Having lived in more than a few apartments in the US, the most unbelievable part of the story to me was there was no mention of hearing a gun shot in the apartment above them. Most times I can tell what my neighbors were watching on the TV in their unit above, below, or nextdoor to my unit
I can't figure that out. It's either the "nope, didn't hear a thing, I'm scared of what will happen if I say I did", everyone in the building was blackout drunk and already passed out simultaneously, or there was a high quality silencer that reduced the noise levels to about 20-35 dB, but even then there should be a noticable noise to others even if not an identifiable shot sound
Same. I don’t wanna say I was happy that he was a victim to as that is far from the case. But just from the sounds of how Sam and Julie were like siblings if it had turned out he snapped and did such horrid things to her that would have been so much worse than I could have probably handled. Idk if that makes sense…
Yeah I was really hoping it wasn't gonna be like that recent case Emma did about the teenage South African killer who murdered his entire family after SA'ing his sister. That case sucked bc there was no twist & Emma was even hinting that it was him from the start bc of all the evidence he left AND it was obvious that if intruding robbers had done it, they'd have killed him too. That whole episode just bummed me out bc a straightforward story of tragic crimes is just that; no suspense, no mystique, no twists, just a sociopathic family annihilator.
This is such a tragic story. All over a honeymoon and a lazy low life. So sad. Looking forward to your take on it, Matt ... thank you to the crew!! Now diving in...
“Never talk to cops!” This is something a retired cop said. If the cops have enough evidence to arrest you, they don’t need a confession. They are legally allowed to lie to you, starting by saying things like “We’re just trying to help you.” Or “We’ll talk to the DA saying how cooperative you have been.” The DA won’t care. Their goal is to win cases. The cops have a specific list of procedures, called the Reid Technique, which they frequently will follow in order to get you to confess. Always have a lawyer with you when you talk to them. Their ONLY goal is to close the case, and will do anything to do it. If they tell you that you can leave, do it. The 1st thing to do then is to go call a lawyer. Even if they arrest you, do not talk until you speak to a lawyer.
Sorry, Simon! You had me laughing out loud!!!🤣 Golden Gate Bridge and ferries are in the San Francisco area! 400 miles away from Costa Mesa in Southern California
California's massive size is so understated it's absurd. I understand that Alaska's still much larger, but Cali's fucking huge & there's a vast difference of small towns and metropolitan cities all throughout the state. Oakland, San Francisco, San Diego, LA, Long Beach, Compton, Inglewood, Sac-Town, Stockton, San Jose, etc. The only cities in my state people might actually be able to name are Louisville & Lexington (if that)
It's always weird when these stories are close to home. I live 10 minutes away from Costa Mesa. I'd heard about this case before but never in such detail. Thanks, Matt!
I saw this story on 1-2 of those crime shows (20/20, Dateline) and it disgusted me that this creep killed two people so he could have a nice wedding. I hate him and his (possibly involved) girlfriend so much for being absolutely garbage humans.
Wouldn't matter if we took mental health seriously because those people could be flagged as susceptible to false confessions. To assert something is bad because some people have mental health problems is absurd.
Great episode, Matt!! And as always love your commentary Simon. I remember first hearing about this episode and thinking SAM DIDN'T DO THIS and feeling vindicated lol
9:00 If you'll forgive just a moment of pedantry, from a career officer: it's most likely that Sam was _separated_ and not retired, as the latter implies the final conclusion of a career with no intention to return to service. Also, officers are not enlisted. He was, if anything, planning to get _commissioned_ after getting a degree. Excellent work regardless and thanks!
Thanks for the info! I’m not very familiar with specific military terminology like this, but I’ll definitely keep it in mind and do some more research for future episodes. Much appreciated!
not that any of the writers for TCC are bad but i really enjoy Matt and Callums (i think thats how his name is spelled) scripts the most. they seem to be able to inject a little but of fun and sarcasm in the most twisted and deranged cases...I'm telling you that's a gift 😂😂
Christmas may be over but man this feels like a late Christmas gift. the casual criminalist doing a video about my favorite TC case and its written by Matt. thank you Simon and team!
1:00:11 Ooooo! Matt sounds like he’s a Californian!! We have the strictest laws over everything (the chain of law to own an exotic animal for movie production is (rightfully) insane!). Thank you Matt for clarifying this confusion because Simon had me guessing my own sanity on CA laws!
Had to watch this ! A Brit in Czechia, talking about a crime in a Los Angeles suburb ! As for a phone call going to voice mail, that's normal for my nephew, who thinks 5% is fully charged. He's in his mid 30s.
Well if you know the person never turns off their phone (i do that, and if it might run out of battery I'll bring a powerbank just so I'm always reachable - wait is that actually a word?) It certainly is fuckin scary. One time my phone broke and i had 5 friends show up at my door that day thinking something happened to me 😅
It’s always so…I don’t want to call it wholesome, but maybe adorable? Whenever Simon’s inner ‘Murican comes out. “I’m not pro death penalty, I just wouldn’t be heartbroken if this guy got it.”
I remember this case as a 48 Hours episode I watched with my mom. Seeing that monster sing his heart out onstage after what he’d done and his demeanor in interrogation was just…man. I don’t have the words, besides “what an awful person.” I’m going to be sad since I know how it goes but I’m hoping Factboi and Matthew can make it sting less!
I grew up and lived in Long Beach my whole life, used to eat at Echo's Pizza often and would spend time at El Dorado Park regularly too, lived about a mile from it. Crazy when one of these stories hits so close to home. 😮
Right? I wrote one script about a killer from my own city (Joel Guy Jr), but swore to never do it again because all the familiar locations freaked me out so much. I actually still shop at the Walmart where he purchased some of the cleaning supplies after the murders. I think about it almost every time I'm in there. It's wild.
@MatthewMarcum It really is crazy, I heard after I wrote my comment about where he threw the body parts and realized I used to fish near there as a kid. I also recently saw a video on That Chapter (also on TH-cam) about a childhood friend of mine and my brothers, Christopher McCallum, used to spend time at his house and knew his dad and him very well for almost 20 years, his wife murdered him... So crazy and sad 😢
Oh! I'm so sad Eccos closed. The pizza of my childhood. I seem to be the only family member that remembered about the body parts found in the Nature Center. Probably I was going to go and heard why it was closed.
I had to look up the question of how Dan knew Sam's PIN since it wasn't touched on here and was driving me nuts! Apparently Sam had either told it to Dan at some point previously or had looked over Sam's shoulder. He was planning the murder for quite some time, so he apparently used that time, in part, to find out the PIN.
Yeah, It’s been a few months since I wrote this script, but I think I remember reading a source that said Sam had given it to him. He obviously trusted him, which makes the murder all the worse.
@MatthewMarcum Yeah, I couldn't find anything concrete explaining how Dan got it, just that Sam trusted him and therefore must've given it to him at some point.
I have been a true crime watcher for a loooooong time, but until he said that he killed Julie JUST to from him, I could not believe it. I kept thinking, "But why kill Julie? Maybe she caught him in the act?" No! He was just a asshole that KILLED A WOMAN TO FRAME SOMEONE! That hit me too hard.
i mean hypothetically, on paper it was the perfect plan to cover up his tracks. he actually did a good job planing out to make it look like Sam snapped killed Julie and ran. and this is why i find true crime so fascinating...in what other else can someone have a plan that's both genius and also incredibly stupid at the same time? idea was good but then also he thought he would just be able to use the debit card to withdrawal money without anybody noticing? It just amazes me how this entire plot was both genius and also stupid at the same time lol
I for one was startled and delighted to hear from the writer with an explanation of California's convoluted (and somewhat passive-aggressive) death penalty process. LOVE YA MATT!! SUBSCRIBED BRAH! ❤
I had to kinda spoil this for me to confirm that Sam wasn't the murderer and now I have that it saddens me that knowing I wanted him to not be the murderer meant essentially wanting the only real alternative to be the case and thats what I am watching Simon basically do now.
@1:00:05 @matthewmarcum, I'm not checking out your channel because I want to learn more about the darker stuff. I'm checking out your channel because I want to hear more of your voice.
Props to Simon on the Schweinfurt pronaunciation i lived a couple streets over from the base for a while. Always slightly weird to hear places you personally kmow mentioned
I love that interlude giving clarification on the death penalty in California. I think it would be nice to have more of them to clarify factual matters.
1:04:00 sounds like she got off lucky. the way the limited evidence against her reads she was likely aware of the money scheme and potential murders beforehand if not activity involved woth the planning. Her fiance doesn't seem all that bright on his own.
This whole thing is so senseless but luring and murdering that poor girl simply to try and enhance the ridiculous story is so aggravating. What an absolute loser and scumbag.
Yeah, that part is crazy to me especially because if he hadn’t killed her, he probably would’ve gotten away with it. They wouldn’t started looking for Sam for days if not weeks, he’s a young dude they split without telling anyone sometimes
Normally, these don't get to me, but knowing he casually killed 2 people and tried to pin a murder/assault on his first victim, only to get $2000 to pay off a $500 loan is insane
5:15 - Chapter 1 - Sam & Julie 16:40 - Chapter 2 - Pizza time 24:40 - Chapter 3 - The performance of a lifetime 34:50 - Chapter 4 - The phonecall 39:55 - Chapter 5 - The final confession 46:10 - Chapter 6 - A surprise accomplice 53:35 - Chapter 7 - Rachel's time in the spotlight 57:25 - Chapter 8 - Court dates 1:04:10 - Chapter 9 - The fate of the death penalty
Yo, I was not expecting to see this on my feed today! I worked with Rachel, and she was a trip. Something always felt off with that one. I remember when news of the murders came forth and that Rachel may have been involved, nobody was surprised. Nobody was surprised about the Dr. Phil thing either. She was very about being in the spotlight.
Would have been great to speak with you before writing this 😅 Dan had a lot of people come forward to give interviews about him after his arrest but information about Rachel wasn’t as easy to track down.
Probably for the better haha This was quite a while ago and I wouldn't be able to offer much more than old workplace gossip and personal bias based off the short time she was in my department
It's surreal to hear a Casual Criminalist episode set within a mile of where your family lives. I used to walk past the Pine Creek apartments every day on my way to class at OCC. I used to be in the jazz scene with friends in theater. Wild, really hits close to home.
SPOILER ALERT: If you want to keep the reveal of Rachel being involved under wraps until late in the episode, you probably shouldn't introduce her with a mugshot.
Honestly that police interview with Wozniak is a reminder that acting and lying are two very different skill sets, and just because someone is good at one doesn’t mean they’re any good at the other. When I was studying acting, the number of people who said “Well, I guess this means I can’t trust you, because you’re learning to lie…” I’m good at acting, but am terrible at lying outside very specific contexts - such as games involving bluffing.
As a Long Beach native I found this very entertaining. Definitely not San Francisco lol, but Eldo park (El Dorado) is 10 minutes from my house and I’m fairly certain I know exactly which ATMs and Ecco’s pizza were referenced . Having said that I have never heard of this story
To give you some perspective of distance, Amsterdam is closer to London than Costa Mesa is to San Francisco by almost 80 miles. And that's if you drive. As the crow flies Amsterdam is about 200 miles closer to London.
The second I saw those suspiciously flat-faced pictures of Dan and Rachel, I knew who did it. What can possibly go through your head to justify something so vicious?
@MatthewMarcum lol that's how he thought crazy should sound! At his core he was an actor. He was always putting on a performance. Just like when talking to the investigators- Is that what you want to hear??! Just so dramatic and performative lol He was calculated. But DEF super cringy!
Defense lawyers want delay for the reason you see here-- life takes a toll on the prosecution's witnesses. Why would they care about "getting it done" when he's going to prison for the rest of his life? The longer yu delay, the more chance there is someone important to the case dies in a car crash, or gets cancer, or just drops dead one day.
This is absolutely correct. Long delays almost always favor the defense when evidence is this locked-in. I’ll add some info about why defense attorneys delay to one of my future scripts.
I think Simon is looking at it from a more European perspective, where if you know you're screwed, it's usually better to get it over with and be transferred to a proper prison than be stuck in jail for years.
44:50 - I give Simon a pass, for his bad Geography. Costa Mesa is, relatively, near Los Angeles, hundreds of miles away from San Francisco ! Yes, Manson was sentenced to death, but the state's supreme court declared the death penalty unconstitutional, as written. So Manson's sentence was commuted to life. In subsequent decades, a new death penalty law was written, and approved, by the state legislature, that DOES CONFORM to the state's constitution. Yes, recent governors, mostly Brown, and Newsome, have put executive pauses on carrying out those sentences. Also, life, without parole, became common, since.
One case I'd be curious to see covered here is the West Memphis 3 case. Beyond just the murders themselves, the investigation and trials and everything else that happened in the following years is absolutely crazy!
The audio cuts out at the end, this sucks because i sing along with the tune everytime. I will still watch, just make sure theres a jingle at the end pretty please with cherries on top
Two years after this guy was at command outpost keating a major battle happened, leading to two soldiers being awarded the medal of honor and a bunch of their brothers passing. I pray we never forget these warriors sacrifice.
Idk what Sam and Dans relationship is but he could’ve jus asked him for some money idk but Sam sounds like a dude who may have given him the money he may have needed. Jus sayin.
Hello again, legends! Enjoy the episode!
Oh sweet a great episode by a great writer! Thank you for bringing this story to us matt!
Thank you Matthew, for another superbly written episode!
If you're ever looking for a script idea, I encourage you to look into the case of (Bharat Kalicharan)
No
Thanks Matt!!
hearing the actual voice of a writer stunned me...a 'not Simon' voice... i don't know what to do with myself now. it was fantastic.
Twas only a quick jump scare
and damn sir, u have a great voice. Subscribed!
I know what Blind Dave, Liam, Kevin and Lorelai sound like. Maybe one or two others.
would listen to him read scripts for sure!
Having lived in more than a few apartments in the US, the most unbelievable part of the story to me was there was no mention of hearing a gun shot in the apartment above them. Most times I can tell what my neighbors were watching on the TV in their unit above, below, or nextdoor to my unit
I can't figure that out. It's either the "nope, didn't hear a thing, I'm scared of what will happen if I say I did", everyone in the building was blackout drunk and already passed out simultaneously, or there was a high quality silencer that reduced the noise levels to about 20-35 dB, but even then there should be a noticable noise to others even if not an identifiable shot sound
Let me help you... Costa Mesa is a rough neighborhood in certain parts. So hearing gunshots may have been the norm.
I’m not there yet to this conclusion but I did think the same when they said she had been shot. I should stop reading the comments at the beginning.
The pure glee of Simon finding out the death penalty is on the table is immeasurable 😂
@cellochick42 if he were offered the role of Executioner, would Simon take it I wonder?!
It really is amazing how much he changed his opinion on the death penalty after learning how horrible some people really are
I just keeping his (awful but awesome) “YEEHAW!” in reference to that. 😂
@@wonky_shoebox7514hell ya he would lol if it was Pedro Lopez he would be spinning like a Disney princess as he approached with the needle 😂
He used to be on the fence. Leaning towards being against it. Years of writing down your crimes will do that to you.
I can’t tell you how relieved I was that Sam was not the murderer. It’s truly tragic
Same. I don’t wanna say I was happy that he was a victim to as that is far from the case. But just from the sounds of how Sam and Julie were like siblings if it had turned out he snapped and did such horrid things to her that would have been so much worse than I could have probably handled. Idk if that makes sense…
@@PewPewParkno that makes sense
Yeah I was really hoping it wasn't gonna be like that recent case Emma did about the teenage South African killer who murdered his entire family after SA'ing his sister. That case sucked bc there was no twist & Emma was even hinting that it was him from the start bc of all the evidence he left AND it was obvious that if intruding robbers had done it, they'd have killed him too. That whole episode just bummed me out bc a straightforward story of tragic crimes is just that; no suspense, no mystique, no twists, just a sociopathic family annihilator.
This is such a tragic story. All over a honeymoon and a lazy low life. So sad. Looking forward to your take on it, Matt ... thank you to the crew!! Now diving in...
20 minutes in, Simon's judgement of people on point this episode so far
“Never talk to cops!” This is something a retired cop said. If the cops have enough evidence to arrest you, they don’t need a confession. They are legally allowed to lie to you, starting by saying things like “We’re just trying to help you.” Or “We’ll talk to the DA saying how cooperative you have been.” The DA won’t care. Their goal is to win cases.
The cops have a specific list of procedures, called the Reid Technique, which they frequently will follow in order to get you to confess. Always have a lawyer with you when you talk to them. Their ONLY goal is to close the case, and will do anything to do it. If they tell you that you can leave, do it. The 1st thing to do then is to go call a lawyer. Even if they arrest you, do not talk until you speak to a lawyer.
Sorry, Simon! You had me laughing out loud!!!🤣 Golden Gate Bridge and ferries are in the San Francisco area! 400 miles away from Costa Mesa in Southern California
There’s a ferry between Newport and Balboa.
But no Golden Gate Bridge.
If you go down to Laguna there’s TONS of ferries.
California's massive size is so understated it's absurd. I understand that Alaska's still much larger, but Cali's fucking huge & there's a vast difference of small towns and metropolitan cities all throughout the state. Oakland, San Francisco, San Diego, LA, Long Beach, Compton, Inglewood, Sac-Town, Stockton, San Jose, etc. The only cities in my state people might actually be able to name are Louisville & Lexington (if that)
This is a man who doesn't know where Arizona is.
"The big red bridge"
@@michaelpipkin9942I'm sure he could care less. America is not that special.
What I'm here Hella early!! Last time I was here this early Jen was around and Simon was anti- death penalty
😂
Dang... You haven’t been this early in a long ass time
Always loved Jen’s work.
What happened to Jen? 😢
Wow, that was a long time ago 😂😂😂
"There was no ranting!" Its a Christmas miracle!!! Lol. :)
It's always weird when these stories are close to home. I live 10 minutes away from Costa Mesa. I'd heard about this case before but never in such detail. Thanks, Matt!
Indeed. I grew up in the same neighborhood in Long Beach where they found the credit card.
I'm sitting in Costa Mesa right now, and I grew up with family friends named Herr. It's certainly an experience.
It is surreal to hear Simon talking about my hometown for an hour.
Gotta be one hell of a mixed feeling.
One of the reasons I jumped on it, I lived right next to the border of Costa Mesa
It was a crazy time in OC lol. Then Christopher Dorner happened after
It's kind of disturbing how often my tiny hometown gets mentioned
Same I knew Scott Dekrai
I love Matt's scripts, so I don't think I've ever been this early to a casual criminalist episode
I saw this story on 1-2 of those crime shows (20/20, Dateline) and it disgusted me that this creep killed two people so he could have a nice wedding. I hate him and his (possibly involved) girlfriend so much for being absolutely garbage humans.
Yes, I remember this on Dateline too.
I've never heard this story from this point of view! Thanks, Matt!
Holy cow what a wild ride of a case. Excellent writing by Matt, and as always I love to hear Simon's narration and commentary.
I love that Rachel says they have a recording but Dan just keeps incriminating himself.
Simon, I know these are hard for you. Thanks brother. Keep up the good work...
When someone gets introduced alongside a photo that looks a lot like a mugshot on this podcast...
I know, I wish the editor used different pictures. That was a dead giveaway…
The “Reed Technique” is brilliant! The police can get so many innocent, vulnerable individuals to confess using the Reed Technique! 😮
Reid technique
Wouldn't matter if we took mental health seriously because those people could be flagged as susceptible to false confessions. To assert something is bad because some people have mental health problems is absurd.
That's not the case here, though. Not only is Dan completely guilty, but he's also insufferable. He also couldn't help but tell on himself.
Even when I know the story beforehand, I love the CC detail on the story. Bravo, guys.
Thanks!
Great episode, Matt!! And as always love your commentary Simon. I remember first hearing about this episode and thinking SAM DIDN'T DO THIS and feeling vindicated lol
Seriously though....what happened to Jen?? She was fantastic! Anyone who cuts to the musical 1776 has my undying devotion.
9:00 If you'll forgive just a moment of pedantry, from a career officer: it's most likely that Sam was _separated_ and not retired, as the latter implies the final conclusion of a career with no intention to return to service. Also, officers are not enlisted. He was, if anything, planning to get _commissioned_ after getting a degree.
Excellent work regardless and thanks!
Thanks for the info! I’m not very familiar with specific military terminology like this, but I’ll definitely keep it in mind and do some more research for future episodes.
Much appreciated!
@MatthewMarcum NP and keep 'em coming! Fascinating story of horrible people 🤣
Matthew! Love your scripts! Thanks For this ❤❤
not that any of the writers for TCC are bad but i really enjoy Matt and Callums (i think thats how his name is spelled) scripts the most. they seem to be able to inject a little but of fun and sarcasm in the most twisted and deranged cases...I'm telling you that's a gift 😂😂
Last time I was this early Simon was a fact baby not a fact boy. Soon he will he a fact man *sheds tear*
Christmas may be over but man this feels like a late Christmas gift. the casual criminalist doing a video about my favorite TC case and its written by Matt. thank you Simon and team!
33:25 I love how she reminds him that he's on a recorded line and he just keeps sharing more incriminating details 😆
1:00:11 Ooooo! Matt sounds like he’s a Californian!! We have the strictest laws over everything (the chain of law to own an exotic animal for movie production is (rightfully) insane!). Thank you Matt for clarifying this confusion because Simon had me guessing my own sanity on CA laws!
Had to watch this ! A Brit in Czechia, talking about a crime in a Los Angeles suburb !
As for a phone call going to voice mail, that's normal for my nephew, who thinks 5% is fully charged. He's in his mid 30s.
Well if you know the person never turns off their phone (i do that, and if it might run out of battery I'll bring a powerbank just so I'm always reachable - wait is that actually a word?) It certainly is fuckin scary. One time my phone broke and i had 5 friends show up at my door that day thinking something happened to me 😅
It’s always so…I don’t want to call it wholesome, but maybe adorable? Whenever Simon’s inner ‘Murican comes out. “I’m not pro death penalty, I just wouldn’t be heartbroken if this guy got it.”
THAT OPENING WAS AMAZING
Much thanks!
I remember this case as a 48 Hours episode I watched with my mom. Seeing that monster sing his heart out onstage after what he’d done and his demeanor in interrogation was just…man. I don’t have the words, besides “what an awful person.” I’m going to be sad since I know how it goes but I’m hoping Factboi and Matthew can make it sting less!
And this why you absolutely NEVER let anyone else know how much you have, or any bank details.
I grew up and lived in Long Beach my whole life, used to eat at Echo's Pizza often and would spend time at El Dorado Park regularly too, lived about a mile from it. Crazy when one of these stories hits so close to home. 😮
Right? I wrote one script about a killer from my own city (Joel Guy Jr), but swore to never do it again because all the familiar locations freaked me out so much. I actually still shop at the Walmart where he purchased some of the cleaning supplies after the murders. I think about it almost every time I'm in there. It's wild.
@MatthewMarcum It really is crazy, I heard after I wrote my comment about where he threw the body parts and realized I used to fish near there as a kid. I also recently saw a video on That Chapter (also on TH-cam) about a childhood friend of mine and my brothers, Christopher McCallum, used to spend time at his house and knew his dad and him very well for almost 20 years, his wife murdered him... So crazy and sad 😢
Oh! I'm so sad Eccos closed. The pizza of my childhood. I seem to be the only family member that remembered about the body parts found in the Nature Center. Probably I was going to go and heard why it was closed.
These uploads are saving my fucking sanity this week.
I had to look up the question of how Dan knew Sam's PIN since it wasn't touched on here and was driving me nuts! Apparently Sam had either told it to Dan at some point previously or had looked over Sam's shoulder. He was planning the murder for quite some time, so he apparently used that time, in part, to find out the PIN.
Yeah, It’s been a few months since I wrote this script, but I think I remember reading a source that said Sam had given it to him. He obviously trusted him, which makes the murder all the worse.
@MatthewMarcum Yeah, I couldn't find anything concrete explaining how Dan got it, just that Sam trusted him and therefore must've given it to him at some point.
@@MatthewMarcum really does. You have to REALLY trust someone to give them your PIN. My parents and I have each others' but that's it.
I love that Simon doesn't watch MrBallen. I'll hear the start of a story, and know it, but I get to hear it greatly expanded upon.
I have been a true crime watcher for a loooooong time, but until he said that he killed Julie JUST to from him, I could not believe it. I kept thinking, "But why kill Julie? Maybe she caught him in the act?" No! He was just a asshole that KILLED A WOMAN TO FRAME SOMEONE! That hit me too hard.
i mean hypothetically, on paper it was the perfect plan to cover up his tracks. he actually did a good job planing out to make it look like Sam snapped killed Julie and ran. and this is why i find true crime so fascinating...in what other else can someone have a plan that's both genius and also incredibly stupid at the same time? idea was good but then also he thought he would just be able to use the debit card to withdrawal money without anybody noticing? It just amazes me how this entire plot was both genius and also stupid at the same time lol
Nice job Matt -I knew this case but you gave me new insight and did a great job 🎉
This is an absolutely -wonderful- perfect script
Happy holidays Simon. Looking forward to a new year with your informative and entertaining content!
I for one was startled and delighted to hear from the writer with an explanation of California's convoluted (and somewhat passive-aggressive) death penalty process. LOVE YA MATT!! SUBSCRIBED BRAH! ❤
Thanks!
I had to kinda spoil this for me to confirm that Sam wasn't the murderer and now I have that it saddens me that knowing I wanted him to not be the murderer meant essentially wanting the only real alternative to be the case and thats what I am watching Simon basically do now.
This is a particularly good episode. Well done.
Much appreciated!
Weird. I'm currently reading Red Platoon, about the "last stand" at COP Keating, by medal of honor recipient Clint Romesha.
Welcome back CasCrims
Hope everyone had a great Christmas / Happy Holidays. 😊🎁🎉
@1:00:05 @matthewmarcum, I'm not checking out your channel because I want to learn more about the darker stuff. I'm checking out your channel because I want to hear more of your voice.
Yeesssssss 🙌🏼
Imo the hour long video's are the best perfect length.
Props to Simon on the Schweinfurt pronaunciation i lived a couple streets over from the base for a while. Always slightly weird to hear places you personally kmow mentioned
I love that interlude giving clarification on the death penalty in California. I think it would be nice to have more of them to clarify factual matters.
This was such a tragic story. That they tried to smear this lovely young man’s name to boot!
Simon mistaking SoCal and NorCal is just hilarious.
I was definitely giggling. The earthquakes have, so far, allegedly, not moved. LA and SF to be neighbors.
Thank you!
1:04:00 sounds like she got off lucky. the way the limited evidence against her reads she was likely aware of the money scheme and potential murders beforehand if not activity involved woth the planning. Her fiance doesn't seem all that bright on his own.
This whole thing is so senseless but luring and murdering that poor girl simply to try and enhance the ridiculous story is so aggravating. What an absolute loser and scumbag.
Yeah, that part is crazy to me especially because if he hadn’t killed her, he probably would’ve gotten away with it. They wouldn’t started looking for Sam for days if not weeks, he’s a young dude they split without telling anyone sometimes
Normally, these don't get to me, but knowing he casually killed 2 people and tried to pin a murder/assault on his first victim, only to get $2000 to pay off a $500 loan is insane
5:15 - Chapter 1 - Sam & Julie
16:40 - Chapter 2 - Pizza time
24:40 - Chapter 3 - The performance of a lifetime
34:50 - Chapter 4 - The phonecall
39:55 - Chapter 5 - The final confession
46:10 - Chapter 6 - A surprise accomplice
53:35 - Chapter 7 - Rachel's time in the spotlight
57:25 - Chapter 8 - Court dates
1:04:10 - Chapter 9 - The fate of the death penalty
Yo, I was not expecting to see this on my feed today! I worked with Rachel, and she was a trip. Something always felt off with that one. I remember when news of the murders came forth and that Rachel may have been involved, nobody was surprised. Nobody was surprised about the Dr. Phil thing either. She was very about being in the spotlight.
Would have been great to speak with you before writing this 😅 Dan had a lot of people come forward to give interviews about him after his arrest but information about Rachel wasn’t as easy to track down.
Probably for the better haha
This was quite a while ago and I wouldn't be able to offer much more than old workplace gossip and personal bias based off the short time she was in my department
A Great story; well told!
1:05:51 the sound effect at the end cuts off
It's surreal to hear a Casual Criminalist episode set within a mile of where your family lives. I used to walk past the Pine Creek apartments every day on my way to class at OCC. I used to be in the jazz scene with friends in theater. Wild, really hits close to home.
Earliest I've ever been love your videos ❤
SPOILER ALERT: If you want to keep the reveal of Rachel being involved under wraps until late in the episode, you probably shouldn't introduce her with a mugshot.
Woo! Thank you Matt!
Whoa I don't think I've ever heard one of the writers audibly interject in one of these videos!
Honestly that police interview with Wozniak is a reminder that acting and lying are two very different skill sets, and just because someone is good at one doesn’t mean they’re any good at the other. When I was studying acting, the number of people who said “Well, I guess this means I can’t trust you, because you’re learning to lie…”
I’m good at acting, but am terrible at lying outside very specific contexts - such as games involving bluffing.
Simon, I’m sure others have said it, but San Francisco is about a 7 hour drive north from this case.
Lol yeah Cali is larger than most european countries.
Yay...thanks Simon!!
As a Long Beach native I found this very entertaining. Definitely not San Francisco lol, but Eldo park (El Dorado) is 10 minutes from my house and I’m fairly certain I know exactly which ATMs and Ecco’s pizza were referenced . Having said that I have never heard of this story
Simon is my favourite bald man on the internet.
To give you some perspective of distance, Amsterdam is closer to London than Costa Mesa is to San Francisco by almost 80 miles. And that's if you drive. As the crow flies Amsterdam is about 200 miles closer to London.
The second I saw those suspiciously flat-faced pictures of Dan and Rachel, I knew who did it. What can possibly go through your head to justify something so vicious?
Wozniak def wasnt crazy. He was lazy, entitled, selfish and a horrible person. He is alot of things but crazy, imo, was not one of them.
But what about the cringy joker laugh 🫠
@MatthewMarcum lol that's how he thought crazy should sound! At his core he was an actor. He was always putting on a performance. Just like when talking to the investigators- Is that what you want to hear??! Just so dramatic and performative lol He was calculated. But DEF super cringy!
I love that shirt, Whistle Boy!
the subtle middle fingers to the california legal system were the icing on the cake.
It’s very frustrating :)
Simon: "I don't want it to be Sam!"
Well, good news is it isn't.
Simon: "Yay!"
Bad news, he's also a victim.
Simon: "Dammit!"
Oh i like your voice matt!
1:00:00 EDITORS NOTE IS INCREDIBLE THANK YYOU EDITOR 💖
Defense lawyers want delay for the reason you see here-- life takes a toll on the prosecution's witnesses. Why would they care about "getting it done" when he's going to prison for the rest of his life? The longer yu delay, the more chance there is someone important to the case dies in a car crash, or gets cancer, or just drops dead one day.
This is absolutely correct. Long delays almost always favor the defense when evidence is this locked-in.
I’ll add some info about why defense attorneys delay to one of my future scripts.
@@MatthewMarcum Rather like insurance companies.
I think Simon is looking at it from a more European perspective, where if you know you're screwed, it's usually better to get it over with and be transferred to a proper prison than be stuck in jail for years.
Wow Matt's voice
44:50 - I give Simon a pass, for his bad Geography. Costa Mesa is, relatively, near Los Angeles, hundreds of miles away from San Francisco !
Yes, Manson was sentenced to death, but the state's supreme court declared the death penalty unconstitutional, as written. So Manson's sentence was commuted to life. In subsequent decades, a new death penalty law was written, and approved, by the state legislature, that DOES CONFORM to the state's constitution. Yes, recent governors, mostly Brown, and Newsome, have put executive pauses on carrying out those sentences. Also, life, without parole, became common, since.
Don't ever tell people how much money you have or anything of high value.
Reed Technique? So Oboes, Bassoons and Clarinets badly played at you until you confess?
Precisely.
One case I'd be curious to see covered here is the West Memphis 3 case. Beyond just the murders themselves, the investigation and trials and everything else that happened in the following years is absolutely crazy!
*Reid* technique. Developed by John E. Reid in 1947.
If one of the CC writers is looking for a case to cover, I strongly encourage you to look into the case of (Bharat Kalicharan)
👀
The audio cuts out at the end, this sucks because i sing along with the tune everytime. I will still watch, just make sure theres a jingle at the end pretty please with cherries on top
I wish they would bring back the OG intro to accompany the outro and chapter title interludes.
Two years after this guy was at command outpost keating a major battle happened, leading to two soldiers being awarded the medal of honor and a bunch of their brothers passing. I pray we never forget these warriors sacrifice.
And now their death sentences have been commuted...there is no justice in California.
Dunno those Californian jails are pretty hellish.
Nope. Not commuted.
There's a moratorium.
It is a weird feeling to have a sense of relief to find out that Sam was killed and not apart of the sexual assault.
Idk what Sam and Dans relationship is but he could’ve jus asked him for some money idk but Sam sounds like a dude who may have given him the money he may have needed. Jus sayin.
New drop. Just laid down and excited to watch.
Same.
I love that Simon thinks the Golden Gate Bridge is close to Orange County, CA
I needed this video today lol thank you simon and crew
The Outpost is an amazing movie about Keating.
Wow, 2 good people had to die because Dan lost his job and went off the deep end in a rather patheric way.
Oh shit, I live in Costa Mesa and have never heard of this!
Same!
I've heard this story told in a different order before and the fact that I can't find the video of it is driving me insane.