The year 2022 witnessed a series of captivating and often groundbreaking trials that gripped the nation and the world. Court TV provided expert legal coverage of these high-stakes cases, drawing record viewership as audiences tuned in for dramatic courtroom moments and crucial verdicts. From celebrity defamation lawsuits to complex murder trials, the legal landscape of 2022 was filled with compelling narratives and impactful decisions. This comprehensive overview revisits the key verdicts featured on Court TV throughout the year.
WI v. Theodore Edgecomb: The Deadly Road Rage Shooting
Theodore Edgecomb testifying during his murder trial. (Court TV)
This case centered on the fatal shooting of lawyer Jason Cleereman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2020. Theodore Edgecomb, who was riding his bicycle, and Cleereman, a passenger in a car, engaged in a heated verbal altercation. The confrontation escalated dramatically, ending with Edgecomb shooting Cleereman. Two conflicting narratives emerged during the trial. The prosecution, supported by Cleereman’s widow, who was driving the car, portrayed Edgecomb as the aggressor who fled the state after the shooting. Edgecomb and his defense team argued self-defense, claiming he was nearly forced off the road and subjected to racial slurs. The jury ultimately convicted Edgecomb of first-degree reckless homicide, leading to a sentence of 25 years in prison and 12 years of extended supervision.
WI v. Chandler Halderson: The Parents Dismembered Trial
Chandler Halderson, an Eagle Scout, was accused of the gruesome murder and dismemberment of his parents in July 2021. Halderson initially reported his parents missing, claiming they had not returned from a holiday weekend trip. However, the discovery of dismembered body parts near the family home quickly shifted the focus of the investigation. The prosecution argued that Halderson killed his parents after his father uncovered lies about his college attendance and employment. The jury delivered a guilty verdict on all charges, resulting in a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
TN v. Travis Reinking: The Waffle House Shooting Trial
This trial focused on the tragic 2018 Waffle House shooting near Nashville, Tennessee. Travis Reinking, clad only in a jacket, opened fire on the restaurant, killing four people and injuring four others. His defense team asserted that Reinking’s severe schizophrenia detached him from reality. Despite this argument, the jury found Reinking guilty on all counts, including four counts of first-degree murder. He received four life sentences plus an additional 114 years.
FL v. Curtis Reeves: The Movie Popcorn Murder Trial
Curtis Reeves during his defense team’s opening statement. (Court TV)
This case revolved around the 2014 shooting death of Chad Oulson in a Florida movie theater. Former Tampa police officer Curtis Reeves confronted Oulson about cellphone use, sparking a heated argument. Surveillance video captured Oulson throwing popcorn at Reeves, who then fatally shot Oulson. Reeves pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense. The jury acquitted Reeves of all charges, including second-degree murder and aggravated battery.
KY v. Brett Hankison: The Breonna Taylor Botched Raid Trial
Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison faced charges of wanton endangerment stemming from the 2020 raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor. The charges related to Hankison firing into a neighboring apartment, endangering the lives of three residents. While not directly linked to Taylor’s death, the case garnered significant public attention due to its connection to the highly controversial raid.
GA v. Ryan Duke: The Beauty Queen Murder Trial
This trial explored the 2005 disappearance of Tara Grinstead, a former beauty queen and teacher. The case remained unsolved for over a decade before the arrest of Ryan Duke and Bo Dukes. Duke initially confessed to killing Grinstead but later recanted, claiming coercion. The jury acquitted Duke of murder but found him guilty of concealing a death, resulting in a 10-year sentence.
TN v. Billy Ray Turner: The NBA Star Murder Trial
Billy Ray Turner listening to testimony during his trial. (Court TV)
This trial centered on the 2010 murder of former NBA star Lorenzen Wright. Billy Ray Turner was accused of killing Wright, whose body was found in the woods days after he was reported missing. Wright’s ex-wife, Sherra Wright, pleaded guilty to her involvement in the murder. The jury found Turner guilty on all charges, including first-degree murder.
TN v. Michael Mosley: The Bar Fight Murder Trial
Michael Mosley was charged with murdering two men and injuring two others outside a Nashville bar in 2019. The incident stemmed from a fight that escalated outside the bar, resulting in the deaths of Clayton Beathard and Paul Trapeni III. Mosley was found guilty on all charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and assault.
NJ v. Michael Barisone: Former Olympian On Trial
Former Olympic equestrian Michael Barisone was accused of shooting Lauren Kanarek and attempting to shoot Robert Goodwin in 2019. The incident occurred on Barisone’s farm where Kanarek was training. Barisone was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
OR v. Nancy Brophy: The Romance Novelist Murder Trial
Romance novelist Nancy Crampton-Brophy stood trial for the 2018 murder of her husband, Chef Daniel Brophy. Daniel Brophy was found shot dead at the Oregon Culinary Institute. The prosecution argued that Nancy Brophy, facing financial difficulties, killed her husband for insurance money. Surveillance footage and inconsistencies in her alibi contributed to her conviction for second-degree murder.
FL v. Nikolas Cruz: The Parkland School Massacre Trial
Nikolas Cruz, who pleaded guilty to murdering 17 people and injuring 17 others in the 2018 Parkland school massacre, faced a penalty phase trial. The jury recommended life in prison without the possibility of parole, and Cruz was subsequently sentenced to 34 consecutive life sentences.
MA v. Mario Batali: Celebrity Chef On Trial
Celebrity chef Mario Batali faced accusations of indecent assault and battery for allegedly forcibly kissing and groping a woman in a Boston bar in 2017. Batali’s defense argued that the accuser fabricated the allegations for financial gain. The judge found Batali not guilty, citing credibility issues with the accuser and insufficient evidence.
Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard: The Johnny Depp Defamation Case
This highly publicized trial involved ex-spouses Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Depp sued Heard for defamation over a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post, which he claimed implied he abused her, damaging his career and reputation. The trial provided a highly publicized glimpse into the couple’s turbulent relationship.
FL v. Danielle Redlick: The Kitchen Knife Murder Trial
Danielle Redlick reacting to the jury’s verdict. (Court TV)
Danielle Redlick was charged with the stabbing death of her estranged husband, former NBA executive Michael Redlick. Redlick claimed her husband had a heart attack, but the delayed 911 call and evidence of a struggle led to her arrest. The jury acquitted her of second-degree murder but found her guilty of tampering with evidence.
MO v. Dawan Ferguson: The Missing Son Murder Trial
This case involved the 2003 disappearance of Christian Ferguson, a child with a rare genetic disorder. His father, Dawan Ferguson, was accused of withholding necessary care from Christian, leading to his death. After two decades, the jury found Ferguson guilty of murder.
WI v. Sean Pickett: The Possessed By Evil Murder Trial
Sean Pickett claimed he was “possessed” when he killed his mother and a pit bull in 2021. Despite this defense, the jury found Pickett guilty on all charges.
TX v. Yaser Said: The Honor Killing Trial
Yaser Said on the witness stand. (Court TV)
Yaser Said was accused of murdering his daughters, Amina and Sarah Said, in 2008. Prosecutors argued that Said, a devout Muslim, committed an “honor killing” because he disapproved of his daughters’ westernized lifestyles and dating non-Muslim men. After 12 years as a fugitive, Said was apprehended and ultimately found guilty, receiving a life sentence without parole.
OH v. Shawnte Hardin: The Phony Funeral Home Trial
Shawnte Hardin faced trial for operating a fake funeral home, mishandling remains, and other related charges. He was found guilty on all 31 counts and sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison.
OH v. Matheau Moore: The Staged Suicide Murder Trial
Matheau Moore was accused of murdering his wife, Emily Noble, and staging her death as a suicide. Noble’s decomposed body was found hanging from a tree months after her disappearance. Despite the prosecution’s case, Moore was acquitted.
OH v. George Wagner IV: The Ohio Family Massacre Trial
George Wagner IV was accused of participating in the 2016 massacre of eight members of the Rhoden family. His mother and brother pleaded guilty and testified against him. Wagner was found guilty on all charges.
Alex Jones Defamation Trial: The Sandy Hook Hoax Case
InfoWars host Alex Jones faced a defamation trial for falsely claiming the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. A Connecticut jury ordered Jones to pay $965 million to the families of the victims and an FBI agent.
ND v. Nikki Entzel: The Cheating Wife Murder Trial
Nikki Sue Entzel was accused of conspiring with her lover to murder her husband, Chad Entzel, for life insurance money. Chad Entzel’s body was found in their burning home. Nikki Entzel’s lover pleaded guilty and received a 25-year sentence. The jury found Nikki Entzel guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, arson, and tampering with evidence.
WI v. Darrell Brooks: The Deadly Parade Crash Trial
Darrell Brooks was charged with killing six people and injuring dozens more when he drove an SUV through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in 2021. After a chaotic trial, Brooks was found guilty on all 76 charges, receiving six consecutive life sentences plus an additional 762 years.
FL v. Chad Absher: The Controlling Boyfriend Murder Trial
Chad Absher was accused of killing his girlfriend, Ashlee Rucker, and shooting her sister in 2017. Prosecutors portrayed Absher as a controlling boyfriend who turned violent. The jury found Absher guilty on all charges.
FL v. Matthew Terry: The Math Teacher Murder Trial
Former Marine Matthew Terry was charged with murdering his girlfriend, elementary school teacher Kay Baker, in 2022. Baker was found with a fatal stab wound to her neck. Given Terry’s history of domestic violence, including a prior attempted murder conviction, the jury found him guilty and recommended life in prison without parole.
TN v. Hayden Berkebile: The Coerced Suicide Murder Trial
Hayden Berkebile was accused of coercing his online girlfriend, Grace Ann Sparks, into committing suicide during a game of Russian roulette. While Berkebile claimed their interactions were roleplay, he was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to two years in prison.
FL v. Trevor Summers: The Estranged Husband Kidnapping Trial
Trevor Summers, representing himself during part of his trial, faced charges related to the kidnapping, rape, and attempted murder of his estranged wife. The jury found Summers guilty on all charges, leading to a life sentence without parole.
TX v. Juan David Ortiz: The Border Patrol Serial Killer Trial
Juan David Ortiz listening to testimony during his trial. (Court TV)
Border patrol agent Juan David Ortiz was accused of killing four women in Laredo, Texas, in 2018. Ortiz claimed he was trying to “clean up the streets.” He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
TX v. Aaron Dean: The Killed While Babysitting Trial
Former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean was charged with the shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson during a welfare check. Dean shot Jefferson through a window, claiming he perceived a threat. The jury found Dean guilty of manslaughter.
NE v. Angela Hock: The Midwife Delivery Death Trial
Unlicensed midwife Angela Hock faced charges of negligent child abuse after a home birth resulted in the death of a baby. Hock was accused of recklessness and negligence for attempting a breeched delivery at home instead of transferring the mother to a hospital. The judge found Hock not guilty.
