Episode 1: Thunderstorm (Prologue)

03/31/22 • 22 min

You may remember the Terri Schiavo case as a bitter public feud over a severely disabled woman’s right to die...or right to live. As Terri’s husband, Michael Schiavo, sought to end her life, the case ignited a national firestorm that pulled in Congress, the American president, and even the Pope.

By March 18, 2005, Terri had lived alone in a dark, tiny hospice room for four years. That morning, she was sitting up in a chair, unhooked to machines of any kind. Her aunt and sister were visiting. As Terri listened to them talk, she smiled. She had no idea that the State of Florida was about to dehydrate her to death.

This episode was updated/remastered March 2025.

This episode was updated/remastered March 2025.

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Lawless Trailer

By the spring of 2005, a severely disabled Florida woman named Terri Schiavo had lived in a dark, tiny hospice room for four years. On the morning of March 18, Terri was sitting up in a chair, unhooked to machines of any kind. Her aunt and sister were visiting. As Terri listened to them talk, she was smiling. She had no idea that the State of Florida was about to dehydrate her to death. Lawless is a true crime podcast that examines a frightening fact of American life: That not every crime is against the law. Season 1 investigates a story that in 2005 riveted the world: the case of Terri Schiavo, a brain-injured woman whose husband and parents fought a bitter legal war over Terri’s right to die, or.... right to live.

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Episode 2: Ballerina

Terri Schiavo was 26 years old when she suffered a brain injury in her apartment just before dawn. She had no significant medical history. No known health concerns.

But when the sun rose that day in 1990, doctors weren’t sure if Terri would live another 24 hours. And no one knew what had happened.

Everyone was looking for answers. Terri’s husband, Michael. Her family. The doctors. Even the police. Because something didn’t add up. After all, a perfectly healthy 26 year old doesn’t collapse for no reason.

This episode was updated/remastered March 2025.