Bone Valley

Lava for Good Podcasts

Behind every Bone Valley season is a conviction: the right story, told with purpose, humanity, and craft, can have an enormous impact. Award-winning investigative documentaries from the fault lines of America's justice system.

Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil’s Quarry is the latest podcast from Lava for Good. It is hosted by Paul Solotaroff, award-winning investigative journalist and longtime contributing editor at Rolling Stone. For Paul, who has been digging at this story for 5 years, the devil has always been a myth, until now.

The bones of a twelve-year-old girl are found by a hunter in the woods. A young woman lives inside a real-life horror movie, ignored by everyone she turns to for help. Corrupt cops turn a blind eye to the evil lurking in their midst. The wrong people are convicted of a crime. A drug dealer works tirelessly for justice from jail. Records are hidden. Fingers are pointed. Lives are at stake. In Carmel, NY, the heroes are humble, the power is corrupt, and the devil is real.

Bone Valley Season 4 | Earwitness chronicles the case of Toforest Jonhson. In 1995, Deputy Sheriff William G. Hardy was murdered behind a hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. Toforest Johnson was four miles away at the time and no physical evidence linked him to the crime. But he has been on Death Row for 25 years.

Bone Valley Season 3 | Graves County is a new story about a new case. Maggie Freleng, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the hosts of Lava For Good’s Wrongful Conviction, takes us to a small town in Graves County, Kentucky, where a terrible discovery on the front lawn of a middle school invites a string of amateur and professional investigators to try to solve a murder.

In Season 2, Jeremy Gilbert King brings us a story about her actual killer, Jeremy Scott, fighting to prove his guilt. The State of Florida does not believe either man.

In Season 1 of Bone Valley, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King tells a story of a man, Leo Schofield, fighting to prove his innocence in the case of his wife Michelle’s murder.

Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

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22 episodes
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August 26 · 1 min
Introducing - Death of an Artist: Petra Mathers and Her Michael
In early 2024, celebrated children’s book author and illustrator Petra Mathers and her husband, photographer Michael Mathers, mailed letters to dozens of friends and family members to let them know they had died by suicide. Petra and Michael were by all accounts healthy, happy, and in love. Why did they choose to die together? And what did that decision do to the people left to mourn them? On the new season of Death of an Artist, journalists Leon Neyfakh and Alice Gregory set out to interview everyone who got one of Petra and Michael’s letters—as one married couple trying to understand another. Through intimate conversations with Petra and Michael’s friends and family about their own relationships to aging, grief, death, and the friends they thought they knew, Death of an Artist weaves together a portrait of a community grappling with the Mathers’ deaths and the final words they left behind. Listen to Death of An Artist wherever you get podcasts. And if you want to hear the full story right now, ad-free, you can binge the entire season with a Pushkin+ subscription—sign up on the Death of an Artist show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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August 11 · 1 min
Introducing - The Burden: Bad Cops
Baltimore, Maryland likes to call itself Charm City. But you have to wonder: Is the nickname ironic? Consider one of the city's star cops, a sergeant so accomplished that he earned his own nickname, the Golden Boy. But Golden Boy led a double life. Said one of those who encountered him in the street. "I was robbed by the Baltimore City Police….with a gun … armed robbery." No one believed the allegation. Then a GPS tracker was discovered where it shouldn't have been; next, a wiretap went up on a cop's phone. An FBI agent couldn't believe what she was hearing. Are these guys gangsters? And then … an insider turned witness. "Like Rambo said, burn it down. And that's what I did." Welcome to Charm City, where it was sometimes difficult to tell the protectors from the predators. A podcast from Orbit Media reported and produced by the BBC and hosted by Jessica Lussenhop. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S5 · E8
July 22 · 41 min
Chapter 8 | Chapter and Verse
Howard Gombert speaks. Anthony sues the sheriff's department. Award-winning investigative journalist and longtime Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Paul Solotaroff hosts the next entry in the acclaimed Bone Valley anthology: Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry. Click HERE to read more about this story from Paul Solotaroff in Rolling Stone Magazine. New episodes are available every Wednesday. Listeners can binge the entire season by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley Season 5: The Devil’s Quarry is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Rolling Stone Films and Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
S5 · E7
July 15 · 34 min
Chapter 7 | Lucky Tuna
Anthony makes the final case for his freedom. Award-winning investigative journalist and longtime Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Paul Solotaroff hosts the next entry in the acclaimed Bone Valley anthology: Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry. Click HERE to read more about this story from Paul Solotaroff in Rolling Stone Magazine. New episodes are available every Wednesday. Listeners can binge the entire season by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley Season 5: The Devil’s Quarry is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Rolling Stone Films and Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
S5 · E6
July 8 · 46 min
Chapter 6 | The Snake
Anthony sends investigators to learn more about Howard Gombert. The women they speak with illuminate a signature crime. Award-winning investigative journalist and longtime Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Paul Solotaroff hosts the next entry in the acclaimed Bone Valley anthology: Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry. Click HERE to read more about this story from Paul Solotaroff in Rolling Stone Magazine. New episodes are available every Wednesday. Listeners can binge the entire season by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley Season 5: The Devil’s Quarry is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Rolling Stone Films and Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
S5 · E5
July 1 · 40 min
Chapter 5 | Hour of Need
Anthony’s case file leads him to Rachel. She reveals her harrowing past. Award-winning investigative journalist and longtime Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Paul Solotaroff hosts the next entry in the acclaimed Bone Valley anthology: Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry. Click HERE to read more about this story from Paul Solotaroff in Rolling Stone Magazine. New episodes are available every Wednesday. Listeners can binge the entire season by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley Season 5: The Devil’s Quarry is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Rolling Stone Films and Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
S5 · E4
June 24 · 30 min
Chapter 4 | Cemetery for the Living Man
Anthony finds a new home in the prison law library. Working on his appeal, he discovers a new name. Award-winning investigative journalist and longtime Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Paul Solotaroff hosts the next entry in the acclaimed Bone Valley anthology: Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry. Click HERE to read more about this story from Paul Solotaroff in Rolling Stone Magazine. New episodes are available every Wednesday. Listeners can binge the entire season by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley Season 5: The Devil’s Quarry is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Rolling Stone Films and Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S5 · E3
June 17 · 43 min
Chapter 3 | A Knife in the Heart of My Freedom
The cops investigating Josette’s murder have a strategy. By the time Anthony goes on trial, only one eyewitness remains. Award-winning investigative journalist and longtime Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Paul Solotaroff hosts the next entry in the acclaimed Bone Valley anthology: Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry. Click HERE to read more about this story from Paul Solotaroff in Rolling Stone Magazine. New episodes are available every Wednesday. Listeners can binge the entire season by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley Season 5: The Devil’s Quarry is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Rolling Stone Films and Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
S5 · E2
June 10 · 31 min
Chapter 2 | Ride or Die
Anthony DiPippo is pulled into a murder investigation. But the worst part is the reason why. Award-winning investigative journalist and longtime Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Paul Solotaroff hosts the next entry in the acclaimed Bone Valley anthology: Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry. New episodes are available every Wednesday. Listeners can binge the entire season by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley Season 5: The Devil’s Quarry is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Rolling Stone Films and Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
S5 · E1
June 10 · 31 min
Chapter 1 | Criminal Mischief
The bones of 12-year-old Josette Wright are found in the woods. Cops hone in on two suspects. Award-winning investigative journalist and longtime Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Paul Solotaroff hosts the next entry in the acclaimed Bone Valley anthology: Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry. New episodes are available every Wednesday. Listeners can binge the entire season by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley Season 5: The Devil’s Quarry is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Rolling Stone Films and Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
June 3 · 3 min
Introducing - Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry
In the woods outside Carmel, New York, a hunter finds the bones of a twelve-year-old girl. She had been missing. The people meant to protect her had looked the other way. Police set their sights on two teenage drug dealers, who are convicted of her murder and sent to prison. But this is just the beginning of the story. Now, buried records, ignored warnings, and a justice system that may have gotten it dangerously wrong are forced into the open, while the real killer bides his time, counting the days until he can hunt again. Award-winning investigative journalist and longtime Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Paul Solotaroff hosts the next entry in the acclaimed Bone Valley anthology: Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry starting June 10. Listeners can binge the entire season by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley Season 5: The Devil’s Quarry is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Rolling Stone Films and Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
May 28 · 37 min
Gilbert King Presents: Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry
Award-winning investigative reporter and long-time Rolling Stone contributor Paul Solotaroff thought he was chasing a single story in Carmel, NY. Instead, he uncovered a sprawling web of cases that would consume years of his life and become the foundation for Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry. What began as a magazine feature evolved into something far bigger: a relentless investigation that exposed shocking new layers with every turn. Listen to a special bonus episode with Bone Valley creator Gilbert King (@gilbertkingpics), Paul Solotaroff, and Senior Editor at Rolling Stone Liz Garber-Paul as they unpack the reporting, the storytelling, and the cases at the center of The Devil's Quarry. An official selection of the Tribeca Film Festival, Bone Valley Season 5 | The Devil's Quarry will be available everywhere you listen to podcasts on June 10th. Listeners can binge the entire season by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. Bone Valley Season 5: The Devil’s Quarry is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Rolling Stone Films and Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S4 · E8
February 4 · 45 min
Chapter 8 | Bondage to the Law
Earwitness: Chapter 8 | Bondage to the Law In an unusual turn, District Attorney Danny Carr and original prosecutor Jeff Wallace push against Toforest Johnson’s conviction, even as he remains on death row. Beth Shelburne traces a system reluctant to admit its failures, while Toforest’s children reveal the human toll of a life caught between injustice and hope. To learn more and get involved, visit: www.toforestjohnson.com Toforest on Instagram Earwitness is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S4 · E7
February 4 · 38 min
Chapter 7 | Messy
Earwitness: Chapter 7 | Messy Years after the conviction, the original prosecutor, Jeff Wallace, begins questioning Violet Ellison’s story, while Beth Shelburne uncovers a troubling pattern. Ellison’s moves through the legal system blur the lines between cunning and deceit, revealing a figure far from the innocence prosecutors once claimed. To learn more and get involved, visit: www.toforestjohnson.com Toforest on Instagram Earwitness is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S4 · E6
February 4 · 46 min
Chapter 6 | Misfiled
Earwitness: Chapter 6 | Misfiled Beth Shelburne uncovers the murky story behind Violet Ellison, the ‘earwitness’ whose $5,000 payoff shaped Toforest Johnson’s fate. Decades of denial give way to uneasy facts, revealing a conviction propped up by money, influence, and half-truths. To learn more and get involved, visit: www.toforestjohnson.com Toforest on Instagram Earwitness is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S4 · E5
February 4 · 57 min
Chapter 5 | Anybody Will Do
Earwitness: Chapter 5 | Anybody Will Do Beth Shelburne digs into how Toforest Johnson was convicted without a shred of physical evidence, as prosecutors leap between ever-shifting theories of Deputy Hardy’s murder. Confronting the prosecutor who once sought a death sentence, she uncovers a case where the law bends into something dangerously personal. To learn more and get involved, visit: www.toforestjohnson.com Toforest on Instagram Earwitness is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S4 · E4
February 4 · 47 min
Chapter 4 | Witness or Defendant
Earwitness: Chapter 4 | Witness or Defendant Digging into the Hardy murder investigation, Beth Shelburne follows a trail narrowed by tunnel vision and vanishing alternatives. As detectives chase certainty over truth, witnesses falter, leads evaporate, and a case emerges driven more by obsession than evidence. To learn more and get involved, visit: www.toforestjohnson.com Toforest on Instagram Earwitness is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S4 · E3
February 4 · 43 min
Chapter 3 | Police Girl
Earwitness: Chapter 3 | Police Girl When Yolanda Chambers admits to perjury, Beth Shelburne sets out to understand Chambers’ motivations. Tracing a life shaped by trauma and hidden alliances, her story slips between villain and victim—leaving behind questions that linger far longer than answers. To learn more and get involved, visit: www.toforestjohnson.com Toforest on Instagram Earwitness is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S4 · E2
February 4 · 47 min
Chapter 2 | Don't Know Diddly
Earwitness: Chapter 2 | Don't Know Diddly In the raw hours after Deputy Hardy’s murder, Beth Shelburne digs through a story that pulled 15-year-old Yolanda Chambers into its orbit and put Toforest Johnson in the frame. A confrontation with lead detective Tony Richardson exposes a case built on pressure, doubt, and truths that won’t stay still—where justice isn’t blind, just selective. To learn more and get involved, visit: www.toforestjohnson.com Toforest on Instagram Earwitness is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S4 · E1
February 4 · 43 min
Chapter 1 | Behind the Crown
Earwitness: Chapter 1 | Behind the Crown Beth Shelburne dives into the shocking conviction of Toforest Johnson for the murder of Deputy William Hardy, following a case that never stopped bleeding questions. With former Attorney General Bill Baxley as her guide, she moves through a justice system wired for punishment over truth, uncovering a story built on fear, assumption, and a man who may not belong at its center. To learn more and get involved, visit: www.toforestjohnson.com Toforest on Instagram Earwitness is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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