The Informer

Summary

48 Hours – “The Informer” (February 5, 2026)

Podcast Summary

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Main Theme

This episode of "48 Hours" explores the chilling real-life case of 84-year-old Marina Calabro’s murder. What first appeared to be a tragic accident was ultimately revealed—through a friend-turned-informer’s moral dilemma and covert police work—to be a calculated plot involving greed, betrayal, and the collapse of a close group of friends. The episode delves into how truth and loyalty collide in the pursuit of justice, and the far-reaching consequences for all involved.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Death of Marina Calabro: Accident or Murder?

• [00:47] Introduction to Marina Calabro: An 84-year-old, beloved “great aunt” with a healthy, independent life, devoted to her great nephew, Anthony Calabro.
• [01:20] On December 19, 2001, police were called—Marina was found dead at the bottom of her stairs; it looked like an accidental fall, and authorities accepted this explanation for months.
• [02:12] The close-knit group surrounding Anthony: Jason Weir, Jim Morrell, Tom Lally—portrayed as social outcasts who formed their own surrogate family (“We became kind of our own family.” – Jim Morrell [05:13]).
• [05:29] Anthony moved in with Marina after issues at home; she dotes on him, supports him financially, allows his friends to stay over.
• [07:18] After her death, Anthony inherits nearly $1 million. The friends splurge, seemingly unburdened.

2. A Conscience Tested: Jim Morrell’s Dilemma and Decision

• [08:24] Ten months after Marina’s death, Jason Weir confides to Jim Morrell that Marina’s death was not an accident—it was orchestrated.
  • “He said Marina Calabro didn’t exactly die on her own.” – Jim Morrell [08:24]
• [09:00] Jason alleges Tom Lally beat Marina with a frying pan, while Anthony waited in the car as lookout.
• [09:48] Jim agonizes over what to do: “Holding onto a secret like that would completely change who you are. It eats at you.” – Jim Morrell [09:48]
• [10:01] Ultimately, Jim tells his father and the police—but the police initially suspect him, prompting Jim to volunteer to wear a wire to gather evidence.
  • “This will prove my innocence. You know, that's all you can do because then it's just my word against them.” – Jim Morrell [10:30]

3. Undercover Work: Confessions, Betrayal, and the Unraveling Plot

• [13:11] Jim, feeling guilty but determined, wears a wire and gets Jason to repeat the story in vivid, disturbing detail—which the police monitor.
• [14:02] Jason describes Tom Lally’s prolonged, brutal attack with a frying pan and teakettle, and the efforts to stage the body as if Marina fell.
• [15:27] Jason claims Anthony was outside during the murder; admits to helping cover up the crime.
• [15:55] Marina’s last moments are relayed: “She was screaming for Anthony’s name…‘Anthony wants it this way. It’s better this way. Just give in. Let go.’” – Jason Weir via Jim Morrell [16:10]
• [16:22] After this, Jim Morrell feels no qualms about turning his friends in: “I wanted nothing more than just to lash out and say, how could you just stand there and watch this?...So I just said to myself, I'm gonna screw you so unbelievably.” – Jim Morrell [16:29]
• [17:24] Within days, all three suspects—Anthony, Jason, and Tom—are arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

4. Fallout: Community, Family, and the Investigation’s Flaws

• [18:28] Family members struggle to believe their relatives are capable of murder; each blames the others.
• [19:51] Prosecutor Susan Corcoran asserts the prosecution’s theory: the murder was a plot for inheritance, but there are significant investigative hurdles.
• [21:28] Marina’s niece, Donna, laments the police’s early failures: “I think that police should be held accountable for doing such a terrible, non-caring investigation.” [22:13]
• [23:36] Physical evidence is scant, as the scene was initially ruled an accident and contaminated.
• [24:47] Weapons are found where Jason described, but defense claims the evidence is inconclusive.

5. The Case Unravels in Court: Shifting Stories and Partial Justice

• [31:42] The prosecution’s strongest evidence is witness testimony, not forensics.
  • Friends testify the suspects “used to talk about how to kill Marina for her money” [31:55].
• [33:16] Jason Weir, cutting a plea deal, testifies Tom was the killer.
• [33:36] His account is graphic, detailing Marina’s desperate pleas.
• [34:34] Forensic evidence: new testing finds partial DNA under Marina’s fingernails matched to Tom Lally—not conclusive, but consistent with prosecution claims.
• [35:37] On the stand, Tom Lally insists Jason is the real killer. Both blame each other.
• [37:46] Jury verdict: Tom Lally is found guilty of first-degree murder (life without parole).

6. Resolutions and Aftermath: The Emotional Legacy

• [41:14] Anthony Calabro, faced with evidence and seeing his friend convicted, confesses—pleads guilty to second-degree murder.
  • "I'm disgusted with myself. I'm disgusted with my actions. I don't even think there are any words in the English language that can explain how sorry I am for everything that I've done.” – Anthony Calabro [41:14]
• [42:01] Anthony receives life with the possibility of parole in 12 years.
• [42:28] Jason Weir, for his cooperation, serves a lighter sentence and is eventually released in 2009; Anthony is paroled in 2022; Tom Lally remains in prison for life.
• [43:40] Jim Morrell, who exposed the murder, still questions the cost of his choice, feeling both responsible for justice and for the destruction of his friends’ lives.
  • “Their lives are kind of ruined now…they destroyed one life. And I kind of feel like even now, after everything, I still feel like I kind of destroyed three.” – Jim Morrell [44:02]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Whether it was a broken home or a troubled childhood, we were all just a little different. And that's why we really kind of just came together..."
  — Jim Morrell [05:13]

• “He said, Tom Lally beat her with a frying pan. In my mind, I'm picturing my grandmother...if someone's doing this to your grandmother, it's, it's. I don't know.”
  — Jim Morrell [08:38]

• “She was screaming for Anthony’s name. She's like, Anthony, Anthony, help me, help me... ‘Anthony wants it this way. It’s better this way. Just give in. Let go.’”
  — Jason Weir via Jim Morrell [15:55]

• “Holding onto a secret like that would completely change who you are. It eats at you.”
  — Jim Morrell [09:48]

• “It felt like I just. I just killed my best friends.”
  — Jim Morrell [20:42]

• “His confession comes only after the state's decision to offer him a date. Plead guilty to a lesser charge.” — Narrator [41:46]

• “This case would be nowhere without Jim Morrell. These three kids could have gone on the rest of their lives and gotten away with this murder.”
  — Narrator [43:40]

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Critical Timestamps

• [00:47] – Marina Calabro: her life and care for Anthony
• [01:20] – The apparent “accidental fall”
• [08:24] – The informer’s secret: confession of murder
• [10:07] – Jim Morrell goes to police, sets up the wiretap
• [13:11] – Undercover: Jim wears a wire, records Jason’s detailed confession
• [16:22] – Jim’s resolve to pursue justice
• [17:24] – Arrest of Anthony, Jason, and Tom
• [21:28] – Family suspicions and failures of early police work
• [31:42] – Testimony and the case in court
• [33:16] – Jason Weir’s detailed account of the murder
• [35:37] – Tom Lally’s defense and accusations on the stand
• [38:05] – Tom Lally convicted of first-degree murder
• [41:14] – Anthony Calabro’s courtroom confession
• [43:40] – The informer’s reflections, emotional impact

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Conclusion

"The Informer" is a raw, haunting depiction of a horrific crime, the failures and successes of investigative work, and—most strikingly—the emotional devastation left in its wake. Through powerful first-person accounts and courtroom drama, the episode highlights the price of truth and the irreversible consequences of choosing justice over loyalty. Listeners are left to ponder: In the same impossible situation, what would you have done?

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For more in-depth case follow-ups, tune in to the “Post Mortem” series and visit the 48 Hours YouTube channel.

Transcript

[Jim Morrell]

This message may be shocking to many millennials.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

If you are one, you might want to sit down. Right now, loads of people are searching the following on low rise Jeans, halter top, velour, tracksuit, puka shell necklace, disc belt. You likely place these in the dark of your closet in 2004, never to be seen again.

[Jim Morrell]

But if you can find it in.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Yourself to dust them off, there are.

[Jim Morrell]

A lot of people who will give.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

You money for them. Sell on depop where taste recognizes taste.

[Jim Morrell]

Marina Calabro was 84 years old. She was a retired hairdresser and the great aunt of Anthony Calabro. From what I hear, one of the sweetest ladies you could have ever met. She used to cook, clean, give him as much money as he ever needed. Any possible worry that he could ever have, she took care of, she spoiled him. She was healthy, she was living. It wasn't her time.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

December 19, 2001, Anthony Calabro had made a call to the Quincy police that he had come home and found his great aunt at the foot of the stairs, dead. My name is Susan Corcoran and I am the prosecutor in this case. When the investigators responded to Marina Calabro's house that night, they found her with her face down in a fetal position with blood coming from a head wound. It looked from all appearances that she may have fallen. And for months after that, everyone believed that Marina Calabro had died as a result of an accidental fall down her stairs.

[Jim Morrell]

My name's Jim Rowe. Anthony Calabro was a friend of mine. Jason Weir was my close friend as well. I grew up with these people. We had a strong family like relationship between all of us, a Bond. It was 10 months after the death that Jason told me a very disturbing secret. Jason said that Marina Collaboro didn't really die on her own. She had some help from others. They made it look like an accident. I thought, how could this happen? I believed what everybody else did. I believe that she fell down the stairs. You know, it happens all the time. So you think, is it a hoax, is it a joke? You never really think about what you would do until it actually happens to you. If I do go to the place, what is this gonna do? What is this going to solve? The deed's already done. She's already dead. There's no bringing her back now. As horrible as it sounds, or as horrible as they may seem, Anthony and Jason were my best friends. What would you do. The inform. My biggest passion was music.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

22 year old Jim Morrell admits that what he Used to consider good music basically. Electronic composing certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea. A few years ago. His compositions were designed to shock, as was his band Six Six Six.

[Jim Morrell]

And the name of my band was Electronic Kill Machine. The music was disturbing, it was a little on the aggressive side, but at the same time it was all in good fun. Nobody was really ever hurt from it.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Andy says it simply reflected the attitude of his crowd at the time.

[Jim Morrell]

We thought we were untouchable, do whatever he wanted and there was not gonna be any source of consequences for any of our actions.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Jim and his friends grew up in Norton, Massachusetts, a working class town near Boston.

[Jim Morrell]

Norton's not that big of a town, there's not much there.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

His best friend was Jason Weir, who played drums in his band.

[Jim Morrell]

Jason was a little rebellious, a little bit more wild.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Another close friend, Anthony Calabro was informally the manager.

[Jim Morrell]

He was a regular average guy, you know.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And Tom Lally, who was a little older, just liked to hang out, eager to fit in.

[Jim Morrell]

Tom was a funny guy. He was a really, really funny guy, which made it hard to fear Tom, but he wanted to be feared.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Kind of a tough guy, he kind.

[Jim Morrell]

Of a tough guy thing, but he was more of a goofy, just looking to go out and have a good time.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Their backgrounds made the four a perfect fit.

[Jim Morrell]

Whether it was a broken home or a troubled childhood, we were all just a little different. And that's why we really kind of just came together in this group of social misfits in some way or another and we became kind of our own family.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

In the summer of 2001, Anthony, then odds with both parents, left Norton and moved into the Quincy home of his 84 year old great aunt Marina. She really loved this kid.

[Jim Morrell]

Oh yeah, oh yeah. With all her heart.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

His aunt, Donna Strassel, was happy to hear the news. The truth is, I thought it was the best thing for him to be with Aunt Marina because Aunt Marina had morals, rules. Marina only had recently retired as a hairdresser. She'd never married or had children of her own. And she doted on Anthony like a favored son. Oh God. She did everything for Anthony, dipping into her savings to support him. Whatever he wanted, he got. Whatever he wanted, he got. And whenever they pleased, Marina even let Anthony's friends crash at her house. A house which at 84, she still maintained herself. She kept the inside of the house very well, climbed the stairs with no problems, out shoveled the snow. She was very healthy, very active. But just days before Christmas in 2001, Marina Calabro's independent life came to a tragic end around 11pm Anthony called the police to report that when he and Tom Lally had come home that night, they had found her dead lying at the bottom of the stairs. The police took photos, but more or less as routine. They believed Marina Calabro had taken a terrible fall while carrying a bag of trash. And the medical examiner soon confirmed this death was an accident.

[Jim Morrell]

Anthony was really upset. He became a lot more quiet, I think more to himself.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Even in death. Marina Calabro took care of her beloved great nephew. Her will left Anthony half of her estate, which consisted of her $500,000 house and another half million or so that she had squirreled away over the years. She made good money as a hairdresser, worked all of her life saved. And once Anthony got the money, Anthony.

[Jim Morrell]

Was very, very generous with his money. We could buy, do whatever we wanted if we wanted to go nuts with anything we could.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

So they did. They went nuts with new equipment for the band and even made a cd.

[Jim Morrell]

We were on the verge of some pretty promising opportunities coming our way. We had a pretty good following.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

But that all ended abrupt. On October 13, 2002, nearly 10 months after Anthony's aunt had died, Jim and his best friend Jason Weir were at this restaurant chatting about Anthony's spending. When Jason offhandedly dropped that bombshell.

[Jim Morrell]

He said Marina Claver didn't exactly die on her own.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Jim was still reeling from the shock of that news when, when we first spoke to him three months later, I.

[Jim Morrell]

Just kind of sat there, I'm like, what do you mean? He's like, oh, Tom Beater to death. Just like that was pretty shocking. He said, Tom Lally beat her with a frying pan. In my mind, I'm picturing my grandmother. You know, if someone's doing this to your grandmother, it's, it's. I don't know.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And what did he tell you he was doing at the time?

[Jim Morrell]

That's what I asked at the end. I'm like, well, what were you doing? I mean, what involvement do you have? And he said, I was just freaked out.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And Anthony, where was he?

[Jim Morrell]

Anthony was downstairs waiting in the car. He was kind of keeping a lookout.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Jim knew his friends weren't angels, but would they? Could they really murder an 84 year old woman?

[Jim Morrell]

It's like a friend you grew up with and it's like such a horrific thing.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

This is somebody you thought you knew, right? Why do you think he suddenly decided to tell you?

[Jim Morrell]

Why he told me because he, because he had a lot of trust in me.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

That trust left Jim Morrell panicked over what to do. Betray his friends or protect their terrible secret.

[Jim Morrell]

Holding onto a secret like that would completely change who you are. It eats at you. It is someone that did not deserve to die.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

That same night, Jim told his father. Together, they went to the police, tapped.

[Jim Morrell]

In the glass and said, we have a murder report.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

He had no idea what he was in for.

[Jim Morrell]

I was thinking I was going to do this all anonymously. No one would ever know anything about me. Just walk in, walk out and I did my part and I don't have to deal with anything.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

To his surprise, the police seemed to suspect him. Indignant, he volunteered to wear a wire, convinced he could get Jason to confide again.

[Jim Morrell]

This will prove my innocence. You know, that's all you can do because then it's just my word against them.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

To his even greater surprise, the police liked the idea. What did you know about wearing a wire?

[Jim Morrell]

I didn't know anything. I saw a bunch of movies.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Three days later, Jim was wired and braced to betray his friend.

[Jim Morrell]

I said, three days ago you told me something pretty disturbing.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And Jason was ready to talk.

[Jim Morrell]

I shouldn't have told you, but I know I can trust.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

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[Jim Morrell]

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[Narrator/Interviewer]

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[Jim Morrell]

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[Narrator/Interviewer]

Big business idea into sign up for your $1 per month trial at shopify.com specialoffer. October 2002 and Jim. Jim Morrell and Jason Weir were doing what they had done a thousand times before. Just driving around Norton and hanging out. But this time, Jim Morrell was wearing a wire, secretly pumping his friend Jason for details of Marina Calabro's murder. And he was feeling very guilty about it.

[Jim Morrell]

Here it is, you know, a guy that feels so close and so confident telling you and you're just gonna go right around and stab him in the back. For the sake of my consciousness, tell me just exactly what happened and then we will drop the subject forever.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Detectives followed in an unmarked car, recording every word of what turned out to be a chilling tale of murder.

[Jim Morrell]

Then what happened?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Weir claimed he was paralyzed with shock when he saw Tom Lally Suddenly attack the 84 year old woman with a frying pan and could only stand there and watch as she fought for her life.

[Jim Morrell]

He's wrestling with her, she falls by the stove and grabbed that yellow key kettle and bashed their face in with it. He took him a good 10, 15 minutes. Managed to kill her. Really? Oh, yeah. Oh my God.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Repeatedly, Weir told Morrell that although Lally did it, once the deed was done, he had no choice but to help cover it up. You gotta help me. I'm like, well, I'm like, I can't.

[Jim Morrell]

Believe he did that. It needs to be done. We all want a better life. We all want this house. We all need this.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

So we're in it together. And he matter of factly boasted that their extensive knowledge of forensics really had paid off.

[Jim Morrell]

They were really into like the forensic stuff. They'd watch three hour blocks of forensic files. There'd be hours and hours on the computer studying over case files.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

So he told you basically that they.

[Jim Morrell]

They carried her down the steps, Carried.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Her down the steps and positioned her body so that it looks the way they think it would look if someone had fallen. Right. Throughout the whole thing, Jason said Marina's nephew Anthony was keeping watch outside.

[Jim Morrell]

See, he doesn't know exactly what happened. He knows me and harbor in there and she died. That's all he knows.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Jim kept Jason talking.

[Jim Morrell]

How was Ant's reaction to this? Was he like upset by this at all?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And the longer he talked, the more disgusted Jim Morrell became.

[Jim Morrell]

So as bad as you think, dude, really, it didn't affect me.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Especially when Jason described Marina's final moments.

[Jim Morrell]

She was screaming for Anthony's name. She's like, anthony, Anthony, help me, help me. And then I'm like, what did Tom do? And he's like, he just got real close to her and squeezed her and he just whispered her in the ear. He's like, just go.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Just go.

[Jim Morrell]

Anthony wants it this way. Just go. Anthony wants it this way. It's better this way. Just give in. Let go.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

After that admission, Morel says he no longer felt any guilt about snitching on his friends.

[Jim Morrell]

I wanted nothing more than just a lash out and say, how could you just stand there and watch this? So I just said to myself, I'm gonna screw you. So unbelievably. And I said, so where are the murder weapons?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Jason suddenly swerved off the road into a dark wooded area by a pond and showed him.

[Jim Morrell]

Looks how old. The doormat should be over there, the frying pan should be over there. And then he just took me and he drove me home.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

It had been several hours, but Jim's ordeal finally was over.

[Jim Morrell]

All right then, let's just never think of it again, okay? Easy for me to do.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Nine days after that harrowing ride, police took 19 year old Anthony Calabro, 17 year old Jason Weir and 21 year old Thomas Lally into custody. All were charged with first degree murder. Conviction would mean a life sentence in a million years.

[Jim Morrell]

I never thought I would go through something like this.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Jason's father, Rick Weir, heard about his son's arrest on the news.

[Jim Morrell]

I'm just starting to cry all over the place. Every time I saw it, I'd get the same feeling, you know. But there was nothing I could do for him at that point. I couldn't get near him, I couldn't touch him, couldn't help him. And you plead guilty or not guilty? Not guilty. Guilty, you, Honor.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And despite the evidence, I told you exactly what happened. The father is standing by his son convinced that Jason didn't actually do anything to harm Marina Calabro.

[Jim Morrell]

I know he wouldn't. I know the type of person he is. He wouldn't do that. Come on, guys, let's go out.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

But this man doesn't buy Jason's story at all. Come on, guys. Especially not the part about Jason being the bystander and Tom Lally the murderer.

[Jim Morrell]

I believe 100% that my nephew's story is being used by someone else.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Tom Lally always has been close to his nephew. His sister's son was named after him.

[Jim Morrell]

I would describe Tom as a follower and in this particular situation, he was the follower. And he believed in his friends.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

He may have run with the wrong crowd, Lally says, but Tom couldn't possibly murder anyone.

[Jim Morrell]

He's a good kid, definitely a giving kid.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And he and Tom's mother regularly visit him.

[Jim Morrell]

He's allowed two visits a week and I always take at least one visit.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Tom has insisted that it was Jason Weir who committed this crime. Do you believe that Jason Weir's story is right but that the roles were switched?

[Jim Morrell]

Yes, I believe that Tom got caught up in something that became too big and he didn't know how to get out.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

But Assistant District Attorney Susan Corcoran says that when the state got the case, it believed the three friends carefully plotted the murder together. The problem was proving it. They knew that he was going to inherit this house from her and they did not want to wait for her to die. It's been more than two years since Jim Morrell went to the police. Are you regarded as the betraying snitch or are you the local hero?

[Jim Morrell]

A little bit of both.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Two years since his information led to murder charges against his three closest pals.

[Jim Morrell]

It felt like I just. I just killed my best friends.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

People will say, you know, but you did the right thing. You shouldn't feel badly about this.

[Jim Morrell]

Well, easier said than done.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Jason Weir, Anthony Calabro and Tom Lally sit behind bars waiting to be tried for the death of 84 year old Marina Calabro. Their arrest putting an abrupt end to those carefree days of hanging out and playing in the band.

[Jim Morrell]

It was probably the best idea to stop what I was doing. I wasn't getting known for what I wanted to be known for. I was known for, wow, your drummer is a murderer.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Marina Calabro's niece Donna is glad Morel came forward, but thinks the cops shouldn't have needed to be told that this was no accident. I know it was murder. I had no doubt in my mind, none. She had visited her aunt in the weeks before she died and says it was obvious Marina's world was in disarray. The house was not like Aunt Marina keeps it.

[Jim Morrell]

It wasn't normal, it was wrong. It was just wrong.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Anthony, the nephew she doted on, had become surly and resentful. I saw the way Anthony was treating Aunt Marina, namely how very disrespectful. Give me an example. Swearing at her, yelling at her, his ever present friends Jason and Tom, a constant problem. The atmosphere was evil. These boys were wild. They weren't caring. I did not like these boys at all. Marina was so frightened. Donna says she'd begun hiding her money.

[Jim Morrell]

She would put it in a nylon.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Stocking and wrap it around her waist when she'd go to bed at night. I told Aunt Marina that she was in great danger, and she said that if anything happened to her, she'd call 911. And I, I told her, you'll never get the chance. I just knew. As soon as she heard about Marina's death, Donna says she was suspicious and she went to the police with her concerns. They showed little interest. I think that police should be held accountable for doing such a terrible, non caring investigation. They took it as an old woman who fell down the stairs and let it go. Assistant DA Susan Corcoran concedes investigators mistakes early on made it much harder to build a case. You didn't look at this and say, oh, you know, this will be a snap. No, I did not. I knew that I had to overcome a lot of issues when I. When I first received the case. What was the biggest one that you think you had to overcome? The state police had declared it an accident, the Quincy police had declared it an accident, and the medical examiner had declared it an accident. So even though detectives on the scene did notice scratches on Tom Lally's face, they didn't bother taking pictures, instead simply accepting the boy's explanation. They said that the night before, they had an argument because Anthony had been drinking or something to that effect, and Tom tried to grab the bottle from him and Anthony scratched Tom's face. Ten months later, by the time the police knew they were investigating a murder, not only had the scratches healed, Marina Calabro's house had been sold, the kitchen remodeled. What would the crime scene folks have done that they couldn't do? By the time they got into the house, they tried to do testing for blood. It was too long. It was too late for them to do any type of testing. So although Corcoran had Jim Morrell secretly recorded tapes, she initially had little else. They were very good at covering their tracks. They tried to conceal the crime. When she was found at the foot of the stairs, they covered everything up. They cleaned everything up at the crime scene. On that night, When police drained the pond where Jason Weir had taken Jim Morrell, they did find the frying pan believed to be the murder weapon. And it was right there where Weir said it would be. Also found remnants of newspapers from the week of the crime and a yellow teakettle. This was a very, very heinous crime. It was committed with a frying pan and with a tea kettle. Not so fast, says Jason weir's attorney. Ed McCormick.

[Jim Morrell]

I'm sure if we go to any pond in the ab General area, we're going to find some debris.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

He thinks that after 10 months in the pond, frying pans and teakettles are not evidence.

[Jim Morrell]

There's no fingerprints to tie anyone to this.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

The state, McCormick charges, has been all too eager to jump to wild conclusions to make up for evidence it doesn't have. He points to a bizarre discovery at the crime lab, which at one point said it actually had found DNA on Marina Calabro's body in seminal fluid.

[Jim Morrell]

Question obviously is, whose is it? How did it get there?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

The lab took DNA samples from the three suspects and even from Jim Morrell. It didn't match Morell. And to make matters worse for the state, it didn't match the three suspects either.

[Jim Morrell]

It really calls into question the entire.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Version of the death of Marina Colebro as alleged by the Commonwealth. McCormick suggests Weir's damning admissions on tape are just typical adolescent swagger.

[Jim Morrell]

Is this just two 16, 17 year.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Old boys talking big? Who caught the biggest fish?

[Jim Morrell]

Who has the prettiest girlfriend? Who has the fastest car? Let me tell you something that will shock you and make myself feel tough. I don't know.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Lally's lawyer, Robert Griffin, says in his client's case, the alleged motive, greed, makes no sense.

[Jim Morrell]

Thomas Lally had an annuity that was going to pay him money every five years. He received his first payment in 2001.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And Anthony Calabro's lawyer, Bob Lowney, says that when Anthony wanted money, he was.

[Jim Morrell]

Getting anything he wanted from her.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

All he had to do was ask. So does Anthony explain this situation in terms of, hey, she just fell down the stairs.

[Jim Morrell]

That's what we maintain. Not part of any criminal activity.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Anthony's aunt Donna would so like to believe that. I wish to God it wasn't Anthony. More than anything, I wished it wasn't Anthony.

[Jim Morrell]

But it is.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

As the state prepares to go to trial, its star witness, Jim Morrell, is ready to face his former friends in court.

[Jim Morrell]

I'm confident that I can do this. I'm very confident.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

You're not nervous?

[Jim Morrell]

I'm a little nervous.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And Lally's lawyer says his client, the first up, is terrified. What are the stakes here?

[Jim Morrell]

He goes home or he goes to prison for the rest of his life with no possibility of parole. What's up, guys? I'm Candace Dillard Bassett, and you may know me from my time on the Real Housewives of Potomac or as a part of the latest cast of the Trail. And I'M Michael Arseneault, author of the New York Times bestseller I Can't Date Jesus. On our podcast, Undomesticated, we don't just say the quiet parts out loud. We're putting it all on the kitchen table and inviting you into the chaos. If you're ready for bold takes, real talk and a little fun, come join us, listen to and follow Undomesticated and Odyssey podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

March 3, 2006 and Tom Lally has changed dramatically in the more than four years since Marina Calabro died. He's the first of the three defendants to stand trial for her murder.

[Jim Morrell]

He's nervous. He's got to get up there, he's got to tell his story, and this is the fight of his life.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

His uncle has been by his side.

[Jim Morrell]

Throughout for the last four years. I just did everything I could do to keep Tom going and just really tried to be positive.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

It was the perfect crime. That's what he said. But in prosecutor Susan Corcoran's eyes, this defendant strikes her on the head with the frying pan. Tom Lally is a cold blooded murderer, period. Whacking her as she was screaming for her life. She makes sure the jury knows that this slight young man before them bears little resemblance to the swaggering tough he once was. He was 220 pounds and was bald.

[Jim Morrell]

He may have looked tough, but Tom's never been a tough kid. I would say the exact opposite.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Lally describes his nephew as a caring boy, close to his mother, saddled with learning disabilities and struggling with a mild case of Tourette's syndrome.

[Jim Morrell]

The only place I've been able to get my answers is from Tom, and I do believe him.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

He thinks that in the end, the state can't prove its case, and for sure, the state has problems.

[Jim Morrell]

Thank you, you, Honor.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

As defense attorney Robert Griffin points out, not only is there the medical examiner's initial ruling, you had ruled that the.

[Jim Morrell]

Cause of death was an accident, correct?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

That's right. But the DNA supposedly found on Marina's body turned out to be one big embarrassment for the state. Further testing showed it wasn't from seminal fluid after all. And worse, it came from the lab worker who did the testing.

[Jim Morrell]

You contaminated that sample during the course of your handling it, correct? That's correct.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Still, as much as the defense discredits the early investigation, this is a story of loyalty and betrayal. And the prosecution's case relies less on forensic evidence than on the testimony of Lally's friends or former friends. Do you know the defendant? Yes, I do.

[Jim Morrell]

I do.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Yes, ma'. Am. And they can't seem to bear their souls fast enough. Offering chilling testimony about how Anthony and Tom used to talk about Marina Calabro. Tom was saying that he could have.

[Jim Morrell]

Her neck broken without leaving any bruises.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Wouldn't it be funny if we pushed.

[Jim Morrell]

Her down the stairs and got her money? Put some recess. All right.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

The one friend not called to testify, Jim Morrell, whose undercover taping unraveled the entire plot. Instead, the state produces a new key witness. Please call your next witness, someone who was actually there. You saw him swear to testimony about to get to this court. Jason Weir, betrayed by Jim Morrell back in 2002. He is now in turn betraying his friends. In exchange for his testimony, he agreed to plead to manslaughter and take a 10 year sentence. He was always consistent about what happened in that apartment that day and always consistent about what Tom Lally did. Jason tells the jurors that he heard Tom and Anthony plot the crime.

[Jim Morrell]

Anthony would say something along the lines of, I should take a contract out on her. And Tom Lally would say, it could be arranged. Or, you know, what if something was to happen to her and you just didn't know about it?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

He claims he never took it seriously until that moment. He and Marina stood in the kitchen, and Tom walked in with a frying pan.

[Jim Morrell]

She says, what are you doing with my pan? He was just like, I'm doing this. And as I looked up to see this frying pan came literally right across my face. I could feel the breeze off of it.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

What was the next thing you remember happening, Mr. Ware?

[Jim Morrell]

He hit her in the head with a pan.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Marina kept struggling. Jason says, and then Tom grabbed a teakettle.

[Jim Morrell]

He had picked it up, and he was hitting her off the head with it.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

What was she doing at that point?

[Jim Morrell]

She was terrified. She was screaming, she was yelling, calling for Anthony, calling for anything.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Did you go in to help Marina Calabro at any point?

[Jim Morrell]

No, I didn't.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And why not?

[Jim Morrell]

I didn't. I couldn't react. I was too afraid.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

When it was over, Jason says, and Anthony had come inside, Lally kept his cool.

[Jim Morrell]

He said, I put her head at the bottom of the stairs so that way it'll look like it's all legitimate.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

But defense attorney Griffin says Jason Weir would say anything to save himself. And he reminds jurors how cocky Jason was when he confided to Jim Morrell.

[Jim Morrell]

You told Mr. Morrell that you played it smart, didn't you? Yes, I did. You told James Morell you knew you would get away with it, didn't you? Yes, I did.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

But whatever the jury may think of Jason's callous words, the State finally has some forensic evidence to bolster his story. In 2005, Prosecutor Corcoran had Marina's fingernail clippings tested by another lab. And it found DNA. DNA, which, while not conclusive, is a partial match to Tom Lally. The DNA underneath the fingernails could be from Tom Lally? Yes. Is that right? Yes. And it excluded the other two defendants. It could not be from either Jason Weir or Anthony Calabro. So it's very consistent. We had the fingernail scrapings and the fingernail clippings from Marina Calabro and the scratch marks on Thomas Lally's face. Lally's uncle believes the DNA got under Marina's nails when his nephew tried to help her. But he knows things look bad.

[Jim Morrell]

Just gotta keep him thinking strong and thinking positive and get him back in the game.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Defense calls Thomas Lally seemingly backed into a corner. You saw this. With this one, Tom Lally takes the stand in his own defense.

[Jim Morrell]

Mr. Lally, did you harm Marina Calabro in any way? No. I had nothing to do with Marina's death. Jason Ware killed her.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Just switch the roles. Lally says Jason was the killer. It was Jason who took him by surprise that horrible day.

[Jim Morrell]

Jason Ware came out of the dining room with a sock on his right hand. He was holding a frying pan, and he struck Marina Calabro in the head with it. What, if anything, did you do when you saw Jason Ware strike Ms. Calabro? I tried to help her by getting in between them, but she had fallen to the floor unconscious. During the course of that struggle, what, if anything, happened to you? He scratched my face.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

It was Jason, Tom says, who staged the scene.

[Jim Morrell]

He dragged her body to the stairs and placed her at the bottom of the landing.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And then he says Jason bullied both him and Anthony into lying to the police.

[Jim Morrell]

What was the reason you were afraid of him, Mr. Lally? I saw him kill Marina Calabro, and he was threatening me and my family.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Prosecutor Corcoran doesn't hide her disgust at this story. I'm asking you, when Jason Weir came into that kitchen, which is a small kitchen, from that living room, you couldn't see that frying pan in his hand. You want the jurors to believe that?

[Jim Morrell]

Yes, ma'. Am. When he raised his hand is when I saw it. That was when I took notice of it.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Was she yelling at that Time. No, she was just standing there. She wasn't yelling.

[Jim Morrell]

She may have made a sound. I did not hear her yell though. No.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

She was struck three times with a cast iron frying pan. And you did not hear Marina Calabro yelling, Mr. Lally?

[Jim Morrell]

It was in very rapid succession and.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

It was not a cast iron frying pan. Please answer my question. Did you Hear her scream, Mr. Lally? That's what I meant to say.

[Jim Morrell]

No, I did not, ma'. Am.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

You were very tough on him. I think I had to be. I think I had to be tough on him. I firmly believe that he was the one who committed this crime. No further questions. Thank you.

[Jim Morrell]

Thank you, Mr. Lalle. You may step down. I was proud of him. He's been waiting four years to tell his side of the story. It was important for him to be heard, but it was also difficult.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

With the case in the jury's hands, Tom's mother and uncle can only wait.

[Jim Morrell]

My biggest fear is that Tom doesn't make it home.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And after only four hours on the charge of murders defending guilty or not guilty? Guilty of murder in the first degree. Tom Lally is found guilty of first degree murder.

[Jim Morrell]

Really knocked me for a loop.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

The sentence, life without parole.

[Jim Morrell]

I truly prayed every night and every day for the last four years for something else. And the raw emotion just came out.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

The fate of Anthony Calabro, alleged mastermind, is yet to be decided.

[Jim Morrell]

I've got a case where I've got a client who was not in the room.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And that means his lawyer says that despite the Lally verdict, he still could win his case. There's a lot of different ways this.

[Jim Morrell]

Could have went down that my client didn't have to necessarily know about.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

I think Anthony was the smartest of the three of them.

[Jim Morrell]

When you take a sip of an ice cold Coke, zero sugar, you know you're getting real Coca Cola taste you love. And with zero sugar. It's so delicious you can almost taste it with your ears.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Hear those bubbles.

[Jim Morrell]

Imagine them tingling on your tongue. Fizzy deliciousness. Listen to that cascading liquid. It's unmistakably tasty. All with zero sugar.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Crisp, refreshing and ice cold.

[Jim Morrell]

Ah, Coke. Zero sugar. Real Coca Cola taste, zero sugar.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

She is an extraordinary woman. You miss her? Oh, yeah, very much so. Very much so. As hard as the as Donna Strassel finds it to accept the loss of her aunt Marina, it just should never have happened. It's even harder to accept that her own nephew Anthony was behind the murder.

[Jim Morrell]

I love him. He's my nephew.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

But he needs to be held accountable and he needs to take responsibility for this court.

[Jim Morrell]

All right, Please.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Marina Calabro adored her great nephew, Anthony Calabro. But Anthony betrayed his great aunt's love, says prosecutor Susan Corcoran. And with appalling, callousness, she put up a fight. It took a while for this woman to die, and she was screaming for her great nephew to come in and help her.

[Jim Morrell]

Put.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

I'll rise, please. By the time Anthony Calabro finally has his day in court, four years have passed since Marina's death. Does Mr. Calabro wish to speak? Unlike his friends, Anthony never gave a statement to police. He now tearfully breaks his three and a half year silence.

[Jim Morrell]

I'm disgusted with myself. I'm disgusted with my actions. I don't even think there are any words in the English language that can explain how sorry I am for everything that I've done.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Having seen his friend Tom Lally convicted and hit with life without parole, Anthony is now no longer proclaiming his innocence.

[Jim Morrell]

It's my sincerest wish that I could go back in time and undo the events of that day. I only hope that someday I might be able to be forgiven for all that I've done. Do you solemnly swear to make true answers to such questions as you.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

His confession comes only after the state's decision to offer him a date. Plead guilty to a lesser charge.

[Jim Morrell]

Did you commit the crime of murder in the second degree? Yes, you, Honor. Thank you, sir. I'll accept your plea of guilty.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Prosecutor Susan Corcoran reminds the court one last time just what he did in every horrific detail. When the defendant entered the apartment, he saw that the victim was dead, shrugged and left. Anthony no longer denies and any of it. And as he's led away, his aunt Donna almost seems relieved when he spoke today. His actions, his words.

[Jim Morrell]

He was my nephew.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

With sincerity and caring. You said you most wanted him to accept responsibility, and he did that. Thank you. The agreed on sentence. Life in prison with the possibility of parole in 12 years. A vastly different fate than that of his former friends. Star witness Jason Weir could be out of prison in fewer than seven years. But Tom Lally will spend the rest of his life there. Period. No possibility of parole.

[Jim Morrell]

Three people who all equally shared responsibility in the crime all get different punishments. That just doesn't seem fair to me.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

But all Tom's distraught uncle can do is to promise to be there for his nephew.

[Jim Morrell]

It may not be the life that we would want anybody to have, but there's a life. And there's a relationship and there's love, and you keep that going. I believe they all had involvement. They never would have done a job like this unless everybody knew about it, everybody was willing to take part in it.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And then There is the fourth friend, Jim Morrell, who at 19, put truth over loyalty and went to the police. This case would be nowhere without Jim Morrell. These three kids could have gone on the rest of their lives and gotten away with this murder. And yet even today, his decision makes Morel uneasy.

[Jim Morrell]

Their lives are kind of ruined now. You know, they destroyed one life. And I kind of feel like even now, after everything, I still feel like I kind of destroyed three.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Jim Morrell is still writing music, now a little less dark. He has a job and a hopeful future.

[Jim Morrell]

I'm moving. I've got my own car, my own apartment. It seems like I'm kind of taking care of myself.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

And if he were to find himself today in that same impossible situation, it's.

[Jim Morrell]

Not the easiest thing in the world, but I had no choice.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Jim Morrell says he would do it again.

[Jim Morrell]

In 2009, jason weir was released from prison. Anthony calabro was granted parole in january 2022.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Thomas lally remains behind bars. Pluto tv has thousands of free movies and tv shows.

[Jim Morrell]

If I'm lying, I'm dying.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

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[Jim Morrell]

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[Narrator/Interviewer]

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[Jim Morrell]

You swear if I'm lying, I'm dying. This is the mindset.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

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[Jim Morrell]

This is. This is the mantra. Free. This is the.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

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[Jim Morrell]

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[Narrator/Interviewer]

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[Jim Morrell]

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[Narrator/Interviewer]

Never.