EPISODE 4: The Dirt on the Garden State

05/10/22 • 24 min

3 Listeners

Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

After it becomes clear the Somerset county prosecutor’s office couldn’t have done a worse job (unless their goal was to destroy the crime scene), some 200 prominent citizens send a letter to the state attorney general asking for his office to intervene in the investigation. Despite the letter signed by the biggest names in New Jersey legal circles—including two former attorneys general and three former governors—the attorney general never gets involved. The quest to find out why takes us through a brief history of problems in New Jersey's criminal justice system.

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EPISODE 3: A Bloody Fingerprint, A Bent Fire Poker, and Mystery DNA

The knife used to kill John Sheridan is just the first of many clues casting doubt on law enforcement’s conclusion of murder suicide. A newspaper crime reporter, a veteran homicide detective out of Philly, and a whistleblower point to significant pieces of evidence that have been disregarded—even thrown into a dumpster. Although Mark has the state attorney general and the county prosecutor on direct dial, he still gets stonewalled. The authorities assure the political insider that his parents had a dark secret, which will eventually come to light. Mark isn’t convinced. Instead, as he goes through his parent’s papers, he stumbles into a different fight.

New voices interviewed in episode:

• Barbara Boyer, reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer

• Eddie Rocks, veteran homicide detective, retired from the Philadelphia police.

• Lawrence Kobilinski, professor emeritus, department of sciences at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York

• Professor Keith Taylor, professor, Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (and a former NYPD detective)

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EPISODE 5: New Jersey’s Other Boss

John Sheridan’s decision to go work at Cooper University Hospital came at a curious time. It was just months after news about the Palmyra tapes came out. The tapes caught George Norcross bullying and offering a favor to a small town official; they are a rare instance where evidence emerged of the rough and tumble side to the south Jersey political machine. An email shows Norcross' control over the state legislature and city council members in Camden explain what it means to be a "yes yes" person.

• Kelly Francis, union organizer and Camden activist

• Kevin Riordan, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter who has covered south Jersey off and on for the past 45 years

• Micah Rasmussen, director of Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Ryder University

• Tom Knoche, lecturer at Rutgers University in Camden

• Matt Katz, reporter at WNYC

• Shaneka Boucher, Camden City Councilwoman

• Marilyn Torres, Camden City Councilwoman

• Jeffrey Brenner, doctor who worked and lived in Camden during its worst years