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Hi, I'm Lindsay Graham, the host of Wondries Podcast American Scandal.

Our newest series looks at the Kids for Cash Scandal,

a story about two judges who stood accused of making millions of dollars

in a brazen scheme that shattered the lives of countless children.

Listen to American Scandal on Amazon Music,

or wherever you get your podcasts.

I've been a writer for almost 50 years.

And I have never encountered a story like this that was such a combination

of utter tragedy and happiness.

We call this story at the beating heart because a heart survived a tragic event.

So it was Christmas 1986, all the Christmas cheer of the season,

everyone's happy, smiling.

So it was the best Christmas ever.

I was falling hard in love and then it all ended.

Police got a call around 2 a.m. that shocks were fired at an apartment complex,

and they rushed to the scene.

The first detective on the scene was Detective Tommy Lee.

I went up to the second floor to the apartment,

walked in and a young 19 year old female was laying on the floor

...