Five Thousand Dollars for a Death Sentence: Inside the Toforest Johnson Investigation w/ Beth Shelburne

If you heard our last episode, you already know the case against Toforest Johnson is riddled with problems—key witnesses recanted, no physical evidence tied him to the crime, and even the original prosecutor now says he deserves a new trial. But there’s even more to this story. In this follow-up conversation, investigative journalist Beth Shelburne peels back the layers of the case and shares what she uncovered while making Earwitness. We go deep into the tangled web of unreliable witnesses, missed leads, and the political forces keeping Toforest behind bars. Beth also reveals disturbing new details—ones that never made it into the courtroom but could change everything. What happens when the truth is clear, but the system refuses to listen? And how close is Toforest to finally seeing justice? Listen in—because this fight is far from over. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Om Podcasten

Do you ever listen to a true crime podcast and think, “that’s not quite right…?” Same. Crime stories are hard to ignore and even harder to forget. But the thing is... they’re stories. And getting a story right is all about how you tell it. Truer Crime talks about real people— murdered, missing, misled — with more nuance, more context, and more questions. Hosted by Celisia Stanton. Season 2 out now!