I know a thing or two about true crime… I’ve been reporting on it for 36 years. This is the podcast where I take you on a journey through mystery and injustice… and dive deep into critical clues with an irreverent style that I don’t share on TV!
Join me for my personal take on many of these stories and my personal connection to several as well!
Karen Read Trial Day 16: The Autopsy, the Bruises, the Backlash
May 16, 2025
Show notes
Day 16 of the Karen Read trial zeroed in on the one question that could make or break this case: How did John O’Keefe die? The medical expert, Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, took the stand and walked the jury through the autopsy — from the bruises on his arms… to the injuries on his face… to the gash across his scalp. The only problem? Determining John O'Keefe's manner of death.
Cassie Under Fire: Diddy’s Defense Uses Her Own Words Against Her | United States vs. Sean Combs Day 4
May 16, 2025
Show notes
It's Day 4 of Diddy's Trial.... and Cassie Ventura’s cross-examination in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial took a sharp turn. The defense came out swinging, armed with a stack of Cassie’s old text messages, emails, and surveillance footage. And one by one, they used her own words against her. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the pivotal moments in the courtroom… how Cassie held up under pressure… and whether Diddy’s legal team managed to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of the jury.
Karen Read Trial Day 15: Another Evidence Nightmare?
May 15, 2025
Show notes
A forensic scientist took the stand to explain how glass, a hair, and bloody snow in a red Solo cup pointed to Karen Read’s guilt. But the second the defense got up? Things got messy. Fast. In this episode, Ashleigh Banfield walks you through Day 15 of Karen Read's trial.
Cassie Drops More Bombshells: ‘Hundreds of Freak-Offs,’ Coercion, and Hidden Sex Tapes | United States vs. Sean Combs Day 3
May 15, 2025
Show notes
Cassie Ventura took the stand for a third day, and what she told the jury left the entire courtroom reeling. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield walks you through every brutal detail of Cassie’s testimony, from surveillance video at the InterContinental Hotel… to the “freak-off” footage shown only to the jury. Cassie even testified that when Diddy found out she was dating rapper Kid Cudi, he said Kid Cudi’s car would be blown up. And that's EXACTLY what happened... Kid Cudi confirmed it to The New York Times.
Menendez Brothers: Why Their Family Still Fights for Their Freedom
May 14, 2025
Show notes
She’s one of the few family members who has stood by Erik and Lyle Menendez from the very beginning, and she’s never backed down. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield sits down with Anamaria Baralt, the Menendez brothers’ cousin, for an unflinching look at the abuse allegations, the trial that shocked America, and what comes next as the brothers fight for resentencing. Anamaria has spoken out before, but not like this. She opens up about the pressure, the backlash, and the toll it’s taken on her family. And with new legal momentum on the horizon, she’s more determined than ever to make sure the truth is heard.
The Menendez Brothers Could Walk Free!
May 14, 2025
Show notes
After 35 years behind bars, the Menendez brothers just got resentenced, and now, parole is officially on the table. In an emotional courtroom moment, Lyle and Erik Menendez admitted everything: the murders, the lies, the mockery of the justice system. In this episode, Ashleigh breaks it all down: the resentencing, the emotional witness stand moments, and what comes next for the infamous brothers who say they’ve changed.
Disturbing Details: Cassie Exposes Diddy's SICKENING Hotel Rituals | United States vs. Sean Combs Day 2
May 14, 2025
Show notes
It was day 2 in Diddy's federal trial, and Cassie Ventura took the stand... and what she described was unlike anything we’ve heard in court before. Inflatable baby oil pools. Hotel rooms drenched in wax, oil, and shame. Cassie says this was Sean “Diddy” Combs’ fantasy. In this episode, Ashleigh breaks down the graphic testimony — and what prosecutors say it proves.
“No Nudes So Far”: Police Texts and New Video Shake Up Karen Read Trial
May 13, 2025
Show notes
Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik returned for a third straight day of testimony in the Karen Read murder trial. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the most revealing moments from Day 14: a new surveillance video that appears to show former Trooper Michael Proctor walking directly toward Karen Read’s damaged taillight before evidence was recovered at the scene, and group texts where Proctor bragged, “No nudes so far,” while rifling through Read’s phone. PLUS, what the jury saw from Brian Higgins’ late-night visit to the Canton PD!
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