Bone Valley – Season 3, Episode 3: "Persons of Interest"

Podcast: Bone Valley (Lava for Good Podcasts)
Host: Maggie Freleng
Date: September 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of Bone Valley’s third season, Maggie Freleng takes listeners deep into the complex and controversial investigation of the murder of Jessica Curran in Graves County, Kentucky. The episode explores the dubious investigation and prosecution that led to the conviction of Quincy Cross and others, highlighting the questionable evidence, coerced confessions, and tangled personal stories that underpin the state’s case. Through interviews, trial tapes, and reflections, the podcast reveals how rumors, community pressure, and aggressive law enforcement tactics shaped the pursuit of justice—and possibly led to its miscarriage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Revisiting the Night of the Crime

• Maggie directly confronts Quincy Cross with questions about his behavior the night Jessica went missing: pouring gas into a car (without a belt or shirt), his "demeanor," and interest in finding girls ([01:46]–[04:07]).
  • Quincy insists he found the gas can by chance and left his belt at the party, offering explanations that seem unsatisfying but consistent ([02:58]).
  • Quote: “These answers are unsatisfying and they don’t look great, if I’m being honest. But they would concern me more if the case against Quincy weren’t so flimsy.” – Maggie Freleng ([03:48])

The Susan Galbraith Investigation

• Citizen investigator Susan Galbraith focused on Quincy, piecing together circumstantial details (the gas, the belt) from police interviews and party guest recollections to identify "persons of interest." ([05:24])
• She tracks down partygoers and unearths the significance of Jeff Burton, whose abandoned house near the middle school becomes a new focal point ([06:09]–[09:10]).
  • Quote (From Susan’s email): “I knew this house was connected to her. It’s hard to explain.” ([08:58])
  • This leads police to shift their original theory—the murder did not happen at the school, but potentially at Burton’s house ([09:54]).

Building the Prosecution’s Narrative

• The investigation expanded to include interviews with Victoria and Tamara Caldwell, Venetia Stubblefield, and Jeff Burton.
• Victoria Caldwell re-emerges years later, providing damaging statements after she says Quincy threatened her to keep quiet.
  • “He said, ‘You know, it was my belt around her neck...I can make you disappear.’” – Victoria Caldwell ([13:41])
• Fearful for her safety, Victoria is placed in witness protection, further solidifying her role as a key witness ([14:24]).

The Role of Political Pressure & Law Enforcement Tactics

• Kentucky’s then-Attorney General, Greg Stumbo, promises Jessica’s father he’ll solve the case, motivating a revamped investigation by the KBI ([15:00]).
  • “I told Joe Kern that day, I said, if I’m elected, I will do my best to solve that case.” – Greg Stumbo ([16:05])
• KBI agents, inexperienced in homicides, employ aggressive tactics, recording hours-long interrogations in hotels, not police stations; they extract confessions and implicate suspects using psychological pressure, threats, and coercion ([18:17]–[21:30], [22:08]):
  • Tamara Caldwell and Rosie (Victoria’s sister) describe marathon interrogations, emotional manipulation, threats of losing their children, and sexualized and inappropriate questions.
  • “They told me I was lying, kept telling me to shut up... they could take my kids away from me.” – Rosie ([21:53])
  • “You hear what I said? You’re crying, but your eyes shut evil... You’re lying.” – Agent ([20:42])

Faulty Evidence & Confessions

• Interrogations lead to wildly inconsistent stories, shifting timelines, and contradictions about who did what and when ([24:23]–[28:15]).
  • Key physical evidence (belt, no matched DNA, no evidence of sexual assault) is lacking.
  • Quote: “None exists matching any of these people to Jessyca's death or crime scene. And there's one other glaring red flag.” – Maggie Freleng ([30:08])
• Notably, Tamara and Quincy did not even know each other at the time of the murder, contradicting the prosecution’s narrative ([30:19]):
  • “I didn’t know Quincy until 2002, so how could I have something to do with it… this case happened in 2000?” – Tamara Caldwell ([30:19])

Trial & Conviction

• Quincy Cross becomes the first to stand trial. The prosecution relies on rumors, the belt, and conflicting testimonial evidence from Victoria and Venetia ([35:14]–[40:36]).
  • The jury’s attention is repeatedly focused on Quincy waving his belt and his smell of gasoline, despite the timeline evidence showing he was in jail when Jessica’s body was burned ([43:03]–[44:41]).
  • The only physical tie— a common ‘2000s braided belt’—is so generic even a courtroom witness is wearing a similar one ([43:18]).
• Rosie recants her testimony on the stand, admitting she lied under law enforcement pressure ([45:06]):
  • “I lied the other day, and I’m not lying today. And I wanted to tell the truth all the time. You guys had to stop.” – Rosie ([46:05])
• Despite recantations, inconsistencies, and lack of physical evidence, the jury convicts Quincy after only a brief deliberation ([47:17]).
  • The prosecutor pushes for death, but Jessica’s father opposes it ([48:18]):
  • “I don’t feel like a person should die killing another person because another person died...It’s not going to bring her back.” – Joe Curran ([48:25])
• Quincy is sentenced to life without parole. Others take plea deals, receiving sentences of 5–15 years ([50:01]).

Aftermath: Doubt and Unlikely Alliances

• Quincy’s family, especially his father David Cross, and Jessica’s father, Joe Curran, find themselves doubting the case’s outcome and questioning the investigation’s integrity ([53:53]–[59:07]).
  • "I'd like to think we got the right person because he's spending a lot of time in prison, but evidence don't show he's the right person.” – Joe Curran ([57:33])
• Despite initial antagonism, Joe and David work together, re-examining the evidence and growing into friends united in their pursuit of true justice ([59:01]):
  • “Me and Mr. Curran want the same thing. Mr. Currant want justice for his daughter, Jessica, and I want justice for my son, Quincy Cross.” – David Cross ([59:26])

Questioning the Investigation: Susan Galbraith’s Pivotal Role

• The episode critically revisits Susan Galbraith’s role, revealing how her narrative directed law enforcement away from initial suspects and toward Quincy ([60:04]–[61:42]):
  • “She just kept writing scenarios till they thought it fit the scenario of how...this thing played out.” – David Cross ([61:03])
  • "[Galbraith] ain't got a goddamn thing to do with fucking shit with this case. Other than being a roadblock for there to be actual justice.” – David Cross ([61:15])
• Hints emerge that early suspects and avenues were neglected due to Galbraith’s influence, with new revelations to come in future episodes ([61:56]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the mishandling of confessions:
  “It sounds like the agents learned how to be detectives from watching Law and Order.” – Maggie Freleng ([23:11])

• On the loneliness of fighting wrongful conviction:
  “You just want to break down and cry, but it wouldn’t do no good.” – David Cross ([55:40])

• On seeking justice, not retribution:
  “If Quincy Cross didn’t do this, he’s the last person I want in there.” – Joe Curran ([59:26])

Important Timestamps

• Investigating Quincy's story: [01:46]–[04:07]
• Susan Galbraith’s investigation & new suspects: [05:24]–[09:10]
• Victoria Caldwell’s role & witness protection: [11:33]–[14:24]
• KBI interrogation methods: [18:17]–[22:02]
• Coerced and inconsistent confessions: [24:23]–[28:15]
• Physical evidence and timeline holes: [28:51]–[31:25]
• Trial testimony, recantations, and conviction: [35:14]–[48:18]
• Quincy’s refusal to accept a plea deal: [48:56]–[49:18]
• Joe Curran’s unease and alliance with David Cross: [50:28]–[59:26]
• Galbraith’s influence examined: [60:04]–[61:42]

Tone & Language

The episode blends measured journalism, empathy, and mounting frustration at the system’s failings. Maggie Freleng’s narration is compassionate but unsparing in its critique, and the direct words of affected families convey heartbreak, resilience, and a shared hunger for truth.

Summary

“Persons of Interest” exposes the shaky foundation of the prosecution that convicted Quincy Cross for Jessica Curran’s murder. Through flawed investigations, coerced confessions, unreliable physical evidence, and shifting stories, we see a justice system driven more by the need to close a high-profile case than to discover the truth. The emotional journey of both Quincy's and Jessica’s families—toward each other and away from the official narrative—lays the groundwork for new questions about who actually killed Jessica Curran, and what justice in Graves County should really mean. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, hinting that the answers may lie in the long-ignored beginnings of the case.