Trace of Doubt

By: Samantha Weinberg

Narrated by: Samantha Weinberg

Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

In the summer of 1985, a brilliant young British DNA scientist Helena Greenwood is found murdered in her front garden in a quiet suburb in California. The police believe they know the killer’s identity but there’s no evidence against him, and the only thing linking him to the crime is the fact he’d been charged with sexually assaulting Helena just a few months previously. Fifteen years later the case is reopened and after a breakthrough in DNA evidence, David Paul Frediani is re-investigated, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. It was almost as if Helena was pointing to her killer from beyond the grave, using the very scientific technology she had spent her life working on. Author Samantha Weinberg has been fascinated by this case, writing an award-winning book about the tragic sequence of events. She’s spent time with the man convicted of the murder and was utterly convinced of his guilt. But, in 2018, she received a letter from a jailhouse lawyer, a fellow inmate of Frediani that would blow the case apart. Together, they reopen the investigation, embarking on a shocking journey to discover the truth - in the process uncovering systematic failings and abuses in the American criminal justice system.

Content Warning: This series contains strong language and graphic descriptions of violence and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. If you have been affected by any of the themes in this series, please find below links to organisations that can help you:

sexualabusesupport.campaign.gov.uk/#support

rapecrisis.org.uk

www.thesurvivorstrust.org

www.rainn.org

Episode 1: DEAD WALKING TALKING

In August 1985, Dr Helena Greenwood’s body is found in the front garden of her cottage in southern California. The police believe they know who killed her, a handsome financial advisor named David Paul Frediani. But there is nothing to tie him to the murder scene. The case is filed: unsolved.

Episode 2: POETIC JUSTICE

There have been extraordinary breakthroughs in DNA science. Fifteen years after the murder, the sheriff’s cold case team reopens the investigation, and, using DNA, they catch their killer. Samantha Weinberg becomes fascinated by the case. She returns to San Diego for Frediani’s trial.

Episode 3: SEEDS OF DOUBT

Samantha visits Frediani in prison, where he is serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. He insists he didn’t kill Helena Greenwood, and that he was framed. Buried deep in the investigation files, she finds a letter which suggests his conviction may be unsafe.

Episode 4: THE JAILHOUSE LAWYER

In 2018, Samantha is contacted by Dustin, a jailhouse lawyer, who has himself been in prison for 45 years. He is helping Frediani, and says that, using the letter Samantha found, he thinks he can get Frediani’s case reopened. Dustin and Samantha launch parallel investigations.

Episode 5: THE PUNCHBOWL

Samantha returns to San Diego. She learns about suspect practices at the sheriff’s department crime lab, and delves into the case of Jane Dorotik, who was convicted of murder at around the same time as Frediani, and who has just been exonerated, because of mistakes at the same lab. Does it help to understand Frediani’s case?

Episode 6: THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY

Samantha and Dustin pick through the case files and each find bits of evidence that don’t add up. Doubt about Frediani’s conviction keeps growing. Dustin is trying to get him a new trial.

Episode 7: BROKEN DOWN

Samantha visits Frediani in prison. He’s ill, but still protesting his innocence and excited about Dustin’s work. The cops open the old files for her, and some of her questions are answered. But two witnesses throw a new light on what happened.

Episode 8: CALLING TIME

Frediani’s health is failing. He is waiting to hear about his new trial. But Samantha has some tricky questions for him. Dustin has positive news. Samantha pays her respects at Helena’s grave, in the New Forest. And comes to a surprising conclusion.

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Waste of her energy

I don’t know why the author spent so much of her life chasing this story. I want our justice system to be just and accurate as much as the next person and I know there are innocent people in prison. Then, of course, if there is an innocent person convicted a guilty person may still be free. All these things aside it is very likely that this inmate would have perpetrated more violence against women if he was free. Let’s save our sympathy and energy for those who deserve it!
I also felt that this author veered often into the melodramatic and
maudlin. I don’t know why I kept
waiting for this to redeem itself but I’m glad it’s over!

The music is horrible

The music was annoying to listen to while trying to listen to the words of the older story. I haven’t even finished the story and want to stop because of the “music”.

The best True Crime podcast ever made is Trace of Doubt

An emotional look at the people around a murder and a clear eyed look at the science used in the criminal justice system. Well told, beautifully made and important. Loved it.

Great story but much sadness

I enjoyed this podcast, and I will be looking for more with this type of content.

Emotional and intriguing.

Intriguing and I listened straight through. Thank you for sharing. This
Was probably difficult to do.

Very interesting

Started off slow but just kept getting better. I usually don’t listen to these kind of stories but o liked this one.

Difficult case

Amazing research, good interviews.Im in forensics and understand the doubts..But his admittance to facts at his friend's house, the car reveals guilt to me and his positioned alibi..

Fascinating

Well researched and well documented, Was interesting to hear the different point of views over time and different perspectives of the same case. Would make a great tv true crime series!

Criminal justice reform

This story and its findings raise a great question about our justice system. I can’t say one way or the other about this case for sure but I am sure our justice system is deeply flawed. The idea that anyone could be put behind bars for a crime they did not commit is horrifying.

Whoa.

This was fascinating. A true crime story that makes you really think about the way things influence your decisions.