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Updated 1h ago · Crime
Unsealed Files Suggest Simpson May Have Had Accomplice in 1994 Murders
Unsealed federal records show convicted drug trafficker Joseph Ippolito told investigators about the 1994 killings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The records say his information included the disposal of the murder weapon.
- 1996: a federal prosecutor's letter urged leniency for Ippolito, citing his cooperation.
- Sam Ippolito says he dumped Joey's bagged clothes near Doheny Drive.
- Ippolito was close with Al Cowlings, Simpson's longtime friend.
- 2006: Joey Ippolito died; he never testified at Simpson's trial.
Why it matters: Simpson was acquitted in 1995 and later found liable in civil court. The knife was never recovered, and the killings remain unsolved.
- The letter does not say whether Ippolito implicated himself or anyone else.
- Former federal prosecutor David Kelley said he does not believe Ippolito took part.
How 11 sources split on this story
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Coverage by lean
11 sources · 17 articles · 37% Left coverage
Where they split: Coverage divides on how much weight Sam Ippolito's account deserves, given that he later sought payment and tried to retract it.
Center coverage, 3 sources: The center focuses on Sam Ippolito's bloody-hands claim but stresses the allegations remain unproven.
TMZ8hO.J. Simpson's Attorney Responds to Bombshell Claims That He Had an AccompliceWPXI Pittsburgh3hO.J. Simpson trial: Court files unsealed in Nicole Brown Simpson, Ron Goldman murder investigationWSB-TV Atlanta3hO.J. Simpson trial: Court files unsealed in Nicole Brown Simpson, Ron Goldman murder investigation
Left4 sources
The New York Times22hJune 17, 1994: Millions Watched Police Chase O.J. Simpson in a BroncoCBS News6hO.J. Simpson may have had help allegedly covering up 1994 murders, unsealed files suggestThe Guardian22hTimes’s investigation adds more intrigue to infamous OJ Simpson caseThe Root6hBombshell NYT Report Reveals New O.J. Simpson Theories
Right coverage, 4 sources: The right frames Ippolito as a mob-linked possible accomplice whose records reopen questions about whether Simpson had help.
OutKick2hFormer OJ Simpson attorney, longtime friend both support possibility of accomplice in 1994 murdersDaily Mail1dSecret mob informant in OJ Simpson's murder trial told cops about missing weapon, unsealed court files revealCitizen Free Press1dNew details in OJ Simpson murder case.Newsmax1dReport: Informant Told Feds About O.J. Murder Weapon
What’s next: The LAPD told the Times the case stays open. Detectives will investigate any new evidence.
- Sam Ippolito appears in an upcoming Peacock documentary.
- What exactly did Joey Ippolito tell investigators about the murder weapon?
- Which version of Sam Ippolito's account, if any, is accurate?
- Did Los Angeles prosecutors ever act on Ippolito's information?
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