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This investigative true crime podcast explores the complex case of Quinetta Harris, a woman serving time in a Texas prison after being convicted of murdering Michael Giles in 2006. Host Justine Vanderloon spent five years corresponding with Quinetta as a pen pal before meeting her face-to-face and attempting to tell her story of surviving abuse. However, as Vanderloon dug deeper into Quinetta's past and interviewed her family members and friends, the straightforward narrative of a victimized woman defending herself dissolved into a labyrinth of contradictory accounts. The episode traces Michael Giles' disappearance from his Garland, Texas home, the strange text messages and forged documents that followed, and the eventual discovery of a suspicious concrete slab in his backyard by investigators.
Hosts introduce the episode and promote the podcast and subscription options.
The host explains her book on unreasonable women and her desire to humanize incarcerated women.
The host meets her pen‑pal Quinetta Harris in a Texas women's prison and reflects on their correspondence.
The host discovers that Quinetta’s narrative is labyrinthine, with many conflicting versions.
The host visits Quinetta’s mother Roberta to learn about the woman’s upbringing and early life.
The narrative shifts to the man Quinetta met, Michael Giles, and his disappearance and alleged crimes.
Family members and investigators search for Michael Giles, uncovering odd details and a missing person case.
The episode wraps up with final remarks, production credits, and a reminder to subscribe for ad‑free access.
Meeting the Pen Palstory
The host meets Quinetta Harris in a Texas prison visiting room behind bulletproof glass after corresponding through letters for five years.
Uncovering Contradictory Versionsinsight
The host discovers that every version of Quinetta's life story directly contradicts the previous one, creating a disorienting labyrinth.
Investigating Prison Surveysdata
The host sent sixteen questions to 10,000 women across 27 states for a book, receiving over 1,000 completed responses detailing systemic failures.
Tablets in Solitary Confinementstory
Inmates in solitary confinement suddenly receive prison-issued tablets to make phone calls after rumored hunger strikes by male prisoners.
Quinetta's mother Roberta explains how she raised her daughter alone as a young teen mother to ensure she would never need to submit to any man.
The Missing Holiday Absencestory
Michael Giles suddenly skips his family's Fourth of July barbecue in 2006, sparking concern from relatives who receive only cryptic text messages.
Discovering the Backyard Slabstory
Police detectives investigating Michael Giles' foreclosure and disappearance inspect his Garland home and notice a suspicious concrete slab in the backyard.
“Well behaved women seldom make history”
“I have a new book out on the topic. It's called Unreasonable Women. A slightly sarcastic title.”
“In the summer of 2006, Michael Giles was 47 years old. He'd never been married and he had no kids. He'd recently lost his job at the phone company.”
In March 2019, Justine starts exchanging letters with Kwaneta Harris, a woman serving a 50 year sentence for murder. The two grow close, but the more Justine learns about Kwaneta's story, the more complicated it gets. - Want the full story? Binge every episode of What She Buried ad-free now by subscribing to The Binge+. You’ll unlock over 60 true crime series instantly, get early access to drops on the first of every month, and hear exclusive bonus episodes. Search for the The Binge channel on Apple Podcasts or head to GetTheBinge.com. For behind-the-scenes details, join our free newsletter at Patreon.com/TheBinge. What She Buried is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and Campside Media. Follow @sonypodcasts and discover more at sonymusic.com/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices at podcastchoices.com/adchoices. The Binge — feed your true crime obsession. - For more of Justine’s work, read Unreasonable Women, which follows three women who have been punished for defending themselves. The result of seven years of reporting inside U. S. prisons, it's a gripping, urgent look at how survivors are criminalized, called "required reading for anyone who cares about women and justice," by Bookpage, "remarkable... riveting," by Kirkus, and "true crime at its finest," by Booklist. Available now on Amazon or Bookshop.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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