Light 'Em Up Phillip Rizzo

Welcome to this intensive, no holds barred, educational episode of Light ‘Em Up!

We’re working to tirelessly to expand our global footprint beyond 111 countries!
Tonight, we are honored to have back one of our all-time most honored guests. 
Our especial guest, Dr. Sandy Womack, Jr. -- who is no stranger to Light ‘Em Up -- is our tried-and-true source and resource who can unpack all of these hot and pressing topics for us and provide great clarity and wisdom to them to aide understanding.

Dr. Sandy Womack Jr. is a servant leader with over a generation of successful experience in urban education. He’s an NCAA All-American wrestler with a doctorate in educational leadership, author, principal, district administrator, equity trainer, motivational speaker, and urban school turnaround specialist.

We ask the same question to Dr. Womack as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked in August of ’67 when he addressed the 11th Annual Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in Atlanta, Georgia before over 100 Black leaders – “Where do we go from here?”

We’ve reached a critical inflection point as we examine several crucial issues that currently impact the nation, and Black America specifically, in 2024.

He tackles the critical topics of:

—      Race & politics: In 2024, the impact of Blacks being the 3rd largest group in America as it relates to political power.

—      The black youth and what might its collective future look like; violence & the impact on the perception of Black youth, “Killing them before they grow”

—      as well as the intersectionality of the future of a public education, funding and race, examining the question: Is a public education in danger of becoming obsolete?

Some 55+ years after The Kerner Commission got it right, yet no one listened, poverty, crime and inequality still infect our society.  (President Lyndon Johnson constituted the Kerner Commission to identify the genesis of the violent 1967 riots that killed 43 in Detroit and 26 in Newark, NJ).  We are still, all these years later, plagued by the same issues.

A riot is the language of the unheard.  America still has failed to hear many things and act upon the defaulted promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned.

We are in an extended period of post-mortem reflection following the time during which racial justice protests were at their most intense.

We now have to ask ourselves:

—      What has changed?  And what hasn’t?

—      Have power and privilege truly been disrupted?

—      Has oppression been alleviated?

—      What will be the legacy of this moment where we saw global protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd …  has it all been for nothing?

Dr. Womack stresses the fact that there can be no testimony without a test.  He went on to say that “I can’t be who I need to be if you’re not who you need to be.”  And that the interconnectivity and focusing on what unites versus what divides is what is crucial for our collective advancement.

Womack stated that “Poverty is a huge cause of a variety of different things that impact upon the U.S.” and that “education is economic development”.

Through the education of the future of the world, our youth, he works in an indefatigable manner to change the heart of people and bring the focus back to faith, hope and love.

Tune in to hear a wealth of his wisdoms – we guarantee without a doubt that you will learn much.  Follow our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot here:
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Thank you for tuning in!  Our global footprint has now reached 111 countries!

On this expanded, investigative episode we shine the antiseptic light of the truth on a 2019 murder case out of the state of Michigan.  The People v Cabrera.

We are honored to sit down with Sarah Cintron, the mother of Juan Cabrera.

Juan was convicted of premeditated intentional murder at the age of 18 by a jury that only took 120 minutes to decide on a charge that mandated him by statute to serve Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP) for a murder where the actual video evidence in the case did not in any way, shape or form show the face, clothing, nor any single, solitary identifying physical characteristic of the shooter. (View the video that the jury used in its deliberations here for yourself.)

How do you reach a unanimous determination of “beyond a reasonable doubt” with “evidence” such as this?

Material witnesses perjured themselves in statements given to police prior to trial and on the witness stand.  Two material witnesses identified two totally different suspects other than Juan as being the shooter.

Two other key witnesses were given ENORMOUS sentence reductions, ultimately receiving probation on serious other felonies for their “alleged truthful testimony and cooperation” against Juan.

Stemming from the lying and colluding witness statements of party attendees, law enforcement put out a “BOLO” looking for a man named Claudio Estrada Jr., who wasn’t even in the state of Michigan when this crime took place.

One witness was permitted to communicate with other witnesses via Facebook Messenger during her police interview – in front of a female member of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department.

Juan’s defense trial attorney (Chris Kessel, now the Michigan assistant attorney general) admitted under oath that he “reviewed the video evidence submitted by the prosecutor but did not conduct a frame-by-frame review of the video”.

When your client is on trial for his life, why not do so?

There were serious questions and concerns about a “conflict of interest” on the part of Juan's attorney, due to the fact that during his trial he took on another extremely high-profile case (the Flint, MI Contaminated Water Cases) working for the same State of Michigan that was trying to put his client away for life.

What do you do when the police immediately suffer from “tunnel vision” and “lock on” to a suspect who they think and believe committed a crime?  When this occurs — it's close to impossible to get them to look at or pursue any other suspects.

States across the nation generally have laws prohibiting people from making false police reports — with our special guest, we ask and examine — the question:

What do you do if the police are the ones furthering the false claims and advancing those claims with shoddy investigatory practices that have produced nothing but lies from liars — from the witness stand and in their sworn affidavits and official reports?

Sarah provides tremendously helpful insight and important awareness as to how you can navigate such choppy waters.

Just after midnight on February 16, 2019, a group of teens gathered at a hotel to celebrate the belated birthday of a mutual friend.

Two of the party attendees have a verbal altercation in the hallway right outside of the room.  A fight ensued.  All hell breaks loose, and lives are changed forever.
Tune in to hear the rest of the shocking details.
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We’re honored that you’ve joined us!  Thank you!
We’re currently being downloaded in 111 countries!

We deliver the facts … not fiction, covering every story with integrity and passion.

In this explosive, follow-up, investigative interview, we further shine the light of the truth and drill deeper, farther and wider with Jana Guyewski Latigar (the sister of Crystal McCrory Jones).

♦ We have word that KNOE News Channel 8 has a team of investigators actively working this case and will soon have an investigative report on the fact pattern regarding Crystal’s mysterious, untimely and shocking death.

♦ We've uncovered shocking details regarding the Forensic Pathologist in this case — and devastating errors that led to the exoneration of the West Memphis Three.

On February 9th, 2023 in the sleepy town of Oak Grove, Louisiana, (population: ~2,275), Crystal was found dead in her home from what was reported to be a “self-inflicted” gunshot wound to the head.

The West Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office (WCPSO) had this case “solved” in 105 minutes — less time than it takes to drive from Oak Grove to Shreveport, LA.

From the initial deputy being notified by WCPSO to perform a “welfare check on the deceased” — law enforcement would've had to find Crystal’s body; secure the crime scene, gathering, bagging and tagging all relevant evidence; canvass the neighborhood; track down any and all investigatory leads; interview any/all relevant suspects; complete all investigative written reports, while preserving the chain of custody … in under 2 hours!

This would be amazing if it happened.  In fact, it DID NOT happen this way!  Police reports were strewn with misspelled words and inaccuracies, timelines of the spouse that don’t match up.  Premortem bruising was ignored and overlooked — which is a clear indication of a pre-death vicious struggle.

♦ What was the hurry?   Why the rush to judgement?
♦ Why the hostile, combative responses from the Sheriff when family members of the deceased simply sought information into the death of their loved one?   Isn’t it normal for a devastated family to have questions, to seek answers?

In this exclusive interview Jana sheds personal insight from her trauma-informed experience on courageously, (slowly) working her way through the life-altering grief stemming from her sister’s death.  She shares insightful coping strategies for anyone dealing with similar traumas.

Also:

♦ We talk about Complicated Grief, which can occur as a result of the traumatic and unexpected death of a loved one. We explore the Cycle of Grief.  Everyone experiences grief — it is part of our human experience.

♦ Other residents of West Carroll Parish have shared their concerns that there’ve been other cases that were quickly ruled a “suicide” when the facts weren't so clear.

Follow Justice for Crystal McCrory Jones (the Facebook Group honoring Crystal’s life and memory) and sign the Change.org petition which seeks to press law enforcement officials to re-open an investigation surrounding her mysterious death.

Tune in and be educated and empowered!
𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐲!

Note well:  All persons are innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law.
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Welcome to this explosive episode of “Light ‘Em Up” — actively being downloaded in 108 countries!

Thank you so much for your enormous response to our previous multiple record-setting episode!

As we continue to speak truth to power and shine an intense spotlight on the error-filled autopsy report and the unsubstantiated claims of the coroner, as well as the shoddy, crooked, backwoods investigational practices of the West Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Department and the shady, collusive actions on the part of the 5th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ms. Penny Douciere — we offer this brand new fact-based, investigatory episode to you.

We submit that those involved in the “investigation” of this case willfully have chosen to look the other way.  THAT is a text-book definition of corruption and a dereliction of official duty under the color of authority.  We ask, why?  Why wouldn’t the Louisiana State Police open an investigation?  Why the rush to judgement on the part of the coroner?

On February 9, 2023 in Oak Grove, Louisiana (population 1,441), Crystal McCrory Jones was found dead in her home from what was reported to be a “self-inflicted” gunshot wound to the head.

Her husband, Tony Jones (who reportedly at one time was an employee with the same W. Carroll Sheriff’s Department charged with “investigating” the case) was reported to be the last person who saw her alive, at or around 8 am on the day of her death.

Within 1 hour and 45 minutes of the knowledge of Crystal’s death, the case was ruled to be a suicide.

The fact pattern shows that there was extensive bruising on her hands, inner thighs, and a fingernail was broken off of her left hand: evidence of a pre-mortem struggle.

Bruising is bleeding into the surrounding tissue and there's no bleeding if the heart isn't pumping. Bruising is indicative of clear signs that there was an intense struggle, before she died — as once the heart stops pumping blood --- there can be no bruising.

As education is always a foundational pillar of Light ‘Em Up, in this fact-packed episode we drill down on:

♦ What is a medico-legal death investigation — and why it is of the utmost importance that it takes place in a timely, professional and painstakingly thorough manner.  It didn’t!

We define:

♦ What an autopsy and autopsy report are, the cause and manner of death and criteria for determining a suicide.

We ask:

♦ Who called in a “welfare check” on Crystal in her home, and why? Were they trying to establish an alibi?

We investigate:

♦ The difference between a suicide and a homicide.

We highlight:

♦ specific Louisiana laws governing coroners’ duties, autopsies and investigations — which expose officials as derelict in their duty.

We clarify:

♦ the 4 major problems in conducting death investigations.

♦ And we instruct on the 5 objectives of an autopsy and a ton of other compelling aspects of this mysterious case.

How is it that every aspect of the criminal justice system and those officials charged with honoring their oath to protect and serve and do their sworn duty failed Crystal?

Crystal loved life — her presence blessed everyone who encountered her.
The sad truth is that if this can happen to her — it can happen to you!

We’re in this fight!  We’ll continue with this case until we see some form of “justice” delivered to Crystal's surviving family members.

Follow this link to the Change.org petition for Crystal as well as the Facebook page remembering her here.

All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

We want to hear from you!

Thank you for joining us!  We’ve now penetrated 108 countries globally, 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 because of YOU!

This case stunk from its inception.

Tonight, we explore the death of Crystal McCrory Jones, a sweet mother of 2 and a friend to all who were blessed to know her.

You’ve heard of homicide, defined as the unlawful killing of one human being by another. We’re betting you may not have heard as much about uxoricide.  The killing of one’s wife. You’ll have to determine for yourself, but there are very suspicious details.

We were very fortunate to sit down with Jana Guyewski-Latigar (the sister of the deceased).

On February 9, 2023, in the sleepy town of Oak Grove, Louisiana, (2020 Census population: 1,441), Crystal was found dead in her home from what was reported to be a “self-inflicted” gunshot wound to the head.

Within 1 hour & 45 minutes, cause of death was ruled a suicide.

Here are just a few more of the highly suspicious facts:

♦ Two days prior to Crystal’s death, the Ring Doorbell Camera to her home was cut off. Coincidence, or evidence of pre-planning or conspiracy?

♦ Fact: Her husband, Tony Joe Jones, was an employee of the West Carroll Parrish Sheriff’s Department — the department charged with “investigating” the case.

♦ No matter who you are or what you do in life, if your spouse is dead in your home, under any questionable circumstances you can expect to be considered a suspect. 
That never happened in this case. Why not?

♦ There is argument that Tony changed his story as to his whereabouts and specific location on the day Crystal died. 

♦ Google Location Data place him near the home, consistent with and in conjunction to the time of death initially listed on Crystal’s Death Certificate.

♦ The Parish Coroner initially changed the time of death from 10:35 AM to 5:05 PM, why?

♦ Shortly following his wife’s death, Tony vigorously pursued efforts to collect on a $63K group life insurance policy. 

♦ Soon thereafter, facts show that the husband had Crystal’s body cremated. Was this evidence of a “guilty mind”, establishing the necessary legal “mens rea” in an effort to destroy any physical evidence or prevent any hope of a 3rd party, independent forensic exam of the body?

♦ Upon Crystal’s death Jana and Crystal’s surviving family members were denied an investigation into her sister’s death by the Louisiana State Police Department. Why?

♦ Why the rush to judgement with so little, if any, investigation?

Help to give her life and legacy a voice. Help to solve Crystal’s murder. Tune in and hear the rest of the salacious details.

I’ve witnessed a lot of examples of bad policing throughout my career— having spent many years as an investigator.  THIS case may very well be the worst example of unprofessional, shoddy, backwoods, good ol’ boy, overt and intentionally corrupt actions on the part of law enforcement to cover up a murder that evidence suggests that perhaps one of their own may have been involved in — that I have ever heard of in my life.

Note:  All persons are innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law.
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Happy New Year! We’re excited to be launching Season 5 of Light ‘Em Up!

With brutal wars raging in Gaza and Ukraine — and allegations of “conflict zone sexual violence” being lodged by all parties involved in these conflicts, we turn our intensive journalistic spotlight on and focus the “heat of the truth” on the Secret War Crime — that isn’t secret at all: One of the most shameful consequences of conflict and war, “Gender Based Violence”, also referred to as GBV.

The practice of raping the women of a conquered group in war has remained a feature of warfare from the earliest records to the present.

GBV refers to any harm or suffering inflicted on a person because of their gender. It is used as a weapon of war designed to create fear, terrorize and humiliate populations, and undermine and destroy the social fabric and cohesion of communities.

Just like domestic violence, GBV can take many forms such as physical, sexual or psychological abuse and can affect anyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. GBV happens to men and boys as well as women and girls.

This type of victimization is known to impact tremendously on the psyche of survivors and carries with it grave risk factors for emotional, mental, physical, and psycho-social wellbeing.

GBV can also increase the risk of:


HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseasesunwanted pregnanciesunsafe abortionsmaternal mortality and many other devastating outcomes.The Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court recognizes that “rape and other forms of sexual violence by combatants in the conduct of armed conflict are war crimes and can constitute genocide when it is committed with the intent to destroy in whole or in part, a targeted group”.

A boisterous Op-ed in the New York Times declared that the “Gender Based Violence of October 7th Must Not Be Ignored” and it is incumbent upon all of us to use our voices to ensure that it isn’t ignored, not only in Israel, but globally.

Rape is a serious violation of human rights and a war crime.

As our mission is to always be “true to the truth” we’ve tunneled deep and investigated two specific conflict war zone cases of GBV for this episode.

The first is the grotesquely brutal, terror-filled story of Mary, who was forced to witness the vicious killing of her husband and two sons -- ages 5 and 7 -- by the rebel soldiers in South Sudan. She thought nothing could be worse than seeing that. Then, the soldiers yanked her 10-year-old daughter Nyalaat from her arms and turned their perverted, deviant, sexual behaviors on the little girl.

When the soldiers were done, all she could see was blood.  Nyalaat died shortly thereafter.  Mary immediately wanted to die as well after witnessing this cruel sight.  The soldiers attacked Mary, taking turns with her.  She said it happened to all of those in the camp:  little girls, women, grandmothers, they didn’t care.

The intimate nature of sexual assault (especially during war and conflict) often means that horrors such as this often go undocumented, sanitized out of history books and glossed over in news accounts that focus solely on casualties and refugee numbers.

Rape is a weapon even more powerful than a bomb or a bullet. Rape victims may appear to the community like someone who is cursed.  After rape, no one will talk to you; no man will see you as being a human being.  It has been likened to a living death.

Tune in as we bring you this fact-based, educational account of the brutality and reality of gender-based violence that occurs in global conflict and war zones.


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