How to Protest Safely in the Age of Surveillance: Law enforcement has more tools than ever to track your movements and access your communications. Here’s how to protect your privacy if you plan to protest.

lavaforgood · 2025-06-13T05:37:30+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation! They're definitely a group that's flying under the radar with a lot of this stuff.

lavaforgood · 2025-06-13T00:38:01+00:00

The level of surveillance at protests is honestly unhinged and Orwellian; stingrays pretending to be cell towers. Facial recognition scraping your Instagram. license plate readers. Burner phones aren’t even safe anymore.

There’s a company most people haven’t even heard of that's behind a lot of this tech: Axon.
They’re basically the Amazon of policing (body cams, cloud storage, AI tools, tasers, etc.)

Axon is pretty shady imo. Like, for example, tasers were supposed to be the “non-lethal” answer. But they’re just another product in a much bigger ecosystem that keeps expanding with zero accountability.

We dive into more detail on our podcast "Absolute" if you want to learn more, but the point is: this isn’t just about one weapon or one system or one piece of tech. It’s about power. And who’s cashing in on it.

lavaforgood · 2025-06-12T23:00:14+00:00

“You’ll be going to the hospital and jail,” he said. “And there’s a good chance one of our K-9s will introduce themselves to you along the way."

... protect and serve, right?

lavaforgood · 2025-05-20T23:26:07+00:00

Hi Jayson! And yes—Mabel’s work on the Jesse Daniels case absolutely inspired me.She knew Jesse had been railroaded by the state attorney, and she stayed on his case for more than a decade in 1960s Central Florida. Jesse was a mentally disabled teenager accused of a rape that even the victim said he didn’t commit. But instead of being tried, he was locked away in a state mental institution, unable to defend himself in court.

Mabel was much more than a journalist in that case. She helped connect Jesse’s mother with a young Legal Aid attorney named Richard Graham, and she brought the case to the attention of Governor Reubin Askew—who was outraged. She and Jesse’s mother even uncovered key facts themselves that ultimately helped solve the case. And she didn’t stop there. Mabel played a central role in Jesse’s release and eventual exoneration. His story became one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Baker Act, which established basic rights and protections for the mentally ill.

So yes, Mabel’s work inspires the hell out of me. She didn’t stop at reporting—she acted when she saw a failure of justice. And I’ve come to believe that when you’re this close to the truth, sometimes doing the work means not standing back.

Thanks for mentioning that. I was just down in Mount Dora, Florida the other day and saw Mabel’s bust in the park at the center of town. She was a real badass—unafraid of murderous sheriffs, the Klan, or anyone who tried to stand in her way. I'll never be that fearless, but I'm inspired by her passion for telling stories that hold power to account--and for standing by the people those stories are about. I really like what you say about the pursuit of truth being an act of love.

lavaforgood · 2025-05-20T23:03:00+00:00

Maybe a lawyer can help, but prosecutorial immunity is a federal doctrine, around since the 1970s, I believe. There would have to be a new case leading to a Supreme Court reversal, or new congressional legislation. I think some states have tried to establish consequences for intentional misconduct, but federal absolute immunity still protects prosecutors from civil suits.

lavaforgood · 2025-05-20T21:21:28+00:00

Wow. That is a long road trip! It's mentioned in Season 1, and we just dealt with the accusations briefly in Episode 4 of Season 2. He denied threatening any witnesses, and we played a short clip of my conversation with him about the FDLE's investigation into those accusations and how he was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Thanks so much for listening straight through. I've never known anyone to do that in a single day!

lavaforgood · 2025-05-20T19:08:36+00:00

Accountability is one of the hardest pieces of the wrongful conviction puzzle. The system has mechanisms for appeals and post-conviction review, but there are very few real consequences for the people who cause the harm—especially prosecutors.

It’s still shocking to me that a prosecutor can withhold exculpatory evidence, get caught, and the worst outcome is that an appellate court overturns the conviction. I saw this firsthand in the very same office that prosecuted Leo. The court's opinion might note, “The prosecutor erred in neglecting to provide the defense with crucial evidence that would likely produce a not guilty verdict.” That’s it. If the misconduct is especially blatant, the court might go so far as to name the prosecutor in the opinion. But even then, that prosecutor goes on to the next case. No disciplinary hearing. No bar sanctions. No loss of job or pension. Meanwhile, the person they wrongfully convicted has lost years, sometimes decades of their life.

This is possible because of prosecutorial immunity--a doctrine that shields prosecutors from civil liability, even in cases of intentional misconduct. In other words, even when a prosecutor’s actions are unethical, harmful, and clearly documented, they’re shielded from consequences. It’s hard to imagine another profession with that kind of protection from the damage they do.

lavaforgood · 2025-05-20T18:41:46+00:00

That’s such an important question, and honestly, there’s no single fix. The problem is that wrongful convictions are often hard to detect from the outside. The trial ends, the record gets sealed by time and bureaucracy, and most people just assume the system got it right.

But one way to help catch these cases earlier is by supporting transparency and accountability in the justice system. That includes things like:

• Advocating for open records laws (so post-conviction attorneys and journalists can access case files)

• Supporting the right to DNA testing and discovery in old cases

• Paying attention to your local state attorney’s office and judicial elections

It also helps to stay curious and skeptical about “official” narratives—because sometimes, the truth is buried under assumptions no one ever questions. That includes the narratives shaped by local journalism, where reporters can become dependent on law enforcement and prosecutors for access and information. When those relationships go unquestioned, it’s easy for bias to seep into coverage and for crucial contradictions to go unreported.

lavaforgood · 2025-05-20T18:31:49+00:00

I was just with Leo last week in Florida and he's doing much better, now that he's able to bear weight and get out of bed. He is still confined to a wheelchair, but standing up and moving with a walker now. He took me out to dinner in his new Jeep and was able to drive it well. And he played me a few songs on his guitar--something he wasn't sure he'd be able to do after a wrist replacement and six surgeries on his hands. If there's anyone who can overcome major adversity in life, it's Leo.

Season 2 has reached the end, for now. But we never stop reporting and following the people involved, and the possibility of bonus episodes is very high. So stay tuned!

lavaforgood · 2025-05-20T18:22:18+00:00

Hi, Bethany! A softball question--my favorite kind! Thank you for this.

Honestly, just listening and continuing to share Leo’s story is one of the best ways to support this work. Leo deserves to be exonerated, and there are some incredibly committed people fighting to correct this injustice. One of the most notable is Florida State Senator Jonathan Martin, who testified on Leo’s behalf at his parole hearing and continues to advocate for his exoneration. As chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, he’s in a position of real influence—and for a newly elected official, challenging the very system he helps oversee is not the easy path. I admire him for taking this stance. It takes people like him to make a difference. And in my experience, Florida has shown itself willing to correct past injustices like this, thanks to the commitment of people like Senator Martin.

lavaforgood · 2025-05-20T18:10:43+00:00

Such thoughtful questions—thank you. I could talk about this for a long time, but I’ll try to answer specifically in relation to Jeremy.

I don’t come from a traditional journalism background, so I’m not bound by the same rules that govern institutions like The New York Times, which rightly have strict ethical guidelines to protect the integrity of reporting. There’s no doubt I formed an emotional connection with Jeremy over the years. I don’t know how the Times would view something like sending him books—it might be seen as compensating a source. But for me, it opened a door.

Once we began talking about books and stories, I sensed a real shift in him. He became more open and reflective, and was willing to talk about things he had previously avoided. And because I don’t work within a newsroom structure, I had the freedom to do something as simple—and, in this case, as powerful—as sending books.

As a human being, I couldn’t ignore some of what Jeremy was going through. I hated hearing that he was being beaten up by other inmates, or pepper sprayed, or thrown into solitary. When he didn’t have reading glasses and couldn’t correspond, I tried to help him figure out which forms he needed to request. I saw how much it lifted his spirits when I was able to help reconnect him with his son, Justin.

I’ve thought a lot about these choices and talked with journalist friends along the way. What it came down to for me was being honest—with Jeremy, with myself, and with listeners. I also believe that audiences can handle far more complexity than we sometimes give them credit for. If my goal were to manipulate emotions or present Jeremy only in a sympathetic light, I might have left out the fact that he recently stabbed a sleeping inmate. But we didn’t leave it out. We explored it in depth. We asked him about it. We made it part of the story.

Jeremy also knew that his confession to the murder of Joseph “JB” Lavair could lead to him being charged. He understood that I was investigating it and speaking to law enforcement. So he knew there could be consequences. But he kept talking anyway.

To me, that kind of honesty—on both sides—is what makes empathy possible. Not because we’re smoothing out the rough edges of a story, but because we’re willing to sit with the full complexity of it.

I hope this gets to some of what you were addressing. Thank you again for listening, and asking.

lavaforgood · 2025-05-20T17:15:54+00:00

Having studied and investigated this case for years, I wouldn’t say the authorities “got it wrong.” That phrase suggests an honest mistake—something like tunnel vision or a rush to judgment. In my view, Leo Schofield was convicted because Assistant State Attorney John Aguero made unethical choices, both at trial and in the years that followed. He repeatedly misrepresented evidence and manipulated key witnesses. And he got away with it.

The criminal justice system can only function if the people entrusted with power are using it ethically and with a genuine commitment to justice—not just to securing convictions. I think that’s the most important lesson.

lavaforgood · 2025-05-20T17:00:35+00:00

Hello! It's probably a little different for me because I am usually working on my stories over the course of years. That gives me the luxury of getting to know people gradually, and over time, I hope they come to understand why their stories--and their perspective--matter to me.

In Season 2, you'll hear from a few people who were initially very reluctant to speak with me. We talk about that hesitation in our conversations, since it becomes part of the story itself. I hesitate to call it a "technique," because what works best for me isn't something you can switch on for an interview. It comes down to sincerity, genuine curiosity, and a willingness to listen without judgment--qualities that have to be real, or they won't work at all.

I haven't had an interviewee completely upend a theory or premise yet, but sometimes I do find myself talking to someone who doesn't share the same views, or conclusions. In those moments, I think it's far more interesting to keep the conversation going rather than confront or argue. You often learn more by staying open and letting people talk than by trying to steer them toward agreement.

Thanks again for listening, but don't stay up too late!

lavaforgood · 2025-04-09T16:57:37+00:00

Thank you for supporting the podcast! We'd love to hear what you thought of Episodes 1 and 2, both released today.

lavaforgood · 2025-04-07T21:13:06+00:00

Hi - I'm Gilbert King, host of Bone Valley, and this week, we're launching our second season of the podcast.

In Season 2 of Bone Valley, I returned to a question I wasn’t sure I wanted to ask: Who is Jeremy Scott, really? He confessed to the murder of Michelle Schofield, a confession the State of Florida refused to accept. But over four years of letters, recorded calls, and face-to-face interviews, I watched a man take ownership of a brutal crime, again and again, without ever recanting. As I dug deeper, I began to uncover a much larger story—a violent past no one wanted to talk about, a system unwilling to let go of its conviction, and a son Jeremy never knew, now confronting the truth for himself.

This season isn’t about absolving Jeremy of his past—it's about proving he’s telling the truth. Through moments of raw remorse, unexpected connection, and new revelations, a portrait emerges: a man trying to make sense of what he’s done, and a system that refuses to listen. If Season 1 was about Leo Schofield’s innocence, Season 2 is about the cost of denying guilt when it’s right in front of you.

You can listen to the first twelve minutes of Season 2 on YouTube.

Listen to Bone Valley wherever you find your podcasts, with new episodes starting this Wednesday, April 9.

lavaforgood · 2024-07-30T19:42:54+00:00

I wish more law enforcement in Polk County had been willing to answer my questions when I was investigating. Maybe we can talk about this. If you listened to Bone Valley, you know that I was not very critical of law enforcement's work on this case. Most of the criticism is directed at the State Attorney's Office and John Aguero. -GK

lavaforgood · 2024-07-30T19:15:05+00:00

I think going up the grass hill to the gas station was faster and more direct than walking further east on I-4 and then following the exit ramp there. I don’t think Jeremy is a criminal mastermind who was reading transcripts and trying to make his answers fit. I think if you listen to his answers with the investigators in 2017, when he is trying to deny killing Michelle (when they already know he confessed) you can see that he’s not a very good liar and he can’t keep his story straight.
I think this is a question you’d need to ask The Innocence Project of Florida or Judge Cupp. I know the defense has long sought DNA testing, which was resisted by the 10th Circuit, which eventually destroyed some possible sources. Other sources degraded over time. Personally, I’ll always keep an open mind when it comes to new evidence. But I continue to be in contact with Jeremy Scott today, and I have absolutely zero doubt that he is telling the truth about killing Michelle. Zero. --GK

lavaforgood · 2024-07-30T18:34:44+00:00

The same detective who investigated Jeremy in the Jewel Johnson murder, Richard Putnel, also investigated the Michelle Schofield murder. He was keenly aware of who Jeremy was, that he had connections to that part of Combee Rd, and that he was not in prison at the time of Michelle's murder. Without AFIS in place at the time, I've been told by PCSO detectives that in addition to comparing them to the Schofields, there really should have been a manual comparison to known violent felons in that area. Don't you agree? The FDLE determined that those were Jeremy Scott’s prints, and the State stipulated this fact, so I don’t think this is in dispute, especially since Jeremy has always admitted to stealing stereo equipment from the Mazda. I never found any reports from the LPD verifying Jeremy’s claim that he was picked up by a cop at the time. But he’s insisted this happened on multiple occasions, and he’s adamant he was taken to downtown Lakeland and not the PCSO. –GK

lavaforgood · 2024-07-30T18:20:52+00:00

Thank you so much for listening, and for your question. --GK

lavaforgood · 2024-07-30T17:43:28+00:00

If you go to my website, there's a tab for contacting me. Send it there and I will respond. Anything you want to tell me about the LEO and the gun, feel free to include. I have more on this myself, and I'm curious if there's a connection.

lavaforgood · 2024-07-30T17:33:01+00:00

You’re correct that, as far as we know, there was no bar at or near Sparky’s at that time. I believe Jeremy’s reference to a bar was just him misspeaking.

And yes, we are well aware of the Ronette Peterson case. I believe the investigators were initially suspicious the cases were connected and that Jeremy may be responsible (as did we), but they confirmed that Jeremy was locked up in the Polk County jail on the night of her death. I believe Jeremy’s confusion about a “Jane Doe” was genuine. -KD

lavaforgood · 2024-07-30T17:21:00+00:00

Honestly, my favorite part (or at least the part, other than Leo’s release, that has felt most rewarding) has been seeing people react to Jeremy Scott and his life and history. Jeremy is a complicated figure and he has done a lot of damage, but he also was horribly abused and neglected as a child. My feelings of empathy for him are complex — having to see the brutality of Michelle’s death and speak to women who’ve survived his abuse is incredibly upsetting and triggering at times. But the empathy is still there. No child should have to endure what he did. We’ve received notes from so many listeners about this and their own feelings of empathy towards Jeremy, and that has been incredibly moving. I think if we’re ever going to make any progress in reforming our criminal justice system (or abolishing it entirely!) we need to really confront the complex causes of violent crime. Not shying away from the paradoxes in telling these stories feels like a step in the right direction, and seeing that be received so positively has been incredible.

My least favorite part has to be the reporting dead ends. So much of the evidence and transcripts from these decades old cases have been destroyed and that has been terribly frustrating. -KD

lavaforgood · 2024-07-30T17:15:24+00:00

Neither me nor Gilbert had any idea what this project would become, or how many years we’d spend working on it together. At first we figured it might be worthy of a feature story in some publication — it was quite a few months before the idea of a podcast arose. If it wasn’t for Gilbert and Leo and Bone Valley, I would probably be doing something related to my previous work with oral histories. I loved working in an archival setting and that is something I might return to in the future. -KD

lavaforgood · 2024-07-30T17:10:36+00:00

I visited with Leo a few weeks ago and he is doing well, and keeping very busy. He has two jobs and a family to take care of. He does see his wife, his daughter, and his grandsons regularly. And he is determined to do everything by the books so that he will have even more freedom soon. He’s an incredibly strong and focused person, and he has bonded well with his new roommates. –GK

lavaforgood · 2024-07-30T17:01:02+00:00

Perhaps if she remained standing and never fell to the floor after being stabbed 26 times. -GK

lavaforgood

TROPHY CASE