Bone Valley: Introducing Season 1 & 2 – Detailed Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: Bone Valley
• Host/Author: Gilbert King, Lava for Good Podcasts
• Description:
  In 1987, 18-year-old Michelle Schofield was found dead in a phosphate pit in Florida. Two years later, her husband Leo was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Fifteen years later, previously unidentified fingerprints matched Jeremy Scott—a violent teenager who lived nearby. Jeremy has since confessed to Michelle’s murder.
  In this groundbreaking podcast, Bone Valley host Gilbert King uncovers startling new evidence that Jeremy is responsible for a string of murders. King is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Devil in the Grove, which led to the exonerations of four innocent men.
  Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.
• Episode: Introducing: Bone Valley - Season 1 & 2
• Release Date: June 17, 2025

1. Introduction to Bone Valley

Bone Valley is acclaimed as one of the best true crime podcasts, receiving accolades from Entertainment Weekly and the New York Times. In the introductory episode, host Gilbert King sets the stage for a deep dive into a complex and unsettling case of wrongful conviction and emerging truths.

[00:04] Narrator: "Named one of the best true crime podcasts ever by Entertainment Weekly and called a triumph by the New York Times."

2. The Tragic Case of Michelle and Leo Schofield

The story begins in 1987 when Michelle Schofield, an 18-year-old, was tragically found dead in a phosphate pit in Florida. Two years subsequent to her death, her husband Leo Schofield was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison. Over thirty years later, new evidence surfaces challenging Leo's conviction.

[00:13] Gilbert King: "I'm Gilbert King and this is Bone Valley. I'm in Florida speaking at a legal conference when this judge hands me his business card. On the back it reads, Leo Schofield. Not just wrongfully convicted, he's an innocent man."

3. Leo Schofield's Stand for Innocence

While incarcerated, Leo Schofield maintains his innocence, expressing a deep sense of injustice and hope for eventual exoneration.

[00:33] Leo Schofield: "Hey, listen, this is the story. It is what it is. You believe it or don't believe it, it's up to you. It will not change the fact that I'm an innocent man."

[00:55] Leo Schofield: "Somewhere along the line in this nightmare of a dream I'm having that we're all going to wake up and see that this isn't right. Because justice plays out always."

4. Uncovering New Evidence

Gilbert King delves into Leo's case and uncovers new evidence that points to Jeremy Scott, a previously violent teenager from the vicinity, as the actual perpetrator. Fifteen years post-conviction, unidentified fingerprints matched Jeremy to the crime scene, a revelation that the state of Florida initially dismissed.

[01:16] Jeremy Scott: "Question in my mind, see? So I took the fingerprint and I handed it to one of my crime scene detectives. And he said, there's a hit. A guy named Jeremy Scott. Jeremy Scott? Who the fuck's Jeremy Scott? Holy shit."

[01:35] Gilbert King: "Jeremy was an extraordinarily violent young man who lived right down the road from Leo and Michelle. But when the fingerprints came back to him, the state of Florida quickly shut down the investigation."

5. The State's Rejection and Determined Investigations

Despite the emerging evidence, Florida authorities remained steadfast in their belief in Leo's guilt, sidelining Jeremy Scott as a suspect. Detectives involved in the case expressed unwavering confidence in Leo's conviction.

[01:54] Detective: "Leo Scofield is a cold blooded murderer, and if I have my way, he'll never get out of prison."

6. Gilbert King's Investigation

Driven by a commitment to uncovering the truth, Gilbert King spends over five years investigating the case. His persistence leads him to confront Jeremy Scott, seeking answers and validation of the new evidence.

[02:28] Gilbert King: "At first, I wasn't sure I wanted to know any more about this guy than I absolutely had to. But once I started talking to him, I couldn't stop."

7. Conflicting Admissions

In a pivotal moment, Jeremy Scott admits to killing Michelle Schofield, directly contradicting the long-standing conviction of Leo Schofield. This confession brings to light the murky waters of justice and the human stories intertwined within.

[02:47] Jeremy Scott: "I did kill her."

[02:56] Leo Schofield: "I did not kill Michelle."

[03:03] Ryan Seacrest: "I told you I killed her."

8. The Battle for Truth and Justice

The episode highlights the ongoing struggle between established legal outcomes and emerging truths. Despite Jeremy's confession and the new evidence, the state remains skeptical, leaving the listeners to ponder the complexities of the justice system.

[03:06] Gilbert King: "The state of Florida doesn't believe either. Man, this is the story of the people who do."

9. Conclusion and Continued Exploration

Gilbert King's investigation not only seeks to exonerate Leo Schofield but also aims to unravel the broader implications of Jeremy Scott’s confessions, suggesting a pattern of violence that may have been overlooked. The introduction sets the tone for a gripping exploration of truth, justice, and the human capacity for perseverance.

[03:34] Narrator: "Bone Valley, written and hosted by Pulitzer Prize winning author Gilbert King, is the winner of the Ambie Awards for the Best Documentary Podcast and Best Reporting. It's also the winner of the Signal and Webby Awards. Bone Valley was named one of the best Podcasts by Vogue Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, the Atlantic, Vulture, Slate and the New Yorker. Listen to Bone Valley wherever you get your podcasts."

Notable Quotes Summary

• Gilbert King on Leo's Innocence:
  "[00:13] Gilbert King: Not just wrongfully convicted, he's an innocent man."

• Leo Schofield on Justice:
  "[00:55] Leo Schofield: Somewhere along the line... this isn't right."

• Jeremy Scott on Fingerprint Revelation:
  "[01:16] Jeremy Scott: Who the fuck's Jeremy Scott? Holy shit."

• Detective's Confidence in Leo's Guilt:
  "[01:54] Detective: Leo Scofield is a cold blooded murderer..."

• Jeremy's Admission:
  "[02:56] Leo Schofield: I did not kill Michelle."
  "[02:59] Gilbert King: Jeremy Scott told me that he's the one who killed Michelle."

• Gilbert King's Reflection on State's Doubt:
  "[03:06] Gilbert King: The state of Florida doesn't believe either..."

Final Thoughts

The introductory episode of Bone Valley sets up a compelling narrative that challenges preconceived notions of justice and truth. With Gilbert King's meticulous investigation and the emergence of Jeremy Scott's confession, listeners are poised for an in-depth journey into uncovering the real story behind Michelle Schofield's tragic death and Leo Schofield's wrongful conviction.

As the series unfolds, it promises to shed light on the flaws within the legal system, the resilience of those wrongly accused, and the relentless pursuit of truth by dedicated individuals like Gilbert King.