The Opperman Report'

Robert Young Pelton first became aware of the phenomenon of hired guns in the War on Terror when he met a covert team of contractors on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border in the fall of 2003. Pelton soon embarked on a globe-spanning odyssey to penetrate and understand this shadowy world, ultimately delivering stunning insights into the way private soldiers are used. Enter a blood-soaked world of South African mercenaries and tribal fighters backed by ruthless financiers. Drop into Baghdad’s Green Zone, strap on body armor, and take a daily high-speed ride with a doomed crew of security contractors who dodge car bombs and snipers just to get their charges to the airport. Share a drink in a chic hotel bar with wealthy owners of private armies who debate the best way to stay alive in war zones. Licensed to Kill spans four continents and three years, taking us inside the CIA’s dirty wars; the brutal contractor murders in Fallujah and the Alamo-like sieges in Najaf and Al Kut; the Deep South contractor training camps where ex–Special Operations soldiers and even small town cops learn the ropes; the contractor conventions where macho attendees swap bullet-punctuated tales and discuss upcoming gigs; and the grim Central African prison where contractors turned failed mercenaries pay a steep price. The United States has encouraged the use of the private sector in all facets of the War on Terror, placing contractors outside the bounds of functional legal constraints. With the shocking clarity that can come only from firsthand observation, Licensed to Kill painstakingly deconstructs the most controversial events and introduces the pivotal players. Most disturbingly, it shows that there are indeed thousands of contractors—with hundreds more being produced every month—who’ve been given a license to kill, their services available to the highest bidder. https://amzn.to/3HWKcwV Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

On April 20, 1999, two students walked into Columbine High School and changed this country forever. They murdered thirteen people - including 12 students and a teacher - and wounded twenty-one others. Ten of the victims who lost their lives were in the library. So was Heidi. Heidi was a sophomore with sophomore problems. She liked to spend her lunch in the library. When she heard a commotion outside, she brushed it off. It was senior prank season. Even after a teacher ran into the library yelling about a kid getting shot and telling everyone to get under a table, she still couldn’t comprehend what was happening.From her vantage point, she could see the shooters enter the library. It was almost cinematic. It was dark and smoky, and she could see shells falling to the floor. She heard them talk about the bombs they were planning to detonate, and heard them telling everyone that they didn’t need to worry because they’d all be dead soon. Too many did die, but Heidi was not one of them. This is her story. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Ultimate Prey: The True Story Behind The Yosemite Sightseer Murders Cary Stayner was found guilty for the Yosemite Sightseer Murders, but some people closely associated with the investigation believe that Stayner did not act alone. Law enforcement had the right guys from the beginning, so what in the hell happened? The stories of the victims - Carole and Juli Sund, Silvina Pelosso, and Joie Armstrong did not end with their savage murders, February of 1999. Stephen Sanzeri, former police officer, private investigator and bounty hunter, has investigated their tragic deaths. What he found includes: drug trafficking, child porn, white supremacy, sexual molestation, rape, and bloody violence in the Central Valley of California and stretching to the Foothills. Even more disturbing is the corruption by law enforcement connected to the murders; an unwelcome burden added to Stephen's investigation. Now, for the first time, the real story is finally being told. First hand account of Stephen's initial investigation of a bail jumper that soon leads this x-cop to Alabama and the most dangerous manhunt he's ever experienced; and that's only the beginning. Stephen's investigation spanned over two years with plenty of roadblocks. Law enforcement's lack of cooperation and protection of suspects, to negligent dismissal of statements, reports and evidence by the FBI task force. After reading Ultimate Prey, you will be convinced that Cary Stayner did not act alone. Along with the tragedies of "Waco" and "Ruby Ridge," the Yosemite Sightseer Murders is considered the 3rd worst blunder in the FBI's history, according to Senator Grassley, Iowa. Kind of sums it up... https://amzn.to/3Va5FFX Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

What's myth and what's fact in the story of Charles Manson? What were the true motives behind the murders and who was really involved? There are many books covering this topic, yet very few have broken through the 'official' tale told by the trial's prosecutors and the news media at the time. This book includes hundreds of hours of research into court and police documents, witness statements, media reports and interviews with those involved. How do Terry Melcher, Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, Jane Fonda, the Mamas and the Papas, Michael Caine, Dean Martin, Angela Lansbury, Peter Sellers, Warren Beatty, Yul Brynner, Peter Falk, Cary Grant, Steve McQueen, Neil Young, Frank Zappa, Nancy Sinatra, Ronald Reagan and Debbie Harry fit into the tale? What Hollywood secrets did the industry, the police and the prosecution strive to keep hidden? Were the victims really chosen at random by a crazed cult of serial killers, high on a mix of LSD, Satanism and the music of the Beatles? Read on to uncover the secrets of the Manson family, their trial, the main players in the case and the murky world of Hollywood. The book contains 564 pages, 200,000+ words containing a complete history of the life of Charles Manson. A detailed examination of the Hinman, Shea, Tate and LaBianca murders, appraisal of all the most prominent theories surrounding the case, explanations of the coded confessions revealed in interviews with Manson. Stories of celebrity encounters, facts about Manson’s relationship with the music industry, details of organised crime connections, faults with the prosecution’s case, troubling indications about the motives and character of Vincent Bugliosi, examinations of further murders and other criminal activity possibly connected to Manson. Revelations about the main players involved in the case, embarrassing secrets of the Hollywood elite, suggestions of police ineptitude, signs of a cover-up, bizarre coincidences, strange occurrences, salacious gossip, radical political movements, riots, the Black Panthers, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, cults, religion, sex, drugs and murder. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Saturday June 17, 2017 at 5 PM PST private investigator and syndicated radio host Ed Opperman will interview Anthony Meoli, co-author of "Diary of a DC Sniper." Meoli is in possession and holds a U.S. Copyright to Lee Boyd Malvo's personal diary. Meoli corresponded via letter, email and telephone with Malvo for seven years. Meoli also recorded a 66 minute full life audio interview with Malvo entitled, "Interview with the D.C. Sniper" (2012) available on Itunes and Amazon. On the Saturday evening broadcast of The Opperman Report, Anthony Meoli will play a taped recording of one of his dozens of telephone conversations with Lee Boyd Malvo. Malvo confesses to an additional 30+ shootings in various states and names John Allen Muhammad in an additional 70 shootings. This is exclusive information that the police or even the federal district court judge that recently overturned his life sentence of Lee Boyd Malvo may not be aware. The call is prefaced with Malvo's full permission to record this conversation. Anthony Meoli has been corresponding with serial killers, mass murderers, spree killers and death row inmates since 1997. Worldwide, he has successfully contacted over 130 such personalities, and personally interviewed serial killers and murderers that include: Danny Rolling, Loran Cole, Lee Boyd Malvo, Kenneth Bianchi, Glen Rogers, Stanley Fitzpatrick, Phillip Carl Jablonski, John Orr (the most prolific arsonist in modern history) and spree killer, Isaac Zamora. In August 2012 Meoli published "Diary of the D.C. Sniper," co-written with Lee Boyd Malvo. This book was the culmination of 7 years of correspondence, over 50 phone calls and a personal visitation. He has appeared as a criminal profiler or forensic consultant for the Discovery ID Network, Piers Morgan/Plum Pictures and the Reelz Network. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.