For tv producer Lori Rothschild Ansaldi, homicide instances had been open and shut. Her work over the previous few a long time was centered on true crime, and totally on exhibits with adjudicated trials the place the finale noticed regulation enforcement officers placing a giant crimson bow on the case and bringing the killer to justice. And that’s the way it ought to be, she thought.
Up till she heard about Kevin Keith, a person who was convicted of a triple murder and was serving a life sentence with out parole in Ohio. A person who, in response to his brother Charles, had been wrongly convicted in a case wherein there was no bodily proof connecting him to the crime and wherein he had a number of alibis. Lori’s curiosity spawned the creation of Kim Kardashian’s The System: The Case of Kevin Keith, a Spotify Original podcast produced and hosted by Lori and Kim Kardashian.
“I remember thinking, ‘All criminals think they’ve been wrongly convicted,’” Lori advised For the Record. But the extra she learn, the extra she was satisfied that the items weren’t lining up. She grew to become distressed about evident, apparent proof—and the dearth thereof. “Why wouldn’t the state of Ohio do the right thing? He had been on death row. I couldn’t understand it.” She known as Charles Keith and defined that she was a real crime producer and needed to inform his brother’s story. “The phone went silent for a couple of uncomfortable moments. When we spoke, he said, ‘I’ve been waiting for your phone call my entire life.’”
Over the course of eight episodes, Kim and Lori work with investigators, attorneys, consultants, and extra to debate the complexities of Keith’s case, expose cracks throughout the story, and spotlight methods wherein our authorized system is damaged. It’s the story of the combat to get Kevin a brand new trial after being behind bars for nearly 29 years, lots of these on demise row.
For the Record sat down with Lori to be taught extra in regards to the present forward of its remaining few episodes.
How and why did you first come along with Kim Kardashian to create The System?
I knew from what I had realized that there was sufficient data to point out affordable doubt. Kevin ought to have simply gotten a brand new trial, and I didn’t know why he hadn’t. In my thoughts, I believed, “How do we rattle the cages? How do we get so much public support on this that the state of Ohio would have no choice but to do the right thing?” I knew we wanted a champion.
How I acquired related to Kim was a little bit of kismet—I used to be that loopy producer with strings on the partitions, like a detective, and photos and timelines and playing cards. One of the producers I labored with got here by and I defined to him what I used to be doing. He noticed my ardour and provided to attach me to Kim, who he was working with on Family Feud.
Of course I needed to speak to Kim. At that time she had already helped Alice Johnson, and I knew she additionally had what I felt in my soul. She had that fireplace of realizing that her platform might do superb issues.
I additionally knew that it was the correct story for Kim due to Charles Keith. Everyone thinks Kevin Keith is the primary character on this story, nevertheless it was his older brother who believed in Kevin’s innocence from the bounce and by no means believed, even after his brother was despatched to demise row, that he might ever presumably commit this crime. So to me it was an important story about siblings. It’s about blood being thicker than water and doing something on your sibling. And isn’t that what the Kardashian model is all about?
Kim has the most important coronary heart, and he or she’s been the perfect accomplice on this. She works tirelessly on this undertaking. She actually cares about Kevin, and he or she actually cares in regards to the case.
Kim has an enormous viewers and fan base. What do you assume the position of celebrities and influencers is in spreading the phrase about social points and social change?
Always keep in mind that Kim’s social media attain is similar because the inhabitants of the United States. It’s a humbling factor while you notice how extremely highly effective your voice will be, and that’s why individuals who have this attain ought to use it for good. Their voices are necessary to create change—and particularly for instances like this. At the tip of the day, it’s about Kevin.
What has reception of The System been like to this point, about midway into the season?
I’ve labored in tv my complete profession. And I’ve had hits, however the reception of The System is humbling. I’ve at all times recognized in my soul that if folks heard the story, they too would wish to know extra, and they might turn out to be activists as nicely. Because as soon as you already know, you may’t unknow. I’ve been getting so many requests for lots of of recent instances. It’s somewhat daunting as a result of I do know all these folks want voices.
People are going to my justiceforkevinkeith.org web site and searching on the paperwork. They wish to go deeper. And that’s necessary as a result of their opinions and their work are additionally so necessary—they will additionally make an affect on the state of Ohio. Knowing that individuals are coming to see what Kim is doing after which staying to listen to the story is fascinating. This case is blessed. It’s altering one thing in Ohio; I firmly imagine that.
Where do issues stand with Kevin’s case?
The actuality of our felony justice system is that it’s tough to get a case by the courts. An lawyer defined it to me like this: You have two avenues while you’re in submit conviction. You have the court docket system, or you’ve gotten clemency. The court docket system is strictly what you assume it’s: You’re submitting for appeals, awaiting responses. You primarily want a chunk of proof that hasn’t surfaced earlier than.
And then you’ve gotten this concept of clemency. The solely one that can provide that’s the governor. Back in 2010, the petition was to the then-governor, Ted Strickland, to avoid wasting Kevin’s life by granting clemency and commuting his sentence from demise row to life in jail. There was sufficient proof to recommend he won’t be responsible, and Governor Strickland believed that one thing in Kevin’s case wanted to be seemed into additional.
Now Kevin is requesting clemency once more to hopefully discover a method to be launched from jail. He goes to go to Mike DeWine, governor of Ohio. There’s a sense that DeWine is towards the demise penalty as a result of he’s stopped all executions whereas he’s been the governor. They have the chance now to commute Kevin’s sentence, to point out he was given an unfair trial, however both manner, that demise penalty ought to by no means be thought-about.
What is the takeaway for listeners of The System?
What I might need folks to do is to exit and vote. Vote for people who find themselves not for the demise penalty, and make noise, particularly should you dwell in Ohio.
It’s a extremely necessary case. Any time anybody needs to grasp what we are able to do, collectively, that’s what I’m right here for. That’s what I need this podcast—and anybody who’s touched by it—to do.
Stream the primary six episodes of Kim Kardashian’s The System now. New episodes can be found Mondays, solely on Spotify.
Interested in studying extra? Please go to the present’s Resource hub, which can replace every week all through the run of the collection. Here, you’ll discover episode transcripts in addition to visible aids—like copies of court docket paperwork and proof used within the authentic trial, and a lineup of images which might be referenced all through the podcast. In addition, The System has partnered with two organizations to convey felony justice reform into the dialog across the podcast. Color Of Change, the nation’s largest on-line racial justice group, will present extra details about wrongful convictions and different issues regarding the felony justice system. Additionally, Spotify is supporting the continued work of Calling All Crows, a corporation that connects music followers and mobilizes them to hitch actions for justice and equality by elevating consciousness, taking motion, and collectively working for social change. Calling All Crows is continuous to put money into its Unlocked Voices marketing campaign to amplify the platforms and tales of these impacted by mass incarceration.