#79 - Doug Kari's "The Berman Murders": A Desert Mystery

Books & Looks

I sit down with Doug Kari, a lawyer turned true crime author, to discuss his captivating new book, "The Berman Murders." Kari, who grew up with a love for the desert instilled by his adventurous grandmother, combines his legal background and passion for the American West to investigate a chilling unsolved mystery.

Book Spotlight: "The Berman Murders":

"The Berman Murders" delves into the baffling disappearance and murder of Barry and Louise Berman in the remote Mojave Desert in 1986. Kari meticulously chronicles the couple's tragic story, the ensuing investigation, and the twisted path that eventually led to the main suspect, a former Marine named Michael Pepe, being convicted of unrelated crimes years later.

Discussed in this Episode:

• The stark beauty and hidden dangers of California's Mojave Desert, particularly the remote Saline Valley
• The contrasting backgrounds of Barry and Louise Berman and how they came to be in the desert that fateful day
• The missteps and obstacles that hindered the initial search and investigation into the Bermans' disappearance
• The tireless efforts of Deputy Sheriff Leon Boyer, who pieced together critical evidence linking Michael Pepe to the crime
• Pepe's history of violence and sexual deviancy, which culminated in his conviction for heinous crimes in Cambodia years after the Berman murders
• The limitations of the legal system in prosecuting Pepe for the Berman murders despite strong circumstantial evidence
• Kari's personal journey to the crime scene and his reflections on the case's impact on the victims' loved ones and the desert community

Links:

• The Berman Murders: Unraveling the Mojave Desert's Most Mysterious Unsolved Crime: https://amzn.to/4d9xq8d
• Doug Kari Website: https://www.dougkari.com/
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WnSukDBzDBA

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Produced by Podcast Studio X.

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