Did a Clerk Compromise the Verdict? The Murdaugh Appeal Blowback

The grand jury has spoken — Austin Robert Drummond now faces four counts of first-degree murder and a possible death sentence for one of the most disturbing cases to hit Tennessee in years. Prosecutors say Drummond executed four members of the same family — James “Matthew” Wilson, Adrianna Williams, Braydon Williams, and Cortney Rose — before driving forty miles away and abandoning the couple’s seven-month-old baby in a stranger’s yard. Drummond insists he’s innocent. In his version, he’s not a killer — he’s a federal informant, betrayed by corrupt officials after his “cover” was blown. Investigators call that pure fiction. Cellphone records, vehicle data, and witness statements all tie Drummond to the wooded area where the victims’ bodies were found, hidden under camouflage tarps. And yet, his story keeps evolving — half spy thriller, half desperate self-defense. In this episode of Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski, we dig deep into the psychology behind Drummond’s claims. Is this a case of severe mental illness or cold-blooded manipulation? How do courts decide when someone’s delusion is real versus rehearsed? And what does Drummond’s long criminal history — armed robbery at 17, prison gang ties, and multiple disciplinary infractions — really tell us about who he is now? Tony examines the latest legal developments, the state’s decision to seek the death penalty, and the disturbing possibility that the system saw this coming. Warnings about Drummond’s violence were documented as early as 2020 — yet he was still released less than a year before the murders. Four people dead. One child left behind. And a man who still claims he’s the hero of his own story. Is this psychosis or performance? Truth or survival instinct? You decide. Watch now and join the conversation in the comments: What do you think — is Austin Drummond insane, or just evil enough to pretend? #HiddenKillers #AustinDrummond #TrueCrime #TonyBrueski #TennesseeMurder #DeathPenalty #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologicalAnalysis #CrimeNews #CriminalMind 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 13min

An 18-year-old high-school senior, Anna Kepner, boarded the Carnival Horizon in early November 2025 for what was supposed to be a weeklong Caribbean getaway. Within days, she was found dead onboard. The ship returned to Port Miami, and waiting at the pier were agents from the FBI. In this episode of Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski, we break down the facts only — no speculation, no rumors. What do we actually know about what happened aboard the Carnival Horizon? Why does the FBI take the lead when a death occurs on the open sea? And how common are fatalities aboard cruise ships that carry millions of passengers every year? Tony unpacks the confirmed timeline: when Anna was found, when the ship returned, and how federal jurisdiction under Title 18 U.S. Code § 7 gives the FBI authority over deaths that happen in U.S. maritime territory. We also look at the bigger picture — how cruise lines handle onboard deaths, what the statistics show, and why so few details ever reach the public. This is not about gossip — it’s about transparency, procedure, and accountability when tragedy strikes far from shore. A promising life ended in silence. The investigation continues. And we ask the question every parent and passenger deserves answered: How does someone die at sea — and why don’t we hear the truth sooner? Stay tuned for updates as the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner and FBI release their findings. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #AnnaKepner #CarnivalHorizon #FBIInvestigation #CruiseShipDeath #TrueCrimePodcast #MaritimeLaw #FBI #CarnivalCruise #HiddenKillersPodcast 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 12min

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