meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Suspect Convictions

11: Relative Innocence

Suspect Convictions

Kast Media

Society & Culture, Government, News

4.2802 Ratings

🗓️ 10 January 2018

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Two of Barton McNeil’s cousins have been tireless advocates for his innocence. What motivates them to help a man neither knew before he was convicted of murder? Grace Schlafer from Indiana and Chris Ross from California have interviewed witnesses, poured over documents, and questioned detectives. They were instrumental in getting the Illinois Innocence Project involved in McNeil’s fight for exoneration. The Illinois Innocence Project is expected to file motions soon in hopes of winning McNeil a new trial.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Your favorite podcast, Lost In, is back with all new episodes about people who disappear and go missing under the oddest of circumstances.

0:08.6

Our first story is about Ben Padilla, an American pilot, and a huge Boeing 727 airplane that disappeared from a runway in Africa just after 9-11.

0:19.2

Their disappearance sent governments around the world into a state of panic.

0:23.2

Was it terrorism, diamond smugglers, or was it something else?

0:27.0

We will also dig into the disappearance of three surfers in Mexico's ordinarily safe Baja region.

0:33.6

A new season of Lost In will premiere on June 10th, so hit subscribe now.

0:38.5

And be sure to tell a friend Lost In is returning this month.

0:42.8

I cannot convey any better the traumatic words that you'd hear on this 911 tape.

0:49.6

And when I hear them today, my blood runs cold.

0:55.0

911, once you're on a first, I need ambulance. My daughter is dying, I think.

0:59.5

Rescue is made a three-year-old female child. Unconscious, not breathing.

1:05.0

Katrina, it's Katrina. It's true. He is wasting away a life in a jail for a murder he didn't commit, and worse, for his own daughter, the thing he loved.

1:21.1

There is a whole bunch of evidence now that links Masuk to the crime scene.

1:28.1

There is absolutely no evidence of any forced injury, any breaking in, and according to the

1:34.1

defendant, the only people in that house with permission were himself and Christina.

1:41.4

This is suspect convictions. I'm Willis Kern with investigative journalist Scott Reeder. Today it's the story of two cousins who came to the assistance of another cousin. Grace Schlaffer is Barton McNeil's first cousin once removed. Chris Ross also was Bart's cousin. Grace lives in Indiana and Chris in California. And Bart, of course, is incarcerated in Illinois.

2:03.4

It has become Grace and Ross's quest to free Bart, who they believe was wrongly convicted.

2:09.2

In our culture, cousins are often relegated to little more than a supporting role.

2:13.9

This wasn't always the case. Back in the 1960s, a popular sitcom was the Patty Duke show about two mismatched cousins.

2:20.1

Do you think 30 sandwiches will be enough?

2:22.2

No, there are going to be eight of us.

2:24.7

This is my very first lumber party.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Kast Media, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Kast Media and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.