Empire on Blood

From Panoply, award-winning journalist Steve Fishman chronicles his seven-year investigation to uncover the truth behind a Bronx double homicide, a betrayal, and a drug kingpin's journey to overturn his life sentence. Subscribe now to get all 7 episodes on March 28.

A story of murder, betrayal, and a man who fought the law for two decades. Calvin Buari, who once drove BMWs and dealt crack from a violent corner in the Bronx, has served 22 years of a life sentence. The charge: double homicide. Cal insists he’s no murderer —  someone else even confessed to the crime. Things are looking up for Cal when a legendary defense lawyer agrees to take on his last appeal. But then something terrible happens.

Allen Karen was one of the best homicide prosecutors in the Bronx. He devoted his life to fighting crime… and to rescuing the 20 or so turtles and tortoises that roam around his house. We hear how Karen used his formidable skills to put Calvin Buari away on a difficult charge — a double homicide case that was already three years old.

Calvin Buari’s former protégé in the Bronx crack trade, Dwight Robinson, loved and admired Cal. But then, feeling shunned and nursing his own ambitions, Dwight charted his own course — first with guns, then with lies, and finally as an instrument of the criminal justice system.

Cal has been in prison a few years when Dwight, lording over the Corner on Blood, “catches a body” and is sentenced to 25 years to life for murder. Not long after, Cal and the man who put him away meet in prison, something that’s not supposed to happen. Both Cal’s and Dwight’s worlds are turned upside down, and prosecutors in the Bronx are alarmed.

Joe Barry is Cal’s private investigator, hired in desperation when Cal’s case seems all but dead. Joe’s a hard drinking, Bible-toting P.I. who’s not afraid to lie in the service of the truth. He connects with new witnesses. And they give Cal a ray of hope.

Cal’s last-shot hearing finally arrives: his new lawyers are in place, the new witnesses ready to testify. Turtle Man has called their written affidavits worthless “toilet paper.” Will he come out of retirement to make sure Cal stays locked away?

In the aftermath of the court’s decision, Cal must adjust to his new reality.