Please note, this episode includes some spoilers for the HBO documentary, Murder in Boston, Roots, Rampage, and Reckoning.

Before we begin, this episode contains some offensive language and descriptions of violence.

It also references suicide. It may not be appropriate for all listeners.

Please take care while listening.

It's January 4th, 1990.

Chuck Stewart stops his car on the lower deck of the Tobin Bridge.

He leaves a handwritten note on the front passenger seat and steps out.

The engines still running.

Chuck walks to the concrete edge and peers down into the Mystic River, climbs over a green metal railing, and falls 145 feet into the frigate water below.

In this moment, everything changes.

The police theories, the media narratives, the citizen outrage, it's all wrong.

It's as if everyone is peering down into the water where Chuck Stewart landed,

and they see themselves in the reflection.

It's ugly.

TV reporter Jack Harper was sent to the bridge that day.

I remember it was cold, and I was sent down to the dock because there was a report of a man

that jumped in the water.

And I'll never forget it.

It was the first assistant district attorney, Leary, was there.

And I remember standing there with him and I said,

oh my God, this poor guy, how much worse going to get?

What a terrible ending. He just couldn't take it anymore. I understand.

...