Podcast Summary: "The Trials of Frank Carson" Update

Podcast: Crimes of the Times – L.A. Times Studios
Host: Christopher Goffard
Date: December 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This special update episode revisits the extraordinary legal ordeal of Frank Carson, a pugnacious Central Valley defense attorney once accused of masterminding a convoluted murder conspiracy. Host Christopher Goffard chronicles the impact of the failed prosecution on Carson, his family, and co-defendants, culminating in a historic $22.5 million legal settlement following Carson’s death. The episode explores prosecutorial misconduct, profound personal fallout, and the enduring ambiguity over the original crime.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Rise and Trial of Frank Carson

• Frank Carson’s Background:
  A criminal defense attorney known for his aggressive, sometimes combative style, Carson made many enemies among local law enforcement and prosecutors.
  • “The only thing the DA understands is pain.” (Frank Carson, 01:59)
• The Charges:
  Carson was accused in 2014 of orchestrating the murder of a scrap metal thief, Corey Kaufman, with help from liquor store owners, police officers, and family.
• Courtroom Irony:
  Carson simultaneously defended clients in court while standing trial for his own alleged crimes in the same courthouse—a strange scenario even for experienced reporters.
  • “He would walk down the hall to another courtroom where he was facing his own murder charge.” (Christopher Goffard, 00:17)
• Physical and Emotional Toll:
  Carson spent 17 months in jail as his health declined, showing signs of fatigue and illness but retaining his trademark defiance.
  • “He moved with a kind of swagger.” (Christopher Goffard, 00:17)
  • “It's disconcerting to them… I won't do it. Maybe I should, but I won't.” (Frank Carson, 01:21)

2. Case Collapse and Aftermath

• Acquittal and Lawsuit:
  After an 18-month preliminary hearing and a 17-month trial—the second longest murder trial in California history—Carson and his co-defendants were acquitted.
• Carson’s Death:
  Preparing a malicious prosecution suit, Carson died of a heart attack at age 66, reportedly due in part to the toll of the ordeal.
• Historic Settlement:
  Stanislaus County settled the civil suit for $22.5 million—a major public payout for a botched prosecution, sparing the county the risk of jury scrutiny.
  • “It was one of the largest payouts of its kind in the history of the California courts.” (Christopher Goffard, 04:21)

3. Victims of the Prosecution

• Georgia DeFilippo (Frank's widow) and Daughter:
  Both were swept into the case on scant evidence and jailed for two months; the charges did not survive preliminary hearings.
  • “I thought it was a really bad dream, but ... I was in jail for nearly two months, 59 days.” (Georgia DeFilippo, 04:41)
• Personal and Financial Fallout:
  The family lost their business, nearly lost their home, and suffered enduring trauma.
  • “It was awful. We lost our business… We lost our faith in the system.” (Georgia DeFilippo, 05:15)
• Payout Distribution:
  • Georgia DeFilippo: $4 million
  • Carson’s estate: $4 million
  • Christina (daughter): $2.5 million
  • Atwal brothers (liquor store owners): $3.6 million
  • Three CHP officers: $6.8 million
• Bittersweet Victory:
  “The settlement's great, but what it leaves you with is this really bad taste in your mouth.” (Georgia DeFilippo, 05:45)

4. Problems with the Prosecution’s Case

• Fabricated and Flimsy Evidence:
  Authorities used dubious evidence, such as innocuous text messages, “junk science” claims about cell phone records (by expert Jim Cook), and the testimony of a desperate, unreliable witness, Robert Woody.
  • Cook’s mapping methods were discredited at trial, and his Google Earth analysis favored the defense (Christopher Goffard, 19:21).
• Robert Woody’s Testimony:
  A meth-addicted handyman, Woody initially bragged to a girlfriend about involvement in the murder, but later admitted he was fabricating stories under pressure from police and prosecutors.
  • “I tried to save my innocence from the beginning. It didn’t help out… I did my time for something I didn’t do.” (Robert Woody, 22:01)
• Prosecution’s Bias and Retaliation:
  Investigators (notably Kirk Bunch) and prosecutors had a history of animosity toward Carson, a fact noted by expert witness Matt Murphy, who concluded the case should never have been filed.
  • “Key roles were played by investigators with… pronounced histories of enmity toward Carson.” (Christopher Goffard, 22:52)

5. Ongoing Impunity and Lack of Accountability

• No Discipline for Officials:
  None of the law enforcement or prosecution officials involved in the case admitted wrongdoing or faced discipline. The main players retired with their pensions.
• Enduring Injustice:
  The original murder remains unsolved, and the people pursued in the failed prosecution are left to grapple with the aftermath.
  • “And all these years later, the real killer… is still out there.” (Christopher Goffard, 06:46)
• Georgia’s Call for Accountability:
  “I would like to see criminal charges brought against former DA Birgit Fladager who presided over the prosecution, and [trial prosecutor] Marlissa Ferreira.” (Georgia DeFilippo, 25:27)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Frank Carson on Defiance:
  “They expect that... I should be going through that courthouse cowering and hiding my head. I won’t do it.” (Frank Carson, 01:21)
• On Carson’s Philosophy:
  “The only thing the DA understands is pain.” (Frank Carson, 01:59) “If I really catch [law enforcement] lying in one trial after another, then it’s open season for… their career.” (Frank Carson, 08:10)
• On Justice and Innocence:
  “There’s something infinitely worse than a guilty person going free—it’s convicting an innocent man of crimes he didn’t commit.” (Frank Carson, 09:14)
• On Prison’s Toll:
  “He had diabetes, and… he wouldn’t give [jail doctors] any blood, so he couldn’t be treated. His blood pressure went sky high. His kidneys burned out.” (Georgia DeFilippo, 24:15)
• On Personal Transformation:
  “[Getting out of jail is] like being born again. Frank was a man who believed in the law and the underdog… standing up for somebody who hasn’t got anybody to stand up for themselves.” (Georgia DeFilippo, 24:49)
• On the Settlement:
  “Validation for a group of defendants who went through hell… but, of course, taxpayers foot the bill.” (Christopher Goffard, 06:29)
• On Prosecutorial Closure:
  “A necessary step to close a difficult chapter and maintain our focus on current public safety.” (New DA Jeff Lagero, paraphrased, 27:57)

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• Frank Carson’s Defiance and Style: 00:17 – 01:42
• Nature and Fallout of the Charges: 01:42 – 04:21
• Georgia DeFilippo on Impact and Trauma: 04:21 – 05:45
• Payouts to Defendants: 05:59 – 06:54
• Frank Carson’s Approach to Law and Foes: 07:35 – 10:42
• Origin of the Case (Corey Kaufman Disappearance): 10:42 – 13:43
• Police Intrusion and Audio: 12:34 – 14:15
• Robert Woody’s Story and Flip-Flops: 15:29 – 22:52
• Civil Settlement, Expert Analysis, and Systemic Failure: 22:52 – 25:27
• Georgia DeFilippo on Hope and Accountability: 24:49 – 25:27

Tone and Closing Reflection

Goffard maintains a measured, probing tone—sympathetic to the victims of prosecutorial overreach but critical of the system that allowed it. The interview clips underscore not only the resilience of Carson and his family, but also the deep wounds left by an unchecked official vendetta.

The episode ends with a sense of unresolved injustice: a dead defense attorney, real criminals unpunished, and the authorities who perpetrated the legal fiasco walking away undisciplined.

For further details and related stories, visit Crimes of the Times