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Beyond All Repair

Beyond All Repair

Author: WBUR

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Imagine you're accused of something horrific. You swear you didn't do it, but someone says they witnessed it: your own brother. Sophia Johnson was newly married with a baby on the way when she became the prime suspect in her mother-in-law's brutal murder. WBUR's Amory Sivertson reexamines a case unsolved, a family torn apart, and the woman who wasn't believed.
25 Episodes
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Comments (41)

ZenMommaK

@MichB and @Megan - it is sad that there are so many people in the world who have as little compassion for others. Jake admitted his crime. He did his time, and then some Our justice system is based on crime, punishment, and reform. It is not a system of crime, punishment, and revenge. My youngest cousin was shot in the head by a 13 year old who never saw the inside of a jail since his grandfather was a circuit court judge. That is true injustice. sit with that for 30 years. It's a bitter cup.

Dec 4th
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ZenMommaK

Amory Sivertson, you are a gifted investigator and storyteller. This case is an unbelievably fever-piched, chaotic mind melt. Thank You for sharing your gift of laying out the case step by step and trying to pick apart the dreadlocks of the variations of truth. Though you seemed as unsatisfied as I felt at the end, you did all that you could to shed light on the darkness of a family raised in the blackest night of tyranny.

Dec 4th
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Falconer

I was hoping he'd stay in prison. he's clearly seriously mentally ill and a cold-blooded killer. he should never get out.

Aug 16th
Reply (1)

Mona Peterson

I just finished the latest episode of Beyond All Repair, and I’m thoroughly impressed! The depth of insight and the thoughtful exploration of each topic are truly commendable. The hosts have a knack for breaking down complex subjects into engaging and digestible content. I especially appreciated the balanced perspectives and the way they invite listeners to think critically. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kevin-sizemore

Aug 2nd
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Apple Betty

That father is Evil- the way he speaks when he leaves messages on her answering machine. He’s probably the one who did it.

Jul 29th
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Art 34

Tried 3 episodes, and couldn’t finish. Only worried about the guy who stabbed a person in cold blood and his family because of “racism”. He may be where he is bc of the killing another person thing, not racism. Also goes at the victims family. Mitigates the killers crime and victim blames because of skin color. Nothing more. Disgusting.

Jun 29th
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Yvonne villanueca

I couldn’t finish this podcast because it seems like you are coddling the killer and almost attacking the victim’s family every chance you get. I wonder how you would feel if this had happened to you. They lost their son and all you can do is criticize them. That’s why we have so many criminals because they are not treated as such. Pray to God this doesn’t happen to you. You must live in a sanctuary state or city. Guess you all haven’t learned from their failed policies.

Jun 20th
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Greg P

Great podcast. Great journalism. hope to hear more from you.

Jun 14th
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Megan

so disappointed in the detective and his tunnel vision. did not expect this from the guy who did great work on the Jefferson case. dude probably resents Sophia because she did not confess for him, to something she did not do. cannot believe this one time this hero cop decided to be an incompetent %^&*. cannot believe he chose to listen to a thieving lying druggie.

Jun 13th
Reply (1)

AliQ

This is as far as I could handle listening. Not sure if this podcast is about the inefficiency and incompetence in parole boards, or a sob song for someone who has used every last social hot button excuse for his actions. Further , the podcast runs off into a direction of mooning over a mediocre at best “celebrated author” who also leans on a fantastical version of a hard knocks life as a crutch. And really ? REALLY? “Dr. “ DeSoto? Why not a podcast on ALL of her conflicts of interest?

Jun 3rd
Reply (1)

reza Kalantari

very good 👍

May 21st
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Nick March Hare

This was a very engaging, interesting, confusing, and fun series! Thank you very much for your hard work putting it together for us the listener.

May 11th
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Megan

the injustice here is not that some inmates do have to serve their full sentences, and do not get out early. it is that murderers and rapists get paroled. the consequences are more severe than one of these parole board jokers losing his/her job. the lives of murder victims are devalued, and potential future victims' lives are gambled with. just abolish the damn thing for certain crimes.

May 7th
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Megan

I can see why the murdered boy's parents did not want to participate in this podcast, much less speak to this reporter. it is pretty clear what they would have been walking into if they had. I am uncomfortable with being led to reframe the perpetrator as the victim. there better be a damn good reason for this path, besides being intellectually or otherwise enamored with the murderers father.

May 7th
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Megan

if we are going to talk about a human life as if it is a "debt", well some debts cannot be repayed.

May 7th
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Tony Lovell

The team putting together this podcast is very talented. It's a shame that they found such a terrible story to follow. It is impossible to believe any single vantage point. Some might think this makes for an interesting story, but I just find it maddening.

May 2nd
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Selina Jahan Sathi

⭕𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛➤𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗟𝗢𝗔𝗗➤𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘➤👉https://www.justhd.online

Apr 19th
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Tony Lovell

Shawn (sp?) is the less credible of the two. His story is constantly evolving, and he always creates an "out" for himself. He says in one moment that he saw his sister with murder weapon; b hand, and THEN, there's also a shadow he's never before provably mentioned. a shadow - in a glass A-Frame - in the middle of the day.

Apr 18th
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Tony Lovell

I feel this jumped the shark in EP7.

Apr 11th
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Tony Lovell

Re: the detective saying she sounded phony in her interview. I found her phone conversation with her brother, when she was less on guard. supremely believable. Her brother is either simply insane, or he did this by himself.

Apr 8th
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