59: She Called for Help: The Killing of Sonya Massey

<div>When 36-year-old Sonya Massey—a Black mother of two—called 911 for help during a mental health crisis, she needed compassion. Instead, she was shot in the face by a white sheriff’s deputy in her own kitchen. In this episode of <em>The In Between</em>, host Mel Barrett walks listeners through the events of July 6, 2024, the bodycam footage that shook a community, the trial that followed, and the broader failures in policing, race, and mental health response.<br /><br />We’ll hear from Sonya’s family, legal experts, and activists demanding change. This isn’t just one isolated tragedy—it’s part of a devastating pattern. And as we trace Sonya’s legacy through courtroom justice, community grief, and legislative reform, we ask: What does accountability really look like when someone dies after asking for help?<br /><br />⚠️ <em>Content warning: This episode contains detailed discussion of police violence, mental health crisis, and the fatal shooting of a Black woman. Listener discretion is advised.</em><br /><br />TIP JAR: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/SomethingsOffTips">https://tinyurl.com/SomethingsOffTips</a><br /><br />SOMETHING'S OFF: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SomethingsOffPod">https://www.youtube.com/@SomethingsOffPod</a><br /><br />Join the Investigator Club (The In Between Podcast) or Crime Writer's On Patreon for the audio drop of Something's Off on Fridays, AD FREE, exclusive behind-the-scenes, and bonus content. SO IN THE INVESTIGATOR CLUB: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/INVESTIGATORCLUB">https://tinyurl.com/INVESTIGATORCLUB</a> SO IN PARTNERS IN CRIME: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/SOCWOPIC">https://tinyurl.com/SOCWOPIC</a> <br /><br />Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! </div>