Why Did the FBI Get Involved in a Cruise Ship Death? The Anna Kepner Case

Alex Murdaugh’s murder conviction was supposed to be the end of the story — but now the outcome of his trial is under review at the South Carolina Supreme Court, and the spotlight isn’t just on the evidence… it’s on the courthouse itself. In today’s Hidden Killers episode, Tony Brueski and former prosecutor/defense attorney Eric Faddis tackle the most explosive element of the appeal: allegations that Clerk of Court Becky Hill may have influenced the jury, urged a quick verdict, commented on Murdaugh’s body language, and then wrote a book she financially benefited from. One juror claims Hill whispered, “Watch him… don’t be fooled.” The state says it doesn’t matter. The defense says it absolutely does. Tony and Eric take listeners inside the legal and psychological weight of jury influence: What happens when a court official speaks to a juror about the defendant? Can a juror truly “un-hear” a remark from someone in authority? And how should the justices interpret Hill’s later criminal charges — irrelevant noise, or evidence of a compromised system? The episode also digs into the evidence battle the appeal now centers on. Was this a murder trial supported by overwhelming proof — or a character trial overloaded with financial-crime testimony unrelated to the shootings? Were missing DNA tests, uncollected fingerprints, and absent gunshot residue analysis harmless mistakes… or constitutional failures? And when the public already picked a side long before the verdict, how much pressure do the justices feel to either protect the system’s credibility or correct its mistakes? This appeal isn’t just about Alex Murdaugh’s freedom. It’s about whether the justice system can still be trusted to police itself — or whether the courtroom became a stage where fairness took a back seat to outcome. #AlexMurdaugh #BeckyHill #TrueCrimePodcast #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #MurdaughAppeal #JusticeSystem #CourtIntegrity #EricFaddis #CrimeDiscussion Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

14 Nov 27min

It’s been nearly three years since Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul, a verdict that felt like the final chapter in a Southern empire built on generational power, corruption, and deceit. But now the case is back in the spotlight — because three final filings have landed in front of the South Carolina Supreme Court, and they paint two completely different realities about what happened inside that courtroom. In this episode of Hidden Killers, Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and former prosecutor/defense attorney Eric Faddis dissect why this appeal matters far beyond whether Murdaugh pulled the trigger. The state insists the verdict is bulletproof: the kennel video placed him at the scene, his lies destroyed his credibility, and the motive was clear. Meanwhile, the defense argues the entire process was contaminated before it even began — with Clerk of Court Becky Hill allegedly influencing jurors, commenting on Murdaugh’s demeanor, and later writing a book she financially benefited from. Add in untested DNA, missing gunshot residue analysis, and expert-pressure allegations, and the trial starts to look less like justice and more like a perfect storm of misconduct. Tony and Eric break down the real questions the Supreme Court must answer: Was the trial fair? Did the clerk’s alleged comments prejudice the jury? Can a verdict stand if the process underneath it cracks? And what does it mean for public trust if a clerk who handled the jury is now facing her own criminal charges? From how jurors absorb financial-crime testimony, to whether “harmless error” can excuse missing forensic testing, to the psychology of high-profile verdicts and the pressure on courts to protect their own institutions — this episode asks whether justice was served, or simply performed. If the Court upholds the conviction, the case is over… until it isn’t. If they grant a new trial, the system itself becomes the story. What do you think? Did the evidence overpower the errors — or did the errors overpower the verdict? #AlexMurdaugh #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrime #MurdaughAppeal #BeckyHill #CourtSystem #EricFaddis #LegalAnalysis #JusticeDebate Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

14 Nov 24min

The Murdaugh story isn’t over. Not even close. Three final filings now sit before the South Carolina Supreme Court, and each tells a completely different story about justice. On one side, prosecutors insist Alex Murdaugh’s guilt was “obvious,” pointing to the kennel-video timeline, his own lies, and what they call an avalanche of proof. On the other, Murdaugh’s defense claims his 2023 double-murder trial was corrupted from within—tainted by a courthouse clerk who allegedly coached jurors, buried forensic failures, and let weeks of unrelated financial crimes turn into character assassination. In this in-depth Hidden Killers breakdown, Tony Brueski digs into the final battle lines: – How a single juror’s affidavit about Becky Hill’s alleged influence could rewrite one of the nation’s most famous verdicts. – Why the defense argues South Carolina’s justice system “bent the rules” to deliver a result the public demanded. – How the state counters that the evidence was overwhelming and that any missteps were harmless. – What happens next if the Supreme Court agrees—or refuses—to reopen the case. This isn’t just a fight over one man’s fate; it’s a test of whether South Carolina’s courts can admit their own cracks without collapsing. You can think Alex Murdaugh is guilty and still wonder if the system went too far to make sure the story ended neatly. Join us as we unpack the final chapter—unless, of course, it’s just the beginning. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #AlexMurdaugh #MurdaughAppeal #BeckyHill #TrueCrime #SouthCarolina #JusticeSystem #CourtroomDrama #MurdaughMurders Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

14 Nov 16min

The Alex Murdaugh case has reached its most critical moment yet: the South Carolina Supreme Court is now reviewing the final filings in his appeal, and both sides are delivering a completely opposite narrative of what happened in that courtroom. One side says the evidence was overwhelming. The other says the process was broken. The justices now have to decide which matters more. In this new Hidden Killers episode, Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and legal analyst Eric Faddis examine whether the verdict was powered by solid facts or by a trial that couldn’t withstand its own chaos. The prosecution argues everything lines up: Murdaugh’s voice on the kennel video, his shifting accounts, his financial world collapsing around him — all pointing toward guilt. The defense counters with accusations that the trial was tainted from the inside: Clerk of Court Becky Hill’s alleged comments to jurors, untested DNA, missing forensic work, and a flood of financial testimony they say “poisoned the pool” long before the jury deliberated. Tony and Eric explore what appellate courts really evaluate — not guilt or innocence, but integrity. Did the clerk’s alleged words create prejudice? Were the financial crimes allowed to overwhelm the murder evidence? When does “harmless error” become harmful? And how much does media pressure play into what judges are willing to overturn? Beyond Murdaugh, the episode asks a larger question: What happens when a justice system has to evaluate itself? If the verdict stands, does that restore confidence — or just protect an institution’s reputation? And if a new trial is ordered, does the public view it as fairness or failure? This appeal will define not just Alex Murdaugh’s future, but how the public sees the courts moving forward. #HiddenKillers #AlexMurdaugh #TrueCrime #LegalBreakdown #TonyBrueski #MurdaughCase #SupremeCourtReview #EricFaddis #JusticeDebate #CourtAppeal Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

14 Nov 51min

This episode features unedited courtroom audio from the Dima Tower double-murder trial in North Port, Florida — the case that’s come to be known as “The Evil Orphan.” Prosecutors say 21-year-old Dima Tower, adopted from Ukraine at age 14 by Jennifer and Robbie Tower, brutally murdered his adoptive parents inside their home before fleeing and leading police on a high-speed chase. The defense claims years of trauma and emotional disturbance shaped what happened that night. In this ongoing Hidden Killers courtroom-coverage series, we present the raw sounds of justice — no commentary, no edits — just the voices of attorneys, witnesses, and the judge as the case unfolds in real time. Each installment captures a different moment of the proceedings: opening statements, witness testimony, cross-examinations, and rulings that will decide whether Tower spends the rest of his life behind bars. For full analysis, breakdowns, and expert commentary from former FBI agents, prosecutors, and psychotherapists, follow our companion podcast Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski. ⚖️ Disclaimer: All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #EvilOrphan #DimaTower #TrueCrime #FloridaCrime #NorthPort #CourtroomAudio #DoubleMurder #TrialCoverage #CriminalJustice Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

14 Nov 1h 3min

This episode features unedited courtroom audio from the Dima Tower double-murder trial in North Port, Florida — the case that’s come to be known as “The Evil Orphan.” Prosecutors say 21-year-old Dima Tower, adopted from Ukraine at age 14 by Jennifer and Robbie Tower, brutally murdered his adoptive parents inside their home before fleeing and leading police on a high-speed chase. The defense claims years of trauma and emotional disturbance shaped what happened that night. In this ongoing Hidden Killers courtroom-coverage series, we present the raw sounds of justice — no commentary, no edits — just the voices of attorneys, witnesses, and the judge as the case unfolds in real time. Each installment captures a different moment of the proceedings: opening statements, witness testimony, cross-examinations, and rulings that will decide whether Tower spends the rest of his life behind bars. For full analysis, breakdowns, and expert commentary from former FBI agents, prosecutors, and psychotherapists, follow our companion podcast Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski. ⚖️ Disclaimer: All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #EvilOrphan #DimaTower #TrueCrime #FloridaCrime #NorthPort #CourtroomAudio #DoubleMurder #TrialCoverage #CriminalJustice Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

14 Nov 1h 1min

This episode features unedited courtroom audio from the Dima Tower double-murder trial in North Port, Florida — the case that’s come to be known as “The Evil Orphan.” Prosecutors say 21-year-old Dima Tower, adopted from Ukraine at age 14 by Jennifer and Robbie Tower, brutally murdered his adoptive parents inside their home before fleeing and leading police on a high-speed chase. The defense claims years of trauma and emotional disturbance shaped what happened that night. In this ongoing Hidden Killers courtroom-coverage series, we present the raw sounds of justice — no commentary, no edits — just the voices of attorneys, witnesses, and the judge as the case unfolds in real time. Each installment captures a different moment of the proceedings: opening statements, witness testimony, cross-examinations, and rulings that will decide whether Tower spends the rest of his life behind bars. For full analysis, breakdowns, and expert commentary from former FBI agents, prosecutors, and psychotherapists, follow our companion podcast Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski. ⚖️ Disclaimer: All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #EvilOrphan #DimaTower #TrueCrime #FloridaCrime #NorthPort #CourtroomAudio #DoubleMurder #TrialCoverage #CriminalJustice Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

14 Nov 1h 12min