Loading summary
Transcript37 lines
- [00:07]
Carter Roy
This is Crime House. There are some moments in time that feel so momentous, you'll never forget where you were when they happened. Unfortunately, many of these moments are tragedies. When the Challenger shuttle exploded, when the Twin Towers fell, when Michael Jackson died. It's so big, so surreal, you can hardly believe it happened for millions of Americans. They'd never forget where they were on the evening of June 17, 1994, when they saw the image of a white Ford Bronco cruising down the freeway, pursued by a fleet of police cruisers. And global superstar OJ Simpson was in the backseat. But this wasn't just some joyride. It was a plea for help, and most importantly, an attempt to avoid justice in the wake of a tragic and brutal double murder. 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. I'm Carter Roy and this is True Crime Stories, a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios that comes out every Tuesday. And at Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing and following Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts and to enhance your Murder True Crime Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get ad free listening, early access to every two part series, and exciting bonus content. This is the second of two special episodes on the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, who was killed after enduring years of abuse from her ex husband, O.J. simpson. In the US one in three women have experienced domestic abuse and in 2021, 34% of female murder victims were killed by their partners. Although O.J. was acquitted during the criminal trial, Nicole's sisters are convinced he was her killer and in the wake of her death, they have fought to shed light on the dangers of domestic abuse and protect other women from the same fate. Just like in part one of this story, I'll be joined by a special guest, Dr. Tristan Engels, a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist and the co host of our fellow Crime House show, Killer Minds.
- [03:09]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Thanks so much, Carter. I'm thrilled to be joining you for part two, just like I do on Killer Minds. While Carter takes you through the story, I'll be providing psychological analysis of the story's key figures. I'll go over topics like the psychology of a massive, highly publicized jury trial, the psychology of profiting from tragedy, and reintegrating into society in the wake of murder.
- [03:33]
Carter Roy
Now let's get into it. Foreign.
- [03:42]
Nicole Lapin
Hey there, it's Nicole Lapman. This week on Crime House, it's a brand new episode of Scams, Money and Murder. Diving into the wolf of Wall street himself. Want to get deeper into these unbelievable stories? Catch our recent episode with journalist Jessica Pressler, the reporter who uncovered the real story of Anna Delvey. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [04:07]
Carter Roy
You know what used to sneak up on me every month like a bad sudden burn? My wireless bill. Seriously. Just when I thought I was ahead, boom. Some weird charge or overage would pop up. That's when I decided enough was enough and made the switch to Mint Mobile. With plans Starting at just 15 bucks a month, Mint Mobile gives you premium wireless service on the nation's largest 5G network, so you still get all the speed and coverage you're used to without the nonsense. All Mint Plan come with high speed data and unlimited talk and text. You don't need a new phone either. Just pop in a Mint SIM card, keep your number and you're good to go. I use Mint Mobile and I've been blown away by the quality and the savings compared to what I was paying before. It's like finding extra cash in your beach bag every month. This year, skip breaking a sweat and breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop Premium Wireless plans@mintmobile.com MTCS mintmobile.com MTCS upfront payment of $45 for 3 month 5 gigabyte plan required equivalent to $15 a month. New customer offer for first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.
- [05:28]
Lemonade Pet Insurance Ad
Just got a new puppy or kitten. Congrats. But also yikes. Between crates, beds, toys, treats and those first few vet visits, you've probably already dropped a small fortune. Which is where Lemonade Pet Insurance comes in. It helps cover vet costs so you can focus on what's best for your new pet. The coverage is customizable, sign up is quick and easy, and your claims are handled in as little as three seconds. Lemonade offers a package specifically for puppies and kittens. Get a'llemonade.com pet your future self will thank you. Your pet won't. They don't know what insurance is.
- [06:06]
Carter Roy
On June 12, 1994, 35 year old Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, 25 year old Ronald Goldman were fatally stabbed outside of her Brentwood condo. Nicole's family was heartbroken and certain that her ex husband, 47 year old O.J. simpson was the killer. The LAPD was still gathering evidence, but so far all signs were pointing to OJ as the story developed, public interest in the case exploded. Within days of the murders, the press was camped outside of O.J. s Brentwood mansion. To avoid all the paparazzi and journalists, OJ Decided to temporarily move in with his friend and attorney Robert Kardashian at his place in the San Fernando Valley. He stayed there over the next few days as police continued their investigation. By June 17, 1994, five days after Nicole and Ron were killed, the district attorney had come to a decision. That day, O.J. was charged with murder. O.J. s lead attorney, Robert Shapiro, was wanted to avoid the spectacle of his client being led away in handcuffs. He knew the paparazzi would be all over it and didn't want to give them the photo op. So he asked the LAPD if O.J. could surrender himself instead of being physically arrested. They agreed. Shapiro just needed to bring O.J. down to the police department by 11am that morning on June 17th. That gave Shapiro a couple of hours to prepare O.J. for the arraignment. He and the rest of the legal team were also at Robert Kardashian's house. O.J. s best friend, A.C. cowlings, had gone over too. He wanted to be there for OJ Amidst all the chaos. But OJ Was looking for AC to be more than moral support. He needed an accomplice. When the lawyers weren't paying attention, O.J. asked A.C. to accompany him outside. Then O.J. got into the backseat of his friend's car, put a gun to his own head, and told AC to drive.
- [08:31]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Friendships are often built on shared history, trust, and protectiveness, especially loyalty. It's a core virtue because it encompasses reliability, dependability, and respect. But with everything, there are limits. And there is a stark difference between being a loyal friend and being a manipulative1. What OJ did was emotional blackmail. And this is common in manipulative or abusive relationships, even in friendships. He is placing the emotional burden on AC for his own actions. He's essentially telling AC that if he doesn't help him, if he doesn't become an accomplice, then he is responsible for what happens next. And OJ's actions are showing that he is serious. He's also exploiting their friendship and putting AC at risk. These are all manipulative tactics. It becomes manipulation when one person is using fear, guilt, or emotional history to coerce someone into acting against their better judgment, ethics or safety.
- [09:30]
Carter Roy
In this moment. Does it seem like OJ is taking advantage of AC's loyalty or just turning to him in his time of need?
- [09:37]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Yeah, honestly, I think it's a little bit of both. I do believe that OJ was experiencing a mental health crisis. And when someone is suicidal or in a crisis like that, I always encourage them to reach out to a trusted friend or family member, emergency services, or the suicide hotline, because support and intervention are crucial. But what OJ subsequently did goes beyond that. He made his friend an emotional and arguably physical captive or hostage. And people who take hostages generally do so to regain control or gain negotiating power, especially individuals with narcissistic or antisocial traits. When they feel humiliated, rejected or disempowered, they react with control, seeking violence. He's supposed to turn himself into jail. Imagine what that would do to the mental health of someone like OJ who has always had the power in every aspect of his life, but is suddenly disempowered in the most severe sense, even if it may have been his own. His world was collapsing and he had no control over it. So he focused on what he could control on his terms. And unfortunately, he used his friend A.C. to accomplish this.
- [10:48]
Carter Roy
It quickly became clear which decision A.C. had made. Down at the police station, 11am came and went with no sign of O.J. lAPD officials called Robert Shapiro to ask where his client was. At this point, Shapiro also didn't know where OJ Was. Still, he gave them Robert Kardashian's address. Shapiro thought maybe OJ Was somewhere on the property. But when they arrived, he was nowhere to be found. A few hours later, a little before 2pm The LAPD made a public announcement. O.J. simpson was on the run and they needed the public's help to find him. Soon, hundreds of tips were pouring in, but none of them brought the police any closer to finding O.J. and the more time that passed, the more worried the authorities became that they'd made a mistake. Maybe they shouldn't have agreed to let him surrender himself. Around 5 that afternoon, O.J. s legal team held a press conference. With the cameras trained on him, 50 year old Robert Kardashian read a letter that OJ had written that morning. The lawyers had found it after OJ Took off, and it seemed like they hadn't shared it with the police yet, meaning the authorities were learning its contents at the same time as the press. In the letter, O.J. wrote that he loved Nicole. He swore he had nothing to do with her murder. Sure, they had their ups and downs, but so did all couples. But it also seemed like Nicole's death was weighing on him because he did make a few comments that sounded like he was suicidal. For instance, he thanked his family and friends for supporting him and spoke about himself in the past tense several times.
- [12:47]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Let's talk about this letter for a minute. The thing that stood out to me about this letter was honestly how self serving it was. He opened that letter with, first, everyone understand I have nothing to do with Nicole's murder. The fact that he's leading with a legal disclaimer rather than grief or sorrow makes it seem like he's more concerned about preserving his reputation. The second part of that sentence, that first sentence read, if we had a problem, it's because I loved her so much. That is a classic example of a manipulation tactic that's used by abusers to deflect blame and responsibility. It's called Darvo and it stands for deny, attack, reverse victim and offender. By saying if we had a problem, he is minimizing documented abuse and making it shared blame. That indicates denial. This also attacks Nicole's credibility by projecting some of the blame on her. He's then reversing the victim and offender roles when he says, it's because I loved her so much. And later in the letter, he also said, quote, I took the heat New Year's 1989, because that's what I was supposed to do. I did not plead no for any other reason but to protect our privacy and was advised it would end the press hype. End quote. When we break this down, he becomes the victim and Nicole becomes the offender because she, according to him, failed to appreciate that love and sacrifice and then ultimately left him. Then throughout the letter, he's appealing, like you mentioned, to his fans and to think of the real OJ and not this, quote, lost person. But once again, he's more preoccupied with public image. He also appeals emotionally to his children and even Nicole because he alludes to being wounded by the loss of their relationship. But there's no evidence of guilt over past abuse, no ownership of any harm he has caused, and no sorrow toward Nicole. And all that said, OJ's letter did not appear to be an expression, in my opinion, of genuine guilt or remorse. It read like a strategic, self protective document crafted to deny responsibility, elicit sympathy, and manage public perception.
- [15:01]
Carter Roy
And it also sounded a lot like a suicide note. And nobody had heard from him for several hours. But then, just before 6pm, OJ resurfaced in the most shocking way possible because he called 911 on himself. Police traced the call to a car phone on the 5 Freeway in Orange county near Nicole's parents house. A group of 20 police cars sped off in hot pursuit. They quickly spotted a white Ford Bronco. Years later, most people assumed it was OJ's because he had one just like it. Actually, AC admired OJ so much he'd gotten the exact same car as his friend. Before long, the officers caught up to them, but they didn't try to stop the car. They didn't know if OJ was going to use his gun either on them or himself, so they followed him from a distance. The slow speed car chase lasted nearly two hours. It was such big news it even interrupted the broadcast of an NBA Finals game. During that time, crowds of onlookers gathered on the side of the road and highway overpasses cheering for O.J. as he passed. Meanwhile, 95 million Americans watched on their TVs at home. Finally, around 8:00pm A.C. contacted the police. Using the phone in his car, he said OJ was prepared to turn himself in, but not on the freeway. A.C. convinced the LAPD to let him take O.J. back to Brentwood Wood to surrender there. Back at the Rockingham mansion, it took another hour for authorities to convince OJ to get out of the Bronco without the gun. Eventually, O.J. stepped out and walked through his front doors. This time, the police weren't taking any chances. A SWAT team was waiting inside to arrest him for the double murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. It turned out they didn't need all that firepower because OJ didn't resist. Even so, he wasn't done fighting. Not even close.
- [17:31]
Designer Shoe Warehouse Ad
This season, let your shoes do the talking. Designer Shoe warehouse is packed with fresh styles that speak to your whole vibe without saying a word. From cool sneakers that look good with everything to easy sandals you'll want to wear on repeat, DSW has you covered. Find a shoe for every u from the brands you love like Birkenstock, Nike, Adidas, New Balance and more. Head to your DSW store or visit dsw.com today.
- [18:01]
Nordstrom Ad
Summer's here, and Nordstrom has everything you need for your best dress season ever. From beach days and weddings to weekend getaways in your everyday wardrobe. Discover stylish options under $100 from tons of your favorite brands like Mango Skims, Princess Polly and Madewell. It's easy too, with free shipping and free returns in store order, pickup and more. Shop today in stores online@nordstrom.com or download the Nordstrom app.
- [18:33]
Carter Roy
By the end of the day on June 17, 1994, 47 year old O.J. simpson was in police custody for the double murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. He was held without bail for the next month until his arraignment hearing on July 22nd. During the hearing, O.J. said he was, quote, absolutely, positively 100% not guilty. And his team of lawyers was ready to to prove it. In addition to Robert Shapiro and Robert Kardashian, O.J. hired F. Lee Bailey, Alan Dershowitz and Johnnie Cochran. They were all extremely accomplished and became known as the Dream Team. But one of them had to be lead attorney. At first it was Robert Shapiro, but eventually that role fell to Johnny, who was a former LA City prosecutor turned private defense attorney. After making a name for himself representing victims of police brutality, he seemed like the perfect person to show the LAPD had unjustly gone after O.J. which was essential because the defense had two main problems. One, the evidence seemed to point overwhelmingly to O.J. and two, there didn't seem to be any other viable suspects. Johnny knew he had an uphill battle ahead of him, especially since the Dream Team was going up against some hard hitting opponents on the other side. Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden of the LA District Attorney's Office led the prosecution from the start. They knew they had to prove O.J. s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. And even though it looked like the evidence was in their favor, it wasn't as simple as it seemed. It's hard to convey how incredibly famous OJ Was at this point in time. He wasn't only beloved, he was also admired. If the prosecution was going to work, they needed to do more than just show the evidence pointed to OJ they needed needed to convince the jury he was capable of killing Ron and Nicole. To do that, they had to paint a clear picture of O.J. as a violent abuser. So they began digging up everything they could about the alleged and proven domestic violence that had occurred during his marriage to Nicole. Armed with this information, the prosecution felt confident it would be an open and shut case. OJ had pleaded no contest to spousal battery in the past, which gave Marsha and Chris his means, motive and opportunity. But before the trial even began, things started to go haywire. One witness had seen OJ Driving recklessly on the night of the murders. The prosecution wanted to call her to the stand. They thought her testimony would bolster their theory that OJ had driven to Nicole's house that night. They also thought his erratic driving would prove he had a lot on his mind. That night, like murdering Nicole. But instead of saving her story for the courtroom, she sold it to the press. With her integrity compromised, she was pulled as a witness. Sadly, she wasn't the only one looking to capitalize on Ron and Nicole's deaths. During this same period, one of Nicole's best friends, Fay Resnick, wrote a scandalous tell all book in partnership with a National Enquirer columnist. A lot of it covered Nicole and O.J. s relationship. And although Fay wrote that O.J. was physically abusive, she had plenty to say about Nicole, too. She claimed that Nicole used drugs, was obsessed with with sex, and even alleged that she and Nicole had been intimate together. Critics called it trash, but the book became a bestseller, and it probably influenced how the public viewed Nicole. She was no longer seen as the perfect doting wife and mother. Now she was flawed.
- [23:01]
Dr. Tristan Engels
I just want to remind everyone that there's no such thing as a perfect victim in every criminal or civil case. Both sides of the legal spectrum are going to do whatever they can to tarnish the credibility of each party in order to bolster their case. It's by design. Now, what Faye did, even if those things were true about Nicole, let's say nothing warrants violence or abuse of any kind, and certainly not murder. But let's talk about the fact that people close to Nicole and Ron are profiting off of this tragedy. Firstly, there's nothing inherently wrong with anyone writing about what happened or even doing interviews. Nicole's sister Tanya also wrote a book, and although it was not about Nicole, it discussed her own personal journey with depression after this loss. That doesn't seem exploitative by any means. Grief is very complex, and for some, these acts are a way to process trauma or find closure. Others may engage in this behavior because their grief or shock disinhibited them and skewed their moral compassion. The point is, it's not always a sign of greed or callousness. However, when the victim is no longer alive to speak for themselves, the ethical burden can fall on those who do know them. And some carry it well, while others exploit it for power, attention, or profit. And if the financial gain is paired with sensationalism, exaggeration, or betrayal of private trust, the motivations become more troubling. It can indicate a need for ego inflation by using their own proximity to pain to elevate themselves. It can indicate moral disengagement, even narcissism.
- [24:36]
Carter Roy
And how might all the different narratives impact how the victims and the suspects are viewed both in and out of the courtroom?
- [24:44]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Yeah. So the flood of competing Narratives from the press, from friends, attorneys, and even the suspects themselves can profoundly shape how victims and suspects are perceived, both by the public and by jurors. These perceptions can distort truth. They can influence emotion and subsequently alter justice. The more narratives there are, the harder it becomes to see the truth, especially when fame, trauma, and emotional manipulation are involved. Then there is the risk where these narrative wars become the core of the trial and the aspects of the case that matter become overshadowed, with the occasional exception. Generally, jurors are not trained in legal matters or psychology. And frankly, even if they were, they're all human and we're all prone to biases whether we're aware of them or not. And attorneys rely on juror biases in very strategic ways, which is what we call bias activation. It's one of the most powerful tools in the courtroom. And the prosecution knows they have a lot of bias to overcome with OJ's public Persona and that admiration that he has that you described. These narratives, especially the one from Faye, are certainly not helping the prosecution.
- [26:02]
Carter Roy
While there may have been drawbacks to all the media attention for the prosecution, the defense used this to their advantage. They spoke to the press and appealed to the masses, trying to rally the public around oj, the Dream Team and Johnnie Cochran in particular, focused on undermining the LAPD. He insisted O.J. was only targeted because of his race and cast doubt on how the entire investigation was handled. Marsha Clark, on the other hand, tried to stick to the high ground. Even with the early setbacks, she felt the prosecution had a slam dunk case. She was eager for the media circus to end and the trial to begin. In the courtroom, she could stick to the facts and evidence without worrying about media narratives. As far as Marsha was concerned, there wasn't a jury in the world who would acquit OJ after hearing the truth about how he treated Nicole. But she didn't count on what came next. Because the murders happened in Brentwood, most people expected the trial to take place in Santa Monica, a predominantly white, affluent community. Instead, the District attorney decided to hold the trial at the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. Officially, the reasons were logistical. The prosecutors worked downtown, and this would cut down their commutes and give them easy access to their offices. But many people speculated there was another reason. Optics. The DA knew it wouldn't look good if OJ was convicted by an all white jury, especially in the aftermath of the recent Rodney King riots. Two years earlier, in 1992, four white police officers were acquitted after beating an unarmed black man named Rodney King. On camera Even though the incident had happened in Los Angeles, the case was tried in the suburb of Simi Valley, about 40 miles northwest of downtown LA. Following the verdict, the simmering racial tension in Southern California had erupted into six days of violence and looting. And now the prosecutors on O.J. s case wanted to be sure something similar didn't happen again. Moving the case to downtown LA meant the juror pool would be much more diverse and in turn reduce the possibility of racial bias. But with all the publicity, it was difficult to find anyone who didn't have pre existing beliefs about O.J. s guilt or innocence, regardless of their race. The court called on 250 potential jurors. It took about six weeks to whittle down that list to 12 plus 15 alternates. They were split between races and genders.
- [29:05]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Lets talk about implicit biases. So an implicit bias refers to the unconscious attitudes, stereotypes, or associations that we hold about people based on characteristics like race, gender, age, class, or even demeanor. These beliefs operate under conscious awareness, meaning we're often unaware that they're influencing our thoughts, our judgments and our decisions. And that's the danger. We believe we're being fair even when bias is there, quietly guiding those beliefs. When someone is selected as a juror, they are instructed to set aside personal beliefs, experiences and opinions and decide the case solely on the evidence presented in court. In theory, this sounds reasonable, and it is a reasonable request. But in practice, it can be psychologically difficult to completely suppress unconscious beliefs. But we can push back on them through awareness. And to do that, jurors need to engage in active, mindful decision making and focus on the concrete evidence while asking all appropriate questions. And ideally, a diverse jury pool will aid in that process. And when you mentioned earlier that they were worried about, you know, O.J. being found guilty by an all white jury, that could present issues for a mistrial. And those are things I do need.
- [30:27]
Carter Roy
To consider from a psychological perspective. How does implicit bias impact a criminal trial?
- [30:33]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Oh, it very much impacts a criminal trial or a civil trial. And attorneys know this. They even hire jury consultants to help them approve jurors that they think will maximize their chances of winning based on these implicit biases. And while a jury consultant's job is to help their client, the attorney that hired them, to maximize their chances at winning, they also do have to ensure the selection process is fair and as unbiased as possible, which is arguably a pretty difficult job. This is why a diverse representation of jury panels is crucial. Jurors may unconsciously judge based on race or Ethnicity, like I mentioned. And it can affect their assessment of credibility, their interpretation of the evidence, especially based on the race of witness testimony, or, for example, their belief in police credibility. And overall, it can affect whose story they choose to believe and so much more.
- [31:30]
Carter Roy
In the end, the initial jury was made up of eight black jurors, two Hispanic jurors, two white jurors, and one Native American juror. With that, the stage was officially set up. To this moment, there were a few criminal trials that had captivated the entire country over the previous 25 years alone. Cases like Charles Manson, Ted Ted Bundy, and the Menendez brothers had all dominated the headlines. But as soon as O.J. s murder trial began on January 24, 1995, it blew them all out of the water. The prosecution was up first. Like Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden had planned, they started by going through the evidence. They laid out a clear timeline of the night of June 12, 1994, and how OJ would have been able to commit the murders. And they had Nicole's older sister denise testify about O.J. s domestic abuse. They had the means, the motive and the opportunity. But the defense didn't crumble. Johnnie Cochran and the rest of the Dream Team did everything they could to poke holes in the prosecution's argument. And slowly but surely, those holes turned into giant cracks. First, the forensics technician came under fire. He admitted they might have made some procedural errors when they collected the DNA evidence. If even one step in the process couldn't be trusted, it threw the entire result into question. Then Detective Mark Fuhrman took the stand. And things got even worse. He was the officer who'd gone to O.J. s house in the hours after Nicole and Ron were found dead. During cross examination, the defense questioned Furman's past and heavily implied that he was a racist. Under oath, Fuhrman denied the allegations. But the Dream Team wasn't convinced. Although for the moment, they had to move on. And it wasn't long before the prosecution gave O.J. s lawyers their biggest opening yet. In June 1995, six months into the trial, Chris Darden decided that the prosecution needed to do something attention grabbing. A major piece of evidence was a pair of blood soaked gloves. One glove in the pair had been found at Nicole's condo, the other at OJ's house. And there was proof that OJ had bought that exact brand. So the assumption was OJ had worn these gloves when he'd allegedly murdered Nicole and Ron. To really hammer the point home, Darden asked OJ to try on the gloves right in front of the jury. But when O.J. went to slip them on, they didn't fit. The prosecution later said the gloves had been soaked with blood, which made them shrink from their original size. But even if that were true, the image of OJ struggling to fit the gloves over his hands was extremely powerful. Johnnie Cochran agreed. Months later, during closing arguments, he would utter the most famous line of the entire trial. If it doesn't fit, you must acquit.
- [34:59]
Dr. Tristan Engels
That moment was really powerful for the jury and the nation watching. It invoked a lot of emotions. And the reality is we tend to trust our emotional reactions more than we do any logical or abstract data. If something feels true, we often believe that it is. This is because emotions are processed in the amygdala, which reacts milliseconds before the prefrontal cortex, or the rational brain. And if emotions are overwhelming, the rational side is overridden. And this trial was very overwhelming. When the jury saw that the gloves didn't fit, that became what's known as an anchoring bias. This causes people to give disproportionate weight to this evidence, which causes them to evaluate everything through that lens. The gloves didn't fit, so all of these other things can't be true either. That's sort of what the anchoring bias can do. This would prime the jury to question the rest of the prosecution's case. As a result, this moment was really convincing because it was an objective piece of physical evidence and the prosecution's key evidence, too. Visual information like that is more easily remembered and more emotionally impactful than verbal information.
- [36:14]
Carter Roy
Having such powerful representation of OJ's potential innocence certainly helped his defense. And when it came to tearing down the prosecution, his lawyers were just getting started. On July 6, 1995, Marcia Clark and Chris Darden rested their case. Now it was the Dream Team's turn to have the floor. And one of the first witnesses they called back to the stand was Detective Mark Fuhrman. The defense had uncovered 13 hours of taped interviews Fuhrman had given to a screenwriter working on a story about female police officers. The judge, Lance Ito, only allowed the Dream Team to share two small excerpts with the jury. But that's all Johnny Cochran needed. In those clips, Fuhrman used the N word. He'd sworn under oath that he'd never use that kind of language. Not only that, but he'd also spoken about planting evidence in the past, which was a huge deal. From the start of the trial, the defense had pushed the narrative that the LAPD was corrupt and had even framed OJ all of a sudden, it didn't seem like a far fetched idea that Furman had actually been the one to set OJ Up. It appeared the dream team had done their jobs well, but only time would tell what the jury ultimately thought. From September 26th to the 28th, both sides presented their closing arguments bringing the nine month trial to an end. Ron and Nicole's families were in the courtroom nearly the entire time. The jurors were sent off to deliberate in early October. Given how long the trial had dragged on for the Browns and the Goldmans were prepared to wait several weeks for the verdict. But the jury came back in just four hours. No one was ready for that. Judge Ito delayed announcing the verdict until the following day. It only increased the anticipation that had already built up around the country. Wherever you went, There was only one question on everyone's Did O.J. do it? On October 3, 1995, the jury announced their decision on the charges of murder for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. They found 48 year old O.J. simpson not guilty. She's made up her mind to live pretty smart, learn to budget responsibly right from the start. She spends a little less, inputs more into savings, keeps her blood pressure low and credit score raises. She's cutting debt right out of her life. She tracks her cash flow on a spreadsheet at night. Boring money moves make kinda lame stuff.
- [39:28]
Designer Shoe Warehouse Ad
But they sound pretty sweet to your wallet. The NC bank brilliantly boring since 1865.
- [39:32]
Carter Roy
Dateline True Crime Weekly Andrea Canning and the Dateline team cover breaking crime news around the country. And now a special series with daily updates from the trial of Sean Combs.
- [39:44]
Nicole Lapin
I'll be talking to NBC News correspondent Chloe Meloss every day after court about what she's seeing inside the witnesses, the evidence, and what it all means.
- [39:53]
Carter Roy
Dateline True Crime Weekly Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts. After just four hours of deliberation, the jury in O.J. simpson's murder trial came to a decision. On October 3, 1995, they announced that 48 year old O.J. was not guilty of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Gold. The Goldmans cried out in agony. Nicole's family burst into tears. After nearly a year and a half of pain and heartache, they weren't any closer to finding justice for their loved ones. Meanwhile, OJ Was visibly relieved. He mouthed thank you to the jury and embraced Johnnie Cochran. But there were still many people out there, including the victims families, who thought O.J. had gotten away with murder.
- [40:54]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Let's Talk about the impact of this on the families. Families of a loved one who died in such a violent way experienced traumatic grief. And while this trial was underway, they had been experiencing an ambiguous grief because they did not yet have the closure they needed and deserved. A not guilty verdict can disrupt the grieving process, leaving them in ambiguous grief. And this can lead to a prolonged grief disorder which includes depressive symptoms and even cause re traumatization. The families may perceive this verdict as an invalidation of their loved one's worth. It can erode their trust and faith in the justice system. And they can feel immense pressure to continue fighting for acknowledgment, which I think is especially true for Ron Goldman's family because his story was seemingly overshadowed during the trial. And it can be psychologically disempowering for the families, leading to anger, trauma and a loss of meaning. And realistically, as family, they were secondary victims. Because this trial was so public, they had very little privacy. They were exposed to judgment, misinformation and distorted narratives. It is so hard to see a path to healing when you've never gotten closure.
- [42:08]
Carter Roy
And certainly the Browns and the Goldmans weren't done fighting. While there was nothing else to be done in criminal court, they could file a civil suit against OJ for battery and wrongful death. The civil trial kicked off about a year later in October 1996. Unlike the criminal proceedings, OJ wasn't at risk of going to prison if he was found liable, but he was at risk of owing the Browns and the Golemans a lot of money. This time the trial took place in Santa Monica and no cameras were allowed inside the courtroom. Four months later, on February 4, 1997, the jury came to a decision. 49 year old O.J. was liable for battery and wrongful death. He was ordered to pay $33.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages. To the Brown and Goldman families, however, it was mostly a symbolic victory. The last few years had taken a huge financial toll on OJ Although he was acquitted in the criminal trial, his reputation was in the gutter. Most of his corporate deals and endorsements had fallen through and he certainly wasn't getting movie parts or broadcast deals. According to OJ he was $850,000 in debt and simply couldn't pay the damages. So he didn't. To protect the few remaining assets he did have, he left Los Angeles and bought a home in Miami in the year 2000. Even if he failed to pay his mortgage, Florida law prevented creditors from seizing his property. He also continued to receive his NFL pension, which was protected under federal law. His children with Nicole went with him. There'd been a legal battle between OJ and Nicole's parents who won custody of the kids. But in the end, 14 year old Sydney and 12 year old Justin asked to live with her dad. Nicole's mother respected their wishes and let them go with oj.
- [44:23]
Dr. Tristan Engels
From a forensic psychology perspective, everyone involved in the OJ Simpson trial, whether directly or indirectly led likely experience some kind of long term psychological consequences, especially for OJ's children, who were minors at the time and forced into an emotionally complex and psychologically precarious situation that was shaped by trauma, public scrutiny and family tension. All of OJ's friends and family faced a different kind of emotional fallout because they were likely grappling with denial, loyalty, stigma, cognitive dissonance, and of course, public scrutiny. In this case and the outcome, no matter if he was guilty or not guilty, was going to have lasting impacts on everyone and there was going to be secondary victims.
- [45:09]
Carter Roy
And for oj, what's it like to reintegrate back into society after being acquitted in a trial like this one?
- [45:16]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Reintegrating into society after being acquitted in a trial as polarizing in public as this is not a return to normal life. It's a return to a world with a permanently altered identity. And that was very likely destabilizing for someone like oj, who prioritized image and needs to be be in control. Despite his legal victory, he still had to face public hostility, criticism and constant surveillance from the press. He went from being beloved to a Hollywood pariah, and someone like OJ would want to control for that. And one place to start would be to move aside from the financial protections that you mentioned and outline. He likely felt that moving would help reduce public exposure, serve as an emotional escape from what happened, and offer a psychological reset, which he might also view as a way to restore his image. Only you can't outrun something like this.
- [46:11]
Carter Roy
While OJ worked to rebuild his life, the world still hadn't moved on from the trial. Despite the jury's decision, people continued to have questions about what happened the night Nicole and Ron were killed. And soon OJ saw an opportunity to make back some of the money he'd lost. In 2005, he started working on a book about how he would have killed Nicole if he'd actually been the murderer. It was marketed as a hypothetical confession. Since OJ had been acquitted, he was in the clear legally. Even so, the reaction was swift and and damning. The Goldmans in particular were furious. The book was a slap in the face to Ron and Nicole, especially because by then OJ had only paid a tiny fraction of the 33.5 million he owed them in the Browns after the wrongful death suit. And he'd set the book deal up through his daughter's corporation so he wouldn't have to give them the profits from the book. Look, the Goldmans weren't going to stand for that. They successfully filed a lawsuit and the book rights were awarded to them instead. OJ Wouldn't earn a single penny. After the book's publication in September 2007, it reached number two on the new York Times bestseller list. The Goldmans donated a portion of the proceeds to the Rawn Goldman foundation for justice, which they established after his death. Meanwhile, O.J. continued to flounder. The same day his book was published, 60 year old OJ found himself back in the hot seat. On the night of September 13, he and some friends stole some items from a sports memorabilia dealer in Las Vegas. They held the man at gunpoint while O.J. grabbed the goods. But they didn't cover their tracks well. OJ Was caught by the authorities the next day and was charged with 12 felony counts, including kidnapping and armed robbery. The trial began a year later and lasted a month. On October 3, 2008, O.J. was found guilty on all 12 charges. It was 13 years to the day since he'd been acquitted for Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman's murders. As punishment, OJ was sentenced to a maximum of 33 years behind bars. He ended up serving only nine, and on October 1, 2017, he was released on parole for good behavior. After that, he moved to Las Vegas. His life appeared to revolve around golf, the few friends he still had, and posting on social media. In May 2023, he posted on Twitter revealing that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Less than a year later, on April 10, 2024, O.J. passed away at 76 years old. Still, Nicole's story didn't end with O.J. s death. In the years since her murder, Nicole's family hasn't stopped fighting to shed light on the dangers of domestic violence. Her sisters have been especially vocal and have fought to strengthen laws like the Violence Against Women Act. Recently, they spoke about Nicole in a Hulu docu series called the Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson. Although they can never bring her back, they can still honor her memory and show people how beautiful their sister was inside and out. Thanks so much. Thank you so much for listening. I'm Carter Roy and this is Murder True Crime Stories. Once again I'd like to thank Dr. Engels for joining me and I encourage everyone to follow Killer Minds wherever you get your podcasts. I'll be back next Tuesday as we return to our regular programming and the story of another murder. True Crime Stories is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on social media rimehouse. Don't forget to rate, review and follow True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference. And to enhance your Murder True Crime Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode ad free and instead of having to wait for each episode of a two part series, you'll get access to both at once plus exciting bonus content. We'll be back next Tuesday. True Crime Stories is hosted by me, Carter Roy and special guest Dr. Tristan Engels and is a Crime House original power by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Murder True Crime Stories team Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benidon, Natalie Pertzofsky, Lori Marinelli, Sarah Camp, Alex Burns, Beth Johnson and Russell Nash. Thank you for listening.
- [52:07]
Nicole Lapin
Hey there, it's Nicole Lapin. For your next listen, check out Scams, Money and Murder. This week we dive into the true story of the Wolf of Wall street himself. And don't miss our recent episode with Jessica Pressler. That's the journalist who uncovered the truth behind fake heiress Anna Delphi. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.