Introducing Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

Introducing Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery: New Jersey politics is not for the faint of heart. But the brutal killing of John and Joyce Sheridan, a prominent couple with personal ties to three governors, shocks even the most cynical operatives. The mystery surrounding the crime sends their son on a quest for truth. Dead End is a story of crime and corruption at the highest levels of society in the Garden State. by Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

3 min listen

EPISODE 2: Not Your “Typical” Murder Suicide: The Sheridans’ eldest son Mark is consumed with getting to the bottom of what happened to his parents. As the lawyer for Governor Chris Christie’s election campaign, Mark is in a unique position to uncover answers. Instead, he’s met with roadblock after roadblock. The questions really pile up when he learns that detectives haven’t even interviewed several key witnesses or completed a thorough investigation of the crime scene. Not only that, a key piece of evidence is missing. New voices interviewed in episode: • Barry Jansen, retired forensic technician for the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office • Tom Draper, Sheridans’ neighbor • Michael Baden, medical examiner hired by the Sheridan brothers A previous version of this episode referred to Mark Sheridan as the “personal lawyer for Chris Christie.” In fact, he was the personal lawyer for the Chris Christie campaign. We have updated the episode to correct this. by Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

27 min listen

EPISODE 3: A Bloody Fingerprint, A Bent Fire Poker, and Mystery DNA: The knife used to kill John Sheridan is just the first of many clues casting doubt on law enforcement’s conclusion of murder suicide. A newspaper crime reporter, a veteran homicide detective out of Philly, and a whistleblower point to significant pieces of evidence that have been disregarded—even thrown into a dumpster. Although Mark has the state attorney general and the county prosecutor in his cell phone, he still gets stonewalled. The authorities assure the political insider that his parents had a dark secret, which will eventually come to light. Mark isn’t convinced. Instead, as he goes through his parent’s papers, he stumbles into a different fight. New voices interviewed in episode: • Barbara Boyer, reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer • Eddie Rocks, veteran homicide detective, retired from the Philadelphia police. • Lawrence Kobilinski, professor emeritus, department of sciences at John Jay College of Crimi by Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

33 min listen

EPISODE 1: Meet the Sheridans: On a quiet cul-de-sac, a husband and wife of 47 years are stabbed to death in the stillness of dawn. Honest and unassuming, John Sheridan, famous for never raising his voice, played against type in the rough-and-tumble world of New Jersey politics. Could the Republican lobbyist have killed his wife Joyce—a veteran public school teacher and no-nonsense mother of four sons—then set their bedroom on fire before knifing himself? That’s the version of events authorities say happened in the early morning hours of September 28, 2014. But, in more ways than one, the theory doesn’t add up. Key voices interviewed in episode: • Christine Todd Whitman, former Governor • Chris Stevens, Joyce Sheridan’s best friend • Bob Stevens, husband of Chris’ Stevens • Mark Sheridan, eldest of the Sheridans’ four sons, lawyer for Governor Chris Christie's campaign and for the state Republican party for more than a decade • Peter Sheridan, John’s younger brother and federal judge i by Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

30 min listen

EPISODE 6: On the (Camden) Waterfront: A couple months after his parents’ deaths, Mark Sheridan comes across a paper trail: extensive email exchanges, dated memos, and handwritten notes detailing a real estate deal on the Camden waterfront. His father, John Sheridan, wrote himself a note on an envelope: “I have a duty of loyalty and good faith and I need to act in a way consistent with that responsibility." How did John act and what impact did it have? New voice interviewed in episode: • Jeff Pillets, an investigative reporter who spent a year at the Bergen Record looking at George Norcross and his insurance business by Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

32 min listen

EPISODE 5: New Jersey’s Other Boss: John Sheridan’s decision to go work at Cooper University Hospital came at a curious time. It was just months after news about the Palmyra tapes came out. The tapes caught George Norcross bullying and offering a favor to a small town official; they are a rare instance where evidence emerged of the rough and tumble side to the south Jersey political machine. An email shows Norcross' control over the state legislature and city council members in Camden explain what it means to be a "yes yes" person. • Kelly Francis, union organizer and Camden activist • Kevin Riordan, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter who has covered south Jersey off and on for the past 45 years • Micah Rasmussen, director of Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University • Tom Knoche, lecturer at Rutgers University in Camden • Matt Katz, reporter at WNYC • Shaneka Boucher, Camden City Councilwoman • Marilyn Torres, Camden City Councilwoman • Jeffrey Brenner, doctor who wor by Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

29 min listen

EPISODE 4: The Dirt on the Garden State: After it becomes clear the Somerset county prosecutor’s office couldn’t have done a worse job (unless their goal was to destroy the crime scene), some 200 prominent citizens send a letter to the state attorney general asking for his office to intervene in the investigation. Despite the letter signed by the biggest names in New Jersey legal circles—including two former attorneys general and three former governors—the attorney general never gets involved. The quest to find out why takes us through a brief history of problems in New Jersey's criminal justice system. New voice interviewed in episode: • Ed Stier, lawyer, joined the attorney general’s Office in New Jersey in the 1960s to investigate and prosecute organized crime by Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

24 min listen

EPISODE 7: Breaking News - "Thou Shalt Pursue": In the almost eight years since John and Joyce Sheridan were killed, five state Attorneys General have come and gone in New Jersey. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently nominated a new Attorney General, Matt Platkin. Last week, an email came from Platkin’s press office with surprising news. by Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

10 min listen

EPISODE 8: Dead End: In February 2015, the Somerset prosecutor announced that John Sheridan had murdered his wife in cold blood and then killed himself. In 2017, the manner of death was updated to “undetermined.” From the local detectives to the state’s Attorney General’s office, a lot of people walked away from these murders. If a family as powerful and well-connected as the Sheridans gets such bad treatment, what does this say about the justice system in New Jersey? New voices interviewed in episode: • Ben Barlyn, lawyer who filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the Chris Christie administration. • Peter Sheridan, younger brother of John, and a federal judge in New Jersey. by Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

32 min listen

UPDATE: The Camden Investigation: It’s been a year and the subpoenas are flying in Camden. by Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

12 min listen

Nancy Solomon Introduces Imminent Danger: One Doctor and a Trail of Injured Women: Dead End host Nancy Solomon introduces us to a new, five-part investigation from the WNYC Newsroom called “Imminent Danger: One Doctor and a Trail of Injured Women.” The doctor in question — an OB/GYN named Thomas J. Byrne — was negligent and incompetent, according to officials in New York State. And yet, he is still practicing medicine today. This series explores why that is and what it says about the system for vetting doctors. by Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

32 min listen

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Introducing Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

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