What if the system meant to protect us is the one that fails us the most? Wickedly Judged is a true crime podcast exposing wrongful convictions, broken justice, and the people whose lives are forever changed by the system. Hosted by Rebecca, the show dives deep into real cases and the human stories behind them — the families, the loved ones, and the empty seats that are never forgotten.
Inspired by her husband’s wrongful conviction, Rebecca brings truth, heart, and fearless advocacy to every episode. This is more than a podcast — it’s a mission, a voice for the unheard, and a fight for justice reform.
They Said No. We’re Not Done: Where Johnny’s Case Goes From Here
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They Said No. We’re Not Done. | Johnny Watkins Case Update
On September 29, 2026, the Ohio Supreme Court declined jurisdiction in Johnny Watkins’ case.
But what does that actually mean?
It does not mean the Court reviewed all of the evidence and determined Johnny’s conviction was sound. It means the Court declined to hear that appeal.
And we’re not done.
In this solo episode of Wickedly Judged, Rebecca gives an update on Johnny’s case after more than 21 years of incarceration and explains where the fight goes from here.
Over the past several years, records obtained through public-records requests have raised serious questions about the investigation and evidence presented in Johnny’s case.
Rebecca discusses:
• The Ohio Supreme Court’s decision to decline jurisdiction • What that decision does—and does not—mean • Pretrial testimony concerning who possessed the knife • Changing and conflicting witness accounts • Statements concerning the washing of hands and disposal of the knife • Questions raised by witness interrogations • The interrogation of a 16-year-old witness • DNA testing that found no blood on Johnny’s tested shoes or socks • Other clothing that was not tested • Records that surfaced years after the conviction • The importance of the records-request timeline • Ohio Criminal Rule 33 and newly discovered evidence • What “unavoidably prevented” means • What happens next in Johnny’s fight for a new trial
Rebecca also talks about the personal side of this fight—being Johnny’s wife while also becoming his advocate and learning to separate emotion from evidence.
“I don’t want you to believe Johnny is innocent because I love him. Look at the evidence. Read the documents. Listen to the interrogations. Compare the statements. Ask the same questions I’m asking.”
The question now is simple:
How can someone discover evidence they were never told existed?
The Ohio Supreme Court said no to this appeal.
The evidence didn’t disappear.
And we’re not done.
1 Oct 2026
DNA Excluded Him. He Still Spent 16 Years in Prison| Jeff Deskovic
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DNA Excluded Him. He Still Spent 16 Years in Prison | Jeff Deskovic
DNA evidence excluded Jeffrey Deskovic before trial, yet he was convicted as a teenager and spent 16 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
In this episode of Wickedly Judged, Rebecca talks with Jeff about becoming a suspect at 16, the interrogation that led to his false confession, and how a confession outweighed DNA evidence that excluded him. At 17, Jeff was convicted and sentenced to 15 years to life in an adult maximum-security prison.
Jeff shares how faith, studying the law, and learning about other exonerations helped him keep fighting through years of failed appeals. Eventually, the Innocence Project took his case. DNA testing produced a database match identifying the actual perpetrator and helped secure Jeff’s freedom.
Jeff then turned his experience into advocacy. He became an attorney and founded the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice, using part of his compensation to help others fighting wrongful convictions.
IN THIS EPISODE: • Jeff’s interrogation & false confession • DNA evidence that excluded him • Being convicted at 17 • Surviving 16 years in prison • The DNA match that led to his exoneration • Becoming an attorney & advocate • Starting the Deskovic Foundation • Seeking help for wrongful-conviction cases • Why legal guidance matters with new evidence • Non-DNA innocence cases • Post-conviction barriers & reform • Jeff’s support for Pete Wlasiuk • Podcasts, documentaries & public advocacy • Accountability & preventing wrongful convictions • What Jeff would tell his 16-year-old self
CONNECT WITH JEFF:
Foundation: https://www.deskovicfoundation.org/ (https://www.deskovicfoundation.org/)
Donate: https://www.deskovicfoundation.org/donate (https://www.deskovicfoundation.org/donate)
Jeff Deskovic: https://www.Deskovic.org/ (https://www.Deskovic.org/)
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Deskovic (https://www.patreon.com/Deskovic)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.deskovic (https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.deskovic)
Foundation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejeffreydeskovicfoundation (https://www.facebook.com/thejeffreydeskovicfoundation)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deskovicfoundation/ (https://www.instagram.com/deskovicfoundation/)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreydeskovic/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreydeskovic/)
Innocence Project: https://innocenceproject.org/cases/jeffrey-deskovic/ (https://innocenceproject.org/cases/jeffrey-deskovic/)
WICKEDLY JUDGED:
Episodes, advocacy & merchandise: https://www.wickedlyjudged.com/ (https://www.wickedlyjudged.com/)
Subscribe to Wickedly Judged and share this episode to help amplify the stories of people fighting wrongful convictions.
Join the conversation: What change discussed in this episode could make the biggest difference in preventing wrongful convictions?
Content Note: Discussion of sexual violence, murder, wrongful imprisonment & suicidal thoughts.
Discussion of disputed cases or evidence reflects the speakers’ accounts and perspectives.
24 Sept 2026
The Judge's Oath Podcast Guest interview
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Rebecca Watkins, founder of Wickedly Judged and president of the Wickedly Judged Justice Activation Project, joins Cheryl Kelmar on The Judge’s Oath Podcast to share the personal fight that sparked her advocacy.
Rebecca discusses her husband’s conviction—which she maintains is wrongful—and the years spent reviewing records, seeking answers, and fighting to have his case heard. She explains how that experience grew into a podcast and an organization supporting other families facing similar struggles.
Together, Rebecca and Cheryl discuss:
• Their questions about the Tyler Robinson case and media coverage surrounding the killing of Charlie Kirk. • The influence of social media on public opinion and fair trials. • Plea-deal pressure, costly legal representation, and barriers to appeals. • Access to case files, missing records, and concerns about withheld evidence. • Judicial accountability and independent review of innocence claims. • Better resources for public defenders, prison education, and rehabilitation.
Rebecca also shares how faith sustains her, her plans for advocacy education, and her book project, Wickedly Judged: Buried Evidence.
Learn more, get involved, or support the work: https://www.wickedlyjudged.com (https://www.wickedlyjudged.com)
Original interview: The Judge’s Oath Podcast, Episode 006, hosted by Cheryl Kelmar and published by PodCast by Kelmar Publishing LLC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm3Aat-WLTQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm3Aat-WLTQ)
This episode includes personal experiences, opinions, and disputed allegations expressed by the speakers.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
3.4 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 32 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
50
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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