Listen Now: We Came to the Forest

Summary

Summary of "We Came to the Forest" Episode: "Paradise Foundation"

Released on January 27, 2025, as part of the REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana series by Wondery | Ballen Studios.

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Introduction

In the premiere episode titled "Paradise Foundation," hosted by Matthew Scher, We Came to the Forest delves into a mysterious and tragic confrontation between environmental activists and law enforcement in an Atlanta forest. This episode sets the stage for an investigative journey uncovering hidden truths, conflicting narratives, and potential cover-ups surrounding the incident that forever altered the lives of those involved.

Setting the Scene

The narrative begins with a vivid depiction of Vienna Forrest, an activist experiencing a tumultuous period in her life. On a chilly January evening, she decides to rekindle her spirits by going on a date with her partner, Tortuguita (affectionately called Torte), in Atlanta.

• [01:15] Narrator: "It's been a long, rough month for Vienna, the longest in some ways she can remember, and she spent much of it lying low, crashing on the floor at a friend's house."

Vienna and Torte's evening includes a casual dinner and a visit to the historic Starlight movie theater, one of Atlanta's last remaining drive-ins, renowned for its nostalgic neon sign.

• [02:19] Vienna Forrest: "Me and Torte, to save on tickets, hid under a blanket and the person manning the gate caught us. They're like, next time tell your friends to hide their legs better because Torte's legs were sticking out from under the blanket. But they let us go through."

Their night at the theater is marked by intimacy and comfort, reflecting the deep bond between Vienna and Torte.

• [02:55] Narrator: "The film that night at the Starlight is Megan, the one about the overprotective, malignant doll."

The Tragic Confrontation

Approximately 36 hours after the seemingly peaceful date, a dramatic and violent event unfolds in the forest southeast of Atlanta. A joint task force, comprising dozens of officers from various agencies, is dispatched to clear the woods of activists protesting the construction of a major police training facility.

The task force is on edge, having been briefed about potential dangers like booby traps and improvised explosive devices. Their nervousness is palpable as they enter the forest.

• [04:25] Vienna Forrest: "Sir, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?"

This outburst signifies the beginning of chaos. A sudden gunfire incident disrupts the tense atmosphere, escalating the situation rapidly.

• [04:39] Vienna Forrest: "Oh, shit. Is this target practice?"

The officers, now alarmed, transition from a shaky demeanor to high alert, readying themselves for imminent threat.

• [05:21] Vienna Forrest: "That sounded like suppressed gun."

Investigative Insights

Matthew Scher guides listeners through the unfolding tragedy, emphasizing the conflicting testimonies and the scarcity of concrete evidence. The episode highlights the following critical points:

1. Conflicting Accounts: Eyewitnesses and participants provide varying descriptions of the events, sowing doubt about the official narrative.

2. Missing Evidence: Key pieces of evidence that could clarify the incident's circumstances are absent, raising suspicions of intentional withholding.

3. Allegations of a Cover-Up: Claims emerge suggesting that higher levels of law enforcement may be involved in obscuring the truth behind the shootout.

4. Motivations of the Involved Parties: The episode explores the idealism driving young environmentalists and juxtaposes it against the complex and perhaps ulterior motives of local officials.

Notable Quotes

Throughout the episode, several poignant quotes underscore the emotional and psychological impact of the events:

• [02:44] Vienna Forrest: "Were always just like someone I felt comfortable with. They were I'm feeling bad, I can lay my head on their chest and they'd comfort me."

• [03:14] Vienna Forrest: "Watching them, they seem like they didn't have care in the world. Or at least they didn't show it. They had this sort of resolve about things and they just. It seemed like they were just ready for whatever was to come."

• [05:25] Narrator: "From Wondery Campside Media and Tenderfoot tv. I'm Matthew Sherry and this is We Came to the Forest. This is episode one, Paradise Foundation."

Conclusion

"We Came to the Forest" sets a compelling foundation for an in-depth exploration of a tragic and enigmatic event. By intertwining personal narratives with investigative journalism, Matthew Scher invites listeners to question the surface-level explanations and seek out the concealed truths lurking beneath. The episode promises a gripping series that challenges perceptions of justice, activism, and institutional integrity.

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Transcript

[Matthew Scher]

In the depths of an Atlanta forest, a clash between activists and authorities ended in tragedy. But the official narrative doesn't add up. We Came to the Forest, a new investigative podcast from Wondery Campsite Media and Tenderfoot TV peels back the layers of secrecy surrounding a deadly confrontation that shook a community to its core. Through exclusive recordings and never before released eyewitness accounts, host Matthew Scher exposes the hidden truths behind a nighttime shootout that left one activist dead and countless lives forever changed. As we dig deeper, we uncover a web of conflicting testimonies, missing evidence, and allegations of a cover up reaching the highest levels of law enforcement. From the idealistic dreams of young environmentalists to the complex motivations of local officials, this story challenges our understanding of justice, activism and the lengths people will go to protect what they believe in. What actually happened in the forest? I'm about to play a clip from We Came to the Forest Follow We Came to the Forest on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Vienna Forrest]

Wondering.

[Narrator]

Campsite Media On a chilly evening in January, an activist named Vienna Forrest goes on a date with her partner in Atlanta. It's been a long, rough month for Vienna, the longest in some ways she can remember, and she spent much of it lying low, crashing on the floor at a friend's house. Her partner, who goes by Tortuguita, that's little turtle in Spanish, has decided that it's time for her to get out of the house.

[Vienna Forrest]

And we went to get Vietnamese and Mexican food, just got a whole buffet. It was and tortequito is like at their peak. They're so happy they quit cigarettes. They were just really doing good.

[Narrator]

A couple hours later, Vienna and Torte pack into a sedan along with two other friends and drive across town to a movie theater called the Starlight. The Starlight's pretty famous in Atlanta. It's one of the last real drive ins in the country. Still has that old school neon sign out front.

[Vienna Forrest]

Me and Torte, to save on tickets, hid under a blanket and the person manning the gate caught us. They're like, next time tell your friends to hide their legs better because Torte's legs were sticking out from under the blanket. But they let us go through.

[Narrator]

The couple stays there together, curled up in the backseat, hands laced together in the dark. Even as the movie gets underway, they.

[Vienna Forrest]

Were always just like someone I felt comfortable with. They were I'm feeling bad, I can lay my head on their chest and they'd comfort me.

[Narrator]

The film that night at the Starlight is Megan, the one about the overprotective, malignant doll.

[Vienna Forrest]

The modern day Chucky, if you will. Took a while for me to remember what the movie was because I wasn't paying attention to the movie so much, but yeah.

[Narrator]

As the movie winds down, Vienna turns to her partner.

[Vienna Forrest]

Watching them, they seem like they didn't have care in the world. Or at least they didn't show it. They had this sort of resolve about things and they just. It seemed like they were just ready for whatever was to come.

[Narrator]

About 36 hours after the date, at the drive in, in an event that will permanently, violently alter the trajectory of Vienna's life, a joint task force of law enforcement officers sweeps through a forest a few miles to the southeast. This task force, made up of dozens of officers from several different agencies, has been assigned to clear the woods of activists who are camping there in an attempt to stop the construction of the largest police training facility in the country. These officers are nervous. They've been warned in a briefing about the possibility of booby traps and even improvised explosive devices. But they're doing their best not to let it show. As they press forward, packing up vacant tents with knives, they joke about what they'll say if they happen to find one occupied.

[Vienna Forrest]

Sir, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?

[Narrator]

There's some more laughter and then everything just kind of shatters open.

[Vienna Forrest]

Oh, shit. Is this target practice?

[Narrator]

Surprised, unnerved, the officers tense up, drop their hands to their sidearms. The mood now is adrenalized. Sharp edged, the squadron of cops begin to move towards the sound of the gunfire. A very faint transmission comes over the radio from just across the forest. Man deaf.

[Vienna Forrest]

That sounded like suppressed gun.

[Narrator]

From Wondery Campside Media and Tenderfoot tv. I'm Matthew Sherry and this is We Came to the Forest. This is episode one, Paradise Foundation.

[Matthew Scher]

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