7 | What Does It Matter?

Summary

Blunt Force Trauma – Episode 7: "What Does It Matter?"

Podcast: Blunt Force Trauma
Host: Troy Taylor
Release Date: May 12, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This powerful and emotionally charged episode focuses on the failures of the justice system in handling sexual assault cases, specifically through the lens of the tragedy surrounding Faithe Ely. Months before Faithe was killed, she was drugged and raped—a crime that remains unsolved due to lost evidence and systemic missteps. Troy Taylor, along with Faithe's mother Amanda Langston, assistant DA Lori McConnell, and law enforcement, unflinchingly explore the heartbreaking obstacles Faithe’s family faced in their pursuit of justice. The episode also marks a crucial turning point as lost evidence is rediscovered, bringing a renewed hope for accountability, and raises troubling questions about institutional competence and integrity.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Statistical Reality of Sexual Assault

• [00:03–02:01] Troy Taylor reflects on harrowing statistics regarding sexual violence:
  • Nearly 1 in 2 women in the US experience sexual violence.
  • Over 450,000 US victims every year; most cases go unreported.
  • Only about 1,500 cases reached federal court last year.
  • “The statistics aren’t just devastating, they're completely unacceptable.” — Troy Taylor (01:38)

Evidence Lost and Institutional Failure

• [02:01–06:17] Amanda recounts a series of devastating bureaucratic failures:
  • The original video and audio of Faithe’s statement was “lost” by Shawnee PD.
  • The jailhouse confession from the suspect—also “lost.”
  • The incoming DA reveals that both losses were due to mishandling, not malice or sabotage, but clear incompetence.
  • “So that detective went out to the jail ... got it on recording that he admitted to everything. Two years later, new DA comes in—I find out that they lost that too.” — Amanda Langston (02:01, 05:36)
  • “It was absolutely the fault of Shawnee PD and the DA’s office.” — Amanda (05:36)

Excruciating Conversations with Authorities

• [06:35–12:26] The family meets with Assistant DA Lori McConnell in early 2023:
  • McConnell is candid about the decreasing likelihood of prosecution with time; memories fade, evidence vanishes.
  • Admits crucial evidence—especially the recording—wasn’t preserved.
  • Calls out systemic failure: “This case has been failed every step of the way by multiple people.” — DA Lori McConnell (09:21)
  • Amanda despairs: “So this boy ... is going to get away with raping somebody because of the incompetence of Shawnee PD. Is that—does that basically sum it up?” (10:09)
  • McConnell should “only charge cases that can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt” (10:23) and the critical evidence loss leaves the case unwinnable.

Forensic Dead-Ends

• [10:56–13:22]
  • The rape kit isn’t sufficient; “it doesn’t prove that it was not consensual.” — DA McConnell (10:59)
  • Blood toxicology confirmed intoxicants but timing is impossible to legally tie to the assault.

A Turn: The Lost Recording is Found

• [13:39–15:40]
  • DA’s office finds the lost interview recording with the suspect, Brandon.
  • Renewed optimism: “I feel like maybe after talking with her that ... she’s going to make sure that it stays in evidence.” — Amanda (15:08)
  • New evidence review could revive the case for charges.

Holding Law Enforcement to Account

• [15:59–23:53] Amanda confronts Shawnee PD leadership:
  • Sergeant Huey and Captain Goss acknowledge "oddly frustrated as well" and apologize.
  • Admits improper evidence handling: “He slid it into a different area that we normally don’t put anything. And that’s where the problem lied.” — Sergeant Huey (18:07)
  • Amanda urges better procedures, voicing concern for other potential victims: “That’s extremely unacceptable ... now this young man has an even greater possibility of being out free ... and free to do it again.” (19:07)
  • Police claim to have instituted new protocols and are still working with the DA.
  • “We apologize that this got misplaced the way it did. ... there are being steps made to ensure that it's not happening to anybody else anymore.” — Sergeant Huey (23:07)

The Perpetrator’s Conviction & Shocking Remorselessness

• [24:00–24:59]
  • The perpetrator, Brandon, was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 25 years (pending appeal).
  • The key reason for the severity of the sentence:
    “He said, well, she's dead now, what does it matter? That's what got him 25.” — Amanda (24:34)
  • The McGirt Supreme Court ruling’s impact on jurisdiction is discussed and seems unlikely to affect this case.

Final Reflections & Ongoing Pursuit of Justice

• [25:00–27:24]
  • Troy underscores the emotional cost and exhaustion the family suffered:
    “The most heartbreaking part ... by the time they did [achieve progress], Faith wasn’t alive to see it happen.”
  • A mysterious caller implicates drug dealers and corrupt law enforcement in surrounding counties, suggesting deeper institutional rot.
  • The case remains open; justice for Faith’s murder is still pending.
  • Amanda: “We’ve been through some the last five years.” (25:00)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Amanda Langston on Law Enforcement Failures:
  “I sincerely hope that you guys are working to make sure that doesn’t happen to any ... anybody else.” (22:48)
• Troy Taylor on Institutional Breakdown:
  “It’s no wonder you’re disillusioned with law enforcement. This is ridiculous.” (02:51)
• Amanda on Seeing Justice at a Heartbreaking Cost:
  “But at least it was served. One down, one to go.” (25:15)
• On the Systemic Barriers:
  “This case has been failed every step of the way by multiple people.” — DA McConnell (09:21)
• Remorselessness of the perpetrator:
  “He said, well, she’s dead now, what does it matter? That’s what got him 25.” — Amanda (24:34)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:03] Troy’s content and trigger warning, statistics on sexual violence
• [02:01] Amanda begins detailing mishandled evidence
• [06:35] Meeting with Assistant DA Lori McConnell; full breakdown of case failures
• [13:39] DA’s office finds previously missing evidence
• [15:59] Amanda confronts Shawnee PD leadership
• [24:00] Amanda describes perpetrator’s conviction and sentencing rationale
• [25:15] Troy reflects on the cost to the Ely family
• [26:07] Amanda reports a tip implicating local corruption
• [27:24] Episode closes; case remains open, call for further leads

---

Tone & Style

The conversation is empathetic, frustrated, and determined. The speakers’ candor and raw emotion underscore their exhaustion and anger—even as small victories emerge. Troy maintains a supportive yet investigative posture. Amanda’s tone alternates between sorrow, tenacity, and indignation, while official voices (DA, police) toggle between apology and bureaucratic restraint.

---

Episode Summary

Episode 7 of "Blunt Force Trauma" exposes how systemic breakdown, lost evidence, and institutional indifference compounded the trauma suffered by Faithe Ely’s family. The episode offers an unfiltered account of true crime's darkest realities—not just in criminal acts, but in how justice itself may be repeatedly sabotaged by those meant to uphold it. Glimmers of hope emerge as critical evidence resurfaces and efforts to restore accountability intensify. Yet, as the search for Faithe's killer continues, her family’s relentless fight highlights not only the enduring scars of loss—but also the urgent need for change within the systems meant to deliver justice.

Transcript

[Troy Taylor]

Please note, this podcast contains references to physical and sexual assault and graphic depictions of violence. Listener discretion is advised. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily align with the opinions or beliefs of the host or producers. Hey, it's Troy here. I just wanted to thank you for listening and supporting us and Faith's family on the search for justice. As you know, Faith's case is still active and things are moving and shaking every day. After this episode, we're going to take a really brief break just to catch up on a few things, but don't worry, the wait won't be too long. We'll be back with episode eight on Monday, May 25th. Until then, if you want to continue supporting the case, please jump on over and follow the justice for Faith Ely Facebook page. And please continue to share, rate and review the show as it helps us get Faith's case out to a broader audience. Today's episode is a tough one and it may be triggering for some listeners, but I think it needs to be heard. Too often victims of sexual assault are left voiceless, not believed, or in a position where there just isn't enough evidence to support prosecution. The statistics show that nearly one in two women will experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime, with more than 450,000 victims every year in the United States alone. That's one victim every 68 seconds, and the vast majority of them will go unreported. And the ones that are reported have a very slim chance of actually making it to court. With only around 1,500 cases heard in federal court in the United States last year, and things aren't much better in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or New Zealand either. The statistics aren't just devastating, they're completely unacceptable. And the first step to finding justice is reaching out and talking to someone about it. So if you or someone you know has or is experiencing sexual assault or violence, help is available and contact numbers for support organizations in our primary listener countries are available in today's episode notes.

[Amanda Langston]

And I will tell you that we went through some with Shawnee over that. I mean the the level of corruption is ridiculous. Turns out that the thumb drive that he had recorded face original video and audio test statement about what happened got lost. So that detective went out to the jail where the guy was still in custody, got it on recording that he admitted to everything. Two years later, new DA comes in. I sit down and have a conversation with her. I find out that they lost that too.

[Troy Taylor]

Are you kidding Me. It's no wonder you're disillusioned with law enforcement. This is ridiculous.

[Amanda Langston]

Insane. Insane.

[Sergeant Huey]

Sam.

[Troy Taylor]

After RoseMary flags the McGirt case with me and what it could mean in relation to Faith's death, I call Amanda to fill her in. But it becomes clear pretty quickly that today it's me who's going to get an education. And the subject of it leaves me absolutely devastated.

[Amanda Langston]

Faith was drugged and raped two months before she was killed. Killed. After she was killed, I was dealing mainly with the homicide. Caitlyn was keeping track with the sexual assault. Six months after Faith died, Caitlyn got a hold of the detective over her case, and it turns out that the thumb drive that he had recorded face original video, video and audio test statement about what happened got lost.

[Troy Taylor]

I find myself, for the first time in a very long time, lost for words. It doesn't seem to matter how hard I push my brain. I can't begin to comprehend the pain and loss. Not only do you lose your daughter and have to champion the charge to find answers while simultaneously grieving the loss of your son nine months earlier, but now you've got to process the fact that your daughter was also raped only a few short months before her death. Oh, and the people who were there to make sure justice gets served, at least in the assault case. Yeah, they accidentally lost the evidence.

[Amanda Langston]

Couldn't find it anywhere. Well, I had a meeting with their lieutenant and their sergeant over the detectives was present in that meeting, which was Sergeant Huey and Lieutenant Reeves, and I let them know my thoughts about that. So that detective went out to the jail where the guy was still in custody, got it on recording that he admitted to everything. Two years later.

[Troy Taylor]

Yeah.

[Amanda Langston]

New DA comes in. I sit down and have a conversation with her. I find out that they lost that, too. What? Yeah. Shawnee PD had lost the recorded conversation interview with the suspect. She outright admitted that it was absolutely the fault of Shawnee PD and the District Attorney's office, that those pieces of evidence were not kept locked up and stored appropriately, that they have been lost.

[Troy Taylor]

It's early 2023, almost two full years after Faith was killed, and Amanda and Caitlin are heading in for a meeting at the Potts County District Attorney's office to discuss Faith's sexual assault case. They find themselves in a position that feels uncomfortably familiar, searching for answers that just don't seem to want to come easily.

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I. I'm just gonna kind of lay things out. I know you're here, obviously, to talk to me. About this case and I'm gonna just kind of tell you how it is. I'm not very good at like sugar coating things.

[Amanda Langston]

I would rather direct answer.

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

So I will tell you, Kim had told me this case had. Had come up. And I'll tell you, it's always a hard time to recharge a case after this long of a period of time because especially this nature of case being because witnesses or testimony, it gets worse over time. It doesn't get better. Right. Your memory doesn't get better over time. It gets worse. And so whenever Kim and initially told me about it, I'll tell you, I kind of had it in the back of my mind, like, I'm going to read this case, I'm going to have to tell the family that there's no way I can file the charge. Okay. Then I read through it and I thought this actually may be one that I could actually do because there's a lot of evidence rules that I think I could use to tell her story even without her. But then I talked to Kim again about meeting with you and she told me about some of the things that I didn't know from just reading the case. Okay. Such as the main detective on the case, which I. Do you know anything about what's going on?

[Amanda Langston]

I know Detective Duncan was relieved from Shawnee pd, okay. Last summer.

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

So apparently my information is, is that he no longer works there because of maybe some misconduct that happened that wouldn't taint his credibility. Because sometimes if you have like an attack, if you're like, there's some evidence that they lied or something, like I would have to disclose that, that obviously is going to ruin his credibility. It's not good, right? It's not that. But it might cause like a little bit of issue for us. But the biggest issue is the recording of the interview that he did with the defendant, which is the best piece of evidence, has been lost. I met with Shawnee Police Department, with some detectives who work there right now, and asked them to go through and look again. And they can't find it.

[Amanda Langston]

Right.

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

Which we were told that you were unique.

[Amanda Langston]

But then we were also told that

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

that wouldn't even matter in court.

[Amanda Langston]

It would be admissible in court by Lieutenant Reeves.

[Sergeant Huey]

Right.

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

It would be admissible through. Not through Reeve.

[Kim Whitten]

Okay.

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

That it was missing. I'm sorry, I'm with you. Yes. So here's the part where I'm going to kind of tell you, like, I am sorry because I'm going to tell you that this case has been failed. Like Every step of the way by multiple people. It was failed at the police department stage because they did it, do what they needed to do to archive the evidence and preserve it for later. It was failed by this office because whenever it was dismissed at the preliminary hearing stage, that never should have happened. And the reason that I'm told that you were offered for that was because the witness who was in prison. So here's what I think may be happening. I'm not doubting that what you're told was in that interview, and that's why the recording. And I'll tell you once again, and this is just me being honest with you, blame this office because this is the interview that we need. And when I got this file, like, this is the, like, sleeve that's in here, and this disc isn't in this case. So, I mean, at one point in time, both the police department should have had this at least recorded, produced at least this copy, and should have, like, kept a copy within their system systems, which is what's supposed to happen.

[Amanda Langston]

So this boy, this grown man, is going to get away with raping somebody because of the incompetence of Shawnee pd Is that. Does that basically sum it up?

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

And because I have an ethical duty to charge cases that I think I can prove beyond a reasonable doubt to 12 people. Right? Not just what I know in my gut to be true. So, I mean, also, I don't want you to blame Jashani Police defraud because I'm the one who's making like the bug stops with me. Okay? So I don't want you to leave this conversation thinking that, like, they made the decision. I'm making the decision. But it's because we don't have the evidence that we need to pursue the prosecution.

[Troy Taylor]

Not because it didn't exist, but because Shawnee Police Department lost it.

[Amanda Langston]

So what about the rape kit, the same nurse?

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

Well, because the rape kit doesn't prove that it was not consensual. That's what this case is going to turn on, is the non consensual. That's what his defense is going to be. It's not going to be that he didn't have some type of sexual intercourse. It's going to be that it was consensual, not non consensual. Right.

[Amanda Langston]

So was there blood work done on her that evening that came back? Any kind of drug that she had said that he gave?

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

So her blood did come back positive for some intoxicants? Yes. Problem is, is that the DNA can extend 72ish hours before. Like when it taken. So we can't prove when the drugs were ingested versus when the sexual intercourse happened. And kind of her level of intoxication when the rape happened. The only two people who know what happened in that window that's not before and after are the defendant and your daughter. Who's not here to tell us. If she were here to tell us, I would be filing this case for sure. Not a question. And it would be supported by, even as bad as I think it might be, the detective who I may come in and we would deal with what we had with him. But we don't have anyone to testify for that period of time where we don't have someone.

[Amanda Langston]

What about that Brandon dude's mother? He's the one that brought her into it. Said he got the medicine, the aspirin, from her. What does she say?

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

She doesn't say it. That's not part of the case. I don't know what you're talking about,

[Amanda Langston]

but I have a copy of the original report. Yeah, Faith was dropped off. She went in, aspirated for some aspirin because she had a headache. He went. Said he went to his mother and got the medicine from the mother and gave it to her. Turns out that was a drug. According to the Shawnee pd, who also told me when they interviewed him at the jail, he stated he got the aspirin from his mother. So what does his mother say?

[Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell]

So that's not in the report that I have, and I mean, I. I'm happy to read it to you. He said Brandon's story is that it was when someone else went to get the narcon, that he did what he.

[Amanda Langston]

And that's the part that is missing and nobody can seem to find.

[Troy Taylor]

A few days later, Amanda receives a call from the District Attorney's office with, for once, some good news.

[Kim Whitten]

District attorney's office.

[Amanda Langston]

Yes, this is Amanda Langston. I'm returning a call from Kim Whitten.

[Kim Whitten]

Sure, one moment. This is Kim.

[Amanda Langston]

Hi, Kim. This is Amanda Langston. I'm returning your phone call.

[Kim Whitten]

Yeah, I just wanted to let you know, when you met with Maury last week, she told you that she had Shawnee Police Department looking for that recording of the interview. Well, they found it.

[Amanda Langston]

Which one did? The one with Faith that they lost or the one with Brandon that they lost?

[Kim Whitten]

I believe it's the one with Brandon that they lost.

[Amanda Langston]

Okay. That's the one that she was really wanting anyway.

[Kim Whitten]

Yes. Okay, so you wanted me to reach out to you and let you know, that it's been found, it's in her possession. She needs a couple days to review it, and then once she reviews it and can see what information that it holds now.

[Amanda Langston]

Will that stay in her possession now?

[Kim Whitten]

It will stay in her possession yet.

[Amanda Langston]

Fantastic.

[Kim Whitten]

And so once she reviews it and then can, you know, see if it's got everything we need, then I'll call you guys and have you come back in, and then we'll sit down and she'll talk to you about whether it has what we need to be able to charge them. Okay. But I just want to let you know, she said that she would let you guys know if it was ever found, and it was found and she does have it to review it. So you'll be hearing from you soon, probably to have you guys come back in so she can talk to you about what. What everything entails.

[Amanda Langston]

Well, I'm glad that it's in her possession now.

[Kim Whitten]

Yes, she has it in her possession.

[Amanda Langston]

Yeah. I. I feel like maybe after talking with her that she's got. It's going to. She's going to make sure that it stays in evidence. So I'm really glad to have met her.

[Kim Whitten]

Well, I'm. I'm glad and I hated the circumstances that you had to be here the other day, but I promise you the best She's. She's going to make the best decision to be able to move forward. She's probably over the last, you know, couple years, the best one who's been able to look at it. So if we're able to charge it, it's going to be definitely in good hands.

[Amanda Langston]

Good. Glad. Well, thank you for letting us know about.

[Troy Taylor]

Amanda. Continues searching for answers and accountability in a conversation with Captain Goss and Sergeant Huey from Shawnee Police Department.

[Amanda Langston]

Hello.

[Sergeant Huey]

Hi, this is Captain Goss, Johnny Police Department attorney call.

[Amanda Langston]

Hello, Captain Goss.

[Sergeant Huey]

How you doing, ma'? Am?

[Amanda Langston]

I've been better. I really have been. This is the reason for my complaint. My daughter, Faith Ely, was sexual drugged and sexually assaulted in January of 2021. That my same daughter was murdered March 28, 2021.

[Sergeant Huey]

Okay.

[Amanda Langston]

Shawnee PD had. Six months after her death, we learned that Shawnee PD had lost. Officer Duncan had lost the only audio visual recording of an interview he had done with Faith before her death. Then the officer Duncan then went out to the jail and interviewed the suspect. Approximately six months later, we learned from Detective Duncan that he had lost the only interview he had done with my daughter about the. The rape case. Then we find out he went out to the jail. He interviewed the suspect, recorded the whole interview. We just recently found out last month from the district attorney's office that that piece of evidence also got lost. So therefore, according to the Assistant District Attorney, Ms. McConnell there wouldn't. She has no chance of prosecuting the case. Absolutely took accountability for the district attorney's office having failed and also stated that Shawnee Police Department had failed my daughter's case every single step of the way. What I don't understand is how is it two pieces of evidence, crucial evidence, what I was told, gets lost in the same case by the same department.

[Sergeant Huey]

Yeah, no. Oddly frustrated as well. This last piece of evidence for the. For the second interview. I don't even know what to tell you as far as that. The first interview that Detective Duncan said he had told you that he couldn't find this last piece was we usually have a way that we were. Applies to all of our detectives, store all of our interviews so that it's easily accessible. And so we scoured over and over and over again looking for that, and he slid it into a different area that we normally don't put anything. And that's where the problem lied. And so as far as moving forward on it, it's trying to make sure our detectives are. Are saving things in the right places, the same places, so that all of us have access to being able to find those.

[Amanda Langston]

Okay.

[Sergeant Huey]

Gets lost. I. I agree with you. I'd be very frustrated as well.

[Amanda Langston]

I. I'm extremely frustrated. Because that's not an interview that can ever be done again.

[Sergeant Huey]

Right. Yep. I agree.

[Amanda Langston]

You know, and my. My further concern is for other women, young girls, even young boys who experience the same thing. And they. Because of improper procedures, their cases won't get prosecuted either. And then they're walking around with knowing their rapist is free. That. That's just unacceptable. That. That's extremely unacceptable. So now this. This young man has an even greater possibility of being out free. Free of charges, free of trial, and free to do it again.

[Sergeant Huey]

Well, we're still. Once we found that video, like I said, I apologize for it being placed where it is. We made sure with our detectives. We have now Detective D. Not a detective right now, and he won't be a detective with us. And it was a simple. You know, I don't. Like I said, I can't. I can't say what happened with that first interview at all. The second interview was just. It was simply put in a place where we normally don't do it. But as far as moving forward, because I agree with you. I don't want to see any other, any other person at all be able to, to be victimized and not get any answers for it because of a lost interview. So we've addressed that with our detectives to make sure they're getting safe in the same spot so that even if it was 30 years from now, we'll be able to access that interview. And I'm in agreement with you. It's. We've got a. Needs to be done in a better job. And most of the time, 99% of the time, the interviews are easily accessible. It's just this one was placed in a different spot that we, we normally don't put them. And so that's why it was difficult for us to find it. It took as long as it did for us to find it.

[Amanda Langston]

Okay.

[Sergeant Huey]

We're talking proper steps to make sure that this doesn't happen again. Because, you know, when we ended up finding out that that video was missing, you know, we were devastating for you guys because that's not how we want it to go. And it does matter to us that, that the person that did this to fate gets prosecuted. So. And we're still working on the case now that we're able to find the video. I've been in Contact with Lori McConnell and we're conducting a couple more interviews and resubmitting this to Lori for, for charges that he filed on it.

[Amanda Langston]

Can I ask another question? I have the statement, the written incident report from Detective Duncan that he took with Faith. And she mentioned in that incident report that Mr. Elahi went and got. She had asked for some aspirin because she had a headache and that he went and asked his mother. However, Ms. McConnell was not aware of any of that. Has anything been. Has anyone followed up on what the mother says about it? Was she there?

[Sergeant Huey]

Yeah, that's what we have a detective following up. They were. They spoke to Brandon and they spoke to the mother on separate occurrences last week. And like, I don't have the report in front of me, so I don't know exactly what statement that the Detective Duncan got when he was talking to your daughter. So I can't, I don't know what all was in that right off the top of my head, but I do know that we're. One of the interviews we still need to conduct is with Brandon's mother.

[Amanda Langston]

Okay. Has she, Ms. McConnell, given you any indication that charges will be re. Refiled?

[Sergeant Huey]

There's an opportunity for that, absolutely. She wouldn't have given us when we talked to Ms. McConnell. We talked to Lori. There was a task, some stuff that she wanted for us to follow up on, and I don't believe she would have us following up on it if she wasn't looking for the opportunity to refile on this case.

[Amanda Langston]

Okay, well, I wanted to find. I wanted to vocalize my concerns and my issues with the conduct the police, the Shawnee Police Department had. Had done in her case. And I sincerely hope that you guys are working to make sure that doesn't happen to any. Anybody else.

[Sergeant Huey]

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely, we are. And like I said, we're. We apologize that this got misplaced the way it did. It's not a. Anything we're trying to do, and it's not something that's normal around here. And so. But there are being steps made to ensure that it's not happening to anybody else anymore. And still trying to work. Like right now, we got an investigator that's working to. To follow up on all the stuff that the district Attorney's office needs for Faith's case.

[Amanda Langston]

Okay. Okay. Thank you, Sergeant Huey, and thank you, Captain Goss, for returning my phone call and answering my questions and listening to my concerns.

[Sergeant Huey]

Well, just. Just know that this case with your daughter is a priority to us. So we're still working on it, and we're working on. With a priority. Okay.

[Amanda Langston]

I'm very glad to hear that you guys haven't forgotten about her, because we certainly haven't.

[Sergeant Huey]

We're still working for it.

[Troy Taylor]

So who is this guy, the. The perpetrator?

[Amanda Langston]

Oh, his name is a Brandon. He got convicted and. And sentenced to 25 years. Well, he's appealing based on tribal. That the state, under McGirt, the state of Oklahoma, has no jurisdiction to prosecute him. His problem is, is he wasn't busy inside the Five Civilized Tribes, so it's not going to go anywhere. He's a Native American member, but the crime did not occur within those Five Civilized Tribes. Boundary lines.

[Troy Taylor]

Right. Gotcha. Okay.

[Amanda Langston]

But he got 25 years.

[Sergeant Huey]

Years.

[Amanda Langston]

What made them decide 25 years was because he said, well, she's dead now. What does it matter? That's what got him 25. There's a reason why I don't have any kind of faith. I mean, two different cases in two different counties, three different law enforcement investigators, and they've all up.

[Troy Taylor]

It's unbelievable.

[Amanda Langston]

And then Brad hits me with the whole. This is. This was never a hit and run. What the are you talking about? So, yeah, we've been through some the last five years.

[Troy Taylor]

Thankfully, in Faith's case, justice prevailed, and the perpetrator, subject to the outcome of his appeal was convicted and jailed for 25 years. While it's great to finally see the justice system working, what Faith's family had to go through to get there was nothing short of exhausting. And the most heartbreaking part of it all was by the time they did, Faith wasn't alive to see it happen. But at least it was served. One down, one to go. In the wake of it all, while I'm still trying to process what Amanda has shared with me and the absolute shitshow of a roller coaster ride she had to go on to get the evidence, my phone rings. It's Amanda again. But now she shifted gears and from everything she has to say, it sounds like we're just about to jump right into the eye of a hurricane.

[Amanda Langston]

We had one gentleman called Caitlin. He called the news station after the last report who then called Caitlin. And Caitlin talked to this gentleman. And I mean he, you could tell he I don't know if he was intoxicated or if he had like a speech impediment, not judging, but he talked to us specifically about face case. But he did not hold back on names. Names of drug dealers in we walk up kingpins and we walk up law enforcement officers in we walk in Seminole county who cover up for them. I mean, he was just giving us all the tea.

[Troy Taylor]

Faith's case is still open and her killer or killers have not yet been brought to justice. If you know anything about Faith, her death, or those who may be responsible, we'd like to hear from you. Please visit EchoSpace Media and either leave a voicemail or send us a message. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram at Bluntforce Trauma Podcast if you're enjoying this podcast, please consider our subscriber option on Apple Podcasts or [e-mail] Echospacepodcasts where you get access to early episode drops, ad free episodes and bonus content across all of the Echo Space shows. If you'd like to keep up to date with progress on Faith's cat case, please visit and follow the justice for Faith Ely Facebook page. You'll find a link to it in the episode notes. Blunt Force Trauma is a production of Echo Space, written and hosted by Troy Taylor. Executive producers are Troy Taylor, Mark Tarulli, and Fred Scherzer. Our main theme song is Lose My Mind by Maya Davidoff, and the show also contains audio content from Moby Gratis.