A married couple listening to a true-crime podcast led to a man’s exoneration in the murder of a priest

“Crime Junkies” podcast fans Harlee and Michael Gerke, left, found themselves uniquely positioned to help exonerate James Reyos, right, who was wrongly imprisoned for murder. Harlee and Michael Gerke were riveted as they listened to the “Crime Junkie” podcast’s retelling of the events that ultimately turned Reyos’ life upside down. “As soon as they told me about the case, I’m like, ‘Surely that can’t be true,’” the elder Michael Gerke told The Times over the phone on Monday. It was just a weird perfect storm.” “Crime Junkie” host Flowers told The Times that the podcast’s role in Reyos’ exoneration is what they hope will happen with many of the cases that they cover: “that someone out there is listening who can enact change.” “We have such a big audience at this point that you just never know who the episode is going to find or touch.