Podcast Summary: The Journal.

Episode: Introducing: Camp Swamp Road

Date: September 10, 2025

Hosts: Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza
Reporter & Narrator: Valerie Borlein

Episode Overview

This episode introduces “Camp Swamp Road,” a new investigative series from The Journal, focusing on a fatal shooting in South Carolina. Reporter Valerie Borlein explores how a single stand-your-ground case escalates into a story about police conduct, self-defense laws, and one family’s relentless quest for answers. This introduction sets the tone for the series by unpacking the circumstances of the shooting and previewing the layers of controversy and intrigue that distinguish this case from other self-defense incidents.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Incident Unfolds

• A chilling 911 call is played, where a caller claims a driver is threatening him with a gun.
  • Caller (00:03): “Hey, I've got a guy pointing a gun at me driving. We're armed as well. He keeps throwing the gun in our faces.”
• The action centers quickly on the location:
  • Caller (00:16): “All right, so he's turning onto Camp Swamp Road. What road? Camp Swamp Road.”

The Shooting & Law Enforcement Response

• Valerie Borlein (00:25): Seconds later, a man is shot dead.
• The shooting is immediately flagged as not ordinary—Valerie notes that it was quickly deemed a justifiable homicide under local stand-your-ground statutes.
  • Valerie Borlein (00:41): “This shooting was deemed a justifiable homicide under South Carolina's stand your ground law. The police determined that the shooters acted in self-defense.”
• The shooter’s rationale is briefly explained on tape:
  • Caller (00:53): “When I turned in here, he got out of that truck, had his pistol, he racked it, aimed and shot.”

What Makes This Case Different

• Valerie lists three unique factors:

  • Allegations of a police cover-up
  • A man who records all of his phone calls
  • A sister’s quest for truth about her brother’s death

• Notably, the episode teases behind-the-scenes details:

  • Caller (01:07): “I was in the shadows last night. I weren't there, but I was in the shadows.”
  • Caller (01:14): “Oh, I was on his ass. And his truck couldn't outrun my truck. And he knew it. So, yeah, he was terrified.”

The Family’s Fight for Answers

• The show highlights the emotional core: a woman confronting authorities and pushing through bureaucratic pushback to uncover the truth.
  • Unnamed Sister (attributed by context, 01:21): “I'm literally standing in front of them holding out everything that is wrong. And they're telling me to sit down.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Hey, I've got a guy pointing a gun at me driving. We're armed as well. He keeps throwing the gun in our faces.”
  • Caller, 00:03 — captures the immediate tension and threat that launches the episode.
• “This shooting was deemed a justifiable homicide under South Carolina's stand your ground law.”
  • Valerie Borlein, 00:41 — foregrounds the legal complexities and local context.
• “I was in the shadows last night. I weren't there, but I was in the shadows.”
  • Caller, 01:07 — hints at secrets and ambiguous involvement.
• “I'm literally standing in front of them holding out everything that is wrong. And they're telling me to sit down.”
  • Sister, 01:21 — underscores the frustration and persistence of the family seeking justice.

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment & Content | |-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:03–00:16 | 911 call and confrontation on the road | | 00:25 | Valerie sets the scene: shooting on Camp Swamp Road | | 00:41 | Explanation of legal assessment—‘justifiable homicide’ under Stand Your Ground law | | 00:53 | Shooter’s account of immediate events | | 01:07–01:14 | Discussion of suspicious behavior and personal recordings | | 01:21 | Sister’s confrontation with authorities and emotional appeal |

Tone & Style

The narration and sound clips evoke tension and urgency, with a Southern local color. Valerie Borlein uses a precise and investigative tone, promising a series that combines hard-hitting reporting with deeply personal stories.

Closing Note

The introduction makes a compelling case for why this shooting—on a rural road in South Carolina—is worth a closer look, and teases a layered story about law, family, and the search for truth. The series “Camp Swamp Road” promises gripping investigative journalism with high stakes.

Listen to episode one, premiering September 15, wherever you get your podcasts.