In 1986, a man named Scott Macklem was killed in broad daylight. Eight days later, a suspect was arrested. But now, almost 40 years later, reporter Josie Duffy Rice is re-examining this case. Has the wrong man been in prison this whole time?

New episodes drop September 14. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to binge the entire season, ad-free. Find Pushkin+ on the Examined show page in Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm.

 

In 1986, a man named Scott Macklem was killed in broad daylight. Eight days later, a suspect was arrested. But now, almost 40 years later, reporter Josie Duffy Rice is re-examining this case. Has the wrong man been in prison this whole time?
New episodes drop September 14. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to binge the entire season, ad-free. Find Pushkin+ on the Examined <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/examined-the-backfire-effect/id1549249596">show page</a> in Apple Podcasts or at <a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin">Pushkin.fm</a>.
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Trailer: The Backfire Effect

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/10979881-4c83-4c0d-a7cb-b4be0161057d/transcript

Lost Hills has been quiet for a bit, so we've decided to do something different: turn this feed into a home for a new kind of story, told fresh each season. Starting this fall, this feed becomes Examined — a show about overlooked cases that never got the real investigation they deserved and need to be unpacked. These are stories about crime, punishment, and the people caught inside the criminal legal system. Every season, a new host will dig into one of these stories with the kind of in-depth reporting you’ve always heard in this feed. First up: Examined: The Backfire Effect, coming September 14, a story of police misconduct and prosecutorial zeal, and about a very complicated man.

Don't worry — previous episodes of Lost Hills will still stay on this feed so you can return to them at any time. One last thing: we want to hear from you. What overlooked cases have stuck with you — the ones you think about, the ones nobody's really told right? Email us at info@pushkin.fm. Thanks for staying with us.

Lost Hills has been quiet for a bit, so we've decided to do something different: turn this feed into a home for a new kind of story, told fresh each season.&nbsp;Starting this fall, this feed becomes Examined &mdash; a show about overlooked cases that never got the real investigation they deserved and need to be unpacked. These are stories about&nbsp;crime, punishment, and the people caught inside the criminal legal system.&nbsp;Every season, a new host will dig into one of these stories with the kind of in-depth reporting you&rsquo;ve always heard in this feed. First up: Examined: The Backfire Effect, coming September 14, a&nbsp;story of police misconduct and prosecutorial zeal, and about a very complicated man.
Don't worry &mdash; previous episodes of Lost Hills will still stay on this feed so you can return to them at any time. One last thing: we want to hear from you. What overlooked cases have stuck with you &mdash; the ones you think about, the ones nobody's really told right? Email us at <a href="mailto:info@pushkin.fm">info@pushkin.fm</a>. Thanks for staying with us.

Lost Hills is Becoming Examined 

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A reunion between two retired detectives brings new focus to the Aujay investigation, just as Hayley and Betsy find out about another tragedy in the Punchbowl area. When a woman and her father are shot dead in deputy Engels’ home, the fatalities should’ve prompted the sheriff’s department to take a harder look at the alleged dirty deputy. But, instead, the LASD tries to bury the matter and — just like in the Aujay case — the deaths are ruled suicides. Hayley and Betsy press the department for answers about these and other suspicious deaths that occurred in Engels’ jurisdiction.

Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack here.

Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm/plus.

A reunion between two retired detectives brings new focus to the Aujay investigation, just as Hayley and Betsy find out about another tragedy in the Punchbowl area. When a woman and her father are shot dead in deputy Engels&rsquo; home, the fatalities should&rsquo;ve prompted the sheriff&rsquo;s department to take a harder look at the alleged dirty deputy. But, instead, the LASD tries to bury the matter and &mdash; just like in the Aujay case &mdash; the deaths are ruled suicides. Hayley and Betsy press the department for answers about these and other suspicious deaths that occurred in Engels&rsquo; jurisdiction.
Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack <a href="https://lnk.to/VOSsoundtrack">here</a>.
Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/valley-of-shadows/id1858046983">Apple Podcasts</a> or at <a href="http://pushkin.fm/plus">Pushkin.fm/plus</a>.

Episode 8: The Finish Line | Valley of Shadows

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While the DEA showers Hager in accolades, the LASD turns against him. But Hager fights back, and drags the department’s dirty secrets out into open court. Betsy and Hayley go through thousands of pages of court documents, including internal LASD memos and recordings, to find out what the department knows about Aujay’s disappearance.

Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack here.

Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm/plus.

While the DEA showers Hager in accolades, the LASD turns against him. But Hager fights back, and drags the department&rsquo;s dirty secrets out into open court. Betsy and Hayley go through thousands of pages of court documents, including internal LASD memos and recordings, to find out what the department knows about Aujay&rsquo;s disappearance.
Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack <a href="https://lnk.to/VOSsoundtrack">here</a>.
Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/valley-of-shadows/id1858046983">Apple Podcasts</a> or at <a href="http://pushkin.fm/plus">Pushkin.fm/plus</a>.

Episode 7: The Trial | Valley of Shadows

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Brandenburg is taken off the Aujay case, but the LASD can’t stop Hager and the federal task force. With the help of wiretaps, informants, and 18 months of investigation, the team pulls off one of the largest drug stings in Antelope Valley history and nets a key witness in the Aujay case.

Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack here.

Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm/plus.

Brandenburg is taken off the Aujay case, but the LASD can&rsquo;t stop Hager and the federal task force. With the help of wiretaps, informants, and 18 months of investigation, the team pulls off one of the largest drug stings in Antelope Valley history and nets a key witness in the Aujay case.
Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack <a href="https://lnk.to/VOSsoundtrack">here</a>.
Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/valley-of-shadows/id1858046983">Apple Podcasts</a> or at <a href="http://pushkin.fm/plus">Pushkin.fm/plus</a>.

Episode 6: The Big Takedown | Valley of Shadows

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Decades before Jon Aujay’s disappearance, the Devil’s Punchbowl was infamous for something else: Bigfoot sightings. Sasquatch became a known boogeyman in the area. But beneath the folklore lies something real —- a local deputy, named Rick Engels, whose reputation inspires a different kind of fear. As detectives Brandenburg and Hager look into their colleague, they uncover a surprising connection to the Aujay case.

Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack here.

Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm/plus.

Decades before Jon Aujay&rsquo;s disappearance, the Devil&rsquo;s Punchbowl was infamous for something else: Bigfoot sightings. Sasquatch became a known boogeyman in the area. But beneath the folklore lies something real &mdash;- a local deputy, named Rick Engels, whose reputation inspires a different kind of fear. As detectives Brandenburg and Hager look into their colleague, they uncover a surprising connection to the Aujay case.
Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack <a href="https://lnk.to/VOSsoundtrack">here</a>.
Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/valley-of-shadows/id1858046983">Apple Podcasts</a> or at <a href="http://pushkin.fm/plus">Pushkin.fm/plus</a>.

Episode 5: The Legend of Bigfoot | Valley of Shadows

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As Detective Brandenburg follows leads in the Aujay case, he finds himself with an unlikely ally. A young buck narcotics detective named Darren Hager, who’s trying to dismantle a meth syndicate run by a local biker gang. Hager discovers that his bikers have a disturbing connection to Aujay’s disappearance — and to some of his own LASD colleagues. So he brings in the big guns, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and they launch a covert task force.

Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack here.

Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm/plus.

As Detective Brandenburg follows leads in the Aujay case, he finds himself with an unlikely ally. A young buck narcotics detective named Darren Hager, who&rsquo;s trying to dismantle a meth syndicate run by a local biker gang. Hager discovers that his bikers have a disturbing connection to Aujay&rsquo;s disappearance &mdash; and to some of his own LASD colleagues. So he brings in the big guns, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and they launch a covert task force.
Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack <a href="https://lnk.to/VOSsoundtrack">here</a>.
Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/valley-of-shadows/id1858046983">Apple Podcasts</a> or at <a href="http://pushkin.fm/plus">Pushkin.fm/plus</a>.

Episode 4: Outlaw Country | Valley of Shadows

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At the time of Jon Aujay’s disappearance, California is under siege by a meth epidemic and the Antelope Valley is the epicenter. So when investigators receive tips that Aujay was killed after stumbling upon a meth lab, it seems like a theory worth looking into. But LASD detectives are quick to dismiss the leads. Questioning why the cops are so dismissive, Betsy and Hayley discover there was one cop, Homicide Detective Larry Brandenburg, who bucked the company line and refused to let the Aujay trail go cold.

Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack here.

Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm/plus.

At the time of Jon Aujay&rsquo;s disappearance, California is under siege by a meth epidemic and the Antelope Valley is the epicenter. So when investigators receive tips that Aujay was killed after stumbling upon a meth lab, it seems like a theory worth looking into. But LASD detectives are quick to dismiss the leads. Questioning why the cops are so dismissive, Betsy and Hayley discover there was one cop, Homicide Detective Larry Brandenburg, who bucked the company line and refused to let the Aujay trail go cold.
Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack <a href="https://lnk.to/VOSsoundtrack">here</a>.
Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/valley-of-shadows/id1858046983">Apple Podcasts</a> or at <a href="http://pushkin.fm/plus">Pushkin.fm/plus</a>.

Episode 3: Tweaker Talk | Valley of Shadows

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After deputy Jon Aujay disappears, the sheriff’s department claims he was suicidal — pointing to marital troubles and erratic behavior in the weeks before he vanished. But the LASD’s official story doesn’t square with what Aujay’s loved ones and colleagues remember. Then, investigators start to hear rumors that the deputy didn’t take his own life, but was murdered for something he witnessed out in the desert. 

Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack on Spotify.

Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm/plus.

After deputy Jon Aujay disappears, the sheriff&rsquo;s department claims he was suicidal &mdash; pointing to marital troubles and erratic behavior in the weeks before he vanished. But the LASD&rsquo;s official story doesn&rsquo;t square with what Aujay&rsquo;s loved ones and colleagues remember. Then, investigators start to hear rumors that the deputy didn&rsquo;t take his own life, but was murdered for something he witnessed out in the desert.&nbsp;
Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4JqqPNYDkyAHVFFEv7pEeq">Spotify</a>.
Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/valley-of-shadows/id1858046983">Apple Podcasts</a> or at <a href="http://pushkin.fm/plus">Pushkin.fm/plus</a>.

Episode 2: An Unreasonable Act | Valley of Shadows

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The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department listened to our podcast and now they’re asking us some new questions — and answering some of ours. Are they ready to reopen the investigation into Mitrice’s death? 

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department listened to our podcast and now they’re asking us some new questions — and answering some of ours. Are they ready to reopen the investigation into Mitrice’s death?

Important Lost Hills - Dark Canyon Update | Lost Hills

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About Examined: Overlooked cases that never got the real investigation they deserved. Each season features deeply reported stories about crime, punishment, and the people inside the criminal legal system. 

Nearly 40 years ago, in the parking lot of a community college in Port Huron, Michigan, a 20-year-old student named Scott Macklem was shot dead in broad daylight. His murder shocked the community. It made no sense. The police quickly found their suspect. There was only one problem: the man said he was nowhere near the scene of the crime. And he could prove it. In Examined: The Backfire Effect, journalist Josie Duffy Rice talks with eyewitnesses, investigators and local reporters to unravel a shocking story of judicial apathy and expedience — a story that leaves no one off the hook.

About Examined: Overlooked cases that never got the real investigation they deserved. Each season features deeply reported stories about crime, punishment, and the people inside the criminal legal system.&nbsp;
Nearly 40 years ago, in the parking lot of a community college in Port Huron, Michigan, a 20-year-old student named Scott Macklem was shot dead in broad daylight. His murder shocked the community. It made no sense. The police quickly found their suspect. There was only one problem: the man said he was nowhere near the scene of the crime. And he could prove it. In Examined: The Backfire Effect, journalist Josie Duffy Rice talks with eyewitnesses, investigators and local reporters to unravel a shocking story of judicial apathy and expedience &mdash; a story that leaves no one off the hook.

Examined: The Backfire Effect

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