The Phyllis Cottle Story
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.
Update: DNA Results | "I'm a Gun Man"
Carol shares the results of DNA testing on newly recovered evidence in the case of Phyllis Cottle’s brutal assault.
The results are infuriating and…baffling.
The Ohio Innocence Project prompted a forensic review of evidence, raising the possibility that Samuel J. Herring, the man convicted of the crime, may be innocent.
Herring, now 67 years old and wheelchair-bound, has spent nearly 40 years behind bars. He has maintained his innocence.
Today we know the truth.
And while it leads to a man who is definitely guilty, it also raises questions.
EPISODE CREDITS
Host - Carol Costello
Producer - Chris Aiola
Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman
Production Director - Brigid Coyne
Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando
Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder
Cleveland Channel 5’s story on Samuel Herring: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/investigations/new-testing-shows-dna-of-akron-rapist-found-on-victims-clothing
The Marshall Project’s story on Samuel Herring: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2023/12/06/dna-ohio-innocence-project-conviction-integrity-unit-prison
For additional information about Phyllis Cottle’s case, please visit our newly-launched website (www.carolcostellopresents.com), Carol’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CarolLMU) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/carolcostello).
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