True Crime Cat Lawyer Elyse Lopez

1.5 million high school students in the U.S. experience hazing every year. 47% of college students have already experienced hazing before their freshman year. 55% of college students involved in fraternities, sororities, teams, and other student organizations experienced hazing - but only 1 in 10 labeled it as hazing.
This is the case of Sam Martinez.
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Sources:

Increase the penalties for hazing and end the culture that took my son’s life | The Seattle Times

Grieving WA family pushing for bills that would toughen penalties for hazing | The Seattle Times

Police recommend charges in frat alcohol poisoning death | The Seattle Times

Family of Sam Martinez, Bellevue teenager who died at WSU fraternity house, sues university and fraternity | The Seattle Times

‘Sam’s Law’ parents push for harsher penalties for hazing for a second year | The Seattle Times

Anti-hazing bill ‘Sam’s Law’ inches closer to passing WA Legislature focusing on education, transparency | The Seattle Times

New law, inspired by WSU student’s death, stiffens penalties for hazing | The Seattle Times

How hazing led to the death of fraternity pledge Sam Martinez - 60 Minutes - CBS News

Parents allege negligence by WSU in freshman's hazing death | king5.com

Sam Martinez Hazing Death: Sam’s Law and its Impact on Greek Organizations - Fraternal Law

Members of WSU fraternity where Bellevue freshman died didn’t know what constitutes hazing, evidence shows | king5.com

KUOW - Their son died in a hazing incident at WSU. They've since worked to change Washington's laws around hazing

WSU student pleads guilty to giving Sam Martinez alcohol | krem.com

Body cam, Snapchat videos in Sam Martinez investigation released | krem.com

Sam Martinez death: 15 fraternity members charged in death of Washington State University pledge - CBS News

Parents issue hazing warning after Sam Martinez's death at WSU | king5.com

Manslaughter charges not being suggested in WSU fraternity death | Crime | kxly.com

Three former fraternity members at Washington State University plead guilty to providing alcohol at party where pledge died - CNN

Coroner confirms WSU student died from alcohol poisoning

Washington State University student died hours before classmates called 911, coroner says - ABC News

Whitman County Prosecutor Files Charges In 2019 Alcohol Death Of WSU Fraternity Member - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Investigation leads Pullman Police to revisit hazing as potential factor in Sam Martinez's death | Spokane News | khq.com

3 former WSU frat members plead guilty to alcohol charges | The Seattle Times

Hazing becomes a felony in some cases in Washington state | AP News

Charges filed in death of WSU fraternity pledge – KIRO 7 News Seattle

Last ex-frat member sentenced in death 2 years ago of WSU pledge Sam Martinez

Parents seek answers as hazing reconsidered in WSU student's death

Investigation leads Pullman Police to revisit hazing as potential factor in Sam Martinez's death | Regional | nbcrightnow.com

"This is not justice"; Family of Sam Martinez responds to charges against 15 men for giving alcohol to minors | Find It | khq.com

WSU student died 4 hours before first 911 call, coroner says

Washington State University frat members guilty to 'furnishing alcohol to minors' in death of pledge | Daily Mail Online

'My dream, his dream, cut short': Parents of son killed in hazing incident applaud ‘Sam’s Law’ - MyNorthwest.com

KUOW - After their son’s death at a WSU fraternity, family calls for caution, and change

We covered this case almost 3 years ago on our Patreon. At the time, the case was unsolved and there wasn’t a lot of information available to the public. Since then, there have been multiple arrests and a trial. This is the case of the Careaga family murders. 
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Sources:

Careaga family quadruple homicide suspects set to go on trial

Opening statements in trial for Careaga murder suspects delayed

Prosecutors say cellphone data will play important role during trial of Careaga Family murders

Careaga family hopes for swift justice as murder trial begins | Kitsap Daily News

Seabeck quadruple homicide trial to begin | king5.com

Secondary charges dropped for 3 suspects in Careaga family quadruple murders

Jury selection to being in Careaga murder trial | Washington | bigcountrynewsconnection.com

Jury picked for trial of 3 accused of killing 4 Careaga family members

Careaga murders: 3 suspects plead not guilty to Kitsap killings linked to cocaine, cash

Suspects in Careaga family killing plead not guilty, get no bail | king5.com

3 men accused of Careaga killings have secondary charges dropped

Careaga family murders: Judge orders suspects held without bail

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2024/01/19/trial-for-careaga-homicides-suspects-hits-illness-snag/72259970007/

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/defense-says-2017-murder-of-seabeck-family-closing-arguments-quadruple-homicide/281-3cc73223-4366-447f-b847-72a7d95f3cdb

Careaga case jury visits sites related to evidence in trial Thursday

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2024/03/27/closing-arguments-in-five-month-careaga-murder-trial-near-completion/73099735007/

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/blogs/crime-and-justice/2023/11/24/careaga-family-quadruple-homicide-suspects-trial/71626167007/

Closing arguments in five-month Careaga murder trial near completion

Cases wrapped, closing arguments expected next week in Careaga trial | Kitsap Daily News

Closing arguments begin for 'Bandidos' gang members accused of killing Seabeck family | king5.com

Kitsap SunCareaga homicide trial: Neighbor, drug dealer give testimonyDec 19, 2023

3 men found guilty in 2017 Kitsap County quadruple-murder

Danie J Kelly Information | PDF

This episode takes us to Sequim, Washington to cover the murders of Denise Stenson and Frank Hoerner.
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Sources:

Jury deliberates in retrial of 1993 double killing | Peninsula Daily News

amnesty.org

High court throws out conviction of Washington man on death row

STATE v. STENSON (1997) | FindLaw

Peninsula man serving double-murder sentence files for high court review | Peninsula Daily News

Evidence is released to defense in Darold Stenson's murder retrial | Peninsula Daily News

Victim's widow speaks out about portrayal leading up to double-murder retrial | Peninsula Daily News

IN RE: the Personal Restraint of Darold Ray STENSON (2012) | FindLaw

Death penalty dropped in retrial for ’93 Clallam County slayings | The Seattle Times

Defendant in 1993 double murders returns to Clallam County | Sequim Gazette

Sequim Man Sentenced To Death For Murders Of Wife, Colleague | The Seattle Times

Attorney General’s Office statement on two stays of execution in the case of Darold Stenson | Washington State

Darold Stenson Scheduled Execution Canceled | News | nbcrightnow.com

Off death row, accused killer is back in Clallam | Peninsula Daily News

Supreme Court refuses to lift stay | Spokane News | khq.com

Reversal of inmate's death sentence shocks victim's widow

Darold Stenson double-murder retrial opens with 9-1-1 recording [**Photo Gallery**] | Peninsula Daily News

In Re Stenson :: 2003 :: Washington Supreme Court Decisions :: Washington Case Law :: Washington Law :: US Law :: Justia

Man on death row 18 years will get new trial | The Seattle Times

Defense: Police ignored others in Stenson case

Price tag of double murder retrial is $175,000 and rising fast

TW: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
On September 20, 2017, 24-year-old Alisha Canales-McGuire was shot in the doorway of her sister’s home while she was babysitting her 2 nieces and nephew. The family’s live-in nanny was also in the home that night and she called 911. Alisha was dead by the time police arrived. Who killed Alisha?
Domestic Violence Hotline
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Sources:
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lynnwood-man-gets-life-sentence-for-botched-murder-for-hire/
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/alisha-canales-mcguire-arrests-in-botched-murder-for-hire-plot-that-killed-intended-victims-sister/
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/shooter-testifies-in-everett-murder-for-hire-trial/
https://lawandcrime.com/crime/pure-evil-washington-man-sent-to-prison-for-hiring-cousin-to-murder-ex-wife-the-cousin-killed-the-wrong-target/amp/
https://www.kiro7.com/news/north-sound-news/three-arrested-in-woman-s-2017-murder-for-hire-shooting/938068688/?outputType=amp
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/hired-assassin-shoots-wrong-woman-26059901.amp
https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/835947.pdf
https://people.com/crime/newlywed-victim-mistaken-identity-murder-for-hire-intended-victim-was-sister/
https://thecinemaholic.com/alisha-canales-mcguire-murder/

TW: SEXUAL ASSAULT/RAPE
April is National Sexual Assault Awareness month. According to the Center for Disease Control, sexual violence affects millions of people every year in the United States. According to RAINN, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds. 1 in 4 women have experienced either a completed or attempted rape.
Besides April being National Sexual Assault Awareness month, there are a few other reasons I wanted to discuss the cases in today’s episode. First, the rapes and sexual assaults covered in this episode actually took place near where I grew up in SE Portland, several years before I was born. And second, this episode is a warning to all listeners who live in Oregon because the asshole I’m going to talk about today is out amongst you and could actually be living in your neighborhood - and the state isn’t required to tell you that he lives there. 
RAINN
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Sources:
https://www.courttv.com/news/serial-jogger-rapist-to-be-released-from-oregon-prison/
https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2022/12/jogger-rapist-richard-gillmore-to-be-released-friday-victim-plans-to-make-sure-his-neighbors-know-about-him.html?outputType=amp
https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2022/10/serial-rapist-richard-gillmore-to-be-released-from-prison-before-end-of-year-as-a-low-level-sex-offender.html?outputType=amp
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/serial-jogger-rapist-released-oregon-prison-rcna51388
https://www.kptv.com/2022/12/16/portlands-jogger-rapist-released-friday-after-36-years-prison-victims-concerned-outraged/?outputType=amp
https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/jogger-rapist-officially-released-from-prison-after-36-year-sentence/amp/
https://www.kptv.com/2022/12/06/survivors-jogger-rapist-say-release-is-surreal-scary/?outputType=amp
https://www.koin.com/news/special-reports/inside-the-mind-of-oregons-jogger-rapist/amp/
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/03/07/rape-victims-seek-stronger-voice-in-how-oregon-classifies-sex-offenders/
https://katu.com/amp/news/local/portland-jogger-rapist-released-on-parole-as-low-risk-sex-offender-richard-gillmore-survivor-posts-warnings-oregon-state-board-multnomah-county-transitional-housing
https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2022/11/how-the-state-classified-serial-rapist-richard-gillmore-as-a-low-level-sex-offender.html
https://www.foxnews.com/us/victims-portland-jogger-rapist-outraged-released-prison-low-level-offender.amp
https://kpic.com/amp/news/local/jogger-rapist-richard-gillmore-set-to-be-released-victim-advocates-want-emergency-order
https://www.oregonlive.com/oregonianextra/2008/07/jogger_rapist_richard_troy_gil_1.html
https://katu.com/amp/news/local/portland-jogger-rapist-to-be-released-on-parole-we-never-got-justice-survivor-says-richard-gillmore-multnomah-county-department-corrections-justice-oregon-statute-limitations
https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2012/06/jogger_rapist_richard_gillmore.html
https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2010/06/richard_gillmore_denied_parole.html
https://www.portlandtribune.com/news/woman-raped-as-young-girl-trying-to-heal-years-later/article_07363cf0-7db1-5c85-83ca-1ea02758fc9e.html

TW: RAPE/SEXUAL ASSAULT
Today's case takes us to Acme, Washington. Amanda (Mandy) Stavik was 18 years old, recently graduated high school, and had just started as a freshman at Central Washington University. She had her whole life ahead of her. But tragically, that life was cut short when she came home for Thanksgiving break in November 1989.
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Sources:
Court of Appeals Opinion
'I 100% volunteered to do it': How bakery worker got DNA to crack 30-year-old murder case
How a community came together to help solve teen's 1989 murder
How two moms chatting at a water park helped crack a Thanksgiving cold case murder
DNA leads to arrest in 1989 rape, murder of 18-year-old Whatcom County woman
Medical examiner has change of heart in Whatcom County teen's cold case murder
Man arrested in 1989 rape, murder of teen near Bellingham
After Nearly 30 Years, Suspect Arrested in Murder of College Freshman Who Vanished on a Jog
Cold case arrest: Residents had feared for 28 years that murder suspect lived among them