Burden of Guilt

iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts

Burden of Guilt tells the harrowing story of Tracyraquel Berns, a woman who has spent the last four decades of her life at the center of one of the most bizarre and disturbing cases in American History. When she was just two years old, her baby brother tragically died. He was only four months old. Tracyraquel grew up believing that her baby brother’s death was the result of a terrible accident. Her family refused to discuss what happened, leaving her suspicious and wanting answers. Years later, Tracyraquel discovered that the death was no accident. Medical records revealed that she was responsible for Matthew’s death. But she was only a young toddler at the time. Could it be true? Or was she simply a scapegoat? Tracyraquel knew in her gut something more sinister was at play. She needed to get to the bottom of what really happened to Matthew. This series explores Tracyraquel’s pursuit of truth, justice, and healing.

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Our Editor's Take

Burden of Guilt discusses crime, domestic abuse, and murder. However, this podcast offers much more than another true crime narrative. It's a portrayal of survival, mental strength, and justice. The creators needed two whole years to collect evidence, interviews, and facts. The story was not only difficult to comprehend, but it was hard to put all the pieces together. Because it's so heartbreaking, it also took Tracyraquel Berns 25 years to finally share her account.

The podcast starts by explaining Tracyraquel's beliefs about her brother's death. She always thought that Matthew passed as a result of an accident. Her parents told her that he had fallen through the bars of his crib and hurt his head. Since Tracyraquel was so young when it happened, she didn't have a clear memory of it. She only remembers commotion, sirens, and a drive to the hospital. Something about that explanation didn't feel true to her. When she was 25, she decided to investigate further. What she didn't expect to see was her name written as the culprit. She was completely shocked to find that the medical file stated she threw her brother out of his crib.

Burden of Guilt is as much a story about a horrible upbringing as it is a true crime podcast. In an attempt to figure out what actually happened, Tracyraquel recalls her childhood. She reveals how the first time she mentioned Matthew after his death, she had to endure a whipping from her father. She talks about how her mother tried to commit suicide right before her eyes. When that didn't work, the child became the home's caretaker. She was making breakfast at two years old, and by five, she was buying cigarettes and paying bills.

Podcast host Nancy Glass interviews family, friends, and police. They reveal a chilling tale. More than that, Nancy provides a stage for Tracyraquel to share her experience. She was the one to play detective in her life and the one who finally discovered the awful truth. This podcast tells her incredible story.

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Play Trailer
Introducing: Burden of Guilt
Oct 11 2023
Introducing: Burden of Guilt
Burden of Guilt is an emotionally harrowing audio docu-series that tells the story of Tracyraquel Berns, a woman who has spent four decades at the center of one of the most bizarre and disturbing criminal cases in American History – surrounding the devastating and mysterious death of her baby brother. This podcast explores Tracyraquel’s pursuit for justice and her journey to confront the burden of guilt she has carried with her for the majority of her life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episodes

Introducing: Burden of Guilt
Oct 11 2023
Introducing: Burden of Guilt
Burden of Guilt is an emotionally harrowing audio docu-series that tells the story of Tracyraquel Berns, a woman who has spent four decades at the center of one of the most bizarre and disturbing criminal cases in American History – surrounding the devastating and mysterious death of her baby brother. This podcast explores Tracyraquel’s pursuit for justice and her journey to confront the burden of guilt she has carried with her for the majority of her life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Burden of Guilt: Ep 1 - Age of Innocence
Oct 18 2023
Burden of Guilt: Ep 1 - Age of Innocence
The loss of her baby brother has haunted Tracyraquel Berns ever since she was 2 years old. Growing up, her questions about her brother’s death were met with beatings from her father. As an adult, Tracyraquel did her own investigation and what she discovered would change everything. It caused a burden that she would carry with her for the rest of her life. That burden of guilt coupled with a nagging suspicion that there was more to the story, led Tracyraquel to revisit her abusive and dysfunctional childhood in a quest for the whole truth. Hosted by Emmy-winning journalist Nancy Glass.   If you would like to reach out to the Burden of Guilt Team, email us at burdenofguiltpod@gmail.com  If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out and call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.  To report a case of child abuse, please contact your local police department or call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.422.4453. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Burden of Guilt: Ep 2 - Physics
Oct 18 2023
Burden of Guilt: Ep 2 - Physics
Tracyraquel was always unsure how her baby brother died. When she finally got access to the official medical report, it felt suspicious and incomplete. But the more questions she asked, the more people dismissed her...except for one person. His shocking revelation and a simple lesson in physics pushed Tracyraquel to get law enforcement involved. Together, they’d go to war to expose the truth.  If you would like to reach out to the Burden of Guilt Team, email us at burdenofguiltpod@gmail.com  If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out and call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.  To report a case of child abuse, please contact your local police department or call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.422.4453. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Burden of Guilt: Ep 3 - Ashes to Ashes
Oct 25 2023
Burden of Guilt: Ep 3 - Ashes to Ashes
With Jan’s upcoming parole hearing, Tracyraquel was in a race against time to keep her father behind bars. So Tracyraquel pressed her mother for any information that would keep him in prison. After a fateful phone call, her mother’s admission about the day Matthew died was shocking. But it also led investigators to do something nobody could imagine 27 years later.  If you would like to reach out to the Burden of Guilt Team, email us at burdenofguiltpod@gmail.com  If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out and call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.  To report a case of child abuse, please contact your local police department or call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.422.4453. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Burden of Guilt: Ep 4 - The Body Keeps the Score
Nov 8 2023
Burden of Guilt: Ep 4 - The Body Keeps the Score
With Jan Barry Sandlin’s murder trial approaching, Prosecutors unearth new evidence that changes their entire understanding of the case. As the trial begins, Tracyraquel confronts one of her toughest challenges yet; coming face to face with Jan Barry Sandlin in the courtroom. This is the first time Tracyraquel has been in the same room with her father since she was a little girl. The trial and the long road to justice for baby Matthew begins.   If you would like to reach out to the Burden of Guilt Team, email us at burdenofguiltpod@gmail.com  If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out and call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.  To report a case of child abuse, please contact your local police department or call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.422.4453.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Burden of Guilt: Ep 5 - Game On
Nov 15 2023
Burden of Guilt: Ep 5 - Game On
With the trial underway, Kathie takes the stand to recount what happened to her baby boy on the day he died. As the defense questions Kathie on all the inconsistencies, information from outside the courtroom brings the proceedings to a sudden halt. This new revelation could alter Tracyraquel’s pursuit of justice for her brother Matthew forever.    If you would like to reach out to the Burden of Guilt Team, email us at burdenofguiltpod@gmail.com  If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out and call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.  To report a case of child abuse, please contact your local police department or call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.422.4453.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Burden of Guilt: Ep 6 - Battlefield
Nov 22 2023
Burden of Guilt: Ep 6 - Battlefield
After Judge Fuller declared a mistrial, the Prosecution must once again set out to prove that Tracyraquel’s father, Jan Barry Sandlin killed her baby brother. As the second trial begins, the Defense comes prepared with an entirely new strategy. Would trial 2 be the time justice is finally served for Matthew?   If you would like to reach out to the Burden of Guilt Team, email us at burdenofguiltpod@gmail.com  If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out and call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.  To report a case of child abuse, please contact your local police department or call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.422.4453.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Burden of Guilt: Ep 7 - Are You Kidding Me?
Nov 29 2023
Burden of Guilt: Ep 7 - Are You Kidding Me?
The jury from Jan Barry Sandlin’s second trial returns a verdict. When it seems like Tracyraquel would finally find justice for Matthew, the defense comes back with a new strategy. A new advocate steps in for Jan Barry Sandlin. Tracyraquel shares more about the two souls she feels are connected to her story.   If you would like to reach out to the Burden of Guilt Team, email us at burdenofguiltpod@gmail.com  If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out and call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.  To report a case of child abuse, please contact your local police department or call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.422.4453. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Burden of Guilt: Ep 8 - The Last Word
Dec 6 2023
Burden of Guilt: Ep 8 - The Last Word
In the season finale of Burden of Guilt, Nancy and Tracyraquel discuss what this podcast journey has been like for her and clear up some unanswered questions with new details revealed in the series. We also sit down with the people closest to Tracyraquel and hear how her strength, bravery, and compassion have impacted them for the better.   If you would like to reach out to the Burden of Guilt Team, email us at burdenofguiltpod@gmail.com  If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out and call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.  To report a case of child abuse, please contact your local police department or call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.422.4453.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Burden of Guilt: Bonus Episode 1 – Let's Go Back to 1974
Dec 13 2023
Burden of Guilt: Bonus Episode 1 – Let's Go Back to 1974
If this case happened after 1974, would there have been a different outcome? In this bonus episode, we explore that question with some background on the groundbreaking legislation known as CAPTA (Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act). We also look at the history of people’s understanding and perception of child abuse. If you would like to reach out to the Burden of Guilt Team, email us at burdenofguiltpod@gmail.com  If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out and call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.  To report a case of child abuse, please contact your local police department or call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.422.4453. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.