20 episodes
Direct Appeal Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
-
- True Crime
-
-
4.6 • 79 Ratings
-
For the last 13 years, Melanie McGuire has been serving a life sentence for the murder and dismemberment of her husband, whose body was found in three suitcases in the Chesapeake Bay. The State’s case was based almost entirely on circumstantial evidence, and no forensic evidence was found at the alleged crime scene. Melanie proclaims her innocence to this day, but nearly out of options in the courts, she shares her version of events and appeal directly to the public for help. With Melanie’s full cooperation, two Criminologists (Dr. Meghan Sacks, and Dr. Amy Shlosberg) will examine the evidence, consult independent experts and explore over 50 hours of exclusive interviews with Melanie (from prison), her family, her friends, witnesses and experts on both sides of the trial looking to uncover the whole truth about this murder.
-
The Fixer
01: Three suitcases, containing human remains, surfaced in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay in May 2004. Police identified the man in the suitcases as 39-year-old William McGuire, from Woodbridge New Jersey, and they quickly focused their attention on Bill’s wife, Melanie McGuire, who did not report him missing. Convicted three years later of murdering and dismembering her husband, Melanie McGuire has been in prison since then but did the state get it right? Is Melanie McGuire the femme fatale that the prosecution painted her to be or is she an entirely different person, prosecuted and convicted because she was the most obvious suspect in this crime? In episode 1, meet Melanie McGuire.
Credits:
Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg.
Produced by James Varga.
Written by Meghan Sacks.
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios.
Music and underscore by Nick Bassett of Dessert Media.
Legal Counsel provided by Barry Janay.
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman.
Producer-At-Large, Adam Curry
For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep01
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Perfect Marriage
02: Bill and Melanie each end their other relationships and begin a life together. However, this may not be storybook ending they had hoped for. Their marriage is a volatile relationship, filled with infidelity, lies and acts that would results in criminal convictions for both. Melanie describes the ups and downs, and details the fight where she said she should have left.
Credits:
Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg.
Produced by James Varga.
Written by Meghan Sacks.
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios.
Music and underscore by Nick Bassett of Dessert Media.
Legal Counsel provided by Barry Janay.
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman.
Producer-At-Large, Adam Curry
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0
For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep02
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Closing
03: Bill and Melanie manage to piece together their relationship after dealing with tumultuous times. They forge ahead with their dreams of owning a home in the suburbs of New Jersey even though their relationship is not entirely a happy one. They find a home and close on it April 28th, 2004, but Bill McGuire is never seen again after the closing. Was this a happy occasion for the couple or part of Melanie’s plan to kill her husband?
For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep03
If you have any information regarding this case, you can submit it by emailing us at tips@directappealpodcast.com or leaving a voicemail at (732) 510-0996. If you have a question to ask Melanie, be sure to submit it to us by 7/31/19 and we may select it for a future episode.
Credits:
Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga* Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Nick Bassett of Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Life After Bill
04: Melanie claims that on the evening of the closing, she and Bill had a big fight that lasted into the early morning of April 29th, and concluded with Bill walking out on her. Melanie’s moves over the next few days would cast doubt on her story though. The prosecution says Melanie was establishing a cover story. Whose version of events is more believable?
For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep04
If you have any information regarding this case, you can submit it by emailing us at tips@directappealpodcast.com or leaving a voicemail at (732) 510-0996. If you have a question to ask Melanie, be sure to submit it to us by 7/31/19 and we may select it for a future episode.
Credits:
Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg.
Produced by James Varga.
Written by Meghan Sacks.
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios.
Music and underscore by Nick Bassett of Dessert Media.
Legal Counsel provided by Barry Janay.
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman.
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Human Sawdust
05: While Melanie tries to plan Bill’s funeral and move on with her life, the Police begin their Investigation. Eventually, Melanie is indicted. Her bail was eventually raised to $2 million dollars. The search for a defense team begins, and after several trial-and-errors with attorneys, Melanie eventually believes she hit the jackpot. As Melanie and her lawyers prepare for Trial, the prosecution makes a shocking announcement.
For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep05
If you have any information regarding this case, you can submit it by emailing us at tips@directappealpodcast.com or leaving a voicemail at (732) 510-0996. If you have a question to ask Melanie, be sure to submit it to us by 7/31/19 and we may select it for a future episode.
Credits
Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga* Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Nick Bassett of Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Opening Arguments
06: The trial against Melanie McGuire begins on March 5, 2007, live on Court TV, and Melanie finds herself in the middle of a media circus. Lead prosecutor, Patricia Prezioso, makes a forceful opening argument but will her first witnesses help her case or hurt it? The prosecution also claims that the firearm Melanie purchased two days before Bill disappeared was the murder weapon but what does our expert have to say?
For Images related to this episode, visit: https://directappealpodcast.com/images/#ep06
If you have any information regarding this case, you can submit it by emailing us at tips@directappealpodcast.com or leaving a voicemail at (732) 510-0996. If you have a question to ask Melanie, be sure to submit it to us by 7/31/19 and we may select it for a future episode.
Credits:
Hosted by: Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg
Produced by James Varga
Written by Meghan Sacks
Recorded, mixed, and edited by Justin Kral at JC Studios
Music and underscore by Dessert Media
Legal Counsel: Barry Janay
Special thanks to Alan Tockerman
Photo credits: Joshua Davis under cc license 2.0
Guest Experts: Stephen Batzer – http://www.batzerengineering.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Love you guys!
Hi Meghan. Hi Amy. I have been listening to Women in Crime for many months and finally decided to check out Direct Appeal. I have no idea what took me so long, but I am so happy I finally decided to tune in and listen. First of all, you guys make a fantastic duo! You are so fun to listen to and you do a wonderful job at story telling. Second, the amount of research, effort and detail you put into each episode is truly amazing. I’m really looking forward to season 2 of direct appeal. Keep up the great work ladies!
Great podcast
I really enjoyed the journey you took us on. I started listening to Direct Appeal after I started Women and Crime. I learn so much listening to you two and I really enjoyed this podcast. I can’t wait for season 2!
Well done
Super informative! Love it so far. Listened to the first 10 episodes in 24 hours. Keeps me wanting to hear more.