Timothy McVeigh vs. The USA Brandon Birmingham

In this Preview Episode, Judge Brandon Birmingham begins the documentary just as prosecutors began the trial: by playing a recording of the bombing itself. In this season of A Murderous Design, we'll deconstruct the Government's case in the Oklahoma City Bombing Trial and study McVeigh's defense. The entire documentary will be released on the anniversary of the Bombing, April 19th, 1995. We'll conclude this documentary podcast with 4 extended interviews: 3 with the lawyers involved in the trial (2 for Timothy McVeigh, and 1 for the Prosecution) and a final bonus interview with a journalist from Buffalo who spent hours talking with Timothy McVeigh after the trial.

On the first episode, we'll begin our case study of the largest act of domestic terrorism by hearing the tales of those who lived through the blast, and those responsible for the rescue operation. We'll learn that the "most important piece of evidence fell out of the sky," how that piece of evidence gave investigators the name "Robert D. Kling," and how witnesses helped sketch artists show the world two faces who could be responsible for this crime: John Doe Number 1 and John Doe Number 2. Visit AMurderousDesign.com for more information about the trial including an interactive Trial Visualization Report where viewers can search summaries of testimony by witness, date, and subject matter. Episodes include quotes from one of the lead prosecutors on the case, Indianapolis Attorney Larry Mackey, as well as quotes from Mr. McVeigh's lead counsel Oklahoma
Lawyer Stephen Jones and his choice to handle the forensic evidence in the trial, Houston Lawyer Christopher Tritico. The entire transcript is available at Oklahoman.com. Based on these transcripts, the first 6 episodes document the trial. The last 4 contain the full interviews from Mr. Mackey, Mr. Jones and Mr. Tritico. In the final episode of A Murderous Design, we sit down with journalist and Timothy McVeigh Biographer Lou Michel, who, along with Dan Herbeck wrote the New York Times Best Seller "American Terrorist."

After Investigators tie the name Robert D. Kling from a rental agreement for a Ryder Truck, the nationwide manhunt descends upon the Noble County, Oklahoma Jail and a man arrested in a Mercury Marquis for failing to display a proper license plate. The world learned his name for the first time: Timothy James McVeigh. Who was he? Where did he come from? We'll start with his life in New York, his impressive military service, and the events that shaped his worldview - a view on full display in letters recovered by investigators. Peppered with quotes from 3 of the lawyers that tried the case - Larry Mackey for the Prosecution, Stephen Jones and Christopher Tritico for Mr. McVeigh - we will seek to uncover the author responsible for the formation and execution of A Murderous Design. The entire transcript of the trial is available at Oklahoman.com. Based on these transcripts, the first 6 episodes of this podcast document the trial. The following 3 contain the full interviews from Mr. Mackey, Mr. Jones and Mr. Tritico. In the final episode of A Murderous Design, we sit down with journalist and Timothy McVeigh Biographer Lou Michel, who, along with Dan Herbeck wrote the New York Times Best Seller "American Terrorist." Make sure and visit AMurderousDesign.com for more information on the trial including a unique and interactive trial visualization report.

Stephen Jones led Timothy Mcveigh's defense. He assembled the team of lawyers and experts, and put on some 30 witnesses, including the cross examinations of Eldon Elliott and Michael Fortier. He has written numerous law review articles about his experience in defending one of the most hated men in America, and wrote a fascinating book about the whole case - not just the trial - called "Others Unknown." He sat down with me twice, thankfully giving me his thoughts on the case, including the ingenious way he viewed McVeigh's defense. Please welcome Mr. Stephen Jones to A Murderous Design. Visit AMurderousDesign.com for more resources on the trial, including links to some of Mr. Jones articles, his book "Others Unknown," and a unique interactive trial visualization report.

Jurors hear about some very peculiar fertilizer sales, a burglary at a rock quarry, and about a treasure trove of evidence investigators found in Herrington. They also hear a letter McVeigh allegedly wrote in which he signed off by saying, "send no more letters after April 1st." Visit AMurderousDesign.com to see the script for the entire podcast, and an interactive trial visualization report for a summary of the case broken down by witness and subject matter. The entire trial transcript is available at Oklahoman.com. The first 6 shows are based on those transcripts, telling the story of the bombing as the jurors heard it. The last 3 episodes contain the interviews with some of the lead lawyers on the case, Prosecutor Larry Mackey, and McVeigh Attorneys Stephen Jones and Christopher Tritico. In the final episode of A Murderous Design, we sit down with journalist and Timothy McVeigh Biographer Lou Michel, who, along with Dan Herbeck wrote the New York Times Best Seller "American Terrorist."

The Defense uncovers a mystery for jurors about the case that remains unsolved to this day. They attack the integrity of the FBI Lab, and show jurors how one major finding on the only piece of physical evidence from the Ryder Truck with chemical residue can't be verified. Find out why on this, the final episode of our case study on Timothy McVeigh's trial. The entire transcript is available at Oklahoman.com. Based on these transcripts, the first 6 episodes document the trial. In the next 3 episodes, you'll hear the full interviews from Mr. Mackey, Mr. Jones and Mr. Tritico. In the final episode of A Murderous Design, we sit down with journalist and Timothy McVeigh Biographer Lou Michel, who, along with Dan Herbeck wrote the New York Times Best Seller "American Terrorist." Visit AMurderousDesign.com for more information about the trial, including the script and a unique, interactive trial visualization report where listeners can view summaries of the trial based on witness and subject matter.