December 5, 2025 • 20 mins
Reid Carter breaks down the FBI's stunning arrest of a Virginia anarchist in connection with the January 6 pipe bombings that baffled investigators for nearly five years - and why the bureau could have caught him years ago. Michael Jordan's antitrust battle against NASCAR heats up as emails reveal executives telling teams to "sign or lose your charters" - attorney Jeffrey Kessler hammers home "only a monopolist could say this." Day three testimony in the Brian Walsh murder trial shows jurors bloody hacksaws, blood-stained bathrobes, and a $1 million life insurance policy with Brian as beneficiary. Ana Walsh's lover takes the stand today.
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We cover the trials that matter, but our community makes the conversation unforgettable. Come for Reid's signature cynical commentary, stay for the incredible discussions with thousands of true crime fans who get it.
Join our new FB groups page here. Take the poll!
Join the Celebrity Trials community on social media! We're building a passionate group of true crime enthusiasts who love diving deep into the most shocking cases in America.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram by searching "Celebrity Trials Podcast" on either platform.
You'll get exclusive behind-the-scenes content, breaking news updates on cases we're covering, and early alerts when new episodes drop. Our social media is where Reid Carter's hottest takes live, including reactions that don't make it into the show.
But more importantly, it's where YOU come in. Share your theories, debate the verdicts, and connect with fellow listeners who are just as obsessed with justice as you are. Did the jury get it right? What questions do you still have? Your comments and insights often shape future episodes.
We cover the trials that matter, but our community makes the conversation unforgettable. Come for Reid's signature cynical commentary, stay for the incredible discussions with thousands of true crime fans who get it.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Caalaroga Shark Media. Good morning, I'm Reed Carter. Friday, December fifth,
twenty twenty five, Breaking overnight, the FBI has arrested a
Virginia man in connection with the January sixth pipe bombings,
nearly five years the bombs planted outside the Democratic and
(00:25):
Republican National Committee headquarters the night before the Capitol riot
case that launched one thousand conspiracy theories, finally has a
suspect in custody. He's reportedly linked to anarchist ideologies. But
here's the embarrassing part for the FBI. Sources say investigators
could have made this arrest years ago if they just
(00:45):
pieced together evidence they already had. Michael Jordan's antitrust war
against NASCAR continued yesterday, day three of testimony. Scott Prime,
NASCAR executive vice president, back on the stand getting hammered
by Attorneyjeffrey Kessler. Emails exposed showing NASCAR executives threatening teams
sign our charter deal or lose your charters. Only a
(01:08):
monopolist could say this, Kessler argued. Prime tried to defend
the take it or leave it offer he himself described
as a gun to your head. In Massachusetts. Day three
of the Brian Walsh murder trial, prosecutors showed the jury
a bloody hacksaw, blood stained bathrobes, blood soaked slippers with
(01:29):
what appeared to be clumps of hair on the bottom,
all recovered from dumpsters near Walsh's mother's apartment. Insurance broker
testified Anna Walsh had over a million dollars in life
insurance policies with Brian as the sole beneficiary. Defense claims
she died suddenly in bed after New Year's celebrations. Prosecution
(01:50):
says Brian dismembered her body and threw it in the trash,
and Luigi Mangoni's case was dark yesterday. Next update Monday,
when proceedings resume. Rea Carter Today, a pipe bomber finally
caught NASCAR's monopoly exposed, and the bloody evidence piling up
against Brian Walsh. This is Celebrity Trials. January fifth, twenty
(02:15):
twenty one, night before the Capitol Riot. A figure in
a gray hooded sweatshirt walks through Washington, d c. Face mask, glasses,
black and light gray Nike Airmax Speed turf shoes with
a yellow logo, carrying a backpack seven fifty four pm,
the figure places a pipe bomb outside the Democratic National
(02:37):
Committee headquarters. Twenty two minutes later, eight sixteen pm, another
bomb outside the Republican National Committee, both buildings just blocks
from the Capitol. The next day, America watched in horror
as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, but amid the chaos,
those bombs were discovered. Twelve forty five pm, Capitol police
(02:58):
found the RNC device. Thirty minutes later another call similar
device at the d NC. Then Vice President elect Kamala
Harris came within twenty feet of that bomb. The discovery
diverted police away from the violence unfolding at the Capitol.
Both devices were viable, capable of killing anyone nearby if
(03:19):
they detonated, Constructed from threaded galvanized pipes, kitchen timers, and
homemade black powder. Fifteen hours sat there waiting to explode.
They didn't, but they could have, and then nothing. The
suspect vanished. For nearly five years, the FBI hunted for
the pipe bomber, one of the largest investigations in bureau history.
(03:40):
Tens of thousands of video files, reviewed, hundreds of tips,
cell phone tower data scoured, They examined sales records, for
those Nike air Max sneakers, fewer than twenty five thousand
pairs sold around that time. They offered a five hundred
thousand dollars reward, conducted over a thousand interviews. Nothing The
case launched conspiracy theories. Some Trump allies, including now Deputy
(04:05):
FBI Director Dan Bongino, speculated it was an inside job.
Bongino said on his podcast before joining the FBI, I
believe the FBI knows the identity of this pipe bomber
and just doesn't want to tell us because it was
an inside job. Yesterday, they finally made an arrest. FBI
arrested a Virginia man. Sources tell multiple outlets he's been
(04:27):
linked to support for anarchist ideologies, charged with placing explosives
outside both the DNC and RNC headquarters. But here's where
it gets embarrassing for the Bureau. The arrest wasn't the
result of some breakthrough, no new evidence, no dramatic tip
from the public. Sources say investigators simply reviewed existing evidence
(04:48):
they'd collected back in twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two,
evidence they already had for years. Law enforcement sources told
reporters this arrest may cause embarrassment for the FBI because
the suspect could have been caught years ago if investigators
had pieced together what was already in front of them,
smart enough to plan coordinated bombings at both political parties headquarters,
(05:11):
too stupid to realize the FBI would eventually connect the dots,
except apparently the FBI was also too stupid to connect
those dots for nearly five years. The White House will
likely tout this as a victory. The Trump administration poured
new resources into the case earlier this year. Deputy Director
Bongino made solving it a personal priority. Last month, he
(05:32):
posted on social media that the bureau had increased investigative resources,
flown in police officers and detectives to review previous work,
conducted internal reviews, and now they have an arrest. Anarchist ideology,
not an inside job, not a false flag, just a
guy and a gray hoodie who planted bombs outside both
(05:52):
parties headquarters and got away with it for one thousand,
four hundred and thirty days. The timing of those bombs still,
investigators placed the night before January sixth discovered hours into
the riot. The DNC bomb drew police away from the
Capitol at a critical moment. Was that intentional coordination with
rioters or just coincidence. We may find out more as
(06:16):
the case proceeds. For now, what we know, Virginia Man
anarchist sympathies, allegedly placed both bombs in custody nearly five years.
The case that baffled America solved not by brilliant detective work,
but by finally looking at evidence. They already had your
tax dollars at work. Charlotte, North Carolina, Day three of
(06:48):
testimony in Michael Jordan's antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR Quick Refresher.
Jordan owns twenty three to eleven racing with driver Denny Hamlin.
They're suing NASCAR alongside Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins,
alleging NASCAR operates as an illegal monopoly, that the organization
uses its market dominance to crush competition and force teams
(07:10):
into unfavorable deals. At the heart of the lawsuit NASCAR's
charter system. Think of charters like franchise licenses. Own one
of the thirty six available, you get guaranteed entry into
every Cup Series race and a floor of revenue. Without one,
you're on the outside looking. In last year, NASCAR renegotiated
(07:30):
the charter agreements. Thirteen of fifteen charter holding teams signed
the new deal, twenty three to eleven, and front Row refused,
said the terms were exploitative. Filed this lawsuit instead. Wednesday,
Scott Prime was back on the stand. NASCAR executive vice
president second day of testimony, and attorney Jeffrey Kessler, representing
(07:53):
Jordan's team, used Prime's own emails and corporate communications to
paint a picture of monopolistic abuse. Prime originally worked for McKinsey,
the consulting firm. Back in twenty fourteen, he prepared a
report expressing concerns over the longevity of NASCAR if it
didn't improve the financial health of its race teams. Recommended
(08:13):
taxi like medallions, which became the charter system, but Kessler
argued the charter system doesn't actually help teams, it traps them.
During twenty twenty four charter negotiations, one email from Prime
to other executives relayed four demands from race teams that
Prime found quite disappointing. The team said they would be
forced to recommit our energy to exploring all our options
(08:36):
if NASCAR didn't agree translation. Teams were threatening to form
a breakaway stock car series. Prime laid out various options
for how NASCAR could respond. Reduce the number of charters
and offer them first come, first served, to create panic,
update charter language and offer a take it or leave
it deadline, dissolve the charter system entirely, or take all
(08:59):
the in house and eliminate the need for race teams altogether.
Then NASCAR President Steve Phelps responded to Prime's email, You
accurately reflected our options. They are playing with fire. Lots
of options, but all have the same theme. Pick a
date and they can sign or lose their charters. It
is that simple, Kessler pounced. Only a monopolist could say this.
(09:25):
Only a monopolist has the power to say, take my offer,
and if you don't take it, you will no longer
be in this business, and someone else will take your place.
On September sixth, twenty twenty four, NASCAR did exactly that,
presented a take it or leave it offer to teams,
an option Prime himself had described as a gun to
(09:45):
your head. That's what Jim wanted, Kessler said, referring to
NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim Frantz, I don't know what
he wanted, Prime replied. Inside the courtroom, Denny Hamlin leaned
forward and looked across the to gauge any reaction from
the France family and their representatives. They sat expressionless. More
(10:07):
damaging testimony emerged. Prime was portrayed as a moderate trying
to strike a fair deal with teams, but NASCAR's board
of directors, headed by Jim Frantz, kept pushing back. No
bueno with Jim on charters, Prime wrote via text, after
one meeting, can say Steve O'Donnell and I put our
best foot forward, but it was a brick wall. I'm
(10:30):
sorry to hear this. Phelps responded, super disappointing. Kesler also
targeted NASCAR's goodwill provision in charter agreements. This clause says
any owner of a race team, even someone who owns
only ten percent, cannot own or invest in a competing
stock car series, even if they leave NASCAR or forfeit
(10:51):
their charter. They can't join a competitor for more than
a year. And you think that's goodwill, Kessler asked, I
do Prime respond? It's not goodwill, it's anti competitive will.
Kessler said, shouldn't that be the name? NASCAR's attorneys objected.
The judge sustained it, but the evidence kept coming. Kessler
(11:12):
cited Prime's strategy document calling for intellectual property protections for
NASCAR's next gen car. Prime wrote that without IP protection,
it increases risk to NASCAR of the creation of a
copycat series. NASCAR's rulebook now says teams cannot use their
next gen cars in any series except NASCAR standard IP practice,
(11:35):
Prime argued. Under cross examination, Prime pushed back, said the
team's demand of twenty million dollars per car in revenue
payouts would put NASCAR bankrupt. Denied the communications showed ill intent.
Prime said what he meant by trying to lock up
tracks was simply signing them for next season's schedule, not
(11:57):
excluding them from competitors. Said permanent charters didn't make sense
for anyone. You can't negotiate a deal and have the
exact same deal forever. Prime said, you can't write a
contract today that's going to last forever. Here's the pattern
emerging from this trial. NASCAR holds all the cards. Teams
have nowhere else to go. When teams push for better terms,
(12:20):
NASCAR responds with threats. Sign or lose your charter, take
our offer or get out. That's what monopolies do. They
don't negotiate, they dictate. Michael Jordan didn't become a billionaire
by accepting bad deals. He's challenging the fundamental structure of
NASCAR's business model, arguing it violates federal antitrust law that
(12:42):
NASCAR uses its dominant position to extract unfair terms from
teams that have no alternative. Prime's testimony continues today. Bob
Jenkins from front Row Motorsports expected to follow. Make it
make sense. NASCAR tells teams to improve their financial health,
then offers them deals that can keep them financially dependent,
tells them to sign or lose everything. Calls it goodwill.
(13:06):
Jordan's attorneys call it what it is, monopoly. We'll be
right back with Day three of the Brian Walsh murder trial.
Bloody hacksaws, blood soaked bathrobes, and a million dollar life
insurance policy with the accused killer as beneficiary. Welcome back
(13:33):
to celebrity trials. I'm reed. Carter Dedham, Massachusetts Norfolk Superior Court,
Day three testimony in State versus Brian Walsh. Quick reminder
where we are Brian Walsh, fifty years old on trial
for the first degree murder of his wife, Anna, thirty nine,
Serbian immigrant mother of three, worked for a real estate
(13:55):
company in Washington d C. Reported missing January fourth, twenty
twenty three. Body never found. Walsh has already pleaded guilty
to two charges, misleading police and improper disposal of a
human body. Those guilty pleas came just before jury selection
last month, but he's fighting the murder charge his defense.
(14:17):
Anna died suddenly in bed after New Year's Eve celebrations.
Brian panicked, made terrible decisions, but didn't kill her. Prosecution
says that's absurd. They say Brian murdered Anna on New
Year's Day, spent several days dismembering her body, threw her
remains in dumpsters around the region, and repeatedly lied to police,
(14:37):
then tried to collect on her million dollar life insurance.
Day three brought the physical evidence. Davis Gould, forensic scientist
from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab, walked the jury
through what investigators found, ten trash bags recovered from a
dumpster outside Walsh's mother's apartment complex in Swampscott. The first
(14:58):
bag contained clothing that matched the description Brian gave police
when he reported on a missing Volkswagen keys. Then it
got worse. Gould presented photo after photo, a black jacket
covered in red brown stains, white towels soaked with what
appeared to be blood, a white bathrobe with similar staining,
gray slippers with smears, and what appeared to be clumps
(15:20):
of hair stuck to the bottom. Then the tools, a hammer,
wire snips, a hatchet with red brown stains, a hacksaw.
Google search history is forever Brian searched hacksaw the best
tool for dismembering a body. Now the jury was looking
at an actual hacksaw stained with what prosecutors allege is
his wife's blood. On cross examination, defense attorney Larry Tipton
(15:46):
questioned Gould about what the findings actually prove. There's no
way for you to be able to tell a jury
with regards to this specific case, how exactly some of
this red brown stain or biological evidence actually came to
be on any piece of VPS evidence. Gould agreed he
couldn't verify how the items were stained, couldn't rule out
(16:06):
the possibility they weren't stained when originally thrown out, but
that's a hard argument to sell blood soaked bathrobe, hacksaw
slippers with hair, all in dumpsters near Walsh's mother's house,
all discovered days after Anna vanished. Then the insurance testimony.
Mark Selvaggi, a life insurance broker with New York Life,
(16:28):
took the stand. He met Brian Walsh through an online
lead suggesting he was looking for life insurance, but there
was a problem. Brian had pending federal charges for selling
fake Andy Warhol paintings, couldn't get coverage himself. Selvaggi's solution
apply for a policy under Anna's name. Anna Walsh had
(16:48):
two life insurance policies worth over one million dollars. Brian
Walsh was the sole beneficiary. The policies also listed Anna
as being an excellent health which undermines the defense theory
that she suffered a sudden, unexpected death. Prosecution's theory crystallized.
Brian Walsh discovered his wife was having an affair, killed
(17:09):
her on New Year's Day, dismembered her body, threw the
remains in dumpsters, and planned to collect a million dollars
in insurance money. The affair is central to both sides,
Prosecutors say William Fastow, a d c reealtor, had a
romantic relationship with Anna, that she'd told a friend she
planned to leave Brian, that Brian discovered the affair and
(17:30):
killed her in a rage. Defense says the marriage was fine.
The text between Brian and Anna showed loving communication, that
Anna called Brian her best friend and discussed their future together. Today,
day four, William Fasto takes the stand. The other man,
the realtor who was sleeping with Anna Walsh. He helped
(17:51):
her by a townhouse in d c was apparently planning
a future with her. The jury, we'll hear from the
man Brian Walsh allegedly killed over That's what the defense
has to overcome. Brian Walsh already pleaded guilty to disposing
of his wife's body, already admitted he lied to police repeatedly.
His Internet search history includes best way to dispose of
(18:12):
a body, how long before a body starts to smell?
Is it possible to clean DNA off a knife? Best
way to dispose of body parts after murder? And now
the jury has seen the bloody hacksaw. The defense argument
that Anna died suddenly and Brian just panicked requires believing
that an innocent man's first instinct after finding his wife
(18:33):
dead was to google how to dismember a body, buy
cleaning supplies, hacker apart stuffer remains in trash bags, drive
them to various dumpsters, lie to police repeatedly, and then
try to collect the life insurance. Make it make sense.
Anna Walsh was thirty nine years old, mother of three boys,
ages two, four, and six when she disappeared. Serbian immigrant
(18:55):
who built a successful career in real estate should be
raising her sons, should be building her future. Instead, pieces
of her may be scattered in landfills across Massachusetts. Her
husband sitting in court clutching a rosary. Trial continues. We'll
bring you updates as testimony unfolds. Rest in peace, Anna,
Someone has to say your name. That's celebrity trials for Friday,
(19:20):
December fifth, twenty twenty five. Breaking overnight, FBI arrested a
Virginia anarchist in connection with the January sixth pipe bombings.
Nearly five years of investigation. Turns out they had the
evidence all along. Michael Jordan's anti trust battle against NASCAR
exposed damning emails executives threatening teams sign or lose your charters.
(19:43):
Only a monopolist could say this. Brian Walsh murder trial
Day three showed the jury bloody hack saws, blood soaked bathrobes,
and million dollar life insurance policies. Anna's lover takes the
stand today and Luigi Mangoni's case re zooms Monday. We'll
be there, I'm read, Carter, have a weekend, lock your
(20:04):
doors and maybe clear your browser history.
Caalaroga Shark Media. Good morning, I'm Reed Carter. Friday, December fifth,
twenty twenty five, Breaking overnight, the FBI has arrested a
Virginia man in connection with the January sixth pipe bombings,
nearly five years the bombs planted outside the Democratic and
(00:25):
Republican National Committee headquarters the night before the Capitol riot
case that launched one thousand conspiracy theories, finally has a
suspect in custody. He's reportedly linked to anarchist ideologies. But
here's the embarrassing part for the FBI. Sources say investigators
could have made this arrest years ago if they just
(00:45):
pieced together evidence they already had. Michael Jordan's antitrust war
against NASCAR continued yesterday, day three of testimony. Scott Prime,
NASCAR executive vice president, back on the stand getting hammered
by Attorneyjeffrey Kessler. Emails exposed showing NASCAR executives threatening teams
sign our charter deal or lose your charters. Only a
(01:08):
monopolist could say this, Kessler argued. Prime tried to defend
the take it or leave it offer he himself described
as a gun to your head. In Massachusetts. Day three
of the Brian Walsh murder trial, prosecutors showed the jury
a bloody hacksaw, blood stained bathrobes, blood soaked slippers with
(01:29):
what appeared to be clumps of hair on the bottom,
all recovered from dumpsters near Walsh's mother's apartment. Insurance broker
testified Anna Walsh had over a million dollars in life
insurance policies with Brian as the sole beneficiary. Defense claims
she died suddenly in bed after New Year's celebrations. Prosecution
(01:50):
says Brian dismembered her body and threw it in the trash,
and Luigi Mangoni's case was dark yesterday. Next update Monday,
when proceedings resume. Rea Carter Today, a pipe bomber finally
caught NASCAR's monopoly exposed, and the bloody evidence piling up
against Brian Walsh. This is Celebrity Trials. January fifth, twenty
(02:15):
twenty one, night before the Capitol Riot. A figure in
a gray hooded sweatshirt walks through Washington, d c. Face mask, glasses,
black and light gray Nike Airmax Speed turf shoes with
a yellow logo, carrying a backpack seven fifty four pm,
the figure places a pipe bomb outside the Democratic National
(02:37):
Committee headquarters. Twenty two minutes later, eight sixteen pm, another
bomb outside the Republican National Committee, both buildings just blocks
from the Capitol. The next day, America watched in horror
as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, but amid the chaos,
those bombs were discovered. Twelve forty five pm, Capitol police
(02:58):
found the RNC device. Thirty minutes later another call similar
device at the d NC. Then Vice President elect Kamala
Harris came within twenty feet of that bomb. The discovery
diverted police away from the violence unfolding at the Capitol.
Both devices were viable, capable of killing anyone nearby if
(03:19):
they detonated, Constructed from threaded galvanized pipes, kitchen timers, and
homemade black powder. Fifteen hours sat there waiting to explode.
They didn't, but they could have, and then nothing. The
suspect vanished. For nearly five years, the FBI hunted for
the pipe bomber, one of the largest investigations in bureau history.
(03:40):
Tens of thousands of video files, reviewed, hundreds of tips,
cell phone tower data scoured, They examined sales records, for
those Nike air Max sneakers, fewer than twenty five thousand
pairs sold around that time. They offered a five hundred
thousand dollars reward, conducted over a thousand interviews. Nothing The
case launched conspiracy theories. Some Trump allies, including now Deputy
(04:05):
FBI Director Dan Bongino, speculated it was an inside job.
Bongino said on his podcast before joining the FBI, I
believe the FBI knows the identity of this pipe bomber
and just doesn't want to tell us because it was
an inside job. Yesterday, they finally made an arrest. FBI
arrested a Virginia man. Sources tell multiple outlets he's been
(04:27):
linked to support for anarchist ideologies, charged with placing explosives
outside both the DNC and RNC headquarters. But here's where
it gets embarrassing for the Bureau. The arrest wasn't the
result of some breakthrough, no new evidence, no dramatic tip
from the public. Sources say investigators simply reviewed existing evidence
(04:48):
they'd collected back in twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two,
evidence they already had for years. Law enforcement sources told
reporters this arrest may cause embarrassment for the FBI because
the suspect could have been caught years ago if investigators
had pieced together what was already in front of them,
smart enough to plan coordinated bombings at both political parties headquarters,
(05:11):
too stupid to realize the FBI would eventually connect the dots,
except apparently the FBI was also too stupid to connect
those dots for nearly five years. The White House will
likely tout this as a victory. The Trump administration poured
new resources into the case earlier this year. Deputy Director
Bongino made solving it a personal priority. Last month, he
(05:32):
posted on social media that the bureau had increased investigative resources,
flown in police officers and detectives to review previous work,
conducted internal reviews, and now they have an arrest. Anarchist ideology,
not an inside job, not a false flag, just a
guy and a gray hoodie who planted bombs outside both
(05:52):
parties headquarters and got away with it for one thousand,
four hundred and thirty days. The timing of those bombs still,
investigators placed the night before January sixth discovered hours into
the riot. The DNC bomb drew police away from the
Capitol at a critical moment. Was that intentional coordination with
rioters or just coincidence. We may find out more as
(06:16):
the case proceeds. For now, what we know, Virginia Man
anarchist sympathies, allegedly placed both bombs in custody nearly five years.
The case that baffled America solved not by brilliant detective work,
but by finally looking at evidence. They already had your
tax dollars at work. Charlotte, North Carolina, Day three of
(06:48):
testimony in Michael Jordan's antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR Quick Refresher.
Jordan owns twenty three to eleven racing with driver Denny Hamlin.
They're suing NASCAR alongside Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins,
alleging NASCAR operates as an illegal monopoly, that the organization
uses its market dominance to crush competition and force teams
(07:10):
into unfavorable deals. At the heart of the lawsuit NASCAR's
charter system. Think of charters like franchise licenses. Own one
of the thirty six available, you get guaranteed entry into
every Cup Series race and a floor of revenue. Without one,
you're on the outside looking. In last year, NASCAR renegotiated
(07:30):
the charter agreements. Thirteen of fifteen charter holding teams signed
the new deal, twenty three to eleven, and front Row refused,
said the terms were exploitative. Filed this lawsuit instead. Wednesday,
Scott Prime was back on the stand. NASCAR executive vice
president second day of testimony, and attorney Jeffrey Kessler, representing
(07:53):
Jordan's team, used Prime's own emails and corporate communications to
paint a picture of monopolistic abuse. Prime originally worked for McKinsey,
the consulting firm. Back in twenty fourteen, he prepared a
report expressing concerns over the longevity of NASCAR if it
didn't improve the financial health of its race teams. Recommended
(08:13):
taxi like medallions, which became the charter system, but Kessler
argued the charter system doesn't actually help teams, it traps them.
During twenty twenty four charter negotiations, one email from Prime
to other executives relayed four demands from race teams that
Prime found quite disappointing. The team said they would be
forced to recommit our energy to exploring all our options
(08:36):
if NASCAR didn't agree translation. Teams were threatening to form
a breakaway stock car series. Prime laid out various options
for how NASCAR could respond. Reduce the number of charters
and offer them first come, first served, to create panic,
update charter language and offer a take it or leave
it deadline, dissolve the charter system entirely, or take all
(08:59):
the in house and eliminate the need for race teams altogether.
Then NASCAR President Steve Phelps responded to Prime's email, You
accurately reflected our options. They are playing with fire. Lots
of options, but all have the same theme. Pick a
date and they can sign or lose their charters. It
is that simple, Kessler pounced. Only a monopolist could say this.
(09:25):
Only a monopolist has the power to say, take my offer,
and if you don't take it, you will no longer
be in this business, and someone else will take your place.
On September sixth, twenty twenty four, NASCAR did exactly that,
presented a take it or leave it offer to teams,
an option Prime himself had described as a gun to
(09:45):
your head. That's what Jim wanted, Kessler said, referring to
NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim Frantz, I don't know what
he wanted, Prime replied. Inside the courtroom, Denny Hamlin leaned
forward and looked across the to gauge any reaction from
the France family and their representatives. They sat expressionless. More
(10:07):
damaging testimony emerged. Prime was portrayed as a moderate trying
to strike a fair deal with teams, but NASCAR's board
of directors, headed by Jim Frantz, kept pushing back. No
bueno with Jim on charters, Prime wrote via text, after
one meeting, can say Steve O'Donnell and I put our
best foot forward, but it was a brick wall. I'm
(10:30):
sorry to hear this. Phelps responded, super disappointing. Kesler also
targeted NASCAR's goodwill provision in charter agreements. This clause says
any owner of a race team, even someone who owns
only ten percent, cannot own or invest in a competing
stock car series, even if they leave NASCAR or forfeit
(10:51):
their charter. They can't join a competitor for more than
a year. And you think that's goodwill, Kessler asked, I
do Prime respond? It's not goodwill, it's anti competitive will.
Kessler said, shouldn't that be the name? NASCAR's attorneys objected.
The judge sustained it, but the evidence kept coming. Kessler
(11:12):
cited Prime's strategy document calling for intellectual property protections for
NASCAR's next gen car. Prime wrote that without IP protection,
it increases risk to NASCAR of the creation of a
copycat series. NASCAR's rulebook now says teams cannot use their
next gen cars in any series except NASCAR standard IP practice,
(11:35):
Prime argued. Under cross examination, Prime pushed back, said the
team's demand of twenty million dollars per car in revenue
payouts would put NASCAR bankrupt. Denied the communications showed ill intent.
Prime said what he meant by trying to lock up
tracks was simply signing them for next season's schedule, not
(11:57):
excluding them from competitors. Said permanent charters didn't make sense
for anyone. You can't negotiate a deal and have the
exact same deal forever. Prime said, you can't write a
contract today that's going to last forever. Here's the pattern
emerging from this trial. NASCAR holds all the cards. Teams
have nowhere else to go. When teams push for better terms,
(12:20):
NASCAR responds with threats. Sign or lose your charter, take
our offer or get out. That's what monopolies do. They
don't negotiate, they dictate. Michael Jordan didn't become a billionaire
by accepting bad deals. He's challenging the fundamental structure of
NASCAR's business model, arguing it violates federal antitrust law that
(12:42):
NASCAR uses its dominant position to extract unfair terms from
teams that have no alternative. Prime's testimony continues today. Bob
Jenkins from front Row Motorsports expected to follow. Make it
make sense. NASCAR tells teams to improve their financial health,
then offers them deals that can keep them financially dependent,
tells them to sign or lose everything. Calls it goodwill.
(13:06):
Jordan's attorneys call it what it is, monopoly. We'll be
right back with Day three of the Brian Walsh murder trial.
Bloody hacksaws, blood soaked bathrobes, and a million dollar life
insurance policy with the accused killer as beneficiary. Welcome back
(13:33):
to celebrity trials. I'm reed. Carter Dedham, Massachusetts Norfolk Superior Court,
Day three testimony in State versus Brian Walsh. Quick reminder
where we are Brian Walsh, fifty years old on trial
for the first degree murder of his wife, Anna, thirty nine,
Serbian immigrant mother of three, worked for a real estate
(13:55):
company in Washington d C. Reported missing January fourth, twenty
twenty three. Body never found. Walsh has already pleaded guilty
to two charges, misleading police and improper disposal of a
human body. Those guilty pleas came just before jury selection
last month, but he's fighting the murder charge his defense.
(14:17):
Anna died suddenly in bed after New Year's Eve celebrations.
Brian panicked, made terrible decisions, but didn't kill her. Prosecution
says that's absurd. They say Brian murdered Anna on New
Year's Day, spent several days dismembering her body, threw her
remains in dumpsters around the region, and repeatedly lied to police,
(14:37):
then tried to collect on her million dollar life insurance.
Day three brought the physical evidence. Davis Gould, forensic scientist
from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab, walked the jury
through what investigators found, ten trash bags recovered from a
dumpster outside Walsh's mother's apartment complex in Swampscott. The first
(14:58):
bag contained clothing that matched the description Brian gave police
when he reported on a missing Volkswagen keys. Then it
got worse. Gould presented photo after photo, a black jacket
covered in red brown stains, white towels soaked with what
appeared to be blood, a white bathrobe with similar staining,
gray slippers with smears, and what appeared to be clumps
(15:20):
of hair stuck to the bottom. Then the tools, a hammer,
wire snips, a hatchet with red brown stains, a hacksaw.
Google search history is forever Brian searched hacksaw the best
tool for dismembering a body. Now the jury was looking
at an actual hacksaw stained with what prosecutors allege is
his wife's blood. On cross examination, defense attorney Larry Tipton
(15:46):
questioned Gould about what the findings actually prove. There's no
way for you to be able to tell a jury
with regards to this specific case, how exactly some of
this red brown stain or biological evidence actually came to
be on any piece of VPS evidence. Gould agreed he
couldn't verify how the items were stained, couldn't rule out
(16:06):
the possibility they weren't stained when originally thrown out, but
that's a hard argument to sell blood soaked bathrobe, hacksaw
slippers with hair, all in dumpsters near Walsh's mother's house,
all discovered days after Anna vanished. Then the insurance testimony.
Mark Selvaggi, a life insurance broker with New York Life,
(16:28):
took the stand. He met Brian Walsh through an online
lead suggesting he was looking for life insurance, but there
was a problem. Brian had pending federal charges for selling
fake Andy Warhol paintings, couldn't get coverage himself. Selvaggi's solution
apply for a policy under Anna's name. Anna Walsh had
(16:48):
two life insurance policies worth over one million dollars. Brian
Walsh was the sole beneficiary. The policies also listed Anna
as being an excellent health which undermines the defense theory
that she suffered a sudden, unexpected death. Prosecution's theory crystallized.
Brian Walsh discovered his wife was having an affair, killed
(17:09):
her on New Year's Day, dismembered her body, threw the
remains in dumpsters, and planned to collect a million dollars
in insurance money. The affair is central to both sides,
Prosecutors say William Fastow, a d c reealtor, had a
romantic relationship with Anna, that she'd told a friend she
planned to leave Brian, that Brian discovered the affair and
(17:30):
killed her in a rage. Defense says the marriage was fine.
The text between Brian and Anna showed loving communication, that
Anna called Brian her best friend and discussed their future together. Today,
day four, William Fasto takes the stand. The other man,
the realtor who was sleeping with Anna Walsh. He helped
(17:51):
her by a townhouse in d c was apparently planning
a future with her. The jury, we'll hear from the
man Brian Walsh allegedly killed over That's what the defense
has to overcome. Brian Walsh already pleaded guilty to disposing
of his wife's body, already admitted he lied to police repeatedly.
His Internet search history includes best way to dispose of
(18:12):
a body, how long before a body starts to smell?
Is it possible to clean DNA off a knife? Best
way to dispose of body parts after murder? And now
the jury has seen the bloody hacksaw. The defense argument
that Anna died suddenly and Brian just panicked requires believing
that an innocent man's first instinct after finding his wife
(18:33):
dead was to google how to dismember a body, buy
cleaning supplies, hacker apart stuffer remains in trash bags, drive
them to various dumpsters, lie to police repeatedly, and then
try to collect the life insurance. Make it make sense.
Anna Walsh was thirty nine years old, mother of three boys,
ages two, four, and six when she disappeared. Serbian immigrant
(18:55):
who built a successful career in real estate should be
raising her sons, should be building her future. Instead, pieces
of her may be scattered in landfills across Massachusetts. Her
husband sitting in court clutching a rosary. Trial continues. We'll
bring you updates as testimony unfolds. Rest in peace, Anna,
Someone has to say your name. That's celebrity trials for Friday,
(19:20):
December fifth, twenty twenty five. Breaking overnight, FBI arrested a
Virginia anarchist in connection with the January sixth pipe bombings.
Nearly five years of investigation. Turns out they had the
evidence all along. Michael Jordan's anti trust battle against NASCAR
exposed damning emails executives threatening teams sign or lose your charters.
(19:43):
Only a monopolist could say this. Brian Walsh murder trial
Day three showed the jury bloody hack saws, blood soaked bathrobes,
and million dollar life insurance policies. Anna's lover takes the
stand today and Luigi Mangoni's case re zooms Monday. We'll
be there, I'm read, Carter, have a weekend, lock your
(20:04):
doors and maybe clear your browser history.
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