Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The problem is, in 1987, not all of those hands were gloved." — Ashley Flowers
"If you're 15 and you're used to seeing that at your school all the time, you don't believe that you're walking to school and then I find a dead body. Like that's just not your reality. Your mind just like fills in the blank." — Ashley Flowers
"The thing is Tim's wrongful conviction and in a weird twist that we don't see very often even Peggy's family wasn't super sold on the idea that Tim did it." — Ashley Flowers
The episode meticulously unpacks the 1987 murder of Peggy Hedrick, a crime that initially baffled investigators and later led to the wrongful conviction of a teenager, Tim Masters. The initial crime scene revealed a brutal attack, with Hedrick found in a field with significant mutilation, including the removal of a nipple. Early investigative theories focused on a drag mark and footprints found near the scene, suggesting a male perpetrator. The investigation later zeroed in on Tim Masters, a 15-year-old who walked through the field on his way to school and reported seeing what he thought was a mannequin. Investigators, including Detective Jim Broadrick, became convinced of Masters' guilt, citing his drawings, knowledge of the mutilation, and shoe prints in the field. Despite a lack of direct confession and a conflicting FBI profile, Masters was interrogated extensively, and evidence found in his possession, such as his drawings and a knife collection, was interpreted as incriminating.
The narrative then details the legal proceedings against Tim Masters, highlighting the use of his drawings as key evidence by the prosecution, with an expert witness testifying to their violent and sexual nature. Masters' defense team was limited in their ability to counter this, calling only one expert witness. Despite his claims of innocence and an inability to confess, Masters was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The episode emphasizes the emotional toll on Masters and his family, as well as the frustration of his sister, Peggy Hedrick. The story also touches upon the efforts of the podcast hosts and their community in seeking justice and shedding light on wrongful convictions.
Years later, a CPA named Taylor Maris, moved by the case, began corresponding with Tim Masters and former investigator Linda Wheeler. This collaboration reignited the pursuit of justice, leading to the discovery of new DNA testing capabilities and a re-examination of the original evidence. Crucial to this re-evaluation was the revelation that key evidence, including an initial FBI profile that did not support Masters' guilt and potentially exculpatory forensic evidence, may have been withheld from the defense. The episode details the eventual dismissal of charges against Tim Masters in 2008 and his full exoneration in 2011, followed by a substantial settlement for the wrongful conviction. The investigation into the original crime and the subsequent legal battles revealed significant systemic failures, including psychological manipulation by investigators, mishandling of evidence, and potentially ignored viable suspects.