Off Record: A Mother on Trial (with Samantha Michaels)

Off Record: A Mother on Trial (with Samantha Michaels)

May 14, 2026 · 1h 19m · Episode 56

About this episode

Investigative reporter Samantha Michaels discusses Oklahoma's controversial 'failure to protect' laws and their implications through the case of Kerry King.

Investigative reporter Samantha Michaels of Mother Jones spent a year digging into Oklahoma’s controversial “failure to protect” laws—statutes meant to safeguard children, but that can also send victims to prison. At the center of her reporting is Kerry King, a mother of four, and the fallout from a single night in January 2015, when her boyfriend, John Purdy, brutally abused both her and her four-year-old daughter, Lila.  In this episode, we speak with Michaels about her investigation and the broader implications of these laws. We also hear directly from Kerry King in a phone call from prison.  Article:  https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2022/08/failure-to-protect-domestic-abuse-child-oklahoma-women-inequality-prison/   Documentary:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DEPpYkl8gI   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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