Criminally Obsessed

Major Murdaugh Update: What We Know About New Trial Judge Debra McCaslin

Alex Murdaugh has a new judge for his double murder retrial. And we want to know everything. Who is Judge Debra McCaslin? The South Carolina Circuit Court Judge has been assigned to oversee Alex Murdaugh’s upcoming murder retrial in the deaths of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh in 2021. What should we know about the woman now tasked with presiding over the next chapter of the Murdaugh saga? In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Anne Emerson digs into Judge McCaslin’s path to the bench, a journey that started later in life and led her to the highest levels of South Carolina's judicial system. Joined by former South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon, we explore McCaslin’s legal background, her connections to key players in the Murdaugh case including Murdaugh’s Defense Attorney Dick Harpootlian, and how her courtroom style may differ from the judge everyone remembers from the first trial, Clifton Newman. This time, the stakes are even higher. Prosecutors have indicated the death penalty remains a possibility if Alex Murdaugh is retried for the murders at Moselle, making Judge McCaslin’s decisions critical from day one.  Where will the retrial be held? When could it begin?  When we know, you'll know.  Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing coverage, trial updates, and exclusive interviews as the next chapter of the Murdaugh story unfolds.

Inside the Karmelo Anthony Courtroom: No Cameras Allowed

INSIDE THE MOMENT KARMELO ANTHONY WAS FOUND GUILTY IN TRACK MEET MURDER: There were no cameras in the courtroom. The public never got to hear the witnesses testify, watch the families react, or see the moment Anthony broke down as the verdict was read. He was indicted on first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf after an altercation turned deadly at a track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025. So we had to speak to someone who was there. Sitting just rows behind the victim’s family. Court TV anchor Cody Thomas attended the trial every day, and now he’s taking us inside one of the most talked-about true crime cases that’s reached far beyond Texas - an experience he describes as an ‘emotional tornado.’ In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Anne Emerson shares an emotional conversation with Cody as he reveals the raw reactions inside the courtroom, and the moments the public will never get to see. It’s unclear how much evidence will EVER be revealed in this case, so grab your tissues, and join us for an interview that takes you inside the courtroom during the trial’s most intense, raw, and gut-punching moments. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed so you never miss the stories, trials, and true crime cases everyone is talking about.

Reasonable Doubt in 'The Crash' Case? New Public Records Raise Red Flags

SHOULD MACKENZIE SHIRILLA HAVE WALKED FREE? And is her personality the reason she didn’t? The Ohio teen was convicted of intentionally crashing her car at 100 miles per hour and killing her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and friend, Davion Flanagan in 2022. As the world reexamines the case in Netflix’s newly released documentary “The Crash,” Mackenzie’s intentions, mindset, and personality are major discussion points.  She was convicted of murder. End of story, right? But what if the evidence is not as straightforward as it seems? In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Anne Emerson sits down with criminal defense attorney and true crime creator Stephanie Giancristofaro, who says there is reasonable doubt in the Mackenzie Shirilla murder case… and that she can prove it. She believes public opinion may be influenced as much by Shirilla's personality and behavior, as by the actual evidence presented in court. And if this case had been decided by a jury instead of a judge, would the outcome have been different? We break down the key issues at the center of the Ohio case, including newly released public records that raise fresh questions about what happened that day. This is not a case about whether Mackenzie Shirilla is likable. It is a conversation about the criminal justice system, and whether the evidence truly proves murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for more true crime analysis, case breakdowns, and exclusive interviews. And after you watch “The Crash” on Netflix, let us know what YOU think.

100 Missing Hawaiians. 3 Murders. One Arrest. Are These All Connected?

HAWAII’S MISSING PERSON MYSTERY: WHY ARE PEOPLE VANISHING ON THE BIG ISLAND? And is a new arrest taking us one step closer to uncovering the secrets hiding in paradise?  Nearly 100 people have disappeared from Hawaii’s Big Island in just the last five years, many seemingly without a trace. Now, a recent arrest is drawing even more attention to the island’s darker side. Jacob Daniel Baker is facing murder charges in three separate deaths.  In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Anne Emerson sits down with investigative reporter Kristin Thorne, whose Law & Crime documentary Vanished in Paradise: Dark Secrets on the Big Island has drawn more than 1.2 million views on YouTube. In it, Kristin investigates the disappearance of Kelly Gravitt and other missing person cases on the island, but in our conversation she shares new details that did not make it into the documentary.  Could the arrest of Jacob Daniel Baker lead to answers in the Big Island’s dark mysteries? Watch Vanished in Paradise: Dark Secrets of Hawaii’s Big Island [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-nc9TalADk&t=3s]

Mackenzie Shirilla “Loves Being Hated” - A Psychological Deep Dive

The Netflix documentary The Crash has reignited debate around one of the most shocking true crime cases in recent memory: the conviction of Mackenzie Shirilla. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Anne Emerson talks with forensic psychologist Dr. John Delatorre to unpacks not only what may have been going on in Mackenzie's mind, but also her parents, Steve and Natalie Shirilla. Drawing from the documentary, courtroom evidence, and Mackenzie's behavior before and after the crash, Dr. John explores whether this was an impulsive act fueled by rage, entitlement, and immaturity—or something far more calculated.   We dive deep into the toxic relationship dynamics between Mackenzie and her boyfriend Dom, the role her family may have played in shaping her worldview, and the warning signs that many believe were overlooked long before the deadly crash. Dr. John breaks down concepts like entitlement, impulsivity, narcissistic traits, and the impact of parenting styles, while explaining why he believes Mackenzie's actions don't necessarily fit a traditional self-destruction profile. The discussion also tackles her controversial social media activity, prison behavior, and the ongoing public fascination with the case.   Is Mackenzie “hell on wheels” as the judge described her? Dr. John offers his unfiltered analysis of one of the most polarizing true crime stories in recent years, examining how personality, privilege, relationships, and decision-making collided with devastating consequences.   Do you believe the crash was premeditated, an impulsive act gone horribly wrong, or something else entirely? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Related links: Petition, "Dom and Davion's Law" - Victims Before Influencers: Modernize Son of Sam Laws [https://www.change.org/p/dom-and-davion-s-law-victims-before-influencers-modernize-son-of-sam-laws] Davion Flanagan’s Memorial Scholarship Fund [https://www.gofundme.com/f/davion-flanagan] Change The Game for Dom Foundation [https://www.gofundme.com/f/change-the-game-for-dom-foundation?attribution_id=sl:73ac8074-6889-48b5-b509-8fbc82aa6bd5&lang=en_US&ts=1779905627&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_control-amp20_control&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&fbclid=IwVERDUASOUw9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEephTda_pn3fOSF7mXZwlJ0Gll2PbOHbOV0CgDLse3ippSTz-_lYVE466kQgU_aem_8vflVyM3m2YM8japi5S7-Q]