Hi, Acuse listeners. Some of you might be aware that I've taken a bit of a detour since

wrapping up Season 2. While reporting is now underway for Season 3 of Acused, I had

paused my work on cold cases to explore the effects of gun violence in America by learning

about those who've survived it. That work is an eight episode project called Aftermath.

Many of the key players behind Aftermath are the same as those behind Acused. Because

of that, and because we'll need some time to report out the new case we've adopted

for Acused, we thought we'd make Aftermath available here for those still wanting thought-provoking

crime reporting in their feeds. We'd love for you to give it a listen. Instead of examining

one case over a whole season, this project is episodic, and the focus is on people who

survived the crime rather than those who died. I can't tell you how much these stories

have meant to me to report. That said, if episodic stories aren't your thing, feel

free to bypass the ones labeled Aftermath, but do keep an eye out on the feed in general.

Amanda and I have plans for an update on one of our earlier cases soon. Oh, and speaking

of updates, here's a small one. In September, Acuse Season 1, the unsolved murder of Elizabeth

Andes is being released in book form through diversion books. Stay tuned for details.

Because of you, I get to do the in-depth, nuanced reporting that drew me into journalism

in the first place. And now, here's Aftermath.

She never liked her stepfather. He drank and swore and hit. Sometimes he would threaten

to kill her, though she didn't take the threat seriously. She was 13 and still invincible.

But then he climbed into her bed one night.

And he was completely naked and he had a knife. And I took the knife and I just, I think

some people have a spirit of resilience that will get them through. And I must have always

...