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This episode contains subject matters of violence, sexual assault, and self-harm.

Please take care while listening.

In the last episode of Ozark's true crime, the Sandra Hemey story, we told you about the

Melvin Lee Reynolds case and how similar it is to Sandy's.

It does seem oddly coincidental. I think there's a good reason to take a close look at that connection.

How many of the same detectives and prosecutors were involved and how Sandy and Melvin were both patients at the state hospital.

In this episode, we're in the courtroom at Sandy's long-awaited evidentiary hearing.

Thank you. When I get off the plane in Kansas City, I look at my phone, and I see that I had just received an email from the Missouri court's case system. I get these often, but this recent

request stuck out to me. It was a motion to allow petitioner, which is Sandy, to dress appropriately

for court and sit without hand shackles during court proceedings. Our team flew in for this just

yesterday, so we're working hard to quickly prepare.

And the sound might be a bit different in the next three episodes.

That's because we're in Chilicothe, Missouri, instead of our regular studio in New York City.

The drive from the Kansas City airport to Chilicothe, Missouri takes about an hour and a half, but the snow and

ice piled on the ground make the drive a bit longer. Chilicothe's claim to fame is being the

first ever place to sell sliced bread. You'll find plenty of wooden signs, mugs, or rugs that say

Chilacothy, the best town since sliced bread. I've been here only a couple of times in my life,

but it was a long time ago, and only a few things look familiar. The courthouse, where we'll be

going each day, hasn't changed. I met our team at the Airbnb, which will be our home base and

makeshift studio for the next eight days.

The house is a five-minute walk from the Livingston County Courthouse where Sandy's evidentiary hearing will take place. It's a beautifully restored craftsman, built in 1919,

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