March 12, 2018
Episode 082: Unusual Criminal Defenses: The Twinkie Defense
Supervisor Dan White murders San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978. His defense would claim "diminished capacity" to keep him from being sentenced to death. The media dubbed this "The Twinkie Defense". But, what really...
Supervisor Dan White murders San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978. His defense would claim "diminished capacity" to keep him from being sentenced to death. The media dubbed this "The Twinkie Defense". But, what really caused Dan White to become a double murderer?
From L to R: Supervisor Harvey Milk, Mayor George Moscone, Dan White
Several resources were used in the research for this episode including:
John Geluardi, SF Weekly, "Dan White's motive more about betrayal than homophobia," Jan 30, 2008.
Carol Pogash, SFGate.com, "Myth of the 'Twinkie Defense', Nov 23, 2003.
Top 5 Fan Favorites.
Most downloaded episodes
April 12, 2022
Episode 238: The Ties That Bind: The Crimes of Shelly Knotek - Part 1
Shelly Knotek has been called “America’s Most Evil Mom”. She abused, tortured, and humiliated her children and partners, but her control and abuse went beyond her own family members. One-by-one people she took into her home a...
Sept. 7, 2021
Episode 215: Getting Away With Murder: Ted Kennedy and Chappaquiddick
In 1969, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy was the front runner to become the next Presidential candidate on the Democratic Party ticket. But, decisions he would make one fateful night on Chappaquiddick Island would result in the death of a young …
Jan. 22, 2018
Episode 075: Survivor Stories: Tracey Thurman
A woman leaves her abusive husband and spends months trying to get law enforcement authorities to help her escape her abuser. In 1983, she survives one of the most brutal and vicious incidents of domestic violence I've ever encountered. She …
Sept. 4, 2017
Episode 058: With Friends Like These: Kirsten Costas
Our new series "With Friends Like These" I detail cases where friends turn upon friends - and become deadly. The first is a case of high school jealousy. Kirsten Costas is attacked by a classmate in Orinda, California. Kirsten Costas …
May 1, 2017
Episode 042: A Woman Scorned: Betty Broderick
In 1989, Betty Broderick guns down her ex-husband and his new wife. Did her cheating husband cause her to snap or did she commit cold-blood, premeditated murder? This is Chapter 1 of our new series "A Woman Scorned". ...