Listen Now: We Came to the Forest

Summary

We Came to the Forest Episode: Listen Now: We Came to the Forest
Release Date: January 27, 2025
Host: Matthew Scher
Produced by: Wondery Campsite Media and Tenderfoot TV

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Introduction

In the inaugural episode of We Came to the Forest, host Matthew Scher delves into a tragic and perplexing incident that unfolded in an Atlanta forest. This episode sets the stage for an in-depth investigation into the clash between environmental activists and law enforcement authorities, culminating in a fatal outcome that continues to stir controversy and mystery.

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Setting the Scene

The episode opens with Scher introducing the central event—a deadly confrontation in an Atlanta forest involving activists and a substantial law enforcement task force. The official accounts of this incident are called into question as Scher promises to uncover the underlying truths obscured by layers of secrecy.

Notable Quote:

“In the depths of an Atlanta forest, a clash between activists and authorities ended in tragedy. But the official narrative doesn't add up.”
— Matthew Scher [00:00]

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Personal Story: Vienna Forrest

Central to the narrative is Vienna Forrest, an activist whose personal experiences and relationships are intricately tied to the unfolding events. The episode provides a glimpse into her life leading up to the fateful night.

Background:

• Vienna's Struggles: Vienna has had a tumultuous month, spending much of her time in hiding and relying on friends for support.
• Relationship Dynamics: Her partner, Tortuguita ("little turtle" in Spanish), encourages her to move forward and leave past troubles behind.

Notable Quotes:

“It was the longest month in some ways I can remember, and I spent much of it lying low, crashing on the floor at a friend's house.”
— Narrator [01:15]

“And we went to get Vietnamese and Mexican food, just got a whole buffet. It was and Tortuguita is like at their peak. They’re so happy they quit cigarettes. They were just really doing good.”
— Vienna Forrest [01:46]

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The Date at the Starlight

Vienna and Tortuguita decide to rekindle some normalcy by going on a date, which ultimately sets the stage for the tragic events that follow.

Key Events:

• Dinner and Movie Plans: The couple, along with friends, head to the Starlight Movie Theater, one of Atlanta's iconic drive-ins.
• Encounter at the Theater: Attempting to save on tickets, they hide under a blanket but are caught by the gate attendant, leading to a humorous yet tense moment.

Notable Quotes:

“Me and Torte, to save on tickets, hid under a blanket and the person manning the gate caught us. They’re like, next time tell your friends to hide their legs better because Torte’s legs were sticking out from under the blanket. But they let us go through.”
— Vienna Forrest [02:19]

“Were always just like someone I felt comfortable with. They were I’m feeling bad, I can lay my head on their chest and they’d comfort me.”
— Vienna Forrest [02:44]

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The Fateful Night

Approximately 36 hours after their date, a significant and violent event occurs in the forest, drastically altering Vienna's life.

Event Details:

• Law Enforcement Task Force: A joint task force comprising officers from multiple agencies arrives to clear the forest of activists protesting the construction of a large police training facility.
• Tensions and Preparations: Officers are on edge, anticipating potential threats like booby traps or explosive devices, which adds to the charged atmosphere.

Notable Quotes:

“Detectives, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?”
— Vienna Forrest [04:25]

“That sounded like suppressed gun.”
— Vienna Forrest [05:21]

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The Clash and Its Aftermath

As the task force advances into the forest, the situation rapidly deteriorates into chaos and violence, leading to the death of an activist and leaving the community grappling with the fallout.

Key Points:

• Surprise Attack: Unexpected gunfire erupts, signaling the beginning of the shootout.
• Law Enforcement Response: Officers react swiftly, but the ensuing violence complicates the official narrative.
• Murder and Mistrust: The death of an activist raises questions about the true nature of the confrontation and whether a cover-up is in play.

Notable Quotes:

“Oh, shit. Is this target practice?”
— Vienna Forrest [04:39]

“Watching them, they seem like they didn’t have care in the world. Or at least they didn’t show it. They had this sort of resolve about things and they just. It seemed like they were just ready for whatever was to come.”
— Vienna Forrest [03:14]

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Investigation and Uncovering the Truth

Matthew Scher commits to peeling back the layers surrounding the incident, promising exclusive recordings and eyewitness accounts that challenge the official story.

Investigation Highlights:

• Conflicting Testimonies: Scher examines differing accounts from activists and law enforcement, highlighting inconsistencies.
• Missing Evidence: Discussion of key evidence that was either overlooked or intentionally concealed.
• Allegations of a Cover-Up: Suggestions that higher levels of law enforcement may be involved in suppressing the true events.

Themes Explored:

• Justice and Activism: The episode probes the complexities of activism, the pursuit of justice, and the potential for corruption within authority structures.
• Human Motivations: Exploration of what drives both activists and officials to extreme actions in defense of their beliefs.

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Conclusion and Teasers for Future Episodes

The episode concludes by setting up the investigative journey ahead, hinting at deeper secrets and unresolved questions that will be explored in subsequent episodes.

Closing Remarks:

“What actually happened in the forest? I'm about to play a clip from We Came to the Forest.”
— Matthew Scher [00:00]

Call to Action: Scher encourages listeners to follow the podcast on various platforms, emphasizing the availability of ad-free content on Wondery Plus.

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Overall Insights and Reflections

We Came to the Forest serves as a compelling introduction to a series that scrutinizes a tragic event fraught with mystery and controversy. Through personal narratives, rigorous investigation, and the uncovering of hidden truths, the episode invites listeners to question official narratives and seek a deeper understanding of the forces at play.

Key Takeaways:

• The intricate interplay between personal experiences and larger societal conflicts.
• The importance of investigative journalism in uncovering hidden truths.
• The ongoing tension between activism and law enforcement in contemporary society.

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We Came to the Forest promises to be a thought-provoking series that not only recounts a significant event but also challenges listeners to ponder the complexities of justice, truth, and human motivation.

Transcript

[Matthew Scher]

In the depths of an Atlanta forest, a clash between activists and authorities ended in tragedy. But the official narrative doesn't add up. We Came to the Forest, a new investigative podcast from Wondery Campsite Media and Tenderfoot TV peels back the layers of secrecy surrounding a deadly confrontation that shook a community to its core. Through exclusive recordings and never before released eyewitness accounts, host Matthew Scher exposes the hidden truths behind a nighttime shootout that left one activist dead and countless lives forever changed. As we dig deeper, we uncover a web of conflicting testimonies, missing evidence, and allegations of a cover up reaching the highest levels of law enforcement. From the idealistic dreams of young environmentalists to the complex motivations of local officials, this story challenges our understanding of justice, activism and the lengths people will go to protect what they believe in. What actually happened in the forest? I'm about to play a clip from We Came to the Forest Follow We Came to the Forest on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Vienna Forrest]

Wondering.

[Narrator]

Campsite Media On a chilly evening in January, an activist named Vienna Forrest goes on a date with her partner in Atlanta. It's been a long, rough month for Vienna, the longest in some ways she can remember, and she spent much of it lying low, crashing on the floor at a friend's house. Her partner, who goes by Tortuguita, that's little turtle in Spanish, has decided that it's time for her to get out of the house.

[Vienna Forrest]

And we went to get Vietnamese and Mexican food, just got a whole buffet. It was and tortequito is like at their peak. They're so happy they quit cigarettes. They were just really doing good.

[Narrator]

A couple hours later, Vienna and Torte pack into a sedan along with two other friends and drive across town to a movie theater called the Starlight. The Starlight's pretty famous in Atlanta. It's one of the last real drive ins in the country. Still has that old school neon sign out front.

[Vienna Forrest]

Me and Torte, to save on tickets, hid under a blanket and the person manning the gate caught us. They're like, next time tell your friends to hide their legs better because Torte's legs were sticking out from under the blanket. But they let us go through.

[Narrator]

The couple stays there together, curled up in the backseat, hands laced together in the dark. Even as the movie gets underway, they.

[Vienna Forrest]

Were always just like someone I felt comfortable with. They were I'm feeling bad, I can lay my head on their chest and they'd comfort me.

[Narrator]

The film that night at the Starlight is Megan, the one about the overprotective, malignant doll.

[Vienna Forrest]

The modern day Chucky, if you will. Took a while for me to remember what the movie was because I wasn't paying attention to the movie so much, but yeah.

[Narrator]

As the movie winds down, Vienna turns to her partner.

[Vienna Forrest]

Watching them, they seem like they didn't have care in the world. Or at least they didn't show it. They had this sort of resolve about things and they just. It seemed like they were just ready for whatever was to come.

[Narrator]

About 36 hours after the date, at the drive in, in an event that will permanently, violently alter the trajectory of Vienna's life, a joint task force of law enforcement officers sweeps through a forest a few miles to the southeast. This task force, made up of dozens of officers from several different agencies, has been assigned to clear the woods of activists who are camping there in an attempt to stop the construction of the largest police training facility in the country. These officers are nervous. They've been warned in a briefing about the possibility of booby traps and even improvised explosive devices. But they're doing their best not to let it show. As they press forward, packing up vacant tents with knives, they joke about what they'll say if they happen to find one occupied.

[Vienna Forrest]

Sir, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?

[Narrator]

There's some more laughter and then everything just kind of shatters open.

[Vienna Forrest]

Oh, shit. Is this target practice?

[Narrator]

Surprised, unnerved, the officers tense up, drop their hands to their sidearms. The mood now is adrenalized. Sharp edged, the squadron of cops begin to move towards the sound of the gunfire. A very faint transmission comes over the radio from just across the forest. Man deaf.

[Vienna Forrest]

That sounded like suppressed gun.

[Narrator]

From Wondery Campside Media and Tenderfoot tv. I'm Matthew Sherry and this is We Came to the Forest. This is episode one, Paradise Foundation.

[Matthew Scher]

Binge. All episodes of We Came to the Forest ad free on Wondery plus. Join Wondery plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts.