A week after the shocking dismissal of Michael Colucci’s 10-year-old murder charge because of prosecutorial misconduct on the behalf of SLED and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Bishop Venters — the daughter of Sara-Lynn Moore Colucci, whom Michael is accused of strangling to death in May 2015 — says she’s ready to fight for a new trial.
Bishop, whose biological father died under tragic circumstances a few years earlier, was about 8 years old when Michael, her mother’s new husband, adopted her. She was just 11 when Michael told her that her mother had died in an accident.
After her mother’s death, Bishop says Michael and his mother Doris kept her away from her maternal grandparents, telling her they were bad people. She would later learn that her grandparents were suing for custody of her. And after Michael’s arrest, Michael abandoned his adopted daughter and moved to the beach, leaving Bishop in the care of Doris and her husband Ivo, where Bishop wasn’t allowed to speak about or show emotion about her mother’s death.
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell sat down with Bishop to talk about what life was like before and after her mother’s death, what she thinks happened the day Sara-Lynn died, her thoughts on the judge’s decision last week as well as her strong conviction to continue her grandparents’ fight for justice.
☕ Cups Up! ⚖️
Episode References
“Urge SC Attorney General to PRIORITIZE the Re-Indictment of Michael Colucci” - Change.org Petition
About Childhood Trauma from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network 🌐
“Judge declares second mistrial in Michael Colucci murder case” - WCBD, June 17, 2025 📰
“SLED agent grilled at Murdaugh trial botches Michael Colucci murder case. Will it impact what's next?” - The Post & Courier, June 22, 2025 📰
“Ivo Colucci, Summerville jeweler accused of murdering wife, dies in hospice care” - ABC News 4, Nov 9. 2020 📰
Premium Resources
Colucci Case Overview ⚖️
Michael Colucci’s 2016 Arrest Warrant & Murder Indictment 📄
Estate of Sara Lynn Colucci’s Amended Wrongful Death Lawsuit - April 18, 2018 📄
Michael Colucci’s Answer to Amended Wrongful Death Lawsuit - May 3, 2018 📄
Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️
Premium Members also get access to episode videos, case files, live trial coverage and exclusive live experiences with our hosts. CLICK HERE to learn more and join with Promo Code "COJ25" for your first month free! https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE.
Check out Luna Shark Merch With a Mission shop at lunasharkmerch.com/
What We're Buying...
Quince - Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to Quince.com/COJ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns
Here's a link to some of our favorite things: https://amzn.to/4cJ0eVn
Find us on social media:
bsky.app/profile/mandy-matney.com | bsky.app/profile/elizfarrell.com | bsky.app/profile/theericbland.bsky.social
Twitter.com/mandymatney | Twitter.com/elizfarrell | Twitter.com/theericbland
https://www.facebook.com/cupofjustice/ | https://www.instagram.com/cojpod/
YouTube | TIKTOK
SUNscribe to our free email list to get alerts on bonus episodes, calls to action, new shows and updates. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3KBM
*** Alert: If you ever notice audio errors in the pod, email info@lunasharkmedia.com and we'll send fun merch to the first listener that finds something that needs to be adjusted! ***
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices