Episode 3: Fight and Flight
Police hypnotize their key witness. Did it change her memory?
Hey listeners!
When we left off, Charles Flores had just learned the police were looking for him in connection with Betty Black’s murder.
And, for better or worse, Charles decided to run.
What follows is a wild ride: There’s a burning car, a chase, a stint in Mexico, and a hospital escape attempt. But more importantly, Charles’ decision to flee will continue to haunt him long after he returns to the Dallas area.
Later, the prosecution will argue that Charles’ flight was evidence of guilt, while Charles argues that he ran because he was afraid.
Who do you believe? That’s up for you to decide.
Listen to Episode 3: Fight and Flight wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
This episode also digs into who Charles is as a person and his life before Betty Black’s murder. He grew up in Midland, but his family moved to Dallas when he was a teenager, and things kind of unraveled from there. His story is complicated, and he’s dealt with a lot of tragedy in his life. He’s experienced the legal system from two different perspectives: both as an alleged perpetrator and as a family member of victims of violence. The dual perspectives have left him with mixed feelings about our judicial system.
Near the end of the episode, Michelle asks Charles to read aloud a letter he wrote from death row about fifteen years ago to a pen pal in New Zealand, and it’s a really powerful moment.
Next episode: the trial begins, and Jill Bargainer takes the stand — and what she says changes everything. Thank you for listening! — Aislyn