True Crime Broads

Renae is hosting a local event to discuss Missy’s case! If you’re close to Ellis County and want to hang out with some nice ladies and chat about the case, please be there! 💜

May Dr. Lee rest in eternal peace. 🙏🏽

Renowned Forensic Expert Henry C. Lee Issues Deathbed Admission in High-Profile Cases

Dr. Henry C. Lee, a prominent forensic scientist known for his involvement in several of the most closely watched criminal trials in recent American history, made a significant confession shortly before his death at age 87 on Friday. Lee, who gained widespread acclaim in the 1990s for his expertise in blood spatter analysis and crime scene reconstruction, had faced mounting scrutiny in recent years over allegations of evidence mishandling and improper testimony.
Lee played a central role in the 1994 double-murder trial of O.J. Simpson.

Testifying for the defense, he reported discovering previously overlooked bloody footprints at the crime scene and suggested that Simpson was being framed in the killings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. An FBI analyst later attributed the marks to impressions left by construction workers during the pouring of concrete at the site. Simpson was ultimately acquitted.

In the unsolved 1996 murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey in Boulder, Colorado, Lee was among the early experts to examine the scene. He concluded that the ransom note left at the residence appeared to be staged, an assessment that has since gained support from various investigators, though the case remains open.

During music producer Phil Spector’s 2003 trial for the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson at his California home, Lee provided testimony supporting the defense’s theory of su***de.

He faced accusations of removing a fingernail from the crime scene evidence—an allegation he firmly denied. Spector was convicted of second-degree murder.
More recently, Lee’s credibility faced substantial challenge following the 2025 exoneration of Shawn Henning and Ricky Birch. The two men had served nearly 30 years in prison for a 1985 Connecticut murder conviction that relied heavily on Lee’s testimony. He had asserted that a red smear on a towel recovered from the scene tested positive for blood. Subsequent independent testing revealed no blood was present and that the item had never been properly examined beforehand.

Forensic scientist and criminologist Brent Turvey, who studied under Lee and later contributed to the exoneration effort, described the intense pressure of Lee’s celebrity status. “He got famous for getting results that no one else could,” Turvey told reporters. “The problem is the pressure and celebrity of doing a great job and living up to the myth of the forensics of Henry Lee.” Turvey suggested that this dynamic may have led Lee to provide conclusions without sufficient verification in certain instances.

Investigative reporting has identified at least six additional cases in which Lee’s forensic contributions allegedly contributed to wrongful convictions. In his final interview, conducted with a documentary team shortly before his passing, Lee reportedly offered his perspective on these matters and attempted to contextualize his career decisions. According to sources familiar with the discussion, he stated, “Logic is the bottom line for law enforcement. But I only did one thing in my life. It’s to make the impossible be possible.”

Lee had previously defended his record publicly, noting in response to the Connecticut case that in over 57 years and 8,000 investigations, he had never before faced accusations of misconduct. Turvey recalled a commencement address by Lee at the University of New Haven in which the expert warned, “It takes 25 years to build a good name and 25 seconds to destroy it,” while criticizing fraud and negligence—remarks that now carry added weight in light of the recent revelations.

Lee’s passing and final statements have prompted renewed examination of his extensive body of work and its lasting impact on the criminal justice system.

Claire St. Amant invited Renae and Crystal to be her guests on her Texas Juatice Tour stop in Midlothian, Texas! The Broads were thrilled to discuss the Missy Bevers case with Claire at a local independent bookstore in front of a live audience.

Huge thank you to Claire for allowing us to publish this show on TCB!

Here are the links to Claire’s book and podcast - both are a don’t-miss!
https://a.co/d/07wq5goh
https://open.spotify.com/show/5MiFncSFTb5bdxTQh7QqJ5?
si=a5a8e2625af24f8a

District Attorney Jeff Laugero announced that twenty-three years after Scott Peterson murdered his pregnant wife Laci and their unborn son Conner, a San Mateo County Superior Court judge has delivered a resounding answer to Peterson’s latest bid for freedom. On April 27, 2026, the Honorable Elizabeth M. Hill in a clear and decisive 116-page ruling denied Peterson’s Third Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in its entirety, rejecting every single one of his 14 claims. Following the denial, Peterson withdrew his Third Motion for Post-Conviction Discovery before the scheduled May 6 hearing. The prosecution team was fully prepared to challenge both the motion and the constitutionality of the recently amended post-conviction discovery statute had it proceeded to hearing.

“As a prosecutor, conviction integrity is critical to me,” said Jeff Laugero, Stanislaus County District Attorney, “and the appellate process is crucial to the integrity of the criminal justice system. Here, once again, the process worked. Judge Hill recognized the most recent attempt to undo the jury’s verdict for what it was – nothing more than recycled, repackaged and rebranded arguments. No credible “new evidence” was presented, and I found the real bombshell to be the unsealing of a transcript that contradicted the claims Peterson has made for years attempting to discredit law enforcement, the investigation and the prosecution. Peterson’s 2004 conviction has been upheld through two decades of post-conviction litigation and again with this ruling in 2026. Laci, Conner and their family deserve the finality that justice promised them."

Peterson’s Third Petition, filed in August 2025, asserted 14 claims, including a claim of actual innocence, recycling arguments that courts have rejected at every level since his conviction in 2004. For years, repeated motions and writs have required the commitment of experienced prosecutors and staff to evaluate, investigate and respond. The prosecution team has responded to each defense pleading with meticulous precision, culminating in a 903-page Informal Response that dismantled Peterson’s claims one by one with the facts, evidence and legal analysis. “The prosecution team has been exceptional in their professionalism, thoroughness, and integrity throughout this process,” said DA Laugero. “Their analysis reaffirmed the jury’s verdict was correct, as did Judge Hill’s rulings.”

Deputy District Attorney Ahnna Reicks, a member of the prosecution team stated, “Judge Hill’s rulings demonstrate that the court carefully and thoughtfully evaluated all of Peterson’s allegations and compared that against the entire trial record, appeal, and earlier petition. We know this undertaking was not easy because the record and filings in this case are extensive. The court arrived at an appropriate and correct decision. It is our hope that the family and friends of Laci and Conner will finally receive the closure they deserve. The entire prosecution team would also like to express our appreciation to District Attorney Jeff Laugero for his foresight in establishing and supporting this team and his consistent, unwavering support. We are also grateful to the Modesto Police Department and the California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Science for their continued assistance throughout this very lengthy process.”

After Two Decades, a Family's Right to Closure Moves Closer

For over two decades, Laci and Conner’s family has been forced to relive their grief each time Peterson submits new filings. Laci’s mother, Sharon Rocha, has sat through years of post-conviction hearings. Two years ago, she addressed the court through a letter and asked simply: “When will this end?” California’s Constitution, through Marsy’s Law, Article I, §28(b)(9), guarantees crime victims’ families the right to “a prompt and final conclusion of the case.” That promise moves meaningfully closer to fulfillment today.

One Pending Matter

One matter remains pending before the California Supreme Court: Peterson’s appeal of a 2025 ruling on his second habeas petition concerning the Juror 7 bias claim. His current defense team has vowed to challenge Judge Hill’s April 27 ruling as well.

For a detailed summary of the most recent denial, see the District Attorney’s formal Press Release dated May 12, 2026, available at: https://www.stanislaus-da.org/pdf/news/2026/press-release-05-12-2026-SPeterson.pdf.

Please help us welcome Todd Pennington to True Crime Broads 🎙️!

Todd Pennington is an attorney, and an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. He served in the Air Force for 25 years as a military lawyer; for about 17 of those years he was responsible for prosecuting or overseeing the prosecution of courts-martial. He’s a member of the TCB Missy Bevers Case Discussion Group on Facebook, and that’s how we met!

Stay turned as we talk with Todd about the Missy Bevers murder case.

With much sadness, we share that Bob Nuelle, Liz Barraza’s loving father, passed away.

Much love to the Nuelle family, as they navigate another huge loss.

Austin plans $35 million settlement for men accused in yogurt shop murders Austin has reached a tentative deal to pay $35M to the men wrongly accused in the case. If approved, the settlement would mark the largest payout in city history.

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/convicted-killer-betty-broderick-former-san-diego-socialite-dead/4021437/

Betty Broderick, convicted killer and former San Diego socialite, dead at 78 Former La Jolla socialite Elizabeth “Betty” Broderick, one of San Diego’s most infamous killers, died early Friday morning while serving a life sentence for killing her ex-husband Daniel Broderick and his new bride. She was 78.