Real Life Real Crime – "What’s Changed in the Justice for Hailey and Justice for Bradley Cases? | Case Update"

Podcast Host: Woody Overton
Date: December 13, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on recent developments—or lack thereof—in the pursuit of justice for Hailey (referred to as the "Justice for Hailey" case). Host Woody Overton plays an emotionally charged recorded call between Ms. Barbara Johnson, Hailey's mother, and members of the Cobb County District Attorney’s office. They discuss the office’s refusal to pursue murder charges against Brooks Cleary, citing double jeopardy and alleged lack of evidence. Woody shares his perspective on the failings, frustrations, and procedural runarounds, encouraging listeners to persist in advocating for justice.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Woody’s Intro: Systemic Failure and Community Action

• Woody introduces the episode by expressing longstanding frustration with the DA’s handling of Hailey’s case.
• He calls attention to inconsistent statements from prosecutors and perceived stalling tactics by the DA’s office.
• Quote: “They said it themselves. But then, yeah, they pussyfooted around and charged them what they charged them with, but they didn’t charge them with murder.” (Woody Overton, 05:21)
• Woody emphasizes that “murder never goes away” and urges continued listener activism.

Timestamp: 04:00–10:00

2. Recorded Call: Ms. Barbara Johnson vs. Cobb County DA’s Office

A lengthy, tense call in which Ms. Johnson presses DA Louie Hutter and ADA Jared Harowitz about why murder charges haven’t been brought against Brooks Cleary.

a. Double Jeopardy Cited as the Obstacle

• DA’s office claims all charges arising from the same incident must be brought simultaneously; since Brooks was prosecuted for concealing a body, pursuing murder now would violate double jeopardy.
  • Quote: “It doesn’t work that way. What it’s about is the incident itself… they all have to be charged at the same time on the same indictment.” (Louie Hutter, 22:53)

b. The Evidence Issue

• DA asserts that all available evidence at the time was used, and nothing new is present to support a murder charge.
  • Ms. Johnson pushes back, noting that evidence such as Brooks’s bloody shirt was not brought forth or was mishandled.
  • She alleges the investigation was incomplete and key witnesses were not interviewed.

c. Emotional Appeals and Systemic Frustration

• Ms. Johnson pleads for empathy, asking the DA to imagine if it were their daughter. She is persistent that the system would act differently if the victim was personally connected to the prosecutors.
  • Quote: “Imagine the female that you love most in this world…imagine the day after that, that female that you love the most in the world is laying in her home dead, and nobody will help you get justice for her.” (Ms. Barbara Johnson, 34:39)
• The DA acknowledges the emotional devastation of the case but maintains that they cannot violate law or ethics.
  • Quote: “We are bound by the law. We are bound by our ethical and moral duty.” (Louie Hutter, 41:00)

d. Ms. Johnson’s Counterpoints

• Critiques the DA for “wanting a perfect record” instead of risking an imperfect circumstantial case.
• Insists that circumstantial cases are prosecuted all the time, and the evidence is more than enough.
  • Quote: “People get prosecuted on circumstantial evidence all the time. It’s beyond a reasonable doubt. And nobody that’s seen the case has a reasonable doubt that he didn’t do it.” (Ms. Barbara Johnson, 49:44)

e. Investigative Lapses

• Ms. Johnson points out missed opportunities, such as not interviewing certain witnesses and mishandling physical evidence.
  • Key moment: She reveals a resident above where Brooks parked was never contacted (42:32).
  • ADA and DA argue they have already exhausted all investigative avenues, but Ms. Johnson says not all possible steps were followed.

Timestamps: Main call begins at 12:30 and runs through 52:00

3. Host Commentary & Call to Action

• Woody intersperses commentary and frustration about the DA’s handling throughout.
• Asserts that public pressure (“lifers blowing up their phones”) is the only reason action has occurred so far.
• Urges listeners to continue circulating the case and calling in tips.
  • Quote: “Keep making your comments on his Facebook pages and stuff like that, and we’re going to continue to move forward.” (Woody Overton, 10:35)

Timestamp: Throughout; main call to action at 09:54–10:35

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Raw Exchanges

• Woody Overton:
  • “There’s not a person in the world who doesn’t believe it’s murder. They’re just saying: ‘Oh, we can’t. Sorry, we can’t try him for murder because we tried for concealment of the body and whatever else he did.’ It’s so…” (07:10)
• Ms. Barbara Johnson:
  • “Everybody knows it’s a murder.” (28:55)
  • “If you know somebody committed a murder and you don’t have the evidence, then what do you do? … You investigate more and get more information and then you can go forward with it.” (31:44–31:57)
• Louie Hutter (DA):
  • “All it would take is for one juror to say no, and then we have nothing. Like, he wouldn't even have nothing now for—well, he's in jail now, at least." (29:54–30:44)

Emotional Peak

• Ms. Johnson’s plea for empathy and justice for her daughter, urging prosecutors to imagine their own loved ones in the same situation, stands out as the episode’s most emotionally charged moment (34:39–36:04).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Woody’s Intro & Rant on Systemic Issues: 04:00–10:00
• Call to Action (listeners): 09:54–10:35
• Beginning of Phone Call (Ms. Johnson + DA/ADA): 12:30
• DA’s Double Jeopardy Explanation: 22:53
• Discussion about Evidence and Bloody Shirt: 28:05–29:36; 44:11–47:07
• Ms. Johnson’s Empathetic Plea: 34:39–36:00
• Circumstantial Evidence Frustration: 49:09–50:54

Conclusion & Next Steps

• Final Host Commentary: Woody promises this is part one of a two-part update, with more from Ms. Barbara Johnson to come, and reminds listeners that activism and pressure remain critical to keeping these cases in the spotlight.
  • “You’ll be so mad when you get done listening to this that you’re going to be spitting fire. And this is only half of it.” (08:42)
  • Listeners are encouraged to keep calling tips to 313-RLRC-TIP and sharing their outrage on public forums.

Tone:
The tone is raw, impassioned, and confrontational. Woody is deeply frustrated with the criminal justice system. Ms. Johnson is unfiltered in her heartbreak and anger; the DA’s office maintains a calm but legalistic and, at times, defensive posture.

This summary covers major discussion points, memorable moments, and key quotes, providing a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened to the episode.