Ep 144: Home Invasion or Murder From The Inside? (Sandra Melgar)

NOTE: This will be a four-part series. There was way too much testimony that I was unable to cut out. Sorry for any inconvenience to those hoping I could do it in three episodes.After Boston police officer John O’Keefe was found dead on a front lawn in January 2022, his girlfriend, Karen Read, was arrested. At her 2024 trial, prosecutors accused Karen of hitting John with her car and then leaving him to die in the cold. The defense, however, told the jury that Karen was framed and that there was a massive cover-up.Please subscribe to our other podcast, CIVIL, which covers civil cases and trials. Listen to the trailer here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/civil/id1634071998 Sponsors in this episode:Lume - Use code “Court” for 15% off your first purchase at LumeDeodorant.com. Mint Mobile - Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at MINTMOBILE.com/COURT.Progressive Insurance - Visit Progressive.com to get a quote with all the coverages you want, so you can easily compare and choose. Pluto TV - Download the free Pluto TV app for Android, iPhone, Roku, and Fire TV and start streaming now.Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co provides post-production for the show.Please support Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes.Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkieSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

29 Apr 1h 45min

After Boston police officer John O’Keefe was found dead on a front lawn in January 2022, his girlfriend, Karen Read, was arrested. At her 2024 trial, prosecutors accused Karen of hitting John with her car and then leaving him to die in the cold. The defense, however, told the jury that Karen was framed and that there was a massive coverup. Please subscribe to our other podcast, CIVIL, which covers civil cases and trials. Listen to the trailer here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/civil/id1634071998Sponsors in this episode:Fast Growing Trees.- Go to fastgrowingtrees.com/courtjunkie and get 15% off your first purchase. Quince - Go to Quince.com/Court for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Progressive Insurance - Visit Progressive.com to get a quote with all the coverages you want, so you can easily compare and choose. Hero Bread - Go to hero.co and use code COURT at checkout for 10% off your orderJon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co provides post-production for the show.Please support Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes.Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkieSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15 Apr 1h 35min

After Boston police officer John O’Keefe was found dead on a front lawn in January 2022, his girlfriend, Karen Read, was arrested. At her 2024 trial, prosecutors accused Karen of hitting John with her car and then leaving him to die in the cold. The defense, however, told the jury that Karen was framed and that there was a massive coverup. Please subscribe to our other podcast, CIVIL, which covers civil cases and trials. Listen to the trailer here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/civil/id1634071998 Sponsors in this episode:Fast Growing Trees.- Go to fastgrowingtrees.com/courtjunkie and get 15% off your first purchase. Quince - Go to Quince.com/Court for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Progressive Insurance - Visit Progressive.com to get a quote with all the coverages you want, so you can easily compare and choose. PlutoTV - Download the free PlutoTV app for Android, iPhone, Roku, and Fire TV and start streaming now.Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co provides post-production for the show.Please support Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes.Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkieSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1 Apr 1h 39min

The prosecution and the defense in this case both agreed on one thing - Ashley Benefield shot and killed her estranged husband, 54-year-old Doug Benefield. But would the jury believe she was justified?Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co. provides post-Production for the show This episode was researched and written by Gabrielle Russon. Please subscribe to our other podcast, CIVIL, which covers civil cases and trials. Listen to the trailer here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/civil/id1634071998 Sponsors in this episode:Fast Growing Trees.- Go to fastgrowingtrees.com/courtjunkie and get 15% off your first purchase. Lume - New customers get 15% off ALL Lume products - go to LumeDeodorant.com and use code COURT.Quince - Go to Quince.com/Court for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Progressive Insurance - Visit Progressive.com to get a quote with all the coverages you want, so you can easily compare and choose. Please support Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes.Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkieSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 Mars 1h 21min

A$AP Rocky, an American rapper and songwriter, went on trial in February 2025. He was facing two felony gun charges following an incident with a former friend in November 2021.  Please subscribe to our other podcast, CIVIL, which covers civil cases and trials. Listen to the trailer here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/civil/id1634071998 Sponsors in this episode: AquaTru - Get 20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use code COURT. Boll & Branch - Get 15% off, plus free shipping ot Bollandbranch.com/COURT Progressive Insurance - Visit Progressive.com to get a quote with all the coverages you want, so you can easily compare and choose.  Pluto TV - Download the free Pluto TV app for Android, iPhone, Roku, and Fire TV and start streaming now. Post-Production for the show is provided by Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6 Mars 1h 23min

A tragic death in Cherokee County, Georgia, tears an entire family apart. After one family member goes on trial for murder, the others are left to testify about what they know.  Please subscribe to our other podcast, CIVIL, which covers civil cases and trials. Listen to the trailer here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/civil/id1634071998 Sponsors in this episode: Boll & Branch - Get 15% off, plus free shipping ot Bollandbranch.com/COURT. Hungryroot - For a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/courtjunkie and use code courtjunkie. Quince - Go to Quince.com/Court for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co. provides post-Production for the show. Gabrielle Russon researched and wrote this episode. Follow Gabrielle on Twitter @gabriellerusson. Please support Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkieSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 Feb 1h 35min

When an 11-year-old girl goes missing in Constantine, Michigan in 2007, a huge search makes national news. Her body is found abandoned in a cemetery, and investigators begin the search for her killer.  Thank you to Ray McCann for speaking to us about this case, as well as former St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough, journalist Ken Kolker, and David Moran, co-founder of the Michigan Innocence Clinic. Please subscribe to our other podcast, CIVIL, which covers civil cases and trials. Listen to the trailer here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/civil/id1634071998 Sponsors in this episode: AquaTru - Get 20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use code COURT. Boll & Branch - Get 15% off, plus free shipping ot Bollandbranch.com/COURT. Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co. provides post-Production for the show. This episode was researched and written by Gabrielle Russon. Please support Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkieSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

4 Feb 59min

When an 11-year-old girl goes missing in Constantine, Michigan in 2007, a huge search makes national news. Her body is found abandoned in a cemetery, and investigators begin the search for her killer.  Thank you to Ray McCann for speaking to us about this case, as well as former St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough, journalist Ken Kolker, and David Moran, co-founder of the Michigan Innocence Clinic. Please subscribe to our other podcast, CIVIL, which covers civil cases and trials. Listen to the trailer here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/civil/id1634071998 Sponsors in this episode: AquaTru - Get 20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use code COURT. Boll & Branch - Get 15% off, plus free shipping ot Bollandbranch.com/COURT. Progressive Insurance - Visit Progressive.com to get a quote with all the coverages you want, so you can easily compare and choose.  Quince - Go to Quince.com/Court for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co. provides post-Production for the show. This episode was researched and written by Gabrielle Russon. Please support Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkieSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28 Jan 54min