Listen Now: We Came to the Forest

Summary

We Came to the Forest: Paradise Found
Episode Release Date: January 28, 2025
Host: Matthew Scher
Produced by: Wondery Campsite Media and Tenderfoot TV

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Introduction to the Tragic Confrontation

In the gripping premiere episode of We Came to the Forest, host Matthew Scher delves into a harrowing event that unfolded in an Atlanta forest, where a clash between environmental activists and law enforcement ended in tragedy. This episode, titled "Paradise Found," sets the stage for an in-depth investigation into the layers of secrecy and conflicting narratives surrounding the deadly confrontation.

Meet Vienna Forrest and Her Life Before the Incident

The episode centers around Vienna Forrest, an activist deeply involved in environmental causes. Scher paints a vivid picture of Vienna's life leading up to the fateful night:

• Vienna's Struggles and Relationships:
  [01:06] – Vienna describes a particularly rough month, indicating personal and emotional turmoil:
  Vienna Forrest: "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."

• A Night Out with Tortuguita:
  [01:36] – On a chilly evening, Vienna and her partner, Tortuguita (meaning "little turtle" in Spanish), decide to reconnect by going out:
  Vienna Forrest: "Me and Tort save on tickets, hid under a blanket... but they let us go through."

The Fateful Evening at the Starlight Drive-In

The couple's evening continues with a visit to the historic Starlight Drive-In, one of Atlanta's last real drive-ins, renowned for its classic neon sign and nostalgic ambiance:

• Experiencing the Movie Together:
  [02:35] – Vienna shares the intimate bond she feels with Tortuguita during the movie:
  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."

• Choosing the Movie Megan:
  [02:45] – They watch "Megan," a film about an overprotective, malignant doll, reflecting on the themes of control and fear:
  Vienna Forrest: "The modern day Chucky, if you will."

The Nightmarish Confrontation

Approximately 36 hours after their peaceful evening, the narrative shifts to the catastrophic event that forever altered Vienna's life:

• Law Enforcement's Mission:
  [03:23] – A joint task force comprising officers from various agencies descends upon the forest to dismantle an activist camp opposing the construction of a massive police training facility:
  Narrator: "These officers are nervous. They've been warned... about the possibility of booby traps and even improvised explosive devices."

• Rising Tensions and the Breaking Point:
  [04:16] – An unexpected disturbance triggers chaos among the officers:
  Vienna Forrest: "Sir, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?"

• Escalation to Violence:
  [04:30] – The situation rapidly deteriorates as gunfire erupts:
  Vienna Forrest: "Oh, shit. Is this target purpose?"

• Aftermath:
  The violent exchange leaves one activist dead and numerous lives shattered, with immediate evidence pointing towards possible cover-ups and conflicting testimonies emerging in the wake of the tragedy.

Themes and Investigative Insights

Matthew Scher uses this episode to explore profound themes such as:

• Justice and Activism: The fine line between peaceful protest and perceived threats by authorities, questioning the lengths to which individuals and institutions will go to protect their beliefs.

• Truth vs. Cover-Up: With missing evidence and contradictory accounts, the episode delves into the murky waters of institutional accountability and the struggle to uncover the truth.

• Psychological Impact: The emotional and psychological toll on those involved, from activists like Vienna to the law enforcement officers tasked with enforcing the law.

Notable Quotes

• Vienna on Her Relationship: [02:35] – "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."

• Emerging Chaos: [04:16] – "Sir, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?"

• Moment of Realization: [04:30] – "Oh, shit. Is this target purpose?"

Conclusion and Continuing the Investigation

"We Came to the Forest: Paradise Found" sets a compelling foundation for the series, promising a deep dive into the complexities of environmental activism, law enforcement tactics, and the quest for truth amidst conflicting narratives. As Scher unravels the events leading up to and following the tragic shootout, listeners are left questioning what truly transpired in the Atlanta forest and the broader implications for justice and societal divisions.

For those eager to uncover the full story, follow We Came to the Forest on the Wondery app or your preferred podcast platform.

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 is a new investigative podcast from Wondery Campsite Media and Tenderfoot tv. It peels back the layers of secrecy surrounding a deadly confrontation that shook a community to its core. Through exclusive recordings and never before release eyewitness accounts, host Matthew Scher exposes the hidden truths behind a nighttime shootout that left one activist dead and countless lives forever changed by 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 to protect what they believe in. What actually happened in the forest? You're about to hear a clip from We Came to the Forest Follow We Came to the Forest on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[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 and Tortequito's like at their peak. They were 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 Tort 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 a 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 purpose?

[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.

[Vienna Forrest]

That sounded like suppressed gun violence.

[Narrator]

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

[Matthew Scher]

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