Our team has been keeping busy this Spring as we prepare for the upcoming retrial of Michael Colucci in the death of his wife Sara Lynn Colucci, as well as keeping pressure on investigators in the Stephen Smith case.
While we cannot cover every tip received, we encourage submitting cases and information on our website here.
Selected cases are covered in this corruption watchlist and soon we’ll provide an update on our crowdfunded journalism platform. Keep an eye out for more details as we expose the truth wherever it leads.
Corruption Watchlist
Mica Miller, South Carolina
An unusual case out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has drawn many online to form opinions and theories about the death of Mica Miller, however her death has been ruled a suicide by investigators.
Mica’s death on April 27, 2024 accumulated viral interest after her husband, John Paul Miller, announced her death during a sermon at his church the next day. Footage of the sermon was uploaded to social media where it quickly garnered national attention.
In Cup of Justice Episode 80, hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland discussed the complexities of the case. You can listen to that episode here or on your premium feed.
Family and friends close to Mica urged police to investigate Mica’s death, stating that she was in an abusive relationship with her husband and would not take her own life. According to police statements, Mica and JP were “estranged” and were involved in legal proceedings regarding the separation.
Following an investigation, police stated JP was in South Carolina at the time of Mica’s death and the day prior.
On May 7, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office announced that Mica’s death was officially ruled a suicide by the medical examiner. Footage shared by police showed Mica purchasing a gun in Myrtle Beach the day she died.
In True Sunlight Episode 50, Mandy and Liz dove into the allegations against JP as well as the breadcrumbs Mica supposedly left both publicly and privately.
Canton, Massachusetts
The trial against Karen Read in the death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe is well underway, and the speculation and interest are growing by the day.
On February 1, 2022 Karen Read was charged with “second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of a collision causing injury or death” just three days after O’keefe was pronounced dead.
As we enter the third week of trial, division grows between those who believe this is an alleged cover up and those who think she is guilty of hitting O’Keefe with her vehicle.
Cup of Justice #75 dives deeper into the case with Brandi Churchwell who has been following the trial.
You can read an in depth look about the case here. The trial is expected to proceed seven weeks according to the presiding judge.
So far, jurors have heard from 12 prosecution witnesses, including O’Keefe’s brother, his sister-in-law, and first responders at the scene where O’Keefe’s body was discovered.
Jurors heard about the state O’Keefe’s body was in and recounted how the bystanders, including Read, were acting.
While some witnesses stated that Read was inconsolable and pacing at the scene, others stated that Read said she “hit him” referring to O’Keefe.
Watch coverage on Court TV with coverage from Vinnie Politan who appears on COJ 76 and Julie Grant appearing on COJ 81.
Are you looking into a case?
Soak Up the Sun Members have access to various guides and helpful tips for investigating cases. Check some out here:
- How to Start Investigating Your Own Case
- How to Create a Timeline: Getting The Facts Straight and Keeping Track of your Information
- FOIA Requests: Where to look, who to ask, and how much we can find in the public records
- How to Take Notes in Court
Want more updates on these cases?
Our premium members also have access to livestreams of various trials and court cases including live chats with the Luna Shark team. Stay tuned for announcements on those!
We are diving deeper into the facts of this case and will keep Premium Members updated with any potential leads.
Thanks for your help as we continue to shine sunlight on corruption around the country.
Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky, and Stay in the Sunlight.
Sam Berlin
Sam is an award winning-journalist originally from Raleigh, North Carolina and currently living in Brooklyn, New York.
She graduated from Syracuse University in 2020 where she studied magazine journalism, photography, and sociology.
She joined Luna Shark Media in 2023 where she assists with research, producing, recording and editing for True Sunlight and Cup of Justice podcasts.
Through her detailed, ethical reporting and multimedia experience, Sam creates enterprise stories and works to unravel the truth around her.
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