Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: OJ SIMPSON SPINNING IN HELL: FORCED TO PAY $58M TO MURDER VICTIMS
Date: November 24, 2025
Host: Nancy Grace
Guests: John Bueller (Former Detective), Chris Melcher (Celebrity Lawyer), Alexis Torreschuk (Crime Stories Investigative Reporter), Shannon Henry (Surviving Assault Founder), Dr. Cheryl Ehrrett (Clinical Forensic Psychologist), Dave Mack (Investigative Reporter)

Episode Overview

Nancy Grace takes a deep dive into the long and infamous saga of O.J. Simpson, focusing on the recent forced payout of $58 million from his estate to the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman — decades after being found liable in civil court. The episode combines renewed fury over the original crimes, chronicling Simpson’s abuses, legal maneuvering to avoid payment, and the struggles the families endured to achieve some financial justice nearly 30 years after the murders.

Main Themes and Purpose

• Justice Delayed, Not Denied? Nancy highlights the contrast between O.J. Simpson's decades of evasion and the families’ persistence, culminating in the eventual court-mandated payout after Simpson’s death.
• Domestic Violence and the Simpson-Brown Relationship: The episode details the evidence of a long pattern of abuse leading up to the murders.
• Legal System Critique: The episode critiques how legal loopholes and protections for assets allowed Simpson to live comfortably post-verdict while largely avoiding financial consequences.
• A Media Case: The notorious media coverage, low-speed chase, and courtroom theatrics are revisited, along with the infamous “if it doesn’t fit, you must acquit” glove moment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The 911 Calls and Domestic Abuse Background

• Early Warning Signs: Nancy plays chilling 911 tapes from Nicole Brown, calling for help as O.J. attempts to break in to her home ([03:10]-[05:53]).

  • “He tried every move he could to avoid paying them, and he swore he would never pay them. This as he lived the whole life.” — Nancy Grace [03:24]

• Domestic Violence Cycle:
  John Bueller explains that O.J.’s controlling, violent behaviors began as soon as he and Nicole started dating.

  • "This falls into the tail end of the domestic violence cycle that people go through, whether they're famous or not famous... The devil walks amongst us, usually disguised in a pretty good looking frame." — John Bueller [07:14]

• Victim Perspective:
  Shannon Henry stresses how abusers use events (like being left out of a family dinner) as excuses, but the pattern is fundamentally about ongoing control and a cage of abuse invisible from the outside.

  • “We have to start thinking of these victims as people inside of cages. We can't see the bars from the outside, but the bars are very much control.” — Shannon Henry [10:35]

The Murders: Timeline and Crime Scene

• Timeline Highlights: Dave Mack reconstructs the night:
  • Nicole, the children, and family go to dinner without Simpson.
  • Ron Goldman is killed while returning Nicole’s mother’s glasses ([08:32]-[08:52]).
• Discovery: Nicole’s dog, found with bloody paws, leads a neighbor to discover the bodies ([11:35]).
• Dog’s Cry: Attorney Chris Melcher highlights the haunting detail of Nicole’s Akita’s “woeful cry” starting the chain of discovery ([12:40]).

Evidence, Investigation, and The LAPD’s Role

• Immediate Evidence: Blood on the Ford Bronco, discovered by Detective Mark Fuhrman, is discussed as crucial early evidence—contradicting claims of a conspiracy ([13:06]-[14:27]).

  • “There's no exculpatory evidence in this case whatsoever…Every arrow and dagger of circumstantial evidence pointed right back to O.J.” — John Bueller [14:27]

• LAPD’s Treatment of Simpson:
  Special treatment was given due to celebrity status, in the wake of the Rodney King era.

  • “He got special treatment throughout because of his fame, because of the football link, and because he is very charming…If OJ happened to commit suicide… the whole world is going to line up against them.” — John Bueller [18:25]

The Low-Speed Chase and Aftermath

• Infamous Bronco Chase: Audio and analysis of Al Cowlings’ 911 call during the chase.
  • “He just wants to see his mother. Let me get him to the house… He got a gun.” — Al Cowlings via 911 [16:14]
• Nancy’s Observation: The episode highlights the absurdity of authorities letting Simpson "hold himself hostage," a privilege rarely afforded to others ([17:58]).

The Civil Trial Verdict and Decades of Evasion

• Civil Judgment and Compensation Dodging:

  • Simpson was ordered to pay $33 million to the families — with the value ballooning due to interest and unpaid sums to nearly $58 million ([20:27]-[20:58]).
  • “Simpson paid just $133,000 on the 33.5 million he owed the families… He skirted payments by moving to Nevada and Florida, where state law prevented the seizure of his NFL pension and residences.” — Dave Mack [21:18]

• Cash-Only Schemes:

  • Simpson operated a covert cash economy—signings, golf games, speaking gigs—all paid in cash to avoid record-keeping and garnishment.
  • “He would sign autographs, he'd sign pictures…people would have to pay cash. They would literally give him stacks of cash...to thwart the settlement that the court ordered him to pay.” — Alexis Torreschuk [27:02]

• Asset Protection:
  Chris Melcher explains how state "homestead" laws in Florida and Nevada, alongside protected pensions, enabled Simpson to shield his luxury homes and most income from creditors ([29:32]-[31:32]).

  • “OJ was aware of this, that’s why undoubtedly he purchased this expensive home there: the Goldmans could not use that home as a source of collecting.” — Chris Melcher [31:32]

• IRS Involvement:

  • Nancy asks how Simpson evaded not just debt but taxes. Melcher reveals that the IRS and California Franchise Tax Board are now creditors to Simpson's estate ([29:55]).

Civil Justice, Polygraph, and Iconic Missed Evidence

• Civil vs. Criminal Standards:
  • The infamous verdict revisit: Simpson found not guilty in criminal court, but liable in civil court ([35:10]-[37:59]).
• Polygraph Test Fiasco:
  • Simpson took (and catastrophically failed) a defense-arranged polygraph, scoring a “negative 24”; this was disclosed at the civil trial and further damaged his credibility.
    • “He didn’t make a zero. He made a negative 24...even with the defense making up the questions and administering softball questions to Simpson, he failed. He did worse than failing.” — Nancy Grace [41:55]-[44:21]
• Bruno Magli Shoes:
  • Simpson denied owning the distinctive, rare Italian shoes tied to bloody prints at the scene; the civil trial produced photographic proof of Simpson wearing them, completely undermining his testimony ([47:33]-[49:22]).

Justice Delivered...At Last?

• Why Now?
  • What finally triggered the payment? Malcolm Laverne, Simpson’s estate executor, relented after years of vowing never to pay. “[It’s] unclear what spurred the change of heart. Executor Malcolm Laverne, previously swearing to never pay Goldman a dollar…” — Dave Mack [34:05]
• Victims’ Families:
  • Nancy and panelists underscore the cold comfort this brings after decades of loss, but acknowledge it’s a form of justice, albeit “too little, too late.” ([51:11])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You know, just looking at him makes me sick. But one thing that makes me feel a little bit better is I know he is spinning out right now in hell with Satan having to be forced to pay out $58 million to his murder victims families.”
  — Nancy Grace [03:24]

• “The devil walks amongst us, usually disguised in a pretty good looking frame.”
  — John Bueller [07:14]

• “He wanted to beat her, he wanted to kill her. It has nothing to do with the family get together.”
  — Nancy Grace [09:42]

• “There’s no exculpatory evidence in this case whatsoever. When you have a premeditated murder carried out, rarely will you have an eyewitness or video. But, every arrow and dagger of circumstantial evidence pointed right back to O.J.”
  — John Bueller [14:27]

• “He has had his life continue over all these years if he’s had opportunities to do things Ron didn’t.”
  — Chris Melcher [21:45]

• “The joke was on the golf course — O.J. no.”
  — Alexis Torreschuk, on O.J.'s claim that he was “searching for the real killers” while playing golf [27:02]

• “What guy who didn’t kill his wife is going to be doing these kinds of antics?”
  — John Bueller [18:25]

• “He didn’t make a zero. He made a negative 24.”
  — Nancy Grace, on Simpson’s polygraph [41:55]

• “That's like knowing the questions on the test...and still failing.”
  — Nancy Grace [44:21]

• “There was so much evidence pointing towards his guilt, that being one of them. What are the chances that some homicidal person...is wearing these expensive Italian loafers...?”
  — Chris Melcher, on the Bruno Magli shoes [49:22]

• “Never ever should a defendant be allowed to perform an experiment in front of the jury that has not been tried before. Why would the state hand over the evidence and have a demonstration?”
  — Nancy Grace, on the glove incident [35:48]

Timeline & Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Summary | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------| | 03:10-06:47 | Nicole’s 911 calls played and discussed | | 07:14-10:35 | The cycle of domestic violence; victim psychology | | 11:12-11:35 | Timeline: Ron Goldman’s fatal errand | | 13:06-14:27 | Initial evidence at Simpson’s home—blood on Bronco | | 16:13-19:29 | O.J. Simpson’s low-speed police chase | | 20:27-21:06 | Post-civil verdict, chronic non-payment | | 21:18-23:32 | Simpson’s cash businesses and evasion schemes | | 27:02-29:55 | Cash rings, asset protection, IRS involvement | | 31:06-32:43 | Florida and Nevada homes; legal protections | | 34:05-34:45 | The estate finally pays—what changed? | | 35:10-37:59 | Criminal not guilty, civil guilty verdict | | 41:27-44:52 | Civil trial allows polygraph; Simpson fails | | 47:33-49:22 | The Bruno Magli shoe evidence |

Conclusion

Nancy Grace delivers a characteristically impassioned, forensic, and sometimes acerbic analysis of the O.J. Simpson saga, focusing on the denial of financial justice until after Simpson’s death. The episode is both a refresher on notorious details and a call to remember the real impact on victims’ families. Guests provide legal, investigative, and psychological context, laying bare both the systemic failures and the ultimate (if delayed) accountability via Simpson’s estate. It’s a searing reminder, in Nancy’s words, “too little, too late” can still mean victory — even if cold comfort — for those who never stopped fighting for justice.