29 episodes
The Letter Season 2: Ripple Effect Lemonada
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- True Crime
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4.6 • 1.6K Ratings
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On a winter morning in 1982, two young fathers were found shot to death in a van parked outside an upscale Utah restaurant. The killer soon confessed, but his story about what happened - and why he chose violence - would create more pain, conflict, and questions for the families left in the wake of the murders.
As the families of the men struggle to rebuild their lives, they face questions they never anticipated. Does everyone deserve a second chance? Who is forgiveness for? And if you can inherit trauma, can you also inherit forgiveness? Through their stories, we discover even the most personal decisions can unintentionally ripple through lives, through generations, even impacting the lives of people we’ve never met. From KSL Podcasts (Cold), Lemonada Media (Blind Plea) and WorkHouse Media.
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
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He Didn't Deserve to Live
An early morning snowstorm means Jordan Rasmussen, a father of three, has to share a ride with his coworker to a meeting he expects will be tense. Jordan gets in the Jeep riddled with bullet holes. He never comes home. For more on the Letter Season 2: Ripple Effect, including pictures, find us on social @theletterpodcast or visit our website, theletterpodcast.com. If you want to hear more and would like to support us, please consider subscribing on Apple podcasts for access to our bonus episodes. We drop a bonus episode every week. Written by Amy Donaldson and Andrea Smardon. Production and sound design by Andrea Smardon, Nina Earnest and Aaron Mason. Mixing by Trent Sell. Special thanks to Becky Bruce, KellieAnn Halvorsen, Ryan Meeks, Ben Kuebrich, Feliks Banel, Josh Tilton and Dave Cawley. Main musical score composed by Allison Leyton Brown.With Lemonada Media, Executive Producers Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs.For WorkHouse Media, Executive Producer Paul Anderson. And for KSL Podcasts, Executive Producer Sheryl Worsley. The Letter is produced by KSL Podcasts and Lemonada Media in association with WorkHouse Media.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
PREMIUM: A Message After Death
A friend of Jordan Rasmussen gives his perspective on what was going on in Jordan’s life before his murder and what he found in Jordan’s briefcase after his death. Kelly Sheppard reflects on some of the things he realized only after Jordan was killed. For more, including pictures, visit our website, theletterpodcast.com
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Dead Men Speak No Lies
A delivery man making his rounds finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Buddy Booth discovers the body of Jordan Rasmussen at a stop on his delivery route and is shot in the back, forcing a second young widow to raise children without their father. For more on the Letter Season 2: Ripple Effect, including pictures, find us on social @theletterpodcast or visit our website, theletterpodcast.com. If you want to hear more and would like to support us, please consider subscribing on Apple podcasts for access to our bonus episodes. We drop a bonus episode every week. Written by Amy Donaldson and Andrea Smardon. Production and sound design by Andrea Smardon, Nina Earnest and Aaron Mason. Mixing by Trent Sell. Special thanks to Becky Bruce, KellieAnn Halvorsen, Ryan Meeks, Ben Kuebrich, Feliks Banel, Josh Tilton and Dave Cawley. Main musical score composed by Allison Leyton Brown.With Lemonada Media, Executive Producers Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs.For WorkHouse Media, Executive Producer Paul Anderson. And for KSL Podcasts, Executive Producer Sheryl Worsley. The Letter is produced by KSL Podcasts and Lemonada Media in association with WorkHouse Media.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
PREMIUM: A Peek Behind the Curtain
Host Amy Donaldson began researching and reporting for Season 2 when she realized a personal connection to the murder case - and a possible conflict of interest. Join Amy, co-writer Andrea Smardon and Sheryl Worsley for a discussion about ethics and what to do when you find out your spouse is part of the story.
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Chameleon
As lawyers prepare for trial, no one can make sense of Michael Moore’s motives. In the courtroom, the double murder suspect tells a paranoid story of assassins and organized crime. The widows of his victims testify at the trial, which will determine if Moore will face a firing squad.For more on the Letter Season 2: Ripple Effect, including pictures, find us on social @theletterpodcast or visit our website, theletterpodcast.com. If you want to hear more and would like to support us, please consider subscribing on Apple podcasts for access to our bonus episodes. We drop a bonus episode every week. Written by Amy Donaldson and Andrea Smardon. Production and sound design by Andrea Smardon, Nina Earnest and Aaron Mason. Mixing by Trent Sell. Special thanks to Becky Bruce, KellieAnn Halvorsen, Ryan Meeks, Ben Kuebrich, Feliks Banel, Josh Tilton and Dave Cawley. Main musical score composed by Allison Leyton Brown.With Lemonada Media, Executive Producers Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs.For WorkHouse Media, Executive Producer Paul Anderson. And for KSL Podcasts, Executive Producer Sheryl Worsley. The Letter is produced by KSL Podcasts and Lemonada Media in association with WorkHouse Media.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
PREMIUM: On Scene at the Log Haven Murders
From sneaking into the crime scene the morning two men were found dead outside Log Haven Restaurant to eating lunch with jail inmates and the Salt Lake County Sheriff, Mike Carter became Utah's premier crime reporter in the 80s and 90s. The Letter host Amy Donaldson says Carter is one of her mentors and he influenced how she approached covering crime and corrections. Now a police accountability reporter for the Seattle Times, Carter discusses covering the Michael Moore case - and some other interesting moments in his 50-year career.
Customer Reviews
Favorite
I just discovered this podcast last week and I can’t stop listening to it. It has changed my life. Thank you for such a positive podcast.
As a survivor, affected me like no other podcast
As someone who is also a survivor of a violent crime, I always find myself empathizing with the victims in true crime stories, and in most cases, despising the perpetrators. I have no idea what it feels like to lose a child or any loved one to violence and I hope I never do. I don’t know what it feels like to be injured to the degree that Yvette was. The man who attacked me was a different kind of criminal and a serial one at that; he didn’t kill me, but he certainly didn’t leave empty-handed. He was eventually killed by police, but even if he had lived and been convicted and incarcerated, I don’t know that I could have ever forgiven him - and certainly not face to face. Given the type of crime that it was, having any kind of contact at all seems out of the question. However, I was so happy for Sy and Ron - and even for George - that they were able to give and receive forgiveness with so much grace and love. The Snarrs are such lovely, loving, amazing people. And George’s letter was so moving and so completely and believably full of remorse. I so admire Sy’s empathy and humanity. We see so little of that these days.
I was so happy that it took the turn that it did for all three of them. On the other hand, I also understand and respect how Yvette feels about George; as an actual victim, this is not as easy for her. Her experience is very different from the Snarr’s and in so many way. Not everyone has the same path to recovery and peace. I was relieved that both parties still share respect and love for each other. Recovery from trauma often depends on facing the event in a way that may not seem possible or logical at first. it may not make any sense at all to the people around you. It is deeply personal and no one has the right to judge it because they are not you. They haven’t lived your experience. I believe that Yvette’s victim advocacy is her healing place. And the Snarrs discovered that forgiveness and love was theirs. Given the type of person he was, I’m sure Zach would whole-heartedly approve of their relationship with George; rather than a betrayal; it’s a tribute. (for the person who said it was a betrayal, your comment hurt the Snarrs the most. Shame on you; you obviously didn’t listen to this podcast. That wasn’t the kind of person that was.) I know that George doesn’t like to use his past as an excuse, but given everything he has been through, it is not surprising that he turned to violence - and it sounds like he has really grown in the years since. The human brain does not fully developed until you are 25; we do a lot of stupid things at 19. Although not many of us choose to murder people, sadly, that was the case for George and his adult brain now recognizes that all too clearly. I took an extraordinary step to find my peace. It had nothing to do with my attacker, but it made all the difference in my recovery. It involved facing a reminder of the crime and participating in a way I never imagined possible. No amount of therapy or time could have helped me as much as facing this fear did. It may not make sense to other people, but it certainly makes sense to me and that is all that matters. The anniversary of the crime now comes and goes - and I hardly notice. I am so happy for the Snarrs; they so deserve this peace, as does George’s mother. George doesn’t deserve it, per se - but he has certainly earned it. Thank you, all, for a truly amazing story. PS: for those who complained about ads – are you new to Podcasts or something? There’s a way to fast-forward. This one isn’t nearly as bad as some. How else do they earn money by bringing you content? Also - i’m an atheist. But there was nothing about the LDS talk or religion that bothered me. Different strokes, ya know? I felt like the Snarrs are real Christians. And we have so few of them these days. The only people I’ve encountered in my life who are truly good was not because of their religion or lack of it.
Amazing
Loved season one!! Season two is so far so good