Witness Execution Program // 130

 

This episode is currently available early and ad-free on Invisible Choir + on Apple Podcasts and Patreon. The free ad-supported version is scheduled for release on 10/27/2024.

Shortly after 5 a.m. on Sept. 10, 2012, three masked men wielding guns broke into a suburban home in Ocoee, Florida. The intruders dragged roommates Alex Zaldivar, 19, Brienna Campos, 20, and her brother Remington Campos, 23, from their beds and lay them face down on the living room floor. Minutes later, bullets were fired into each of the heads. The men fled. When the ringing in their ears subsided, Remington and Brienna Campos realized they had miraculously survived, but their friend did not. Alex Zaldivar lay motionless in a widening pool of his own blood. Who were these men and why were they trying to kill everyone inside? It would later be revealed one of the intruders had been in this house, uninvited, once before. He was facing serious prison time and saw only one solution: he had to kill the witnesses. 

A special thanks to Rafael Zaldivar, who shared photos, videos and personal stories about his son, as well as retired Orlando Police Detective Michael Moreschi, who investigated the murder and provided an interview and information for this episode.

Written by Gus Burns, Edited and Engineered by Scott Ecklein, and Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list: 

Visit Invisible Choir on the web: 

Written/Audio Sources: 

  1. Rafael Zaldivar interview

  2. Michael Moreschi interview

  3. Ocoee 911 call, Sept. 10, 2012

  4. The Stop Snitching culture. Breaking the code of silence

  5. Bessman Okafor's family details troubled childhood in testimony

  6. Bessman Okafor and the murder of Alex Zaldivar

  7. Alex Zaldivar obituary

  8. Bessman Okafor Trial Penalty Phase Day 1 Part 1

  9. Brienna Campos arrest affidavit

  10. Bessman Okafor Trial Day 1 Testimony Begins 08/20/15

  11. Bessman Okafor Trial Opening Statements Part 2 08/20/15

  12. Bessman Okafor resentencing trial: Opening statements begin for convicted killer

  13. Pine Hills Chamber of Commerce history

  14. Okafor v. Florida Supreme Court filing

  15. Three more suspects arrested in Ocoee home-invasion witness killing

  16. Bessman Okafor bond revocation

  17. Bessman Okafor bond granted filing

  18. Bessman Okafor gun charge dismissed

  19. Docs: Man accused of murdering witness violated curfew

  20. Bessman Okafor, Nolan Bernard found guilty in home invasion trial

  21. Bill compensating Okafor victims heads to Gov. Rick Scott

  22. Report: Orange County gets new way to track violent suspects 

  23. Privatization fears, finger-pointing marked troubled home-confinement program

  24. Jury finds Donnell Godfrey guilty in murder of Alex Zaldivar

  25. Justice for Donnell Rasheed Godfrey Facebook page

  26. Juror in Okafor case dismissed because she 'felt threatened'

  27. Video shows confrontation between convicted killer and victim's father

  28. Murder victim's father tells killer 'You're dead' during sentencing hearing

  29. Accomplices in murder plot sentenced

  30. Pine Hills, Fl, U.S. Census estimates

  31. Best Places, Pine Hills

  32.  LIVE TRIAL: Jury to decide whether Florida man will be sentenced to live or death

  33. Florida Sexual Offenders System

  34. Bessman Okafor 2015 Trial Transcripts, Part 1

  35. Bessman Okafor 2015 Trial Transcripts, Part 2

  36. Bessman Okafor 2015 Trial Transcripts, Part 3

  37. Bessman Okafor 2024 resentencing transcript

  38. Bessman Okafor 2024 Spencer hearing transcript

  39. Florida Death penalty changes

  40. Deanna Campos Zillow real estate profile

  41. Family has roots in Fukushima samurai region

  42. Orange County Court records, date of birth information

  43. Orlando jury resentences Bessman Okafor to death

  44. Mistrial declared in Bessman Okafor murder trail

  45. Death sentence for Bessman Okafor overturned

  46. Florida Supreme Court members page

  47. Juror blamed for Bessman Okafor mistrial sentenced to 179 days in jail

  48. Bessman Okafor, convicted in murder of Alex Zaldivar, sentenced to death

  49. Orange County judge sentences Bessman Okafor to death after 9-3 jury vote

  50. Florida Supreme Court Describe Non-Unanimous Sentencing Law a ​“Quintessential Game of Chance”

  51. Brienna Campos IMDB

  52. Bessman Okafor, Writeaprisoner.com 

  53. Transcript of January 2024 resentencing

  54. Justice for Alex & Victims Of Violent Crime Facebook page

Music & Sound Effect Sources (possible)

  • “Open Road” by Lennon Hutton

  • “As it Should Be” by Luchs

All music and sound effects used with express permission under unlimited blanket license authority from Epidemic Sound ® and SoundStripe ®.  Individual sources are available via request at info@invisiblechoir.com

 
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