Bear Brook: ‘Don’t Roll the Dice’ – A Detailed Summary

Introduction

In the gripping episode titled “Don’t Roll the Dice” from Season 2 of Bear Brook, host Jason Moon delves deep into the controversial case of Jason Carroll, who has been serving a life sentence for the murder of Sharon Johnson and her unborn child—a crime he steadfastly maintains he did not commit. This episode, released on March 27, 2023, meticulously examines the evidence, the legal battles, and the persistent quest for truth that surrounds Carroll’s conviction.

Background: The Carroll Family and Jason’s Arrest

The episode opens by introducing Jackie Carroll Hughes, Jason Carroll's sister, who was only twelve years old at the time of Jason’s arrest. Jackie recounts the tumultuous night when Jason was taken into custody:

Jackie Carroll Hughes (00:17:45): “We had to get our jackets on and let's go. And we went down to the police department... I followed Jason, but another man grabbed me and said, no, you can't go. And he was gone.”

Jason was accused of brutally murdering his wife, Sharon Johnson, and her unborn child. The Carroll family faced immense public backlash, including vandalism and bullying at school.

Discovering the Truth: Jackie’s Investigation

Years after the arrest, Jackie moved to South Carolina and sought to reconnect with Jason. In 1995, she made a solo trip to visit him, rekindling their brother-sister bond. During this visit, Jackie discovered thousands of pages of discovery documents in her parents' closet—documents that became pivotal in Jason’s quest for exoneration.

Jackie Carroll Hughes (00:27:30): “I knew the answer to all of this, or at least the breadcrumbs for how to find it, were somewhere in those pages.”

Determined to uncover the truth, Jackie meticulously reviewed these documents, which she later provided to the New England Innocence Project in 2016, reigniting efforts to reopen Jason’s case.

The First Trial: Defense and Prosecution Strategies

The episode details Jason’s initial trial in 1992, highlighting the strategic maneuvers of both the defense and the prosecution.

Defense’s Case: Questioning the Confession and Detective Lammy

Jason’s defense team, led by attorneys Cliff Kinghorn and Eric Wilson, focused on undermining the credibility of Jason’s taped confession and the conduct of Detective Roland Lammy.

1. Inconsistencies in the Confession:

   • Problem with the Knife (03:15:20): The medical examiner initially estimated a knife length of at least 4 inches but later adjusted it, casting doubt on its consistency with Jason’s pocket knife.
   • Faulty Photo Lineup (03:22:10): Jason incorrectly identified his alleged accomplice in a lineup, pointing to a photograph of someone who did not match the description.
   • Flawed Diagrams (03:25:45): Jason’s drawings of the crime scene did not accurately represent the actual location, including missing key landmarks.
   • Inconsistent Statements About the Stereo (03:30:50): Jason initially claimed to have purchased marijuana with the murder money but later stated he bought a stereo system, a claim contradicted by his truck’s condition.
   • Debbie’s Diary (03:35:10): Jason’s girlfriend provided her diary as evidence that contradicted his confession, proving he was with her during the time of the murder.

2. Allegations Against Detective Lammy:

   • George Scott McDonald’s Testimony (03:40:30): George, a witness for the defense, alleged that Detective Lammy coerced suspects by leveraging their past legal issues.
   • Characterizing Lammy’s Conduct (03:45:00): The defense argued that Lammy’s aggressive interrogation tactics led to unreliable confessions.

Prosecution’s Case: Reinforcing the Confession’s Validity

In response, the prosecution, led by Michael Ramsdell, fortified the case by highlighting aspects of the confession that aligned with the crime details:

1. Hidden Facts in the Confession:

   • Stabbing in the Back and Bra Incident (04:10:25): Jason confessed to stabbing Sharon in the back and described her bra being cut open—details not widely publicized and known only to the perpetrator.

2. Emotional Weight of the Confession:

   • Ramsdell’s Argument (04:15:00): Ramsdell emphasized the emotional intensity in Jason’s confession tapes, asserting that genuine remorse and emotional distress underscored his guilt.

Jury Deliberations and Verdict

The jurors faced a complex decision, grappling with conflicting testimonies and evidence. The deliberations revealed a divided jury:

• Juror Tom Dufresne (04:55:30): Initially uncertain, Tom ultimately believed Jason was guilty based on the confession but felt sympathy due to perceived coercion.

  Tom Dufresne: “I don't think he'd just say that if he didn't do it.”

• Juror Mark Faneuf (05:05:50): Found Detective Lammy credible and felt Jason lacked a credible alibi.

• Juror Deborah Carr (05:15:10): Acknowledged the possibility of a false confession but accepted Jason’s admission of guilt.

The jury reached a deadlocked verdict on the first-degree murder charge, resulting in:

• Not Guilty for first-degree murder.
• Guilty for kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder.

Jason was subsequently sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.

Impact of the Verdict

The episode highlights the profound sense of injustice felt by both jurors and the Carroll family, especially given that the actual orchestrators, Tony Puff and Ken Johnson, were not convicted. Jurors expressed frustration over the imbalance in the justice system:

Juror Tom Dufresne: “I don't think whether it was because they weren't certain if Jason had actually swung the blade himself or that they just felt sympathy for him... that ain't right.”

Appeal and Aftermath

In 1994, the New Hampshire Supreme Court reviewed Jason’s case, focusing on his confession's validity. The court acknowledged the intense emotional pressure exerted by Jason’s mother, Karen Carroll, but deemed it did not cross constitutional boundaries as it occurred in her private capacity.

Jason’s appeals stalled, leaving him incarcerated with little hope for exoneration until Jackie’s intervention decades later.

Reopening the Case: The Role of Jackie Carroll and Modern Forensic Advances

Jackie Carroll’s dedication and the discovery of the binders were instrumental in bringing new attention to Jason’s case. The New England Innocence Project utilized these documents to reevaluate the evidence, especially in light of advancements in understanding false confessions and genetic genealogy techniques that have revolutionized cold case investigations.

Conclusions and Future Prospects

“Don’t Roll the Dice” underscores the complexities of the criminal justice system, particularly the reliance on confessions and the susceptibility of individuals to coercion. The episode sets the stage for future explorations into whether new evidence or forensic methods can finally uncover the truth in Jason Carroll’s case.

Notable Quotes

• Jackie Carroll Hughes (00:18:25): “It was awesome. I didn’t want to leave. If I could have stayed with him, I would have stayed.”
• Cliff Kinghorn (03:17:50): “There really is no other defense to a confession case other than the confessions. A false confession.”
• Prosecutor Michael Ramsdell (04:12:00): “If you put a knife... how many times did you stab her? ... that make clear what’s going on.”
• Juror Deborah Carr (05:20:45): “I just believe that he was there and he was part of it.”

Final Thoughts

This episode of Bear Brook masterfully weaves personal narratives with legal intricacies, presenting a compelling case study on the fallibility of the justice system and the enduring quest for truth. For listeners who have yet to engage with this season, “Don’t Roll the Dice” offers a thorough and thought-provoking examination of a wrongful conviction and the relentless pursuit of exoneration.