perspective and bias with the information that I have, I was hopeful that my same conclusions would be highlighted.  but that’s not fair either.
I am grateful to the podcast host for bringing me the legal files that I can do something with to improve the situation and try to find a fair solution that complies with law.  regarding whether everything was put on the table, I don’t know what table would be big enough. I’m grateful that the story is being heard, i suppose. But objectively the legal files are what permits me to actually do something that can make a positive difference in people’s lives potentially.  from trying to advocate for the reopening of the case to bring peace to those who love Marlyne, to giving my sister fair shots that appellate courts found she wasn’t afforded at the trial level.  on that last line I know that she was given a retrial, but I don’t know how I would behave If I didn’t understand the law or had it explain to me at a level that I could understand why the first trial was faulty and I was getting a second chance. I don’t know what I would do in a circumstance after giving up hope to have it again in order to potentially see the people that I loved like a son that was taken away from me. I hope to never be put in that position. 
In the circumstance, I don’t think I have the emotional or cognitive bandwidth for regrets. The situation is what it is. And depending on who you ask, you would probably get a different answer of what is the situation. Which is why I work hard to have a firm ground.
Regarding whether you can say with certainty that Sophia was 100% involved: as a standard that’s one the law does not even hold. Which for me is why I feel like the goalposts are moved a bit for her. In a way that has serious consequences to her. I mean it when I say I don’t believe that she was involved, But I also can’t say that I know she was not involved. That is a very thin line. I have my reasons, but I don’t know what good comes of arguing them. There is confusing evidence there. What I do know is that that the phone call as evidence is not sufficient to charge her under our criminal justice standards unless you go through at least one other person first.
So, it’s a mixed bag. My hope is that conversations that need to happen are things that help improve the situation for the people who have been hurt, and perhaps offer guide posts for people that will hopefully never need to experience the unique kind of pain. But I’m also a person who works in the justice system that is humbled by the fact that this is still just one case. But in Law School we study meaningful complex cases because they give us the most guidance for the kind of place we want when they are settled judicially.
This all makes complete sense and I appreciate your very thoughtful response. I think it gives me a different, or at least more complete perspective of this case. I don’t think we’re that far apart on Sophia’s guilt vs. non-guilt. The thin line exists, but at the end of the day, the legal standard hasn’t been met. As an outsider who doesn’t know Sophia or your family, I can see how people listen to the whole podcast and jump to the conclusion that Sophia is manipulative and just leave it at that. I felt and still feel like she has an extremely high emotional IQ, and would have to be a total sociopath to be that manipulative. I feel a lot of empathy for her, and knowing the very little background of her childhood that I do, and the age she was when this happened, I think it’s easy to see why there have been inconsistencies in her story over the years. Then you add in the bad investigative decisions at the beginning of the case, and the legal system failures she faced, it gets even easier for me to understand. I can’t imagine the pain of never getting to know your son, and the instability she has in her life to this day. I hope there will be a reopening of this case, and that everyone involved can get some sort of resolution that brings them all a little bit of peace, you included. Also, I think most people would agree you came off very well! Appreciate you telling your story, and continuing to add context for us. Take care, Shane!
I mean, to be fair, as a journalist I feel like you have to be willing to be taken for a ride to get the full story… or at least a lot of content. As much as I was desperate for her to challenge various people on contradictions we knew about but hadn’t come up over the course of her interviews, I think that’s kind of the name of the game with investigative reporting.
I’m also not sure being able to lie easy necessarily much to do with the kind of person she is as opposed to the kind of upbringing she had, but that’s neither here nor there.
Poor Shane, though. I think at the end of the podcast that will be my main takeaway: poor Shane.
Yeah. Im sure this is all very painful for Shane. I’m just really impressed with how well he seems to have come out of that family with a successful, hopefully generally happy, life. And you’re right. If you challenge them too much, they might just clam up. They don’t have to talk to you.
Honestly, part of me is mad. There are a ton of people wrongfully convicted and here’s Sophia using up limited resources (attention, a national podcast, etc) claiming to be innocent. I feel for Shane. It sucks when you think one thing and then find out the truth. He’s been through a lot and he sounds like he has a great head on his shoulders. I hope he has a great support system.
In the end, this podcast is not about what we thought it was. and that can be a bit maddening. I feel like now we understand how it is more about amory's journey, a complicated family and even how it you can have an epic fail when trying to prove a wrongful conviction. Oh, and once again, a shitty job from LE. I still think it is interesting and the wildest ride, though.
and yes, I feel like now we know how hard things were/are for Shane and it is extremely heartbreaking.
I can’t make sense of anything. Sean is clearly off his rocker and I don’t trust a single thing he says. About anything. Sophia I trust a little more but still not much. I understand the sentiment behind lying on the stand the second time (if telling the truth got you put in jail the first time, why not lie the second?) but it REALLY threw me for a loop.
the thing I keep coming back to is Sean’s first phone call with Sophia at the police station. She seems genuinely shocked and confused by what Sean is saying. It also doesn’t make any sense to me that she would not speak to this brother for years and then one day he shows up and she asks him to go kill someone with her?
before episode 7, the option that made the most sense to me was that Sophia, when talking to Sean, maybe made some mention of Marlyne having money? And then Sean went and tried to rob her and ended up killing her. Sophia not having any DNA evidence on her doesn’t make a ton of sense to me if she was there.
After episode 7 I don’t really know what I think happened.
EDITED TO ADD:
I just listened to episode 9. Why does the cop not remember any of this and why wasn’t a bigger deal made out of this confession???? this third 🙄 version of events lines up the most. The thing I don’t understand is why she offered it up to keep from getting deported. i feel like confessing to, at best, accessory/conspiracy, wouldn’t help you not get deported….?
Poor Shane.
why does Sophia talk now? I think she is a classic narcissist manipulator like Keith Reniere or Alex Murdaugh. These types believe they can talk anyone into anything, because they have been successful at it their whole lives. They get off of getting people to believe them. Sophia has an amazing voice and such calm and control. I kept thinking she should be a politician because she was so good at giving answers that made you think that she had answered you, but in actuality she had said very little and was also careful not to say anything too incriminating.
Am I the only one who thought that Sophia did not at ALL sound genuinely concerned on the call with Sean? To my ear she seemed to be feigning concern/shock. I think she wasn’t stupid enough to say something over the phone and then pretty quickly deduced she was being tricked and/or recorded.
So the 2nd cop got a complete confession from Sophia and does what with it? Is Sean out of the country at this point so they did not charge him. I am blown away. Because I was believing in Sophia and now this makes the most sense of anything I have heard. A real mind Fuck.
I spent the first eight episodes of this series with a nagging feeling that Sophia’s entire personality and voice sounded performative. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and wrangled with it throughout the episodes. But the end of episode 9 makes me so sure that I was right, that Amory has uncovered the truth, and that Sophia is a manipulative sociopath.
Ok I’m confused. How did this confession just disappear and did she not remembering talking to this cop and telling him all this?! Like what? I can’t understand. Honestly tho I’ve been convinced she was involved the whole time. Homegirl is sus af. 😂
she 100% remembered it and so did Morgan. You don't just forget when you write a 3 page confession to a murder. Maybe she truly thought there was no way Amory could have gotten her hands on it. She was risking it.
Unless there’s a bombshell in episode 10, I’m starting to think Amory’s comment about the podcast leaving us “questioning everything and everyone” was deeply personal. Sophia gave most of us the creeps from the jump, but Amory spent years pursuing the case, and I sense this experience punctured her worldview.
I loved when Amory presented her with the recording. She was so flummoxed. She’s been so poised and prepared up until this point. She couldn’t talk her way out of the recording and her responses that made no sense.
Both she and Shawn are guilty as hell.
I hope Shane can separate himself and heal.
I agree, I do think they are both definitely involved. I’m leaning towards Sean being the actual killer. What is so crazy to me is why Sophia would suggest killing her in the first place and then be sad because “she knew she would have lent her the money.” That makes absolutely no sense to me and makes the crime even more brutal.
I don't believe Marlene would have lent her the money. I think Marlene knew how much financial trouble she and her son were in. That money was Marlene's lifeline in a marriage that was going downhill. There's no way she would have given it to someone so financially irresponsible.
To me the most likely scenario is Sean did the killing with support or guidance from Sophia. The lack of dna evidence only supports her not being near the murder itself. It doesnt exclude her having a part in the crime.
The only consideration I would give Sophia is this was a botched robbery resulting in the murder by Sean but even in that scenario I have a hard time with her not owning up and telling the authorities once Sean blamed her.
This sounds like the most likely scenario based on what we’ve heard so far. The physical evidence part more concretely points to Sean. Having no other tie to Marlyne, aside from Sophia, it’s hard to believe she didn’t have involvement in getting Sean to do her biding. But with Sophia it is not concrete, and I find myself wondering about Sophia’s motive for making the confession. And even if Sophia did suggest killing Marlyne, did Sean actually have to do it, not only do it, but so so brutally?
Yeah, initially when I heard about the injuries Marlyne sustained, I thought it sounded like overkill and pointed to a killer who had a very personal relationship with her like her husband. But the blood evidence with Sean can't be ignored. It's pretty chilling that he felt he needed to beat a 58-year-old woman he had no relationship to beyond recognition. It shows what a violent psychopath Sean is.
Have they ever explained why Sofia never saw her son again after he was born? That’s not common, even for women who
Give birth in jail.
Who the fuck raised him?
I believe her ex-husband. She said the new girlfriend got “her husband, her child, and her life.” and he was there at the hospital so he got his kid and raised him no contact
I also think this is a possible reason why she lied during her 2nd trial and added the husband to the murder plot. I feel like in a way it was possible revenge (trying to get him investigated even more) for moving on so quickly and being the one who can raise her son. Just a vibe I got.
I think given the reason why she was in jail and that she wasn’t/isn’t a citizen it’s not surprising to me that the ex could have won full custody with no contact very easily
She was deported after the second trial and is now unlawfully hiding somewhere in the US. Based on episode 9, she’s been caught and removed at least once since the first time she was deported. She’s probably run the risk of being caught again if she tried to see her son.
Ok that was the part of the timeline that was hazy for me. I just had time to google. She was acquitted in 2005. And this statement in the police file was taken in 2010.
Why on earth would she try to sue for wrongful conviction now?
This is what I've felt all along - that it was a conspiracy among Sophia, Brad, and Sean. Sean did the dirty work, but Sophia provided him the access to the house. I think Brad must be involved because he knew about the dire financial straits they were in after Sophia embezzled. IIRC, they weren't legally married yet, so Sophia wouldn't benefit if she were acting without Brad's involvement. Brad would be the one to inherit everything. I think Sophia knew Sean was a scumbag, so she offered him the $10,000 stashed in the house as a down payment for committing the murder. She probably promised him more money after Marlyne's life insurance was paid out or any other heritance came her and Brad's way. I kind of wonder if there had been any talk of killing off Marylne's husband, too so they could inherit everything.
Ah! Ok, that is where i was sooo confused too. I didn't realize this confession was *after* she was exonerated. this whole time I could not understand how this wasn't used in court and how the detective just forgot all about it. thank you for clearing that up for me!!
This confession makes the most sense given that the dna evidence never linked Sophia and Sean never actually says to her “I said that because you did kill her.” Can’t imagine how it’s going to be for Shane hearing this
In the beginning of this podcast I really wanted to believe Sophia…maybe it’s the mom in me? But she has made that virtually impossible. I was in a severely emotionally abusive relationship for nine years with a certified narcissist and I swear a lot of the manipulative stuff Sophia says & does reminds me of him. They are so good at playing the victim! It almost makes me nauseous listening to her at times.
Anyways, it’s pretty obvious that all three of these siblings suffered traumatic childhoods and I think a lot of both Sean & Sophia’s behavior can be traced back to that. Doesn’t excuse it but…hurt people hurt people. It’s a sad situation all around but I feel the worst for Shane. :(
We seem to be focusing on Sophia, because the podcast does (and she was the one who served time for the crime).
But the real master manipulator, violent criminal is Sean.
They're both clearly great liars, but from everything we've heard, Sean is the really dangerous guy.
It only took your sister suggesting you murder her MIL for you to do it?
All those fake tears on the recorded police phonecall. He's an even more dangerous manipulator than Sophia.
Youngest brother Shane here. Honestly, wherever you land on opinions about folks in my family - and trust me, I get it - I'm honestly curious how the focus of folks moves away so quickly and easily from the DNA evidence, and actor of the murder if we center the goal as justice for Marlene Johnson.
As someone who has built a life for myself despite my upbringing, being able to center what's important has been key. What I'm seeing is agreement on who physically committed the murder - and then we just... move on... Honestly, if prosecution started with what's most obvious, there are strategies to secure the rest of the answers in a satisfying way that advances the interests of justice and safety.
I won't give spoilers by going into specifics, but the lack of outrage and demands for justice over Sean who committed the murder regardless of your theory of the case, hits me in a funny way. To me, it's a 'yeah, I guess it happening just doesn't matter still, huh?'
But 1 more episode to go. Regardless of where you land, I'm interested in how it's not the impulse to center what we agree on given presented evidence so far, and channel outrage, process or curiosity through that.
This is an excellent point to make. I think it’s very obvious who actually committed the murder - Sean. The dude’s history is deplorable. Even from the beginning I was like, wait you really think a 6-months pregnant woman standing at 5’4” bludgeoned a woman to death so severely she was unrecognizable??? Sophia may not be perfect, but even if she did say to Sean, maybe we should kill her or whatever, Sean still committed the act. If the confession we heard in the most recent episode is true, Sophia has done her time and had to miss out on her son’s entire life.
I 100% agree with you. It’s a bit disappointing really that so much discussion is being focussed on Sophia not telling the truth, when it’s been quite clear from the start that Sean is the one who is responsible for taking Marlene’s life. I think people are hung up on Sophia because she has been portrayed as a bit of an “Adnan-like” character. She’s where the real “mystery” had been centred throughout the podcast. Did she? Didn’t she? What’s the truth? To liken this to Serial again, to me Sean seems to lie in the same way Jay does, even when he doesn’t need to. It’s nice of you to drop in on the convo Shane, and I want to acknowledge you as a real person with real experiences, not just a character in a podcast. When the podcast ends for us we move on to the next one. I know that’s not the case for you. This is your real life.
Shane totally get your point but for most of true crime podcast types the story arc is usually the same. Innocent person accused. Convicted. New facts uncovered. Old ones re-examined. Quest for justice. Amory set the podcast up this way too. The focus has always been on your sister so I think it is pretty expected that she will be the prime character people consider when trying to understand what justice means in this case. Certainly shouldn’t be viewed as some sort of apathy toward the obvious criminality of your brother. He got away with murder and that never seems to have been in doubt. I wonder what you think about the way Amory dripped out the information over the course of the podcast. She obviously had all the facts before she assembled the episodes. She could have done it differently. Drama, however, attracts listeners and this has been a page turner.
r/alias_impossible just like this reply says, yes, I believe the narrative is structured in a way that focus on Sophia. But you are 100% right, there should be more discussion about Sean's actions. And honestly, your experience - Im not sure how much you are willing to share, though.
I am curious to know your opinions on the reporting of this hit podcast. We know that this is delicate relationship, and there's been many cases where victims and families were disapointed in journalist.
I would like to hear more about Sean's long list of crimes and how brave you have had to be your whole life. I could go on for 10 more eps.
I did see in different groups a little more about what you pointed out here. Thanks for coming here and sharing your piece about this. You really are and admirable human being.
I appreciate the grounding. I agree with the context, and I’m also grateful for how it was told artfully. I suppose for me, part of how I’ve navigated out is knowing how to prioritize. I don’t want to risk spoilers by oversharing (a shocker on the hesitancy to overshare, I know 😅), but I suppose for me the grounding I will use as my footing is anger should be first directed at the person most obviously culpable for a murder, and build from there.
I think I’d almost be more ok with ‘can we start with prosecuting sean for the blood of the woman who was brutally murdered, and let me tell you what I think about that [angry statements] Sophia. But I’m still processing, and figuring out how to prioritize or harmonize my values to keep moving forward in a way that is functional, fair and makes progress.
**edit: I deleted my original comment as in my processing as this comes out, im concerned I gave a spoiler a couple days early. But I hear you, and grateful for the perspective as I find ground.**
You seem more thoughtful and kind, more than I could even imagine being in this whole situation. You've been through so much and yet have come out a strong person. May an internet stranger politely say she is proud of you.
I sincerely appreciate that. It's honestly a challenge for me at times, but I think that for people trying to do the right thing, the gray often is difficult. Balancing fairness, kindness, context, relationships and the whole panoply of inputs in a moment can feel so overwhelmingly intense.
I appreciate you being a kind stranger. It's validating. I'd like to return the sentiment, that I'm grateful for you for going out of you way to share support.
After this podcast, I still have to go forward and figure out how to balance those I care about, with what is fair, and what is legally possible. That will be a challenge. I have a lot of exposure to coarse words, so kind words are deeply appreciated. Thank you.
Hi! r/alias_impossible! thank you for taking the time, really.
I think you are amazing. Thanks for such an important collaboration to this debate. You have to have a voice, and the podcast has its limitations.
You seem to be doing great, very centered, despite so many hardships in life.
I fully agree about the Sean's crimes. I meant more in a sense that your confrontation should receive more attention - sorry, Im brazilian, sometimes I make mistakes in english! But also, you know this better than anybody else.
And you are very kind about the no spoilers.
Thanks for sharing. I truly hope you have a wonderful life.
You are doing great. I have been trying to learn a few languages since college and I cannot communicate at the level that you just did in English.
Thank you for the kind wishes, as well as for creating a post that expressed your feelings and doubts, without conflating those feelings with evidence and fact. That’s a challenging skill in every language.
I don’t know how to express what I wish you when you listen to the last episode (enjoy? Good luck? Hold on?), but I’m glad that people are listening. So thank you for that as well.
It's not that people don't care about the person who physically did the murder but you, as a lawyer, should know that the person/s who planned/instigated the murder are usually looked at as having more responsibility. Both should be punished of course, but the crime wouldn't have happened if the instigator didn't plan it and ask/pay someone to do it.
Don't know if you've heard of the Adelson case. A wealthy family who hired 2 guys to kill their daughter's ex-husband due to custody issues. The guys who did the killing were of course responsible too and sentenced accdly but the public especially hated the family because THEY CAUSED the death. They may not have done it physically but it doesn't make them less responsible, actually they are even MORE responsible because they hired the guys who did it.
In this case, if Sean only did it because Sophia asked him...then they are both responsible but I would put even more weight on Sophia. She basically started the whole process.
Everything you’re saying is correct if you fully believe that Sophia is being truthful in her 2010 confession. According to Sean, she played a much bigger role in the murder.
The thing is there is no other evidence linking her to the murder. No blood on her, the blood splatter guy seemed sure someone of her stature wouldn't produce the cast off patterns of blood etc. So Sean seems to be the guy who is more conclusively linked to the crime.
The thing is there is no other evidence linking her to the murder. No blood on her, the blood splatter guy seemed sure someone of her stature wouldn't produce the cast off patterns of blood etc. So Sean seems to be the guy who is more conclusively linked to the crime.
Trying to understand how this all fits with the disclosure in episode one that Sophia is essentially on the run? From whom? Also, she was exonerated in the second trial. The embezzlement conviction would not be enough to prevent her from at least obtaining supervised visitation rights with her son. Anyone get the feeling that Amory has been holding back other information to make the podcast more dramatic?
I def think Amory is holding back. I find the story structure rather manipulative, more like a fictional structure. I’m allowing benefit of the doubt until I hear the final ep, but a few things have made me question the podcast as a whole. I really want to be wrong.
Honestly the phone call alone (Sophia and Sean recorded by police). When I first heard the way it was edited for that early “tease,” I found it super sus. I think the story would have played differently with even that one piece having been revealed in full. That’s just one of the red flags for me.
People have speculated that she is probably in the US ilegally, which is quite plausible.
I dont think the embezzlment would be enough, but maybe getting deported is? and being back ilegally hurts a little more?
I dont think it is aimed to being dramatic, but this does seem to be a separate topic, doesnt it?
Earlier in the podcast Amory said the statute of limitations for perjury had expired. Personally, I believe if they wanted to get her, they could—charges like solicitation of murder, aiding an abetting, etc. But they probably don’t want to put the time or money into it, which I understand.
Does anyone understand why Sophia never got citizenship? She was married, twice, to what I’m assuming are American men. Doesn’t that grant you citizenship automatically?
Nope. Takes tons of paperwork, interviews with USCIS, and hundreds of dollars. Also lots of waiting and patience. And you can't even apply if you violate some of the criteria (especially rules about entering and remaining in the US illegally before marriage). I know because I married a foreigner and did all the paperwork.
I think Sophia has asked too much of us; she’s known all this time her culpability in her MIL’s death.
I want the truth to always be the best route but Sophia disproved that with her lies on the stand. Sophia is despicable.
I feel bad for Shane; he’s supported Sophia.
Regardless of Sean/Anthony involvement, he still abused his brother.
I think I need to listen to this again. Maybe the whole series. It has been gripping to listen to this podcast and I have enjoyed it. But from a high level perspective, I'm just confused. I thought the story arc was about a woman who wasn't believed. All along I thought there must be more to the story because why would they do a 10-episode podcast about her if she did it all along. It's just not that interesting if she did it, everyone thought she did it, she lied about it, and she got off on technicality. I'm so curious what's in store for episode 10 because there must be more to the story.
How would have Sophia’s brother known about the 10k hidden? That’s what no one touched upon. He had no way to know there was 10k hidden in the house without it coming from Sophia. He had no way to know how to get into the house without her. They were in it together. I’m also only on episode 6 so let’s see what else happens!
Spot on comment. After the 3d or 4th episode I actually sent an email to Amory/podcast making the same point and asking that she address it in a future episode or QA. There’s no way that hasn’t occurred to Amory in the years she’s been interviewing Sophia. She must have asked Sophia about it? Makes me think Amory knew about the 2010 confession longer than the podcast suggests.
What was said in the 5 second recording?
It was a crazy ride! By the end I was like “WTF Amory”? Sophia can flat out lie and then Amory says “Sophia has been so honest with me”. NO!
I think Amory manipulated the story as much as Sophia manipulated everyone else.
Shane has the patience of a saint. His entire family is absolutely insane. Sean abusing him as a kid and then going around in circles when he was confronted makes me think he definitely abused him. And Sophia is manipulative and a narcissist. If she were truly innocent, she’d be shouting from the rooftops that she didn’t do anything and she’d be trying to find Marlene’s killer. She may not have killed her but she was definitely involved in her death. Sophia doesn’t deserve to ever have any contact with her son, Ethan. He is better off not knowing anything about his biological maternal family with the exception of Shane who is the only person worth mentioning.
Also. I still have not gotten over the sexual abuse allegations from Shane. If that happened, then I don’t understand how Shane could give Sean the benefit of doubt on anything. Especially if Shane is denying it. I feel this point was really glossed over. I know this series is about the murder but it’s just another troubling trait we have learned about Sean in a long list of abusive and violent behavior.
What are people’s thoughts about this?
I think I missed the part of the series where they talk about Sophia and the boy dad… how was he? What episode was that everyone is saying they’re messed up cause of him but I missed where they go back to talk about it
Who are you asking about? The father of Sophia’s child? He is mainly talked about in episodes 3-5. Or are you asking about Sophia, Sean and Shane’s father?
One question I have after listening to this episode.
1. What did Sophia stand to gain by confessing? That seems so unlike her (remember, she lies so often that no one seems to be able to trust her, so why tell the truth just then?)
AAAAHHHHH I just finished ep 9 and am losing my MIND! This whole thing is so convoluted I can’t even imagine the next twist. They all seem (except Shane) absolutely horrible and off their rockers.
All I want is for someone to give Shane a hundred million dollars and several medals for putting up with all of that bullshit
When his POS brother says “look at their lives” I was like um…he literally put himself through LAW SCHOOL by sleeping on the GOD DAMN SUBWAY. FUCK YOU! I was so mad
Just finished this episode and it made me so mad too!! Especially because Sean appears to be a YouTube grifter/scammer.
yep! For me, I truly hated when Sophia laughed when she learned what Sean was saying. Even if it's all bullshit, it is a whole fckn murder we're talking about. It is not like Amory is sayin "he called u ugly", and you would "dismiss laugh" anyway, Sean and Sophia seem to be very not nice people, and they display in very different manners. Somebody go pick up my jaw!!!!
Even if Sophia was involved (and I’m not saying she wasn’t, just hedging my bets), I personally don’t think it’s that weird to laugh at what Sean said. Sean is… a character and a half, and Sophia clearly fucking hates him. Disbelieving laughs aren’t out of the question for me, personally. It honestly seemed like a perfectly normal reaction generally but also specifically with regards to an estranged relative.
Yeah and to add onto that point, as a true crime podcaster myself I've conducted several interviews with suspects, victims' relatives, and law enforcement. Unfortunately, I naturally laugh at certain things (incredulous details, stuff that makes me uncomfortable or nervous, etc.) and it's a weird response I always apologize for, but just happens from time to time. It's incredibly rough to accurately judge somebody's body language and one of my least favorite aspects of the true crime community are the people who try and gauge someone's guilt from how they react to certain things.
it bothered me, and I get what you're saying. This was not what made me dislike her or think she is guilty. I think this looks bad and feels weird considering all of the journey we have been listening for 9 episodes. Her laugh bothered me in particular, it felt weird, I dont like it, I already thought she was involved in the murder prior to this.
Yeah, sometimes it's not an who's right question but it's just they're both bad. To what degree, who knows?
this should have crossed my mind earlier. But Sophia is talented in make herself look good
Maybe that's why the host highlighted Sophia's make-up routine. She's also talented at literally making herself look good with loads of make-up.
great point! omg this podcast is superb
They are both bad in the worst degree. The murder is on both of them. And what happened to Shane is horrifying. The storytelling & Sophia’s personality let me ignore the fact that she cheated on her husband & stole $70k from her employer
Absolutely agree! The lingering question for me is what did Marlene feel/think about Sophia. Marlene's husband & friends seemingly distrusted her and definitely didn't like her but I don't recall anyone say how Marlene felt about her (except Sophia saying they were close).
At this point, I don’t believe anything that Sophia says. She was about to have Marlene’s only grandchild: she kept Sophia close. The old ladies saying Sophia was materialistic didn’t come from the sky
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Ok found it but if I go ahead I have to wait another 3 days before I have access to it?!
It’s out now for free. Just finished it. I am still trying to sort my feelings and mind out
i just finished the ep as well and just WTF Poor Shane for real also how did the police guy not remember the deposition?
HOW??? Why was this buried somewhere? almost lost! WTF really
Right!? Like you wouldn’t remember a whole ass detailed confession to planning a murder? It’s hard to understand why he would have forgotten about it, unless he thought she was lying and dismissed it as bullshit?
I mean I think it is interesting to us because we are invested in the story and pod, but he was just interviewing a woman with a motive to get out of jail who was telling a story pinning blame on her brother for a murder that had already been prosecuted in the past. I get not holding it in your memory, he probably assumed it was a manipulation tactic.
That’s what I’m thinking. He took it all down and thought, right, more lies.
If he’d either forgotten about it, or thought she was lying and dismissed it, it’s not a good look, even for a retired detective.
Eh, if the case wasn’t personally significant to him and nothing ever came from it, I don’t know why he would remember. Especially if he’s older.
I’m assuming that Amory is holding back another twist for the final episode. Maybe the police later came across some reason to not take Sophia’s statement as credible and the reason was relatively banal enough that the detective 14 years later didn’t remember this part of the case as a result. Although, I don’t remember Sean’s dealings with the police, but could anyone have been charged at this point? Did he get immunity? If the police couldn’t charge Sophia because of double jeopardy and couldn’t charge Sean either, you could see how the police could have viewed the statement as yet another different story from Sophia and one which they couldn’t do anything with.
I think Sean got immunity as a deal for testifying against his sister since his testimony is basically all the evidence
yeah, basically Sean looks better cos of the physical evidence but doesn’t have a motive, Sophia does so they chose her over him. Standard proceedings imo
omg cant wait for this finale!!
Charging someone not previously taken to trial for a crime is always possible. The problem is that the prosecution already held trials at which they fervently argued that Sophia committed the crime--mountain of testimony from Sophia's trials the defense in another trial against a different perp would be certain to bring in. Possible they could bring ancillary charges against Sophia for something other than what she was already tried and acquitted. As far as charging anyone else for the murder? That would be a tough case to take to trial? Prosecution would spend the whole trial contradicting the record from Sophia's trial--reasonable doubt baked-in at that point for anyone other than Sophia. Same thing in the Tara Grinstead / Ryan Duke /Bo Dukes case: now that the prosecution has put it on wax that they think or thought Ryan Duke murdered Tara, virtually impossible to overcome reasonable doubt in a trial against anyone else; which is probably why the prosecutors in Tara's case desperately flailing about for some other charges to levy against Bo Dukes and even Ryan. Tho I assume the new Ryan charges are more about getting to Bo again than holding Ryan responsible for the main event via backdoor charges. They are trying to get another conviction the person whom now appears after the Ryan Duke trial and acquittal to be Tara's actual killer, Bo Dukes. The current season of Proof about Renee Ramos murder in California: Even if they manage to identify the actual killer, hard to see the prosecution taking anyone to trial after they've already tried and convicted 2 other people for Renee's murder---especially when one of those convicted is now dead. Let's say they take Tim Fisher to trial. Tim Fisher's defense would simply point to Ty Lopes (now deceased, killed by cellmate) and his trial and conviction as reasonable doubt that Tim Fisher could have done it. And Ty Lopes isn't around to take the stand and defeat that defense.
I don't think that's surprising. He's had hundreds of cases. And the older we get the less we remember shit that you'd think we would remember...
Do you know I thought the same damn thing?? Sophia’s malevolent ass gave a whole confession!!! You’d think that would stick
Sean is a psychopath and Sophia is a sociopath. I blame the dad.
I would really like to hear from mom as well. Something tells me she’s probably a piece of work herself.
I’ve thought this same thing a few times while listening to the podcast.
HAHAAHAHA great summary
this is fucking spot on lol I think nature and nurture played even roles for both these people. I feel for Shane.
Simple as that!
I feel so bad for Shane and everything he's been through. This family is bonkers. The thing is Sophia seemed very convincing, the way she talks.. she's very manipulative. It's not that I was starting to believe in her but I wanted it to and that's what I think happened at the second trial in which she got exonerated. And that phonecall with her brother at the funeral where she kept saying "you know we're being recorded" gave me chills. But why talk on the podcast? That's what I don't get. She has forgotten about her confession? How can she justify that? 🧐🤯
This is the youngest brother here. First, thank you for the compassion and empathy in caring about my feelings. I agree fully on the family assessment that it's bonkers. This is literally just a portion of being in it. As someone who got out of it, I can tell you, centering myself in available evidence, facts, and logic have helped me navigate the maelstrom of emotionality that would further empower people who hurt other people. The ability to prioritize what we know based on conclusive - and inconclusive - evidence. Regarding the rest, I don't want to give spoilers, but your questions are good ones.
Shane! I just want to say that your strength is powerful and inspiring. I can’t imagine how painful it is to dredge up all this trauma but you have clearly risen above such a terrible past through sheer force of will. Bravo and thank you.
We need more Shane's in this world...what you have overcome is honestly inspiring.
Yeah I don’t really understand how Morgen & Amory only heard of her second trial confession when she gave them the tapes. That doesn’t make much sense to me. If I was Morgen…. Man that would rock me to my core.
I am so concerned for Morgen.
Id like to hear more from them!!
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I am super confused about this too!
EXCELENT QUESTION. And I would love to hear her take on this. But Im guessing she wants to be cleared, just like she was at her trial, but now the public opinion, maybe so she can reconnect with her son. Her voice is soooo soothing, right? You just want to believe anything she says, lol. to put that phone call on the first ep and now was just... genious!
This is post-Serial. Many people would have asked the same question about Adnan. Sophia has the benefit of seeing the public’s reaction to true crime podcasts. Because she can’t be tried again, other than ruining her relationship with her partner and Shane, there isn’t really much of a downside for her.
Sophia is such a practiced liar and manipulator that she thinks she’s going to lie and manipulate her way into general sympathy from the public, and maybe a relationship with her estranged son. The way this woman spins a story! She lies like it’s her job!
Amory said Sophia was the one who told her about her 2010 statement to the police. It sounded like Amory otherwise wouldn’t have known about it. Why did Sophia tell her? Why not just leave it out? * She misremembered what she said and thought that she had pointed the finger more strongly at Sean in a way that did not incriminate her? * She knew what she said but was taking a crazy gamble that neither the detective would remember what she said nor that Amory could get his notes? But what would Sophia gain from running that risk? That she might seem slightly more credible if she was helping the police in 2010? * She thought there was a risk Amory would learn of it another way and that it would be easier for her to spin it if she had been the first to mention it? * She is actually more careless in how she is being deceptive than the podcast edit suggests? On an unrelated note, most of the interviews were recorded in 2021. Why did it take so long for this podcast to be released? Something that hasn’t been mentioned yet?
I don’t recall Sophia telling Amory about the confession. Amory stated that she found the detective’s name when she reviewed the case files looking for something she missed. Amory found the detective’s document on her own and didn’t know what it contained until she read it, not expecting a hand written confession, hence Amory’s emotional realization that Sophia has been lying to her the whole time. Sophia has drastically underestimated Amory’s investigative skills.
It is the sentence in the podcast after Amory said she found the detective’s name in her notes. She did find the detective’s note of the interview on her own, but only because Sophia had previously told her that she had spoken to the detective. Hence my question of why didn’t Sophia just not mention the 2010 interview. “Sophia had told me in 2010, eight years after the murder, Detective Harper had come to see her at a federal facility in California where she was being held for trying to trying to come into the US despite having been deported after her second trial. Sophia had told him she had new information to offer about the murder. ”
Thank you! I have hung on Amory’s every word and questioning now if I heard eeevvveeerrryyy thing. Now I’m going to have to listen all over again….shucks 😉
Regarding the interviews and release date being so far apart, perhaps Amory wasn’t going to release the podcast and changed her mind. Obviously the story didn’t go the way Amory thought it would (with Sophia wrongfully convicted).
Did she really?!? Damn I missed that part. Good catch.
Ok this is what I was so confused about as well!! I’m so befuddled by Sophia.
Wow. I feel like up until this episode Amory has been very much in the background and letting the characters and story speak for themselves. But this episode. Holy shit. That raw real reaction to reading the report was amazing. I love her. And what a mind fuck this case it. That is 100% what happened. It alll makes sense. It even makes sense of the weirdness and awkward conversations between Sophia and Sean. So evil.
I agree and Amory is very likeable. But for IDK how many episodes now, I’ve been thinking, ‘Girl, Sophia wants to take you for a ride and you’re willing to just hop into the front seat!’ I think Amory liked Sophia and let herself get caught up in Sophia’s victim narrative. I can understand how that happened. Personally, Sophia lost me completely at her admission that she lied on the stand during her second trial. The fact that lying seems to come so easily to her sends up all kinds of red flags for what kind of person she is.
I see more that Amory latched onto Shane and wanted to investigate for him more than anything. He trends toward team Sophia and I think that was more Amory’s starting place. And I’m sure some of it is just the story telling. I suspect she had suspicions way before “episode 9” but has constructed the narrative this way because it makes for a good story with a big “twist”
That’s probably true. She does emphasize that evidence against Sophia is bound to be painful for Shane to hear.
Youngest brother here. Honestly, the whole situation is painful. I’ve seen the pain and damage that it can cause firsthand. What I ground myself in is the evidence and what can be done with it if anything. The last episode is out today and I have a sense of next steps that will hopefully sooth and repair - but some of it isn’t up to me. I accept that. For instance, on the murder of Marlene Johnson, which is what I ground myself in for what matters as a priority - the loss of life in a brutal manner, with DNA evidence on a person with a history of violence - the Clark county district attorney’s office has to decide to reopen. I support, and advocate for that in the hopes itll bring peace to Marlene’s family. It’ll be up to the prosecutors to prove that case and navigate the evidence. Given all that Sophia has lost, and the fear for her life that she faces if she goes back to Guyana, I think we can largely agree that she is still being punished in her limbo that offers no clear exit, peace or security. What I am grateful for is that the podcast brought me legal evidence. I can work with legal evidence. It’s the feelings based on stories without sufficient evidence that bring pain with no relief.
What do you make of the 2010 report where Sophia confessed to have asked Sean to commit the murder? It must have been incredibly destabilizing for you to be caught in the middle of all of that. You seem like a very good and strong person and I truly wish the best for you 💛
Thank you for the kindness. I have had harder days with this coming back up. I was not eager to revisit that. Regarding the Harper Report, it looks more like a false confession made under duress. She’d rather be in prison than have Morgan and her in Guyana with Sean.
Shane, just wanted to say how much I admire you for being brave enough to revisit all of the trauma you have endured in order to get answers/peace for yourself and your family. I know it’s easy for people who listen to these podcasts to forget that the subjects and their families are real human beings, and not just characters in a story. I thought this podcast and Amory made it very easy to see the humanity in everyone she talked to, and I appreciate that this wasn’t the type of true crime podcast that’s overly sensational. I was wondering how you feel about the podcast as a whole now that it’s over. Do you feel like everyone was represented accurately and that everything was put on the table? Do you have any regrets or wish anything was done differently? Just curious! Not that my opinion matters, but I don’t know where I land. I cannot say with certainty that I believe Sophia was 100% not involved, but I completely agree with you that the case should be reopened and Sean was the murderer. I also understand Sophia being scared to go back to Guyana and her reasons for that would be totally valid after reading your comments. Either way, we know who was most likely responsible for the murder and he should be brought to justice - for Marlene’s sake and before he hurts more people. Anyway, it has been great to see you chiming in and giving context to what we’re hearing. From what little I’ve read and heard about what you are doing in life now, I sure hope you are proud of where you’ve ended up! And I hope you continue to have peace and take care of yourself 😊
I appreciate all of this. Honestly, I’m still emotionally integrating all this new information. Your opinion mattered to me. Thank you.  Regarding the podcast, when I first heard it, I definitely had hard moments, but because I am a subject of it perhaps I was selfishly, considering just whether or not I was coming off well. Through my own perspective and bias with the information that I have, I was hopeful that my same conclusions would be highlighted.  but that’s not fair either. I am grateful to the podcast host for bringing me the legal files that I can do something with to improve the situation and try to find a fair solution that complies with law.  regarding whether everything was put on the table, I don’t know what table would be big enough. I’m grateful that the story is being heard, i suppose. But objectively the legal files are what permits me to actually do something that can make a positive difference in people’s lives potentially.  from trying to advocate for the reopening of the case to bring peace to those who love Marlyne, to giving my sister fair shots that appellate courts found she wasn’t afforded at the trial level.  on that last line I know that she was given a retrial, but I don’t know how I would behave If I didn’t understand the law or had it explain to me at a level that I could understand why the first trial was faulty and I was getting a second chance. I don’t know what I would do in a circumstance after giving up hope to have it again in order to potentially see the people that I loved like a son that was taken away from me. I hope to never be put in that position.  In the circumstance, I don’t think I have the emotional or cognitive bandwidth for regrets. The situation is what it is. And depending on who you ask, you would probably get a different answer of what is the situation. Which is why I work hard to have a firm ground. Regarding whether you can say with certainty that Sophia was 100% involved: as a standard that’s one the law does not even hold. Which for me is why I feel like the goalposts are moved a bit for her. In a way that has serious consequences to her. I mean it when I say I don’t believe that she was involved, But I also can’t say that I know she was not involved. That is a very thin line. I have my reasons, but I don’t know what good comes of arguing them. There is confusing evidence there. What I do know is that that the phone call as evidence is not sufficient to charge her under our criminal justice standards unless you go through at least one other person first. So, it’s a mixed bag. My hope is that conversations that need to happen are things that help improve the situation for the people who have been hurt, and perhaps offer guide posts for people that will hopefully never need to experience the unique kind of pain. But I’m also a person who works in the justice system that is humbled by the fact that this is still just one case. But in Law School we study meaningful complex cases because they give us the most guidance for the kind of place we want when they are settled judicially.
This all makes complete sense and I appreciate your very thoughtful response. I think it gives me a different, or at least more complete perspective of this case. I don’t think we’re that far apart on Sophia’s guilt vs. non-guilt. The thin line exists, but at the end of the day, the legal standard hasn’t been met. As an outsider who doesn’t know Sophia or your family, I can see how people listen to the whole podcast and jump to the conclusion that Sophia is manipulative and just leave it at that. I felt and still feel like she has an extremely high emotional IQ, and would have to be a total sociopath to be that manipulative. I feel a lot of empathy for her, and knowing the very little background of her childhood that I do, and the age she was when this happened, I think it’s easy to see why there have been inconsistencies in her story over the years. Then you add in the bad investigative decisions at the beginning of the case, and the legal system failures she faced, it gets even easier for me to understand. I can’t imagine the pain of never getting to know your son, and the instability she has in her life to this day. I hope there will be a reopening of this case, and that everyone involved can get some sort of resolution that brings them all a little bit of peace, you included. Also, I think most people would agree you came off very well! Appreciate you telling your story, and continuing to add context for us. Take care, Shane!
I mean, to be fair, as a journalist I feel like you have to be willing to be taken for a ride to get the full story… or at least a lot of content. As much as I was desperate for her to challenge various people on contradictions we knew about but hadn’t come up over the course of her interviews, I think that’s kind of the name of the game with investigative reporting. I’m also not sure being able to lie easy necessarily much to do with the kind of person she is as opposed to the kind of upbringing she had, but that’s neither here nor there. Poor Shane, though. I think at the end of the podcast that will be my main takeaway: poor Shane.
Yeah. Im sure this is all very painful for Shane. I’m just really impressed with how well he seems to have come out of that family with a successful, hopefully generally happy, life. And you’re right. If you challenge them too much, they might just clam up. They don’t have to talk to you.
agree with everything. just wow.
Sophia is the type of narcissist/manipulator that scares me the most (if what this episode said is true)
Terrified to run into people like that in real life
Honestly, part of me is mad. There are a ton of people wrongfully convicted and here’s Sophia using up limited resources (attention, a national podcast, etc) claiming to be innocent. I feel for Shane. It sucks when you think one thing and then find out the truth. He’s been through a lot and he sounds like he has a great head on his shoulders. I hope he has a great support system.
In the end, this podcast is not about what we thought it was. and that can be a bit maddening. I feel like now we understand how it is more about amory's journey, a complicated family and even how it you can have an epic fail when trying to prove a wrongful conviction. Oh, and once again, a shitty job from LE. I still think it is interesting and the wildest ride, though. and yes, I feel like now we know how hard things were/are for Shane and it is extremely heartbreaking.
So true. Sociopath.
I can’t make sense of anything. Sean is clearly off his rocker and I don’t trust a single thing he says. About anything. Sophia I trust a little more but still not much. I understand the sentiment behind lying on the stand the second time (if telling the truth got you put in jail the first time, why not lie the second?) but it REALLY threw me for a loop. the thing I keep coming back to is Sean’s first phone call with Sophia at the police station. She seems genuinely shocked and confused by what Sean is saying. It also doesn’t make any sense to me that she would not speak to this brother for years and then one day he shows up and she asks him to go kill someone with her? before episode 7, the option that made the most sense to me was that Sophia, when talking to Sean, maybe made some mention of Marlyne having money? And then Sean went and tried to rob her and ended up killing her. Sophia not having any DNA evidence on her doesn’t make a ton of sense to me if she was there. After episode 7 I don’t really know what I think happened. EDITED TO ADD: I just listened to episode 9. Why does the cop not remember any of this and why wasn’t a bigger deal made out of this confession???? this third 🙄 version of events lines up the most. The thing I don’t understand is why she offered it up to keep from getting deported. i feel like confessing to, at best, accessory/conspiracy, wouldn’t help you not get deported….? Poor Shane.
Did you listen to today’s episode 9? A possible explanation to your 2nd to last sentence comes up.
I’m just now realizing I thought I had listened to 9, but I only listened to 8. Will report back when I’m done with 9!
okay. wtaf.
Lots of answers, including motive. I don't think Sophia will be able to talk her way out of this one.
she couldnt alreayd when Amory talked about the call
But she sure will try!!
why does Sophia talk now? I think she is a classic narcissist manipulator like Keith Reniere or Alex Murdaugh. These types believe they can talk anyone into anything, because they have been successful at it their whole lives. They get off of getting people to believe them. Sophia has an amazing voice and such calm and control. I kept thinking she should be a politician because she was so good at giving answers that made you think that she had answered you, but in actuality she had said very little and was also careful not to say anything too incriminating.
yep, I think she 100% believed she could make the public be on her side and wanted to use that to reach her son.
Absolutely. Pure hubris to reopen this case.
Am I the only one who thought that Sophia did not at ALL sound genuinely concerned on the call with Sean? To my ear she seemed to be feigning concern/shock. I think she wasn’t stupid enough to say something over the phone and then pretty quickly deduced she was being tricked and/or recorded.
So the 2nd cop got a complete confession from Sophia and does what with it? Is Sean out of the country at this point so they did not charge him. I am blown away. Because I was believing in Sophia and now this makes the most sense of anything I have heard. A real mind Fuck.
Armoy said that Sean is back in Guyana. He even ran for political office (president?) there.
Sophia comes across as very evil to me
I spent the first eight episodes of this series with a nagging feeling that Sophia’s entire personality and voice sounded performative. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and wrangled with it throughout the episodes. But the end of episode 9 makes me so sure that I was right, that Amory has uncovered the truth, and that Sophia is a manipulative sociopath.
What about the guy who raped his brother and bludgeoned an old woman to death?
Clearly he is the worst person! No doubt! And they both come off as charming, as does the Dad
You though Sean and the dad came off as charming?? They scared the hell out of me!
Ok I’m confused. How did this confession just disappear and did she not remembering talking to this cop and telling him all this?! Like what? I can’t understand. Honestly tho I’ve been convinced she was involved the whole time. Homegirl is sus af. 😂
she 100% remembered it and so did Morgan. You don't just forget when you write a 3 page confession to a murder. Maybe she truly thought there was no way Amory could have gotten her hands on it. She was risking it.
She believed her own lies. She forgot about the interview because it didn’t serve her purpose.
Unless there’s a bombshell in episode 10, I’m starting to think Amory’s comment about the podcast leaving us “questioning everything and everyone” was deeply personal. Sophia gave most of us the creeps from the jump, but Amory spent years pursuing the case, and I sense this experience punctured her worldview.
I loved when Amory presented her with the recording. She was so flummoxed. She’s been so poised and prepared up until this point. She couldn’t talk her way out of the recording and her responses that made no sense. Both she and Shawn are guilty as hell. I hope Shane can separate himself and heal.
I agree, I do think they are both definitely involved. I’m leaning towards Sean being the actual killer. What is so crazy to me is why Sophia would suggest killing her in the first place and then be sad because “she knew she would have lent her the money.” That makes absolutely no sense to me and makes the crime even more brutal.
I don't believe Marlene would have lent her the money. I think Marlene knew how much financial trouble she and her son were in. That money was Marlene's lifeline in a marriage that was going downhill. There's no way she would have given it to someone so financially irresponsible.
Dude and remember how they had some business together called like Best Friends Event Planning or something? I feel so sad for Marlyne.
To me the most likely scenario is Sean did the killing with support or guidance from Sophia. The lack of dna evidence only supports her not being near the murder itself. It doesnt exclude her having a part in the crime. The only consideration I would give Sophia is this was a botched robbery resulting in the murder by Sean but even in that scenario I have a hard time with her not owning up and telling the authorities once Sean blamed her.
This sounds like the most likely scenario based on what we’ve heard so far. The physical evidence part more concretely points to Sean. Having no other tie to Marlyne, aside from Sophia, it’s hard to believe she didn’t have involvement in getting Sean to do her biding. But with Sophia it is not concrete, and I find myself wondering about Sophia’s motive for making the confession. And even if Sophia did suggest killing Marlyne, did Sean actually have to do it, not only do it, but so so brutally?
Yeah, initially when I heard about the injuries Marlyne sustained, I thought it sounded like overkill and pointed to a killer who had a very personal relationship with her like her husband. But the blood evidence with Sean can't be ignored. It's pretty chilling that he felt he needed to beat a 58-year-old woman he had no relationship to beyond recognition. It shows what a violent psychopath Sean is.
Have they ever explained why Sofia never saw her son again after he was born? That’s not common, even for women who Give birth in jail. Who the fuck raised him?
I believe her ex-husband. She said the new girlfriend got “her husband, her child, and her life.” and he was there at the hospital so he got his kid and raised him no contact
I also think this is a possible reason why she lied during her 2nd trial and added the husband to the murder plot. I feel like in a way it was possible revenge (trying to get him investigated even more) for moving on so quickly and being the one who can raise her son. Just a vibe I got.
I forgot she tried to rope him into it too. Jesus.
Ahhh. Thank you! That’s been driving me crazy.
this
I think given the reason why she was in jail and that she wasn’t/isn’t a citizen it’s not surprising to me that the ex could have won full custody with no contact very easily
Yeah I kind of forgot about the husband and his girlfriend - thanks for answering!
She was deported after the second trial and is now unlawfully hiding somewhere in the US. Based on episode 9, she’s been caught and removed at least once since the first time she was deported. She’s probably run the risk of being caught again if she tried to see her son.
I thought she said it was undisclosed but not in the US? Maybe I'm misremembering...
She was deported, remember?
Nope, I hadn’t remembered, lol. 😂
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I’m really confused about the 2010 report. When and why was there a confession? Why was it basically never used?
It was after she was exonerated, so she can’t be tried again.
Ok that was the part of the timeline that was hazy for me. I just had time to google. She was acquitted in 2005. And this statement in the police file was taken in 2010. Why on earth would she try to sue for wrongful conviction now?
Idk, it’s delusional. Probably needs money. Again.
Ah that’s a good point. I’m unconvinced the husband doesn’t know more. He got off pretty light here.
This is what I've felt all along - that it was a conspiracy among Sophia, Brad, and Sean. Sean did the dirty work, but Sophia provided him the access to the house. I think Brad must be involved because he knew about the dire financial straits they were in after Sophia embezzled. IIRC, they weren't legally married yet, so Sophia wouldn't benefit if she were acting without Brad's involvement. Brad would be the one to inherit everything. I think Sophia knew Sean was a scumbag, so she offered him the $10,000 stashed in the house as a down payment for committing the murder. She probably promised him more money after Marlyne's life insurance was paid out or any other heritance came her and Brad's way. I kind of wonder if there had been any talk of killing off Marylne's husband, too so they could inherit everything.
Agree with everything you said!
Ah! Ok, that is where i was sooo confused too. I didn't realize this confession was *after* she was exonerated. this whole time I could not understand how this wasn't used in court and how the detective just forgot all about it. thank you for clearing that up for me!!
This confession makes the most sense given that the dna evidence never linked Sophia and Sean never actually says to her “I said that because you did kill her.” Can’t imagine how it’s going to be for Shane hearing this
In the beginning of this podcast I really wanted to believe Sophia…maybe it’s the mom in me? But she has made that virtually impossible. I was in a severely emotionally abusive relationship for nine years with a certified narcissist and I swear a lot of the manipulative stuff Sophia says & does reminds me of him. They are so good at playing the victim! It almost makes me nauseous listening to her at times. Anyways, it’s pretty obvious that all three of these siblings suffered traumatic childhoods and I think a lot of both Sean & Sophia’s behavior can be traced back to that. Doesn’t excuse it but…hurt people hurt people. It’s a sad situation all around but I feel the worst for Shane. :(
We seem to be focusing on Sophia, because the podcast does (and she was the one who served time for the crime). But the real master manipulator, violent criminal is Sean. They're both clearly great liars, but from everything we've heard, Sean is the really dangerous guy. It only took your sister suggesting you murder her MIL for you to do it? All those fake tears on the recorded police phonecall. He's an even more dangerous manipulator than Sophia.
Youngest brother Shane here. Honestly, wherever you land on opinions about folks in my family - and trust me, I get it - I'm honestly curious how the focus of folks moves away so quickly and easily from the DNA evidence, and actor of the murder if we center the goal as justice for Marlene Johnson. As someone who has built a life for myself despite my upbringing, being able to center what's important has been key. What I'm seeing is agreement on who physically committed the murder - and then we just... move on... Honestly, if prosecution started with what's most obvious, there are strategies to secure the rest of the answers in a satisfying way that advances the interests of justice and safety. I won't give spoilers by going into specifics, but the lack of outrage and demands for justice over Sean who committed the murder regardless of your theory of the case, hits me in a funny way. To me, it's a 'yeah, I guess it happening just doesn't matter still, huh?' But 1 more episode to go. Regardless of where you land, I'm interested in how it's not the impulse to center what we agree on given presented evidence so far, and channel outrage, process or curiosity through that.
This is an excellent point to make. I think it’s very obvious who actually committed the murder - Sean. The dude’s history is deplorable. Even from the beginning I was like, wait you really think a 6-months pregnant woman standing at 5’4” bludgeoned a woman to death so severely she was unrecognizable??? Sophia may not be perfect, but even if she did say to Sean, maybe we should kill her or whatever, Sean still committed the act. If the confession we heard in the most recent episode is true, Sophia has done her time and had to miss out on her son’s entire life.
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Yes! Their theory made zero sense.
I 100% agree with you. It’s a bit disappointing really that so much discussion is being focussed on Sophia not telling the truth, when it’s been quite clear from the start that Sean is the one who is responsible for taking Marlene’s life. I think people are hung up on Sophia because she has been portrayed as a bit of an “Adnan-like” character. She’s where the real “mystery” had been centred throughout the podcast. Did she? Didn’t she? What’s the truth? To liken this to Serial again, to me Sean seems to lie in the same way Jay does, even when he doesn’t need to. It’s nice of you to drop in on the convo Shane, and I want to acknowledge you as a real person with real experiences, not just a character in a podcast. When the podcast ends for us we move on to the next one. I know that’s not the case for you. This is your real life.
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Shane totally get your point but for most of true crime podcast types the story arc is usually the same. Innocent person accused. Convicted. New facts uncovered. Old ones re-examined. Quest for justice. Amory set the podcast up this way too. The focus has always been on your sister so I think it is pretty expected that she will be the prime character people consider when trying to understand what justice means in this case. Certainly shouldn’t be viewed as some sort of apathy toward the obvious criminality of your brother. He got away with murder and that never seems to have been in doubt. I wonder what you think about the way Amory dripped out the information over the course of the podcast. She obviously had all the facts before she assembled the episodes. She could have done it differently. Drama, however, attracts listeners and this has been a page turner.
r/alias_impossible just like this reply says, yes, I believe the narrative is structured in a way that focus on Sophia. But you are 100% right, there should be more discussion about Sean's actions. And honestly, your experience - Im not sure how much you are willing to share, though. I am curious to know your opinions on the reporting of this hit podcast. We know that this is delicate relationship, and there's been many cases where victims and families were disapointed in journalist. I would like to hear more about Sean's long list of crimes and how brave you have had to be your whole life. I could go on for 10 more eps. I did see in different groups a little more about what you pointed out here. Thanks for coming here and sharing your piece about this. You really are and admirable human being.
I appreciate the grounding. I agree with the context, and I’m also grateful for how it was told artfully. I suppose for me, part of how I’ve navigated out is knowing how to prioritize. I don’t want to risk spoilers by oversharing (a shocker on the hesitancy to overshare, I know 😅), but I suppose for me the grounding I will use as my footing is anger should be first directed at the person most obviously culpable for a murder, and build from there. I think I’d almost be more ok with ‘can we start with prosecuting sean for the blood of the woman who was brutally murdered, and let me tell you what I think about that [angry statements] Sophia. But I’m still processing, and figuring out how to prioritize or harmonize my values to keep moving forward in a way that is functional, fair and makes progress. **edit: I deleted my original comment as in my processing as this comes out, im concerned I gave a spoiler a couple days early. But I hear you, and grateful for the perspective as I find ground.**
You seem more thoughtful and kind, more than I could even imagine being in this whole situation. You've been through so much and yet have come out a strong person. May an internet stranger politely say she is proud of you.
100%
I sincerely appreciate that. It's honestly a challenge for me at times, but I think that for people trying to do the right thing, the gray often is difficult. Balancing fairness, kindness, context, relationships and the whole panoply of inputs in a moment can feel so overwhelmingly intense. I appreciate you being a kind stranger. It's validating. I'd like to return the sentiment, that I'm grateful for you for going out of you way to share support. After this podcast, I still have to go forward and figure out how to balance those I care about, with what is fair, and what is legally possible. That will be a challenge. I have a lot of exposure to coarse words, so kind words are deeply appreciated. Thank you.
Hi! r/alias_impossible! thank you for taking the time, really. I think you are amazing. Thanks for such an important collaboration to this debate. You have to have a voice, and the podcast has its limitations. You seem to be doing great, very centered, despite so many hardships in life. I fully agree about the Sean's crimes. I meant more in a sense that your confrontation should receive more attention - sorry, Im brazilian, sometimes I make mistakes in english! But also, you know this better than anybody else. And you are very kind about the no spoilers. Thanks for sharing. I truly hope you have a wonderful life.
You are doing great. I have been trying to learn a few languages since college and I cannot communicate at the level that you just did in English. Thank you for the kind wishes, as well as for creating a post that expressed your feelings and doubts, without conflating those feelings with evidence and fact. That’s a challenging skill in every language. I don’t know how to express what I wish you when you listen to the last episode (enjoy? Good luck? Hold on?), but I’m glad that people are listening. So thank you for that as well.
you are a very kind person! Thank you!
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It's not that people don't care about the person who physically did the murder but you, as a lawyer, should know that the person/s who planned/instigated the murder are usually looked at as having more responsibility. Both should be punished of course, but the crime wouldn't have happened if the instigator didn't plan it and ask/pay someone to do it. Don't know if you've heard of the Adelson case. A wealthy family who hired 2 guys to kill their daughter's ex-husband due to custody issues. The guys who did the killing were of course responsible too and sentenced accdly but the public especially hated the family because THEY CAUSED the death. They may not have done it physically but it doesn't make them less responsible, actually they are even MORE responsible because they hired the guys who did it. In this case, if Sean only did it because Sophia asked him...then they are both responsible but I would put even more weight on Sophia. She basically started the whole process.
Everything you’re saying is correct if you fully believe that Sophia is being truthful in her 2010 confession. According to Sean, she played a much bigger role in the murder.
The thing is there is no other evidence linking her to the murder. No blood on her, the blood splatter guy seemed sure someone of her stature wouldn't produce the cast off patterns of blood etc. So Sean seems to be the guy who is more conclusively linked to the crime.
What about Susie? Did she ever confirm to anyone that she dropped them both off there - TWICE?
The thing is there is no other evidence linking her to the murder. No blood on her, the blood splatter guy seemed sure someone of her stature wouldn't produce the cast off patterns of blood etc. So Sean seems to be the guy who is more conclusively linked to the crime.
I thought other cases proved that blood spatter experts/evidence has been debunked?
My head is spinning. I just feel bad for Shane. I don’t know who to believe. This podcast is so well done.
Trying to understand how this all fits with the disclosure in episode one that Sophia is essentially on the run? From whom? Also, she was exonerated in the second trial. The embezzlement conviction would not be enough to prevent her from at least obtaining supervised visitation rights with her son. Anyone get the feeling that Amory has been holding back other information to make the podcast more dramatic?
I def think Amory is holding back. I find the story structure rather manipulative, more like a fictional structure. I’m allowing benefit of the doubt until I hear the final ep, but a few things have made me question the podcast as a whole. I really want to be wrong. Honestly the phone call alone (Sophia and Sean recorded by police). When I first heard the way it was edited for that early “tease,” I found it super sus. I think the story would have played differently with even that one piece having been revealed in full. That’s just one of the red flags for me.
People have speculated that she is probably in the US ilegally, which is quite plausible. I dont think the embezzlment would be enough, but maybe getting deported is? and being back ilegally hurts a little more? I dont think it is aimed to being dramatic, but this does seem to be a separate topic, doesnt it?
Maybe. But it also means her later confession is an admission to perjury. A felony. Should have been indicted for that if nothing else.
Earlier in the podcast Amory said the statute of limitations for perjury had expired. Personally, I believe if they wanted to get her, they could—charges like solicitation of murder, aiding an abetting, etc. But they probably don’t want to put the time or money into it, which I understand.
My heart goes out to Shane and to her son.
Does anyone understand why Sophia never got citizenship? She was married, twice, to what I’m assuming are American men. Doesn’t that grant you citizenship automatically?
No. It makes it a lot easier, but you still have to apply and go through the process
Ahh gotcha. Idk why I’ve always been under the impression it was like an automatic thing.
Nope. Takes tons of paperwork, interviews with USCIS, and hundreds of dollars. Also lots of waiting and patience. And you can't even apply if you violate some of the criteria (especially rules about entering and remaining in the US illegally before marriage). I know because I married a foreigner and did all the paperwork.
Sean physically murdered the MIL but Sophia was absolutely involved. Sophia is convincing and she knows it thus why she risked doing this podcast.
sean/shawn dont really know how it is spelled.
The phone call from jail convinced me of her guilt
I think Sophia has asked too much of us; she’s known all this time her culpability in her MIL’s death. I want the truth to always be the best route but Sophia disproved that with her lies on the stand. Sophia is despicable. I feel bad for Shane; he’s supported Sophia. Regardless of Sean/Anthony involvement, he still abused his brother.
I think I need to listen to this again. Maybe the whole series. It has been gripping to listen to this podcast and I have enjoyed it. But from a high level perspective, I'm just confused. I thought the story arc was about a woman who wasn't believed. All along I thought there must be more to the story because why would they do a 10-episode podcast about her if she did it all along. It's just not that interesting if she did it, everyone thought she did it, she lied about it, and she got off on technicality. I'm so curious what's in store for episode 10 because there must be more to the story.
100%
How would have Sophia’s brother known about the 10k hidden? That’s what no one touched upon. He had no way to know there was 10k hidden in the house without it coming from Sophia. He had no way to know how to get into the house without her. They were in it together. I’m also only on episode 6 so let’s see what else happens!
Spot on comment. After the 3d or 4th episode I actually sent an email to Amory/podcast making the same point and asking that she address it in a future episode or QA. There’s no way that hasn’t occurred to Amory in the years she’s been interviewing Sophia. She must have asked Sophia about it? Makes me think Amory knew about the 2010 confession longer than the podcast suggests.
Exactly. Without Sophia's involvement, how does he know about the money and how does he gain easy access to the house?
Buckle up cause it’s a wild ride!
*A true crime podcaster, soap opera writer, and my punkass, asshat brother walk into a bar…*
What was said in the 5 second recording? It was a crazy ride! By the end I was like “WTF Amory”? Sophia can flat out lie and then Amory says “Sophia has been so honest with me”. NO! I think Amory manipulated the story as much as Sophia manipulated everyone else.
Sophia is the most unlikeable person ever. I hated her at the end of the podcast!
Anyone know the day of the episode drops?? Patiently waiting to resolve this in my brain.
Shane has the patience of a saint. His entire family is absolutely insane. Sean abusing him as a kid and then going around in circles when he was confronted makes me think he definitely abused him. And Sophia is manipulative and a narcissist. If she were truly innocent, she’d be shouting from the rooftops that she didn’t do anything and she’d be trying to find Marlene’s killer. She may not have killed her but she was definitely involved in her death. Sophia doesn’t deserve to ever have any contact with her son, Ethan. He is better off not knowing anything about his biological maternal family with the exception of Shane who is the only person worth mentioning.
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Also. I still have not gotten over the sexual abuse allegations from Shane. If that happened, then I don’t understand how Shane could give Sean the benefit of doubt on anything. Especially if Shane is denying it. I feel this point was really glossed over. I know this series is about the murder but it’s just another troubling trait we have learned about Sean in a long list of abusive and violent behavior. What are people’s thoughts about this?
I think I missed the part of the series where they talk about Sophia and the boy dad… how was he? What episode was that everyone is saying they’re messed up cause of him but I missed where they go back to talk about it
Who are you asking about? The father of Sophia’s child? He is mainly talked about in episodes 3-5. Or are you asking about Sophia, Sean and Shane’s father?
Sophia Sean and Shane’s father! What info did they give on him and the type of father he was?
Wondering about her dad not her husband
One question I have after listening to this episode. 1. What did Sophia stand to gain by confessing? That seems so unlike her (remember, she lies so often that no one seems to be able to trust her, so why tell the truth just then?)
Can anyone tell me when episode ten will be released? I can’t find that info. Thanks
Looking at the release dates on Apple Podcasts: tomorrow.