Rosanne Boyland hated politics. She was shy, and she rarely left her home in Georgia. But then her family got a shocking call: Rosanne had died at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in the middle of a crowd trying to force its way past a police line. From the depths of their grief, the Boylands vow to figure out what happened to Rosanne. Her brother-in-law, Justin Cave, reaches out to an old high school friend he hopes can help: MSNBC journalist Ayman Mohyeldin. The quest for the truth takes Ayman back to his hometown of Kennesaw, Georgia, where he retraces the last six months of Rosanne's life and picks up a trail that leads to childhood haunts, missing boyfriends, and down shadowy internet rabbit holes. American Radical launches December 5, wherever you get your podcasts.
Three days after Rosanne Boyland dies at the Capitol riot, host Ayman Mohyeldin gets a message from an old high school friend, Justin Cave. Justin tells Ayman that he’s Rosanne’s brother-in-law, and says the family believes she was radicalized in just a few months. Now they want to know how it happened—and they ask Ayman for help.
The Boylands’ questions about Rosanne’s radicalization begin to swirl around one man: the friend Rosanne went to the Capitol with, Justin Winchell. He’s a guy the family never met—and now, he’s vanished. Acting on a tip, Justin Cave sets out to track him down in downtown Atlanta, and Ayman visits with the last journalist to interview Winchell before he disappeared.
Rosanne had always loved conspiracy theories, but her sister Lonna says there was one single night where she changed from hobbyist to hard-core QAnon believer. Ayman follows the trail of YouTube videos that led her down her final rabbit hole—and learns why so many others bought into the same myth.
Rosanne’s official autopsy report leaves more questions than answers. Lonna, skeptical of the results, starts an investigation of her own. Meanwhile, an old friend named Sarah shares stories that cast a different light on Rosanne’s final months. With the cause of Rosanne’s death so hotly debated, seasoned medical examiners weigh in on the details.
The investigation into January 6 grabs the spotlight on Capitol Hill. An alternative news site begins to investigate Rosanne’s death, and Lonna suddenly regrets giving them an interview. Members of Congress take up the call and ask whether Rosanne was killed by police. The search for Justin Winchell takes one last turn.
Jenn Korolewski
skips at 21:13 like a chuck is missing
ID22659114
I think Roseanne died of a heart attack. That must be the only logical reason. She was overweight, had high blood pressure, the stressful situation that must had added up to something. That explains how she fell over. Her heart gave out when she was climbing up the steps, she slowed down and some loser pushed her over on to ground. She was still alive on the ground but her heart gave out. With more people polling on top of her, she couldn’t get up to get help. Trapped underneath the pile her heart attack killed her. I mean a dead body would not have any bruises after death.
Mark S
Sad story. I feel bad for her loss and the pain her family is feeling. But they're worst fears are being realized about Roseanne's legacy. She fell for Qanon BS conspiracy stuff and became a supporter of a dictator wannabe. No matter how hard the family tries, she will be remembered as a Jan 6 rioter. Sorry, but she was where she should not have been taking part in something she should not have been doing.
Kimica Z
The Capitol Police were literally fighting for their lives. They were badly outnumbered, and several officers died as a result of the fighting that day. Many others are still battling both physical and psychological trauma a year later. You can't really blame them for doing their job and fighting back against a terrorist insurrection... The ones to blame for Roseanne's death are the insurrection organizers.
Philly Burbs
call HBO, showtime or Netflix sale this before someone steals it.