Case 134
Martha Puebla
Case 134
Martha Puebla
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In the early hours of Wednesday, November 27 2002, 16-year-old Martha Puebla was lying in bed in her home on the corner of Lull Street and Case Avenue in Sun Valley, a neighbourhood in the San Fernando Valley. Shortly before 2:00am, she heard a tapping sound at her ground floor window.
Looking out, she saw her friend Sofia standing outside. Sofia wanted Martha to go out with her and her boyfriend, 18-year-old Christian Vargas, who was waiting in his car out front. As Martha deliberated whether or not to go, a man in a hooded sweatshirt approached Christian’s car. Suddenly, gunshots rang out, causing Sofia to leap through Martha’s bedroom window to hide…
________
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
MTC program: maketheconnection.net/resources/spread-the-word
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call/
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Written and researched by Eileen Ormsby
Creative director: Milly Raso
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
COURT DOCUMENTS:
Grand Jury Indictment against the Vineland Boyz
DOCUMENTARIES:
Long Shot – Netflix, 2017
ARCHIVED ARTICLES:
‘Murder defendent with TV tape alibi sues LAPD’ – Santa Cruz Sentinel, Aug 5 2004
‘Man with TV show alibi sues LAPD’ – The Los Angeles Times, Aug 5 2004
‘Murder suspect cleared by TV show outtakes is suing the city of Los Angeles’ – The Greenwood Commonwealth
‘Ballpark film provides man alibi’ – Sioux City Journal, June 2 2004
‘Interrogation, then revenge’ – The Los Angeles Times, July 2 2008
‘Slaying of teen witness prompts LAPD changes’ – Los Angeles Times, July 18 2008
ONLINE ARTICLES:
The Time Larry David Saved a Man from the Death Penalty – Mental Floss
How baseball, ‘Curb’ saved a man’s life – MLB News
Vineland Boyz guilty in drug, murder case – Los Angeles Daily News
Two men charged in Valley Slayings – The Los Angeles Times
60 Minutes: How comedy legend Larry David saved a wrongly arrested man – 9 News
How a taping of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ saved an innocent man from death row – Innocence Project
How ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ saved this man from prison – New York Post
Long Shot: The horrifying true story of a man falsely accused of a brutal gangland murder – The Sun
Bad night for the Vineland Boyz – LA Weekly
Interrogation, then revenge – The Los Angeles Times
Clearing the case – LA Weekly
Man cleared by TV footage gets $320,000 – ABC News
THIS EPISODE’S SPONSORS
Noom – The last weight loss program you’ll need. Start your trial today
Quip – Get your first refill pack FREE with a QUIP electric toothbrush
Talkspace – Get $100 OFF your first month with promo code ‘CASEFILE’
Native – Get 20% OFF your first order with promo code ‘CASEFILE’
Listen On
In the early hours of Wednesday, November 27 2002, 16-year-old Martha Puebla was lying in bed in her home on the corner of Lull Street and Case Avenue in Sun Valley, a neighbourhood in the San Fernando Valley. Shortly before 2:00am, she heard a tapping sound at her ground floor window.
Looking out, she saw her friend Sofia standing outside. Sofia wanted Martha to go out with her and her boyfriend, 18-year-old Christian Vargas, who was waiting in his car out front. As Martha deliberated whether or not to go, a man in a hooded sweatshirt approached Christian’s car. Suddenly, gunshots rang out, causing Sofia to leap through Martha’s bedroom window to hide…
______
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Written and researched by Eileen Ormsby
Creative director: Milly Raso
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
COURT DOCUMENTS:
Grand Jury Indictment against the Vineland Boyz
DOCUMENTARIES:
Long Shot – Netflix, 2017
ARCHIVED ARTICLES:
‘Murder defendent with TV tape alibi sues LAPD’ – Santa Cruz Sentinel, Aug 5 2004
‘Man with TV show alibi sues LAPD’ – The Los Angeles Times, Aug 5 2004
‘Murder suspect cleared by TV show outtakes is suing the city of Los Angeles’ – The Greenwood Commonwealth
‘Ballpark film provides man alibi’ – Sioux City Journal, June 2 2004
‘Interrogation, then revenge’ – The Los Angeles Times, July 2 2008
‘Slaying of teen witness prompts LAPD changes’ – Los Angeles Times, July 18 2008
ONLINE ARTICLES:
The Time Larry David Saved a Man from the Death Penalty – Mental Floss
How baseball, ‘Curb’ saved a man’s life – MLB News
Vineland Boyz guilty in drug, murder case – Los Angeles Daily News
Two men charged in Valley Slayings – The Los Angeles Times
60 Minutes: How comedy legend Larry David saved a wrongly arrested man – 9 News
How a taping of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ saved an innocent man from death row – Innocence Project
How ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ saved this man from prison – New York Post
Long Shot: The horrifying true story of a man falsely accused of a brutal gangland murder – The Sun
Bad night for the Vineland Boyz – LA Weekly
Interrogation, then revenge – The Los Angeles Times
Clearing the case – LA Weekly
Man cleared by TV footage gets $320,000 – ABC News
THIS EPISODE’S SPONSORS
Noom – The last weight loss program you’ll need. Start your trial today
Quip – Get your first refill pack FREE with a QUIP electric toothbrush
Talkspace – Get $100 OFF your first month with promo code ‘CASEFILE’
Native – Get 20% OFF your first order with promo code ‘CASEFILE’
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