True Sunlight

The Bowen Turner case in South Carolina has been one for the outrage records. Listeners across the country have been horrified as they watched the justice system coddle Bowen over and over while the thrice-accused rapist gave his second, third and fourth chances the middle finger. But now, something good could come from the case — a case that included the horrific bullying of Dallas Stoller, one of his accusers. Bullying that resulted in her death.  Something good might come from Bowen’s 2022 sham of a plea deal hearing — orchestrated by a cunning lawyer-legislator, executed by a prosecutor blinded by ambition and approved by a Good Ole Boy judge. Change might be coming because of an appeal filed by another one of Bowen’s accusers, Chloe Bess. Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell take a look at the historic filing and what went down during oral arguments in front of the state Court of Appeals on Tuesday. The state’s victims bill of rights affords victims the opportunity to be heard in court. In trials, victims can testify before a verdict is rendered — before a potential conviction. But in plea deals they’ve been restricted to being heard only after the judge has accepted the pleading — only AFTER the conviction. Chloe Bess and her legal team are trying to change that … to finally make victims’ rights MEANINGFUL. Episode Resources SC Court of Appeals Broadcast Link SC Victims’ Constitutional Rights Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️ Join Luna Shark Premium today at Lunashark.Supercast.com. Premium Members also get access to searchable case files, written articles with documents, case photos, episode videos and exclusive live experiences with our hosts on lunasharkmedia.com all in one place. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE. If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. What We're Buying... Hungry Root - https://hungryroot.com/mandy to get 40% off your first delivery and get your free veggies.. Hungry Root is the easiest way to eat healthy. They send you fresh, high-quality groceries, simple, delicious recipes, and essential supplements. Task Rabbit - Use promo code "mandy" at https://www.taskrabbit.com/ for 15% off your task. Task Rabbit connects you with skilled Taskers to help with cleaning, moving, furniture assembly, home repairs, and more. Here's a link to some of our favorite things: https://amzn.to/4cJ0eVn And a special thank you to our other amazing sponsors: Microdose.com, PELOTON, and VUORI. Use promo code "MANDY" for a special offer! *** ALERT: If you ever notice audio errors in the pod, email [email protected] and we'll send fun merch to the first listener that finds something that needs to be adjusted! *** For current & accurate updates: TrueSunlight.com facebook.com/TrueSunlightPodcast/ Instagram.com/TrueSunlightPod Twitter.com/mandymatney Twitter.com/elizfarrell youtube.com/@LunaSharkMedia tiktok.com/@lunasharkmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Mica Francis Case

The Mica Francis Case

The Mica Francis Case

Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell are once again forced to scrap their plans for an episode topic because of breaking news. On Tuesday, TikTok user JusticeNTruth4SCcourts posted never-before published 911 calls from Mica Francis and her estranged husband Pastor JP Miller. This caught Mandy’s and Liz’s attention because they had FOIA’d Horry County for just about everything one can think of or related to this case and yet these calls were not disclosed to us. This public agency said to us that they gave all they found....? Are the police protecting themselves and violating public information laws? Or is this trove of calls now part of a bigger investigation into what led to Mica’s death in April?  Mandy and Liz break down the new calls and what they mean to the timeline.  They also consider new information revealed by both Mica and JP and how it fits into the bigger picture. What role — if any — did JP’s oldest son play in the harassment Mica was experiencing in February, March and April? And did Mica actually sign the power of attorney that granted JP complete authority over her medical decisions?  The deeper the rabbit hole goes, the more sunlight Mandy and Liz seek to bring in this case.  Join Luna Shark Premium today at Lunashark.Supercast.com. Premium Members also get access to searchable case files, written articles with documents, case photos, episode videos and exclusive live experiences with our hosts on lunasharkmedia.com all in one place. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE. And for those just wanting ad-free listening without all the other great content, we now offer ad-free listening on Apple Podcast through a subscription to Luna Shark Plus on the Apple Podcasts App. Episode Resources: @justicentruth4sccourts South Carolina Code of Laws - Freedom of Information Act Mica Miller Timeline (Soak Up The Sun Members) For What It's Worth, by Buffalo Springfield Mica Francis Miller Healthcare Power of Attorney Myrtle Beach PD Missing Vehicle Report Mica's List Visit our new events page Lunasharkmedia.com/events where you can learn about the upcoming in-person and virtual appearances from hosts or submit your own ideas at lunasharkmedia.com/newevents. Or follow @mandy_matney on Instagram for the latest pop-ups. If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. What We're Buying... Lumen - https://www.lumen.me/sunlight for 15% off your purchase. Your metabolic health, in your hands. Understand your unique metabolism, promote fat burn, lose weight, and boost energy naturally. CBDistillery - https://cbdistillery.com with code “COJ” for 20% off. No fluff. No fillers. Just pure, effective cannabinoid products. Over 43,000 Verified Reviews. 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee. Free Shipping Over $75. Subscribe & Save Up To 30% Away Travel Softside Luggage - AwayTravel.com/mandy has our peace of mind secured with carry-ons, cases, accessories and more. And their Softside suitcases are lighter than others, super comfortable to roll and uber stylish. Here's a link to some of our favorite things: https://amzn.to/4cJ0eVn And a special thank you to our other amazing sponsors: Microdose.com, PELOTON, and VUORI. Use promo code "MANDY" for a special offer! *** ALERT: If you ever notice audio errors in the pod, email [email protected] and we'll send fun merch to the first listener that finds something that needs to be adjusted! *** For current & accurate updates: TrueSunlight.com facebook.com/TrueSunlightPodcast/ Instagram.com/TrueSunlightPod Twitter.com/mandymatney Twitter.com/elizfarrell youtube.com/@LunaSharkMedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices