Mar 30, 2026 · 1 hr 4 min · 20 segments
“If you marry a prisoner, you only know this person when they’re sitting next to you on a chair in the prison visiting room.“ After 45 years behind bars, Michael adjusts to life on the outside, makes…
Michael ThompsonGuest
Eric Abner HutchinsGuestArielGuest
Nick van der KolkHostKevinGuestAnnieGuestKenGuest
I go into a six-month transitional housing program, and then I was released from the program in February of 2020.
In March 2020, Ariel and I arrived up here to Lakeport and found what was supposed to be a thriving, lucrative business in total disarray.
There was an office, but apparently it had a secretary at one time, but everything had a layer of dust on it.
What did you say to Eric and all that? I mean, did you confront him about this stuff? Or what was
Essentially what he was telling me was that the business was failing, and it was failing because he couldn't manage it.
You know, the business had nothing to do with failing because of my health.
I mean, I did have some issues that were heart-related, but it had nothing to do with my ability to work or anything else.
And he had taken on numerous jobs, retaining walls, defensible space, construction jobs, road jobs.
So as I acquired this knowledge, my first priority was to get the work that needed to be done, done.
So, you know, I could work till dark, and that was typically 7.30 to 8 o'clock at night.
But then I would go back to the office and try to figure out what was going on with all this paperwork, and then try to get some sleep.
I go into a six-month transitional housing program, and then I was released from the program in February of 2020.
In March 2020, Ariel and I arrived up here to Lakeport and found what was supposed to be a thriving, lucrative business in total disarray.
There was an office, but apparently it had a secretary at one time, but everything had a layer of dust on it.
What did you say to Eric and all that? I mean, did you confront him about this stuff? Or what was
Essentially what he was telling me was that the business was failing, and it was failing because he couldn't manage it.
You know, the business had nothing to do with failing because of my health.
I mean, I did have some issues that were heart-related, but it had nothing to do with my ability to work or anything else.
And he had taken on numerous jobs, retaining walls, defensible space, construction jobs, road jobs.
So as I acquired this knowledge, my first priority was to get the work that needed to be done, done.
So, you know, I could work till dark, and that was typically 7.30 to 8 o'clock at night.
But then I would go back to the office and try to figure out what was going on with all this paperwork, and then try to get some sleep.
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3 of 13
The Assassination Confession
Their friendship began with a deadly secret
The Story Was Manufactured
One confession may have been carefully scripted
A Means To An End
Eric finally explains what he believes motivated Michael
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