True crime stories are often filled with twists, turns, and unanswered questions. But every so often, a story comes along that leaves you genuinely angry.
That was my experience listening to The Devil’s Quarry, the gripping new podcast from acclaimed journalist and investigative storyteller Paul Solotaroff. Premiering as an official selection at the Tribeca Festival, the series examines the murder of 12-year-old Josette Wright, the conviction and eventual acquittal of Anthony DiPippo, and the troubling questions that remain more than three decades later.
When Solotaroff joined me on BuzzWorthy Radio, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t just another true crime podcast. It was a story that had consumed him.
“I have been chasing crooked cops, corrupt prosecutors, and in-the-bag judges for thirty-seven years,” Solotaroff explained during our conversation. “I have been interrogating justice and injustice in the most horrific cases.”
For listeners unfamiliar with the case, Josette Wright disappeared in 1994 before her remains were discovered more than a year later in Putnam County, New York. Authorities ultimately focused their investigation on Anthony DiPippo and his friend Andy Krivak, two local teenagers who were convicted despite a case that Solotaroff argues lacked physical and forensic evidence.
As I listened to The Devil’s Quarry, one of the most frustrating aspects of the story was hearing how investigators allegedly ignored other potential suspects while building their case against the two teenagers.
According to Solotaroff, the evidence pointed toward a far more experienced offender. Yet investigators remained focused on DiPippo and Krivak.
“What had clearly been done was that these two cops had so bullied, so coerced, so menaced this small group of very vulnerable kids into essentially becoming a circular firing squad,” he said.
The allegations explored throughout the podcast are staggering. Solotaroff details claims of coerced testimony, mishandled evidence, constitutional violations, and investigative decisions that continue to raise questions decades later.
One particularly shocking revelation involves evidence connected to another violent assault that occurred around the same period. Solotaroff described how crucial evidence, including DNA-related materials and clothing from a reported rape case, was allegedly discarded.
For anyone who follows wrongful conviction cases, moments like these are difficult to hear.
Yet what makes The Devil’s Quarry especially compelling is that the story doesn’t end with Anthony DiPippo’s acquittal.
After spending more than two decades behind bars, DiPippo was finally released in 2016 following years of legal challenges. But as Solotaroff explained, the larger mystery remains unresolved.
The podcast repeatedly returns to one central question: if the wrong person was convicted, who actually committed these crimes?
That question becomes even more urgent as Solotaroff discusses a man he believes investigators should have examined far more closely. Throughout our conversation, he expressed frustration that the individual was allegedly never fully pursued despite repeated warning signs and prior accusations.
The uncertainty surrounding that question is what transforms The Devil’s Quarry from a wrongful conviction story into something much larger.
It’s a story about accountability.
It’s a story about systemic failures.
And it’s a story about how the consequences of those failures can last for generations.
As a true crime fan, I’ve listened to countless podcasts covering murders, disappearances, and miscarriages of justice. Few have left me as frustrated—or as invested—as this one.
What impressed me most about Solotaroff was his passion for uncovering answers. This isn’t simply a journalist revisiting an old case. It’s someone who believes there are still important truths waiting to be uncovered.
Whether you’re interested in investigative journalism, criminal justice reform, or simply a compelling true crime story, The Devil’s Quarry deserves your attention.
And if our conversation is any indication, this story may be far from over.
Watch and listen to my full interview with Paul Solotaroff on BuzzWorthy Radio above, and be sure to check out The Devil’s Quarry.
