Imagine if, one day, you are accused of something. Something horrible, violent, heinous. Something you swear you did not do, and nothing you say can convince anyone otherwise — even the people closest to you. That’s Sophia Johnson’s story. Sophia was starting fresh: A new life, a new husband, a baby on the way. But it all unraveled on January 10, 2002, when her mother-in-law Marlyne Johnson was found bludgeoned to death in her home. Days later, Sophia was charged with the murder. To this day, Sophia swears she didn’t do it. But someone says they witnessed it — her own brother. When family betrays family, who do you believe? In this story of a sibling rivalry beyond compare, WBUR’s Amory Sivertson turns the clock back. She reexamines an unsolved case, a family torn apart, and a woman who wasn’t believed. From WBUR and ZSP Media, Beyond All Repair is a 10-part true crime investigation into a cold case. The series ends with an answer. The first two episodes of Beyond All Repair will drop on March 7, 2024. Listen and follow Beyond All Repair on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts. Listener note: This show has descriptions of violence and strong language.
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Did you kill Marlene Johnson?
I think you're one of the first people to have actually asked.
How could that be when you were put on trial for murder?
Because I wasn't asked.
I was told, you know, I know this happened.
We know you killed Marlene.
Just tell me what happened.
Tell us how.
Sophia Johnson was 23 and newly married when she was accused of brutally murdering her mother in law.
Her head was beaten in with fireplace tongs.
It was shock, shock, and I'm going to sleep in jail tonight.
Sophia swears she didn't do it, but someone says they witnessed it.
The person kind of took it was like stocking off of their face.
It turned out to be my sister.
Two siblings at odds at the same time.
My brother did this to me.
Just the blatant lies.
This just feels like such a he said, she said.
And that's all we have.