20/20 After Show: Lost in the Night (Who Killed Jessica Currin?)

Date: October 27, 2025
Host: Debra Roberts
Guests: Susan Welsh (20/20 Producer), Brian Buckmire (ABC News Legal Contributor)

Main Theme & Purpose

This After Show episode analyzes the murder case of Jessica Curran, an 18-year-old mother found beaten and burned behind a middle school in Mayfield, Kentucky in 2000. The discussion explores the conviction of Quincy Cross for her murder and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his guilt. With new witness recantations and the involvement of the Kentucky Innocence Project, the case has seen recent developments, raising urgent questions about justice, small-town investigation challenges, and wrongful convictions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jessica Curran's Story: Context and Impact

• Jessica Curran was a young mother planning her future when her life was cut short by a gruesome murder (00:34).
• The case cast a long shadow over the small community, with lingering doubts about the investigation’s conclusions and the man convicted (Quincy Cross) (00:56–01:15).
• The 20/20 team, led by Susan Welsh, delved deep into the case, tracking community impact, interviewing family and witnesses, and exploring systemic issues (02:57–03:33).

Notable Quote:
"This was a story that is just so beyond sad. An 18 year old by the name of Jessica Curran...was found dead...her body was found beaten and burned. After many twists and turns in the case, a guy by the name of Quincy Cross was actually convicted...And today there are still big questions about whether he is the actual culprit."
—Debra Roberts (00:34)

The Role of the Community, Families, and Witnesses

• Producer’s Approach: The team aimed to get the full story from those directly involved, including Jessica’s family, Quincy Cross’s father David, and key witnesses (04:32–05:35).
• Witness Emotions: Victoria Caldwell and Venetia Stubblefield, who were both teenagers at the time, gave conflicting accounts and later expressed regret for earlier statements that contributed to the conviction (06:11).
  • Both women now want to set the record straight, stating they felt pressured and vulnerable when originally interrogated.
• Interrogation Pressures: Venetia’s emotional recounting of being interrogated, including swearing her truth on a Bible (07:26–07:37).
• Law Enforcement Practices: Discussion of the impact of inexperienced investigators and mishandled evidence on the trajectory of the case (09:17–09:51).

Notable Quote:
"They have regrets at the way things turned out because they felt that back in 2000...they were youngsters, they were 15 and 16 years old, and they felt very vulnerable...there are inconsistent statements and changing statements from them, statements that have put people behind bars...they really just want to set the record straight."
—Susan Welsh (06:11)

Citizen Sleuths and the Informal Investigation

• Citizen Sleuth's Influence: Susan Galbraith, a local, became a crucial tipster, gathering leads and even working alongside law enforcement due to her deep community connections (09:51–11:30).
  • The police considered her leads credible and followed up on many.
  • Galbraith’s interviews shifted attention towards Quincy Cross.

Notable Quote:
"She was willing to work in tandem with them...to record her conversations with people, and then pass along that information to police, which the police thought were solid leads."
—Susan Welsh (11:05)

Legal Developments & The Kentucky Innocence Project

• New Hearing for Quincy Cross: Recently, Cross’s lawyers secured an evidentiary hearing based on 2023 witness recantations (14:13).
  • The Kentucky Innocence Project supports Cross, arguing markers of wrongful conviction, especially based on shifting testimonies.
• Strengths and Weaknesses of the Prosecution:
  • Weak Forensics: Lack of forensic evidence (e.g. DNA, fingerprints) where it was most expected (15:19).
  • Reliance on Eyewitnesses: The conviction relied heavily on testimonies from codefendants, whose statements later became questionable.
• Family Advocacy: Jessica Curran’s father, Joe, continues to seek the truth, even questioning whether Cross is the true perpetrator (16:22–16:53).

Notable Quote:
"My promise to her is I won’t ever stop. I don’t quit."
—Joe Curran, Jessica’s father (16:22)

• Unlikely Alliances: Joe Curran and David Cross have joined forces to seek real justice—a rare unity between victim and accused’s families (19:00–20:24).

Notable Quote:
"It looks like we should be on opposite sides, but we really aren’t because we both want to get to the bottom of what has really happened to our children."
—Susan Welsh on the Curran and Cross families (19:32)

Legal Nuances: Alford Pleas & Collateral Convictions

• Other Suspects: Jeffrey Burton and Tamara Caldwell took Alford pleas, a type of deal allowing them to maintain innocence while accepting that conviction would otherwise be likely (21:09–22:09).

The Power of Media & Advocacy

• Role of Media and Podcasts: Coverage by 20/20 and crime podcasts (e.g. Bone Valley 3 Graves County) can spur public interest and bring new momentum to cold or questionable cases (24:37–25:49).
• Elected Officials’ Sensitivity: Public opinion shaped by media can pressure prosecutors and judges to re-examine controversial convictions (25:08).
• Hope for Reform: Media can drive not only individual case reopening but broader criminal justice reform.

The Human Dimension: Incarceration, Innocence, and Legal Defense

• Defending the Incarcerated: Attorneys strive to support clients during emotional lows and chase all possible avenues for justice—even when hope is slim (26:29–27:23).

Notable Quote:
"Some people say that they serve time with their clients when they serve because you can empathetically feel it. But you, you try your best to be there on the low points. The high points are easy."
—Brian Buckmire (26:29)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:34: Introduction of Jessica Curran case, overview of tragedy and controversy
• 04:32: Producers’ methods for community outreach and interviewing key figures
• 06:11: Witnesses' regrets, emotional motivations, vulnerability as teens
• 07:26: Venetia Stubblefield’s emotional recounting of police interrogation
• 09:17: Investigation errors—detective’s inexperience, mishandled evidence
• 09:51: Influence and role of citizen sleuth Susan Galbraith
• 11:30: Citizen’s evidence leading police to Quincy Cross
• 14:13: Legal update—evidentiary hearing and new witness recantations
• 15:19: Lack of forensic evidence; reliance on witness testimony
• 16:22: Joe Curran’s ongoing quest for justice (notable audio insert)
• 19:00: Unlikely alliance between Curran and Cross families
• 21:09: Explanation of Alford plea, implications for those convicted
• 24:37: Impact of podcasts and media coverage on criminal cases
• 25:08: Effects of public pressure on prosecution/judiciary
• 26:29: Defense lawyer’s experience supporting clients who claim innocence

Memorable and Notable Quotes

• "This was a story that is just so beyond sad...her future was obviously cut short by murder."
  —Debra Roberts (00:34)

• "Both Venetia and Victoria do have regrets. They have regrets at the way things turned out...statements that have put people behind bars. So they absolutely have regrets now..."
  —Susan Welsh (06:11)

• "If y’all give me a Bible...I put my right hand on the God on that Bible to let y’all know that I was not there."
  —Venetia Stubblefield (07:29)

• "Here you have this big case and a big homicide in this town, and the person that’s really over it doesn’t know what they’re doing."
  —Susan Welsh (09:17)

• "She was someone who knew everybody in the community because it is a small town, and she would go and talk to them...the police thought were solid leads at the time."
  —Susan Welsh (10:18–11:05)

• "There are some new things in the recantation, the 2023 recantations, that have not been raised before."
  —Brian Buckmire (14:13)

• "My promise to her is I won’t ever stop. I don’t quit."
  —Joe Curran (16:22)

• "A voice is only as powerful as the ear that will listen."
  —Brian Buckmire (18:15)

• "We both are fighting to really try and get to the bottom of it, just to make sure that the right person, not just any person, is, you know, serving the time."
  —Susan Welsh (19:32)

• "It’s those low points you really have to talk them through it and be there with them for it...you try your best to be there on the low points. The high points are easy."
  —Brian Buckmire (26:29)

Conclusion

This episode delves deeply into the complex and emotionally charged case of Jessica Curran’s murder, exploring why doubts persist about the convicted man’s guilt. The conversation spans investigative errors, evolving witness testimony, the advocacy of both the victim’s and accused’s families, and the growing impact of media and legal advocacy groups like the Innocence Project. The episode captures the anguish of those left behind and the hopeful energy behind ongoing efforts to uncover the truth.

For continued updates on the Jessica Curran case, the team encourages listeners to follow 20/20 and related true crime podcasts.