Wrong Ride Home by: Donna Waters

This is where the case starts to take direction.

A timeline is given.
A name is introduced.
And from that point on… everything begins to narrow.

But when you actually listen to the interview—and slow it down—there are things that don’t quite line up.

Details that weren’t followed up.
Questions that weren’t asked.

This episode isn’t about conclusions.

It’s about the moment the investigation stopped expanding… and started focusing.

Episode 4 is live.

Chapter Three: In Pursuit of a Warrant Wrong Ride Home: Beyond the Book · Episode

The first 48 hours are supposed to matter most.

In this case…

they may have defined everything.

An abandoned car.
A missing person report.
Conflicting stories.
And decisions that started shaping the case before the full picture was ever understood.

This episode walks through those first critical hours—
what was followed,
what wasn’t,
and how quickly a direction was set.

Because sometimes…

it’s not what’s found that changes a case.

It’s what’s overlooked.

Episode 3: The First 48 Hours is live now.

Chapter Two: The First 48 Hours Wrong Ride Home: Beyond the Book · Episode

There is a new podcast based on the book. Please check it out!!!


https://open.spotify.com/episode/4RwEiGf8P2l8HSN6RMcClL?si=Zwj6Y3w-SwCBv5lEjJTXUw&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A5BRAAZhTBqqocvW3eXonaM

Finding Our Voices Together Wrong Ride Home: Beyond the Book · Episode

New episode!
In 2017, a social media firestorm in Trumbull County, Ohio, turned 18-year-old Austin Burke into the prime suspect in the disappearance and murder of 22-year-old Brandon Sample. What followed was a whirlwind investigation that culminated in a five-day trial where Austin was convicted of both murder and an unrelated pizza shop robbery—despite significant questions surrounding the physical evidence.

In this episode, we sit down with Austin’s mother, Jamie Sell, and author Donna Waters (Wrong Ride Home ) to dissect a case they argue is a textbook example of a wrongful conviction. We explore the glaring inconsistencies in the prosecution's narrative, including a robbery suspect description that didn't match Austin, a lack of DNA linking him to the crimes, and a timeline that Jamie says she can personally debunk.

Wrong Ride Home by Donna Waters is a complex investigation. It takes the reader through the investigation, trial, and where Austin's fight is today. Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Ride-Home-Donna-Waters/dp/B0DZT62SW6

For more information on Austin's case, visit https://trumbullcountyiscorrupt.com/.

--

For early, ad free episodes and monthly exclusive bonus content, join our Patreon !



Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Austin is doing well, all things considered. We are still working to spread the truth and to get the story out there. We hope that more people come forward with what actually happened that night. Please spread the word, order a book, engage and ask questions. Every little bit helps! Merry Christmas!!!

📚 Happy Book Lovers Day! 📚
Today, we celebrate the stories that keep us turning pages long past bedtime…

Wrong Ride Home
✍️ By Donna Waters

🚗 One man murdered.
🔒 One man incarcerated.
📍 One town torn apart: Warren, Ohio.

This is not fiction.
This is a chilling true story of a ride that changed everything — a deep dive into injustice, doubt, and the haunting aftermath of one decision.

If you love jaw-dropping twists, heart-pounding suspense, and characters who don’t play by the rules—this is your next obsession.

🔍 What happens when your ride home takes a dark turn?
Find out in Wrong Ride Home — the thriller everyone’s talking about.

📖 Grab your copy today and lose yourself in the danger.

Wrong Ride Home Warren, OH, June 12, 2017. Brandon Sample has been reported as missing. Austin Burke was said to be the last person to see him alive. After Brandon’s body is found in Trumbull County, OH, a manhunt begins. Unbeknownst to Austin Burke, his so-called “friends” are cooperating with the police and...

😂😂 "Someone close" to Rickey said forget the book, they're making a whole movie called "I Survived Rickey Roupe" 😭😭

I'm curious what the plot of that movie would even look like...

But since there is no movie...
📖 Read the book: Wrong Ride Home
It’s raw, real, and hits harder than any movie ever could.


Get your copy: https://rb.gy/p8ewkt

I thought I would share a note that Rickey Roupe sent to me one night - not too long after the trial, and after some people had come forward to tell us that he was going around bragging about how he helped kill Brandon Sample, and framed Austin.