True Crime All The Time: "Richard Glossip" (Episode 427)

Podcast: True Crime All The Time
Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Gibson
Date: March 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this powerful episode, Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson delve into the controversial case of Richard Glossip, who has spent over 25 years on Oklahoma's death row for a murder he maintains he did not commit. The episode provides a comprehensive look at Glossip's background, the 1997 homicide of motel owner Barry Van Treese, the complicated web of testimony and evidence, the various trials and appeals, and the recent Supreme Court decision mandating a new trial due to prosecutorial misconduct. The hosts raise crucial questions about the American justice system, wrongful convictions, and the death penalty, all framed with their characteristic mix of detail, candor, and the occasional lighthearted banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Is Richard Glossip?

• Born in 1963, Glossip grew up in a chaotic environment with 15 siblings, surrounded by substance abuse but reportedly stayed out of legal trouble himself.
• Dropped out in seventh grade, worked his way up to management at Domino’s and then at a budget motel in Oklahoma City.
• Never had any legal issues prior to the events detailed in this case, except a traffic ticket.
  "Before he was charged with murder, Richard's worst offense was a traffic ticket." (08:43)

2. Background: The Best Budget Inn and the Murder of Barry Van Treese (09:06–19:21)

• Glossip managed the motel, earning $1,500/mo plus room and board—modest even for 1995.
• Motel was rundown, in a rough neighborhood, frequented by drunks and drug dealers (09:12).
• Owner Van Treese lived 90 miles away, visited periodically.
• Early morning January 7, 1997: Maintenance man Justin Sneed, age 19, with a black eye, tells Glossip, "I killed Barry Van Treese"—Glossip thought it was a joke or drunken rambling (13:23–14:24).

3. Breakdown of Events on January 7, 1997 (14:42–19:21)

• Glossip is observed running errands, buying an engagement ring, living what appears to be a normal day.
• Van Treese’s car is found near the motel; security guard Cliff Everhart becomes immediately suspicious of Glossip and initiates a search.
• Barry Van Treese's body is discovered that night in room 102, the "nicest" room usually reserved for him. The room exhibited signs of a violent struggle, blood covering walls and carpet; Sneed's fingerprints and DNA are found (18:48).

4. Initial Police Investigation and Arrests (19:21–22:35)

• Glossip gives what are described as inconsistent accounts of the last time he saw Barry.
• There was no forensic evidence tying Glossip to the murder, but his actions after the murder—selling furniture and being found with $1,700 in cash—were scrutinized. Explanations by Glossip and his girlfriend about the reason for the sales varied (20:25).
• Glossip is arrested on January 9, 1997; Sneed is arrested and confesses on January 14, admitting to the murder but insisting it was Glossip’s idea (22:35).

5. The Prosecution’s Theory and Sneed’s Testimony (25:26–35:00)

• Sneed claims Glossip orchestrated the murder for several thousand dollars and suggested the use of a baseball bat.
  • "I guess I let my pride get a little bit in the way…” – Justin Sneed (26:18)
• Under plea agreement, Sneed receives life in prison by testifying against Glossip. Glossip goes to trial for first-degree murder.
• Prosecution alleges Glossip was about to be fired for suspected embezzlement, offering a financial motive—though evidence of actual “shortages” is conflicting and later contradicted (31:19–32:39).
• Most evidence against Glossip is Sneed’s claim; there is little to no corroborating forensic or physical evidence (34:11).

6. Trials, Convictions, Appeals, and Legal Incompetence (38:11–49:27)

• In 1998, Glossip is found guilty and sentenced to death after only 75 minutes of jury deliberation (38:31).
• 2001: His conviction is overturned due to the jury having a Bible in the deliberation room and ineffective assistance of counsel (41:05–42:37).
  • "The court found that trial attorney Wayne Fornera failed to introduce Justin's videotaped confession as evidence…” (42:37)
• At the 2004 retrial, inconsistencies in Sneed’s testimony emerge, but Glossip is again found guilty and sentenced to death (49:09).
• Prosecution’s case continues to rely almost entirely on Sneed’s shifting testimonies; no new forensic evidence is introduced.

7. Mounting Doubts and New Evidence (54:54–73:09)

• Sneed’s daughter writes that her father wants to recant, believes Glossip is innocent (56:11).
• Reviews by independent parties (e.g., law firm Reed Smith) and the Oklahoma Attorney General agree the case against Glossip is deeply flawed.
• Previously undisclosed evidence emerges of Sneed's bipolar disorder diagnosis, further undermining his reliability as a key witness (68:48).
• Suppressed evidence and prosecutorial misconduct are identified, strengthening the argument that Glossip was denied a fair trial.

8. Supreme Court Intervention and Current Status (81:48–85:38)

• Multiple execution dates are set and stayed; the psychological toll on Glossip and his family, as well as the victim’s family, is discussed (64:24).
• In February 2025, the Supreme Court orders a new trial due to findings of prosecutorial misconduct.
  • "The only direct evidence of Glossip’s guilt of capital murder was provided by a witness whose statements the prosecution knew were false as he testified to them." (82:33)
• The Attorney General and new Oklahoma County DA will determine whether to reprosecute, try a lesser charge, or release Glossip outright.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sneed’s Testimony and Motive:
  "Every time that Mr. Van Treese showed up at the best Budget Inn, Richard was wanting me to kill him. Every time, every month. Hey, you gonna kill him?" – Sneed (34:19)
• On the Risk of Convicting the Innocent:
  "...there are people in prison who are innocent... it's proven that we've convicted wrongly convicted people. And I have a feeling there's a really good chance we've put a number of people to death who were not guilty, sadly." – Ferguson (05:04)
• On Prosecutorial Misconduct:
  "The prospect of executing an individual based on a conviction that the state's chief law enforcement officer believes after careful scrutiny was secured by prosecutorial misconduct in violation of due process, is all but unthinkable." – AG Drummond (75:05)
• On the Toll of Multiple Execution Dates:
  "Let's face it, there are a lot of people in prison... but the fact is, there are people in prison who are innocent." – Ferguson (05:04) "Knowing that you're going to die in 37 days... I don't know how someone processes that." – Ferguson (64:24)
• On the Difference Between Innocence and Proof:
  "There is a distinction to be made between being innocent and the state having enough to prove you're guilty." – Ferguson (84:57)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Richard Glossip’s Life and Background – 06:14–08:42
• The Night of the Murder/Basis of Charges – 13:23–19:21
• Discovery of the Body/Early Investigation – 17:51–19:21
• Justin Sneed’s Confession and Story – 25:26–34:11
• First Trial and Conviction – 38:11–38:31
• Overturned Conviction/Legal Failures – 41:05–42:37
• Sneed’s Testimony Changes at 2nd Trial – 49:09–51:39
• Independent Review and AG’s Position – 68:48–75:26
• Supreme Court Mandates New Trial – 81:48–85:38

Tone & Style

• Ferguson and Gibson balance serious, in-depth legal analysis with accessible, sometimes irreverent commentary.
• They frequently pause to question motivations, highlight logical inconsistencies, or inject levity:
  • On the crudeness of the motel: "Sounds like a top choice to stay at..." (09:46)
  • On marriage to prisoners: "Now sometimes those people are serial killers that I don't understand at all." (67:24)
• The hosts make repeated references to how difficult it is for jurors and listeners to separate truth from fiction amid so much conflicting testimony.

Final Thoughts & The Big Picture

The case of Richard Glossip exemplifies the complexities and dangers of the death penalty in America. With the only substantial evidence against him coming from a motivated accomplice-turned-witness with a history of mental illness and drug abuse, later compounded by law enforcement and prosecutorial misconduct, the episode resonates as a cautionary tale. The hosts’ palpable relief at the Supreme Court’s intervention highlights the stakes:
"You can't be okay with a person who is innocent, or even potentially innocent, to be sent off to be killed. You can't be okay with that." – Ferguson (78:55)

As Glossip awaits a final decision—another trial, a plea deal, or possible release—this case remains a living illustration of why judicial certainty is paramount in capital cases.

For listeners who haven’t heard the episode, this summary provides a thorough, timestamped roadmap of the intrigue, debate, and moral complexity surrounding Richard Glossip’s decades-long fight for justice.