Mississippi Goddam Chapter 7: Reasonable Doubt

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The final episode of Mississippi Goddam shares new revelations that cast doubt on the official story that Billey Joe Johnson accidentally killed himself.

This week marks the 13th anniversary of Johnson’s death. His family is still seeking justice. Our reporting brought up questions that the original investigation never looked into. Host Al Letson and reporter Jonathan Jones go back to Mississippi to interview the key people in the investigation, including Johnson’s ex-girlfriend – the first recorded interview she’s ever done with a media outlet. The team also shares its findings with lead investigator Joel Wallace and the medical examiner who looked into the case.

Finally, after three years of reporting, we share what we’ve learned with Johnson’s family and talk to them about the inadequacy of the investigation and reasons to reopen the case.

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If I could give 10 ⭐ I would ♡

This is a gripping story of a young Black football player who has his life cut short at a time when he had such an amazing bright future ahead of him. It seems that everyone has a different opinion of what happened the day Billy Jo died on the side of the road in this southern town. The sheriff's department claims one thing but everyone who knew Billy Jo says the police report doesn't sound like the Billy they knew. The family reaches out for help and an awesome reporter makes good on a 10 year old promise to get them the answers they need. Little does anyone know what his search will turn up or the feelings his answers will stir up as he tries to untangle a web of opinions knowing that only one can be right. You'll be amazed by the feelings you'll go through as we follow along this journey.
Extremely thorough and well written. The narrator pulls us right into this story for a bird's eye view of his 3 years in trying to help one family reach some better understanding of what happened the day Billy Jo died of a gunshot wound to the head on the side of a country road with a (white) sheriff's car parked directly behind him as he was pulled over yet again in small town Mississippi.