Criminally Obsessed, March 16, 2026
Episode: “Where’s The Justice?” — Murdaugh Housekeeper Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson Fears Overturned Murder Conviction
Host: Ann Emerson
Guest: Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson (former Murdaugh family housekeeper)

Overview

In this episode, investigative journalist Ann Emerson dives deep with Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson, the former housekeeper for the Murdaugh family, on the anxieties surrounding Alec Murdaugh’s ongoing appeals, the lingering mysteries after the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, and the emotional stakes for those seeking justice. The conversation traverses new ground regarding “the cleaners” — people Blanca suspects helped tidy the crime scene after the murders — and reflects on the possible overturning of Alec’s convictions amid allegations of jury tampering. The episode blends personal testimony, forensic insight, and raw emotion, spotlighting both the unresolved questions and the broader failures and strengths of the justice system.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Lingering Question: “Who Were the Cleaners?”

[00:00–06:30]

• Ann reiterates the central enigma: whether anyone besides Alec Murdaugh was present at the kennels the night of the murders, and who might have helped “clean up.”
• Blanca, previously reticent out of fear, goes deeper, clarifying her term for “the cleaners”:

  “I’m not saying that they help commit the crime. What I’m saying is that they help clean up... I just don’t want to use names because of, you know, lawsuits and all of that.” (Blanca, 05:06)

• She suggests the existence of two such “cleaners,” not direct perpetrators, but people who came after the fact — a claim she says some people in the community will understand:

  “They know who they are... Will it come up later on... I don’t know.” (Blanca, 05:34)

• BLanca expresses frustration at law enforcement’s handling, suggesting evidence may have been missed or lost:

  “You still have to respect the fact that there’s procedures that you follow, instead of making excuses, admit where you fell short.” (06:25)

Forensic Endorsement & Blanca's Unique Insight

[01:40–03:24]

• Ann shares praise from Dr. Kenny Kenzie, a respected forensic expert and trial witness:

  “I would say other than Murdoch blood, Ms. Blanca's probably got the best insight of anyone as to what took place in and around that household.” (Dr. Kenny Kenzie, 03:02)

• Blanca acknowledges being both respected and doubted, but focuses on contributing her truth despite community divisions.

Alec Murdaugh’s Appeal: Justice in Jeopardy

[09:00–20:28]

• Ann recaps the new grounds for appeal, including the role of controversial financial crime evidence and Becky Hill (the disgraced former Clerk of Court), alongside the justices’ and prosecution’s debate over relevance and jury impact.
• A core issue: does the financial motive directly link to the murders, as argued at trial?
• Blanca holds that Alec’s financial crisis was crucial:

  “The pressure of people finding out that you were broke... is what triggered to me what happened June 7, 2021.” (Blanca, 12:03)

• She describes Alec’s uncharacteristic financial behaviors before and after the murders as early warning signs she failed to grasp at the time.

The Emotional Stakes of Overturning the Conviction

[18:43–22:07]

• The Becky Hill scandal (jury tampering allegations) is reviewed, with Ann and the justices expressing concern over possible taint to the trial.
• Blanca is candid about her devastation if Alec’s murder convictions are overturned:

  “I would be devastated. Because where’s the justice for Maggie and Paul? ...It’s like trying to get them out of existence or forget they ever existed.” (Blanca, 20:28)

• She recalls Paul’s weariness in their last conversations, debunking rumors that Maggie was a detached mother, and defending her own experience of motherhood and loss.

The Kennel Video: The Crucial Evidence

[22:24–24:53]

• Ann highlights the pivotal kennel video, recorded by Paul minutes before his death, catching all three voices at the scene.
• Blanca points out a subtle but telling behavioral cue:

  “In Alex testimony, the kennel video... the dogs are quiet. ...The moment Alec gets on that 911 call... you can hear the dogs... They sense the stranger there. And that’s who I refer to as the cleaners. They sense that they didn’t know those people.” (Blanca, 23:02; 23:26)

  • She argues that any claims of others being present during the murders are negated by the dogs’ tranquility in the video—a signature only upset when unknown persons (the “cleaners”) arrived after the fact.

Encounters with the Defense & Undervalued Voices

[24:53–27:36]

• When asked about interactions with Dick Harpootlian, Alec’s defense attorney, Blanca recounts his distant manner at a book signing (“Well, I’ll see you in court”), and expresses frustration that key witnesses are often underestimated or dismissed by those in power.
• She emphasizes the importance of concrete, data-driven investigation if the conviction is thrown out (“Look it up on location. ...If you’re gonna say that he's not guilty.”).
• Despite her understanding of legal rights and due process, she underscores that overturning the conviction would be a profound blow to victims and truth-seekers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On speaking out:

  “I think it’s time for me to actually start speaking out more. We have got to speak out and say when there’s something wrong, especially with, you know, the way the judicial system deals with certain things... If they do feel that he deserves another trial, that’s fine. At least I know what I’m going to be dealing with.”
  (Blanca, 01:04)

• On the “Cleaners”:

  “Some people have misunderstood when I said, when I call them the cleaners, I’m not saying that they help commit the crime. What I’m saying is that they help clean up.”
  (Blanca, 05:09)

• On financial motive:

  “If they disconnect from the fact that there was, you know, the financials were involved in that, then basically the prosecution probably does not have a case against Alex.”
  (Blanca, 12:42)

• On the Beck Hill controversy:

  “[T]his... could be a big problem... Chief Justice John W. Kittridge: ‘In my position as Chief Justice, I have to deal with the clerks of court in 46 counties... the overwhelming majority... do not act like this.’”
  (Justice Kittridge, 19:00)

• On the impact of a possible overturn:

  “I would be devastated because where’s the justice for Maggie and Paul? ...It’s like trying to get them out of existence or forget they ever existed.”
  (Blanca, 20:28)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–01:04 — Episode introduction, outline of focus: post-murder questions, “cleaners”, the appeal.
• 03:02 — Dr. Kenny Kenzie validation of Blanca’s eyewitness credibility.
• 05:06–06:25 — Blanca elaborates on the “cleaners” — what she knows and still holds back.
• 09:00–11:45 — Discussion of appeal hearing and legal controversy over financial motive.
• 12:03–16:41 — Blanca details Alec’s changing behavior, financial red flags, and emotional aftermath.
• 18:43–20:28 — Play and discussion of courtroom audio on Becky Hill, with emotional reaction from Blanca.
• 23:02–24:53 — Analysis of the kennel video and the implications of the dogs’ response.
• 24:53–27:36 — Interaction with the defense, call for greater respect for witnesses, and Blanca’s closing thoughts on justice and exoneration.

Tone, Final Reflection

The conversation is intimate, candid, and laced with both sorrow and persistent hope. Blanca’s testimony is deeply personal but resolute, providing clarity on overlooked details and giving voice to victims too often lost in legal maneuverings. Ann Emerson’s interviewing brings out both the emotional nuances and the procedural complexities, maintaining a respectful, compassionate, and credible tone throughout. This episode offers not just updates on the Murdaugh trial saga, but a powerful meditation on community trauma, the hunger for accountability, and the delicate balance between legal fairness and the quest for truth.