October 14, 2025 • 22 mins
Reid Carter covers Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez booked after being stabbed multiple times by a 69-year-old truck driver in self-defense - now facing felony battery and civil suit claiming Fox knew about his "propensity for drinking and harmful conduct." Luigi Mangione's attorneys seek to dismiss federal charges and death penalty, arguing he wasn't read Miranda rights and stalking isn't a "crime of violence." Drake appeals after judge dismissed his defamation lawsuit against Kendrick Lamar. Jonathan Rinderknecht ordered held without bail after threatening to burn down his sister's home. Four major updates in one show.
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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.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Callaroga Shark Media, good morning, I'm read Carter. Tuesday October fourteenth,
twenty twenty five, Mark Sanchez, Fox sports analyst and former
NFL quarterback was booked at Marion County Jail Sunday. He's
facing felony battery charges after a sixty nine year old
(00:23):
truck driver stabbed him multiple times in self defense during
an altercation at a loading dock. The driver, Perry Tole,
suffered a severe laceration through his left cheek. Now Tolly
is suing Sanchez and Fox Corporation, claiming Fox knew about
Sanchez's propensity for drinking and harmful conduct and failed to
supervise him. Luigi Mangioni's defense team filed motion Saturday seeking
(00:47):
to dismiss the federal charge that carries the death penalty.
They argue he ha wasn't read his miranda rights before questioning,
his backpack was searched without a warrant, and stalking isn't
a crime of violence under federal law. They're also challenging
Attorney General Pam Bondi's public comments about seeking death. Drake
is appealing after a federal judge dismissed his defamation lawsuit
(01:09):
against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's not like Us.
The judge ruled no reasonable listener would believe Kendrick was
stating facts in a rap battle. Drake's team says they're
taking it to the Court of Appeals, and Jonathan Rinderknecht,
accused of starting the Palisades fire, was ordered held without
bail after prosecutors revealed he threatened to burn down his
(01:32):
sister's Florida home last month. Judge cited concerns about his
mental health and flight risk. I'm reed Carter four major updates,
one show, This is Celebrity Trials. Mark Sanchez played ten
seasons in the NFL. Drafted fifth overall by the New
(01:53):
York Jets in two thousand and nine, had a solid career,
joined Fox Sports as a college football analyst in twenty nineteen,
moved to NFL games in twenty twenty one. Respected commentator,
good reputation. Then he traveled to Indianapolis to call a
Colts game and everything fell apart. Early Saturday morning, October eleventh,
(02:16):
Sanchez is at the Western Hotel in Indianapolis. He's in
an alley behind the hotel. There's a truck parked at
the loading dock. The truck belongs to a company servicing
Friar oil. The driver is Perry Toll, sixty nine years old,
just doing his job. Surveillance video shows Sanchez approaching the truck,
telling Toll he can't park there. Then Sanchez climbs into
(02:38):
the truck cab without permission, just gets in someone else's
vehicle uninvited. Toll tries to call his manager, Sanchez blocks
him from getting his phone. The situation escalates. Sanchez allegedly
shoves the driver, Toll, defending himself pepper spray's Sanchez. Then
Toll pulls a knife. He tells police he thought this
(02:59):
guy is trying to kill me. He stabs Sanchez multiple times.
Sanchez keeps coming. Toll is thrown into a dumpster, falls
onto pallets. While on the ground, he can only see
Sanchez's feet coming at him. Realizes it's a life or
death situation. Toll gets back to his feet, Sanchez comes
(03:20):
at him again. Toll stabs him the last time. Sanchez
looks at him with a look of shock, slowly turns
around and flees north through the alley. Toll suffered a
severe laceration that penetrated all the way through his left cheek,
through his entire cheek. That's not a minor injury. That's
(03:40):
serious trauma requiring medical attention. Sanchez was initially charged with
battery resulting in injury, public intoxication, and unlawful entry of
a motor vehicle. Then Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears upgraded
the battery charge once they learned the extent of Toll's injuries.
(04:00):
Now Sanchez faces one felony battery charge carrying one to
six years in prison, plus three misdemeanors. Friday, Judge Jennifer
Harrison granted Sanchez's petition to travel. He lives in California,
he needed to leave Indiana, but the judge ruled he
must be booked and finger printed before leaving the state.
Sunday morning, Sanchez was discharged from the hospital where he'd
(04:22):
been treated for stab wounds, taken directly to Marion County jail, booked,
fingerprinted mugshot, taken, then released to travel. The booking photo
shows a thirty eight year old man who attacked a
sixty nine year old truck driver and got stabbed for
his trouble. But the criminal case is just the beginning.
Perry Toll's attorneys filed a civil suit against Sanchez and
(04:45):
Fox Corporation. The suit claims Toll suffered severe, permanent disfigurement,
loss of function, other physical injuries, emotional distress, and other
damages as a result of Sanchez's actions. And here's where
it gets interesting. The the suit accuses Fox Corporation of
knowing or should have known about Sanchez's unfitness as an employee,
(05:07):
propensity for drinking and or harmful conduct, claims Fox failed
to supervise him, and accuses them of negligent hiring. That's
a serious allegation. Fox employed Sanchez knowing he had issues
with alcohol and harmful conduct and failed to supervise him appropriately.
If Tolls lawyers can prove Fox knew Sanchez was a
(05:28):
risk and sent him to Indianapolis anyway, that's massive liability.
The suit seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, costs and attorney fees,
and any other relief the court deems appropriate amounts to
be determined at trial. Fox hasn't publicly responded to the
allegations about Sanchez's propensity for drinking or harmful conduct. But
(05:50):
if those allegations are true, why was Sanchez working NFL
games without supervision. Why didn't Fox implement safeguards if they
knew he was potentially dangerous? Think about the facts. Sanchez,
allegedly intoxicated, approaches a sixty nine year old man working
overnight at a loading dock, tells him he can't park there,
which isn't Sanchez's authority to determine. Climbs into the man's
(06:13):
truck without permission, physically prevents him from calling his manager,
shoves him, gets pepper sprayed, continues attacking until the driver,
in fear for his life, stabs him multiple times. And
throughout this entire altercation, Sanchez is the aggressor. Toll is
defending himself. Toll is the one who ends up with
a laceration through his entire cheek. Yet Sanchez is charged
(06:34):
with felony battery because his actions caused those injuries. Self
defense is clear. Toll was working, Sanchez confronted him, Sanchez
entered his vehicle without permission. Sanchez escalated the situation. When
Toll tried to de escalate by pepper spraying him, Sanchez
kept attacking. Toll had every right to defend himself with
(06:55):
whatever force necessary. The felony charge reflects that toll injuries
were serious. You don't get a laceration through your entire
cheek from a minor altercation. That's significant force. That's Sanchez
causing real harm to a senior citizen who was just
trying to do his job. What was Sanchez thinking? Why
confront a truck driver about parking at two am? Why
(07:18):
climb into someone's vehicle, Why continue attacking after being pepper sprayed.
The only explanation that makes sense is intoxication, which is
why he was charged with public intoxication, which is why
Fox is facing a civil suit claiming they knew about
his drinking. Mark Sanchez had a good NFL career, had
a solid broadcasting career. One altercation destroyed both. If convicted
(07:42):
of felony battery, he's looking at one to six years
in prison. If the civil suit succeeds, he and Fox
could owe Perry Toll significant damages, and Fox might face
additional scrutiny about what they knew and when they knew
it regarding Sanchez's behavior. Perry told was sixty nine years old,
working overnight servicing Friar oil so restaurants could operate the
(08:05):
next day. He didn't deserve to be attacked, didn't deserve
to have his face cut open, didn't deserve to fear
for his life in a hotel loading dock at two am.
He defended himself and now he's permanently scarred, while his
attacker was a Fox Sports analyst who should have been
in his hotel room sleeping before calling a game the
next day. That's the Mark Sanchez update booked Sunday, felony
(08:27):
battery pending civil suit filed. Career likely over. We'll be
right back with Luigi Mangoni's fight against the death penalty. Saturday,
Luigi mangones defense team filed motions in Manhattan federal court
(08:51):
seeking to dismiss federal charges, including the only count that
carries the death penalty. They're arguing Miranda violations, illegal search,
and prosecutorial overreach. Quick recap. December fourth, twenty twenty four.
Brian Thompson, CEO of United Healthcare, arrives at a Manhattan
hotel for an investor conference. A masked gunman shoots him
(09:14):
multiple times. Thompson dies. The shooter flees on a bike
through Central Park, takes a taxi to a bus depot,
disappears five days later. December ninth, a McDonald's employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania,
two hundred and thirty three miles away, recognizes someone matching
the suspect's description. Calls police. Officers arrive find Luigi Mangone,
(09:39):
twenty seven years old, sitting alone at a table with
a white mask covering his face. Two officers approach, tell
Mangioni someone called because they thought he was suspicious, ask
for ID. Mangioni provides a new Jersey driver's license with
someone else's name. The officers ask him to stand with
his hands on his head so they can frisk him.
(10:00):
One officer goes outside tells a colleague he's one hundred
percent convinced this is their suspect. Within minutes, half a
dozen additional officers arrive. Mangioni cooperates throughout. He's not fighting,
not fleeing, not resisting. Officers search his backpack, find a
gun and ammunition, arrest him. Now four months later, the
(10:21):
defense argues everything that followed should be suppressed. Three main arguments. First,
Miranda violations. Mangioni wasn't read his rights before being questioned.
Officers asked for ID, questioned him, searched him all before
advising him he had the right to remain silent and
the right to an attorney. Anything Manjone said during that
(10:43):
initial encounter should be inadmissible. The prosecution will argue exigent circumstances.
They needed to confirm his identity and determine if he
was armed before miranda applied. The defense counters that once
officers were one hundred percent convinced he was the suspect,
he was in custody. Miranda applies when you're in custody.
Mangione was clearly in custody when surrounded by six officers.
(11:07):
Second illegal search. Officers searched Mangone's backpack without a warrant,
found the gun and ammunition that became key evidence. The
defense argues that's an illegal search. Evidence obtained without a
warrant should be suppressed. The prosecution will argue search incident
to arrest or exigent circumstances. They had probable cause to
(11:28):
believe Mangone was armed and dangerous a wanted murder suspect.
Searching his backpack was reasonable to insure officer safety. The
defense counters that they searched the backpack before formally arresting him,
before reading him his rights before establishing probable cause through
questioning that makes it an illegal search. Third, the death
(11:50):
penalty charge itself. Mangione faces federal charges in addition to
state charges. Murder cases are usually state matters, but federal
proctors charged him under a law covering murders committed with
firearms as part of other crimes of violence. The defense
argues the other crime identified by prosecutors, stalking, isn't a
(12:11):
crime of violence under federal law. Without a qualifying crime
of violence, the federal charge doesn't apply, and without the
federal charge, there's no death penalty. New York doesn't have
capital punishment. Only the federal case can result in execution.
The prosecution argues, stalking is absolutely a crime of violence.
(12:32):
Thompson was followed, surveiled, hunted, Mangioni tracked his movements, waited
for him. That's violent. Predatory behavior qualifies under federal law. Additionally,
the defense challenges Attorney General Pam Bondi's public comments in April.
Bondi directed prosecutors to seek the death penalty, calling the
(12:53):
killing a premeditated, cold blooded assassination that shocked America. The
defense argues those comments prejudice the jury pool. The Attorney
General publicly declaring Mangoni deserves death before trial violates due
process makes it impossible to set an impartial jury. The
government's top law enforcement official has already announced the desired outcome,
(13:18):
the prosecution will argue. Elected officials can comment on high
profile cases. Bondai's comments reflect the government's legal position, not
personal bias. Juries are instructed to decide based on evidence,
not public statements. If the defense succeeds on miranda and
search issues, key evidence gets suppressed. If they succeed on
(13:38):
the federal charge, the death penalty is off the table.
If they succeed on all counts, the federal case collapses entirely,
leaving only state charges where Mangioni faces life without parole
at most. The motions filed Saturday provide minute by minute
descriptions of Mangioni's arrest. Include body camera photographs showing him
(13:58):
sitting alone with his men. Ask on before officers approached document,
exactly when officers became convinced of his identity, show the
timeline of search, seizure, and questioning. This is standard defense
strategy in any major case. Challenge everything suppress evidence, limit
the prosecution's case force the government to prove every element
(14:22):
make them earn a conviction. But there's more at stake
than usual. This isn't just about conviction versus acquittal. It's
about life versus death. The federal charges are the only
path to execution. Without them, Mangione faces life in prison.
With them, he could be executed. Public reaction complicates everything.
(14:44):
After Thompson's death, social media exploded with resentment toward health insurers,
people sharing stories of denied claims, delayed treatments, family members
who died waiting for approval. The words delay, deny, and depose,
written on ammunition at the scene became shorthand for insurance
industry criticism. Mangione has supporters people who see him as
(15:08):
a symbol of frustration with health care, who view Thompson's
death as justified revenge against a system that kills people
through bureaucratic indifference. Jury selection will be complicated by finding
people who can set aside those sympathies. The government wants death,
the defense wants charges dismissed. The truth is probably somewhere between.
(15:30):
Some evidence will likely survive suppression, some arguments will succeed,
others fail. But these motions matter. They shape the trial,
determine what jury hears decide whether death penalty applies. Luigi
Mangoni sits in jail awaiting rulings on these motions. His
attorneys are fighting to save his life by getting charges
(15:51):
dismissed or evidence suppressed. The prosecution is fighting to maintain
the case and pursue execution. Judge will decide in coming weeks.
Back with more in a moment. Two quick updates. Drake
(16:17):
is appealing. Thursday, Judge Jeanette Vargas dismissed his defamation lawsuit
against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us.
We covered this yesterday. Judge ruled that in context of
a heated rap battle, no reasonable listener would believe Kendrick
was stating facts when calling Drake a pedophile. Drake's legal
(16:38):
team released a statement, we intend to appeal today's ruling
and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.
They're taking it to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals,
arguing the District Court aired in dismissing the case that
calling someone a pedophile is defamation per se, automatically defamatory
without proving damages that context doesn't matter when the accusation
(17:02):
is that serious that UMG profited from false allegations while
knowing they were false. The appeal faces long odds. First
Amendment protects opinion. Rap battles are obviously opinion. Courts defer
to artistic expression. Public figures like Drake face higher bars
for defamation claims, and the context two rappers trading insults
(17:24):
in a public feud, both participated and willingly makes this
textbook protected speech. But Drake has resources, can fund, appeals,
can pay top lawyers, will pursue this as far as
courts allow. UMG released a statement calling the lawsuit an
affront to all artists and their creative expression, and said
(17:45):
they look forward to continuing to promote Drake's music. That's
corporate speak for we're going to win this appeal too.
If Drake loses at the Circuit Court, he could petition
the Supreme Court. Unlikely they'd take the case, but he
could try. This could drag on for years. Meanwhile, Not
Like Us remains one of two thy twenty four's biggest songs.
(18:09):
One Grammys made the Super Bowl the most watched ever.
Kendrick got awards, Drake got a dismissed lawsuit. He's now appealing.
Second update. Jonathan Rinderconnect, accused of starting the Palisades fire,
was ordered held without bail Thursday after a detention hearing
in Orlando Federal Court. We covered rinder Connect's arrest Friday.
(18:30):
He's charged with starting the January first Lachman fire that
smoldered underground for six days before exploding into the Palisades
Fire on January seventh. Twelve people dead, more than six
thousand structures destroyed, most destructive fire in LA history. Thursday's
hearing revealed new details. Render Connect allegedly threatened to burn
(18:53):
down his sister's Florida home last month. Police were called
twice in September. Both incidents involved render Connect making arson threats.
Prosecutors argue this shows a pattern obsession with fire that
began with chat GPT searches in July twenty twenty four
and culminated in the Palisades fire. Assistant US Attorney Rachel
(19:15):
Lyons told the judge rinder Connect is a flight risk.
He has family in France, grew up there, speaks French
fluently could flee to Europe if released. US Magistrate Judge
Nathan Hill agreed ordered render Connect held without bail. Cited
concerns about his mental health, flight risk, and danger to
the community. Said he's not confident render Connect would appear
(19:39):
for future court dates in California if released. Render Connect's
defense argued he's not a flight risk, has no criminal history,
cooperated with the initial investigation, but the judge wasn't convinced.
The chat GPT searches, the burning Bible, the French rap
song about fire, the threats to burn his system house
(20:01):
all paint a picture of someone fixated on fire. Preliminary
hearings set for October seventeenth in Orlando. That's when prosecutors
present evidence to show probable cause. Then render connect will
be extradited to California to face charges. In Los Angeles,
he faces five to twenty years on the current federal charge,
but prosecutors said additional charges are coming related to the
(20:23):
property damage and twelve deaths, murder charges, manslaughter charges, arson charges.
The final indictment could carry life without parole or even
death penalty if prosecutors pursue it as a capital case.
For now, render connect sits in Seminole County jail, no bail,
awaiting extradition, facing the possibility of spending the rest of
(20:46):
his life in prison for lighting a fire on New
Year's Day that killed twelve people three months later when
it resurfaced from underground. That's celebrity trials for Twouesday. October fourteenth,
twenty twenty five. Mark Sanchez faces felony battery after attacking
(21:06):
a sixty nine year old truck driver who stabbed him
in self defense. The victims suffered a laceration through his
entire cheek. Now suing Sanchez and Fox Corporation claiming Fox
knew about Sanchez's drinking and failed to supervise him career
over criminal charges. Pending civil suit filed. Luigi Mangoni's defense
(21:26):
seeks to dismiss federal charges and death penalty, arguing Miranda
violations illegal search stalking isn't a crime of violence. Also
challenging A. G. Pambondai's public comments about seeking death. If
they succeed, death penalty is off the table. If they fail,
Mangioni could be executed. Drake is appealing after his defamation
(21:47):
lawsuit got dismissed, taking it to the second circuit, arguing
calling someone a pedophile is defamation. Regardless of context, long odds,
but he has resources to fight. Jonathan renderconnect order held
without bail, allegedly threatened to burn his sister's house last month.
Judge cited mental health concerns and flight risk. Preliminary hearing
(22:09):
October seventeenth. Additional charges coming related to twelve deaths I'm
read Carter four updates. One analyst who attacked a truck driver,
one defendant fighting execution, one rapper appealing a loss, one
arsonist staying jailed. See you tomorrow. This is Celebrity Trials.
(22:29):
By the way, we have a poll going in our
Facebook group's page. Do you want to hear more classic
celebrity trials, more current murder cases, or is the mix
just right? Let us know. Search Celebrity Trials in Facebook
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love to hear from you.
Callaroga Shark Media, good morning, I'm read Carter. Tuesday October fourteenth,
twenty twenty five, Mark Sanchez, Fox sports analyst and former
NFL quarterback was booked at Marion County Jail Sunday. He's
facing felony battery charges after a sixty nine year old
(00:23):
truck driver stabbed him multiple times in self defense during
an altercation at a loading dock. The driver, Perry Tole,
suffered a severe laceration through his left cheek. Now Tolly
is suing Sanchez and Fox Corporation, claiming Fox knew about
Sanchez's propensity for drinking and harmful conduct and failed to
supervise him. Luigi Mangioni's defense team filed motion Saturday seeking
(00:47):
to dismiss the federal charge that carries the death penalty.
They argue he ha wasn't read his miranda rights before questioning,
his backpack was searched without a warrant, and stalking isn't
a crime of violence under federal law. They're also challenging
Attorney General Pam Bondi's public comments about seeking death. Drake
is appealing after a federal judge dismissed his defamation lawsuit
(01:09):
against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's not like Us.
The judge ruled no reasonable listener would believe Kendrick was
stating facts in a rap battle. Drake's team says they're
taking it to the Court of Appeals, and Jonathan Rinderknecht,
accused of starting the Palisades fire, was ordered held without
bail after prosecutors revealed he threatened to burn down his
(01:32):
sister's Florida home last month. Judge cited concerns about his
mental health and flight risk. I'm reed Carter four major updates,
one show, This is Celebrity Trials. Mark Sanchez played ten
seasons in the NFL. Drafted fifth overall by the New
(01:53):
York Jets in two thousand and nine, had a solid career,
joined Fox Sports as a college football analyst in twenty nineteen,
moved to NFL games in twenty twenty one. Respected commentator,
good reputation. Then he traveled to Indianapolis to call a
Colts game and everything fell apart. Early Saturday morning, October eleventh,
(02:16):
Sanchez is at the Western Hotel in Indianapolis. He's in
an alley behind the hotel. There's a truck parked at
the loading dock. The truck belongs to a company servicing
Friar oil. The driver is Perry Toll, sixty nine years old,
just doing his job. Surveillance video shows Sanchez approaching the truck,
telling Toll he can't park there. Then Sanchez climbs into
(02:38):
the truck cab without permission, just gets in someone else's
vehicle uninvited. Toll tries to call his manager, Sanchez blocks
him from getting his phone. The situation escalates. Sanchez allegedly
shoves the driver, Toll, defending himself pepper spray's Sanchez. Then
Toll pulls a knife. He tells police he thought this
(02:59):
guy is trying to kill me. He stabs Sanchez multiple times.
Sanchez keeps coming. Toll is thrown into a dumpster, falls
onto pallets. While on the ground, he can only see
Sanchez's feet coming at him. Realizes it's a life or
death situation. Toll gets back to his feet, Sanchez comes
(03:20):
at him again. Toll stabs him the last time. Sanchez
looks at him with a look of shock, slowly turns
around and flees north through the alley. Toll suffered a
severe laceration that penetrated all the way through his left cheek,
through his entire cheek. That's not a minor injury. That's
(03:40):
serious trauma requiring medical attention. Sanchez was initially charged with
battery resulting in injury, public intoxication, and unlawful entry of
a motor vehicle. Then Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears upgraded
the battery charge once they learned the extent of Toll's injuries.
(04:00):
Now Sanchez faces one felony battery charge carrying one to
six years in prison, plus three misdemeanors. Friday, Judge Jennifer
Harrison granted Sanchez's petition to travel. He lives in California,
he needed to leave Indiana, but the judge ruled he
must be booked and finger printed before leaving the state.
Sunday morning, Sanchez was discharged from the hospital where he'd
(04:22):
been treated for stab wounds, taken directly to Marion County jail, booked,
fingerprinted mugshot, taken, then released to travel. The booking photo
shows a thirty eight year old man who attacked a
sixty nine year old truck driver and got stabbed for
his trouble. But the criminal case is just the beginning.
Perry Toll's attorneys filed a civil suit against Sanchez and
(04:45):
Fox Corporation. The suit claims Toll suffered severe, permanent disfigurement,
loss of function, other physical injuries, emotional distress, and other
damages as a result of Sanchez's actions. And here's where
it gets interesting. The the suit accuses Fox Corporation of
knowing or should have known about Sanchez's unfitness as an employee,
(05:07):
propensity for drinking and or harmful conduct, claims Fox failed
to supervise him, and accuses them of negligent hiring. That's
a serious allegation. Fox employed Sanchez knowing he had issues
with alcohol and harmful conduct and failed to supervise him appropriately.
If Tolls lawyers can prove Fox knew Sanchez was a
(05:28):
risk and sent him to Indianapolis anyway, that's massive liability.
The suit seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, costs and attorney fees,
and any other relief the court deems appropriate amounts to
be determined at trial. Fox hasn't publicly responded to the
allegations about Sanchez's propensity for drinking or harmful conduct. But
(05:50):
if those allegations are true, why was Sanchez working NFL
games without supervision. Why didn't Fox implement safeguards if they
knew he was potentially dangerous? Think about the facts. Sanchez,
allegedly intoxicated, approaches a sixty nine year old man working
overnight at a loading dock, tells him he can't park there,
which isn't Sanchez's authority to determine. Climbs into the man's
(06:13):
truck without permission, physically prevents him from calling his manager,
shoves him, gets pepper sprayed, continues attacking until the driver,
in fear for his life, stabs him multiple times. And
throughout this entire altercation, Sanchez is the aggressor. Toll is
defending himself. Toll is the one who ends up with
a laceration through his entire cheek. Yet Sanchez is charged
(06:34):
with felony battery because his actions caused those injuries. Self
defense is clear. Toll was working, Sanchez confronted him, Sanchez
entered his vehicle without permission. Sanchez escalated the situation. When
Toll tried to de escalate by pepper spraying him, Sanchez
kept attacking. Toll had every right to defend himself with
(06:55):
whatever force necessary. The felony charge reflects that toll injuries
were serious. You don't get a laceration through your entire
cheek from a minor altercation. That's significant force. That's Sanchez
causing real harm to a senior citizen who was just
trying to do his job. What was Sanchez thinking? Why
confront a truck driver about parking at two am? Why
(07:18):
climb into someone's vehicle, Why continue attacking after being pepper sprayed.
The only explanation that makes sense is intoxication, which is
why he was charged with public intoxication, which is why
Fox is facing a civil suit claiming they knew about
his drinking. Mark Sanchez had a good NFL career, had
a solid broadcasting career. One altercation destroyed both. If convicted
(07:42):
of felony battery, he's looking at one to six years
in prison. If the civil suit succeeds, he and Fox
could owe Perry Toll significant damages, and Fox might face
additional scrutiny about what they knew and when they knew
it regarding Sanchez's behavior. Perry told was sixty nine years old,
working overnight servicing Friar oil so restaurants could operate the
(08:05):
next day. He didn't deserve to be attacked, didn't deserve
to have his face cut open, didn't deserve to fear
for his life in a hotel loading dock at two am.
He defended himself and now he's permanently scarred, while his
attacker was a Fox Sports analyst who should have been
in his hotel room sleeping before calling a game the
next day. That's the Mark Sanchez update booked Sunday, felony
(08:27):
battery pending civil suit filed. Career likely over. We'll be
right back with Luigi Mangoni's fight against the death penalty. Saturday,
Luigi mangones defense team filed motions in Manhattan federal court
(08:51):
seeking to dismiss federal charges, including the only count that
carries the death penalty. They're arguing Miranda violations, illegal search,
and prosecutorial overreach. Quick recap. December fourth, twenty twenty four.
Brian Thompson, CEO of United Healthcare, arrives at a Manhattan
hotel for an investor conference. A masked gunman shoots him
(09:14):
multiple times. Thompson dies. The shooter flees on a bike
through Central Park, takes a taxi to a bus depot,
disappears five days later. December ninth, a McDonald's employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania,
two hundred and thirty three miles away, recognizes someone matching
the suspect's description. Calls police. Officers arrive find Luigi Mangone,
(09:39):
twenty seven years old, sitting alone at a table with
a white mask covering his face. Two officers approach, tell
Mangioni someone called because they thought he was suspicious, ask
for ID. Mangioni provides a new Jersey driver's license with
someone else's name. The officers ask him to stand with
his hands on his head so they can frisk him.
(10:00):
One officer goes outside tells a colleague he's one hundred
percent convinced this is their suspect. Within minutes, half a
dozen additional officers arrive. Mangioni cooperates throughout. He's not fighting,
not fleeing, not resisting. Officers search his backpack, find a
gun and ammunition, arrest him. Now four months later, the
(10:21):
defense argues everything that followed should be suppressed. Three main arguments. First,
Miranda violations. Mangioni wasn't read his rights before being questioned.
Officers asked for ID, questioned him, searched him all before
advising him he had the right to remain silent and
the right to an attorney. Anything Manjone said during that
(10:43):
initial encounter should be inadmissible. The prosecution will argue exigent circumstances.
They needed to confirm his identity and determine if he
was armed before miranda applied. The defense counters that once
officers were one hundred percent convinced he was the suspect,
he was in custody. Miranda applies when you're in custody.
Mangione was clearly in custody when surrounded by six officers.
(11:07):
Second illegal search. Officers searched Mangone's backpack without a warrant,
found the gun and ammunition that became key evidence. The
defense argues that's an illegal search. Evidence obtained without a
warrant should be suppressed. The prosecution will argue search incident
to arrest or exigent circumstances. They had probable cause to
(11:28):
believe Mangone was armed and dangerous a wanted murder suspect.
Searching his backpack was reasonable to insure officer safety. The
defense counters that they searched the backpack before formally arresting him,
before reading him his rights before establishing probable cause through
questioning that makes it an illegal search. Third, the death
(11:50):
penalty charge itself. Mangione faces federal charges in addition to
state charges. Murder cases are usually state matters, but federal
proctors charged him under a law covering murders committed with
firearms as part of other crimes of violence. The defense
argues the other crime identified by prosecutors, stalking, isn't a
(12:11):
crime of violence under federal law. Without a qualifying crime
of violence, the federal charge doesn't apply, and without the
federal charge, there's no death penalty. New York doesn't have
capital punishment. Only the federal case can result in execution.
The prosecution argues, stalking is absolutely a crime of violence.
(12:32):
Thompson was followed, surveiled, hunted, Mangioni tracked his movements, waited
for him. That's violent. Predatory behavior qualifies under federal law. Additionally,
the defense challenges Attorney General Pam Bondi's public comments in April.
Bondi directed prosecutors to seek the death penalty, calling the
(12:53):
killing a premeditated, cold blooded assassination that shocked America. The
defense argues those comments prejudice the jury pool. The Attorney
General publicly declaring Mangoni deserves death before trial violates due
process makes it impossible to set an impartial jury. The
government's top law enforcement official has already announced the desired outcome,
(13:18):
the prosecution will argue. Elected officials can comment on high
profile cases. Bondai's comments reflect the government's legal position, not
personal bias. Juries are instructed to decide based on evidence,
not public statements. If the defense succeeds on miranda and
search issues, key evidence gets suppressed. If they succeed on
(13:38):
the federal charge, the death penalty is off the table.
If they succeed on all counts, the federal case collapses entirely,
leaving only state charges where Mangioni faces life without parole
at most. The motions filed Saturday provide minute by minute
descriptions of Mangioni's arrest. Include body camera photographs showing him
(13:58):
sitting alone with his men. Ask on before officers approached document,
exactly when officers became convinced of his identity, show the
timeline of search, seizure, and questioning. This is standard defense
strategy in any major case. Challenge everything suppress evidence, limit
the prosecution's case force the government to prove every element
(14:22):
make them earn a conviction. But there's more at stake
than usual. This isn't just about conviction versus acquittal. It's
about life versus death. The federal charges are the only
path to execution. Without them, Mangione faces life in prison.
With them, he could be executed. Public reaction complicates everything.
(14:44):
After Thompson's death, social media exploded with resentment toward health insurers,
people sharing stories of denied claims, delayed treatments, family members
who died waiting for approval. The words delay, deny, and depose,
written on ammunition at the scene became shorthand for insurance
industry criticism. Mangione has supporters people who see him as
(15:08):
a symbol of frustration with health care, who view Thompson's
death as justified revenge against a system that kills people
through bureaucratic indifference. Jury selection will be complicated by finding
people who can set aside those sympathies. The government wants death,
the defense wants charges dismissed. The truth is probably somewhere between.
(15:30):
Some evidence will likely survive suppression, some arguments will succeed,
others fail. But these motions matter. They shape the trial,
determine what jury hears decide whether death penalty applies. Luigi
Mangoni sits in jail awaiting rulings on these motions. His
attorneys are fighting to save his life by getting charges
(15:51):
dismissed or evidence suppressed. The prosecution is fighting to maintain
the case and pursue execution. Judge will decide in coming weeks.
Back with more in a moment. Two quick updates. Drake
(16:17):
is appealing. Thursday, Judge Jeanette Vargas dismissed his defamation lawsuit
against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us.
We covered this yesterday. Judge ruled that in context of
a heated rap battle, no reasonable listener would believe Kendrick
was stating facts when calling Drake a pedophile. Drake's legal
(16:38):
team released a statement, we intend to appeal today's ruling
and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.
They're taking it to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals,
arguing the District Court aired in dismissing the case that
calling someone a pedophile is defamation per se, automatically defamatory
without proving damages that context doesn't matter when the accusation
(17:02):
is that serious that UMG profited from false allegations while
knowing they were false. The appeal faces long odds. First
Amendment protects opinion. Rap battles are obviously opinion. Courts defer
to artistic expression. Public figures like Drake face higher bars
for defamation claims, and the context two rappers trading insults
(17:24):
in a public feud, both participated and willingly makes this
textbook protected speech. But Drake has resources, can fund, appeals,
can pay top lawyers, will pursue this as far as
courts allow. UMG released a statement calling the lawsuit an
affront to all artists and their creative expression, and said
(17:45):
they look forward to continuing to promote Drake's music. That's
corporate speak for we're going to win this appeal too.
If Drake loses at the Circuit Court, he could petition
the Supreme Court. Unlikely they'd take the case, but he
could try. This could drag on for years. Meanwhile, Not
Like Us remains one of two thy twenty four's biggest songs.
(18:09):
One Grammys made the Super Bowl the most watched ever.
Kendrick got awards, Drake got a dismissed lawsuit. He's now appealing.
Second update. Jonathan Rinderconnect, accused of starting the Palisades fire,
was ordered held without bail Thursday after a detention hearing
in Orlando Federal Court. We covered rinder Connect's arrest Friday.
(18:30):
He's charged with starting the January first Lachman fire that
smoldered underground for six days before exploding into the Palisades
Fire on January seventh. Twelve people dead, more than six
thousand structures destroyed, most destructive fire in LA history. Thursday's
hearing revealed new details. Render Connect allegedly threatened to burn
(18:53):
down his sister's Florida home last month. Police were called
twice in September. Both incidents involved render Connect making arson threats.
Prosecutors argue this shows a pattern obsession with fire that
began with chat GPT searches in July twenty twenty four
and culminated in the Palisades fire. Assistant US Attorney Rachel
(19:15):
Lyons told the judge rinder Connect is a flight risk.
He has family in France, grew up there, speaks French
fluently could flee to Europe if released. US Magistrate Judge
Nathan Hill agreed ordered render Connect held without bail. Cited
concerns about his mental health, flight risk, and danger to
the community. Said he's not confident render Connect would appear
(19:39):
for future court dates in California if released. Render Connect's
defense argued he's not a flight risk, has no criminal history,
cooperated with the initial investigation, but the judge wasn't convinced.
The chat GPT searches, the burning Bible, the French rap
song about fire, the threats to burn his system house
(20:01):
all paint a picture of someone fixated on fire. Preliminary
hearings set for October seventeenth in Orlando. That's when prosecutors
present evidence to show probable cause. Then render connect will
be extradited to California to face charges. In Los Angeles,
he faces five to twenty years on the current federal charge,
but prosecutors said additional charges are coming related to the
(20:23):
property damage and twelve deaths, murder charges, manslaughter charges, arson charges.
The final indictment could carry life without parole or even
death penalty if prosecutors pursue it as a capital case.
For now, render connect sits in Seminole County jail, no bail,
awaiting extradition, facing the possibility of spending the rest of
(20:46):
his life in prison for lighting a fire on New
Year's Day that killed twelve people three months later when
it resurfaced from underground. That's celebrity trials for Twouesday. October fourteenth,
twenty twenty five. Mark Sanchez faces felony battery after attacking
(21:06):
a sixty nine year old truck driver who stabbed him
in self defense. The victims suffered a laceration through his
entire cheek. Now suing Sanchez and Fox Corporation claiming Fox
knew about Sanchez's drinking and failed to supervise him career
over criminal charges. Pending civil suit filed. Luigi Mangoni's defense
(21:26):
seeks to dismiss federal charges and death penalty, arguing Miranda
violations illegal search stalking isn't a crime of violence. Also
challenging A. G. Pambondai's public comments about seeking death. If
they succeed, death penalty is off the table. If they fail,
Mangioni could be executed. Drake is appealing after his defamation
(21:47):
lawsuit got dismissed, taking it to the second circuit, arguing
calling someone a pedophile is defamation. Regardless of context, long odds,
but he has resources to fight. Jonathan renderconnect order held
without bail, allegedly threatened to burn his sister's house last month.
Judge cited mental health concerns and flight risk. Preliminary hearing
(22:09):
October seventeenth. Additional charges coming related to twelve deaths I'm
read Carter four updates. One analyst who attacked a truck driver,
one defendant fighting execution, one rapper appealing a loss, one
arsonist staying jailed. See you tomorrow. This is Celebrity Trials.
(22:29):
By the way, we have a poll going in our
Facebook group's page. Do you want to hear more classic
celebrity trials, more current murder cases, or is the mix
just right? Let us know. Search Celebrity Trials in Facebook
groups or follow the link in the show notes. We'd
love to hear from you.
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