Courtroom Confidential

Latest Episodes:

Holiday News Brief: Brian Camp Not Guilty, Menendez Roadblock, Karen Read New Evidence and More! Nov 29, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! In this special holiday episode, I give a quick rundown of the week’s biggest true crime news, including:

- Massachusetts man Brian Camp has been found not guilty of manslaughter for the shooting death of his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend, Johnathan Letendre

- On Monday, a judge delayed until January his decision on whether to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion 35 years ago.

- Karen Read returned to court this week for an evidentiary hearing. Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan requested Judge Beverly Cannone to authorize access to Read’s parents’ phone records, a move her defense attorney, Elizabeth Little, denounced as a “fishing expedition.”

Plus, sentencing for Susan Lorincz, convicted of manslaughter for killing Ajike Owens outside her home in Ocala, Florida; former Kentucky sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, accused of killing a county judge in his chambers two months ago, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder of a public official; and the change of trial location for George “Billy” Wagner III, charged with his alleged role in the 2016 murders of eight members of the Rhoden and Gilley families.

Follow me on social media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@CRConfidential
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuaritteresq/
X: https://x.com/JoshuaRitterESQ
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joshuaritteresq

https://buymeacoffee.com/courtroomconfidential

DISCLAIMER: The information in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. This content does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by listening to this podcast.

Support the show

CC Conversations: The Gift That Changed Everything - Bob Motta and the Story Behind “Defense Diaries” Nov 26, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! This week, Josh sits down with Bob Motta, criminal defense attorney and host of true crime podcast Defense Diaries.

Bob shares the fascinating story behind how his podcast started—a project sparked by a box of cassette tapes given to him by his father, a defense attorney for serial killer John Wayne Gacy, containing their recorded conversations during trial preparation.
After years of holding onto the tapes, Bob launched Defense Diaries during the pandemic, using them to explore the Gacy trial from a legal perspective while centering the victims' stories.
In this conversation, Bob reflects on his own work as a defense attorney, his journey navigating true crime storytelling, and how Defense Diaries became a powerful platform for true crime and legal storytelling.
Thank you for listening! Please leave us a rating and review, and send this episode to a friend! We appreciate your help and support in getting the word out about Courtroom Confidential.
Find Bob on social media!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DefenseDiariesPod
X: https://x.com/defense_diaries
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/defensediariespodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defensediaries
https://linktr.ee/DefenseDiaries
https://defensediaries.com/
Follow me on social media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@CRConfidential
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuaritteresq/
X: https://x.com/JoshuaRitterESQ
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joshuaritteresq

https://buymeacoffee.com/courtroomconfidential

Support the show

Ep 40: Swift Justice for Laken Riley, NYC Subway Chokehold Trial, Susan Smith Denied Parole, Jussie Smollett Conviction Overturned and More! Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! This week, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

- Venezuelan man Jose Ibarra was convicted on Wednesday in the death of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. He has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in a case that became a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration.

- Trial continues for Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran at the center of a fatal New York City subway chokehold incident. Penny is charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of Neely in May 2023.
- 30 years after the drowning deaths of her two children, South Carolina woman Susan Smith stood before a parole board pleading for mercy. It was the first parole hearing for Smith, who is serving a life sentence after a jury convicted her of murder but decided to spare her the death penalty.

I also discuss several other high-profile cases making headlines this week, including: the death penalty ruling for Idaho student stabbings suspect Bryan Kohberger; a verdict in the trial of Georgia woman Chloe Driver, charged with stabbing her toddler daughter to death; Dixie Villa, a babysitter found guilty of manslaughter in the death of a 7-month-old baby girl; Florida businessman David Knezevich facing new U.S. charges of kidnapping resulting in the death of his wife, Ana; actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction overturned for charges that he staged a racist and homophobic attack against himself in and lied to police; and 71-year-old Timothy Joley charged with two counts of murder in connection to the 1978 deaths of Theresa Marcoux and Mark Harnish.

Plus, a preview of next week's top cases.

Thank you for listening! Please leave us a rating and review, and send this episode to a friend! We appreciate your help and support in getting the word out about Courtroom Confidential.

https://buymeacoffee.com/courtroomconfidential

Support the show

CC Conversations Series: GiGi McKelvey of “Pretty Lies And Alibis”- Her Unexpected Journey to True Crime Nov 19, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! In this episode, Joshua Ritter interviews GiGi McKelvey, host of Pretty Lies And Alibis and boots on the ground correspondent for Law & Crime Network. GiGi takes us through her journey, from working as a surgical technician to launching Pretty Lies And Alibis during the pandemic—a channel that now boasts nearly 70,000 YouTube subscribers.
Known for her in-depth coverage of high-profile legal cases, GiGi tells Josh how she discovered her passion for true crime and what led her to where she is today.
Thank you for listening! Please leave us a rating and review, and send this episode to a friend! We appreciate your help and support in getting the word out about Courtroom Confidential.
Find GiGi on social media!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrettyLiesAndAlibis
X: https://twitter.com/PrettyLiesAlibi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@PrettyLiesAndAlibis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettyliesandalibis/?hl=en
https://www.prettyliesandalibis.org/
Follow me on social media:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@CRConfidential
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuaritteresq/
X: https://x.com/JoshuaRitterESQ
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joshuaritteresq

https://buymeacoffee.com/courtroomconfidential

Support the show

Ep 39: GUILTY Verdict in Delphi, Kouri Richins Wants Out, Karen Read's New Evidence, Arrests Made in Liam Payne's Death and More! Nov 15, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! This week, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

- Seven years after the murders of Abby Williams and Libby German, two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana, Richard Allen has been convicted for their brutal slayings bringing an end to a case that captured the attention of the nation.

- Kouri Richins, the Utah mother accused of poisoning her husband and then writing a children’s book about grief, again requests the court to set bail before her approaching murder trial.
- The retrial of Mansfield woman Karen Read gears up as attorneys discuss a series of motions, including a request from both sides to push back the trial start date, setting the stage for the state of play.

I also touch on several other high-profile cases making headlines this week, including: the 2011 case of teacher Ellen Greenberg, who was found dead with over 20 stab wounds; a death penalty hearing for Bryan Kohberger, the defendant in the 2022 Idaho student stabbings; the case against Virginia father Brendan Banfield and his Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, accused of plotting to kill Banfield’s wife, Christine, and Joseph Ryan, a man reportedly lured to the family’s home through a fetish website; missing woman Suzanne Simpson’s husband, Brad, who has been charged with her murder; and the death of former One Direction member Liam Payne, with three unnamed individuals facing charges.

Plus, a preview of next week's top cases.
Thank you for listening! Please leave us a rating and review, and send this episode to a friend! We appreciate your help and support in getting the word out about Courtroom Confidential.

https://buymeacoffee.com/courtroomconfidential

Support the show

CC Conversations Series: Vinnie Politan - His Evolution from Courtroom to Newsroom & Becoming Court TV's Lead Anchor Nov 12, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! In this episode, host Joshua Ritter interviews Emmy award-winning legal journalist and Court TV anchor, Vinnie Politan. With 30 years experience reporting in the true crime world, Vinnie shares his journey from prosecutor to one of the most recognizable faces in legal broadcasting.

A popular presence on the original Court TV, Vinnie has led coverage of the nation’s most compelling trials and hosted legal and news programs on HLN, Sirius XM, and NBC in Atlanta.
Thank you for listening! Please leave us a rating and review, and send this episode to a friend! We appreciate your help and support in getting the word out about Courtroom Confidential.
Find Vinnie on social media!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinniepolitan1
X: https://x.com/VinniePolitan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VinniePolitanCourtTV/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinniepolitan/?hl=en
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/vinniepolitan
Follow me on social media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@CRConfidential
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuaritteresq/
X: https://x.com/JoshuaRitterESQ
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joshuaritteresq

https://buymeacoffee.com/courtroomconfidential

Support the show

Ep 38: Delphi Judgment Day, JP Miller Arrested, Young Thug Goes Free, Bryan Kohberger Fights the Death Penalty and More! Nov 08, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! This week, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

- Over seven years after the brutal slayings of teen girls Abby Williams and Libby German, jurors will now decide the fate of Delphi man Richard Allen, charged with arguably the most notorious murders in Indiana state history.
- John-Paul Miller, a North Carolina pastor, first came under public scrutiny after the mysterious circumstances surrounding his estranged wife Mica Miller’s death, now the FBI has raided his home, and he has been arrested for assault.

- Young Thug, the Grammy award-winning rapper at the center of Georgia’s longest running criminal trial, takes a mid-trial plea deal offered to him by Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, and walks free.

I also touch on several other high-profile cases making headlines this week, including: Melody Farris found guilty in her husband's death; trial continues for Marine veteran Daniel Penny; South Carolina man Craig Lewis stands trial for the death of his wife; Karen Read appeals her criminal charges; and Bryan Kohberger’s attorneys fight against the death penalty. Plus, a preview of next week's top cases.

Thank you for listening! Please leave us a rating and review, and send this episode to a friend! We appreciate your help and support in getting the word out about Courtroom Confidential.

https://buymeacoffee.com/courtroomconfidential

Support the show

CC Conversations Series: Joel Waldman of Surviving The Survivor - His Unexpected Path to True Crime YouTuber Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to Courtroom Confidential Conversations! Today, host Joshua Ritter sits down with Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist Joel Waldman. With more than two decades of experience crafting stories, including long-form documentaries, Joel started Surviving the Survivor, one of the fastest-growing shows on YouTube, with his Holocaust survivor mother, Karmela Waldman.
#STS has quickly become a top destination on YouTube for expert breakdowns of major true crime cases, but it wasn’t always that way. Joel shares with Josh how his extensive journalism career laid the foundation for launching STS and its evolution from podcast to a daily YouTube show.
Thank you for listening! Please leave us a rating and review, and send this episode to a friend! We appreciate your help and support in getting the word out about Courtroom Confidential.
Check out Surviving The Survivor:
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@SurvivingTheSurvivor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/survivingthesurvivor
X: https://x.com/PodcastSTS
https://survivingthesurvivor.com/
Get Joel’s book!
Https://amzn.to/48GwbLx
Follow me on social media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@CRConfidential
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuaritteresq/
X: https://x.com/JoshuaRitterESQ
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joshuaritteresq

https://buymeacoffee.com/courtroomconfidential

Support the show

Ep 37: GUILTY Verdicts for Sarah Boone and Leilani Simon, Jurors Hear Richard Allen’s Confessions and More! Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to Courtroom Confidential with Joshua Ritter! This week, I share my insights on some of this week’s updates in the true crime world, including:

- Two major verdicts reached the same day: Sarah Boone was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, who was discovered in a suitcase in their Winter Park, Florida home. Leilani Simon was convicted on all counts for the murder of her toddler, Quinton Simon, whose remains were found in a landfill.

- In the Delphi murder trial, jurors hear recordings of alleged confessions by Richard Allen. But does his deteriorating mental state cast doubt on his admissions? Allen faces charges for the 2017 murders of Indiana teens Abby Williams and Libby German.

I also touch on several other high-profile cases making headlines this week, including: Melody Farris awaits a verdict in her husband's murder; plea deals unfold in Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial; new evidence emerges against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, potentially leading to a superseding indictment; Lori Vallow seeks to represent herself in her Arizona trial; and L.A. DA George Gascon supports the Menendez brothers’ clemency bid. Plus, a preview of next week's top cases.

Thank you for listening! Please leave us a rating and review, and send this episode to a friend! We appreciate your help and support in getting the word out about Courtroom Confidential.
Follow me on social media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@CRConfidential
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuaritteresq/
X: https://x.com/JoshuaRitterESQ
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joshuaritteresq

https://buymeacoffee.com/courtroomconfidential

Support the show

CC Conversations Series: Gisela K. of Grizzly True Crime Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the first episode of Courtroom Confidential Conversations! Today, host Joshua Ritter sits down with none other than Gisela K. from Grizzly True Crime.

Launched in June 2021, Gisela’s channel has quickly taken off, now with over 370,000 subscribers. Hear about her journey from growing up in South Africa to life in Europe and the unexpected shift from commercial pilot to true crime storyteller. Gisela opens up about what fuels her passion, the challenges of building a YouTube community, and what makes Grizzly True Crime stand out in the world of true crime reporting.

Thank you for listening! Please leave us a rating and review, and send this episode to a friend! We appreciate your help and support in getting the word out about Courtroom Confidential.
Check out Grizzly True Crime:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrizzlyTrueCrime
X: https://twitter.com/truecrimegisela
https://grizzlytruecrime.com/
Follow me on social media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@CRConfidential
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuaritteresq/
X: https://x.com/JoshuaRitterESQ
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joshuaritteresq

https://buymeacoffee.com/courtroomconfidential

Support the show

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected