Overview of From "Examined: The Backfire Effect"
This preview introduces Examined: The Backfire Effect, a true-crime investigation by journalist and lawyer Josie Duffy Rice that examines a troubling wrongful-conviction case in Port Huron, Michigan. The series centers on the 1986 murder of Scott Macklem and the man who was convicted for it, Temujin Kenzu, despite an alibi and multiple eyewitnesses. The episode frames the story as both a murder mystery and a critique of how the justice system can prioritize closing a case over getting it right.
What the Story Is About
The 1986 shooting at St. Clair County Community College
- On the morning of November 5, 1986, witnesses in a college parking lot heard what many assumed was a car backfire.
- It was actually a gunshot that killed Scott Macklem, a 20-year-old student.
- Several people saw the aftermath, including one student, Max, who tried to help Scott before paramedics arrived.
Why the case became so messy
- Witnesses gave inconsistent descriptions of:
- the car leaving the scene,
- the driver’s appearance,
- and even whether the suspect was a man or a woman.
- Some saw a small reddish/pinkish hatchback; others remembered different details.
- The lack of clarity helped create a case built on confusion and inference rather than certainty.
Scott Macklem’s background
- Scott was portrayed as a well-liked, all-American local kid:
- captain of sports teams,
- engaged to Crystal Merrill,
- and expecting a child.
- He had also been struggling in school and reportedly felt like people were following him, adding another layer of mystery to the killing.
Main Themes and Takeaways
The “backfire effect” and belief perseverance
- The show explains the psychology of the backfire effect: when people are confronted with evidence that challenges their beliefs, they may cling to their original view even harder.
- It also highlights belief perseverance—how people and institutions hold onto narratives because changing them would be costly.
Systemic failure in criminal justice
- The series argues that wrongful convictions can happen when:
- police and prosecutors want a case solved quickly,
- witnesses are unreliable or pressured,
- and institutions resist admitting mistakes.
A complicated subject, not a simple hero
- Josie emphasizes that Temujin Kenzu is not presented as a likable hero.
- The central question is not whether he is admirable, but whether he actually committed the crime.
Key People Introduced
- Josie Duffy Rice — host, reporter, and former lawyer
- Temujin Kenzu — the man serving time for the murder, despite claims of innocence
- Scott Macklem — the victim
- Crystal Merrill — Scott’s fiancée
- Herb Welzer — retired Port Huron detective turned private investigator, who began uncovering red flags in the case
Why This Preview Matters
The preview sets up a larger investigation into how:
- flawed witness memories,
- institutional incentives,
- and human reluctance to admit error
can combine into a lasting miscarriage of justice. It’s as much a story about one murder as it is about the wider dynamics of policing, prosecutorial decision-making, and human bias.
Access and Availability
- More episodes of Examined: The Backfire Effect are available wherever you get podcasts.
- The full series is also available ad-free with a Pushkin Plus subscription.