Beyond All Repair

What did Susie, Sean's girlfriend at the time of Marlyne Johnson's murder, tell detectives? Was a $10,000 stash of cash ever found in the Johnsons' home? Did Sophia have an alibi?

These are just a few of the many questions listeners sent to the Beyond All Repair team. In this follow-up episode, Amory is joined by Beyond All Repair producer Sofie Kodner to answer these questions and more about the case, the story, and the making of the series.

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Come to our live event, Thursday, June 20th! 

Go behind the scenes with Amory and editor Zac Stuart-Pontier at WBUR CitySpace in Boston. Tickets and more info HERE.

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Amory talks to Shane about the 2010 report, along with the detective who wrote it and Rick Buckner, the lead detective on Sophia’s case 20 years ago.

She explores what can legally happen from here, both with regards to Marlyne Johnson’s homicide case and with Sophia herself.

Amory finally confronts Sophia about the 2010 report, and comes to a conclusion about the case.

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Consider becoming a "BEYOND" member today:

This show is made at WBUR, a public radio station, which means we cannot make shows like this without public support. Join our "BEYOND" membership program and receive extra episodes and a private feed of the show for ad-free listening: wbur.org/beyond

Come to our live event, Thursday, June 20th! 

Go behind the scenes with Amory and editor Zac Stuart-Pontier at WBUR CitySpace in Boston. Tickets and more info HERE.

After Sean’s conversation with Amory, he and his younger brother, Shane, talk to each other for the first time in two decades. Shane is open to hearing his brother out, until Sean denies a painful memory from their childhood.

Their father, who has always defended Sean, starts sending aggressive voice messages to Sophia and Shane. Meanwhile, Amory has even more questions for Sophia just as Shane is coming to his own conclusion that she did not commit the murder.

But shortly thereafter, Amory receives a report of an interview Sophia did with detectives in 2010 that tells yet another story of the day of Marlyne’s murder. Amory is left shaken and wondering if she actually has been talking to a murderer all this time.

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Consider becoming a "BEYOND" member today:

This show is made at WBUR, a public radio station, which means we cannot make shows like this without public support. Join our "BEYOND" membership program and receive early access to some of the final episodes in the series, extra episodes, and a private feed of the show for ad-free listening: wbur.org/beyond

After disappearing before he was supposed to testify in Sophia's second trial, Sean reappears in Guyana under the name Anthony Snow.

He has since launched various ventures, including a short-lived campaign for president of Guyana in 2011, a land development business that’s been the source of allegations of fraud, and a robust social media presence.

Sophia and Sean hadn’t seen each other or spoken in 17 years when he video-called her in early 2023 upon hearing that she’s been talking to a reporter.

Months after this call, Amory talks to Sean herself. He offers up a new detail about the day of Marlyne Johnson’s murder.

If you have questions about the case, the people at the center of this story, or anything else about this series, we want to hear them. Email [email protected] with a voice message or written message.

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Consider becoming a "BEYOND" member today:

This show is made at WBUR, a public radio station, which means we cannot make shows like this without public support. Join our "BEYOND" membership program and receive early access to some of the final episodes in the series, extra episodes, and a private feed of the show for ad-free listening: wbur.org/beyond

Amory meets Sophia in person for the first time with a sense of uneasiness.

While in jail awaiting her second trial in 2005, Sophia made a friend who convinced her to testify in her own defense. Today, this friend, Morgen, is Sophia’s life partner.

After getting ahold of the footage of Sophia’s second trial, Morgen and Amory discover that Sophia told a different story about the day of the murder on the stand — one that puts her at the scene.

If you have questions about the case, the people at the center of this story, or anything else about this series, we want to hear them. Email [email protected] with a voice message or written message.

***

Consider becoming a "BEYOND" member today:

This show is made at WBUR, a public radio station, which means we cannot make shows like this without public support. Join our "BEYOND" membership program and receive early access to some of the final episodes in the series, extra episodes, and a private feed of the show for ad-free listening: wbur.org/beyond

The jury has reached a verdict: Sophia is found guilty of first-degree murder.

At sentencing, Sophia hears victim impact statements, including one delivered by the woman raising her son.

She is sentenced to 43 years in prison, and just as she’s settling into that fate, she gets a call from her lawyer saying that she’s won the right to a new trial.

If you have questions about the case, the people at the center of this story, or anything else about this series, we want to hear them. Email [email protected] with a voice memo or written message.

***

Consider becoming a "BEYOND" member today:

This show is made at WBUR, a public radio station, which means we cannot make shows like this without public support.

Join our "BEYOND" membership program and receive early access to some of the final episodes in the series, extra episodes, and a private feed of the show for ad-free listening: wbur.org/beyond

The prosecution in Sophia’s trial claims greed was her motive for killing Marlyne. Shortly after Sophia and Brad Johnson started dating, Sophia began stealing money from her employer.

Sophia explains how the theft started and quickly spiraled out of control.

By the time of the murder, Sophia was tens of thousands of dollars in debt, with a baby on the way. Was she desperate enough to commit murder?

If you have questions about the case, the people at the center of this story, or anything else about this series, we want to hear them. Email [email protected] with a voice message or written message.

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Consider becoming a "BEYOND" member today:

This show is made at WBUR, a public radio station, which means we cannot make shows like this without public support.

Join our membership program, "BEYOND" here: wbur.org/beyond

Amory meets Lyn Page and Linda Dillard, friends of Marlyne Johnson and her husband Richard, who share more about the Johnson family.

Richard struggled with alcohol abuse and gambled, and Marlyne had started saving money in case she needed to leave him. 

Richard eventually agrees to talk to Amory and shares memories of his wife and the day she was killed.

If you have questions about the case, the real people at the center of this story, or anything else about this series, we want to hear them. Email [email protected] with a voice message or written message.

Listener note: This episode has descriptions of violence and strong language. 

***

Consider becoming a "BEYOND" member today:

This show is made at WBUR, a public radio station, which means we cannot make shows like this without public support.

Join our "BEYOND" membership program and receive access to extra episodes, a private feed of the show for ad-free listening and early access to some of the final episodes in the series: wbur.org/beyond

Sean Correia's credibility is called into question as Sophia Johnson and Shane Correia tell Amory about his role in their upbringing. Amory learns how these three siblings ended up in Washington state after being raised in New York, and how Sophia became estranged from Shane and their mother, with whom she’d been incredibly close.

Sophia finds a new family in the Johnsons — Brad, her husband, and Marlyne and Richard Johnson, Brad’s parents.

At the time of the murder, Sophia is newly wedded to Brad and six months pregnant. Marlyne is supposed to go over to Sophia’s house for lunch that day. She doesn’t show, leading Sophia and Brad to check on her, and, ultimately, to her lifeless, nearly unrecognizable body.

Sophia denies murdering Marlyne, but suspects Sean’s involvement.

If you have questions about the case, the real people at the center of this story, or anything else about this series, we want to hear them. Email [email protected] with a voice message or written message.

Listener note: This episode has descriptions of violence, strong language, and allegations of sexual assault. 

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Consider becoming a "BEYOND" member today:

This show is made at WBUR, a public radio station, which means we cannot make shows like this without public support.

Join our membership program, "BEYOND" here: wbur.org/beyond

Amory learns more about Marlyne Johnson, Sophia Johnson’s late mother-in-law, and her murder is explored through footage of Sophia’s 2003 trial.

Clark County Detective Rick Buckner and his team narrowed the field of suspects to siblings Sophia and Sean Correia (Shane Correia's older brother and sister).

Sean testified during Sophia’s 2003 murder trial that he saw his sister standing over Marlyne’s body, holding fireplace tongs.

If you have questions about the case, the real people at the center of this story, or anything else about this series, we want to hear them. Email [email protected] with a voice message or written message.

Listener note: This show has descriptions of violence and strong language.

***

Consider becoming a "BEYOND" member today:

This show is made at WBUR, a public radio station, which means we cannot make shows like this without public support.

Join our membership program, "BEYOND" here: wbur.org/beyond

Reporter Amory Sivertson has reopened a box that some members of the Correia family were hoping would stay shut forever.

Amory first met the youngest Correia, Shane, in 2017 while interviewing him about his experience with homelessness. But there is another dark chapter of Shane's life: his older sister being accused of murdering her mother-in-law in 2002, when he was 13 years old.

Now Shane wants to know, did his sister commit this brutal the crime?

If you have questions about the case, the real people at the center of this story, or anything else about this series, we want to hear them. Email [email protected] with a voice message or written message.

Listener note: This show has descriptions of violence and strong language.

***

Consider becoming a "BEYOND" member today:

This show is made at WBUR, a public radio station, which means we cannot make shows like this without public support.

Join our membership program, "BEYOND" here: wbur.org/beyond

Imagine if, one day, you are accused of something. Something horrible, violent, heinous. Something you swear you did not do, and nothing you say can convince anyone otherwise — even the people closest to you.

That’s Sophia Johnson’s story.

Sophia was starting fresh: A new life, a new husband, a baby on the way. But it all unraveled on January 10, 2002, when her mother-in-law Marlyne Johnson was found bludgeoned to death in her home. Days later, Sophia was charged with the murder.

To this day, Sophia swears she didn’t do it. But someone says they witnessed it — her own brother.

When family betrays family, who do you believe? In this story of a sibling rivalry beyond compare, WBUR’s Amory Sivertson turns the clock back. She reexamines an unsolved case, a family torn apart, and a woman who wasn’t believed.

From WBUR and ZSP Media, Beyond All Repair is a 10-part true crime investigation into a cold case. The series ends with an answer.

The first two episodes of Beyond All Repair will drop on March 7, 2024. Listen and follow Beyond All Repair on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Listener note: This show has descriptions of violence and strong language.

If you loved Violation, host Beth Schwartzapfel has a new recommendation for you.

Hosted by Beth's esteemed colleague, Amory Sivertson, Beyond All Repair is a new murder mystery podcast from WBUR & ZSP Media — launching March 7, right here in this feed.

Part eight of Violation explores what time means behind bars. And listeners respond to the question: Did Jake get what he deserves?

An update on what's next for Violation...and a new investigation from WBUR.

This “Violation” update brings listeners the latest news in Jacob Wideman’s case, including his reaction to a ruling that leaves him few paths to freedom.

In August, lawyers representing Jacob Wideman argued before a judge in Arizona that state officials treated him in a “constitutionally impermissible” way when they revoked his parole more than six years ago.

Lawyers for the parole board and the state corrections department said Wideman was trying to avoid following directions and therefore could not be trusted to be free. In this update, we fill you in on the hearing and how it could set the stage for further legal action in Wideman’s case.

Thank you for listening to Violation. We thought you might like to hear about another podcast — Ear Hustle, a member of Radiotopia from PRX.

Ear Hustle shares stories about what life is really like in prison, both inside and after you get out.

Season 12 started on Sep. 6, and the show will also be marking its 100th episode in December.

You can find Ear Hustle wherever you get your podcasts and at earhustlesq.com.

Thank you for listening and joining us on this incredible journey of exploring America’s opaque parole system through a terrible murder.

We’re eager to know how this journey was for you.. because your feedback will help us serve you better.

So… can you take a few minutes and fill out a survey for us? It would be a HUGE help. You can get it at wbur.org/survey.

Thanks. We really appreciate it.

Two months after Jacob Wideman was arrested at work and brought back to prison — for failing to make an appointment with a psychologist on a particular day, as directed by his parole officer — he faced the Arizona parole board again.

The board had to make a formal finding: Did Jake violate the conditions of his parole by not making that appointment? And, if so, should he stay in prison or be returned to the community?

Parole revocation hearings tend to be routine affairs. But, as this episode shows, Jake’s hearing was far from routine.

Ultimately, the parole board voted to keep Jake in prison, where he remains, possibly for life.

In the final episode of Violation, we discuss what happens now and what Jake’s legal options are. And we return to thorny dilemmas about the criminal justice system: When someone commits a terrible crime, as Jake did, is there anything they can do to prove they deserve to be free again? How does the parole system help us determine what justice should be in any given case — and does it make us more safe?

We also return to the question of why Jake killed Eric Kane in 1986. There’s one last piece of the puzzle that might bring a little more clarity, and Jake tries to explain it in his own words.