Tina’s Story
Lesley Wenger and Sylvia Gonzales served on the Castle Hills, Texas city council in 2018. BUT when things didn’t go their way, they plotted a coup.

Hillary’s Story
Henrietta Lacks contributed to medical science through her illegally harvested immortal cell tissue. BUT when her family finds out, they call for reform and recognition of her contributions.

Sources
Hillary's Story
Brittannica
Henrietta Lacks

CNN
Estate of Henrietta Lacks sues biotechnical company for nonconsensual use of her cells--by Taylor Romine

History
Henrietta Lacks: How Her Cells Became One of the Most Important Medical Tools in History--by Rebecca Skloot

Hopkins Medicine
The Legacy of Henrietta Lacks
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Nature
Henrietta Lacks: science must right a historical wrong

The New York Times
Henrietta Lacks, Whose Cells Were Taken Without Her Consent, Is Honored by W.H.O.--by Maria Cramer

NPR
'Henrietta Lacks': A Donor's Immortal Legacy

Smithsonian Magazine
Henrietta Lacks’ ‘Immortal’ Cells--by Sarah Zielinski

Wikpedia
Henrietta Lacks

Photos
Henrietta Lacks--from the Henrietta Lacks Foundation via The New York Times
HeLa Cells--by Heiti Paves/Shutterstock via National Institute of Standard and Technology
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Novel)--book cover by Crown publishers via Wikipedia

Tina's Story
Forbes
Texas Councilwoman Fights Back After Her Opponents Had Her Arrested And Jailed--by Andrew Wimer

Fox 29
Castle Hills council member who allegedly plotted against city manager reinstated--by SBG San Antonio

KENS5
Castle Hills city manager fired over confrontations with police, judge--by Dillon Collier

KSAT 12
2 Castle Hills council members arrested in alleged plot to oust city manager--by Adrian Garcia and Patty Santos
Castle Hills City Council votes to fire city manager--by Chris Shadrock
Petition calls for removal of 2 Castle Hills council members
Questions surround legitimacy of swearing in of Castle Hills City Council member--by Patty Santos and Jennifer Galvan
Tampering charge against former Castle Hills councilwoman dismissed--by Fares Sabawi and Adrian Garcia

News4SA
Former Castle Hills councilwoman sues city, claims first amendment rights were violated--by Camilla Rambaldi

San Antonio Express News
Castle Hills council drama gets ‘uglier’

USA Today
City officials threw me in jail to silence me. Years later, I'm still seeking justice.--by Sylvia Gonzalez

Photos
Lesley Wenger Mugshot--screenshot via KSAT
Sylvia Gonzalez Mugshot--screenshot via KSAT
Ryan Rapelye, Castle Hills City Manager--offical photo via San Antonio Report

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Hillary’s Story
In 1973, NASA sent astronauts to the Skylab space station. BUT when they stop contact with ground control, many wondered if it was an act of rebellion.

Tina’s Story
John Joe Gray is a self proclaimed sovereign citizen who doesn’t believe in Federal authority. BUT after an arrest, he ends up leading the longest armed standoff in US history.

Sources
Hillary's Story
Astronomy
Was there really a “mutiny” aboard the Skylab space station?--by Doug Adler

BBC
Skylab: The myth of the mutiny in space

NASA
The Real Story of the Skylab 4 “Strike” in Space
Skylab Astronaut Gerald "Jerry" Carr Dies at 88

Smithsonian
Mutiny in Space: Why These Skylab Astronauts Never Flew Again--by Kat Eschner

Space Center Houston
Skylab 4: The Last Mission

Wikipedia
Gerald Carr (astronaut)
Sklab 4

Photos
Skylab 4 Crew - From Left: Carr, Gibson, and Pogue--from Wikimedia Commons via Smithsonian Magazine
Skylab Space Station--from NASA via Astronomy
Pogue (L) and Carr on Skylab--from NASA/Public Domain via Wikipedia

Tina's Story
The Bulletin
The longest standoff in America' almost 15 years--by Manny Fernandez

The Chronicle
Authorities ignore fugitive holed up on Texas land for 11 years--by Steve Campbell

The Daily Mail
Gun-loving patriarch who locked his family away on his ranch for a 15 YEAR standoff with cops is now under investigation AGAIN as it's revealed he hasn't paid taxes in a decade--by Alexandra Klausner

Dallas Observer
Between heaven and hell--by Carlton Stowers
The Tex Files--by Carlton Stowers

Embassy of Heaven
John Joe Gray

Independent
Texas cult stand-off

Palestine Herald-Press
East Texas stalemate persists as suspect avoids police

Southern Poverty Law Center
Famous standoffs between authorities and extremists have lasted up to 81 days. But in Texas, one man is going for a new record

Photos
John Joe Gray Mugshot--Henderson County Sheriff's Office via The Huffington Post
The Gray Family in 2016--screenshot via Fort Worth Star Telegram/YouTube
Sign Posted at Gray Ranch--screenshot via Fort Worth Star Telegram/YouTube

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Tina’s Story
Daniel Sickles, known for his intellect and friendship with James Buchanan, made a name for himself in politics. BUT it’s his wife’s infidelity that leads to a crime of passion and a newfound defense plea.

Hillary’s Story
Federal judge Samuel B. Kent was well respected since his appointment to the bench in 1990, BUT when he made unwanted advances to staff members, he faced impeachment.

Sources
Tina's Story
All That's Interesting
How Congressman Daniel Sickles Admitted To Killing His Wife’s Lover And Got Away With It--by Genevieve Carlton

Emerging Civil War
Dan Sickles and the Temporary Insanity Defense--by Todd Arrington

Encyclopedia.com
Daniel Sickles Trial: 1859

Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit
The Murder of Phillip Barton Key

History
Daniel Sickles

Nursing Clio
“Ample Justification for the Deed”: Public Interest in the “Sickles Tragedy” as Gender Performance--by Sarah Adler

Unresolved
The Assassination of Philip Barton Key

Wikipedia
Philip Barton Key II

WLRN
'Star Spangled Scandal': How An 1859 Sensationalized Crime Set A Modern Day Precedent--by Jessica Taylor

Women History Blog
Wife Of Union General Daniel Sickles

Photos
Daniel Sickles--public domain, Library of Congress via Wikipedia
Teresa Sickles--public domain via Wikipedia
Philip Barton Key--public domain via Wikipedia
Illustration of Sickles shooting Key--public domain via Wikipedia

Hillary's Story
ABC News
Federal Judge Indicted in Sex Abuse Case--by Theresa Cook and Gina Sunseri

Chron.
Casey: Judge Kent soap opera goes beyond guilty plea--by Rick Casey
Disgraced ex-judge Kent out of prison, confined to cabin--by Lise Olsen
Judge Kent's impeachment came fast and furious--by Stewart Powell

CNN
Victims allege years of sexual misconduct by federal judge--by Tom Cohen

Congress
H. Rept. 111-159 - IMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE SAMUEL B. KENT

Constitutional Law Reporter
JUDGE SAMUEL B KENT AVOIDED IMPEACHMENT BY RESIGNING

Library of Congress
Federal Impeachment

New York Times
Judge Sentenced to Prison for Lying About Harassment--by James C. McKinlye, Jr.

Southeast Texas Record
5th Circuit denies Kent's disability status, recommends impeachment--by Marilyn Tennissen

US Department of Justice
U.S. District Court Judge Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Obstruction of Justice

Wikipedia
Samuel B. Kent

Photos
Judge Samuel B. Kent--from US Distict of the Southern District of Texas via public domain
Samuel Kent and his wife outside courthouse--by Mayra Beltran via the Houston Chronicle
Cathy McBroom and Donna Wilkerson--via The University of Texas at Austin Center for Women's & Gender Studies

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Tina’s Story
Crystal City Texas is a quaint little Texas town with a population of under 7000. BUT when the FBI gets wind of a gambling operation, all bets are off for the town officials.

Hillary’s Story
Climate activist Wynn Bruce sought to raise awareness to the climate crisis via his social media accounts. BUT when he travels to Washington DC, he makes the ultimate sacrifice for the cause.

Sources
Tina's Story
FCCED
US court rejects former Crystal City mayor’s appeal in corruption case

Gawker
The Mayor of Crystal City, Texas, Just Can't Stop Getting Arrested--by Andy Cush

Hispanic News Network USA
Crystal City Hall In Texas Closed After Gaming Sting Operation Busted Corrupt City Officials--by Nelson Goodson

KUOW
A Year After a Corruption Scandal, Crystal City Works to Pick Up the Pieces--By EMMA WHALEN

The Medlin Law Firm
Former Texas Mayor and City Attorney Are Convicted of Corruption Charges

My San Antonio
Crystal City officials sentenced for taking bribes--by John MacCormack

Spectrum Local News
Crystal City Residents Not Surprised at String of Arrests--by John Salazar

Texas Historical Commission
Crystal City (Family) Internment Camp

The Texas Monitor
City manager in Crystal City sentenced to 35 years in prison--By Mark Lisheron

Texas Tribune
How a Tiny Texas Town Took Down its City Council

United Stated Department of Justice
Three Former Crystal City, TX, Officials Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bribery and Kickback Scheme

Vice
A Texas Town with Corrupt City Officials Now Has Black Tap Water--By Wyatt Marshall

Photo
Former Crystal City Officials--screenshot via Rough Diplomacy

FBI Removing Evidence--screenshot via Spectrum Local News

City of Crystal City Logo--via The Howder Family blog

Hillary's Story
CNN
A man who died after self-immolating in front of Supreme Court was a climate activist--by Rachel Ramirez

The Denver Post
Boulder climate activist dies after apparent act of protest outside U.S. Supreme Court on Earth Day--by Shelly Bradbury

MSNBC
How an activist's self-immolation exposed the dark reality of 'climate grief' --by Ja'han Jones

PBS News Hour
Climate change activist’s self-immolation raises questions of faith and protest

The Washington Post
Outside the Supreme Court, a life of purpose and pain ends in flames

Wikipedia
Self-immolation of Wynn Bruce

Photos:
Wynn Bruce--Facebook photo via The New York Post
Wynn Bruce Facebook Post--Facebook screenshot via Daily Mail

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Hillary’s Story
The Office of Alien Property Custodian began with the purpose of holding property belonging to enemies of the United States. BUT things go too far when bribes are exchanged for patents and other goods.

Tina’s Story
Melissa Lucio lost her daughter in 2007 after a tragic accident. BUT despite no evidence to the contrary, the State of Texas sentenced her to death for a murder that never happened.

Sources
Hillary's Story
Cornell Law School
50 U.S. Code § 4306 - Alien Property Custodian; general powers and duties

Duke Law School
THE WORK OF THE ALIEN PROPERTY CUSTODIAN--by PAUL V. MYRON

National Archives
Civilian Agency Records RG 131
Records of the office of Alien Property

Smithsonian Magazine
The U.S. Confiscated Half a Billion Dollars in Private Property During WWI--by Daniel Gross

University of Hawaii
Government Documents - Independent Agencies, Boards, and Commissions: Alien Property Custodian

University of Virginia
"Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Office of Alien Property Custodian:" Draft, 1943

Wikipedia
Office of Alien Property Custodian

Photos
President Wilson and Mitchell Palmer--Bain News Service, Public Domain
Outside the sale of the A.W. Faber Pencil Co. Plant--via National Archives and Records Administration, Public Domain
Letter to the MET Museum of Art regarding Sale of Antiques--via The MET Museum

Tina's Story
The Action Network
Melissa Lucio: Innocent Woman on Death Row in Texas

Death Penalty Information Center
Federal Appeals Court Overturns Mother’s Conviction in Texas Child Murder Case That May Have Been an Accidental Death
U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Review Federal Appeals Court Ruling Overturning Grant of a New Trial for Texas Woman on Death Row for What May Have Been the Accidental Death of Her Child

Free Melissa Lucio
Free Melissa Lucio

Independent via Yahoo News
Juror who sentenced Melissa Lucio to death for daughter’s murder calls for retrial: ‘I was wrong’--by Justin Vallejo

Innocence Project
Melissa Lucio: 9 Facts You Should Know About This Innocent Woman Facing Execution

The Intercept
Rush to Judgment--by Liliana Segura and Jordan Smith

Jezebel
Kim Kardashian Urges Clemency for Melissa Lucio, Woman on Death Row in Texas--by Kylie Cheung

Justia
MELISSA ELIZABETH LUCIO v. THE STATE OF TEXAS (concurring)

KRGV
'She's innocent': Family asking Valley officials to watch documentary, halt execution of Melissa Lucio--by Stefany Rosales

Ms.
Texas Set to Execute Melissa Lucio Despite Credible Claims of Innocence--by MICHELLE ONELLO

NPR
Lawyers hope new evidence can stop Texas woman Melissa Lucio's execution--by The Associated Press

Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Death Row Information: Lucio, Melissa Elizabeth

US Courts
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, No. 16-70027

The Washington Post
Her execution date looming, a mother maintains innocence in 2-year-old daughter’s death--By Marisa Lati

Wikipedia
Melissa Lucio
The State of Texas vs. Melissa

Photos
Melissa Lucio Mug Shot--from Texas Department of Criminal Justice via Yahoo News

Melissa Lucio Prior to Her Conviction--screenshot of family photo via The Innocence Project
Kim Kardassian Tweet Regarding Lucio's Case--screenshot via ABC News

Support The Muck Podcast

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Support The Muck Podcast

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Support The Muck Podcast

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Support The Muck Podcast

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Support The Muck Podcast