Soledad O'Brien

Was it because she couldn't bear to look at them? Or did she want his toys to bring joy to other children, a way of having his memory live on? It's hard to fathom the depths of Mary and Cord's sadness.

Was it because she couldn't bear to look at them? Or did she want his toys to bring joy to other children, a way of having his memory live on? It's hard to fathom the depths of Mary and Cord's sadness.

Cord was hoping that this tragedy would bring them closer together, but it was not to be.

Cord was hoping that this tragedy would bring them closer together, but it was not to be.

In her grief over her son, over her marriage, over the hopes for her future, Mary needed to regain her sense of self. She would breach society's expectations of her. She would start volunteering at an art gallery and establishing her own home. She'd get a painting studio in Georgetown. She'd begin painting in the morning and taking a daily walk along the Georgetown towpath.

In her grief over her son, over her marriage, over the hopes for her future, Mary needed to regain her sense of self. She would breach society's expectations of her. She would start volunteering at an art gallery and establishing her own home. She'd get a painting studio in Georgetown. She'd begin painting in the morning and taking a daily walk along the Georgetown towpath.

And just like Mary's short story at Vassar, everything was about to be new and exciting and different and interesting. Next time on Murder on the Towpath, we return to Mary's murder trial, where Ray Crump is facing the death penalty. The police found him soaking wet near the towpath. But could someone else have committed the crime and had time to escape?

And just like Mary's short story at Vassar, everything was about to be new and exciting and different and interesting. Next time on Murder on the Towpath, we return to Mary's murder trial, where Ray Crump is facing the death penalty. The police found him soaking wet near the towpath. But could someone else have committed the crime and had time to escape?

To find out, I go to the scene of the crime, to the towpath itself. It's almost not secluded enough to make you feel afraid or to get a sense of foreboding about what's coming. On Mary's last walk, in her moments of solitude, she was surrounded by beauty, an exposed path in nature. Mary wouldn't have had reason to be scared at all.

To find out, I go to the scene of the crime, to the towpath itself. It's almost not secluded enough to make you feel afraid or to get a sense of foreboding about what's coming. On Mary's last walk, in her moments of solitude, she was surrounded by beauty, an exposed path in nature. Mary wouldn't have had reason to be scared at all.

From Luminary, Murder on the Towpath is a production of Film Nation Entertainment in association with Neon Hum Media. Our executive producers are me, Soledad O'Brien, Alyssa Martino, Milan Papelka, and Jonathan Hirsch. Lead producer is Shara Morris. Associate producers are Natalie Rinn and Lucy Licht. Senior editor is Catherine St. Louis. Music and composition by Andrew Eapin.

From Luminary, Murder on the Towpath is a production of Film Nation Entertainment in association with Neon Hum Media. Our executive producers are me, Soledad O'Brien, Alyssa Martino, Milan Papelka, and Jonathan Hirsch. Lead producer is Shara Morris. Associate producers are Natalie Rinn and Lucy Licht. Senior editor is Catherine St. Louis. Music and composition by Andrew Eapin.

Sound design and mixing by Scott Somerville. Fact-checking by Laura Bullard. Special thanks to Allison Cohen, Sarah Vacchiano, Rose Arce, Kate Mishkin, and Michaela Salella. And to Liesl Schillinger for reading Mary's short story.

Sound design and mixing by Scott Somerville. Fact-checking by Laura Bullard. Special thanks to Allison Cohen, Sarah Vacchiano, Rose Arce, Kate Mishkin, and Michaela Salella. And to Liesl Schillinger for reading Mary's short story.

I'm Soledad O'Brien, and on my new true crime podcast, Murder on the Towpath, I'm taking you back to 1964, to the cold case of artist Mary Pinchot Meyer.

I'm Soledad O'Brien, and on my new true crime podcast, Murder on the Towpath, I'm taking you back to 1964, to the cold case of artist Mary Pinchot Meyer.

It turns out Mary was connected to a very powerful man.

It turns out Mary was connected to a very powerful man.

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

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