# Edgar Smith

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From murderer to media darling...and back again

The problem with psychopaths is they're incredibly charming...until they go in for the kill. This is the story of Edgar Smith, a killer who managed to convince publisher/TV star political commentator William F. Buckley Jr., that he was completely innocent. Buckley took up his cause until the unthin…

From murderer to media darling...and back again

The problem with psychopaths is they're incredibly charming...until they go in for the kill. This is the story of Edgar Smith, a killer who managed to convince publisher/TV star political commentator William F. Buckley Jr., that he was completely innocent. Buckley took up his cause until the unthin…

Edgar Herbert Smith

Dive into the chilling true crime story of Edgar Herbert Smith, the manipulative killer who charmed his way off death row only to strike again. From the brutal 1957 murder of 15-year-old cheerleader Victoria Zielinski in New Jersey to Smith's bestselling books, celebrity endorsements, and shocking …

Lhassa & Mecca

"amused myself by visiting Lhassa...looked in at Mecca" [FINA] The Great Hiatus, as the interval between "The Final Problem" and "The Empty House" is known, has inspired a great deal of speculation and interpretation, thanks to Sherlock Holmes's brief and tantalizing account of his time away. Edg…

S6 Ep1: Brief Against Death: The Murder of Victoria Zielinski

In 1957, Edgar Smith was sentenced to death for the murder of a teenage girl in New Jersey. From his prison cell, he began writing letters, essays and arguments build a case not in court, but on the page. One of those letters landed on the desk of William F. Buckley Jr. Others found their way int…

S6 Ep2: Brief Against Death: After Edgar Smith's Release

In 1976, a woman survived a brutal kidnapping and stabbing in a San Diego parking lot. The man accused of the attack was Edgar Smith—once a cause célèbre, hailed as a wrongfully convicted intellectual. His release had been celebrated by writers, editors and influential public figures who believed…

When Guilt Gets Rebranded As Innocence | After Live Nation And Ticketmaster’s Trial, Will Concert’s Be Cheaper?

When Guilt Gets Rebranded As Innocence Edgar Smith was convicted of murder, but from prison, he built a powerful case for his own innocence. We speak with writer and author Sarah Weinman about how his story captured public attention and why so many people wanted to believe him. Guest: Sarah W…

When Guilt Gets Rebranded As Innocence

When Guilt Gets Rebranded As Innocence Edgar Smith was convicted of murder, but from prison, he built a powerful case for his own innocence. We speak with writer and author Sarah Weinman about how his story captured public attention and why so many people wanted to believe him. Guest: Sarah W…