In this podcast, journalist Carol Costello revisits the first big assignment she covered as a 22-year-old, novice reporter: Phyllis Cottles’ brutal attack. Psychologists call them “Triumphant Survivors,” but Phyllis Cottle was more than a survivor, she used this crime to better herself and the world around her.
14 Available Episodes (14 Total)Average duration: 00:15:59
Apr 18, 2023
Happy Birthday
00:18:35
Now the defense makes its case. As witness Chili Mo enters the courtroom, prosecutor Bob Bulford notices something remarkable unfold before his eyes. Phyllis braces for the moment Samuel Herring takes the stand, a questionable move on the part of his attorney. Criminologist Casey Jordan breaks down the defense’s lines of questioning. Will Herring’s testimony be enough to convince the jury of his innocence?
Apr 11, 2023
Three Ring Trial
00:19:15
Phyllis steels herself for the long-awaited trial. Law enforcement reaches out to a potential star witness. And prosecutors hope Phyllis’ testimony sways the jury enough to overlook their lack of physical evidence, before she faces a rapid-fire cross examination.
Phyllis receives a grave medical update, and begins to question her very existence. As she searches for a way out of the darkness, the media looks for her. And at the urging of her boss, Phyllis decides to take the narrative into her own hands.
Mar 28, 2023
Blue House, Black Eagle
00:17:49
Police continue their search throughout Akron for a blue house with a black eagle, which they hope will lead them to the scene of the crimes. But will Phyllis’ descriptions prove accurate? And detectives dig deep to learn more about their suspect’s past — but how will they link him to the crime scene?
Mar 21, 2023
A Suspect
00:16:53
Detectives zero in on their suspect, Samuel Herring, whose rap sheet stretches back to childhood. But how will they confirm he’s their guy when Phyllis cannot see?
Mar 14, 2023
Manhunt
00:16:19
Calls flood the hotlines as Akron PD conducts a citywide manhunt to find Phyllis’ attacker. Phyllis’ description of the house fuels the search, though police cannot ask her — blinded and still recovering — to point out the location. And a particular tip leads Detective Chris Contos to a group of witnesses and his first compelling suspect.
Mar 07, 2023
Extended Interviews
00:16:09
This week, we present a pair of extended interviews with two of the voices in our series: former prosecutor Emily Pelphry, and criminologist Dr. Casey Jordan.
Feb 28, 2023
Who Would Do This?
00:17:25
Recovering in her hospital room, Phyllis mines her memory for any details that might help apprehend her attacker. Detective Chris Contos develops theories about what kind of perpetrator the Akron Police Department is dealing with. Carol talks to criminologist Dr. Casey Jordan about the mindset of such a criminal, and discusses the question that’s on everyone’s mind: who would do this?
Feb 21, 2023
The Living Homicide Victim
00:19:15
In an emergency room at Akron City Hospital, medical staff tend to Phyllis while detectives attempt to interview her. The biggest question of all isn't whether she'll lose her vision, but whether her memory superpowers will be enough to catch the bastard who did this to her.
Feb 14, 2023
Blind Rage
00:14:16
Ninety minutes after her abduction, Phyllis, bound and lying down on the back seat of her car, is brutalized and left for dead. Good samaritans rush to her rescue. And host Carol Costello recounts how, as a 22-year-old reporter at WAKR/TV23, word of something strange in East Akron began to spread through the newsroom.
Apr 18 | 00:18:35
Happy Birthday
Apr 11 | 00:19:15
Three Ring Trial
Apr 04 | 00:20:29
What is There to Live For?
Mar 28 | 00:17:49
Blue House, Black Eagle
Mar 21 | 00:16:53
A Suspect
Mar 14 | 00:16:19
Manhunt
Mar 07 | 00:16:09
Extended Interviews
Feb 28 | 00:17:25
Who Would Do This?
Feb 21 | 00:19:15
The Living Homicide Victim
Feb 14 | 00:14:16
Blind Rage
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