Criminology Criminology

Mississippi Burning Replay

Aug 2, 2026 · 1h 1m

Summary

Hosts Mike Morford and Mike Ferguson revisit the 1964 murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner in Mississippi. The episode details the Freedom Summer project, the KKK-led killings, and the subsequent FBI investigation that uncovered the bodies. It covers the historic federal trial, which resulted in the first successful civil rights prosecutions in Mississippi, and reflects on the case's impact on the Civil Rights Movement.

Topics discussed

Intro, ads, and technical difficulties Welcome, Patreon shoutouts, and CrimeCon promo Historical context: Civil War to Freedom Rides Freedom Summer project and volunteer backgrounds Biographies of Chaney, Schwerner, and Goodman The night of the abduction and disappearance HomeServe ad and the search for the missing men Discovery of bodies and national reaction Memorial services and eulogies Civil Rights Act of 1964 and federal investigation The federal trial and verdicts Edgar Ray Killen's conviction and legacy
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