Introducing Framed: Season 3

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Podcast: True Crime Bullsh**: The Israel Keyes Investigation
Episode: Introducing Framed: Season 3
Date: July 16, 2026
Host: Studio BOTH/AND (Josh Hallmark)
Featured Podcast: Framed, hosted by Aaron Habel

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Overview

This special episode introduces listeners to the third season of the investigative podcast Framed, hosted by Aaron Habel of Generation Y fame. Like True Crime Bullsh**, Framed takes a meticulous, document-driven approach to true crime. Season 3 zeroes in on the 1986 murder of Scott Macklem, a St. Clair Community College student, and the controversial conviction of Frederick Freeman (now known as Temujin Kensou). The episode features a preview excerpt, delving into the complex themes of justice, wrongful conviction, and the burdens of forensic evidence.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Aaron Habel & Framed

• Josh Hallmark highlights Aaron Habel as a respected peer and co-host of Generation Y, but notes some listeners may not know of his solo project, Framed.

• Podcast Approach: Framed, akin to True Crime Bullsh**, is described as a “deep dive investigative podcast” that examines criminal cases in detail.

  "Much like true crime bullshit, Framed is a deep dive investigative podcast." — Josh Hallmark (00:12)

2. Previous Seasons of Framed

• Season 1: The Brian Carrick case, described as similar to the Brian Schaefer disappearance.
• Season 2: The brutal shooting deaths of nine monks in an Arizona temple.

3. Preview of Season 3: The Macklem Case

a. The Crime

• In November 1986, Scott Macklem was killed by a shotgun blast on the St. Clair Community College campus in Port Huron, Michigan.
• Initially, witnesses mistook the loud noise for a firecracker, car backfire, or burst tire.
• The death is described as "pitilessly executed"—suggesting cold-blooded intent.

b. Investigation & Trial

• Law enforcement quickly targeted Frederick Freeman. The preview calls him “a brash young man who was leading a somewhat alternative lifestyle.”

• Season 3 investigates whether there was sufficient proof for Freeman’s conviction and explores enduring doubts about his guilt.

  "Police settled quickly on a single suspect, a brash young man who was leading a somewhat alternative lifestyle." — Aaron Habel (02:03)

  "Is there sufficient proof that Frederick Freeman murdered Scott Macklem? If there are any doubts about his guilt, why does he remain incarcerated?" — Josh Hallmark (00:48)

• Freeman is now known as Temujin Kensou, marking a significant personal transformation since his incarceration.

c. Themes and Investigative Approach

• The season deeply questions the fairness and fallibility of the justice system:

  "Justice is widely understood to be the concept of moral fairness and the administration of law... but circumstances are not always as clear cut as we would like and the quest for justice can be a slippery slope. The 1986 killing of Scott Macklem and resulting trial would test the very limits of justice as we know it." — Aaron Habel (01:17)

• Aaron details the podcast’s methodology: poring through thousands of pages of documents, reviewing forensic evidence, and re-examining long-standing questions about the case.

d. Production Notes

• Research for Season 3 is led by Kathleen McGrath (Thread Pullers Research).
• Music provided by Captain of True Crime Garage, underlining podcast community collaboration.

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Defining Justice:

  "Justice is widely understood to be the concept of moral fairness and the administration of law... but circumstances are not always as clear cut as we would like, and the quest for justice can be a slippery slope." — Aaron Habel (01:17)

• Central Inquiry:

  "Is there sufficient proof that Frederick Freeman murdered Scott Macklem? If there are any doubts about his guilt, why does he remain incarcerated?" — Josh Hallmark (00:48)

• Atmosphere of the Crime:

  "When a shotgun blast rang out on a frigid November morning on the campus... students within earshot assumed it was a firecracker or a car backfiring or perhaps even a tire had blown out. But the truth was that a young college student named Scott Macklem had been pitilessly executed." — Aaron Habel (01:31)

5. Additional Context & Promotion

• Framed: Season 3 is available on all podcast platforms.
• Listeners are encouraged to join in the long-form investigation.

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Josh Hallmark introduces Aaron & Framed | | 00:32 | Summary of Season 1 & 2 of Framed | | 00:48 | Introduction of Season 3 & core questions | | 01:17 | Aaron Habel's preview & themes of justice | | 01:31 | Dramatic recounting of the Macklem murder | | 02:03 | Police investigation & focus on Freeman | | 02:20 | Podcast methodology & production credits |

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Tone and Style

The tone is investigative, thoughtful, and purposefully questioning the assumptions behind criminal justice processes. The podcast's style remains grounded yet evocative, with a focus on narrative storytelling and critical inquiry into the possible miscarriage of justice.

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Summary

This episode provides an intriguing introduction to Framed: Season 3, highlighting both the chilling crime at its center and the probing, document-based approach of Aaron Habel. Listeners are drawn into a story not just about a murder, but about the nuances, pitfalls, and ongoing debates within the American justice system—prompting questions that remain unresolved decades later.

Transcript

[A]

Hey everyone, you've probably heard of Aaron Hable, my good friend and the co host of Generation Y, but you may not have heard about his other incredible true crime investigative podcast, Framed. Much like true crime bullshit, Framed is a deep dive investigative podcast. Season one covered the case of Brian Carrick, which is very similar to the Brian Schaefer disappearance. In season two, Aaron covered the brutal shooting deaths of nine monks in their temple in Arizona. And season three, which launches this week, looks into the murder of St. Clair county community College student Scott Macklem, as well as the trial of Frederick Freeman. In this long form podcast, Aaron digs deep into forensic evidence and tries to answer the many questions that remain in the controversial case, like is there sufficient proof that Frederick Freeman murdered Scott Macklemore? If there are any doubts about his guilt, why does he remain incarcerated? Aaron has gone through thousands of pages of documents in his quest to find the truth, and now you can deep dive with him in season three of Framed Out. Now, wherever you listen to podcasts, here's a preview. Enjoy.

[B]

Justice is widely understood to be the concept of moral fairness and the administration of law, where individuals are treated impartially and receive what they deserve based on their actions. But circumstances are not always as clear cut as we would like, and the quest for justice can be a slippery slope. The 1986 killing of Scott Macklem and resulting trial would test the very limits of justice as we know it. When a shotgun blast rang out on a frigid November morning on the campus of St. Clair Community College in Port Huron, Michigan, students within earshot assumed it was a firecracker or a car backfiring or perhaps even a tire had blown out. But the truth was that a young college student named Scott Macklem had been pitilessly executed. Police settled quickly on a single suspect, a brash young man who was leading a somewhat alternative lifestyle. I am your host, Aaron, and this is Framed. On this season of Framed, we're going to look at the murder of Scott Macklem and the focus by law enforcement and the justice system on a suspect named Frederick Freeman, now known as Temujin Kensou. Research and writing for this podcast by Kathleen McGrath of thread pullers Research. Music provided by the captain of True Crime Garage.

[C]

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