Personal Journals
**Direct Appeal**

In August 2008, Sarah Widmer, a healthy 24 year-old woman is found dead in her bathtub, just four months after marrying Ryan Widmer… the only person at home with Sarah that night.
Suspicion quickly fell on Ryan, leading to his arrest and conviction for Sarah’s murder. But could this have been a tragic accident?
Ryan has adamantly maintained his innocence for the last 16 years, but now, two seasoned criminologists examine the very controversial conviction of Ryan Widmer, for the murder of his wife Sarah.
Is Ryan a murder or did something else happen in that bathroom? Join us to find out.

Latest Episodes:

The Best Defense Jun 28, 2019

Show notes

10: Now that the State has rested, it’s time for Melanie’s Defense to present their case. Several key witnesses emerge but will Melanie’s lawyers call them to the stand? At least two critical witnesses who testify for Melanie are not permitted to share their whole story but we share what they could not say on the stand. Could this testimony have made a difference?

If you have any information regarding this case, you can submit it by emailing us at tips@directappealpodcast.com or leaving a voicemail at (732) 510-0996. If you have a question to ask Melanie, be sure to submit it to us by 7/31/19 and we may select it for a future episode.

For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep10

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga
Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman

Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0

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Garbage Science Jun 20, 2019

Show notes

09: The State’s witness testifies that there is forensic evidence linking Melanie to trash bags found with the body. However the defense gets lucky and happens across their own expert with a different opinion about what the evidence shows.

Credits

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga
Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman, Frank Ruiz and Sally Ginter
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unfaithfulwife.net Jun 12, 2019

Show notes

08: The prosecution says that Melanie drove Bill’s body to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Virginia, where she disposed of his remains but Melanie says she was in Delaware furniture shopping. Does Melanie have an alibi witness to support her claim and if so, why didn’t this witness testify? Also, the prosecution introduces damning Internet searches made on the McGuire’s home computer, but was it Melanie who made these searches or someone else?

For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep08

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by: James Varga* Written by: Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman , Jesse Lindmar
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mickey Finn Jun 05, 2019

Show notes

07: The prosecution introduces the sedative, chloral hydrate, found in Bill’s car. To fit their timeline, the Prosecution suggests Melanie kept Bill drugged for days before he was shot, but is there a less sinister explanation?

Also, Melanie’s friends are pressured to betray her. Who will stay loyal?

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by: James Varga
Written by: Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media* Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman
Producer-At-Large, Adam Curry
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Opening Arguments May 29, 2019

Show notes

06: The trial against Melanie McGuire begins on March 5, 2007, live on Court TV, and Melanie finds herself in the middle of a media circus. Lead prosecutor, Patricia Prezioso, makes a forceful opening argument but will her first witnesses help her case or hurt it? The prosecution also claims that the firearm Melanie purchased two days before Bill disappeared was the murder weapon but what does our expert have to say?

For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep06

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga
Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0
Guest Experts: Stephen Batzer – http://www.batzerengineering.com

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Human Sawdust May 22, 2019

Show notes

05: While Melanie tries to plan Bill’s funeral and move on with her life, the Police begin their Investigation. Eventually, Melanie is indicted. Her bail was eventually raised to $2 million dollars. The search for a defense team begins, and after several trial-and-errors with attorneys, Melanie eventually believes she hit the jackpot. As Melanie and her lawyers prepare for Trial, the prosecution makes a shocking announcement.

For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep05

Credits

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga* Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Nick Bassett of Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life After Bill May 17, 2019

Show notes

04: Melanie claims that on the evening of the closing, she and Bill had a big fight that lasted into the early morning of April 29th, and concluded with Bill walking out on her. Melanie’s moves over the next few days would cast doubt on her story though. The prosecution says Melanie was establishing a cover story. Whose version of events is more believable?

For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep04

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg.
Produced by James Varga.
Written by Meghan Sacks.
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios.
Music and underscore by Nick Bassett of Dessert Media.
Legal Counsel provided by Barry Janay.
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman.
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Closing May 07, 2019

Show notes

03: Bill and Melanie manage to piece together their relationship after dealing with tumultuous times. They forge ahead with their dreams of owning a home in the suburbs of New Jersey even though their relationship is not entirely a happy one. They find a home and close on it April 28th, 2004, but Bill McGuire is never seen again after the closing. Was this a happy occasion for the couple or part of Melanie’s plan to kill her husband?

For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep03

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga* Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Nick Bassett of Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Perfect Marriage May 07, 2019

Show notes

02: Bill and Melanie each end their other relationships and begin a life together. However, this may not be storybook ending they had hoped for. Their marriage is a volatile relationship, filled with infidelity, lies and acts that would results in criminal convictions for both. Melanie describes the ups and downs, and details the fight where she said she should have left.

Credits:

Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg.
Produced by James Varga.
Written by Meghan Sacks.
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios.
Music and underscore by Nick Bassett of Dessert Media.
Legal Counsel provided by Barry Janay.
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman.
Producer-At-Large, Adam Curry
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0

For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep02

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Fixer May 07, 2019

Show notes

01: Three suitcases, containing human remains, surfaced in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay in May 2004. Police identified the man in the suitcases as 39-year-old William McGuire, from Woodbridge New Jersey, and they quickly focused their attention on Bill’s wife, Melanie McGuire, who did not report him missing. Convicted three years later of murdering and dismembering her husband, Melanie McGuire has been in prison since then but did the state get it right? Is Melanie McGuire the femme fatale that the prosecution painted her to be or is she an entirely different person, prosecuted and convicted because she was the most obvious suspect in this crime? In episode 1, meet Melanie McGuire.