In An Instant shines a light on the often-overlooked stories of crime victims. Maria Liza candidly shares her journey, recounting how her life took a devastating turn on the evening of November 4, 2022 and the harsh realities that followed.
Host Maria Liza interviews herself about how restorative justice fails victims when a court-appointed commissioner prioritizes the perpetrator over grieving children.
21 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT
EP 17: Part II: Made Whole - A Conversation with Margaret Petros
Advocate Margaret Petros shares with host [Host Name] the practical realities and profound impact of restitution on victim healing and justice.
6 Aug 2026
EP 16: The Simple Truth
Host Maria Liza explores Occam's razor to dissect the defense's shifting theories in Ammen v. Morales, revealing the undisputed fact at the episode's core.
18 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
EP 15: Voir Dire
Maria Liza shares her personal journey through jury selection for her sister Grace and brother-in-law Greg's wrongful death trial, revealing the human impact of seeking justice.
10 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
EP 14: Part 1 - Made Whole: A Conversation With Margaret Petros
Host Margaret Petros shares her journey from immigrant to advocate, detailing how she built Mothers Against Murder and fought for victims' rights and restitution.
8 Jun 2026
EP 13: Safe Families, Safe Communities - Gates for AG
In the years since the fateful night on November 4, 2022 I have watched a system that was supposed to protect my family fail them at every turn - from DA Wagstaffe's office to Attorney General Bonta himself.
What happens when the system built to protect victims becomes the second injury?
I sit down with Michael Gates (https://www.gates4ag.com/) - attorney, former Huntington Beach City Attorney, and candidate for California Attorney General, to talk about street racing, accountability, prosecutorial failure, and the Marsy's Law rights that too many families never actually receive. We talk about what accountability really looks like, what Marsy's Law is supposed to mean, and what justice should look like when California finally decides that victims' lives matter as much as offenders' second chances. We talk policy. And we talk about what he would do differently for families like mine. This one is personal. It always is.
6 May 2026
EP 12: The Revolving Door - Chung for Change
Career prosecutor and DA candidate Daniel Chung (https://www.chungforchange.com/) joins us to make the case for change in Santa Clara County's justice system. A Bay Area native who spent nearly two decades inside the very office he's running to lead, Daniel breaks down what he calls a "revolving door" for violent and repeat offenders, the years-long delays leaving victims' families without justice, and the policy reforms he'd put in place on Day 1. We also discuss the case that has gripped our community, the deaths of Andrew and Stacia Stuart, the Gilroy parents struck and killed in a crosswalk while dropping their 7-year-old twins off at school - and why, almost four months later, the DA's office has still said nothing publicly about the status of charges. If you live in Santa Clara County and care about who's in that DA seat this June, this one's for you. Visit chungforchange.com (https://www.chungforchange.com/) to learn about Daniel’s background and his mission.
16 Dec 2025
EP 11: At the End of the Day
Maria Liza reflects on navigating grief, loss, and the pursuit of justice during the holiday season, while balancing parenting and legal challenges.
4 Nov 2025
EP 10: 108 - Under the Radar
This episode reflects on critical evidence withheld in a case, exploring accountability and the enduring pain experienced by victims' families three years after a tragic loss.
6 Oct 2025
EP 9: Half Truths
Maria Liza examines the developing narrative surrounding a tragedy, confronting media inaccuracies and highlighting frustrations felt by victims and their families regarding the perpetrators.
30 Jun 2025
EP 8: Part II - Whatever It Takes
Maria Liza and Jeff recount a challenging family situation involving an attempt to move the girls out of state, highlighting the critical need for trusts and wills.
3 Apr 2025
EP 7 - The Danger Zone
In this episode, Maria Liza brings insights from some community members, along with a troubling discovery from juvenile rehabilitation that highlights concerns. She also reveals a finding from juvenile rehabilitation in San Mateo County that emphasizes the need for a focus on victims who are intended to be considered, yet have not received the necessary attention in the 30 months since the crime occurred.
23 Mar 2025
EP 6: Grace
Happy 45th Birthday Grace! I love you.
19 Mar 2025
EP 5: An Untimely Demise
I had been contemplating what to say regarding Kyle Harrison's sentencing for the past few weeks. However, after hearing about his passing this weekend, I felt it was important to share my initial thoughts.
13 Mar 2025
EP 4: Part I - Whatever It Takes
In Part I of Whatever It Takes, my husband, Jeff, and I delve into how our lives changed in a heartbeat on the night of November 4, 2022, along with the subsequent developments that have occurred. There's a lot to unpack and discuss!
25 Feb 2025
EP 3: System Failure
Maria Liza talks about the failures of the current judicial system with her friends, who have supported her since her family's tragedy. They've attended court on significant dates and express how the system has failed the victims, particularly as street racing has become increasingly common.
13 Feb 2025
EP 2: The Forgotten Side
In this episode, Maria Liza shares her victim impact statement and her requests for sentencing. Since the time of this recording, it was confirmed that Judge Etezadi did not consider any of Maria Liza's requests. Additionally, defense attorney Nowack mentioned during the sentencing that Mr. Morales was unable to write an apology letter due to a pending civil lawsuit.
6 Feb 2025
EP 1: The Kangaroo Incident
The Kangaroo Incident marked the beginning of a transformative journey for Maria Liza. Join us to discover the motivation behind her podcast and what topics are on the horizon. This platform is dedicated to revealing the Truth, steering clear of the narratives often spun by the media.
Inside a recent episode
EP 18: Restorative for Whom?
Published 17 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I raised something else with the commission too. Restitution. For the girls who lost both of their parents' financial support in an instant. It's being referred to as punitive. Meanwhile, the same juvenile and his parents pursued a civil lawsuit against the county seeking punitive damages of their own. And the girls carry a lifetime sentence without their parents that nobody, including District Attorney Wagstaff, appealed on their behalf. The same office that claims to advocate for supporting victims. I asked why my restoration request never even reached juvenile probation. I asked why they were all denied by the juvenile judge. […]
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