Life Means Life
Bloody Angola: A Podcast by Jim Chapman9 Nov 2023

Life Means Life

In today's podcast episode of Bloody Angola we tell you 3 short stories of Life at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola including the story of Warden John Whitley who started his professional life and ended it at Angola, the story of Billy Blake Johnson who lost his life attempting to escape Angola, and the Prison View Golf Course which makes "Life" better for the Correctional Officers at Angola.#bloodyangolapodcast #LifemeansLife #JohnWhitley #Podcast #LouisianastatepenitentiaryGET FREE BREAKFAST FOR LIFE AT HELLOFRESH!HelloFresh delivers step-by-step recipes and fresh, pre-portioned ingredients right to your door. First, you set your meal plan preferences with options for carnivores, vegetarians, calorie-counters, and more. You'll choose from 30+ delicious weekly recipes carefully put together by the amazing chefs!Click Here to get FREE breakfast FOR LIFE!www.Hellofresh.com/BloodyAngolafreeTRANSCRIPTBLOODY ANGOLA PODCAST: LIFE MEANS LIFE
Jim: Hey, everyone. Welcome back to Bloody Angola, a podcast, 142 years in the making the complete story of America's bloodiest prison. And I'm Jim Chapman. Woody Overton could not join us today. We're working on some big, big stuff. And Woody's on assignment, that's all I can say. But there's going to be some really big stuff coming around the bend for everybody, so look forward to that. And I thought today, it would be fun to tell you some of the stories of Angola that you may not be familiar with, that aren't necessarily stories that can fill up, like, a whole hour of content, but at the same time, need to be told and are really good stories. So I wanted to share those with you, and we're going to jump right into it.
The first story I'm going to tell you about is actually about a former warden of Angola by the name of John Whitley. And John Whitley was actually the warden of Angola from 1990 until 1995. Look, John Whitley, the prison warden, was probably as prototypical as you can get to a prison warden when you would think of one. Kind of like the opposite of Burl Cain. Burl Cain was someone that, when you saw him, you wouldn't think he was the warden for the largest maximum-security prison in America. Same thing with John Whitley, but on the total opposite end, he is exactly what you would picture. He was a cowboy character. Actually, wore a cowboy hat and dressed with button up shirt. The picture I'm actually looking at now, he has a vest. It's almost like a leather vest over that button up shirt, and wears glasses, mustache, just looks like someone you would picture as a warden. And had a short but storied history at Angola relative to being a warden. Although he started off at the very bottom, and we're going to tell you all about that.
John Whitley attended Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, which is actually probably about an hour and 20 minutes from Angola. From where we record, right outside of Baton Rouge, it's actually about a half hour from us. It is I guess the second largest college in Louisiana outside of Louisiana State University. Good college. Whitley attended that college. He was actually born in Hammond, Louisiana as well. So he went to school same place he was born in. Now, after he left college, he ended up graduating in 1968. He enlisted in the United States Army. That's important. That was an important step in his life, because that was kind of in the heyday of Vietnam. People weren't necessarily just enlisting into the army. They were getting drafted. So it shows you John Whitley's courage and his commitment to his country that he would enlist in the United States Army. He actually served during the Vietnam War and was discharged in 1970.
Now, shortly after that, he started his career in corrections. So Whitley started that career at Angola in 1970, and he rose pretty much through those ranks quickly. He eventually became a deputy warden, and then he was promoted to warden of another Louisiana prison. So he was deputy warden at Angola. I know you've heard about us talk about Hunt Correctional Center, which is a prison, it's kind of like the baby brother to Angola, just a smaller, not so violent a prison as Angola. They needed a warden, and he actually got promoted to the warden of Hunt Correctional. From there, he left the state, and he ran a private prison in Texas. I know you've heard us talk about that with the private prisons are actually-- they're not ran by state employees. They're ran privately, and the state pays them for that service, and Texas has several of those, and he ran one of those private prisons in Texas.
Now, in 1990, Louisiana was like, “Man, what's going on here? This guy is in Texas, and he's got all this experience. He's a Louisiana guy, and we need him at Angola.” This was 1990, and Angola was in just a mess at that point, and they needed someone to restore order there, basically. At the time that they were seeking out John Whitley, they were having frequent, very frequent stabbings, suicides. They were dealing with a lot of escapes. And a US federal judge had actually declared, what's known as, a state of emergency at the prison in response to an ACLU lawsuit against the state specifically for the horrendous conditions at Angola. So it was a situation where they needed someone, not only with some Louisiana ties that really cared, but they also needed someone that had the experience to handle such a prison. John Whitley started there, rose all the way up to deputy warden. That was back since 1970. He was the perfect candidate for that. And so he took that job.
Within two years, Whitley had pretty much stemmed all of that violence. He established incentives for good behavior, which is something they did not have in Angola prior to his arrival there as warden. Some of those incentives for good behavior, he'd allow the inmates to have extra visits. He would increase the educational opportunities for the inmates. If you were good, maybe you had the opportunity to learn a trade that you had to have good behavior in order to get to learn, like maybe welding or something. I mean, you don't want someone that's causing a bunch of trouble in Angola getting a halt to a welding machine. So those things, he figured out-- He figured out the important thing-- When you're running a prison, and that is you've got to have incentives for the inmates. If there's no incentive for good behavior, they're not going to be good. That's just the bottom line.
So that was something he really stemmed, education wise for them. Also, literacy tutoring, computer and paralegal courses. He started bringing those into the prison not quite at the level that Warden Cain did later on, but the infancy of that is a credit to John Whitley and the things that he did. So he also enabled some trustworthy and deserving inmates to travel outside of the prison as part of some athletic teams and inmate bands that provided entertainment for-- They would entertain churches, they would entertain nursing homes and other charitable organizations throughout the area. John Whitley was kind of the guy who came up with the idea to start offering these things as a deterrent, if you will, against violence. He knew that these programs were the way to start.
So he also launched an outreach program to all the criminal justice programs in the state of Louisiana. So he would basically send prison officials and inmates, and they would go into these college classrooms, and they would help, both the students and the faculty better understand the realities of not only managing a prison, but life in prison as an inmate. Those things weren't done, at least with Angola inmates, before John Whitley became warden.
Now, one thing that's very important in prison, but is not commonly practiced, I guess you could say, is having an open-door policy with the media. Take it from me, y'all know that I love to research. It's not easy at all to find information about Angola, or probably most of your state prisons, and that is, they keep things that go on inside that prison, and you got to really dig to find information on stuff like that. But he was committed to, what I would call, an open-door policy with the media, and even The Angolite, which-- We've done several episodes about The Angolite and read many, many articles on that.
Well, The Angolite, the biggest concern with that magazine as time went on, and I noticed this as I was reading it was, it got a little farther and farther away from what was actually happening. What they were printing was the truth. But where in the 40s and 50s, when The Angolite was produced, they were talking about all these escapes and stabbings and all the things that happened inside that prison. When it got around to the 80s and 90s, it was a lot softer. There were things going on, but they weren't allowing The Angolite publishers or editors, rather, to print that [chuckles] or talk about it. And so didn't necessarily mean it wasn't going on. It's just the editors weren't putting it in there. But he wanted to have a welcoming nature with the media and try to cooperate with them rather.
And so one of the things that he allowed The Angolite to do was to produce material for radio and television journalism inside the prison, which-- Believe it or not, they have their own radio station there. They have a lot of film equipment there. They can actually film documentaries and stuff. The prisoners actually learn how to do this, and are as good as-- They got some producers in Angola that are as good or better than I am at doing that. Some of them probably better, and just amazing people out inside that prison that produced these things. But he didn't want them censored. The claim is that John Whitley did not censor the radio shows and stuff that were coming out of Angola, which is very interestin

Avsnitt(170)

The Doctor Will See You Now...

The Doctor Will See You Now...

We explore the tragic events surrounding Hillary Brown's death, due to alleged negligence and over-medication by her husband Dr. Benjamin Brown during procedures he performed on her at his office.Through a series of disturbing accounts from former patients like Jane Hawkins, Joy Edwards, and Brandy Fitzsimmons, Jim uncovers a pattern of botched surgeries, complications, and negligence that tarnished Dr. Brown's reputation. Former employees, including Shannon Gerage and Deborah Brown Guy, reveal troubling details about Dr. Brown's declining behavior, unsafe practices, and lapses in patient care standards at his clinic. Reports of unauthorized procedures, medication mishandling, and unsterile conditions raise serious concerns about the quality of care provided to patients under Dr. Brown's supervision.The investigation by the Florida Department of Health exposes a myriad of violations and risks posed by Dr. Brown's practices, shedding light on the dire consequences of his actions. From improper sterilization methods to medication misuse, the episode delves into the disturbing events that unfolded within Dr. Brown's clinic, painting a grim picture of the challenges faced by his patients.The tragic events surrounding Hillary Brown's own procedure, culminating in her untimely death due to negligence and over-medication by Dr. Brown, serve as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of medical malpractice. The podcast unravels the harrowing sequence of events that led to her passing, underscoring the need for accountability and reform within the healthcare system to prevent similar tragedies in the future.Follow Exposed on Apple Podcast here:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exposed-scandalous-files-of-the-elite/id1727965835Legal Note: This Case has not been adjucated and all persons discussed in this podcast are assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The criminal or civil charges expressed in this podcast are taken from public record and not the direct opinions of the host or producers of this podcast.Timestamps 01:43 New Beginnings14:48 Unraveling Truths20:51 Exposed Secrets25:38 State of Investigation30:29 Unauthorized Brazilian Butt Lift33:08 Laser Treatment Against Patient's Wishes36:12 Tragic Death of Hillary Brown42:26 Arrest Warrant Issued45:10 Medical License Restriction46:39 Culpable Negligence Charges51:02 Concerns Over Medication Handling54:07 Neglect Leads to Death58:06 Higher Doses for Victim1:00:46 Family Statement and Grief #exposed #scandal #DrBenBrown #plasticsurgeon #botchedsurgeries #negligence #medicalmalpractice #podcast #crime #florida Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

4 Juli 20241h 7min

The Ski Masked Rapist: Jon Simonis

The Ski Masked Rapist: Jon Simonis

In this episode of the Bloody Angola podcast, Jim Chapman and Woody Overton discuss Jon Barry Simonis, known as the ski mask rapist. Simonis confessed to 81 rapes nationwide and was linked to over 130 attacks in a 12-state crime spree between 1978 and 1981. Simonis's crimes led to the formation of the FBI's profiling task force. The FBI created a detailed profile of Simonis, including his physical description, behavior patterns, and tendencies, which matched his characteristics accurately.Simonis meticulously planned his crimes, evolving from burglary to sexual assaults and violence over time. He displayed domineering behavior, sought control and power over his victims, and enjoyed inflicting fear and pain. Simonis detailed his criminal activities in an interview with FBI profiler Roy Hazelwood, revealing his methods, motivations, and deviant fantasies. He admitted to escalating violence, seeking high-risk situations, and deriving satisfaction from dominating and terrorizing women.Simonis's intelligence, manipulative tactics, and strategic approach to his crimes revealed a disturbing insight into the mind of a serial rapist. The episode delves into Simonis's twisted psyche, his predatory behaviors, and his unrepentant attitude towards his heinous acts. Despite Simonis's eventual capture and lifelong imprisonment at bloody Angola prison, his chilling confessions shed light on the dark and sinister world of a prolific sexual predator.Timestamps02:36 Inside the Walls of Angola03:41 The Ski Mask Rapist06:02 FBI's Profiling Task Force07:39 The Progression of Crimes10:03 Creating the FBI Profile11:45 The Capture of John Simonis14:03 Comparing to the FBI Profile15:19 Simonis' Sentencing19:30 Simonis' Future in Prison21:13 Interview Techniques24:18 The Interview with John Simonis43:31 FBI's Study on Serial Killers44:55 Expansion to Profiling Sexual Crimes#podcast #crime #bloodyangola #prison #jonsimonis #skimaskedrapist Sponsor Deals!HelloFreshUse our link and get FREE APPETIZERS for life as long as your subscription is active.https://www.hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaappsOur Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaapps* Go to badlandsranch.com/BLOODYANGOLA to get up to 50% off your regular-priced dog food order with a 90-day money-back guarantee.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

27 Juni 202450min

The Lengths One Will Go To Escape Prison

The Lengths One Will Go To Escape Prison

In this episode of "Bloody Angola," we explore the fascinating history of prison escapes worldwide. From narratives of breakouts in the Tower of London to daring escapes during the American Civil War and gripping incidents throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The lengths in which one will go to escape prison will blow your mind and we discuss it all today!Timestamps02:18 Prison Escapes04:21 Escape History12:11 Criminal to Detective16:16 Escaping War18:52 Lifetime Escape23:56 Daring Adventure27:46 Unexpected Escape32:59 Dillinger's Escape36:10 World War II Escape38:16 Spanish Civil War Escape#SerialKillers #tedbundy #johnwaynegacy #profiling #fbi #bloodyangolapodcast #crime #podcast #killers #dateline Special Listener Deals!Badlands Ranch:Get up to 50% off your order of Superfood Complete dog food PLUS a 90 day money back guarantee!https://www.badlandsranch.com/bloodyangolaHelloFreshUse our link and get FREE APPETIZERS for life as long as your subscription is active.https://www.hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaapps Our Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaapps* Go to badlandsranch.com/BLOODYANGOLA to get up to 50% off your regular-priced dog food order with a 90-day money-back guarantee.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

20 Juni 202448min

Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer

Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer

In this episode of Bloody Angola, we deep dive into the realm of serial killers, exploring their twisted minds and chilling actions. From defining a serial killer to examining the rise in serial killings, we analyze the stats and classifications, both in the US and globally. Uncovering demographics like average age for a first kill, youngest and oldest serial killers, and racial composition, we also discuss the link between childhood abuse and becoming a serial killer.We explore different types of serial killers - psychotic, missionaries, power seekers - with examples like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy, and delve into subcategories like lust and gang killers. Drawing distinctions between organized and disorganized serial killers, we shed light on their characteristics and behaviors. Listen as we dive into the dark world and motivations behind these heinous crimes on Bloody Angola.Timestamps05:43 Rise of Serial Killers06:39 Global Serial Killer Stats08:55 Age and Gender of Serial Killers09:32 Racial Breakdown10:13 Issues with Profiling11:52 IQ and Methods of Killing12:54 IQs of Well-Known Serial Killers14:34 Child Abuse Statistics15:22 Birth Order of Serial Killers15:53 Profiling Types of Serial Killers19:08 Types of Missionary Killers20:43 Lust Killers and Profiling21:42 Black Widows and Cost Cutters23:46 Power Seekers24:20 Not-So-Well-Known Serial Killers25:12 Henry Landau's Twisted Actions25:33 Revenge Killers26:13 Organized vs. Disorganized Killers29:14 Profiling Serial Killers#SerialKillers #tedbundy #johnwaynegacy #profiling #fbi #bloodyangolapodcast #crime #podcast #killers #dateline Special Listener Deals!Badlands Ranch:Get up to 50% off your order of Superfood Complete dog food PLUS a 90 day money back guarantee!https://www.badlandsranch.com/bloodyangolaHelloFreshUse our link and get FREE APPETIZERS for life as long as your subscription is active.https://www.hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaapps Our Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaapps* Go to badlandsranch.com/BLOODYANGOLA to get up to 50% off your regular-priced dog food order with a 90-day money-back guarantee.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

13 Juni 202433min

Part 2 | The Investigation into The Ware Center for Youth

Part 2 | The Investigation into The Ware Center for Youth

In this episode of "Bloody Angola," we explore the Inspectors General's side of the incidents occurring at Ware Center for Youth from 2019-2022.   A New York Times investigation exposing shocking abuse and neglect at the facility, prompted a call for change and spearheaded an investigation of the Juvenile Facility by then Governor John Bell Edwards.Allegations of rape, physical abuse and an unusually high number of suicides are covered in this episode.It is important to note that this episode covers the Allegations made by the New York Times and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this podcast.Timestamps03:01 Ware Center for Youth Investigation Begins05:06 Inspector General's Detailed Report09:04 Reviewing Incidents and Escapes10:14 Review of Juvenile Suicides13:12 History of Ware Youth Center14:08 Critical Incidents at Ware23:35 DCFS Issues and Facility Improvements31:13 Conclusion and Podcast UpdateSpecial Listener Deals!Badlands Ranch:Get up to 50% off your order of Superfood Complete dog food PLUS a 90 day money back guarantee!https://www.badlandsranch.com/bloodyangolaHelloFreshUse our link and get FREE APPETIZERS for life as long as your subscription is active.https://www.hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaapps Our Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaapps* Go to badlandsranch.com/BLOODYANGOLA to get up to 50% off your regular-priced dog food order with a 90-day money-back guarantee.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

6 Juni 202438min

The Investigation into The Ware Center for Youth

The Investigation into The Ware Center for Youth

In this episode of "Bloody Angola," we explore the dark history of the Ware Center for Youth and the just released Louisiana Inspector General findings of the conditions within. The focus of this initial episode is on a New York Times investigation exposing shocking abuse and neglect at the facility, prompting a call for change that spearheaded an investigation of the Juvenile Facility by then Governor John Bell Edwards.Allegations of rape, physical abuse and an unusually high number of suicides are covered in this episode.It is important to note that this episode covers the Allegations made by the New York Times and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this podcast.Timestamps07:18 Allegations by the New York Times12:39 Investigations by the State Inspector General16:17 The Politics of Ware19:21 The Beginnings of Ware22:22 Shakira's Journey to Ware26:11 Punishments and Abuse at Ware30:06 Horrific Allegations of Sexual Abuse39:03 The Sheriff's Response40:01 Uncovering Indifference42:44 Surprising Outcomes44:54 Superficial Oversight46:09 Inadequate Corrections47:35 Concealed Interviews50:56 Rising Dysfunction52:10 False Assurances56:12 Regulatory Failures57:47 Escalating Incidents1:00:55 Reflecting on ImpactSpecial Listener Deals!Badlands Ranch:Go watch this 20 Minute Video presented by Katherine Heigl and learn some amazing tips on the health of your dog.Click Here to watch now!Our Sponsors:* Go to badlandsranch.com/BLOODYANGOLA to get up to 50% off your regular-priced dog food order with a 90-day money-back guarantee.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

30 Maj 20241h 3min

The Answer

The Answer

In this episode of Bloody Angola Podcast, we answer listener questions. Including preferences in covering historic events, favorite podcast stories, and challenges in researching current prison events. We highlight our favorite episodes and upcoming series possibilities. We reflect on the impact of covering stories like interviewing a former juvenile lifer and so much more!#podcast #historicevents #MemorialDay #interviews #bloodyangolaSpecial Listener Deals!Badlands Ranch:Go watch this 20 Minute Video presented by Katherine Heigl and learn some amazing tips on the health of your dog.Click Here to watch now!Timestamps:04:08 Interviewing Prison Convicts05:23 Interviewing the Angolite Editor05:48 Shocking Discoveries in Angola's History07:16 Would You Spend a Night in an Angola Cell?08:27 Addressing Misconceptions about Angola10:02 Impact of Podcast on Victims' Families11:58 Dealing with Criticism for the Podcast12:36 Most Impactful Experience from Interview14:09 Sources and Research for Bloody Angola15:22 Cold Case Resolutions through Angola Research17:32 Most Intriguing Discovery in Angola's History20:07 Plans for Future Episodes and Guests21:18 Handling Disturbing Stories in the Podcast25:57 Insight into Convict Lease Program27:46 Challenges of Researching Prison Infractions29:05 Recognition for Podcast Award and Fans30:27 Upcoming Series 33:59 Favorite Episodes and Standout Stories35:17 Embracing Goofy Energy in the Podcast35:38 Observance and Message for Memorial DayOur Sponsors:* Go to badlandsfood.com/BLOODYANGOLA to learn how you can see incredible changes in your dog’s health!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

22 Maj 202440min

Inmates Versus Convicts

Inmates Versus Convicts

In this episode of Bloody Angola, we explore the distinctions between inmates and convicts in the prison system. Through the lens of various inmates' lives like James "Black Maddie" Robertson, Parnell Smith, Henry Patterson, and others, we unveil the challenges, growth, and survival strategies within Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola's confines.  This episode also features intimate interviews with six lifers, offering candid insights on racial dynamics, faith, and personal reflections. Timestamps:04:31 "Black Mattie"07:32 Parnell Smith12:18 Henry Patterson15:42 James Dunn20:13 Mooreese Bickham25:11 Voices of AngolaBadlands RanchAir-Dried Nutritious Dog Food Superfood Complete contains some of the healthiest foods on Earth — humanely raised beef, nutrient-dense organ meat, omega-packed salmon, and gut-healthy vegetables. And of course, a variety of our favorite superfoods, chosen to help support your dog’s smooth digestion, healthy energy level, and easy-moving joints. These ingredients are cooked responsibly at low temperatures and air-dried for maximum nutrition. Superfood Complete contains no meat meal, byproduct, or preservatives known to cause health issues in many dogs — it’s all of the good stuff your dog needs to thrive, with none of the bad.Check out the video below!https://www.badlandsfood.com/BloodyAngolaOur Sponsors:* Go to badlandsfood.com/BLOODYANGOLA to learn how you can see incredible changes in your dog’s health!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

16 Maj 202436min

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