The opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect those of the murder-ish podcast.

Sensitive topics are discussed. Listener discretion is advised.

The sudden brutal murder of Carl Smolle's junior was classified as a gang hit.

But when his convicted killer was freed from prison, 16 years early,

Carl's death became a catalyst for changing how the South Carolina justice system works.

This is Jamie and you're listening to Murder-ish. Join me as I examine the case of Carl Smolle's junior.

This case takes us to Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina.

It's located in the geographic center of the state, surrounded by three large rivers that drove commerce in the days before freight trains and cars.

In the 2020 census, Columbia ranked as the second most popular city in South Carolina,

with about a quarter of residents being students at the 11 colleges the city houses.

Columbia's name is often abbreviated as Kola, and from this came its nickname Soda City.

Columbia is also home to the state government for Jackson Military Base,

and a number of other agencies, local and federal, that radiate outward from the state house grounds into suburbs.

While generally considered safer than a number of larger metropolitan areas around the country,

Columbia still has pockets of danger.

Bars that cater to college students clustered together in areas that have gained rough reputations

and garnered scrutiny from police.

Many of the nightclubs that spring up in strip mall complexes between neighborhoods become hot spots for scuffles and arrests.

College football gives crowds another reason to party through Columbia's mild autumn and winter weather.

Players from surrounding schools join in when they can, as a way to lessen the stress of performing both academically and on the field.

In the first two and a half hours of December 7, 2002, a young man was found dead on the floor of Club Voodoo in Columbia.

The club was located on Garner's Ferry Road, a long stretch of strip mall clusters that runs through the southeast part of town.

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