Its really ironic that you women are centered around crime. Because thats not something that we see very often. Know, john, you are right. I grew a lot as far as this county goes. The bookmobile from the library was coming out, and then directly it was in front of our house. And not only can i read, mostly in the summer, all day. And it was just wonderful. And that includes being directly in front of the house, we would go out and get to come back, maybe, you know, two or three weeks later and as far as the eye can see, there were pine trees, and then there was a deep, fast running stream, somebody cutting a rope to a tree limb and he would run ss is a good its going way over the water and if he were any good at all. I guess it was natural instinct. You are running. There are some items there. We didnt know about it, about all of the hate and the crime, didnt know anything about it. And just before my wedding to my fiance, he was murdered. And he was shot, five times in the neck in the face in the head. In the family was going through a great deal of grief, it was such a dark time for me. I really dont have the words to describe it. And i got down to about 89 pounds, could not eat. My mother had to stop a clock in the home. And when i went back to school finally, my undergrad at mercer, and i try to help out crime victims and that is what i did in law school. Because up until that point you were headed towards teaching literature, specifically shakespeare. Yes, that is correct, that is all i really wanted to do. I am adjusting as we talk. And please know that that is what happened last night. And of course you never get over Something Like you experienced with the loss, however when you did begin to assess what was next, how did you start on the path that eventually brought you to atlanta . Well, i dropped out of school and i never had flown on a plane before smith she was a professor at the wharton school, that was really when it hit me and i saw everybody going back to school and crowding into the bookstore there at Wharton College and im telling you that i would go back and try to get into law school. And once i got through undergrad, i got through law school, i had one recommendation to get into law school. Really, i did not even know what i was doing. When i got into undergrad i didnt know anything. Smack the least you could change your mind. She ran up and that was when i first heard the word hypocrisy and not watching it because anyway her letter got me into law school. And i got into law school and our first i could not get into the das office. Because i didnt have experience and then i worked in the federal trade commission. Finally making it in, finally making it in and i applied in philadelphia and atlanta and one of the boroughs of new york, and that is where i went, i wanted to be in a high level of crime, i only wanted to practice fighting Violent Crime and i was not interested in making a lot of money. And all i wanted to do is for the bad guys behind bars. And you know what . It werent for the next 10 years in innercity atlanta. And that is all i did. I had the good fortune of having a single oldest child in the county. Why was that such a blessing . Because he was so old that he it is part of this and he was bent upon proving proving that he was fit to be on the bench. And that means you can get a number of felonies per week and each courtroom, he wanted to keep the least number of people in jail waiting for you, judge, to absolve their case. And it means the relays which means that i was on trial every other week. Very often i would have three trials going at once, i would start off with one, then the jury would go out in the next panel will come in. And once the jury when outcome of the next one came in and it was a throwdown. So i had multiple juries going at the same time. And its like lets keep the lights on the courthouse, they said, and we did. You have been faced with very serious crimes, one of them that took your breath away after your experience. But while you were there in atlanta, do you remember the first time that you were just really going back when it came to a crime . Oh, john, there were so many. I remember the first time i was ever in a courtroom. And before he went to work that monday morning, he was working on a construction crew and he had left at lunchtime and when he came back i think he had been fired before he came to work that summer, a man that had been hired unloaded on the company truck. And he was shot and killed. When i went to the courtroom, remember testifying, and everything was so quiet. But i could hear the boots on the floor, it was like a marble floor. And i walked by this and i saw for the first time his shirt that he had been wearing that morning and i kept walking and i met him and he immediately looked down. And i didnt even realize what they were and they looked on down, they could not even look at me. And i remember processing cases with children as young as three are sold in five years old, where the mother would side with a boyfriend or husband. And it always happen that way. [inaudible] and i remember ms. Loyola, the mother of her son was murdered over a drug debt. And she was the finest lady. I remember going to her home and she had beautiful women. White carpet, white everything and she had it covered in plaster. And she became one of my dearest friends and i remember trying this and when she was in the court room and i put the medical examiner on the stand. I looked back and she smiled at me and nodded and i kept going. Wended tv come into the picture . Well, that is a funny story. And oh, i remember, exactly. And so every once in a while we would get what we called a certain lawyer, typically this is a guy well, they were the biggest law firm and i remember working the arraignment and we had really fancy italian shoes that he was wearing and not a usual. And he came out and he said i am fred and i am representing soandso. Its like okay, you are representing a killer . And i looked down and he had it pro bono and they had to deal with it. And we handled the case. It had been tried years before through the appellate system. And he invited me here to the Christmas Party. But we went to the Christmas Party and somebody said hey, you should have nancy there and sure enough i ended up on some afternoon show and i was literally running in heels back to the courthouse. And then court tv found out about one of my cases and they said you know, no. And so one of them was standing 10 or 12 feet away from me at first they come through the courtroom and they said wait a minute, we didnt do anything wrong, we are not ashamed. He is the one that should be ashamed and its like oh, okay. We will do it. And they covered that and then a murder case and i was totally oblivious of the camera and that is how it happened. And then in one day i was invited to sit on a panel of experts, a panel of experts in new york and i remember a funny feeling when i got that invitation. And i was like, okay, and fortuitously i sat between them, the late johnnie cochran, an excellent trial lawyer and they said hey. And so then we had another one. And then my elected attorney was like a grandfather, retiring and i was like hey, i will take it. And i moved to new york with a curling iron and 300. And the first thing i did was three rooms and so i witnessed it. So you could do your homework. You remember the day when it finally fell at home and thought this is where i am supposed to be when it came to talking about crime on tv . I felt that way the first time that i tried a jury. And it was like a bird out of a cage. And i was the one that would never raise my hand. And i dont remember that at all and then once in a while i kind of remember, but not really too much. But when i try that case it was shocking. This poor little guy, shorter than me, he had gone over to the kmart on piedmont avenue. Yes. And he spoke about it and then he walked around and he folded it up and then he went all the way to the front and then left it. Well, the Security Guard could not wait and so we had to talk about this. [laughter] and i had to tell the jury, what do you think . And of course not, but of course he was trying to shoplift. I beg those people to do straight probation. They would not do it. The guy had so many drug arrests. And it had to go to trial. And that was the day that the air conditioning went out in the county courthouse. I had on a blue suit and a shirt up to here and my hair up right here and by the time it was over my hair was over here and i my shirt was on talked and i had all of this eyeliner and mascara and i thought oh, im going to pass out. [laughter] and that is the first time that i knew that that was where i was supposed to be. The way that you always keep family first, it is what led to her decision to depart and take off in other directions and we will talk about them a little bit, i am sure, in the minutes ahead. And so what is the latest. You know, i hate it and i love it. But i am so proud of them. And i cannot wait to wake them up in the morning and she is a vegetarian smith oh, really . Yes, which means i have to make two meals. And i know more than youd ever want to know. And she is wonderful, my son is they make great grades at school. They love school. They just played castanets. After that my dad went to heaven, my mom was there with me and we have a rescue dog, fat boy, and a rescue cat, cinnamon, and to rescue guinea pigs as well. And so think about it. And so we want to talk about how he is taking the pictures. Thats right, thats right. So lets finally get to the meat and potatoes of the hour. The title of this book is honestly, its everything you need to know about what is inside. The subtitle, fighting back against americas driveway crime wave, it is key. Because ive heard you say on a number of occasions including this past week during a recording of a program that you just did not realize that you were a victim when keith was murdered. And that is what a lot of crime victims families dont realize is that they are crime victims as well. Yes, we were talking about and i know exactly what you are referring to, and that would be the Scott Peterson Death Penalty reversal. And she had this beautiful red hair, red hair and a cute little creature and when asked if youve ever been a victim, in fact she had a training order taken out against her boyfriends exgirlfriend who was harassing her. And the reality is that she was prosecuted. But i wonder sometimes if she does not consider herself a crime victim. And the victims of crime victims, the families, you know, the goal lifetime looking for justice. Then the over 20 years of grief and mourning. Before i could consider remarrying. And so because i mourned that long, basically its sabotage every relationship. I really didnt want that. All i wanted to do was put the bad guys away. And i gave birth to the twins, im an older mom and it was like i am ready, john. And its like oh, am i going to jinx him somehow . Is some horrible thing would happen . And i dont want other victims to leave the way that i did for so long. Because the repercussions go off. And that was largely what happened to keith. It can read like literature, but it can also be a reference guide, where ever you find yourself in life, whatever you might be planning to do, maybe it is a trip or joining a gym and you want to be safe going to exercise and you get these great stories, they are tragic. Yes, they are stories. They are true, absolutely. And i want to tell you something, john, which you probably are due no, every one of these chapters is inspired by a case that i personally investigated to trial or covered myself. It took me two years to research and write about not being a victim and the stories here are not to scare anybody. The stories are due in power you. At a time when so many of us feel we cant control anything that is happening around us. And that includes giving you the power to fight back. 350 pages of and i got a text from my best friends girl mass shooting come home. I got off the plane and got a taxi to jfk and got the next flight to atlanta. The judge i had played softball with, the court reporter, i share that guarded the courtroom, dead. Why . Because she was overpowered and the elevator and he got out. I met with a long island jogger dad and he inspired me to write while exercising. And to be attacked while exercising. Why is that . What can we do to stop it . Me prosecuting a guy in atlanta called the red rapist so to a facing your own home. Whether they are at day care or any any more about theodore a abuse of parker shopping mall. You were speaking about kids in school is a fear that parents have just sending the kids after school but heaven forbid one case that comes to mind is kelsey smith she was with her mother and went to target when buying a gift for her boyfriend and walking out to the parking garage. Suddenly she was a minister home loan near her home and between 30 and 40 percent of all abductions or attempts occur as it relates to getting to the school bus on the school route my dad worked for the railroad and my mom worked way up as cfo in the company long story short we caught the bus and walked all the way home in the afternoon thats when kids are targeted do i have to say that names . There are so many simple things you can do to protect her child. Travel is another area where as a family of course there is a danger but like Natalie Holloway for a vacation. I discuss in depth about that and they go into cruise line safety they are coming back. I will never forget i took the children on a Disney Cruise and one night they insisted on going to the teen hang out i will let them go and they met up with a little boy from the school who happened to be in the same cruise they made sure nobody will walk back find i said okay ill go back to the room and i had these little walkietalkies he got to be a quarter of ten they were supposed to be back in the room know john david he was in the middle of the dance floor so we brought her back i called and they said his mom sign him out and i said i am his mother. I could think about it are the cases that i covered the attacks on the cruiseship somebody getting my son. In my pajamas i grab lucy and start running can you see that . Running up to find john david. When i saw him and i will never forget it. I was so scared what could have happened to him i dropped on my knees he said why are you crying . The other little boys mom came to get him they all walked out together and then john david just stalked off i talk about crew ships in the book and hotels both girl and boy trying to get eagle scout so we camp a lot. One was objected a serial killer and found many of his victims at campfires so that inspired me to write about camping at hotels and crew ships, you name it everything in here is true accompanied by advice by experts in the field to be safe in your own home and in your car if somebody is following you or a fender bender i covered in this book. After you finish your book i couldnt help but think of words my own mom always used. Along the lines of prepare for the worst and hope for the best. That could be another subtitle for this book. I dont want anyone else to be a crime victim i wish that on anyone that affects you and everyone around you. I almost missed my chance to have my family because of what i have been the one that for other people a lot of times its so simple. Selfishly i wish i could ask you 1 million more questions but i want to open up to the folks that are with us tonight. But see lisa has written with the question and says nancy, in your professional opinion to think too many people in the jennifer case will go to trial . I hope so many so much time jennifer is missing connecticut mom he borrowed 2 million to fund his luxury Home Development he first said he left her five children then he said she was writing a script and trying to take her death and said revenge suicide to get back at him. There are so many theories but police amazingly put together a case against him and his lover and suspicious about a lawyer involved in the case ultimately he committed suicide it will never know what happened to their mother and will actually believe she abandoned them but actually he killed her they were going out her bloodied tshirt body sponges and rags bring them down sewer drains and an alibi script written up to cover up what they were doing when jennifer went missing she and the lawyer are still out on bond and have not been brought to justice. Why . I fear lisa g will be swept under the rug and at some point in the future they will take a plea and we might hear about it that is my fear. I just covered one covered it to keep it off the back burner to keep attention on it because i want her children to have some kind of peace. Im glad you mentioned the Oxygen Program because i promise before the hour is up we would talk about some of the other tv projects you have going on. Quite a number of them. Oxygen and justice we literally get thousands of cases right at 1000 we put through to come up with these 11. One was a case i was personally involved with the iraqi war vet to keep him from iraq and could not find a job was desperate to find a job not a quick trip he was headed in that direction to just say he left you they never believed it got so many emails and Facebook Messages about it i looked into it. I personally found the guy fundamental flophouse motel didnt believe him and we helped solve the case he did not leave his wife and children. That was one of our options those cases that have a grave injustice its on thursday nights my work so hard on it also another series a lowlife detective it is across the country and about cases deemed unsolvable so you have a case you get 100 cases a week you cannot stay on the case you have to move on. But the cuttingedge technology of the seemingly unsolvable cases are being cracked as a Family Member who keeps it going and i am proud of it it is incredible. Host we also heard from claire who says you are the queen. After all these years since the trial, what do you think these days about the Casey Anthony case . What sticks out to you the most covering this case . The debacle at the trial to go into all the errors committed on both sides during the trial but i think peoples true colors show with euppercaseletter anthony has done taking shots of tequila hitting on guys nothing about what really happened to kaylee if she didnt tell her what really happened . Her parents, i know they sure hated me during the trial but i met with them and they were portrayed in a very bad light the worst time in their life they are really good and decent people i believe that i believe anything said about her parents i saw her mom try to take the fall on the stand that the core form that there was chlorophyll. She was ready to go to jail on perjury to help her daughter so now doing anything good with her life she shows up in a bar with hot pants. You have a Second Chance do something with your life. Zuckerman has a question very topical at the moment of course our country has been in turmoil from top to bottom what is your best view to minimize crime during the black lives matter protest on either side of the issue . Very very close to the protest. A lot of people are leaving their homes you can hear about the fleeing to the hamptons going from the north to the south to get away. Not everyone has the money to go away for the summer that is in alternative for most people. I would not in any way allow my children and i would beg my husband not to, be anywhere near the protest to start with. I do not get involved in done issues. I am a gun violence victim. I have to handle guns as a prosecutor cute one a prosecutor train every six months in order to be a prosecutor i do not carry a gun and have not ever carried a gun far more likely there will be an accident in the home with the gun and he will end up shooting a protester. My advice is to stay away. I mean hide. But we know the protester happening. Stay away. Stay away. Very headstrong are people going out and about. I doubt thats necessarily the best idea to advocate . Know. The protesters are wrong fighting violence with violence. Look at mr. George floyd was copied to be charged with murder. Those cops were right there they were part of it the whole kit and caboodle needs to be tried together in court. Sadly that will not happen where does that leave me with the protesters . What happens with mr. Floyd and others is wrong and the they need to be prosecuted does that justify what happens with the protest . Know it does not. Another question do you have suggestions for active and healthy baby boomers how to me stay safe and Grocery Store parking lots . I can tell you off the top of my head i distinctly cover that safe while shopping on parking debts and parking lots number one, be aware. Number to make sure you park in the lighted area. Take a picture of green level g find something identifiable like a sign. You do not want to go out in the parking lot or a parking deck dragging your children all alone there is a reason born over thousands of years of evolution you know what you are picking up on it could be a sound or movement but you get the feeling dont ignore it keep your car locked when you get close enough to make it to not pack things in your trunk while you are there. We were bent over not looking behind you. Get in your car and go on the parking deck and the parking lo lot. I could go on and on about safe while shopping. From canada melanie has written a question can you please provide the women listening with your top three tips to protect ourselves. Thats like picking my all Time Favorite movie or recipe by 52 pages of tips lets talk about safe at home. I was inspired to write safe at home by the red rapist like the golden state target the victims in the hot summer months when they would crack a window and had a clear view who is there keep the doors and windows locked keep the alarm on the Burglar Alarm is 50 a month if you cannot afford that if you really cant then get the sticker that says you are protected by them on the door with a window when a burglar comes and it could quickly escalate to a rape or more if they see that they are likely to go to the next home why worry about a home with a Burglar Alarm . Do not play your key under your mat even in the apartment dont do it if youre in a home leave it somewhere only you and your Family Members know where it is if you have a Burglar Alarm make sure you change the default code normally it is 1234. Think of Something Like your parents street address. Dont use a factory setting. You can look them up on google. When you are home with a clear view of the front door god for bid dont do that they can see you dont to the door remember just recently a judges son answered the door and an angry misogynistic lawyer dressed like that shot her only child and her son dont trust anybody in uniform make sure people cannot see an end to look at you when you leave leave music going make sure the answering machine is answering keep the Burglar Alarm on while you are there dont break and when i am here or there will be hell to pay keep the Burglar Alarm on especially when youre home. I have so many tips i cannot tell them all get the ring doorbell i love that. I have them in all of our doors and it pops up and somebody comes to the door on your cell phone when you can actually speak to the person if you want to. I turn hours on all the time. He looks confused. [laughter] there are so many tips about safe at home are safe while you are driving or exercising dont take the same route try to work out during the day if you must go at night do with a friend. Go with a group go with the dog. Take mace or pepper spray or scream blood he murder. If you are running at night change your route know if there is a home you can run to and run where it is well lit there are a million things you can do. This is just off the top of my head. Thanks to a question i dont have to worry now an hour or two from now that i completely forgot about your alter ego and crime fiction. Somebody wants to hold when that next book is coming out in the tv specials to go with it. I am about 90 percent through the kelly jean murder mystery is called murder times ten. I will say at one point shes stumbles upon a hand and i will say no more i cannot wait to finish the book and get it out i was more urgent to write dont be a victim this is more roller coasters will murder mystery what i wanted to do some good and that is why i got dont be a victim done first. Final question is a Literary Group they are thanking book books, someone wants to know what is on your bedside table when it comes to true crime . I am a strict disciplinarian when it comes to time management i say if i have time to read a book i have time to write a book. So what is beside my bed right now is a laptop and a light finishing that book the only thing i am reading right now i do read to the children every night im in the middle of yes dont put earbuds in your ear. Please. Put it on speaker and i listen to the car all highest and book. Squeeze something and i love carl highest and a writer out of florida. Its a murder mystery and it is hilarious. I love it. I cannot begin to thank you enough for your time over the past hour and we look forward to many more stories together that have avoided crime. And thank you again for tonight because every dollar of this book but i get my hands on the National Center for exploited children when i wrote the 25000 check to them i am just so grateful. Thank you. More Exciting Book festival events are coming up for go check your local jcp for updated listing stay safe, stay healthy and stay tuned. Good night
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