Summary of Michael F. Weisberg: A Second Shot

Overview of Michael F. Weisberg: A Second Shot

This episode of Wicked Words (Tenfold More Wicked) — hosted by Kate Winkler Dawson — features author Michael F. Weisberg discussing his book A Second Shot: The Pursuit of Justice in Maryland's Oldest Cold Case Murder. The episode revisits the 1971 murder of Deputy J.T. (James Tappen) Hall in Rockville, Maryland; the decades-long investigation; a 2021 cold-case reopening; a contested confession; two trials; and the unresolved questions surrounding who actually pulled the trigger. Listener discretion: the episode contains adult language and references to sexual assault.

Key points and main takeaways

• Deputy J.T. Hall was shot in the back of the head while working security at the Manor Country Club on Oct 23, 1971. He died days later after being declared brain dead.
• The crime scene was compromised by heavy rain; no clear physical or DNA evidence was preserved. Investigators early on focused on a group of local teen burglars (the “Coke machine gang”).
• Early investigation suffered from “tunnel vision” focused on one suspect (Norman Shoemaker), limited evidence collection, and procedural gaps; the case grew cold after roughly six months.
• A 1972 reel-to-reel interview with Larry Becker (later Larry Smith) existed in evidence but was largely dismissed then. In 2021 a cold-case team found and digitized it; two “holdbacks” (details not previously on record) made Becker worth re-examining.
• Cold-case detectives tracked down Becker (living under the name Larry Smith in New York), obtained recorded control calls, interviewed him, and secured a confession — which he later recanted. Defense argued the confession was coerced/“fed.”
• Two trials followed: first trial—acquitted of first-degree murder; jury deadlocked on felony murder/burglary. Retrial—acquitted on all counts. Becker was released and remains free; the Hall/Philo family remains convinced of his guilt.
• Weisberg leans toward Becker’s innocence in the book, citing that original lead detective O.W. Sweat reportedly told Becker in 1972 that he “didn’t have eyeballs on it” (i.e., Sweat didn’t see Becker as the shooter).
• The case highlights systemic problems: evidence preservation, investigative tunnel vision, the power of confessions (even when unreliable), and the emotional toll on families.

Case summary and timeline

• Background: J.T. Hall — father, hardworking, low formal education; worked transmission repair, ran an ice cream shop, and served as a county deputy/security guard at Manor Country Club.
• Night of Oct 23, 1971: Hall fills in a shift during a rainy night. While checking the parking lot he sees movement near a pile of stolen household items (a pyramid of items). A gunshot hits his flashlight; he is struck in the back of the head, falls, and is found minutes later by passersby. He dies three days later after life support is removed.
• On-scene context: Local teens were breaking into Coke machines and a nearby house had been ransacked that same night; stolen items were found near Hall’s body.
• 1971–1972 investigation: Detective O.W. Sweat leads the case and focuses on Norman Shoemaker and local teens. Poor weather, delayed evidence collection, and lack of eyewitnesses/DNA result in no charges; case cold within months.
• 1972 interview: Prisoner Larry Becker gives a recorded interview claiming eyewitness knowledge. Investigators at the time dismiss him as lying to get leniency.
• 2012–2021: Renewed interest in cold cases in Montgomery County after successes (e.g., the Lyon sisters case). In 2021, a cold-case team led by Chris Homrock (and detectives Katie Leggett, Lisa Killen, Sarah White) reopens evidence.
• 2021–2023: Cold-case detectives find and digitize the Becker reel-to-reel tape, track Becker (now Larry Smith) to New York, use control calls and in-person interrogation to get a confession. Becker is extradited and tried twice; ultimately acquitted.

Major people involved

• Victim: Deputy J.T. (James Tappen) Hall — security/deputy sheriff at Manor Country Club.
• Family: Anna (wife), Melvin Hall (son — later a CIA/White House/security official), Carolyn (daughter), Robert Filo (son-in-law/attorney).
• Early investigators: O.W. Sweat (lead detective), Jerry Boone (crime-scene officer).
• Teen suspects/associates: “Coke machine gang” (teens breaking into soda machines); Norman Shoemaker (early prime suspect).
• Cold-case team (2021): Chris Homrock (organizer), Katie Leggett, Lisa Killen, Sarah White.
• Key person in box of evidence: Larry Becker (later Larry Smith) — prisoner who claimed to be an eyewitness in 1972; later implicated via confession, then recanted.
• Defense counsel: Covington & Burling (pro bono team) representing Becker in later proceedings.
• Author/guest: Michael F. Weisberg — wrote A Second Shot and explores the case and its aftermath.

Evidence, investigative strengths/weaknesses, and contested points

• Weaknesses:
  • Scene compromised by rain; much evidence was collected late (next day), diminishing physical traces.
  • No preserved DNA or credible eyewitness testimony from the crowd or club patrons.
  • Early investigative tunnel vision: Sweats’ focus on one suspect may have excluded other leads.
  • Interview procedures: 1972 prisoner interview was recorded but dismissed; later handling of confessions/recordings and the absence of expert testimony on false confession limited courtroom context.
• Strengths in the cold-case effort:
  • Meticulous review of a single cardboard box of legacy evidence led detectives to re-evaluate the old tape.
  • Use of digital forensics to recover reel-to-reel content.
  • Persistent detective work to locate Larry/verify his identity and produce control calls that established prior ties to the area.
• Contested points:
  • Reliability of Becker’s confession: prosecution argued it was genuine; defense alleged it was coerced and that detectives fed details. Judge barred false-confession experts at trial.
  • Original detective O.W. Sweat’s late-disclosed comments undermined certainty about Becker’s guilt and supported doubts.
  • Alternative theories (mafia hit, cover-up by wealthy families) exist but are speculative without supporting evidence.

Trials and legal outcome

• First trial: Lasted five days. Verdict—acquitted of first-degree (premeditated) murder; jury deadlocked on felony murder/burglary (hung jury).
• Retrial: Changed prosecution strategy (included conspiracy charges referencing another named person, “the Raven”); defense emphasized confession contamination. Judge disallowed certain expert testimony about false confessions. Verdict—not guilty on all counts. Larry Becker (72 at retrial) was released; family remained convinced of his guilt.

Themes and author perspective

• Tunnel vision and confirmation bias: Weisberg highlights how single-suspect focus can derail investigations.
• Power and peril of confessions: confessions are persuasive to juries but can be contaminated/manipulated; false-confession phenomena matter in cold-case interrogation.
• Evidence preservation: the case illustrates how poor early scene control and documentation can doom future forensic resolution.
• Human toll: the Hall/Philo family lived decades without legal closure; even after trials, emotions and belief about guilt remain unresolved. Weisberg ultimately leans toward Becker’s innocence, citing original detective Sweat’s comments and procedural problems.
• Cold-case methodology: modern cold-case teams rely on re-examining archival material, forensic digitization, control calls, and interrogation technique — but those tools can still lead to contested outcomes.

Notable quote

• Weisberg’s analogy: investigative “tunnel vision” is like a physician anchoring on one diagnosis — it can blind professionals to contradictory evidence and alternate explanations.

Further reading / related recommendations

• Michael F. Weisberg — A Second Shot: The Pursuit of Justice in Maryland's Oldest Cold Case Murder (book).
• Mark Bowden — The Last Stone (about the Lyon sisters case; referenced as a cold-case model).
• Tenfold More Wicked podcast (hosted by Kate Winkler Dawson) — for historical true-crime episodes and related interviews.
• Broader topics: literature on false confessions, cold-case best practices, and forensic evidence preservation.

Final notes

• The episode illustrates how decades-old investigations can be reshaped by small archival finds (a single tape), skilled cold-case detectives, and courtroom dynamics — yet still produce ambiguous, emotionally fraught outcomes. The story raises questions about investigative procedure, interrogation ethics, and what true “closure” looks like for victims’ families.