Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"They cannot explain that the weapon used to stab our father was never recovered. They cannot explain his broken ribs, chip tooth, or why he was found under an arm wall. They cannot explain the numerous weapons found at the scene or why they failed to take custody of all those weapons." — Sheridan Brothers
"The conclusion announced today is also at odds with the conclusion of the renowned pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, who found, 'The absence of any mental depression, of any motive, of any note, and of any weapon that could have caused the cut wound of the neck and jugular vein of John Sheridan, all speak against suicide.'" — Sheridan Brothers quoting Dr. Michael Baden
"The detective says that the betting from the Sheridan's primary bedroom was just left like laying exposed on the floor, blood collection swabs weren't even packaged properly, evidence envelopes were poorly taped, and remember how they didn't dust for fingerprints, my favorite thing? Well apparently, the investigators at the time did look for fingerprints using a flashlight technique? A flashlight technique I've never heard of before." — Brett referencing a whistleblower detective's claims.
The episode details the perplexing case of Joyce and John Sheridan, who were found deceased in their home after a fire. Initially, the investigation pointed towards a murder-suicide, with John Sheridan allegedly killing his wife, setting the fire, and then taking his own life. However, inconsistencies in the forensic evidence, the absence of a murder weapon for John, and questionable investigative practices, including the mishandling and potential destruction of evidence, began to surface. The family, particularly their sons, advocated for a thorough re-examination, questioning the prosecutor's conclusions.
A significant turning point occurred with the emergence of a similar case involving a politically connected individual, Michael Galdieri, who was murdered and set on fire. The similarities between the two cases, including the use of knives and fire, and the arrest of a potential hitman for the Galdieri murder who was found with a long-bladed kitchen knife, raised serious questions about a potential murder-for-hire plot in the Sheridan deaths. This prompted a whistleblower lawsuit concerning evidence mishandling and, eventually, the reopening of the Sheridan investigation by new prosecutors.
The ongoing investigation is now exploring the possibility of a murder-for-hire scenario, a stark contrast to the initial murder-suicide conclusion. The family's persistent efforts, along with the re-evaluation of evidence and the discovery of new information, have been instrumental in pushing for a more comprehensive and potentially accurate understanding of the events that led to Joyce and John Sheridan's deaths, aiming to uncover the truth amidst a backdrop of political connections and alleged corruption.