Up and Vanished Weekly

Episode: Cold Blooded Conversation with Chris Connelly
Date: October 15, 2025
Host: Maggie Freeling
Guest: Chris Connelly

Overview

In this episode, host Maggie Freeling sits down with renowned journalist Chris Connelly—former MTV correspondent and current ABC/ESPN reporter—to discuss his new 20/20 podcast, Cold Blooded. The podcast explores the mysterious and tragic murder of Dr. Eric Garcia, a beloved surgeon in Alaska. Maggie and Chris dive into his decades-spanning career, from shaping pop culture at MTV in the 1990s to narrating complex true crime stories, culminating in Chris’s deep-dive reporting on Dr. Garcia's case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Chris Connelly’s Journalism Journey

• From MTV to True Crime:
  Chris details the arc of his career, beginning as MTV’s "movie person" interviewing celebrities and later covering music news. The 1990s, he notes, were marked by the intersection of pop culture and tragedy, with the headline-making deaths of Kurt Cobain, Tupac, and Biggie Smalls.

  “People forget that three of the biggest hitmakers of the 1990s died in the 90s by gunfire. Kurt Cobain, Biggie Smalls, and Tupac Shakur.” – Chris Connelly [05:18]

• Reporting on Tragedy:
  Chris draws a line connecting music culture coverage with true crime—his storytelling background developed through coverage of real-life mysteries and music industry tragedies.

• Personal Roots in Crime Stories:
  He recalls growing up in New York during infamous cases (Kennedy assassination, Son of Sam), and family ties to the law:

  “My parents were both lawyers. I used to go to trials, you know, in the background as a kid.” – Chris Connelly [10:30]

The MTV Era & Its Impact

• Unique Voice:
  Chris and Maggie reminisce about MTV’s ethos as a platform genuinely covering youth culture—filling a gap left by mainstream media.

  “Nobody was covering what we were covering... we certainly represented for a demographic that was underrepresented elsewhere.” – Chris Connelly [06:43]

Transition to True Crime

• An Organic Shift:
  Chris discusses how witnessing historic crimes and participating in legal culture informed his approach to narrative crime reporting.

• Notable True Crime Coverage:
  He touches on covering Mia Zapata’s disappearance, how MTV’s reporting later contributed to the case being solved through public awareness and advances in DNA evidence.

Deep Dive into the Dr. Eric Garcia Case (“Cold Blooded”)

Why Chris Took the Case

• Connection to Alaska:
  Chris describes his experience traveling to Ketchikan, Alaska, to learn from Garcia’s colleagues, friends, and investigators. He notes Alaska as rich with compelling stories and remarkable characters.

  “Ketchikan is one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever go to... the people were the nicest people.” – Chris Connelly [11:50]

Dr. Eric Garcia’s Legacy

• Beloved Surgeon:
  Garcia, originally from Puerto Rico, became integral to the Ketchikan community, earning the admiration of colleagues and patients alike.

  “Sometimes, you think of a surgeon as being like a technician... That wasn’t Dr. Garcia. He was both a wonderful surgeon and a person who cared about his patients.” – Chris Connelly [13:15]

The Crime & Investigation

• Discovery and Welfare Check:
  Chris emphasizes the rare narrative structure where the welfare check—the discovery of Garcia’s body—occurs at the outset, setting the story’s investigative tone.

  “...the way that the people outside react to the news of his death really kind of sets the stage for what you’ve heard is this remarkable mystery.” – Chris Connelly [14:48]

• The Role of Missing Valuables:
  Missing assets (gold, valuables) quickly redirected the investigation from suicide to likely homicide.

  “...when the valuables are gone... the belief... is that Jordan Joplin was hoping this would present as a suicide...” – Chris Connelly [16:57]

  “Bob Jackson arrives aflame with the idea that there are thousands of dollars of valuables inside the house... he really drives them towards looking for these valuables.” – Chris Connelly [18:43]

• Accelerated Investigation:
  The looting and the reactions from Garcia’s friends (notably Bob Jackson) fueled a swift pivot in investigative efforts.

Relationship Between Garcia and Joplin

• Private Life and Dynamics:
  Garcia kept his personal life private. His romantic involvement with Jordan Joplin, while known to some, was discreet. Friends doubted backlash would occur, but noted social caution:

  “Nobody we talked to specifically felt there would have been backlash... but... they knew people who might have reacted negatively. And isn’t that always the way?... it’s always ‘what about the outside world?’” – Chris Connelly [22:48]

• Judgment and Risk:
  Maggie and Chris discuss whether Garcia’s discretion in personal matters may have increased risk, despite his surgical expertise and generally sound judgment.

The Smoking Gun

• Disturbing Evidence:
  Investigators discovered an unsettling video on Joplin’s phone, showing Garcia’s final moments—a pivotal piece of evidence.

  “It’s like an eight or nine second video and it is so disturbing... Why wasn’t it followed by a 911 call?” – Chris Connelly [23:54]

Why Revisit a “Solved” Case?

• Satisfaction in Resolution:
  Chris explains the podcast’s value in telling a story—beginning, middle, and end—where justice has (seemingly) been served. Though the arrest happened quickly, the trial took years.

  “Our audience likes the satisfaction that justice has been done... where the justice system has done its job...” – Chris Connelly [25:03]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Covering Legendary Artists’ Deaths:
  “I might be the only guy to have interviewed [Tupac’s] doctor on camera while he was in the hospital.” – Chris Connelly [07:22]

• On Tupac’s Legacy:
  “I always thought that Tupac’s life was like the autobiography of Malcolm X if you had ripped the last 200 pages out. I mean, there was just no telling what that human being might have gone on to become...” – Chris Connelly [08:04]

• On Reporting Tactics:
  “When the valuables are gone... [and] the people who are gathered... to hear the news and how they react tells you so much about how the rest of this story will go.” – Chris Connelly [14:48]

Important Timestamps

• Chris’ early career and MTV days: 04:34 – 06:43
• Covering 1990s music tragedy: 06:19 – 08:41
• Connecting crime reporting and pop culture: 08:51 – 10:27
• Personal true crime interest and legal background: 10:30 – 11:28
• Intro to Dr. Garcia and Alaska experience: 11:50 – 13:15
• Community’s adoration for Garcia: 13:15 – 14:30
• Welfare check and discovery of body: 14:48 – 16:32
• Impact of missing valuables on investigation: 16:57 – 20:41
• Relationship dynamics – Garcia & Joplin: 21:52 – 23:38
• The damning video evidence: 23:54 – 24:47
• Why the case still matters: 25:03 – 25:40

Tone & Style

The conversation is thoughtful, respectful, and deeply reflective, blending the gravity of the case with nostalgia over the evolution of journalism and music media. Chris brings humility and insight, while Maggie's curiosity and fondness for both true crime and 90s pop culture shine throughout.

Conclusion

Chris Connelly’s reporting brings a sensitive, human lens to the tragic case of Dr. Eric Garcia, while Maggie Freeling orchestrates a rich conversation spanning decades of cultural, journalistic, and criminal investigation history. The episode is a must-listen for true crime enthusiasts and fans of investigative storytelling alike.

"Cold Blooded" is available wherever you get your podcasts.