Advertise on podcast: Death By Incarceration

Original air date March 18, 2022 Right out of the gate, Spencer and LIsa are joined by renowned journalist, podcaster ,and friend of the program, Maggie Freleng. Maggie discusses her work on Ralph's case through her Unjust and Unsolved Podcast and beyond. Ralph checks in to tell more of his story, and Spencer and Lisa continue to break down the events of March 11, 1982 and what happened leading up to Ralph's trial ......... When Smokin’ Joe’s Corner in Philadelphia was robbed on March 11, 1982, resulting in the brutal murder of three people, police arrested 19 year-old Ralph Trent Stokes, a former cook at Smokin’ Joe’s for the crime.  Notoriously corrupt prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Roger King - a man who has been featured extensively on this podcast - convinced a jury that Ralph Should get the death penalty. Six months later, Ralph was sent to live in a prison cell no larger than a bathroom, where he has remained ever since, most of those years in solitary confinement. Fast forward to 2004 and, in an investigative file that was previously undisclosed, it was discovered that King had lied to the jury about forensically tested evidence. Witnesses that testified against Ralph were coerced and incentivized, his alibi witnesses were disregarded and an innocent man has sat on death row for 40 years.  Be sure and get caught up with Episode 1 and subscribe so you get the episodes as they are released. Together, we are committed to righting this terrible injustice and seeing Ralph Trent Stokes walk free. For more information on Ralph's case, petition, and financial support https://freeralphstokes.org/ follow in/justice theme and original music produced by Benaldo Rivaldi. Listen on Apple, Spotify& Bandcamp. Check out our websites: InJustice Death By Incarceration Crawlspace Media  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original air date March 11, 2022 When Smokin’ Joe’s Corner in Philadelphia was robbed on March 11, 1982, resulting in the brutal murder of three people, police arrested 19 year-old Ralph Trent Stokes, a former cook at Smokin’ Joe’s for the crime.  When Smokin’ Joe’s Corner in Philadelphia was robbed on March 11, 1982, resulting in the brutal murder of three people, police arrested 19 year-old Ralph Trent Stokes, a former cook at Smokin’ Joe’s for the crime.  Notoriously corrupt prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Roger King - a man who has been featured extensively on this podcast - convinced a jury that Ralph Should get the death penalty. Six months later, Ralph was sent to live in a prison cell no larger than a bathroom, where he has remained ever since, most of those years in solitary confinement. Fast forward to 2004 and, in an investigative file that was previously undisclosed, it was discovered that King had lied to the jury about forensically tested evidence. Witnesses that testified against Ralph were coerced and incentivized, his alibi witnesses were disregarded and an innocent man has sat on death row for 40 years.  Join Spencer Daniels and Lisa Spees as they discuss the details of the case through court transcripts, witness testimony, and most importantly conversations with Ralph himself. Lisa and Spencer will also be joined by renowned podcaster and journalist as well as friend of the podcast Pulitzer Prize winner Maggie Freleng. Together, we are committed to righting this terrible injustice and seeing Ralph Trent Stokes walk free. For more information on Ralph's case, petition, and financial support https://freeralphstokes.org/ in/justice theme and original music produced by Benaldo Rivaldi. Listen on Apple, Spotify& Bandcamp. Check out our websites: Death By Incarceration Crawlspace Media  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Charlotte West, an education journalist with Open Campus, will take us inside the Indiana Women’s Prison HistorProject and look at the question: What happens when women (re)write the history of their own prison?  Charlotte sat down with Elizabeth Nelson, Anastazia Schmid, and Michelle Daniel Jones to talk about their new book, Who would believe a prisoner? coming out in April from the New Press. Book https://thenewpress.com/books/who-would-believe-prisoner Article https://www.opencampusmedia.org/2023/03/27/reviving-womens-stories-and-critiquing-the-carceral-state/ Charlotte West https://www.opencampusmedia.org/author/charlotteopencampusmedia-org/ Follow DBI on Twitter & Instagram. Be sure to visit the DBI WEBSITE. Check out some Suave with the media on WHYY and on MSNBC. His amazing artwork is available for viewing and purchase at the Morton Contemporary Gallery here.  Music by Gordon Withers. Check out his WEBSITE and follow on Instagram. Edited by Jason Usry. Follow him on Twitter Listen to Kevin's show Adulting Well. And check out his company Social Imprints. Death By Incarceration is a Glassbox Media show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode eight, Spanky & The Cat, Spencer & Lisa talk with Angel "Spanky" Rodriguez. They cover topics ranging from the serious, how he burned himself out after spending the first 20 years of his sentence reaching out to innocence organizations. To the sweet, how Princess and Xena have won the hearts of the otherwise "tough guys" Listen now to get to know the man behind the story. And find out who Princess and Xena are. Be sure to check out and donate to June and Spanky here: Fundraiser And please sign the Change.org: Petition  Check out WAGS Rescue Organization to support programs that benefit incarcerated individuals and animals. Mailing Addresses:  Smart Communications/PA DOC SCI Phoenix - Emanuel Rios FA8038 P.O. Box 33028 St. Petersburg, FL 33733 Smart Communications/PA DOC SCI Chester - Angel Rodriguez BJ8105 P.O. Box 33028 St. Petersburg, FL 33733 June and Spanky can also emailing using ConnectNetwork.com.  follow us on instagram @injusticepod follow us on tiktok @injusticepod follow us on twitter @injustice_pod follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/injusticepod in/justice theme and original music produced by Benaldo Rivaldi. Listen on Apple, Spotify& Bandcamp. Check out our websites: InJustice Death By Incarceration Crawlspace Media  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode seven, June & Buddha, Spencer & Lisa sit down for an honest, wide-ranging conversation with Emmanuel "June" Rios. He talks about his feelings today toward Charles Peruto, Roger King, and most importantly, Romance Macarthur, how he handles the betrayal of a former friend and his plans for when he is released. Listen now to get to know the man behind the story. in/justice theme and original music produced by Benaldo Rivaldi. Listen on Apple, Spotify & Bandcamp. Check out our websites: InJustice DeathBy Incarceration CrawlspaceMedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode six, The Statements & The Testimony, Spencer & Lisa focus their discussion on Romance Macarthur. Macarthur was a walking, talking contradiction as well as the one person who had something to gain by June and Spanky’s conviction. Over the course of his multiple statements to police, Grand Jury testimony, and trial testimony, his story just kept changing. Regardless, based almost solely on his testimony, the jury convicted them and sent them to prison, where they remain to this day. in/justice theme and original music produced by Benaldo Rivaldi. Listen on Apple, Spotify& Bandcamp. Check out our websites: InJustice Death By Incarceration Crawlspace Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode five, The Letters, Spencer & Lisa discuss the letters Romance Macarthur sent to Emmanuel Rios, starting one year after Romance’s false testimony against him sent Rios to prison for murder. The two corresponded for nearly 20 years. The whole time Macarthur gave Rios his word that he would do everything in his power to make up for the injustice carried out against Rios and Angel Rodriguez. These letters, some of which fully corroborate Romance’s previous confession, as well as the confession tape itself, should have been enough to clear Rios and Rodriguez. Yet, 30 years later and the two remain behind bars. Listen for yourself and determine whether the pieces fit together to make a compelling case against Rios and Rodriguez or if you think they were wrongfully convicted. If you haven’t yet listened to episodes one or two, be sure and get caught up. in/justice theme and original music produced by Benaldo Rivaldi. Listen on Apple, Spotify& Bandcamp. Check out our websites: InJustice Death By Incarceration Crawlspace Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode four, The Prosecutor & The Trial, Spencer & Lisa discuss the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Roger King. King was known to do whatever it took to get a confession. Sometimes, what it took was suppressing evidence and fabricating wild stories. King was proud of 16 death penalty convictions on top of countless other courtroom victories. To date, seven of King's convictions have been overturned with many more under increased scrutiny. King secured guilty verdicts for Emmanuel Rios and Angel Rodriguez despite having zero physical evidence tying them to the crime. He also had knowledge of a taped confession that could have exonerated them both. Listen for yourself and determine whether the pieces fit together to make a compelling case against Rios and Rodriguez or if you think they were wrongfully convicted. If you haven’t yet listened to episodes one or two, be sure and get caught up. in/justice theme and original music produced by Benaldo Rivaldi. Listen on Apple, Spotify& Bandcamp. Check out our websites: InJustice Death By Incarceration Crawlspace Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode three, The Physical Evidence & The Witness Testimony, Spencer & Lisa discuss the witness statements from the people in the 8th & Butler neighborhood as well as their subsequent testimony. They discuss the physical evidence, or what little of it there was, including the autopsy of Shawn Nelson. And, for the first time, you’ll hear from Brooke Holmes, the girlfriend of Romance Macarthur. Listen for yourself and determine whether the pieces fit together to make a compelling case against Rios and Rodriguez or if you think they were wrongfully convicted. If you haven’t yet listened to episodes one or two, be sure and get caught up. in/justice theme and original music produced by Benaldo Rivaldi. Listen on Apple, Spotify& Bandcamp. Check out our websites: InJustice Death By Incarceration Crawlspace Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher Seeds is Assistant Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at the University of California, Irvine. Chris is the Author of Death By Prison, a book about Life without Parole In recent decades, life imprisonment without the possibility of parole (LWOP) has developed into a distinctive penal form in the United States, one firmly entrenched in US policy-making, judicial and prosecutorial decision-making, correctional practice, and public discourse. LWOP is now a routine practice, but how it came to be so remains in question. Fifty years ago, imprisonment of a person until death was an extraordinary punishment; today, it accounts for the sentences of an increasing number of prisoners in the United States. What explains the shifts in penal practice and social imagination by which we have become accustomed to imprisoning people until death without any reevaluation or expectation of release? Combining a wide historical lens with detailed state- and institutional-level research, Death by Prison offers a provocative new foundation for questioning this deeply problematic practice that has escaped close scrutiny for too long. Follow DBI on Twitter & Instagram. Be sure to visit the DBI WEBSITE. Check out some Suave with the media on WHYY and on MSNBC. His amazing artwork is available for viewing and purchase at the Morton Contemporary Gallery here.  Music by Gordon Withers. Check out his WEBSITE and follow on Instagram. Edited by Jason Usry. Follow him on Twitter Listen to Kevin's show Adulting Well. And check out his company Social Imprints. Death By Incarceration is a Glassbox Media show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special Presentation: Join us as we revisit the case of Emmanuel Rios and Angel Rodriguez - Romance and Murder on the Streets of Philadelphia In episode two, The Tape & The Confession, Spencer & Lisa discuss the events surrounding Romance Macarthur confessing to murder in the office of Emmanuel Rios's’ attorney. And how, after going unsolved for two years, Rios and Angel Rodriguez ended up on trial for that murder. You’ll hear clips from June & Spanky for the first time. You will also hear about the single best evidence that was never presented at trial, the confession tape that went missing. in/justice theme and original music produced by Benaldo Rivaldi. Listen on Apple, Spotify& Bandcamp. Check out our websites: InJustice Death By Incarceration Crawlspace Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Justice is a limited podcast series hosted and produced in association with Death By Incarceration. Now available on your favorite pod-catcher. In the first episode, The Case & The Men, The case is presented by the prosecution and some obvious holes therein. Through in-depth interviews with the family members of Emmanuel Rios and Angel Rodriguez, Lisa & Spencer were able to shine a brighter light on their stories. They touch on the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Roger King and the story that he was able to get a jury to believe. in/justice theme and original music produced by Benaldo Rivaldi. Listen on Apple, Spotify & Bandcamp. Check out our websites: InJustice DeathBy Incarceration CrawlspaceMedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices