Forensic document examiner Eric Svakin joins Will to unpack the wild Disney vs. Slesinger battle over Winnie the Pooh royalties. From alleged dumpster-dived documents to coffee-stain “fracture matches,” copier defect fingerprints, and toner chemistry, Eric shows how tiny physical clues revealed that “confidential” labels were removed—and why a judge ultimately tossed the longest-running civil case in California at the time. If you love law, forensics, or Disney lore, this one’s a ride. Like, comment, and subscribe for more behind-the-scenes investigations. 

Chapters

00:00 - Intro: Meet Will and expert Eric Svakin

00:24 - Pooh’s billions: why the stakes were huge

01:22 - Who owns Pooh? Milne, Schlesinger, Disney

02:35 - The 1991 lawsuit and royalty disputes

03:48 - A record-long California civil case

04:30 - Dumpster-dived documents surface

05:28 - Why Eric was hired: dueling “confidential” copies

06:20 - Inside LA evidence review: three days of tests

07:15 - Coffee-stain match: identical patterns prove source

08:18 - Swapped cover page: toner tells on the forgers

09:10 - Photocopier “fingerprint”: three recurring dots

10:30 - Toner chemistry 101: dyes and composition

11:35 - Fracture matching explained with paper & stains

12:40 - Courtroom visuals and expert testimony

13:30 - Judge’s ruling: case dismissed for misconduct

14:10 - When experts disagree (and why)

15:00 - Copier anatomy: glass, optics, drum

16:05 - Takeaways: tiny clues, massive consequences

Links

SunlitStudios.com

@TheBibleShowPodcast

@UnderTheHoodFL

Hashtags

#WinnieThePooh #Disney #ForensicScience #DocumentForensics #IntellectualProperty #CourtCase #EvidenceAnalysis #AAMilne #DisneyLawsuit #TonerAnalysis #CopyMachine #LegalHistory #TrueStory #ExpertWitness

Forensics expert Eric Spokini walks through a wild decades-old case: a 1963 Seattle incident involving a visiting Buddhist priest, a later rise to high priest, and a diary used as an alibi—until document science, infrared ink tests, and even a Harvard statistician dismantled it in court. We unpack fountain-pen mechanics, how front/back page intersections reveal timing, and why the judges concluded the entry was added years later. If you’re into true crime, forensic document examination, or courtroom twists, this one’s for you. Like, comment, and subscribe to support more stories like this! 

Chapters

00:00 - Intro: Meet host Will and expert Eric Spokini

00:41 - Setup: 1963 US visit and Seattle stop

01:45 - Power shift: Excommunication and Soka Gakkai dispute

02:32 - New witness: Seattle host “Hero Klo” steps forward

03:26 - 3 a.m. call: Police custody after street altercation

05:20 - Follow-up probe: Newspaper finds the arresting officers

07:32 - Lawsuit: High priest sues for slander

08:46 - Alibi unveiled: The 1963 diary says “went to bed 1 p.m.”

10:06 - Key question: Was the entry contemporaneous or added later?

11:10 - In Tokyo: Exam setup and fountain-pen basics

12:54 - Infrared testing: Comparing inks across days

14:12 - Front vs. back: How line intersections reveal sequence

17:59 - Findings: The entry added after backside writing

19:12 - Appeals: More experts and statistical review

20:40 - Chernoff’s analysis: Probability the entry was added later

23:35 - Credibility hit: “Carousel Room” notes and court takeaways

25:37 - Outro: Forensics sorts fact from fiction

Links

SunlitStudios.com

Hashtags

#ForensicDocumentExamination #HandwritingAnalysis #TrueCrime #LegalForensics #JapanHistory #BuddhismHistory #CourtroomScience #FountainPens #InfraredAnalysis #Statistics #HermanChernoff #DiaryAnalysis #SokaGakkai #SeattleHistory

An 18-year cold case from Flint, Michigan gets revived when new DNA methods bypass indigo-dye interference on a suspect’s jean jacket. Forensic expert Eric Spekin walks through why a single, tiny blood spot testing positive for both victims is a massive red flag, how siloed lab workflows can mislead prosecutors, and the cross-examination strategy that helped a jury reach “not guilty.” If you’re into true crime, forensic science, or legal strategy, this episode breaks down the science—and the storytelling—behind cold case prosecutions. Stick around to the end and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe! 

Chapters

00:00 - Cold open: “Both DNAs in one spot?”

00:17 - Welcome & guest intro (Eric Spekin)

00:40 - Case setup: 1991 Flint shooting; 2009 prosecution

01:06 - Dice game, $937 motive, suspect & van murders

02:05 - Evidence seized: the indigo jean jacket

03:39 - Cold case team finds a blood spot

04:34 - Why indigo dye blocks DNA; buffers fix it

06:07 - Lab result: both victims on one tiny spot

07:15 - Defense brings in an outside expert

08:37 - Only one sample from one location—why that matters

09:09 - Building the cross & challenging the narrative

11:07 - Verdict: not guilty; key lesson learned

12:03 - How court-appointed defense experts work

14:31 - Trial tactics: using prosecution witnesses

16:47 - Takeaways on scientific honesty

17:31 - Outro & CTA

Links

SunlitStudios.com

Hashtags

#ColdCase #TrueCrime #ForensicScience #DNAEvidence #BloodstainPattern #PCRInhibitors #ExpertWitness #CrossExamination #CriminalJustice #IndigentDefense #FlintMichigan #LegalStrategy #ColdCaseReview