Murder: True Crime Stories – "SOLVED: The Talk Show Confession 2"
Host: Carter Roy
Release Date: April 9, 2026

Episode Overview

In the second installment of the two-part examination of the 1995 murder of Scott Amador, host Carter Roy traces the aftermath of a tragic crime that began with a talk show "secret crush" confession and ended with a national debate on media responsibility. The episode details what transpired after a deeply personal revelation on national TV, the ensuing murder, the high-profile trial and legal battles, and how this case marked a watershed moment in both television ethics and gay rights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of Events Leading to the Murder

[05:43 – 12:28]

• In March 1995, Scott Amador (32), openly gay and outgoing, volunteers for a Jenny Jones Show segment about secret same-sex crushes.
• His friend, Jonathan Schmitz (24), is unknowingly brought on the show as the subject of Scott’s affections. He is told he could meet a secret admirer of either gender, but reportedly producers implied it would be a woman.
• The taping leads to an uncomfortable, public revelation for Jonathan, who tries to mask his discomfort but feels betrayed by friends and cornered by the situation.
• Back in Michigan, the friends appear to smooth things over, but the damage is simmering beneath the surface.

Quote:
“He had come to Chicago thinking he was about to meet the woman of his dreams. Instead, he felt blindsided, set up by two people he trusted.” — Carter Roy [07:00]

2. The Fatal Sequence of Events

[13:31 – 21:10]

• Three days after the taping, Jonathan finds a suggestive note and a flashing orange construction light (taken from the airport) on his doorstep, believing Scott left it as a taunt.
• Interpreting the gesture as relentless provocation amidst growing shame and fear, Jonathan makes a series of deliberate choices:
  • Withdraws $300 from the bank
  • Purchases a shotgun and ammunition
  • Drives to Scott’s home under the guise of confirming authorship of the note
• Scott, seeing Jonathan with a gun, tries to defend himself but is shot twice and killed.
• Jonathan flees, then calls 911 from a gas station, confessing and blaming the Jenny Jones Show for his actions.

Quote:
“The operator asked why he had done it. Using much stronger language than we can repeat here, John said he’d been embarrassed on national TV. None of this would have happened if it weren’t for the Jenny Jones Show.” — Carter Roy [20:45]

3. National Outrage and Legal Crossfire

[23:10 – 28:00]

• The incident ignites nationwide debates: was Jonathan the sole party responsible, or did the Jenny Jones Show and its producers share the blame?
• Both victim and perpetrator families blame the show. Scott's family is upset the producers never reached out after his death.
• The show ultimately pulls the segment; Jenny Jones issues a statement of sympathy but deflects blame, insisting the show was not deceptive and Jonathan was aware of the possibility of a male admirer.

Quote:
“She believed the responsibility for what had happened rested entirely with Jonathan Schmitz.” — Carter Roy, on Jenny Jones’s statement [24:20]

4. The High-Profile Trial and the “Gay Panic Defense”

[28:01 – 32:00]

• Jonathan is arrested and charged with first-degree murder, later downgraded to second-degree after mental health and mitigating circumstances are considered by the defense.
• Defense invokes mental illness and the controversial "gay panic defense," claiming public humiliation and personal struggles pushed Jonathan over the edge.
• Jenny Jones testifies, distancing herself from the segment’s planning, insisting intentions were playful and inclusive rather than predatory.
• The gay panic strategy is challenged by LGBTQ+ advocates, arguing it fuels anti-gay sentiment and rationalizes violence.

Quote:
“Many gay rights advocates condemned the defense, arguing that it framed LGBTQ identity as something inherently threatening. They said it excused violence as a reasonable response to being perceived as gay.” — Carter Roy [29:50]

5. Verdicts, Appeals, and Civil Lawsuits

[32:01 – 36:00]

• Jonathan is convicted of second-degree murder (25–50 years) after the jury finds insufficient evidence of premeditation for first-degree.
• Conviction temporarily overturned due to jury selection mistakes, but a second trial upholds the verdict.
• The Amador family launches a successful civil suit, initially winning $25 million, only for higher courts to reverse the award, citing First Amendment protections for the show.
• The unaired segment is finally shown publicly through Court TV’s coverage, reigniting the debate on media ethics versus legal responsibility.

Quote:
“While the Constitution shielded the program from legal consequences, it didn’t protect it from moral responsibility.” — Alan Dershowitz, as quoted by Carter Roy [35:00]

6. Legacy and Cultural Impact

[36:01 – 38:13]

• The Jenny Jones Show faces ongoing criticism but avoids legal repercussions. The genre of sensational “gotcha” daytime TV faces growing public scrutiny and eventual decline.
• Jonathan Schmitz is paroled in 2017, having served 22 years; the Amador family remains embittered that the show never faced accountability.
• The episode ends with an open question on the moral boundaries of entertainment and the responsibility of media producers.

Quote:
“Nearly 30 years after Scott was killed, we’re still asking the same question. Jonathan Schmitz pulled the trigger. That’s not up for debate. But did his actions that day begin when he bought the gun or when Jenny Jones booked him?” — Carter Roy [37:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “People’s lives are like a story. There’s a beginning, a middle, and an end. But you don’t always know which part you’re on… sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon, and we don’t always get to know the real ending.” — Carter Roy [00:40]
• “Jenny Jones had essentially been the trigger man in Scott’s murder.” — John Schmitz’s grandfather, as paraphrased by Carter Roy [23:55]
• “Her position never changed. In 1999, she repeated her belief that this was not a crime committed by a television show. It was a crime committed by Jonathan Schmitz.” — Carter Roy [36:30]

Important Timestamps

• [05:43] – Background on Scott, John, and Donna’s relationship; lead-up to the Jenny Jones taping
• [13:31] – Timeline of Jonathan’s actions leading up to Scott’s murder
• [20:45] – Jonathan’s confession and immediate police response
• [23:10] – Immediate family reactions and Jenny Jones Show’s public statement
• [29:50] – Trial strategies, the “gay panic defense,” and Jenny Jones’s testimony
• [32:01] – Jury verdicts, appeals, and the civil suit
• [36:01] – Discussion of legacy, genre fallout, Jonathan’s parole, and lingering questions of responsibility

Episode Tone & Style

Carter Roy delivers the story with a somber, introspective tone, emphasizing the complex moral, legal, and cultural ramifications of the case. The narrative combines empathy for those affected with critical examination of talk show culture and the dangers of exploiting personal struggles for entertainment.

Summary Takeaway

This episode revisits the infamous Jenny Jones talk show murder—peeling back layers of personal tragedy, media spectacle, and America’s grappling with LGBTQ+ identity and responsibility. While the courts determined legal fault, the question of where entertainment ends and exploitation begins remains unresolved and deeply relevant today.