Murder at Ryan's Run: exposing the cult of John Africa

• Mike Africa Jr.'s Tales of Richmond - Factchecked

  Send us a textWhen memoir meets mythology, what happens to historical truth? This gripping episode investigates Mike Africa Jr.'s vivid account of his childhood in Richmond, Virginia, revealing a remarkable disconnect between his published narrative and documented reality.Through painstaking research, including interviews with the retired detective who led the 1980 operation, the prosecutor who brought charges, and the attorney who represented MOVE women, we uncover the actual circumstances surrounding the removal of 14 malnourished MOVE children from a Richmond house. Medical reports, court documents, and newspaper accounts directly contradict Mike's dramatic tale of police sirens, an orphanage with cruel nuns, and a daring escape.The investigation places Mike at just 16 months old during these events, not the nearly three years he claims in his memoir. Photos taken during medical examinations show a distended belly and no dreadlocks, contradicting key elements of his story. Most significantly, there were no orphanages in Richmond at that time—the children were taken to a hospital and placed with foster families.Beyond fact-checking, this episode reveals the profound connection between this little-known Richmond chapter, a lawyer who, if he had made a different choice, might have prevented 6 children from being with MOVE on May 13, 1985.  You will hear that Pixie Africa, who escaped MOVE in 2021 with her 5 children when this podcast launched - she was not the first to attempt that - there is a woman that MOVE never speaks of because she got away and took her two children. The producers of this podcast wish to stress that all individuals reference in this series are presumed innocent unless or until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States of America.Support the showExecutive Produced, reported, hosted, and edited by Beth McNamaraAdditional research by Robert HelmsMurder At Ryan's RunInstagramFacebook PagePodcast Press If you have questions, comments, tips, or media inquiries, please reach out on social media or via email: [email protected] individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed to be innocent unless or until they are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a United States court of law.

  --------  

  43:01
• Mike Africa Jr. Version 2001 - Part Deux

  Send us a textThis is Part 2—or as they say in France (where MOVE often solicits donations for themselves and Mumia)—Part Deux. It’s not as shocking as Part 1, but it’s still never-before-heard audio from 2001, recorded in the basement of MOVE’s Philly headquarters. A 23-year-old Mike Africa Jr. (aka Michael Davis) reflects on legacy, identity, and his self-declared natural rapping talent (pro tip: double the playback speed for that section). But tucked between the repetition and self-aggrandizing are research gems—and revealing slips of the MOVE tongue—that offer a more detailed picture of life inside the organization.The producers of this podcast wish to stress that all individuals reference in this series are presumed innocent unless or until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States of America.Support the showExecutive Produced, reported, hosted, and edited by Beth McNamaraAdditional research by Robert HelmsMurder At Ryan's RunInstagramFacebook PagePodcast Press If you have questions, comments, tips, or media inquiries, please reach out on social media or via email: [email protected] individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed to be innocent unless or until they are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a United States court of law.

  --------  

  48:45
• Mike Africa Jr. Version 2001 - Part 1

  Send us a textIn this immersive, unedited episode, you’re sitting in the basement of MOVE headquarters in West Philly—24 years ago—listening as Michael Davis (known publicly as Mike Africa Jr., and within MOVE by the nickname “Puga,” which he no longer uses - talks freely while being interviewed by longtime MOVE "supporter" Peter Gordon, aka Dubside. At 23, Mike shares a version of MOVE’s history—and his own—that directly contradicts the narrative he tells today about 1985 as a public figure and the self-annointed new leader of MOVE.This episode is part of a mini-season built around MOVE’s words—letters, recordings, and public statements—so their credibility can finally be fully examined, which is in the public interest. From Mike’s childhood outside the group to his return under Ramona Africa’s watch, this tape reveals fractured family ties, the making of MOVE’s next spokesperson, and the first signs that he was stepping toward the spotlight and seeking fame via the MOVE story. The producers of this podcast wish to stress that all individuals reference in this series are presumed innocent unless or until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States of America.Support the showExecutive Produced, reported, hosted, and edited by Beth McNamaraAdditional research by Robert HelmsMurder At Ryan's RunInstagramFacebook PagePodcast Press If you have questions, comments, tips, or media inquiries, please reach out on social media or via email: [email protected] individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed to be innocent unless or until they are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a United States court of law.

  --------  

  1:03:21
• We'll Burn This House Down - Ramona Africa's Letter

  Send us a textTwo days before the 1985 fire that killed 5 children and 6 adults inside 6221 Osage Avenue, MOVE’s Minister of Information, Ramona Africa, sent a letter to police: “We will burn this motherf***ing house down and burn you up with us.” This handwritten letter has been publicly available for 40 years. So why is it rarely included in books, documentaries, or retrospectives—especially now, 40 years later? This episode brings her words back into the story—and asks us all to think critically about what MOVE calls “the strategy of John Africa (Vincent Leaphart)?"The producers of this podcast wish to stress that all individuals reference in this series are presumed innocent unless or until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States of America.Support the showExecutive Produced, reported, hosted, and edited by Beth McNamaraAdditional research by Robert HelmsMurder At Ryan's RunInstagramFacebook PagePodcast Press If you have questions, comments, tips, or media inquiries, please reach out on social media or via email: [email protected] individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed to be innocent unless or until they are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a United States court of law.

  --------  

  21:09
• MOVE loves Philly cheese steaks and not answering our questions about missing children.

  Send us a textThis episode was put together quickly in order to publish before current charismatic spokesperson Mike Africa Jr. goes on WURD radio to talk about remains of MOVE children so this is my effort to put some questions out there for WURD to ask Mike.  I will write up better show notes tomorrow.  Going hit the hay so I can wake up at 5am my time to catch WURD in Philadelphia. Will post images etc. that go with episode tomorrow.  Here are links I promised:Firewalker New Balance Let The Fire Burn on OVIDPBS Frontline MOVE episodeThe producers of this podcast wish to stress that all individuals reference in this series are presumed innocent unless or until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States of America.Support the showExecutive Produced, reported, hosted, and edited by Beth McNamaraAdditional research by Robert HelmsMurder At Ryan's RunInstagramFacebook PagePodcast Press If you have questions, comments, tips, or media inquiries, please reach out on social media or via email: [email protected] individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed to be innocent unless or until they are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a United States court of law.

  --------  

  23:06

More Society & Culture podcasts

Trending Society & Culture podcasts

About Murder at Ryan's Run: exposing the cult of John Africa