Real Life Real Crime – True Crime Time For December 28, 2025

Host: Woody Overton
Date: December 28, 2025
Theme: This episode delivers a mix of bizarre, tragic, and sometimes darkly humorous real-life crime stories, with an emphasis on wrongful convictions and the flaws—and hopes—in the American legal system. Woody Overton draws on his decades of firsthand law enforcement experience, layering the storytelling with direct commentary, outrage, and a pointed call for justice.

Episode Overview

Woody Overton hosts this solo episode of "True Crime Time For," recapping recent crime stories and highlighting the ongoing fight for justice, especially in cases of wrongful conviction. He covers viral oddball crimes, tragic shootings, shocking travel mishaps, and deep-dives into two heartbreaking wrongful conviction stories, all interwoven with his signature rough-edged, impassioned style. The episode is a testament to how one man’s commitment (and that of his dedicated listeners, or "lifers") can ripple through the true crime community and the justice system at large.

Key Discussion Points & Timestamps

1. Podcast Recognition & Community (05:05 - 09:50)

• Spotify's Crate Digger Award:
  Woody shares gratitude for winning Spotify’s "Crate Digger Award," signifying RLRC’s loyal, high-intent listener base.

  "Spotify has identified Real Life Real Crime as a show that listeners actively seek out and intentionally listen to... It's a signal of quality and trust, not popularity fluff." (07:02)

• Shoutouts to Supporters:
  Woody thanks "lifers" for their engagement and underscores the importance of listener tips in breaking tough cases.

  "Sooner or later the worm is gonna turn, the music's gonna stop, and it'll be my turn to dance for justice for everybody... continue calling your tips." (09:15)

2. Odd & Bizarre Crime Stories

a. The Brisket Bandit (10:26 - 12:41)

• Case Summary:
  A Texan man, Armando Salazar, arrested after a crime spree netting over $1,700 in stolen brisket from HEB and Walmart stores.
• Woody’s Take:
  Woody injects humor and incredulity about the logistics and motive behind brisket theft.

  "Who wakes up in the morning in South Texas and decides, I’m going to go hit every HEB and Walmart and steal as many briskets as I can? Where is the smart factor in that?" (11:00) "You can't eat all these briskets... You go take them to the hood and trade 'em for crack or meth... Steal something else. But don't steal anything at all. That would actually be the best." (12:41)

b. Park Argument Turns Deadly – Murder Over Dog Walk (13:00 - 15:44)

• Incident Details:
  In Georgia, a 52-year-old man, Todd Stalkup, kills a 70-year-old man and his dog after a heated argument escalates in a public park.

  "Two complete strangers turned deadly... Both walking their dogs, the argument escalated and got so hot that it erupted in gunfire. Right. You’re 54 years old and 70 years old walking your dog in a public park and you have to be armed." (13:02) On escaping: "He left in his SUV as he heard the sirens coming... he ran like a little... Well, he didn’t get far." (15:44)

c. Dead Woman on a Plane – A Flight to Remember (16:30 - 21:19)

• Case Summary:
  An 89-year-old passenger dies aboard an EasyJet flight from Spain to London, delaying departure for over 11 hours. Witnesses suspect she may have already been dead before takeoff.

  "The fellow passengers saw it and they took to social media and said the woman was already dead when she was boarding the plane in the wheelchair. Can you see where this is going? Weekend at Bernie’s." (18:50) Notable quote from passenger:
  "Anybody with eyes could see she was not fit to fly. And it wasn't just me that thought that... the people that were with her, holding her head up." (20:09)

3. Family Matters: Wrongful Conviction Deep Dives

a. Michael Morton – 25 Years for a Crime He Didn’t Commit (21:40 - 32:18)

• Summary:
  The 1987 murder of Christine Morton led to the wrongful conviction of her husband, Michael Morton, who served nearly 25 years before exoneration. His case exposed prosecutorial misconduct and sparked legislative reform in Texas (the Michael Morton Act).
• Investigation Details:
  • Original case built on circumstantial evidence and an alleged emotional motive.
  • Exculpatory evidence (including testimony from the Mortons’ three-year-old son and physical evidence) was suppressed by prosecutor Ken Anderson.
  • DNA testing on a bandana years later identified the real murderer.
  • The Michael Morton Act now mandates open-file discovery and greater prosecutorial transparency in Texas.
• Woody’s Perspective:

  "I pray I never sent somebody to prison and got him wrongfully convicted, but it does happen. Our justice system is not perfect, but it is the best in the world." (22:24) "If you’re going to hide some shit like that, I’m pretty sure you should be prosecuted yourself." (32:05)

b. Herman Williams – Navy Veteran Falsely Imprisoned for 28 Years (37:28 - 47:21)

• Summary:
  Decorated Gulf War Navy veteran Herman Williams was convicted in 1993 for his ex-wife’s murder. Nearly three decades later, fabricated confession and official misconduct were uncovered, leading to his exoneration and a $13 million settlement.
• Key Facts:
  • Williams maintained innocence, but the task force focused solely on him.
  • Key evidence: fabricated confession, concealed exculpatory facts, and prosecution tunnel vision.
  • The real killer remains unidentified; Williams’ children grew up believing their father was a murderer.
• Legal & Emotional Fallout:

  "Herman’s case was a true travesty of justice. Not only did he lose more than 28 years of his life... his two children... grew up under the mistaken belief that their father murdered their mother." (44:47)

  • Williams later reconciled with his children.
  • Upon release he received a certificate of innocence, which Woody bluntly downplays compared to lost years: "Probably would have meant more to me before $13.5 million." (46:10)
• Woody’s Commentary:

  "I find it very, very hard to believe... there are dirty cops who wake up in the morning and say ‘I’m going to put an innocent man in jail.’ ...I think it’s a tiny, tiny percentage. Most want to get it right." (47:21) "Never give up, never surrender if you are wrongfully convicted... But if you’re not wrongly convicted, go fuck yourself." (50:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Woody on True Crime Obsession:

  "That’s what drives me and I couldn’t do it without y’all. Y’all have proven that time and time again." (08:30)

• On the justice system’s fallibility:

  "Our justice system is not perfect, but it is the best in the world." (22:24)

• On DNA advances:

  "DNA’s so advanced now... they’re almost going to be able to do it instantly. It’s going to be a bad fuckin’ day for the bad guys and girls..." (36:50)

• On false confessions:

  "You can’t pay a man enough money to do this kind of time… being locked up all those years for killing your wife, and your wife’s real killer is still out there." (43:15)

Structure of the Episode

• 00:00-05:05: [Skipped – Ads & Housekeeping]
• 05:05-09:50: Gratitude, Spotify recognition, community engagement
• 10:26-21:19: Quick fire true crime news stories (Brisket Bandit, Dog Park Murder, Dead Passenger Airline Delay)
• 21:40-36:50: Wrongful conviction – Michael Morton case, legal reform, prosecutorial misconduct
• 37:28-47:21: Wrongful conviction – Herman Williams, exoneration, civil redress
• 47:21-52:00: Woody’s reflections on police work, dedication to justice, advice for those wrongfully accused, closing thoughts

Tone & Style

Woody’s tone is candid, raw, and peppered with expletives and dark humor. His perspective is shaped by a long law enforcement career, which brings both skepticism and empathy to each case. He is fiercely loyal to victims and equally harsh on those who abuse positions of power in the justice system, but he never spares a moment to appreciate his fiercely supportive listenership.

For New Listeners

This episode offers a balanced dose of the outrageous, the tragic, and the hopeful sides of true crime—and justice. Woody’s narrative weaves between headline oddities and profound failures of the legal system, always circling back to the community’s role in seeking and achieving real justice.

If you only listen to one part:

• For dark humor and wild true crime news, start at 10:26.
• For deep legal insight and discussion about wrongful convictions and system reform, start at 21:40 (Michael Morton) and 37:28 (Herman Williams).

End on Woody’s signature sign-off:

"And I’m Woody Overton. Your host for True Crime Time for this Sunday, December 28th, and I’ll holler at you later. Love you. Peace." (51:58)

Quick Reference – Segment Timestamps

• 05:05 Gratitude and Spotify Award
• 10:26 Brisket Bandit Case
• 13:00 Dog Park Murder
• 16:30 Dead Passenger Airline Delay
• 21:40 Michael Morton wrongful conviction
• 37:28 Herman Williams wrongful conviction
• 47:21 Reflections on police, justice, and advice
• 51:58 Closing and sign-off

Note:
All ads, promotional, and outro sections have been excluded as per guidelines.
Quotes are attributed and marked with timestamps for listener follow-up.