Two and a half decades have passed since the tragic discovery of a University of California, Davis student who was found deceased with 29 stab wounds in his fraternity dorm room—an incident officially deemed a suicide. The case of Andrew Wieman is now being revisited by a new true crime podcast, aiming to explore the lingering questions that Wieman’s family maintains remain unanswered.

Andrew Wieman, a 20-year-old junior who belonged to the Kappa Sigma fraternity, was discovered dead in his locked room on January 4, 2001.

Following a comprehensive 13-month investigation by UC Davis Police, the Yolo County Coroner’s Office, and the California Department of Justice, authorities concluded that Wieman’s death was a suicide.

Investigators cited several pieces of evidence supporting their conclusion: a handwritten note found in Wieman’s room, the knife that inflicted the wounds was his and bore his fingerprints, and there were no signs of forced entry or a struggle within the room.

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Andrew Wieman was 20 years old when he was found dead in his fraternity dorm room at UC Davis in January 2001. (“Love & Justice” Podcast via Wieman family)

Officials also noted Wieman’s room was locked, the windows were secured, and all keys were accounted for. According to investigators, there were no defensive wounds on Wieman’s body and no evidence another person had been present in the room.

In a statement released at the time, UC Davis Police Chief Calvin Handy described Wieman as a “troubled individual” and said investigators believed the evidence, taken “in totality,” was most consistent with suicide.

But Wieman’s family has never accepted the official ruling. For years, they have continued pushing for answers, raising concerns about whether all aspects of the case were fully examined.

Now, Emmy Award-winning producer Kyle Olson is revisiting the case in Season 2 of the true crime podcast “Love & Justice,” which premieres May 26.

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The University of California Davis campus. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Olson said his team was immediately struck by several details in the case when they began reviewing investigative files and evidence.

“When you start to piece all these things together, and then you hear the determination is suicide, it’s inherently something that brings curiosity,” Olson told Fox News Digital.

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Olson said the case stood out because of several details investigators acknowledged at the time, including that Wieman suffered 29 stab wounds, several of them fatal, had no drugs or alcohol in his system, and was found inside a locked room.

“Those are all things that make you scratch your head,” Olson said. “That’s not something we normally see in a case like this.”

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UC Davis student Andrew Wieman was 20 years old when he was found dead in his fraternity dorm room in 2001. (“Love & Justice” Podcast via Wieman family)

The podcast host said another detail that surprised his team was learning Wieman was allegedly found “tucked into bed” and wearing earplugs — details Olson said were not widely discussed publicly at the time.

“What does it mean?” Olson said. “Does it mean something, or is it just a small tiny detail in a much bigger story?”

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The series also explores a roughly 60-hour gap between the last confirmed sighting of Wieman in the early hours of Jan. 2, and when he was ultimately found dead.

“Sixty hours is a very long time,” Olson said. “What was going on during those 60 hours, and does somebody know something that perhaps they haven’t shared in 25 years?”

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Students are seen on campus at the University of California at Davis. (Getty Images)

According to Olson, the podcast does not attempt to force a predetermined conclusion, but instead re-examines the case using modern forensic reconstruction technology and fresh expert analysis.

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“We’re interested in hearing from all sides,” Olson said. “There’s going to be some people that think maybe, with the evidence that we’ve seen, it could lead to suicide. There’s going to be others that say, ‘I disagree.’”

Olson said the investigation has involved forensic experts from around the world and focuses heavily on whether advancements in science and reconstruction technology can better explain the circumstances surrounding Wieman’s death.

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A view of the campus from the RMI North building which houses the wine and food department at UC Davis in Davis. (Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

“One of the biggest questions for me always comes back to feasibility,” Olson said. “Is it possible that someone can inflict 29 stab wounds to themselves, especially when multiple of those stab wounds are fatal?”

Olson said the passage of time could also play an important role in generating new information.

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Andrew Wieman with family members before his death at UC Davis in January 2001. (“Love & Justice” Podcast via Wieman family)

“There may be people that were too shy to bring up information 25 years ago that are willing to talk now,” Olson said. “Now might be the time to say something.”

Season 1 of “Love & Justice” focused on the murder of Olson’s childhood friend, Ashley Love, whose killer has never been found.

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Andrew Wieman’s family has spent decades questioning the official ruling in his death. (“Love & Justice” Podcast via Wieman family)

Olson said that experience helped him better understand how families continue living with unanswered questions long after investigations end.

“For me, I would really like to find justice for Andrew,” Olson said. “We’re here to find out what the truth is.”

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Five Italian divers tragically lost their lives in the Maldives due to inadequate scuba gear, according to reports. The group was just 15 minutes away from reaching the surface when they met with disaster.

Finnish diver Sami Paakkarinen described the incident as a “tragic human error” which led to the May 14 accident, resulting in the fatalities at a depth of 200 feet. He shared these insights with The Sun, highlighting the crucial mistakes that contributed to the tragedy.

Paakkarinen noted that four of the divers’ bodies were discovered together, indicating they had been close to one another at the time of the incident.

“In many cave diving accidents, human error often plays a significant role,” he explained, emphasizing a common thread in such tragedies.

He further observed that the divers lacked essential cave diving equipment, such as a diving reel or guide rope, which are vital for ensuring safety in such challenging underwater environments.

In general, for those who visit caves, it’s known that it’s not very wise to do so without a safety line,” Paakarinen said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.

The saga of the Murdaugh family, a tale that reads more like fiction than reality, is set to continue its dramatic journey in the courtroom. The Southern legal dynasty, which has been brought down by a harrowing combination of double murder and extensive financial fraud, will face a new chapter as it heads back to trial.

Alex Murdaugh, once a powerful attorney in South Carolina whose family wielded significant influence in courtrooms for generations, was convicted in 2023 of the murders of his wife, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, and their younger son, Paul Murdaugh. The tragic events unfolded at the family’s Moselle hunting estate in June 2021, casting a long shadow over the prominent family.

However, on May 13, the state Supreme Court made a decisive move by unanimously overturning these convictions. The court found that former Colleton County Clerk of Court, Rebecca “Becky” Hill, had improperly swayed the jury, thus compromising the trial’s integrity.

As the stage is set for a second trial, several key figures are poised to play crucial roles in this unfolding legal drama.

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Alex Murdaugh reacts as he addresses the court during his sentencing for stealing from 18 clients at the Beaufort County Courthouse in Beaufort, S.C., on Nov. 28, 2023. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier)

1. Alex Murdaugh:

Before the murders, Murdaugh was part of a legal dynasty in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather served as elected prosecutors in the region for more than 80 years, while the family law firm was a legal powerhouse.

At his 2021 murder trial, prosecutors argued that Murdaugh killed his wife Maggie and son Paul as his financial crimes were closing in, hoping the killings would generate sympathy and buy time from his impending money troubles.

While Murdaugh has admitted to stealing money and committing insurance fraud, he has denied the murders.

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In 2023, he was convicted after a six-week trial and sentenced to consecutive life terms without parole. But the convictions were recently overturned, leading to the legal scion’s return to court.

He remains behind bars on state and federal financial-crimes sentences tied to stealing roughly $12 million from clients.

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A family photo of Buster, Paul, Maggie and Alex Murdaugh is shown during the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro on March 2, 2023. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post and Courier)

2. Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh

Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, 52, was Alex Murdaugh’s wife and one of the two victims found dead near the dog kennels at Moselle on June 7, 2021.

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Maggie and Alex were married at the Second Presbyterian Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on Aug. 14, 1993.

From left to right, Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh in an undated photo. (Facebook)

Maggie was shot four or five times with a rifle, while Paul was shot twice with a shotgun.

In a retrial, Maggie’s death will again be central to the state’s burden. Prosecutors must prove who killed her and Paul, beyond a reasonable doubt, without the benefit of the now-vacated 2023 verdict.

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3. Paul Murdaugh

Paul Murdaugh, 22, was Alex and Maggie Murdaugh’s younger son and the second murder victim. Long before his death, Paul was already a controversial figure because of the 2019 boat crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach.

From left to right: Buster, Paul, Alex and Maggie Murdaugh pose together on a fishing boat. (Facebook)

At the murder trial, Paul became crucial in another way: his cellphone video from the kennels. The state’s case relied heavily on evidence placing Alex Murdaugh at the murder scene shortly before the killings.

4. Richard “Buster” Murdaugh:

Richard “Buster” Murdaugh is Alex and Maggie Murdaugh’s surviving son.

WATCH: Buster Murdaugh: I do not believe the trial was fair

Buster Murdaugh and Brooklynn White leave the Colleton County Courthouse for a lunch break on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in South Carolina. (Mark Sims/Fox News Digital)

In a Fox Nation series “The Fall of the House of Murdaugh,” Buster spoke candidly about his father and his murder trial during an exclusive sit-down interview conducted by Fox News’ Martha MacCallum.

“I do not think that he could be affiliated with endangering my mother and brother,” he said. “We have been here for a while now and that’s been my stance.”

ALEX MURDAUGH’S DEFENSE ATTORNEY EXPLAINS WHY HE THINKS THE DISGRACED LAWYER IS INNOCENT, WILL GET A NEW TRIAL

5. Dick Harpootlian:

Since the conclusion of the first trial, Harpootlian’s message has been that the first trial was tainted by Hill’s misconduct and that the second trial must be carried out under stricter rules.

Harpootlian, one of Murdaugh’s lead defense attorneys, has already previewed a retrial strategy that includes seeking a venue change, attorney-led jury questioning and possibly sequestering jurors.

Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian reacts to prosecutor Creighton Waters asking Alex Murdaugh if he is a “family annihilator” during Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, February 24, 2023.  (Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool)

6. Jim Griffin:

Jim Griffin, another Murdaugh defense attorney, has been central not only to the appeal but also to Murdaugh’s civil lawsuit against Hill.

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Defense attorney Jim Griffin talks with Dick Harpootlian as Alex Murdaugh testifies at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.  (Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool)

After the South Carolina Supreme Court reversed Murdaugh’s convictions, Griffin helped announce a lawsuit against Hill. The suit accuses the former clerk of violating Murdaugh’s right to a fair trial and seeks punitive and compensatory damages, as well as $600,000 of attorneys’ fees.

Griffin said the lawsuit was meant to hold Hill accountable and reveal the “entire scope of her conduct.”

7. Creighton Waters:

Creighton Waters is the prosecutor who secured the original guilty verdicts. Now he faces the job of trying to win the case a second time, under a microscope, after the first conviction was blown up.

Waters and Harpootlian have already previewed competing visions for the retrial, with Waters signaling an impending fight over whether Murdaugh can receive a fair jury in South Carolina.

Prosecutor Creighton Waters cross examines Alex Murdaugh during Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, February 24, 2023. (Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool)

“We depend on our citizens to do what their oath requires them, put aside things that they might have read in the media or in a podcast or whatever, and base their evidence and their decisions solely on the evidence that’s presented in the courtroom,” Waters told Fox News Digital.

8. Alan Wilson:

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said prosecutors could seek the death penalty if Murdaugh is convicted again.

WATCH: AG vows quick retrial after Supreme Court tosses Murdaugh murder convictions

“We’re back to square one on this case,” Wilson said in a statement to Fox News Digital, adding that all legal options were on the table, including the death penalty.

In the first trial, Murdaugh received life without parole. A retrial could, in theory, expose him to something more severe if prosecutors pursue capital punishment and meet the legal requirements.

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9. Rebecca “Becky” Hill:

South Carolina Supreme Court found Hill exercised “improper external influences” during the first trial.

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According to testimony reviewed by the court, jurors said Hill told them to “watch him closely,” “watch his actions” and not be “fooled” by the defense.

Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Mary Rebecca “Becky” Hill smiles after pleading guilty on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in St. Matthews, S.C. Hill pleaded guilty Monday to showing sealed exhibits from Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial and other charges.  (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

The court’s ruling also referenced findings that Hill was drawn by the “siren call of celebrity” and allowed public attention to overcome her duty.

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Hill co-authored a book about the proceedings, “Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders,” which the lawsuit says earned roughly $100,000 before being withdrawn amid plagiarism allegations.

WATCH: Becky Hill walks into Colleton County Courthouse

According to the book’s synopsis, Hill had known the Murdaugh family for decades and was aware of “the rumors of corruption and crime surrounding the Murdaugh family.”

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WATCH: Murdaugh court clerk Becky Hill appears in South Carolina court for hearing

The state’s Supreme Court said Hill “egregiously attacked Murdaugh’s credibility” by suggesting to jurors that he was guilty and that his testimony could not be trusted. Hill later pleaded guilty to lying about what she said and did during the trial, including showing graphic crime-scene photos to media members.

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Hill had previously pleaded guilty to four charges — obstruction of justice and perjury for showing a reporter photographs that were sealed court exhibits and then lying about it, plus two counts of misconduct in office for taking bonuses and promoting a book she wrote on the trial through her public office.

“There is no excuse for the mistakes I made. I’m ashamed of them and will carry that shame the rest of my life,” Hill said in a statement read to the court.

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She was sentenced to three years of probation.

Timeline of the reversal:

• October 2023: Murdaugh attorneys allege jury tampering
• January 2024: Jurors testify under oath
• December 2025: Hill pleads guilty to related charges
• May 13, 2026: Supreme Court overturns convictions
• May 18, 2026: Murdaugh sues Hill over jury tampering accusations

10. Mallory Beach:

Beach, 19, died in a 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh. The crash and ensuing litigation helped drag the Murdaugh family’s power into public view before the killings.

Alex’s father, Randolph Murdaugh III, was the top prosecutor overseeing South Carolina’s Lowcountry until 2005 — including Beaufort County, where the crash occurred. The family wielded enormous influence in the region.

Paul had taken out five friends in his father’s boat Feb. 23, 2019, and they were all drinking heavily. Paul had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit when he smashed into the piling of the bridge.

After the collision, it took more than a week to recover Beach’s body about five miles from the crash site.

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Mallory Beach’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Murdaughs in 2019 after she died aboard their boat. (Unknown)

In the first trial, the prosecution argued Murdaugh’s financial life was collapsing before the murders due to Beach’s death.