Unspeakable: A True Crime Podcast By Kelly Jennings · Envision Podcast Productions

Preview Crime Wire Weekly 3/20/26 | Melanie Curtin Verdict, Flamingo Assaults and Tarantula Toss

·30 min·2 clips

A teenager used MMA takedowns, elbows, and a rear-naked choke to stop a man carrying an ax.

1. CrimeWire Weekly on March 20, 2026 centers on a Louisiana retrial, a Tennessee identity-theft arrest, a Florida car-wash assault, and updates from Georgia and Utah. 2. Jim Chapman and Kelly Jennings host the show, and their local reporting matters because they describe watching the Livingston Parish trial themselves. 3. The episode asks whether recent court outcomes in Louisiana, Georgia, Utah, Tennessee, and Florida match the facts presented in each case. 4. In Livingston Parish, a March 17, 2026 jury found Melanie Carton not guilty on simple rape and video voyeurism after an eight-day retrial. 5. Kelly Jennings says the 12-person jury deliberated about three hours and Carton faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted. 6. The defense argued that Carton was one of Dennis Perkins’ victims and that his pattern included telling partners to pretend to be asleep. 7. The prosecution said the 18-minute video showed non-consensual acts and was played twice for jurors with the courtroom cleared. 8. Erin Moore from the Louisiana AG’s office said she disagreed with the verdict but respected the jury’s decision. 9. Attorney General Liz Murrell criticized earlier rulings, described the outcome as a grave disappointment, and said the victim endured horrific abuse. 10. Jennings and Chapman spend much of the segment debating media coverage, public opinion, and why they believed the jury needed proof beyond a reasonable doubt. 11. They emphasize that Carton’s first trial led to a life sentence before the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal overturned it in 2023. 12. The hosts repeatedly note that Carton did not testify and that the defense called only one witness for roughly 13 minutes. 13. Their discussion also highlights how online reaction and courthouse spectatorship can shape perceptions before a case is fully heard. 14. The Tennessee segment focuses on Emily, who goes by Emma Berger, and her March 11 post in the Facebook group Uncensored Voices of Monroe County. 15. Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones says the post exposed Mitchell Cook’s full name, date of birth, driver’s license number, and Social Security number. 16. Jennings and Chapman question why some courtroom documents appear on national television while Berger was charged after posting an unredacted warrant. 17. The tone is conversational, opinionated, and news-driven, with both hosts often pausing to react to each other’s impressions. 18. The format mixes case summaries with commentary, personal court observations, and short factual updates from several states. 19. Listeners who follow local true crime, trials, and criminal procedure will get the most value. 20. Listeners wanting a single-issue deep dive without side commentary may want to skip it.

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