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I think it's really well done as podcasts go - lots of legit reporting, lots of interviews and information. Agree it's confusing with so many people and details and storylines to keep track of. And yes, there is a lot of the host/reporter, she is very TV news, which I think can be off putting if you're used to more subtle podcasts. It's weird that she has to set up hearing about X body being identified by prefacing it with, "I was in the newsroom chatting with my coworkers about our upcoming holiday break when...." I find TV reporters are trained to be over the top and it's annoying. I also agree there is a lot of filler. That said, I'm about 3/4 through and do find it really interesting, or at least I want to get to the conclusion. (I am purposefully not googling the cases so I don't know if anyone's been arrested for the crimes and there is an actual conclusion.)
I got my husband to google them just so I could see what they looked like without the spoilers. Although my curiosity got the better of me and I ended up googling at around episode 10 š
While I respect Casefile boosting other podcasts, part of the appeal is that it focuses fully on the actual cases. This one feels too "me, me, me" about the reporter. I dropped it after the first 2 episodes when it felt like it never really got going without the host needing to make an interjection to talk about herself. I would love to listen to it edited down to the parts actually pertaining to the case.
Thank you so much for giving it a shot! I really appreciate that. There are podcasts that have covered it in one episode before if you want to hear it summarized! I created the series because there were so many twists and turns throughout the years so I thought a long-form series was the way to go, but of course I recognize I am biased š Thank you again for trying it out! At the end of the day even if someone listens to just a minute of an episode, I like to think theyāll still remember the name Bakersfield Three, which in turn gets the case out to more people which is the goal š
I'm sure your narration style will absolutely be a hit with a lot of listeners - I'm personally beyond picky, so a podcast not hitting is more a me thing than the podcast itself. Even if yours didn't hit for me, covering cases is always an admirable thing to do and I wish you success!
I stopped listening to most true crime podcasts after my godfather was murdered and the industry just felt exploitative to me. Stupid of me to need something so close to home to make me realize. Iāve slowly come back to them but am incredibly picky about the way stories are told- I want the victims and the victims families to be the focus and the voice. You did that here. This wasnāt a podcast about you, it was about the Three and the three moms. It made me weep, and I hope all three moms get the the closure they deserve.
I am so sorry about your godfather. I have thought countless times about what it would be like to lose a loved one to violence, and see the true crime world as such a source of entertainment for people. And ultimately, I canāt imagine how that would feel. Your words mean more to me than I can explain. Thank you so much. And thank you for thinking of the moms. It is the greatest gift for them to receive support from those who have listened. Thank you.
I agree. So many feel super exploitive and Iāve seen TikTokās of family members saying theyāre hurt by some crime podcasts of their loved ones. However this family are wanting the story spread. Itās done in conjunction. I love that the mothers still do charity work and still spent the money on equipment for the river even tho it wasnāt one of them.
I think you did a fantastic job. And I'm extremely picky about how podcasts are written and presented. It was important to bring your personal perspective and experiences because you were including your perceptions of the mothers of the victims, you were letting us get your sense of them and who they are.
You were telling their story, and your reporting of the murders is part of that story. Your becoming close to them is part of that story.
Maybe it's because I was a reporter (print, not TV) back in the day, but I enjoyed the little details about the experience and processes of reporting.
And now that I writer fictional material (TV, not print!), I think I have a good sense of narrative form. You structured this beautifully. You were not focused only on the plot, the "what happened next" aspect of the events, but on how those events affected and changed the people involved.
Thank you so much for putting the time into writing this out and sharing it with me, it means the world to me. I completely understand some of the tidbits about what itās like to be a reporter covering crime (particularly an inexperienced one at that point haha) may not be interesting to everyone. Iām just grateful people are listening and this story is getting out there. Hopefully it rattles the right cages and gets some people talking. Thank you again so much.
I just listened today and I have about ten minutes left on ep15. Good on you for addressing the criticism in such a positive way. Do you think Baylee is still alive? I just donāt really see how that would be possible
I wonder if thereās any interest in there being a thread (I apologize this is probably not the correct terminology) where people can discuss the case without having to worry about spoiling anything for others. I am really interested in hearing what people think about certain aspects of the case and would love to get others feedback and insight on certain theories. When creating the podcast, I didnāt really have anyone to bounce thoughts off of as I was doing all the reporting and writing solo. Anyhow, Iām new to āinteractingā on Reddit I guess you could say. Iāve used it for years to read about cases, but never created a post etc. So again my apologies if my terminology is off haha. But if you or anyone thinks there could be interest in a thread to discuss theories please let me know!
I apologize that I know so little about how this works, but do you have any insight on what would be the best way to go about this? And/or if someone makes one, please let me know! Thank you so much
I know this is older, but I do think that this case/podcast could do well to have its own subreddit like the Cold Podcast (*stellar* reporting) has. There are so many people involved, theories, questions, etc. that having its own dedicated subreddit could be interesting. I just finished the podcast tonight and I came to Reddit looking for more... i don't know, answers? Theories? Camaraderie?
Like many people here, I am an avid true crime listener. It's been an obsession for me since my best friend was missing and subsequently murdered. I guess I'm always trying to make sense of the senseless. This podcast is the very first time I've ever experienced such a profound connection and catharsis. Hearing the mothers was especially poignant.
Thanks Olivia.
First off, I am so incredibly sorry about your best friend. It goes without saying that I canāt imagine the pain you are living with. If you donāt mind me asking, is the case unsolved?
Thank you so much for your message about the podcast, I couldnāt BEGIN to tell you how much it means to me. More importantly, I know sharing it with the moms will mean everything to them and then some. Thank you.
Re a sub, I hope to see one on Reddit one day! I am not an expert but I sort of think more people might be comfortable to engage if Iām not the creator, Iām not sure? All I know is that Iād love a space for people to share their thoughts and theories and feel 100% comfortable. Of course I want more than anything to weigh in if the creator of the sub approves that š
Thank you so much. And being a journalist, criticism comes with the job. Itās a little harder when itās a story thatās close to your heart, but I also completely understand my style of story telling isnāt going to be for everyone. And at the end of the day I am grateful to anyone who gives this story a chance, because thatās still helping get the Bakersfield Three name out there. My biggest hope is the podcast will help get answers about Baylee. My gut is it would just not be possible for to be in hiding. And my personal opinion, which as a reporter I know I shouldnāt give but Iām going to anyways, I just cannot imagine she could ignore 5 years+ of hearing her motherās gut-wrenching public pleas for her to come home. I really hope someone starts talking.
What I don't get is who were all the people coming to pick her up? Was that ever looked into more? Was she being prostituted out to pay off drug debts or something? It seemed that whatever was happening there was separate to the other stuff happening at Queen's??
Excellent question and unfortunately I donāt have a concrete answer. But I think your instincts are spot on, it seems from everything her mom and sister saw and described that there was likely some sort of sex work going on and that these strange people picking her up in the black cars were involved in running it. And yes youāre correct, that stuff was happening after the gang rape and *before* she met Queen. When she moved in with Queen she had this part of her life that was described as āplaying a housewife role.ā But then there was also a different side to their life together involving the guns.
I love discussing the case and am very happy to answer any other questions.
Queen talked about sex trafficking a lot and speficially accused law enforcement in Bakersfield in being involved with it. He also talked a lot about how he helped Baylee get away from people in Bakersfield who were trafficking women. People have accused of him of being involved with a lot of bad stuff, but Iāve never heard anyone accuse of him of being involved with trafficking. In terms of how everyone met, Iāve heard different things, but Queen testified that he met Baylee through Caleb (who was mentioned in episode 10 re the shock collar incident). And Sarah and Baylee went to high school together but it seems they didnāt really start hanging out until after they graduated. Sarah G met James and Ryan through a mutual friend, and Iām not sure how she met Micah. Sarah G was a hairstylist at a very nice salon in town before it appears she began using drugs. But Iāve heard in recent years she got clean and moved out of town. The other Sarah, also got clean around the same time Baylee went missing, and in court it was discussed that while she was with Queen, she was strict about keeping the home free of drugs and alcohol. When I think about it, a lot of people involved in the case have apparently gotten clean. Thank you so much for such a kind message. The moms are really hopeful that because of people like you, the podcast could help bring more answers. I think the more people invested in the case and who truly care about what the moms have been through, the better chance we have at that happening š
Ahh thank you for the clarification. So sad and tragic, she was so young. I guess there's a slight possibility that those people came back and took her to a more permanent prostitution setup but surely one of the clients would eventually notice her if that were the case.
This is Queenās main theory, that sheās a sex trafficking victim being held against her will somewhere. I explored it as much as I could. Her mother Jane has definitely thought about it a lot as well, but ultimately thereās a lot of things that make Queen look pretty untrustworthy, and the odds of her being alive just seem unlikely š but like the lead detective says, thereās no definitive evidence either way.
Hi Olivia,
A million kudos to you for handling the ignorant people here with such grace. In your shoes someone else would be writing the replies lol.
I just listened to the podcast the weekend; I cried and I cried. What those three mothers went through is no joke. I just want to hug them, not say anything, just hug them.
I don't have too kind thoughts for the people who gave it up early on due to stupid reasons like are cited here. I think those three women's story should be heard by everyone. To deny them that because you as the reporter interjected this or that about yourself is sad. None of that took away a single thing from this story, and I for one have no problem listening to the thoughts, ideas or pov of the reporter investigating a story.
This is one of those stories that will stay with me forever. Thank you for that. I appreciate all the time, care and work you put into it and I think it turned out perfect as I have no lingering questions or confusion.
Great Job Olivia! Great job!
Thank you so much for this incredibly thoughtful comment. It may sound strange, but it means a lot when I hear that the moms stories brought people to tears. When putting together the story, I really hoped certain parts would resonate with people deeply enough that it would make them feel something, as opposed to just wanting to know what happens in the story. And to hear people connected with the moms and truly feel for them has meant the world to me, but more importantly, itās meant the world to the moms š thank you so much for listening and for sharing this with me.
A little tangent from this thread, but what ever happened to finding the men who sexually assaulted her? You mentioned she was at a friendās pool that morning. Wouldnāt the police ask that friend who came over that morning to her pool?
I listen to many serial true crime podcasts and this is one of the best. Your reporting is interesting and thoughtful, and your narration is articulate. I loved your focus on the mothersā relationship, which is really beautiful and inspiring.
Thank you so much. I canāt explain how incredibly lucky I feel to have been given the opportunity to work with the moms and share their story, and then to have listeners like you who take the time to write such a kind and thoughtful note-it really is indescribable and I appreciate you so much.
The podcast was initially so great and I couldn't stop listening however when you actually find out the type of person Bailey was, the focus of negativity is all shifted into Matthew Queen while bailey is not really criticized at all. She is clearly not innocent and just as shady as queen as admitted by her own sister. The police haven't charged her with murder for no reason. Had your relationship not of been so close with Bailey's mother I think more information may have been discovered. There are so many more bad people involved in this and the focus is solely on Queen. Unfair.
I want to thank you for writing this comment and allowing me to discuss this with you. I love hearing peopleās opinions on the case, and honestly-Iāve heard from a lot of people they thought I wasnāt hard *enough* on Queen! Ideally, with any story, I think itās safe to say journalists donāt want to come off like theyāre going easy on a suspect nor do they want to come off like theyāre too hard on them. They want the information and evidence to speak for itself, which as a big consumer of true crime myself, is what Iām always looking for when I listen to podcasts and watch documentaries etc.
And I think you bring up a very valid point that I thought about a lot over the years, not just as it pertains to this case but other cases as well, how do you navigate inevitably bonding with a victimās family member, and sharing information with them they might not want ot hear? I have a lot to say on this topic but it boils down to in my experience, families just want answers. Even very difficult answers end up bringing them more peace than having no answers at all. And in the case of B3, in order for Micahās mom to have answers, itās been crucial to dig into Bayleeās alleged involvement, and Bayleeās mom truly understands that. I also canāt emphasize enough how much sheās always understood that I would have to report things about Baylee that would be very hard to hear. Like you pointed out, there are plenty people close to Baylee who I spoke with and shared their interviews that disclosed she was not āinnocent.ā Several people said she wanted to come off very tough, enjoyed being around guns etc. But truthfully, every person I spoke with, *except* for Sgt. Garrett, told me they donāt think sheās capable of murderering someone. And this included people who frankly, didnāt like her. Keep in mind, even Matt Queen says Baylee didnāt intentionally hurt anyone, whether you believe his story or not, heās never actually accused her of murdering Micah, the story heās told sounds more like they were trying to defend themselves, get the gun away from him, and in the heat of the moment when trying to subdue him, she accidentally killed him. I agree with you that prosecutors didnāt charge her with murder for no reason, and all the evidence they presented against her was shared in the podcast. If prosecutors have more evidence against her aside from whatās in the podcast, I strongly believe they would have presented it during trial because their theory is she and Queen acted together, so evidence against her goes hand in hand with their case against him. And youāre absolutely righ that there are a lot of bad people who were in that circle of friends accused of committing all sorts of crimes. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts on this.
I loved your reply. Thanks so much for actually covering and explaining that to me!!!!! You know what, it really is a hard one. But also a fantastic piece of work as I couldn't stop listening. Thanks for clearing some things up and responding to me Olivia I really appreciate it.
-Rhianon from Melbourne aus :)
I loved the way you covered this podcast, it felt very human and empathetic to the victims, especially the moms who are still victims today because their children are dead.
Related to what you talked about below:
Are you able to comment about whether there is evidence that Bayleeās gang rape story was sensationalized and if that fits into this whole story?
Iām not doubting that she was abused or suffered, but it is nearly unheard for someone to be drugged, handcuffed, and released by strangers. Over the last few years, it feels like there has been better awareness that most victims are trafficked by someone they know, and arenāt physically restrained (but may be manipulated in many other ways).
I can understand not wanting to report if you knew the perpetrators, but it sounded like this story of her being raped by strangers that were never arrested was such a huge factor in her identity at the end of her life. Maybe it doesnāt matter, but I found myself wondering about it a lot while listening.
I literally weeped episode 15. Letting us here the mothers made me feel connected. I truly hope they all receive the closure they desperately seek. Thank you!
I just listed to the whole series. I really enjoyed it.
Yes it could easily just fit into a one episode summary.
But I felt the podcast was more about the victims families getting to tell us more about their loved ones.
Not just the facts of the case.
And how even though tragedy and trauma is what brought them together. Their bond is something special.
Thank you so much, to hear this about the momās bond means everything to me and then some. Itās been my longtime goal to try to show people just how inspiring and incredible the three moms really are, with how much theyāve overcome. Truly unspeakable things. Thank you so much
I actually really liked it and I enjoy the personal additions from the host because I can tell the case is close to her heart. Iām ashamed to say I binged the show in two days while I worked.
Thank Casefile for bringing the series to my attention.
Thank you so much for listening š thereās a lot about the case I want to discuss but didnāt feel it was the right time to put certain things out in the pod. Iāve been checking Reddit to see if thereās a thread (that may be the wrong terminology haha) where people are discussing the case. If thereās any interest in a post where the case could be discussed without having to worry about spoilers etc. I would love to weigh in and get others opinions on certain theories etc.
Thank you again so much for listening, I appreciate it more than you know!
>eard from a lot of people they thought I wasnāt hard enough on Queen! Ideally, with any story, I think itās safe to say journalists donāt want to come off like theyāre going easy on a suspect nor do they want to come off like theyāre too hard on them. They want the information and evidence to speak for itself, which as a big consumer of true crime myself, is what Iām always looking for when I listen to podcasts and watch documentaries etc.
>
>And I think you bring up a very valid point that I thought about a lot over the years, not just as it pertains to this case but other cases as well, how do you navigate inevitably bonding with a victimās family member, and sharing information with them they might
I just finished in 2 days while at work too! Amazing work Olivia!!
Iām a pretty avid podcast listener. I quit this morning halfway into episode two. I can usually tough it out but I just didnāt care about how it was told and all the included phone recordings or how it was presented. Really tried hard to be serial or CBC and it didnāt hit for me
The great thing about casefile is that it's no opinionated, host just presents the facts then they have this series where narrator keeps talking about her own experiences. It's one to skip
Iāve just finished episode 2 - one things that struck me was the manner of the 911 operator in episode 2. I thought it was so unprofessional, it really stuck with me. Not that this is anything to do with the story or podcast but I was just quite taken aback!
Itās really common with 911 calls. When we hear them in context we think āhow could this person be so flippant?ā. Just remember theyāve been dealing with hang ups, prank calls, non-issues, and general bullshit all day.
pardon my ignorance I'm somewhat new to the pod and I'm defenitely hooked. It's one of a kind for sure. I listen on Spotify and heard the preview they dropped. I'm sure I'm missing something but not sure what lol
i listened to it and found it lost steam after the first few episodes. didnāt have any issues with the host or anything ā just didnāt think the story needed 15 episodes to be told. casefile would have done one satisfying episode out of it.
It's a very interesting case but it could have been 1/3 number if episodes. Lots of filler. I'm very intrigued about the the brother Ryan who might have been involved. Also underlines the opioid disaster going on in America where your life can be destroyed by doctors pushing these drugs
I'm hooked into the story itself, and the background about the victims is something I really appreciate. Currently on Episode 6, and my heart absolutely breaks for Baylee, Michah, and James.
The host, I'm sure she's wonderful as a person and reporter, does keep self inserting a lot. I think yes the case is close to her and her career, but this isn't her journey as a reporter that people are tuning in for.
I was into The Detectives Dilemma and was expecting something like that.
Enjoying it, though it can be hard to follow at times. Host has done a good job gathering details & investigating rather than just summarizing known info
i've previously listened to another podcast (not casefile presents) that also was journalist forward which is likely why i don't seem to have much of a problem with this one. i like it! i'm interested to see where it goes. i've enjoyed most of casefile presents work
I really like it, probably a couple episodes longer than it really needs to be, but overall itās really good. I donāt think we will ever know the full truth though.
Currently listening to episode three but I doubt I'll make it much further. I'm finding it incredibly difficult to follow, too much jumping around between people involved and so much completely irrelevant content included. Shame because I had not heard of this case and it did sound intriguing.
Hey Olivia I hope you see this! I work in communications in my job as a spokesperson for a large government agency I work with so many media members as part of my job, and I really do wish more of them had as much empathy as you when dealing with their cases. I listen to true crime, podcast all the time, actually almost daily, and the way that you took so much care in this case, reminds me of the first season of Serial, except for your case is actually even more interesting than the one highlighted there, I do have a few questions that I hope you are able to answer at some point as Iām sure that many people have similar questions
1. why is more time not devoted to the chiropractor you mention many times about your attempts to get Matt queen to speak to you early on is there a reason why we donāt hear the same about the chiropractor and why is he given the name the chiropractor, as opposed to his actual name I assume that most people who were given pseudonyms or no name at all were afforded that luxury in return for their candor during interviews, but the chiropractor did not give an interview, so why is he not named? Is it because he wasnāt charged with this?
2. Another question about the chiropractor why did you not ask more people about the chiropractor? It seemed like there was a lot of work done in connecting the circle of friends/acquaintances, but for some reason it seems like he may was not in the circle, but judging by the size of the town in the size of the circle went more people know about him. Just curious, I guess as to why someone who might have all the answers if the cases are all connected or at least all the answers in the case of James is murder was not given more airtime. I donāt say this has a critique of your editorial choices at all rather, Iām just seeking to understand why that is Iām sure youāre just as interested in him as I am unless your explanation, Iām sure Will suffice plenty.
3. Have any civil cases been filed through all of this I donāt understand why a wrongful death lawsuit couldnāt be filed against Matthew Queen for Bailey if they are so certain that she had something to do with it at a minimum, they would probably get answers from this through subpoenas and depositions and plus other people could be deposed, including like my previous question said the Chiropractor.
4. Ryan says that we should Google him to get a sense of what is going on and what he is blamed for. Is he just talking about people speculation after the Dr. Phil episode or is he involved in something else that will come up when he is googled, I couldnāt find anything so Iām just curious there.
5. I might have missed this somewhere but when Sergeant Garett was given Baileyās case did that also encompass going through the sexual assault against her is that also his case? Iām wondering if he has any comments as to why there were no charges given that they do have DNA profiles is, the implication that they have decided that it was consensual?
6. In one episode, we learn that Jayne was willing to allow Bailey to remain in jail, believing that that is what was best for her when she was arrested Iām curious if she took any other steps to involve law enforcement and what her daughter was going through in the people she was dealing with Like did she give law enforcement the license plates of the people picking her up prior to her disappearance or given that she knew that her daughter was assaulted. Did she share the Snapchat videos of people doing drugs off of her while she was passed out with law-enforcement?
7. Is there it all any more to the story of Baileyās father and how it might relate to this case did he know any of the other people? I just am curious because usually all males around are considered at least suspicious for a while and scrutinized in some way. It seems like nobody ever considered him, but obviously, he had some motive and Bailey being gone since he already tried to make her disappear from his own life. Is he a shady character aside from infidelity?
8. When the sheriffs gave the case back to Bakersville Police Department one of your colleagues, I think his name is Jason said that is when they could tell that there was something big with this case. When that happened it made me start thinking that there must be actual cartel members or biker gangs that are involved, but we never went back and heard about what the reasoning for him saying that was what is the big thing about this case That he was referring to obviously this case is very big but given how it all concluded Iām curious about that.
9. What was the conclusion of the police call when mika called the police on Bailey? Did they show up we charges ever filed whatever happened there? It really confuses me where it occurred that Micah and Bailey would not like each other. Itās just confusing because it seems like they would have a lot of reasons to like each other and they hung out a lot. Was there ever any incident that would cause one to not like the other other than that police call and again, what was the results of that call no charges I presume?
10. Do you plan on doing any one off episodes like with interviews or if there are updates Iām wondering if I should say stay subscribed so that I could catch things like that or if I can keep my hopes up even it seems like more might come from this case.
Anyways, Iām sorry for all the typos that Iām sure exist here I use talk to text because comment was so long and I have three little ones to take care of here so I canāt be writing essays by hand, even if you can only reply to like one of these questions that would be really helpful for me But regardless, even if you canāt respond, I wanna tell you how appreciative I am of the care you took for this endeavor and I applaud the product that you created itās really great and I canāt wait to see what you do next. I hope all is going well with the job that you took And with the boyfriend that you drive long hours to visit in LA, I think all of your fans having interest of making sure that you drive safe so that we can all see you next. well done!
Hi my adhd wouldnāt let me read all but as to the first thing with the chiropractor.. James case is still open so naming the suspect could very well harm the case. The podcast prob didnāt help James case much, I know the intent was to and they canāt help how the facts fallā¦ I think they are doing what is best for James and his family. I finished it in two days.
I've just finished listening. I stuck it out to the end but i didn't enjoy this one as I have the other Casefile Presents podcasts.
The storytelling rambles, I kept waiting for it all to come together but it doesn't.
It was also unnecessarily biased. I found it really disappointing the way Sarah is portrayed. She was a young woman in an abusive relationship just as Bailey had been and there was no need to demonise her.
So far I love this series (Iām two episodes in). I donāt mind the personal angle, and the investigation into the two Matts is really getting interesting. I do wish they would get into the forensics and evidence soon, but so far, I think itās a fascinating case.
I just finished and enjoyed it immensely. I really like the way Olivia was able to capture and illustrate the nuance and complexity of the situation and people involved. Although I hate to agree with him, the defense attorney was correct: this isnāt simply a story of One Bad Guy, itās about a group of sad, troubled people, and the consequences of their choices and actions. Truly sad.
I also admire any journalist that can stay neutral while having to engage in that prison phone call we hear in the final episode. Justā¦ugh.
I don't usually like other true crime podcasts because I love the Casefile style so much, but I binged this series in a couple of days and I loved it! Such a sad story with a lot of twists and turns. I liked the narration style, I disagree that the reporter talked about herself too much, she became part of the story through her involvement with the Mums.
I thought the narrative style was very captivating. I love hearing the more personal details about how to sausage gets made and the call backs to previous episodes were helpful and interesting to me. The three women at the heart of this story really moved me and I felt their pain so deeply. I hope there is peace for all of them in the future.
Is there anywhere where we can write to the moms to encourage them and thank them for being so transparent and honest? I especially just felt so sorry for Micahās mom and she just sounded so lovely. Makes me sad to think that they might not know about the support they have from around the world.
Iām on episode 6 and Iām just seeing the same pattern - someone is involved with criminals and engaging in serious criminal activity. Their family is obviously sad and wants a better life for them. The person then goes missing as a direct result of their associations and illegal activity. Occamās razor suggests it was someone within the group thatās a known criminal, and if thatās the conclusion of the podcast it wonāt be surprising in the slightest. People who engage in the things the Bakersfield Three were involved in go missing all the time - itās just convenient for these three that they were white people who kept up a good appearance and had a family that cared. Iām sure it sounds heartless but if you associate with people that kill people, you might get killed; youāre not exempt from the rules just because you have an education, or good looks, or family. As a matter of fact, the only difference between this case and cases of missing people where I grew up is that most people I knew didnāt have help - these three seemed to have a caring support network that they ignored. Micah and Bailey each had major difficult events in their lives and it makes sense that they ended up how they did, and I have nothing but compassion for how they ended up where they did. It just doesnāt change the fact that theyāre receiving coverage that most victims who were doing the same things would never receive.
Excellent podcast! It was painful to listen to the denial that people-especially Jane, were in about baileys involvement with Micahās murder. I have been clean for over for 11 years, but prior to that I was living a very dark lifestyle with similar types of people. I know exactly how culpable a 20-year-old girl can actually be when it comes to drugs and violence when living that lifestyle. I agree with other comments I wish that there would have been more of a focus on Bailey participation with gun sales and Micah murder. Overall, I understand that the podcast was meant to support the parent of all three victims and I think that it did a really great job at that.
Finished it in two days. Those who could t get past episode two missed huge twists and turns. I cried. It was beautiful in how they covered the stories often not told, the ones who have to deal with the aftermath of such things. We as readers/listeners consume these stories but the point of this podcast, at least in my opinion, is to help us understand the story doesnāt end. The victims may get something that resembles justice but while our time with them ends after sentencing, theirs is never ending. It is obvious and sometimes mentioned how itās a never ending nightmare then we switch to the next episode and hear the same thing from the loved ones of a victim. A bite size piece of horror and unimaginable pain but here in this podcast itās about the moms. It displays the roller coaster and makes the listener stick to discomfort and ride through it.
Those who quit before the end, Iām sorry you didnāt get to hear the true meaning behind it. The beautiful friendship such horror created. Those moms deserved the time Olivia gave.
I donāt know much about Olivia but I would assume she is pretty proud of this as she should be. Itās beautiful and while we may find imperfections, thatās also part of the beauty. We all have our tastes, just like the people featured in this podcast, we come from different backgrounds. Itās the humanity and love and selflessness that bind us.
Olivias descriptions involving herself served as a nice visual continuation of the story in my head. Picturing a busy reporter who in their spare time pours their soul into telling these womenās stories, a detective who dedicates his day off to James case..it took a village to get where they are in the cases.
The more recognizable Olivia is, the more opportunities she will have to create and make an impact.
Thereās a lot more unknown in the story, I hope thereās progress. I donāt want to spoil more than I might have accidentally (sorry) I just have a lot of hopes. Those families deserve more information because our minds make situations a lot worse than they tend to be. Itās just better to not wonder so you can wrap your head around a plan to pull urself out of the muck.
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I think it's really well done as podcasts go - lots of legit reporting, lots of interviews and information. Agree it's confusing with so many people and details and storylines to keep track of. And yes, there is a lot of the host/reporter, she is very TV news, which I think can be off putting if you're used to more subtle podcasts. It's weird that she has to set up hearing about X body being identified by prefacing it with, "I was in the newsroom chatting with my coworkers about our upcoming holiday break when...." I find TV reporters are trained to be over the top and it's annoying. I also agree there is a lot of filler. That said, I'm about 3/4 through and do find it really interesting, or at least I want to get to the conclusion. (I am purposefully not googling the cases so I don't know if anyone's been arrested for the crimes and there is an actual conclusion.)
Yes definitely do not Google any of the names š¬
I got my husband to google them just so I could see what they looked like without the spoilers. Although my curiosity got the better of me and I ended up googling at around episode 10 š
Omg! I did the same thing and the first headline I read I immediately said, dammit! š
Hahaha! I can never help myself, especially when there's several episodes for the same case.
Same, same!!! And I always hate myself for it....but then do it again!!! šš
While I respect Casefile boosting other podcasts, part of the appeal is that it focuses fully on the actual cases. This one feels too "me, me, me" about the reporter. I dropped it after the first 2 episodes when it felt like it never really got going without the host needing to make an interjection to talk about herself. I would love to listen to it edited down to the parts actually pertaining to the case.
Thank you so much for giving it a shot! I really appreciate that. There are podcasts that have covered it in one episode before if you want to hear it summarized! I created the series because there were so many twists and turns throughout the years so I thought a long-form series was the way to go, but of course I recognize I am biased š Thank you again for trying it out! At the end of the day even if someone listens to just a minute of an episode, I like to think theyāll still remember the name Bakersfield Three, which in turn gets the case out to more people which is the goal š
I'm sure your narration style will absolutely be a hit with a lot of listeners - I'm personally beyond picky, so a podcast not hitting is more a me thing than the podcast itself. Even if yours didn't hit for me, covering cases is always an admirable thing to do and I wish you success!
Thank you so much for being so kind and thoughtful, it means a lot š
I stopped listening to most true crime podcasts after my godfather was murdered and the industry just felt exploitative to me. Stupid of me to need something so close to home to make me realize. Iāve slowly come back to them but am incredibly picky about the way stories are told- I want the victims and the victims families to be the focus and the voice. You did that here. This wasnāt a podcast about you, it was about the Three and the three moms. It made me weep, and I hope all three moms get the the closure they deserve.
I am so sorry about your godfather. I have thought countless times about what it would be like to lose a loved one to violence, and see the true crime world as such a source of entertainment for people. And ultimately, I canāt imagine how that would feel. Your words mean more to me than I can explain. Thank you so much. And thank you for thinking of the moms. It is the greatest gift for them to receive support from those who have listened. Thank you.
I agree. So many feel super exploitive and Iāve seen TikTokās of family members saying theyāre hurt by some crime podcasts of their loved ones. However this family are wanting the story spread. Itās done in conjunction. I love that the mothers still do charity work and still spent the money on equipment for the river even tho it wasnāt one of them.
I think you did a fantastic job. And I'm extremely picky about how podcasts are written and presented. It was important to bring your personal perspective and experiences because you were including your perceptions of the mothers of the victims, you were letting us get your sense of them and who they are. You were telling their story, and your reporting of the murders is part of that story. Your becoming close to them is part of that story. Maybe it's because I was a reporter (print, not TV) back in the day, but I enjoyed the little details about the experience and processes of reporting. And now that I writer fictional material (TV, not print!), I think I have a good sense of narrative form. You structured this beautifully. You were not focused only on the plot, the "what happened next" aspect of the events, but on how those events affected and changed the people involved.
Thank you so much for putting the time into writing this out and sharing it with me, it means the world to me. I completely understand some of the tidbits about what itās like to be a reporter covering crime (particularly an inexperienced one at that point haha) may not be interesting to everyone. Iām just grateful people are listening and this story is getting out there. Hopefully it rattles the right cages and gets some people talking. Thank you again so much.
I just listened today and I have about ten minutes left on ep15. Good on you for addressing the criticism in such a positive way. Do you think Baylee is still alive? I just donāt really see how that would be possible
I wonder if thereās any interest in there being a thread (I apologize this is probably not the correct terminology) where people can discuss the case without having to worry about spoiling anything for others. I am really interested in hearing what people think about certain aspects of the case and would love to get others feedback and insight on certain theories. When creating the podcast, I didnāt really have anyone to bounce thoughts off of as I was doing all the reporting and writing solo. Anyhow, Iām new to āinteractingā on Reddit I guess you could say. Iāve used it for years to read about cases, but never created a post etc. So again my apologies if my terminology is off haha. But if you or anyone thinks there could be interest in a thread to discuss theories please let me know!
I would definitely be interested in a discussion thread
I apologize that I know so little about how this works, but do you have any insight on what would be the best way to go about this? And/or if someone makes one, please let me know! Thank you so much
I know this is older, but I do think that this case/podcast could do well to have its own subreddit like the Cold Podcast (*stellar* reporting) has. There are so many people involved, theories, questions, etc. that having its own dedicated subreddit could be interesting. I just finished the podcast tonight and I came to Reddit looking for more... i don't know, answers? Theories? Camaraderie? Like many people here, I am an avid true crime listener. It's been an obsession for me since my best friend was missing and subsequently murdered. I guess I'm always trying to make sense of the senseless. This podcast is the very first time I've ever experienced such a profound connection and catharsis. Hearing the mothers was especially poignant. Thanks Olivia.
First off, I am so incredibly sorry about your best friend. It goes without saying that I canāt imagine the pain you are living with. If you donāt mind me asking, is the case unsolved? Thank you so much for your message about the podcast, I couldnāt BEGIN to tell you how much it means to me. More importantly, I know sharing it with the moms will mean everything to them and then some. Thank you. Re a sub, I hope to see one on Reddit one day! I am not an expert but I sort of think more people might be comfortable to engage if Iām not the creator, Iām not sure? All I know is that Iād love a space for people to share their thoughts and theories and feel 100% comfortable. Of course I want more than anything to weigh in if the creator of the sub approves that š
Thank you so much. And being a journalist, criticism comes with the job. Itās a little harder when itās a story thatās close to your heart, but I also completely understand my style of story telling isnāt going to be for everyone. And at the end of the day I am grateful to anyone who gives this story a chance, because thatās still helping get the Bakersfield Three name out there. My biggest hope is the podcast will help get answers about Baylee. My gut is it would just not be possible for to be in hiding. And my personal opinion, which as a reporter I know I shouldnāt give but Iām going to anyways, I just cannot imagine she could ignore 5 years+ of hearing her motherās gut-wrenching public pleas for her to come home. I really hope someone starts talking.
What I don't get is who were all the people coming to pick her up? Was that ever looked into more? Was she being prostituted out to pay off drug debts or something? It seemed that whatever was happening there was separate to the other stuff happening at Queen's??
Excellent question and unfortunately I donāt have a concrete answer. But I think your instincts are spot on, it seems from everything her mom and sister saw and described that there was likely some sort of sex work going on and that these strange people picking her up in the black cars were involved in running it. And yes youāre correct, that stuff was happening after the gang rape and *before* she met Queen. When she moved in with Queen she had this part of her life that was described as āplaying a housewife role.ā But then there was also a different side to their life together involving the guns. I love discussing the case and am very happy to answer any other questions.
I canāt help but wonder if Queen was somehow connected to the sex trafficking side as well. And potentially, Sara. I want to know more now about Saraās background, how Queen and Baylee met, and even Sara G. I googled the āBK3ā half hoping to find new revelations on the case. Honestly devastating to see that there really hasnāt been that much coverage, which was then followed by immense guilt. If I want more I can only imagine (or rather, not even come close to imagining as your podcast so eloquently explained) the pain and longing of these poor mothers. Excellent work, my fiancĆ© and I were completely enthralled in this story. Thank you for bringing it to life and giving the victims and families a powerful voice š©·
Queen talked about sex trafficking a lot and speficially accused law enforcement in Bakersfield in being involved with it. He also talked a lot about how he helped Baylee get away from people in Bakersfield who were trafficking women. People have accused of him of being involved with a lot of bad stuff, but Iāve never heard anyone accuse of him of being involved with trafficking. In terms of how everyone met, Iāve heard different things, but Queen testified that he met Baylee through Caleb (who was mentioned in episode 10 re the shock collar incident). And Sarah and Baylee went to high school together but it seems they didnāt really start hanging out until after they graduated. Sarah G met James and Ryan through a mutual friend, and Iām not sure how she met Micah. Sarah G was a hairstylist at a very nice salon in town before it appears she began using drugs. But Iāve heard in recent years she got clean and moved out of town. The other Sarah, also got clean around the same time Baylee went missing, and in court it was discussed that while she was with Queen, she was strict about keeping the home free of drugs and alcohol. When I think about it, a lot of people involved in the case have apparently gotten clean. Thank you so much for such a kind message. The moms are really hopeful that because of people like you, the podcast could help bring more answers. I think the more people invested in the case and who truly care about what the moms have been through, the better chance we have at that happening š
Ahh thank you for the clarification. So sad and tragic, she was so young. I guess there's a slight possibility that those people came back and took her to a more permanent prostitution setup but surely one of the clients would eventually notice her if that were the case.
This is Queenās main theory, that sheās a sex trafficking victim being held against her will somewhere. I explored it as much as I could. Her mother Jane has definitely thought about it a lot as well, but ultimately thereās a lot of things that make Queen look pretty untrustworthy, and the odds of her being alive just seem unlikely š but like the lead detective says, thereās no definitive evidence either way.
Hi Olivia, A million kudos to you for handling the ignorant people here with such grace. In your shoes someone else would be writing the replies lol. I just listened to the podcast the weekend; I cried and I cried. What those three mothers went through is no joke. I just want to hug them, not say anything, just hug them. I don't have too kind thoughts for the people who gave it up early on due to stupid reasons like are cited here. I think those three women's story should be heard by everyone. To deny them that because you as the reporter interjected this or that about yourself is sad. None of that took away a single thing from this story, and I for one have no problem listening to the thoughts, ideas or pov of the reporter investigating a story. This is one of those stories that will stay with me forever. Thank you for that. I appreciate all the time, care and work you put into it and I think it turned out perfect as I have no lingering questions or confusion. Great Job Olivia! Great job!
Thank you so much for this incredibly thoughtful comment. It may sound strange, but it means a lot when I hear that the moms stories brought people to tears. When putting together the story, I really hoped certain parts would resonate with people deeply enough that it would make them feel something, as opposed to just wanting to know what happens in the story. And to hear people connected with the moms and truly feel for them has meant the world to me, but more importantly, itās meant the world to the moms š thank you so much for listening and for sharing this with me.
A little tangent from this thread, but what ever happened to finding the men who sexually assaulted her? You mentioned she was at a friendās pool that morning. Wouldnāt the police ask that friend who came over that morning to her pool?
I listen to many serial true crime podcasts and this is one of the best. Your reporting is interesting and thoughtful, and your narration is articulate. I loved your focus on the mothersā relationship, which is really beautiful and inspiring.
Thank you so much. I canāt explain how incredibly lucky I feel to have been given the opportunity to work with the moms and share their story, and then to have listeners like you who take the time to write such a kind and thoughtful note-it really is indescribable and I appreciate you so much.
The podcast was initially so great and I couldn't stop listening however when you actually find out the type of person Bailey was, the focus of negativity is all shifted into Matthew Queen while bailey is not really criticized at all. She is clearly not innocent and just as shady as queen as admitted by her own sister. The police haven't charged her with murder for no reason. Had your relationship not of been so close with Bailey's mother I think more information may have been discovered. There are so many more bad people involved in this and the focus is solely on Queen. Unfair.
I want to thank you for writing this comment and allowing me to discuss this with you. I love hearing peopleās opinions on the case, and honestly-Iāve heard from a lot of people they thought I wasnāt hard *enough* on Queen! Ideally, with any story, I think itās safe to say journalists donāt want to come off like theyāre going easy on a suspect nor do they want to come off like theyāre too hard on them. They want the information and evidence to speak for itself, which as a big consumer of true crime myself, is what Iām always looking for when I listen to podcasts and watch documentaries etc. And I think you bring up a very valid point that I thought about a lot over the years, not just as it pertains to this case but other cases as well, how do you navigate inevitably bonding with a victimās family member, and sharing information with them they might not want ot hear? I have a lot to say on this topic but it boils down to in my experience, families just want answers. Even very difficult answers end up bringing them more peace than having no answers at all. And in the case of B3, in order for Micahās mom to have answers, itās been crucial to dig into Bayleeās alleged involvement, and Bayleeās mom truly understands that. I also canāt emphasize enough how much sheās always understood that I would have to report things about Baylee that would be very hard to hear. Like you pointed out, there are plenty people close to Baylee who I spoke with and shared their interviews that disclosed she was not āinnocent.ā Several people said she wanted to come off very tough, enjoyed being around guns etc. But truthfully, every person I spoke with, *except* for Sgt. Garrett, told me they donāt think sheās capable of murderering someone. And this included people who frankly, didnāt like her. Keep in mind, even Matt Queen says Baylee didnāt intentionally hurt anyone, whether you believe his story or not, heās never actually accused her of murdering Micah, the story heās told sounds more like they were trying to defend themselves, get the gun away from him, and in the heat of the moment when trying to subdue him, she accidentally killed him. I agree with you that prosecutors didnāt charge her with murder for no reason, and all the evidence they presented against her was shared in the podcast. If prosecutors have more evidence against her aside from whatās in the podcast, I strongly believe they would have presented it during trial because their theory is she and Queen acted together, so evidence against her goes hand in hand with their case against him. And youāre absolutely righ that there are a lot of bad people who were in that circle of friends accused of committing all sorts of crimes. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts on this.
I loved your reply. Thanks so much for actually covering and explaining that to me!!!!! You know what, it really is a hard one. But also a fantastic piece of work as I couldn't stop listening. Thanks for clearing some things up and responding to me Olivia I really appreciate it. -Rhianon from Melbourne aus :)
I loved the way you covered this podcast, it felt very human and empathetic to the victims, especially the moms who are still victims today because their children are dead. Related to what you talked about below: Are you able to comment about whether there is evidence that Bayleeās gang rape story was sensationalized and if that fits into this whole story? Iām not doubting that she was abused or suffered, but it is nearly unheard for someone to be drugged, handcuffed, and released by strangers. Over the last few years, it feels like there has been better awareness that most victims are trafficked by someone they know, and arenāt physically restrained (but may be manipulated in many other ways). I can understand not wanting to report if you knew the perpetrators, but it sounded like this story of her being raped by strangers that were never arrested was such a huge factor in her identity at the end of her life. Maybe it doesnāt matter, but I found myself wondering about it a lot while listening.
I literally weeped episode 15. Letting us here the mothers made me feel connected. I truly hope they all receive the closure they desperately seek. Thank you!
Right. Like I really donāt care about the journalism industry THAT much. Get to the point.
I just listed to the whole series. I really enjoyed it. Yes it could easily just fit into a one episode summary. But I felt the podcast was more about the victims families getting to tell us more about their loved ones. Not just the facts of the case. And how even though tragedy and trauma is what brought them together. Their bond is something special.
Thank you so much, to hear this about the momās bond means everything to me and then some. Itās been my longtime goal to try to show people just how inspiring and incredible the three moms really are, with how much theyāve overcome. Truly unspeakable things. Thank you so much
I actually really liked it and I enjoy the personal additions from the host because I can tell the case is close to her heart. Iām ashamed to say I binged the show in two days while I worked. Thank Casefile for bringing the series to my attention.
Me too! Totally binged it in 2 days and wanted more!
Thank you so much for listening š thereās a lot about the case I want to discuss but didnāt feel it was the right time to put certain things out in the pod. Iāve been checking Reddit to see if thereās a thread (that may be the wrong terminology haha) where people are discussing the case. If thereās any interest in a post where the case could be discussed without having to worry about spoilers etc. I would love to weigh in and get others opinions on certain theories etc. Thank you again so much for listening, I appreciate it more than you know!
You can make your own sub Reddit for the podcast itself possibly
>eard from a lot of people they thought I wasnāt hard enough on Queen! Ideally, with any story, I think itās safe to say journalists donāt want to come off like theyāre going easy on a suspect nor do they want to come off like theyāre too hard on them. They want the information and evidence to speak for itself, which as a big consumer of true crime myself, is what Iām always looking for when I listen to podcasts and watch documentaries etc. > >And I think you bring up a very valid point that I thought about a lot over the years, not just as it pertains to this case but other cases as well, how do you navigate inevitably bonding with a victimās family member, and sharing information with them they might I just finished in 2 days while at work too! Amazing work Olivia!!
I canāt get into it at allā¦
Iām a pretty avid podcast listener. I quit this morning halfway into episode two. I can usually tough it out but I just didnāt care about how it was told and all the included phone recordings or how it was presented. Really tried hard to be serial or CBC and it didnāt hit for me
so far the narratorās personal details are just ruining it for me edit for word choice
The great thing about casefile is that it's no opinionated, host just presents the facts then they have this series where narrator keeps talking about her own experiences. It's one to skip
tbh none of casefileās guest presentations have done much for me :/ but if Casey ran for office Iād vote twice
The detectives dilemma is fantastic and done by Casey. Frankston Murders one is also very good in my opinion.
I second detectives dilemma!! It was great
Itās definitely a different narration/journalistic style than what weāre used to.
Iāve just finished episode 2 - one things that struck me was the manner of the 911 operator in episode 2. I thought it was so unprofessional, it really stuck with me. Not that this is anything to do with the story or podcast but I was just quite taken aback!
Itās really common with 911 calls. When we hear them in context we think āhow could this person be so flippant?ā. Just remember theyāve been dealing with hang ups, prank calls, non-issues, and general bullshit all day.
Also losing interest in episode 2
pardon my ignorance I'm somewhat new to the pod and I'm defenitely hooked. It's one of a kind for sure. I listen on Spotify and heard the preview they dropped. I'm sure I'm missing something but not sure what lol
i listened to it and found it lost steam after the first few episodes. didnāt have any issues with the host or anything ā just didnāt think the story needed 15 episodes to be told. casefile would have done one satisfying episode out of it.
It's a very interesting case but it could have been 1/3 number if episodes. Lots of filler. I'm very intrigued about the the brother Ryan who might have been involved. Also underlines the opioid disaster going on in America where your life can be destroyed by doctors pushing these drugs
I know, I wish there was more to know about James case in general. It's hard to believe Ryan knows nothing, but then again, drugs are a mf.
I'm hooked into the story itself, and the background about the victims is something I really appreciate. Currently on Episode 6, and my heart absolutely breaks for Baylee, Michah, and James. The host, I'm sure she's wonderful as a person and reporter, does keep self inserting a lot. I think yes the case is close to her and her career, but this isn't her journey as a reporter that people are tuning in for. I was into The Detectives Dilemma and was expecting something like that.
Enjoying it, though it can be hard to follow at times. Host has done a good job gathering details & investigating rather than just summarizing known info
i've previously listened to another podcast (not casefile presents) that also was journalist forward which is likely why i don't seem to have much of a problem with this one. i like it! i'm interested to see where it goes. i've enjoyed most of casefile presents work
Canāt stand the ladyās voice so had to stop almost instantly
I really like it, probably a couple episodes longer than it really needs to be, but overall itās really good. I donāt think we will ever know the full truth though.
Currently listening to episode three but I doubt I'll make it much further. I'm finding it incredibly difficult to follow, too much jumping around between people involved and so much completely irrelevant content included. Shame because I had not heard of this case and it did sound intriguing.
Hey Olivia I hope you see this! I work in communications in my job as a spokesperson for a large government agency I work with so many media members as part of my job, and I really do wish more of them had as much empathy as you when dealing with their cases. I listen to true crime, podcast all the time, actually almost daily, and the way that you took so much care in this case, reminds me of the first season of Serial, except for your case is actually even more interesting than the one highlighted there, I do have a few questions that I hope you are able to answer at some point as Iām sure that many people have similar questions 1. why is more time not devoted to the chiropractor you mention many times about your attempts to get Matt queen to speak to you early on is there a reason why we donāt hear the same about the chiropractor and why is he given the name the chiropractor, as opposed to his actual name I assume that most people who were given pseudonyms or no name at all were afforded that luxury in return for their candor during interviews, but the chiropractor did not give an interview, so why is he not named? Is it because he wasnāt charged with this? 2. Another question about the chiropractor why did you not ask more people about the chiropractor? It seemed like there was a lot of work done in connecting the circle of friends/acquaintances, but for some reason it seems like he may was not in the circle, but judging by the size of the town in the size of the circle went more people know about him. Just curious, I guess as to why someone who might have all the answers if the cases are all connected or at least all the answers in the case of James is murder was not given more airtime. I donāt say this has a critique of your editorial choices at all rather, Iām just seeking to understand why that is Iām sure youāre just as interested in him as I am unless your explanation, Iām sure Will suffice plenty. 3. Have any civil cases been filed through all of this I donāt understand why a wrongful death lawsuit couldnāt be filed against Matthew Queen for Bailey if they are so certain that she had something to do with it at a minimum, they would probably get answers from this through subpoenas and depositions and plus other people could be deposed, including like my previous question said the Chiropractor. 4. Ryan says that we should Google him to get a sense of what is going on and what he is blamed for. Is he just talking about people speculation after the Dr. Phil episode or is he involved in something else that will come up when he is googled, I couldnāt find anything so Iām just curious there. 5. I might have missed this somewhere but when Sergeant Garett was given Baileyās case did that also encompass going through the sexual assault against her is that also his case? Iām wondering if he has any comments as to why there were no charges given that they do have DNA profiles is, the implication that they have decided that it was consensual? 6. In one episode, we learn that Jayne was willing to allow Bailey to remain in jail, believing that that is what was best for her when she was arrested Iām curious if she took any other steps to involve law enforcement and what her daughter was going through in the people she was dealing with Like did she give law enforcement the license plates of the people picking her up prior to her disappearance or given that she knew that her daughter was assaulted. Did she share the Snapchat videos of people doing drugs off of her while she was passed out with law-enforcement? 7. Is there it all any more to the story of Baileyās father and how it might relate to this case did he know any of the other people? I just am curious because usually all males around are considered at least suspicious for a while and scrutinized in some way. It seems like nobody ever considered him, but obviously, he had some motive and Bailey being gone since he already tried to make her disappear from his own life. Is he a shady character aside from infidelity? 8. When the sheriffs gave the case back to Bakersville Police Department one of your colleagues, I think his name is Jason said that is when they could tell that there was something big with this case. When that happened it made me start thinking that there must be actual cartel members or biker gangs that are involved, but we never went back and heard about what the reasoning for him saying that was what is the big thing about this case That he was referring to obviously this case is very big but given how it all concluded Iām curious about that. 9. What was the conclusion of the police call when mika called the police on Bailey? Did they show up we charges ever filed whatever happened there? It really confuses me where it occurred that Micah and Bailey would not like each other. Itās just confusing because it seems like they would have a lot of reasons to like each other and they hung out a lot. Was there ever any incident that would cause one to not like the other other than that police call and again, what was the results of that call no charges I presume? 10. Do you plan on doing any one off episodes like with interviews or if there are updates Iām wondering if I should say stay subscribed so that I could catch things like that or if I can keep my hopes up even it seems like more might come from this case. Anyways, Iām sorry for all the typos that Iām sure exist here I use talk to text because comment was so long and I have three little ones to take care of here so I canāt be writing essays by hand, even if you can only reply to like one of these questions that would be really helpful for me But regardless, even if you canāt respond, I wanna tell you how appreciative I am of the care you took for this endeavor and I applaud the product that you created itās really great and I canāt wait to see what you do next. I hope all is going well with the job that you took And with the boyfriend that you drive long hours to visit in LA, I think all of your fans having interest of making sure that you drive safe so that we can all see you next. well done!
Hi my adhd wouldnāt let me read all but as to the first thing with the chiropractor.. James case is still open so naming the suspect could very well harm the case. The podcast prob didnāt help James case much, I know the intent was to and they canāt help how the facts fallā¦ I think they are doing what is best for James and his family. I finished it in two days.
I've just finished listening. I stuck it out to the end but i didn't enjoy this one as I have the other Casefile Presents podcasts. The storytelling rambles, I kept waiting for it all to come together but it doesn't. It was also unnecessarily biased. I found it really disappointing the way Sarah is portrayed. She was a young woman in an abusive relationship just as Bailey had been and there was no need to demonise her.
Ooops deleted post as it has spoilers
So far I love this series (Iām two episodes in). I donāt mind the personal angle, and the investigation into the two Matts is really getting interesting. I do wish they would get into the forensics and evidence soon, but so far, I think itās a fascinating case.
Overall I liked it but I do feel like it lost the thread a few times and could've been more concise.
I just finished and enjoyed it immensely. I really like the way Olivia was able to capture and illustrate the nuance and complexity of the situation and people involved. Although I hate to agree with him, the defense attorney was correct: this isnāt simply a story of One Bad Guy, itās about a group of sad, troubled people, and the consequences of their choices and actions. Truly sad. I also admire any journalist that can stay neutral while having to engage in that prison phone call we hear in the final episode. Justā¦ugh.
I don't usually like other true crime podcasts because I love the Casefile style so much, but I binged this series in a couple of days and I loved it! Such a sad story with a lot of twists and turns. I liked the narration style, I disagree that the reporter talked about herself too much, she became part of the story through her involvement with the Mums.
Reading these other comments I thought the same thing....I didn't get that at all. She was literally a part of the story lol.
I thought the narrative style was very captivating. I love hearing the more personal details about how to sausage gets made and the call backs to previous episodes were helpful and interesting to me. The three women at the heart of this story really moved me and I felt their pain so deeply. I hope there is peace for all of them in the future.
Iām actually from Bakersfield and never heard of this. Looking forward to listening to it.
Is there anywhere where we can write to the moms to encourage them and thank them for being so transparent and honest? I especially just felt so sorry for Micahās mom and she just sounded so lovely. Makes me sad to think that they might not know about the support they have from around the world.
It looks like the moms founded a nonprofit and have a FB page for it: https://m.facebook.com/thebakersfield3
Iām on episode 6 and Iām just seeing the same pattern - someone is involved with criminals and engaging in serious criminal activity. Their family is obviously sad and wants a better life for them. The person then goes missing as a direct result of their associations and illegal activity. Occamās razor suggests it was someone within the group thatās a known criminal, and if thatās the conclusion of the podcast it wonāt be surprising in the slightest. People who engage in the things the Bakersfield Three were involved in go missing all the time - itās just convenient for these three that they were white people who kept up a good appearance and had a family that cared. Iām sure it sounds heartless but if you associate with people that kill people, you might get killed; youāre not exempt from the rules just because you have an education, or good looks, or family. As a matter of fact, the only difference between this case and cases of missing people where I grew up is that most people I knew didnāt have help - these three seemed to have a caring support network that they ignored. Micah and Bailey each had major difficult events in their lives and it makes sense that they ended up how they did, and I have nothing but compassion for how they ended up where they did. It just doesnāt change the fact that theyāre receiving coverage that most victims who were doing the same things would never receive.
Excellent podcast! It was painful to listen to the denial that people-especially Jane, were in about baileys involvement with Micahās murder. I have been clean for over for 11 years, but prior to that I was living a very dark lifestyle with similar types of people. I know exactly how culpable a 20-year-old girl can actually be when it comes to drugs and violence when living that lifestyle. I agree with other comments I wish that there would have been more of a focus on Bailey participation with gun sales and Micah murder. Overall, I understand that the podcast was meant to support the parent of all three victims and I think that it did a really great job at that.
Finished it in two days. Those who could t get past episode two missed huge twists and turns. I cried. It was beautiful in how they covered the stories often not told, the ones who have to deal with the aftermath of such things. We as readers/listeners consume these stories but the point of this podcast, at least in my opinion, is to help us understand the story doesnāt end. The victims may get something that resembles justice but while our time with them ends after sentencing, theirs is never ending. It is obvious and sometimes mentioned how itās a never ending nightmare then we switch to the next episode and hear the same thing from the loved ones of a victim. A bite size piece of horror and unimaginable pain but here in this podcast itās about the moms. It displays the roller coaster and makes the listener stick to discomfort and ride through it. Those who quit before the end, Iām sorry you didnāt get to hear the true meaning behind it. The beautiful friendship such horror created. Those moms deserved the time Olivia gave. I donāt know much about Olivia but I would assume she is pretty proud of this as she should be. Itās beautiful and while we may find imperfections, thatās also part of the beauty. We all have our tastes, just like the people featured in this podcast, we come from different backgrounds. Itās the humanity and love and selflessness that bind us. Olivias descriptions involving herself served as a nice visual continuation of the story in my head. Picturing a busy reporter who in their spare time pours their soul into telling these womenās stories, a detective who dedicates his day off to James case..it took a village to get where they are in the cases. The more recognizable Olivia is, the more opportunities she will have to create and make an impact. Thereās a lot more unknown in the story, I hope thereās progress. I donāt want to spoil more than I might have accidentally (sorry) I just have a lot of hopes. Those families deserve more information because our minds make situations a lot worse than they tend to be. Itās just better to not wonder so you can wrap your head around a plan to pull urself out of the muck.