Legal Analyst

And ultimately, I think with their conclusions being that the injuries to John O'Keefe were not consistent with being struck by a car and damage to the car were not consistent with hitting a pedestrian. I thought that was just an incredible way to sort of end the trial, calling up two witnesses they've never spoken to before and learning in real time what their conclusions were.

And ultimately, I think with their conclusions being that the injuries to John O'Keefe were not consistent with being struck by a car and damage to the car were not consistent with hitting a pedestrian. I thought that was just an incredible way to sort of end the trial, calling up two witnesses they've never spoken to before and learning in real time what their conclusions were.

The jury is kind of a reflection of

The jury is kind of a reflection of

kind of the world looking at this case and to use the words of the jury they were starkly divided and we've seen that all over the internet we've seen that you know in the courtroom we've seen it basically everywhere so if anything it was just a reminder this isn't clear-cut this is by no means a simple case and i think what a lot of people comment on of course is just

kind of the world looking at this case and to use the words of the jury they were starkly divided and we've seen that all over the internet we've seen that you know in the courtroom we've seen it basically everywhere so if anything it was just a reminder this isn't clear-cut this is by no means a simple case and i think what a lot of people comment on of course is just

The strategy of the defense and the way that the prosecution took six or so weeks to present their case, the defense was very aggressive during those weeks. And then for them to only call six witnesses and to end in a mistrial, it's just a confirmation of just how complicated this case is.

The strategy of the defense and the way that the prosecution took six or so weeks to present their case, the defense was very aggressive during those weeks. And then for them to only call six witnesses and to end in a mistrial, it's just a confirmation of just how complicated this case is.

This podcast explores themes of violence and death and contains harsh language. Courtroom testimony has been edited for clarity and time. Please listen with care.

This podcast explores themes of violence and death and contains harsh language. Courtroom testimony has been edited for clarity and time. Please listen with care.

The Odinist theory, that Odinists were ritually sacrificing two young white girls to Odin, that was a baffling idea. Will he be convicted or will he walk free?

The Odinist theory, that Odinists were ritually sacrificing two young white girls to Odin, that was a baffling idea. Will he be convicted or will he walk free?

My first response to that was, I was sort of baffled by that.

My first response to that was, I was sort of baffled by that.

It's not surprising that there are groups of Odinists proliferating sort of in that Midwest area. These are people who had worshiped the gods Odin and Thor, which most people know from the Marvel universe. I would see Odinism more as a social political movement that is concerned with changing America into a nation controlled by white people and white supremacy.

It's not surprising that there are groups of Odinists proliferating sort of in that Midwest area. These are people who had worshiped the gods Odin and Thor, which most people know from the Marvel universe. I would see Odinism more as a social political movement that is concerned with changing America into a nation controlled by white people and white supremacy.

So runes are widely incorporated into our Odinist culture as well. So if there were runes in the crime scene, then that would be a reason to suspect pagan or Odinist involvement. So for instance, the sticks over the body, possibly a rune mark on a tree. It's not convincing to me as someone who studied these religions, but it provides an interpretation of some of the details of the crime scene.

So runes are widely incorporated into our Odinist culture as well. So if there were runes in the crime scene, then that would be a reason to suspect pagan or Odinist involvement. So for instance, the sticks over the body, possibly a rune mark on a tree. It's not convincing to me as someone who studied these religions, but it provides an interpretation of some of the details of the crime scene.

At no point have we really seen the idea of ritual human sacrifice. This did not make any sense to me at all.

At no point have we really seen the idea of ritual human sacrifice. This did not make any sense to me at all.