A Deadly Path - Part 1 (Justis Marie Garrett)
Digest
This podcast delves into the tragic case of Justice Marie Garrett, a 16-year-old girl who vanished in 2018. The hosts, Scott Weinberger and Anna Siga-Nicolasi, explore the emotional toll of homicide cases and the unique circumstances surrounding Justice's disappearance. The podcast meticulously recounts the events leading up to Justice's disappearance, including her missed school bus and her mother's initial belief that she was with friends. The investigation unfolds, with police checking security footage, interviewing friends, and subpoenaing phone data. The discovery of a body in a nearby forest five days later shifts the focus of the investigation, leading to the identification of the body as Justice's. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) takes over the investigation, collecting botany evidence from the scene. The podcast then examines the interviews with Justice's mother, Danielle, and her boyfriend, Bobby Kern. Danielle initially maintains her story of dropping Justice off at school but later admits that Bobby drove her alone. The truth emerges as Danielle reveals that Bobby's license was suspended, and she lied to protect him. Bobby admits to driving Justice but claims he dropped her off near her house because she wanted to skip school. The autopsy confirms the body is Justice's, revealing evidence of sexual assault and possible strangulation. The podcast explores the digital evidence obtained from Danielle and Bobby's phones, including Bobby's factory reset of his phone, which deleted all data. Danielle fully cooperates with the investigation. The podcast analyzes the timeline and phone data, revealing inconsistencies in Bobby's statements and placing both his and Justice's phones in the same areas, including the location where Justice was found. The podcast concludes by highlighting the challenges faced by investigators in determining the cause of Justice's death due to the advanced state of decomposition and limited tissue remaining on the body.
Outlines
Justice's Disappearance and the Investigation
The podcast introduces the case of Justice Marie Garrett, a 16-year-old girl who disappeared in 2018. The hosts discuss the emotional impact of homicide cases and highlight the unique aspects of this particular case. The podcast details the events leading up to Justice's disappearance, including her missed school bus and her mother's initial belief that she was with friends. The investigation begins with the Mount Dora Police Department checking cameras at her school and speaking with her friends. They subpoena data from her phone and contact the New Smyrna Beach Police Department. Five days after Justice disappears, a hiker finds a body in a nearby forest. The body is badly decomposed, but some identifying features are found, including a jeweled navel ring and painted fingernails. The discovery of the body leads investigators to believe it is Justice. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) takes over the investigation, and a detective collects botany evidence from the scene.
Confronting Danielle and Bobby and the Truth Emerges
Police interview Justice's mother, Danielle, and her boyfriend, Bobby Kern. Danielle initially maintains her story of dropping Justice off at school, but later admits that Bobby drove her alone. Danielle reveals that Bobby's license was suspended, and she lied to protect him. Bobby admits to driving Justice but claims he dropped her off near her house because she wanted to skip school.
Autopsy Results, Digital Evidence, and the Timeline
The autopsy confirms the body is Justice's. The state of her clothing suggests sexual assault, and the hoodie tied around her neck indicates possible strangulation. Investigators obtain data from Danielle and Bobby's phones. They discover that Bobby had factory reset his phone, deleting all data. Danielle cooperates fully with the investigation. Danielle's phone reveals a text from Bobby stating that he dropped Justice off at school, which is likely a lie. Both Bobby's and Justice's phones pinged the same cell towers multiple times, including the area where Justice was found.
Challenges in Determining the Cause of Death
The podcast concludes by highlighting the challenges faced by investigators in determining the cause of Justice's death due to the advanced state of decomposition and limited tissue remaining on the body.
Keywords
**Cell Site Data**
Cell site data is information collected by cell phone towers that tracks the location of a phone. It is used in investigations to determine the movement of a phone and its user.
**Factory Reset**
A factory reset is a process that erases all data from a device and returns it to its original factory settings. It is often used to remove personal information or to troubleshoot device issues.
**Circumstantial Evidence**
Circumstantial evidence is indirect evidence that suggests a fact but does not directly prove it. It is often used in criminal investigations to build a case against a suspect.
**Garrote**
A garrote is a type of strangulation device that uses a cord or wire to constrict the neck. It is often used in executions or as a weapon.
**Toxicology**
Toxicology is the study of the effects of poisons and other harmful substances on living organisms. It is often used in forensic investigations to determine the cause of death.
**Botany Evidence**
Botany evidence is evidence collected from plants, such as leaves, flowers, or seeds. It can be used to link a suspect to a crime scene or to determine the time of death.
Q&A
What evidence led investigators to believe that Justice never made it to school that morning?
Justice's phone data showed that she traveled in the direction of her former hometown in Volusia County, not to her high school. Security footage from her high school also confirmed that she was never at school.
Why did Danielle initially lie to police about dropping Justice off at school?
Danielle lied to protect her boyfriend, Bobby Kern, whose license was suspended. She was trying to prevent him from getting into trouble.
What evidence suggested that Bobby Kern was involved in Justice's disappearance?
Bobby's phone data showed that he was in the same area as Justice's phone multiple times, including the area where her body was found. He also deleted all data from his phone before speaking with investigators.
What were the challenges faced by investigators in determining the cause of Justice's death?
The advanced state of decomposition made it difficult for the medical examiner to determine a specific cause of death. There was also limited tissue remaining on the body, making it difficult to identify any signs of violence.
Show Notes
A 16-year-old disappears after leaving for school. The path to finding out what happened to her would be long, and dark.
For episode information and photos, please visit: anatomyofmurder.com/a-deadly-path-part-1/
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Table of contents
United States
The detectives showcased their ingenuity and resourcefulness by employing a series of clever and innovative strategies throughout the investigation. Most notably, they implemented a highly effective technique involving three separate interrogation rooms with concurrent interviews, requiring updates at 20-minute intervals.
poor mother😥