It turns out, back in 1998, just days after the crime, the NYPD had a main suspect for the murder of Al Ward: a man named Mustafa. Dan tries to find out more about Mustafa and understand why this lead was dropped after JJ’s name entered the case. He also learns that JJ’s legal team had a court-assigned private investigator. Dan tracks down that private investigator, and discovers that he hardly looked into JJ’s case. He didn’t know about Mustafa and he never interviewed the eyewitnesses to the m...
Aug 29, 2024•40 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast JJ Velazquez claimed he had an alibi: a 74-minute phone call on a landline with his mother, Maria Velazquez, that overlapped with the time of the crime. So Dan visits Maria. She lives in a town in New York on the Hudson River directly across from Sing Sing, the maximum security prison where her son is incarcerated. Maria talks to Dan about JJ’s childhood. And she recounts in detail her memory of January 27th, 1998, the day of Al Ward’s murder. Meanwhile, Dan is still familiarizing himself with J...
Aug 29, 2024•42 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In December of 2002, NBC News Producer Dan Slepian got a letter from a New York State maximum security prison. It was detailed and meticulous, almost like it had been written by a lawyer. It was from a man serving 25 years to life for murder. And it ended with a desperate plea: look into my case. In 1998, Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez was arrested for killing a retired New York City police officer. A year later, he was convicted of second degree murder. But he insisted he didn’t do it. Dan was skept...
Aug 29, 2024•33 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Mankiewicz and Dan Slepian discuss the issues of wrongful convictions in front of a live audience at the CrimeCon conference in New Orleans. This episode was originally published on September 2, 2019.
Aug 23, 2024•23 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast It’s been more than 20 years since Richard Rosario was convicted of a murder he says he could not possibly have committed. If he didn’t do it, who did? And what’s next for Rosario and his family? This is the final episode of Dan Slepian’s 3-year investigation. This episode was originally published on May 16, 2019.
Aug 23, 2024•9 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Suddenly, a change that could breathe new life into Richard Rosario’s bid for freedom. Dan Slepian speaks to the woman who could make all the difference. This episode was originally published on May 16, 2019
Aug 23, 2024•16 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast After two decades with their father behind bars, Richard Rosario’s family has new hope that he may be set free. After an emotional prison visit, a court is about to decide if it is time for this family to be finally reunited. This episode was originally published on May 16, 2019.
Aug 23, 2024•12 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Talking to a murder victim’s family is a tough thing to do, but Dan Slepian needs to find out more information about Jorge Collazo in his search for the truth. Collazo’s sister tells Dan she’ll never forget the day her little brother was killed. And, she reveals a surprise about what happened just two weeks before the murder – a lead that could have been critical. This episode was originally published on May 16, 2019.
Aug 23, 2024•18 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Did anyone fully investigate Richard Rosario’s alibi? Dan Slepian tracks down detectives, lawyers and an eyewitness to the murder – and gets some shocking answers to that question. This episode was originally published on May 16, 2019.
Aug 23, 2024•20 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast The murder case against Richard Rosario was based on two eyewitnesses. But Rosario claims there are more than a dozen people who can prove he was nowhere near the scene of the crime. Dan Slepian packs his bags and heads to Florida to speak with some of those alibi witnesses. Along the way, he also meets Rosario’s wife and two children. This episode was originally published on May 16, 2019.
Aug 23, 2024•16 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Is Richard Rosario an innocent man? Or is he a murderer? Dan Slepian begins his investigation at a prison in upstate New York, and at the scene of the crime in the Bronx. This episode was originally published on May 16, 2019.
Aug 23, 2024•15 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Women who’d been targeted by Kristi’s killer fight for justice, and one of them confronts him face-to-face. This episode was originally published on April 11, 2024.
May 29, 2024•38 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast A trial comes to a surprising conclusion. This episode was originally published on April 9, 2024.
May 29, 2024•39 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast After a tip line is established in Kristi’s case, calls come in from other women who describe terrifying encounters with a predator. This episode was originally published on April 4, 2024.
May 29, 2024•39 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Detectives interview a suspect even as they search for Kristi. This episode was originally published on April 2, 2024.
May 29, 2024•36 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Investigators search for a mystery man who promises young women fame and fortune. This episode was originally published on March 26, 2024.
May 29, 2024•30 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Kristi Johnson vanishes after heading into the Hollywood Hills for a photo shoot. This episode was originally published on March 26, 2024.
May 29, 2024•28 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast A verdict, a twist, and a pastor’s new calling. This episode was originally published on December 19, 2023.
Jan 31, 2024•23 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Prophecy and proof take center stage as a murder trial begins.... This episode was originally published on December 14, 2023.
Jan 31, 2024•28 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast A wife comes clean, a witness comes forward and new facts come out. This episode was originally published on December 12, 2023.
Jan 31, 2024•29 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Forbidden relationships cause regrets… and suspicions. This episode was originally published on December 5, 2023.
Jan 31, 2024•29 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast A fatal fire, a needy pastor, and a chilling premonition. This episode was originally published on December 5, 2023.
Jan 31, 2024•30 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Ebenezer Scrooge awakens in his home on Christmas morning to find he has a second chance. He joyfully makes amends with all those around him and even becomes a father figure to Tiny Tim. This episode was originally published on December 11, 2023.
Jan 26, 2024•18 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast The Ghost of Christmas Future reveals the appalling events that will happen if Scrooge doesn’t become a kinder man. Tiny Tim will die, and so will Scrooge, though no one will mourn him. Scrooge begs the Ghost for a chance to put things right. This episode was originally published on December 11, 2023
Jan 26, 2024•33 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast 
