The Hard Middle and the Search for A Serial Killer

Life Isn't Always Life

In California, a life sentence doesn't always mean life. This episode of The Hard Middle explores what happens when well-intentioned laws are applied as blanket rules, without scrutiny, without nuance...and without regard for the people left behind. Darryl Collins was 24 years old when he killed two people in the span of 11 days. He was supposed to spend the rest of his life in prison. But two decades later, California's youthful offender parole statute said otherwise — and 364 days after his release, Collins killed again. Nancy Jackson moved into a family's home as a caretaker. She left as a killer, convicted of murdering three people. The sentence sounded like life. But California's elder offender parole statute meant the math told a very different story. The hard middle isn't just about holding people accountable. It's about having the courage to ask whether the system itself is getting it right.

The Hard Middle and the Search for A Serial Killer

For more than two decades, a serial killer stalked the streets of South Los Angeles -- preying on women, leaving families shattered, and stumping investigators at every turn. This is the story of how a cold case that seemed impossible to crack was finally solved thanks to dogged prosecutors, determined detectives, and a breakthrough in DNA science that changed policing forever. Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman spent nearly eight years bringing Lonnie Franklin Jr. to justice. In this episode, she and cold case specialist John Lewin along with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman take us inside the painstaking, relentless work that most people never see. The work that happens long after the cameras go away and the headlines fade. Because while justice isn't always swift, in LA it never stops.

Hiring the Hard Middle

From the classroom to the courtroom...nothing will get you there quicker than a job in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. It is our creed and for Deputy District Attorney Jessica Villalvazo, a first-generation college graduate from the San Fernando Valley, it is a dream come true. Follow Jessica as she navigates a complicated misdemeanor case while learning what it means to resist political extremes, keep victims at the center of every decision, and pursue justice based on facts and law--not public opinion. From her first day in a courtroom to her current work at the Santa Clarita office, Jessica's journey embodies the dedication and idealism that District Attorney Nathan Hochman is working to reinforce throughout the nation's largest local prosecutorial office.

Sentencing

In this episode of The Hard Middle, we explore one of the most challenging aspects of criminal justice: determining appropriate sentences for those who commit crimes. Through the lens of the Michelle Avan murder case, we examine how prosecutors balance accountability with fairness. Michelle Avan was a prominent Bank of America executive and beloved community leader who was brutally murdered by her ex-boyfriend in August 2021. Host Josh Rubenstein sits down with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, John McKinney, Director of Specialized Prosecutions, and prosecutor Cindy Wallace to discuss how they approached this devastating case and the complex decision-making process behind seeking life without parole. The episode reveals the deeply personal nature of these decisions, including District Attorney Nathan Hochman's policy on the death penalty and the emotionally draining meetings with victims' families.

Understanding "The Hard Middle"

On a sunny Tuesday on December 3rd 2024, Nathan Hochman was sworn in as Los Angeles County's 44th District Attorney, promising to restore trust and hold criminals accountable. But just weeks later, one of his first major actions wasn't locking someone up—it was celebrating their freedom. In this premiere episode, we are introduced to DA Hochman and his "hard middle" approach to justice: an approach that doesn't rely on politics or blame, but puts victims at the center of every decision. From the exoneration of two people who spent 17 years wrongfully imprisoned, to tackling LA's biggest public safety challenges, discover what it means to pursue justice in America's largest local prosecutor's office. Welcome to The Hard Middle—where justice isn't about left or right, it's about getting it right.