Podcast Summary: Hands Tied

Episode 7 – Aftershock
Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Maggie Robinson Katz (iHeartPodcasts/BBC Studios)

Overview

This episode of Hands Tied continues the tragic and complex story of Sandy Melgar's murder conviction. It explores the immediate and long-term emotional aftershocks experienced by Sandy’s daughter, Liz, and their extended family and friends, while delving into the trial’s critical moments, jury deliberations, the sentencing, prison life, failed appeals, and a last-ditch hope for a new defense. The episode highlights the devastating impact a controversial conviction can have, not only on the accused but also on loved ones who continue to seek justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trial Verdict – Shock and Grief ([03:25–07:35])

• Jury Reaches Verdict: Tense mood in the courtroom as the jury files in; many are visibly emotional.
• Immediate Reactions:
  • Liz, Sandy’s daughter, describes knowing the outcome as soon as she saw the jurors were crying.
    • "You're not going to cry if you're going to say someone's not guilty." – Liz [04:34]
  • Sandy collapses in disbelief when found guilty.
  • Family members (Marissa, Diana, Tammy) reflect on the devastation and the numbing realization as Sandy is taken away.
  • "My heart just sunk into my stomach." – Liz [06:10]
  • "We all started crying. Liz ran to her to give her like one last hug... And then... Liz fell to the ground." – Diana [06:37]

2. Inside the Jury Room ([08:08–09:46])

• Juror’s Perspective (Aaron Day):
  • Initial jury split: 5 guilty, 4 innocent, 3 undecided.
  • Deliberations involved reading through testimony and evidence repeatedly.
  • "There was hardly nothing there [to prove innocence]. That’s why we kept going to guilty." – Aaron Day [09:19]
  • Aaron didn’t believe the defense's narrative of a home invasion, finding the prosecution’s story more plausible.
  • "They failed to tell me and make me believe she didn’t do it. So I'm like, oh, you're not offering me any..." – Aaron Day [11:40]

3. Defense Response and the Burden of Proof ([12:06–14:50])

• Defense’s View:
  • Max Seacrest (Sandy's lawyer) frustrated with the verdict:
    • "I can't fathom how a group of folks conscientiously could believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the prosecution had proved its case." – Max Seacrest [12:25]
  • Defense team stands firm on their strategic choices, notably not having Sandy testify, citing her health concerns (seizure disorder).
    • Liz had tried to convince her mom to testify despite her illness.
    • "Just have the seizure. Just let them see it. Like, they don’t believe you…" – Liz [14:28]
  • Aaron Day wonders if hearing Sandy declare her innocence could have swayed him:
    • "If she did take the stand and say 'I didn’t do it'... it might have [made a difference]." – Aaron Day [14:50]

4. Sentencing and Its Aftermath ([19:32–22:25])

• Sentencing Hearing:
  • Max Seacrest appeals for leniency, describing Sandy as loving and innocent; prosecution paints Sandy as manipulative.
  • Jury sentences Sandy to 27 years, considering her age (57) and health.
    • "They felt that 27 years was showing her mercy because... she could still have some time with her grandchildren..." – Liz [21:12]
  • Liz remains adamant:
    • "If she was guilty, why would I want to spend time with her? ...There’s no way in hell." – Liz [21:44]
  • Sandy is taken away; Liz struggles to explain the event to her young daughter.
    • "She’s like running down the stairs and she's like 'where’s Nana?' I was like, oh my God, I can't." – Liz [22:25]

5. Life in Prison ([22:46–24:26])

• Prison Experience:

  • Sandy's initial transfer is to the notorious “Hobby Hell” unit, where she feels terrified.
  • Eventually transferred to the Carol S. Young Medical Facility, marginally improving her safety but not her sense of isolation.
    • "All I can think about is my mom... alone and suffering in prison and I get to travel and I get to be with my kids... It just seems wholly unfair." – Liz [24:03]

• Correspondence from Sandy:

  • Sandy describes daily routines, lack of privacy, sleep deprivation, and small comforts. She reminisces about her marriage and continues to profess her innocence.
    • "We had been married 32 years and I know we would still be together if this terrible ordeal had not happened." – Sandy (through Maggie) [27:58]
    • "NO." (in all caps, when asked if she killed Jim) – Sandy (via email) [28:45]

6. Appeals and Legal Setbacks ([33:12–36:20])

• Immediate Appeal Denied:
  • Defense requests a retrial; rejected by a panel of three judges.
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals:
  • Max Seacrest argues via Zoom in 2021, highlighting lack of direct evidence and the implausibility of Sandy committing the violent murder.
  • "It was built on conjecture, not fact... It doesn't even approach... the rudimentary requirements of due process." – Max Seacrest [35:24]
  • In June 2022, the appeal is denied:
    • "As far as her... direct appeal is concerned, it's exhausted." – Max Seacrest [36:02]

7. Emotional Aftershocks and Trauma ([36:44–39:01])

• Personal Toll on Liz:
  • Liz describes feelings of loss, PTSD, and having become withdrawn:
    • "I don't even feel human anymore. I miss the person that I used to be." – Liz [37:33]
    • "I was very social... now I just...hate being around big groups...I just feel like I'm not fun anymore. I don't know. It's almost like I've died." – Liz [38:18]
  • Cousin Diana shares ongoing trauma every time she sees a police car or the Houston skyline.
    • "I have a bodily reaction. ...I've always thought, like, yeah right, like, you're in jail for a reason. I didn't believe it until this happened to Sandy." – Diana [39:01]

8. The Search for Hope: A New Defense ([40:29–41:37])

• Max Seacrest takes a final shot, contacting Mike Ware, founder of an organization that secured 40 exonerations since 2006.
• Mike Ware's Criteria:
  • Only takes cases where innocence is clear or a crime did not occur as charged.
    • "We have to...be convinced absolutely that they are...absolutely innocent." – Mike Ware [41:37]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jury Mood Telegraphed Verdict:
  • "I already knew why, because people were crying." – Liz [04:34]
• Defense on Burden of Proof:
  • "It’s for [the prosecution] to prove someone is guilty, not the defense to prove their innocence." – Maggie Robinson Katz paraphrasing defense [12:06]
• On Mercy and Parole:
  • "That was their bit of mercy for her." – Liz [21:12]
• Personal Devastation:
  • "I don't even feel human anymore." – Liz [37:33]
  • "It's almost like I've died." – Liz [38:18]
• Lingering Grief:
  • "I have his ashes actually on a counter in my restroom... Whenever I, you know, need some advice, life advice...I just go up to his ashes and start talking to the box." – Marissa & Liz [39:54-40:21]

Important Timestamps

• 03:25: Setting the courtroom scene as the verdict is about to be read.
• 04:34: Liz and jurors’ reactions to the verdict.
• 06:37: Family collapses in grief after verdict.
• 08:08: Jury member Aaron Day explains the deliberations.
• 12:25: Defense attorney Max Seacrest’s views on the verdict.
• 14:28: Liz on why she wanted Sandy to testify.
• 19:32: Sentencing and explanation for 27-year sentence.
• 22:25: Liz struggles to tell her daughter about Sandy’s absence.
• 23:07: Diana describes prison as "Hobby Hell."
• 27:58: Sandy’s emotional recollections of her marriage.
• 33:12: Appellate journey and failed attempts to overturn conviction.
• 37:33: Liz articulates her PTSD and sense of lost self.
• 40:29: Introduction of Mike Ware, wrongful conviction advocate.

Tone and Language

The episode maintains a somber yet determined tone, conveying both the emotional devastation of the Melgar family and their persistent hope for justice. The editing preserves the voices of those involved—especially Liz’s pain, Max’s legal frustration, and Sandy’s bewildered perseverance—while also highlighting cold procedural barriers. The conversations are intimate, often wrenching, with moments of dark humor and resilience, especially from the family.

Conclusion

This episode paints a raw, comprehensive picture of the aftermath of Sandy Melgar’s conviction — how it upended a family, exposed the uncertainties of the criminal justice process, and left those seeking answers grasping for hope amid systemic disappointments. The fight for Sandy’s freedom now rests with potential intervention from wrongful conviction advocates, as the Melgars and their legal team refuse to abandon their pursuit of exoneration.

Next Episode Preview: Will Mike Ware and his organization take on Sandy’s case, and can they make a difference when all other avenues have failed?