Particle Data Platform
48 Hours

Accused

4/30/202643 min

Sheila Bryan was driving with her mother when she suddenly lost control of the car and veered off the road into a ditch. Sheila escaped but her mother was locked inside when the car burst into flames. Sheila was charged with her mother's murder, but did she intentionally set her car on fire or was it a tragic accident? "48 Hours" correspondent Susan Spencer reports. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 7/9/2001. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays and stream on demand on Paramount+. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clips

Scientist Calls It Junk Science
Can’t Prove It—But Probably
Cars Can Ignite Themselves
No Accelerant Required
DA Won’t Say He Believes
Conviction Overturned On Motive
Truth Doesn’t Always Prevail
Randomness Of The Court System
Simple Joys After Prison

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Speaker 00:00

    [suspenseful music] Sheila is a loving wife and mother. [laughs] She was also a devoted daughter.

  2. Speaker 20:10

    She loved her mother.

  3. Carla Bryan· Guest0:11

    They had the best of relationship.

  4. Speaker 00:13

    So everyone was shocked when she was charged and convicted of an unthinkable crime, murdering her own mother.

  5. Sheila Bryan· Guest0:20

    We think it's ridiculous.

  6. Carla Bryan· Guest0:21

    Anybody who knows my mother knows she's not capable of anything like that.

  7. Speaker 00:26

    But the prosecution says the evidence proves it.

  8. David Miller· Guest0:29

    Sheila Bryan set that car on fire with her mama inside the car.

  9. Speaker 00:33

    Now, Sheila may have one last chance to prove she is innocent.

  10. Gerald Hurst· Guest0:37

    I really believed that a woman had been convicted without any real evidence.

  11. Speaker 00:41

    This expert says it was an accident.

  12. Gerald Hurst· Guest0:44

    I found the real cause.

  13. Speaker 00:45

    Can he save her from life in prison?

  14. Sheila Bryan· Guest0:48

    Between him and God, we'll prove it.

  15. Speaker 00:50

    Susan Spencer investigates.

  16. Susan Spencer· Host0:52

    Did you have anything to do with intentionally starting that fire?

  17. Sheila Bryan· Guest0:57

    No. It was my mother.

  18. Speaker 01:00

    A 48 Hours Mystery: Accused.

  19. Sheila Bryan· Guest1:03

    [gentle music] My focus has always been my family. I enjoy doing stuff with my children and for my children. [laughs] And for my husband.

  20. Speaker 71:18

    This is a person I know.

  21. Susan Spencer· Host1:19

    Not long ago, Sheila Bryan was a typical American mom, living with her husband in Omega, Georgia, happily raising her two daughters.

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