Soledad O'Brien

And yet, this is where a woman's life ended, and where Dovey returned to again and again in the months following Mary's murder to unlock clues that might save Ray Crump's life. In July of 1965, the time had come for Dovey to give everything she had to convince the jury that Ray was innocent.

And yet, this is where a woman's life ended, and where Dovey returned to again and again in the months following Mary's murder to unlock clues that might save Ray Crump's life. In July of 1965, the time had come for Dovey to give everything she had to convince the jury that Ray was innocent.

From Luminary, Film Nation Entertainment, and Neon Hum Media, this is Murder on the Towpath, a story of two incredible women who never met, but whose lives became forever intertwined by tragedy. I'm your host, Soledad O'Brien. This episode, we take you to the courtroom, where we finally hear about Ray's trial.

From Luminary, Film Nation Entertainment, and Neon Hum Media, this is Murder on the Towpath, a story of two incredible women who never met, but whose lives became forever intertwined by tragedy. I'm your host, Soledad O'Brien. This episode, we take you to the courtroom, where we finally hear about Ray's trial.

Those major victories were exciting.

Those major victories were exciting.

It would take longer for white people to consider black people their equals. Many people still don't. Dovey felt the weight of all of this. It was the weight of defending Ray in a society that devalued Black men. But it was also the weight that she felt whenever she entered a courtroom.

It would take longer for white people to consider black people their equals. Many people still don't. Dovey felt the weight of all of this. It was the weight of defending Ray in a society that devalued Black men. But it was also the weight that she felt whenever she entered a courtroom.

A year before the trial, the D.C. Bar Association actually protested her membership. The all-white group didn't like a black woman in their midst. Some board members even resigned over Dovey. So while she was fighting for justice for Ray, Dovey also had to fight for herself. She carried all of this with her that morning as she walked into the D.C. Circuit Court on July 20th, 1965.

A year before the trial, the D.C. Bar Association actually protested her membership. The all-white group didn't like a black woman in their midst. Some board members even resigned over Dovey. So while she was fighting for justice for Ray, Dovey also had to fight for herself. She carried all of this with her that morning as she walked into the D.C. Circuit Court on July 20th, 1965.

People wanted her to fail.

People wanted her to fail.

I'm Soledad O'Brien, and on my podcast, Murder on the Towpath, I'm taking you back to the 1960s. Mary Pinchot Meyer was a painter who lived in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Every day, she took a daily walk along the towpath near the E&O Canal.

I'm Soledad O'Brien, and on my podcast, Murder on the Towpath, I'm taking you back to the 1960s. Mary Pinchot Meyer was a painter who lived in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Every day, she took a daily walk along the towpath near the E&O Canal.

The police arrived in a heartbeat. Within 40 minutes, a man named Raymond Crump Jr. was arrested. He was found nearby, soaking wet, and he was black. Only one woman dared defend him, civil rights lawyer, W. Roundtree. Join me as we unravel this story with a crazy twist. Because what most people didn't know is that Mary was connected to a very powerful man.

The police arrived in a heartbeat. Within 40 minutes, a man named Raymond Crump Jr. was arrested. He was found nearby, soaking wet, and he was black. Only one woman dared defend him, civil rights lawyer, W. Roundtree. Join me as we unravel this story with a crazy twist. Because what most people didn't know is that Mary was connected to a very powerful man.

John F. Kennedy. Listen to Murder on the Towpath with Soledad O'Brien on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

John F. Kennedy. Listen to Murder on the Towpath with Soledad O'Brien on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On that hot summer Tuesday in D.C., all eyes were on Ray's trial.

On that hot summer Tuesday in D.C., all eyes were on Ray's trial.