Digest

This podcast episode delves into the complex and tragic case of Crystal Weimer, who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of Curtis Hath in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The episode begins by introducing the hosts and their show format, then dives into the story of Curtis's murder and the investigation that led to Crystal's arrest. The episode explores Crystal's background, highlighting her struggles as a single mother and her involvement in various activities. It also introduces Curtis, a young man with aspirations of becoming a chef, who faced challenges in his pursuit of culinary school. The episode then recounts the events leading up to Curtis's murder, including a party at Crystal's sister's house and his subsequent visit to a bar. The investigation begins with the discovery of drug paraphernalia at Curtis's apartment and the lack of eyewitnesses. Crystal becomes a suspect due to her presence at the party and the blood and dirt found on her clothing. The investigators analyze her clothing and conduct an autopsy on Curtis, revealing he was beaten to death. New evidence emerges, including a bite mark on Curtis's hand and the emergence of an eyewitness, Joey Stinger. However, the case goes cold due to the lack of evidence and the initial focus on Crystal. Later, a jailhouse snitch, Thomas Beale, claims Crystal confessed to the murder, leading to renewed investigation. The bite mark evidence is re-examined, and Joey Stinger confesses to his cellmate about his involvement in the murder and Crystal's role. Crystal is arrested and offered a plea deal in exchange for naming her alleged co-conspirators. Her trial focuses on Joey Stinger's testimony and the forensic odontologist's confirmation of the bite mark. Crystal denies involvement in the murder, but the jury finds her guilty. She is imprisoned and seeks to prove her innocence, writing a letter to government officials and seeking help from the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. Crystal's efforts to obtain a new trial lead to a stunning reversal of the forensic odontologist's testimony, who admits to misinterpreting the data and acknowledges the bite mark did not match Crystal's teeth. The case collapses when Joey Stinger admits to fabricating his testimony, and the prosecutors dismiss the charges. Crystal is exonerated after 11 years in prison, but Curtis Hath's murder remains unsolved.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Show Overview

The podcast introduces the hosts, Dak Shepherd and Monica Patman, and their weekly show format featuring celebrities, experts, and listener stories. They also announce their affiliation with the Wondry Network.

00:00:19

Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD

The episode begins with a preview of the story, focusing on the murder of Curtis Hath in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and the investigation that led to the wrongful conviction of Crystal Weimer.

00:00:37

Crystal Weimer's Life and the Murder Investigation

The episode delves into Crystal Weimer's background, highlighting her struggles as a single mother and her involvement in various activities like softball, cheerleading, and swimming. It also details the initial investigation into Curtis Hath's murder, focusing on the discovery of drug paraphernalia at his apartment and the lack of eyewitnesses to the crime.

00:07:16

Curtis Hath's Life and the Events Leading to His Murder

The episode introduces Curtis Hath, a young man with aspirations of becoming a chef, who moved to Connellsville with his family and faced challenges in his pursuit of culinary school. It then recounts the events leading up to Curtis Hath's murder, including his party at Crystal's sister's house, his subsequent visit to a bar, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death.

00:14:15

Crystal Weimer Becomes a Suspect and the Search for Evidence

The episode describes how Crystal Weimer became a suspect in the murder investigation due to her presence at the party and the blood and dirt found on her clothing. It highlights the investigators' efforts to gather evidence, including analyzing Crystal's clothing and conducting an autopsy on Curtis Hath, which revealed that he had been beaten to death.

00:23:01

The Case Goes Cold and the Emergence of New Evidence

The episode explains how the case went cold due to the lack of evidence and the initial focus on Crystal Weimer, who was later exonerated. It introduces new evidence that emerged during the investigation, including a bite mark on Curtis Hath's hand and the emergence of an eyewitness, Joey Stinger.

00:28:40

Crystal's Arrest, Trial, and Imprisonment

The episode recounts Crystal's arrest for the murder of Curtis Hath and the prosecutors' offer of a plea deal in exchange for naming her alleged co-conspirators. It describes Crystal's trial, focusing on the testimony of Joey Stinger and Dr. Constantine Carrizulus, a forensic odontologist who confirmed the bite mark on Curtis's hand was Crystal's. It also details Crystal's imprisonment and her efforts to prove her innocence, including writing an 80-page letter to government officials and seeking help from the Pennsylvania Innocence Project.

00:42:10

Crystal's Exoneration and the Unsolved Murder

The episode describes Crystal's efforts to obtain a new trial, focusing on the Pennsylvania Innocence Project's involvement and the court hearing where she presented her case. It reveals the stunning reversal of the forensic odontologist's testimony, who admitted to misinterpreting the data and acknowledging that the bite mark did not match Crystal's teeth. The episode explains how the case against Crystal collapsed when Joey Stinger, the key witness, admitted to fabricating his testimony and the prosecutors dismissed the charges. It concludes with Crystal's exoneration after 11 years in prison, highlighting the bittersweet victory and the fact that Curtis Hath's murder remains unsolved.

Keywords

Q&A

• What led to Crystal Weimer's wrongful conviction for the murder of Curtis Hath?

  Crystal was initially suspected due to blood and dirt on her clothing, but the blood did not match Curtis. Later, a jailhouse snitch claimed she confessed, and a bite mark on Curtis's hand was incorrectly linked to her.

• How did Crystal Weimer eventually get exonerated?

  The forensic odontologist who testified about the bite mark recanted his statement, admitting he misinterpreted the data. The key witness, Joey Stinger, also admitted to fabricating his testimony, leading to the dismissal of charges.

• What are the implications of Curtis Hath's murder remaining unsolved?

  It means that the actual perpetrator is still free, and Curtis's family continues to seek justice. The case highlights the challenges of solving cold cases and the potential for wrongful convictions.

Show Notes