Sword and Scale
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Description
Sword and Scale is an internet radio show and website covering the dark underworld of crime and the criminal justice system’s response to it. The first episode launched January 1st, 2014 and feature stories of murder, abduction, rape, and even more bizarre forms of crime. It’s the purest form of true-crime where the raw uncensored audio tells the story. Everything from 911 calls to court testimony, interviews with victims and sometimes with perpetrators give listeners a 360 degree look at the seedy underbelly of human nature and so-called civilized society. Told from an everyman's point of view, Sword and Scale goes beyond the news clips and the sensationalist headlines to hold up a mirror to the audience and ask, "Is it us versus them? Or are we just like 'them' too?" Sword and scale proves that the worst monsters are real.
166 Episodes
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19When the body of 17-year-old high school student Kendrick Johnson was found in his own Lowndes County gym back in January of 2013, the whole nation took notice. The case was odd, the investigation seemed to have major holes, and Kendrick’s family was convinced that law enforcement was involved in a county-wide murder coverup. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The world can be a scary place when you’re young. After her husband moved to a nursing home Barb Olson thought the scariest times were behind her. At 78 she still had an active lifestyle. Between church, driving friends to their appointments, and the gym she was always busy. She still made time for her children and grandchildren though. That’s why when Barb missed her usual Tuesday morning visit with her daughter, Judy, she began to worry. When she went to check on her that afternoon she would discover more about her family than she wanted to.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Every mother’s worst nightmare came true for the Joughin family on July 19th, 2016, when their daughter Sierah never came home from her bike ride. As minutes turned into hours and hours into days, the investigation led the FBI to the quaint, quiet, and empty, corn-lined roads of Fulton County, Ohio. A place where angst turned to horror as agents uncovered a level of human perversion as vast as the field where they discovered Sierah’s blood-covered bicycle.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In June of 2012, the dismembered body parts of 23-year-old Jaren Lockhart began washing ashore on various beaches in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. In tracing Jaren’s last known whereabouts, the police learned that she was last seen leaving work with a woman in her late 20's and a man in his late 30's. As the police began investigating this duo, it became clear that the couple was anything but normal and their bizarre spiritual beliefs may have led them to perform a gruesome human sacrifice.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When 6-year-old James Hutchinson went missing from his family home in the early morning hours of February 28th, 2021, police immediately began compiling a list of oddities. This family was not normal. When detectives in Middletown, Ohio finally discovered the true chain of events leading up to James’s disappearance, they were horrified.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bad things can happen in good places. On January 31st, 2011, Johnny Clarke and his girlfriend, Lisa Straub, were house-sitting for Lisa’s parents in the affluent suburbs of Holland, Ohio. That night, authorities were called to the residence when Johnny’s concerned mother could not reach him, and after entering the home, the police found a bizarre and horrifying murder scene that was nothing like anything they had ever seen before.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
It took nearly a year to solve the murder of Alexis Robinault. After her nude body was found a few miles from home on the side of the road her status as a newly successful social media influencer slowed the progress of detectives with the Houston PD. Only after an early person of interest began acting suspiciously did they zero in on a suspect.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Throughout the year of 2017, the police in Strongsville, Ohio were called to the home of The Pleskovic family several times. For months, this kind-hearted and well-liked family had seemingly been victims of repeated thefts, harassment, vandalism, and an attempted break-in. Meanwhile, there were no other reports of similar crimes in the area, which suggested that The Pleskovics were being targeted. But by who? And why? Then, in late October of that year, the police were called to the home for the last time, and when they arrived, they found one of the most gruesome and bloody murder scenes that the city of Strongsville had ever seen.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ashley yearned to grow up, move out, and live by her own rules. She was so sure she was mature enough to be on her own she began sneaking around and dating the much older Sam Shelton. But when Ashley went missing Sam was no help to the police even though they were sure he was hiding something.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
First looks can lead you astray. That was the case for young Ryan Waller when he was mistaken as the killer of his girlfriend rather than another victim. After being accused of murder a years-long fight in and out of the courtroom begins. The family of Heather Quan will stop at nothing to get the justice they seek.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Indiana University was rocked when 22-year-old Hannah Wilson was found murdered. The bubbly, popular senior had mysteriously gone missing from her bedroom after a night out of celebrating with friends. The next day she was found dead in a field. While prosecutor Ted Adams worked to get justice for Hannah Wilson, defense lawyer Dorie Maryan found herself defending a man whose crimes were much greater than killing Hannah Wilson.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In July of 2015, the bloody and lifeless body of 47-year-old Robert Noce Jr. was found stuffed inside a 55-gallon barrel. His hands were bound behind his back, a thick leather belt was wrapped tightly around his neck, and he had been stabbed fourteen times. It would only take Baton Rouge, Louisiana homicide detectives four days to identify the killer. The murder itself wasn’t complicated. The motive, however, was a whole other story.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When the body of 27-year-old Mennonite woman Sasha Krause was discovered near Sunset Crater National Monument in Arizona, detectives were picking up where New Mexico’s authorities had left off. Sasha was reported missing a month before, and the case had gone cold. Now that detectives had a start and an end point, they could use cell phone records to find out who had been traveling alongside the deceased damsel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A mother’s unconditional love is put to the test when Steven Kelsey returns from basic training to spend the holidays with his family. What starts as a loving family reunion ends in a manhunt through the Michigan forests and a mother questioning her ability to forgive her own son.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When Wisconsinites Bart and Krista Halderson were reported missing over the Fourth of July weekend in 2021, the case unfolded more quickly than detectives could keep up with. What started as a simple missing persons case quickly turned into a murder and dismemberment investigation. In this jam-packed 91-minute episode, we (finally) team up with Minnesota lawyer and legal mastermind behind the highly popular YouTube channel RekietaLaw to break down this ridiculously absurd-to-the-point-of-comical case.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Anthony Templet lived his whole life in a cage. One morning he decided to take his life into his own hands and set himself free. The only setback was he had to kill his father to gain his freedom. Trapped and abused by his father he shot his father twice at point-blank range, once in the arm and once in the skull. Now, he only had to escape the Louisiana justice system and the charge of second-degree murder.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On March 6th, 2015, the body of 85-year-old Anthony Tomaselli was discovered two weeks after the death of his long-time partner. According to his adult daughters, Mary Beth and Linda, their family was relieved. His daughters claimed that Anthony’s health was in poor condition before his passing, and they could finally relax. Anthony’s official cause of death was a broken heart. Unfortunately, broken heart syndrome is extremely rare, and the Tomaselli family’s relief would become sorrow and regret after a mysterious man entered into the mix four years later.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What would you do if you worked your whole life to achieve the American dream and then you perceived that someone was on the cusp of taking it all away? How far would you go and what would you be willing to do to stop them? On a beautiful summer morning in 2008, land surveyors arrived at the home of 36 Nicholas Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut. Their job was to stake the property, but soon after they began working, the surveyors heard loud and desperate cries for help. The screaming led the surveyors to a backyard where they found a horrific and bloody scene.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The town of Groton, Mass had never witnessed such a tragedy. A tragedy that would test the love and loyalty of one family. The bond between family can never be broken but the love and loyalty between can sometimes be tried so hard that it’s severed. Orion Krause learned this lesson all too well in the summer of 2017.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Thanksgiving of 2012 started off very poorly for the Redwine Family. When one member of their clan, 13-year-old Dylan Redwine vanished on November 18th, an expensive and lengthy search of the Colorado Mountains ensued. What they found over the course of a decade exhausted investigatory resources and frustrated the community. By the time an arrest was made, everyone already knew who had taken Dylan. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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so in the woman's experiments trying to roll someone up in the mat, she claims two people could not do it no matter how they tried. two. and at least one of them female. maybe it takes more than two people.
Definitely my favorite true crime podcast and Mike we could be friends for sure. "One thing you never have to defend is the Truth"
Little bit of reverse racism maybe?
Thank you for sharing this story and Lee it in the forefront
awesome episode...I think this the problem in the world
Two things about this episode: 1. Did Kendrick probably die on accident? Probably. 2. They treat the Johnson family distrust of the official investigation as if they are comically crazy. There is a complete dismissal of the notion the black people historically aren't given the benefit of the doubt...and therefore have a heightened sense of concern in these situations. It's cringeworthingly laughed off as "these silly black racists trying to blame everyone...thanks for putting them in their place Ash!".
Never underestimate a teenage boy's ability to get himself in trouble. poor kid
the worst monsters are real... mmmkay so now wait a sec here .... there is no monster here coz it was not the worst monster ... soooo if the deed is not the worst deed it is not real? my conclusion ... Mike is a racist and the Johnson's are right looking after your normal average monster somewhere out there... u should be afraid disclaimer: I am just stating this fact coz I don't wanna be sued by the Johnson fam.
3:52
He tried getting his shoes, got stuck, then died. Shitty, but true.
People who think Kendrick was murdered are the true crime equivalent of flat earthers.
It’s like these Podcasters are like, I think he was murdered white people did it so the score points with Black people my opinion
That Podcaster seems like she mean white she’s probably trying to get good credit with the Black people. I think it was an accident but you know how today’s world is Black people can’t be racist. All white people are racist crock of shit.
writing on the box cutter was so disturbing
I get it, bad move, but I get it.
You do grown up crimes you get grown up time Don't cry now buddy
mom are u stupid what your kid did was not steal some gum he killed someone in cold blood you get no pass 😤
there is no excuse I Lil scumbag u killed your gm . over some change there is a special place in hell for you
Don't Act like Twelve-year-old now with the crying
3:06