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The Letter

The Letter

By: KSL Podcasts
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On a winter morning in 1982, two young fathers were found shot to death in a van parked outside an upscale Utah restaurant. The killer soon confessed, but his story about what happened - and why he chose violence - would create more pain, conflict, and questions for the families left in the wake of the murders.

As the families of the men struggle to rebuild their lives, they face questions they never anticipated. Does everyone deserve a second chance? Who is forgiveness for? And if you can inherit trauma, can you also inherit forgiveness? Through their stories, we discover even the most personal decisions can unintentionally ripple through lives, through generations, even impacting the lives of people we’ve never met.

Produced by KSL Podcasts.

2026 KSL Podcasts Biographies & Memoirs True Crime
Episodes
  • Introducing: The Letter

    Introducing: The Letter
    Aug 12 2022

    A random shooting takes one life but dramatically changes the lives of many more. This is where most stories end. This is just the beginning.

    Coming soon, from KSL Podcasts - the same team that brought you COLD - and Lemonada and Work House Media, The Letter.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show more Show less
    4 mins
  • Every Parent's Nightmare

    Every Parent's Nightmare
    Sep 6 2022

    On Zach Snarr’s last day alive, he got up early to help his father at work, he cleaned the kitchen for his mother and he made his sister laugh. But on August 28, 1996, the 18-year-old never came home from his date with Yvette Rodier at a reservoir outside of Salt Lake City. Instead, two police officers and a chaplain came to ring the bell. It was every parent’s nightmare, a devastating loss that rocked a community and shattered lives. But Zach’s mother, Sy Snarr, finds hope from a most unlikely place and it comes in the form of a weekly phone call.

    Get more information and photos on our website, theletterpodcast.com.

    Researched and reported by Amy Donaldson Written by Amy Donaldson and Andrea Smardon Production and sound design by Andrea Smardon Mixing by Trent Sell Special thanks to Nina Earnest, Becky Bruce, KellieAnn Halvorsen, Ryan Meeks, Ben Kuebrich, Josh Tilton and Dave Cawley Main musical score composed by Allison Leyton Brown With KSL Podcasts Executive Producer Sheryl Worsley For Lemonada Media, Executive Producers Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs And Executive Producers Paul Anderson and Nick Panella with WorkHouse Media. The Letter is produced by KSL Podcasts and Lemonada Media in association with WorkHouse Media.

    Surviving a barrage of bullets is just the start of what Yvette Rodier will have to do to reclaim her life. The emotional damage will take far longer to heal than the physical bullet wounds. She gets married, has a child and chooses a career that allows her to use her past to help others.

    Despite the looming shadow of the shooting, her life is one of beauty and generosity; of resilience and hope.

    Get more information and photos on our website, theletterpodcast.com.

    Researched and reported by Amy Donaldson
    Written by Amy Donaldson and Andrea Smardon
    Production and sound design by Andrea Smardon
    Mixing by Trent Sell
    Special thanks to Nina Earnest, Becky Bruce, KellieAnn Halvorsen, Ryan Meeks, Ben Kuebrich, Josh Tilton and Dave Cawley
    Main musical score composed by Allison Leyton Brown
    With KSL Podcasts Executive Producer Sheryl Worsley
    For Lemonada Media, Executive Producers Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs
    And Executive Producers Paul Anderson and Nick Panella with WorkHouse Media
    The Letter is produced by KSL Podcasts and Lemonada Media in association with WorkHouse Media.

    Sponsors:
    For a full list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series, you can visit lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show more Show less
    37 mins
  • The Survivor

    The Survivor
    Sep 6 2022

    Yvette Rodier was shot several times by a stranger as she and her good friend Zach set up a camera to take pictures of the moon. She describes how she survived, including dragging herself several hundred feet over rough terrain to get to a road and flag down help. That night was devastating. But even after such a terrifying experience, Yvette holds out hope for how she can reclaim her life.

    Get more information and photos on our website, theletterpodcast.com.

    Researched and reported by Amy Donaldson Written by Amy Donaldson and Andrea Smardon Production and sound design by Andrea Smardon Mixing by Trent Sell Special thanks to Nina Earnest, Becky Bruce, KellieAnn Halvorsen, Ryan Meeks, Ben Kuebrich, Josh Tilton, Dave Cawley and Ed Brass. Main musical score composed by Allison Leyton Brown With KSL Podcasts Executive Producer Sheryl Worsley For Lemonada Media, Executive Producers Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs And Executive Producers Paul Anderson and Nick Panella with WorkHouse Media. The Letter is produced by KSL Podcasts and Lemonada Media in association with WorkHouse Media.

    Surviving a barrage of bullets is just the start of what Yvette Rodier will have to do to reclaim her life. The emotional damage will take far longer to heal than the physical bullet wounds. She gets married, has a child and chooses a career that allows her to use her past to help others.

    Despite the looming shadow of the shooting, her life is one of beauty and generosity; of resilience and hope.

    Get more information and photos on our website, theletterpodcast.com.

    Researched and reported by Amy Donaldson
    Written by Amy Donaldson and Andrea Smardon
    Production and sound design by Andrea Smardon
    Mixing by Trent Sell
    Special thanks to Nina Earnest, Becky Bruce, KellieAnn Halvorsen, Ryan Meeks, Ben Kuebrich, Josh Tilton and Dave Cawley
    Main musical score composed by Allison Leyton Brown
    With KSL Podcasts Executive Producer Sheryl Worsley
    For Lemonada Media, Executive Producers Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs
    And Executive Producers Paul Anderson and Nick Panella with WorkHouse Media
    The Letter is produced by KSL Podcasts and Lemonada Media in association with WorkHouse Media.

    Sponsors:
    For a full list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series, you can visit lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show more Show less
    40 mins
All stars
Most relevant
Well done was worth the listen. Very interesting how people are affected so differently. Thanks

Good Listen.

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One of the most well done, captivating and emotional Podcasts I've ever listened to. My heart goes out to the Snarr family and to Yvette and her family. They are all inspirational.

A Must Listen To Podcast

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Forgiveness is so hard to give. It takes a lot of strength, for the mother to forgive the man who took the life of her son is amazing. A must listen, to hear the real story from the actual victims and the shooter is chilling.

The letter

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I enjoyed every episode of this podcast. The subject is horrific, but it is presented in a respectful manner. Everyone can learn something from this story.

Wonderful, compassionate reporting

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