Real Life Real Crime | Justice For Bradley ep 27

Podcast: Real Life Real Crime
Host: Woody Overton
Date: January 10, 2026

Overview of the Episode

This episode of "Real Life Real Crime," hosted by Woody Overton, delivers a raw, unscripted deep-dive into recent developments surrounding the Justice for Bradley case and the related death of Austin O’Banion. Woody dissects the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office (VPSO) response, highlighting a recent 8-minute recorded call with Sheriff Sam Kraft, then methodically picks apart the sheriff’s public statement. The episode’s goal: clarify persistent rumors, challenge official narratives, and demand answers as the case continues to stir public outrage and grief.

Key Discussion Points

1. Context: Recent Developments in Vernon Parish

• Sheriff Sam Kraft issued a public statement addressing the cases of Bradley's disappearance and Austin O’Banion’s death.
• Woody received a permission-granted recording of a call between Cheryl Lynn (a concerned citizen/lifer listener) and Sheriff Kraft.
• Woody sets out to address assertions made in the sheriff’s statement, clarify accusations, and spotlight investigative inconsistencies.

2. Cheryl Lynn's Phone Call with Sheriff Sam Kraft (07:55–16:21)

Interview Highlights:

• Danny K Investigation: Sheriff Kraft confirms Danny K has been interviewed multiple times regarding Bradley’s case and the investigation is ongoing.

  "Yes, sir, we have interviewed Danny K at length while he was incarcerated here... we made another trip... and interviewed him again."
  (08:08, Sheriff Sam Kraft)

• Tony Doyle and the Bones: Kraft says the only bones Tony Doyle brought to them were confirmed as animal remains by the LSU Faces Lab.

  "That’s the bones that I’m aware of."
  (09:36, Sheriff Sam Kraft)

• Austin O’Banion’s Release: Kraft defends the process, stating her release was a judge-ordered decision involving attorneys, the probation officer, and the DA.

  "We did not just open the door as has been blatantly lied."
  (11:01, Sheriff Sam Kraft)

• Rumors about Drug Dealers: When asked about claims that drug dealers only need to "pay their taxes" to avoid arrest, Kraft is blunt:

  "I would like for one name of one person that told that to Morgan Baggot."
  (11:38, Sheriff Sam Kraft)

• Bradley's Letter: Kraft states all claims in Bradley’s letter have been examined closely.

• Austin O’Banion's Death: Kraft is adamant Austin was not murdered and dismisses persistent rumors about mutilation, emphasizing autopsy findings.

  "Her ears were fully intact... all of her limbs... were fully intact... we used her tattoos... to immediately make identification..."
  (15:14, Sheriff Sam Kraft)

Notable Moment:

• Kraft shares a personal connection with the victim’s family, strongly pushing back against cover-up allegations.

  "...to insinuate that we just blatantly cover up his disappearance is a lie... I knew the young man personally..."
  (13:41, Sheriff Sam Kraft)

3. Woody Overton’s Analysis and Rebuttal (16:24–end)

Addressing Rumors and Social Media Myths:

• Woody distances himself from the more sensational rumors (Austin’s tongue or ears cut off, tattoos removed), asserting these were never stated by him.

  "I never said that Austin’s tongue was cut out. I never said her ears were cut off. I looked at the pictures..."
  (24:24, Woody Overton)

• Critiques the rumor mill but insists the sheriff handles all tips, even the wild ones.

On the Official Investigation:

• Woody acknowledges that Sheriff Kraft’s department has indeed been working leads, but holds that some investigative actions and official statements seem inconsistent.

  • Example: Regarding the thoroughness of body identification procedures and why tattoos would need to be used.
  • Questions the official dismissal of a homicide investigation for Austin.

• Allegations of Inept Police Work vs. Coverup:
  Woody states he never believed VPSO was covering up for bribes, but has always said there were mishandlings or missteps.

  "In the beginning, I thought it was just some really, really, really inept police work..."
  (28:14, Woody Overton)

On the Release and Role of Austin O’Banion:

• Suggests Austin may have served as a confidential informant, which could explain how and why she was released from custody (“I know for a fact... that Austin had in fact worked as a confidential informant in the past for the sheriff’s office.” – 38:29).
• Raises allegations that Austin was escorted out of jail after hours to retrieve something from her parents’ home prior to her release — not addressed in sheriff’s statement.

Woody’s Dissection of Sheriff Kraft's Public Statement

• Reads and comments on the statement line-by-line, pointing out areas where he believes the sheriff is omitting or spinning facts, especially regarding investigative actions, the handling of search efforts, and the conditions of Austin’s body.
• Polygraph Discussion:
  According to multiple sources, Detective Vance told others that Austin passed a polygraph about Bradley’s murder. Woody questions how relevant questions were formed, and asserts passing does not necessarily mean full truthfulness.
• Concedes that some of Austin’s account is likely false or self-serving, but insists there are "nuggets of truth" critical to the case.

Physical Evidence and Autopsy Discussion

• Woody challenges the autopsy findings as summarized by Kraft, especially the statement that there were “no significant life-threatening injuries” after previously telling the family “not a scratch on her.”

  "Now, when the largest meth bust... the man that got arrested... was directly related to the Sinaloa cartel... But Sheriff Sam Kraft says he's a good dude."
  (60:12, Woody Overton)

• Discusses circumstances of Austin’s last hours, interactions with witnesses, and questions around her refusing drugs the night before her death.

On Continued Public Pressure

• Emphasizes the importance of continued public interest and activism to maintain heat on authorities.

  "...when the heat's on, people have to do their jobs..."
  (71:45, Woody Overton)

• Acknowledges his own methods — including publicizing even bizarre tips and psychic readings — are designed to keep conversations and pressure alive.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sheriff Sam Kraft on cover-up allegations:

  "To say or insinuate that when we just blatantly cover up his disappearance is a lie." (13:41)

• Woody Overton on social media lies:

  "There’s a lot of shit that’s way out there on social media that I’m not touching. It doesn’t mean I don’t listen to it all. Take it all in because I’m actually investigating, if you will..." (25:33)

• Sheriff Kraft on drug dealer rumors:

  "That would be a lie... be careful of your sources." (11:30–11:55)

• Woody’s closing declaration:

  "The one way to get me to shut the fuck up is solve the case." (71:23)

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:52 | Woody’s explicit True Crime warning and introduction | | 07:55 | Start of Cheryl Lynn’s recorded call; Q&A with Sheriff Sam Kraft | | 16:24 | Woody’s commentary post-call; addressing rumors and breakdown of call | | 22:41 | Woody begins direct analysis of the sheriff’s official press release, line by line | | 36:47 | Break and commercial | | 37:38 | Woody debunks claims about social media rumors and outlines polygraph test issues | | 60:12 | Discussion surrounding the meth bust, cartel connections, and implications for law enforcement integrity | | 71:23 | Woody’s final challenge; summarizes what's next in the ongoing investigation |

Episode Tone and Delivery

• Woody Overton’s tone: Direct, unapologetically blunt, emotionally invested. Leans hard into personal opinion, speculation, and investigative logic.
• Sheriff Kraft’s tone: Measured but defensive, sticking closely to official narratives and legal constraints.
• The episode mixes fact-based critique with impassioned calls for justice, frequently referencing the pain, grief, and confusion of the victims’ families and the affected Vernon Parish community.

Summary Verdict

Woody uses this episode to keep the Justice for Bradley campaign alive and ensure the story remains in the spotlight. By scrutinizing every detail and demand transparency, he’s both holding local authorities to account and giving the families and listeners the information needed to keep demanding answers. The episode leaves the door open for further revelations, promising a focused continuation in the next installment — especially regarding personal attacks and lingering inconsistencies in official statements.

Listeners come away with a clear sense of both the gravity and complexity of the case, the highly charged local context, and a strong call to keep pressing for truth — regardless of discomfort for authorities or the flood of rumors from the public.

If you have information related to the cases, Woody encourages ongoing contact via his tip line: 313-RLRC-TIP.