Beth Shelburne

Callie says that when officers give informants attention, call them by their given name.

That's powerful for people who are otherwise ignored.

Callie holds compassion for Yolanda, a grace that didn't seem to be extended to her by law enforcement or the court system.

Yolanda Chambers was most valuable to law enforcement when she was traumatized.

I think this is something Detective Tony Richardson realizes, too.

What do you wish you would have done differently with her?

In the years following Hardy's murder, and for the rest of Yolanda's life, she didn't talk with her mom much about the case.

But there was one thing Rosa says Yolanda told her consistently over the years.

She said he didn't even do it.

So Taforis Johnson is the one.

He's still in prison.

Uh-huh, but she said he wasn't the one that did it.

Wow.

Next time, the overlooked clues and lost leads.

We investigate the investigation into Deputy Hardy's murder and what detectives miss while they fixate on Yolanda.

Ear Witness is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Company No.

1.

Executive producers are Jason Flom, Jeff Kempler, Kevin Wardus, and me, Beth Shelburne.

The investigative reporting for this series was done by me and Mara McNamara.

Producers are Mara McNamara, Hannah Beal, and Jackie Pauley.