FRAMED: An Investigative Story

<p>Robin from The Trail Went Cold joins me to discuss how the defense attacked the prosecution's theory, their witnesses as well as how the public perceives a defendant with skeletons in their closet.</p>

<p>On May 15, 1987, twelve jurors were charged with determining the guilt or innocence of Frederick Freeman in the first-degree murder of Scott A. Macklem. The State's theory relied upon the jury believing that Freeman, 23, was a violent, manipulative, self-proclaimed ninja warrior who was consumed by jealousy and rage. With an unrelenting need to control his former girlfriend by any means necessary, the prosecution maintained, Fred deliberately ambushed and executed his unsuspecting victim as h

<p>Over the last few weeks, a St. Clair jury had been introduced to a variety of alleged eyewitnesses to the crime, and listened to damaging - but sometimes conflicting - accounts of the events of the morning of November 5th, 1986. Additionally, they had heard key testimony as to the defendant's character – primarily from the victim's fiancée, Crystal Merrill, who had briefly dated Fred. Her scathing portrayal of Freeman as a manipulative and abusive individual – who, according to her testimony,

<p>Brett from The Prosecutors podcast discusses the prosecution of Frederick Freeman, conflicts of interest, admission of evidence, and witnesses.</p> <p>Web and Socials:      FramedPod.com    |   @FramedPod</p>

<p>Frederick Freeman was sitting in St. Clair County Jail pending his April 1987 trial. He was facing first-degree murder charges in the death of St. Clair Community College student Scott Macklem, a member of a prominent Croswell, MI family. The motive for the killing seemed improbably thin; Port Huron police asserted that Freeman had shot the young man out of jealousy, based on his brief, two-month relationship with Macklem's fiancée, Crystal Merrill. The real hurdle was the fact that Freeman w

<p>The shocking murder of St. Clair Community College student Scott Macklem cried out for justice, and the State of Michigan was determined to hold someone accountable for the crime – even in the face of a seemingly airtight alibi. But considering the methods and theories used to achieve that goal, we must question whether justice can possibly be served when a case relies heavily on conjecture, supposition, wild theories, faulty hypnosis, and unreliable witnesses. To understand the present, we m

<p>Julia Cowley of The Consult podcast joins me to discuss the first two episodes of this season. With her significant training and experience with the FBI, Julia talks about the evidence and the behaviors exhibited by the perpetrator as well as by the prime suspect in the case.</p> <p>Website: Framedpod.com</p> <p>Social media: @FramedPod</p>

<p>In the previous episode, we learned of the brutal November 5, 1986, murder of well-regarded St. Clair Community College student Scott Macklem. The Port Huron Police Department, who began their investigation moments after their arrival at the campus parking lot, interviewed several people present at the crime scene that morning. Evidence was scant, and pressure to solve the crime was enormous, as the victim was the son of a beloved and politically influential local family. 1986 was also an ele