Chris Walker

Hey listeners, a note of caution that this episode contains mentions of suicide. Please listen with care. Previously on Blood Vines.

Hey listeners, a note of caution that this episode contains mentions of suicide. Please listen with care. Previously on Blood Vines.

In March of 1991, exactly two months after Jack's murder, two typewritten letters arrived at Stockton's main courthouse. Both were addressed to the county's assistant district attorney and might as well have been yanked from the pages of a pulpy crime novel. They were creepy. Unhinged. The first letter, which was anonymous, read...

In March of 1991, exactly two months after Jack's murder, two typewritten letters arrived at Stockton's main courthouse. Both were addressed to the county's assistant district attorney and might as well have been yanked from the pages of a pulpy crime novel. They were creepy. Unhinged. The first letter, which was anonymous, read...

12 exclamation points punctuated that last sentence. As for the other letter, it contained only a single typewritten line.

12 exclamation points punctuated that last sentence. As for the other letter, it contained only a single typewritten line.

It was signed Joan, spelled J-O-A-N-N. So Sergeants Williams and Capron naturally asked Joanna Licciardi if the letter had come from her.

It was signed Joan, spelled J-O-A-N-N. So Sergeants Williams and Capron naturally asked Joanna Licciardi if the letter had come from her.

But the envelope also contained a second piece of paper, a copy of the Article of Incorporation for Corvette Company 1. And while it was common knowledge that Jack and Robert had formed a new company to cut Michael out, only a handful of people would have had access to that document.

But the envelope also contained a second piece of paper, a copy of the Article of Incorporation for Corvette Company 1. And while it was common knowledge that Jack and Robert had formed a new company to cut Michael out, only a handful of people would have had access to that document.

So rather than focusing the cops' attention on Michael, the letters instead turned their gaze towards another suspect, one who had that kind of access and whose name was coming up increasingly in their interviews, Jack's other son, Robert Licciardi.

So rather than focusing the cops' attention on Michael, the letters instead turned their gaze towards another suspect, one who had that kind of access and whose name was coming up increasingly in their interviews, Jack's other son, Robert Licciardi.

It hadn't escaped the detective's notice that he'd been acting suspiciously throughout their investigation, even during the time they'd been focused on the neighbor, Albert. Why couldn't Robert be bothered to come down to the station and help them identify the gun they'd recovered? And on the morning of the murder, why hadn't he tried to resuscitate his father upon finding him unconscious?

It hadn't escaped the detective's notice that he'd been acting suspiciously throughout their investigation, even during the time they'd been focused on the neighbor, Albert. Why couldn't Robert be bothered to come down to the station and help them identify the gun they'd recovered? And on the morning of the murder, why hadn't he tried to resuscitate his father upon finding him unconscious?

Was it really because of what Robert said?

Was it really because of what Robert said?

Plus, Robert said he'd left his father around midnight, which fell within the murder window, and his alibi after that was pretty flimsy. He said that he and his wife Annette had gone to sleep after he got home, but Robert could have easily crossed back over to his parents' house at any time, even without waking his wife.

Plus, Robert said he'd left his father around midnight, which fell within the murder window, and his alibi after that was pretty flimsy. He said that he and his wife Annette had gone to sleep after he got home, but Robert could have easily crossed back over to his parents' house at any time, even without waking his wife.

And finally, Robert had gained sole control of the brokerage and considerable financial power now that his father was out of the picture. In the detectives' eyes, all of this seemed extremely sketchy.

And finally, Robert had gained sole control of the brokerage and considerable financial power now that his father was out of the picture. In the detectives' eyes, all of this seemed extremely sketchy.