Podcast Summary: I Wish You Were Here

Episode 20: If the Glove Fits: The O.J. Simpson Case

Host: Michelle Cuervo
Date: October 22, 2025

Episode Overview

Michelle Cuervo embarks on a deep dive into the infamous 1994 O.J. Simpson case—one of the most high-profile and controversial criminal cases in American legal history. Framed as a conversational, couch-based exploration, Michelle meticulously walks listeners through the background, the double homicide, the dramatic investigation, and the spectacle of the trial, pausing to highlight the complexities, contradictions, and lasting questions that still pervade the case.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction and Background

• Michelle emphasizes the case's cultural magnitude, describing it as an endless conversation starter due to its complexity and the multitude of perspectives it inspires.

  "If you put me in a room... and said, you have to make conversation with this person for 72 hours straight, I would bring up the O.J. Simpson case day one..." (00:30)

• O.J. Simpson’s career outlined: Football star, the first NFL player to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season, media personality, actor, and a highly respected public figure until the case erupted.

  "...to go from one of the most loved and respected people in America to one of the most hated and most controversial..." (01:20)

• Personal disclaimer: Michelle notes she isn’t a lawyer, sourcing details from public information.

  "I'm just a girl, I'm not a lawyer..." (02:10)

2. Simpson’s Relationships and Family Life

• Marriage to Marguerite Whitley in 1967; three children.
• Meets Nicole Brown in 1977, prompting the end of his first marriage.
• Begins relationship with 18-year-old Nicole Brown; eventually divorces Marguerite and marries Nicole in 1985.
• The Simpson-Brown marriage was troubled by O.J.'s documented domestic violence, with police being called at least eight times.

  "She would call the police to report it. But more oftentimes than not, she would take it back..." (07:48)

• Nicole's financial dependence and O.J.'s celebrity status complicated her ability to seek protection.

3. The Murders and Crime Scene Details

[Timestamp: 13:15]

• On June 12, 1994: Both attended their daughter’s recital; Nicole later dined with family at a restaurant where Ron Goldman worked.
• Ron promises to return Nicole’s mom’s forgotten glasses to her home after his shift (~10:00pm).
• At ~10:55pm, a couple encounters an agitated, barking dog outside Nicole's house, leading to the discovery of Nicole and Ron’s bodies.
• Forensic details:
  • Nicole and Ron both stabbed multiple times.
  • Nicole’s neck injury was so severe her voice box was visible.
  • Evidence suggests Nicole was killed first, Ron second—likely arriving during or just after the attack.
  • Items at the scene: Bloody footprints, a trail of blood, a hat, a left-hand XL leather glove, and the glasses envelope.

4. Initial Investigation & Early Suspicions

[Timestamp: 20:50]

• Police attempt to contact O.J. (initially to notify him as next of kin and get the children).
• At O.J.'s home:
  • Find a blood drop on his vehicle.
  • Enter his house (without a warrant) due to concern for his safety.
  • Meet Kato Kaelin (OJ’s guest house resident), who recounts OJ’s trip to Chicago that night, strange noises outside (the source—later discovered to be the right-hand glove).
• Limo driver testimony: Arrived early, saw a "shadowy figure" near the house before OJ left for the airport (with O.J. eventually appearing).

5. O.J.'s Behavior and Arrest Warrant

• O.J. contacted in Chicago. Oddly, he never asks how Nicole died during the call.

  "...not one time did OJ Simpson ask how his ex-wife died, how Nicole died...he really had no further questions. Which is interesting..." (29:10)

• Before being informed it was a homicide, O.J. had already arranged to meet a criminal defense attorney.
• Upon return to LA, is questioned by police:
  • Gives vague, shifting timelines for his whereabouts after the recital.

    "I got back at seven something. Yeah, I'm trying to think...' (32:44)

  • Noted to have a fresh cut on his left hand; offers no clear explanation.
  • O.J.: "Oh, yeah, I'm an athlete, I just, I bleed all the time." (34:30)
• "Dream Team" assembled: Robert Shapiro (lead at first), Robert Kardashian, later Johnny Cochran and others.

6. The Infamous Bronco Chase

[Timestamp: 39:00]

• O.J., expected to turn himself in, instead flees, leaving behind a lengthy "goodbye" note.

  "First, everyone understand I had nothing to do with Nicole's murder. I loved her. Always have and always will." (Quote from O.J.’s letter, 41:00)

• O.J. and Al Cowlings' slow-motion Ford Bronco chase aired live to an estimated 95 million viewers.

  "She turns on the news and on the screen is what is known today as the Bronco chase, a live high-speed car chase..." (43:20)

• O.J. ultimately apprehended at his mother's house after threatening suicide, is finally taken into custody.

7. The Trial of the Century

[Timestamp: 49:00]

• Trial lasts 11 months; one of the most controversial and closely watched in history.
• O.J. pleads:

  "Absolutely 100% not guilty." (53:00)

• Dramatic legal shifts:
  • Shapiro sidelined after suggesting a plea deal; Johnny Cochran takes lead.
• Jury selection:
  • Only two with college degrees; nine of twelve doubted O.J. was likely to murder due to his football career.
  • Several jurors had negative police experiences.
• Opening statements:
  • Defense: Highlights O.J.'s accomplishments and respect.
  • Prosecution: Details years of control, abuse, and escalation leading to Nicole’s murder.

  "OJ Simpson took Nicole's youth, freedom, and her self-respect, and just as she tried to break free, O.J. Simpson took her life in what amounted to be his final and his ultimate act of control." (Opening prosecution, ~57:20)

8. Evidence: Domestic Violence and Forensics

• Nicole's repeated calls to police, statements about fearing O.J.

  "You guys never do anything. You come out, you've seen so many times, and you never do anything about him." (Nicole to officers, 01:00:45)

• Notable that prosecution dropped much of the DV argument months in, focusing on forensic evidence:
  • DNA evidence at Nicole’s house, O.J.'s car, inside O.J.'s house, and on a glove—all with astronomically low probability of not matching O.J., Nicole, and Ron.
  • Defense fought admissibility, citing illegal entry to O.J.’s home and chain of custody issues.
  • Battle for hair samples—it took a judge's order for 10 hairs (not the standard 100) to be provided.

9. Race, Policing, and Defense Strategy

[Timestamp: 01:07:00]

• Defense frames case as a product of police bias and systemic racism; highlights Detective Mark Fuhrman’s credibility issues.

  "The defense make Mark Fuhrman swear under oath that he had not made any racial slurs in the last 10 years...then played tapes...proving that he had just lied under oath..." (01:09:14)

• Fuhrman’s repeated use of racial slurs and his taking of the Fifth Amendment damages prosecution's credibility.

10. Iconic Moment: The Glove Fitting

• Prosecution attempts to have O.J. put on the gloves found at the scene and his house.
  • The gloves do not fit, but speculations arise due to possible shrinkage and O.J.'s manner of trying them on.

  Johnny Cochran: "If it does not fit, you must acquit." (01:16:23)

• Marcia Clark’s closing argument:

  "[Mark Fuhrman] was a racist...but that fact does not mean we have not proven the defending guilty beyond reasonable doubt... it would be a tragedy... if you would find the defendant not guilty... because of the racist attitudes of one police officer." (01:17:45)

11. Testimonies, Alibi, and Missing Evidence

• Kato Kaelin and limo driver testify about O.J.’s anxious, sweating demeanor and odd bag-handling. One bag never accounted for.
• O.J. has an unexplained window of opportunity during the murders.
• Witness puts O.J.’s Bronco near Nicole’s house around the time of the murders, but this testimony is inadmissible (witness sold story to media).

12. The Verdict and Aftermath

[Timestamp: 01:22:00]

• After 11 months and just four hours’ deliberation:
  O.J. Simpson found not guilty.
  • The Dream Team rejoices.
  • Rob Kardashian's reportedly blank, conflicted expression noted; speculated he personally believed O.J. was guilty.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On O.J.'s Transformation:

  "To go from one of the most loved and respected people in America to one of the most hated and most controversial. It really takes a lot." (01:20)

• On Domestic Violence:

  "She was hiding in the bushes, but as soon as she saw the officers, she ran to them screaming, 'he's going to kill me. He's going to kill me.'" (01:00:45)

• O.J.'s Letter Prior to Chase:

  "First, everyone understand I had nothing to do with Nicole's murder. I loved her. Always have and always will." (41:00)
  "Don't feel sorry for me. I've had a great life, great friends. Please think of the real OJ and not this lost person." (45:00)

• Iconic Defense Rhyme:

  Johnny Cochran: "If it does not fit, you must acquit." (01:16:23)

• On Prosecution’s Plea:

  Marcia Clark: "...it would be a tragedy if with such overwhelming evidence, ladies and gentlemen, as we have presented to you, you would find the defendant not guilty... because of the racist attitudes of one police officer." (01:17:45)

• Final Reflection:

  "A lot of people believe that O.J. Simpson legally got away with murder. But I want to hear what you have to say." (01:23:10)

Noteworthy Timestamps

• 00:30: Michelle describes her obsession with the O.J. case.
• 13:15: Detailed recounting of the night of the murders.
• 20:50: Police begin investigating O.J. as potential suspect.
• 29:10: O.J. shows no curiosity about Nicole's manner of death.
• 32:44: O.J.'s shifting alibi and vague statements.
• 39:00: The morning of the arrest warrant and O.J.’s subsequent flight.
• 41:00–45:00: O.J.'s handwritten letter excerpts.
• 43:20: The Bronco chase unfolds on live TV.
• 49:00: Trial begins, context given.
• 53:00: O.J. states "Absolutely 100% not guilty" in court.
• 57:20: Prosecution frames O.J. as controlling and abusive.
• 01:00:45: Nicole’s statement to police after DV incident.
• 01:07:00: Defense strategy around race and Mark Fuhrman.
• 01:16:23: The glove moment and iconic defense quote.
• 01:17:45: Marcia Clark’s closing argument on race and evidence.
• 01:22:00: The verdict and its immediate aftermath.

Tone and Style

• Casual, direct, and engaging—Michelle positions herself as a passionate but non-expert observer, leveraging storytelling and informal asides.
• Balances fact-driven narrative with emotional insight and cultural commentary.
• Frequently addresses listeners directly, inviting them to draw their own conclusions.

Closing Thoughts

Michelle’s comprehensive episode offers an accessible yet detailed retelling of one of America’s most divisive criminal cases, balancing forensic evidence, legal strategy, racial dynamics, and personal drama. She leaves listeners with more questions than answers, embodying her show’s tagline: nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

For those who haven’t listened, this summary captures the major beats, memorable moments, and the emotional undercurrent of a case that continues to fascinate, divide, and invite speculation.