
The Girlfriends: Jailhouse Lawyer - Season 3
What does it mean to be a victim, or a villain? What happens when the line between the two starts to blur? On 7th July 2010, Kelly Harnett says her abusive boyfriend murdered a man right in front of her.
So how did she end up in prison for it?
Anna Sinfield - the journalist behind the global number 1 podcast, The Girlfriends, returns with her toughest story yet.
This series isn’t a whodunnit. It’s not even really about what happened. It’s about how a woman who was a victim of domestic violence became a villain in the eyes of the law.
Found guilty of murder and locked up for over a decade; Kelly Harnett taught herself the law. And as she battled to overturn her conviction, she became a beacon of hope, fighting for the freedom of the abused women locked up alongside her.
If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to NO MORE at https://www.nomore.org a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with.
The Girlfriends: Jailhouse Lawyer is produced by Novel for iHeart Podcasts.
Because The Girlfriends: Jailhouse Lawyer has been selected as one of Apple Podcasts’ Summer Listens, we’re offering a 30-Day Free Trial to iHeart True Crime + for a limited time. This includes early access to episodes, 100% ad-free listening, and exclusive bonus content.
Open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “iHeart True Crime+, and subscribe today!
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In Season 1, it’s 1995 and Carole Fisher is a high-flying divorcee looking for love in Las Vegas. It’s slim pickings in the medical community she works in. But then Bob comes to town. Bob Bierenbaum is a plastic surgeon who flies planes and speaks several languages. Her mom loves that he’s Jewish - but there’s something off about him. He’s perfect on paper but he’s quick to anger and he never talks about his ex-wife. Who, it turns out, is missing and presumed dead. After Carole and Bob break up, she tells her friend Mindy all about Bob’s wife and his bizarre behavior. You see, Mindy dated Bob too, in fact a lot of women in Vegas dated Bob and they all have their own strange stories to tell. Before too long they form a club dedicated to bitching about Bob, eating noodles and figuring out what happened to his wife, Gail. In this riveting nine part series, Carole Fisher uncovers the truth of Gail Katz’s death, the systems that failed her and all the girlfriends that brought her justice.
In Season 2, The Girlfriends are back to investigate one part of the story that’s still a mystery. During the investigation into Gail’s case, a torso washed up on Staten Island and was misidentified as Gail. Nobody knows her name or what happened to her after she was ruled out from the case. The amateur lady's detective club have a new mission: to uncover the identity of this woman and finally find Our Lost Sister. The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartPodcasts.
For more from Novel visit Novel.Audio
So how did she end up in prison for it?
Anna Sinfield - the journalist behind the global number 1 podcast, The Girlfriends, returns with her toughest story yet.
This series isn’t a whodunnit. It’s not even really about what happened. It’s about how a woman who was a victim of domestic violence became a villain in the eyes of the law.
Found guilty of murder and locked up for over a decade; Kelly Harnett taught herself the law. And as she battled to overturn her conviction, she became a beacon of hope, fighting for the freedom of the abused women locked up alongside her.
If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to NO MORE at https://www.nomore.org a domestic violence charity we’ve partnered with.
The Girlfriends: Jailhouse Lawyer is produced by Novel for iHeart Podcasts.
Because The Girlfriends: Jailhouse Lawyer has been selected as one of Apple Podcasts’ Summer Listens, we’re offering a 30-Day Free Trial to iHeart True Crime + for a limited time. This includes early access to episodes, 100% ad-free listening, and exclusive bonus content.
Open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “iHeart True Crime+, and subscribe today!
***
In Season 1, it’s 1995 and Carole Fisher is a high-flying divorcee looking for love in Las Vegas. It’s slim pickings in the medical community she works in. But then Bob comes to town. Bob Bierenbaum is a plastic surgeon who flies planes and speaks several languages. Her mom loves that he’s Jewish - but there’s something off about him. He’s perfect on paper but he’s quick to anger and he never talks about his ex-wife. Who, it turns out, is missing and presumed dead. After Carole and Bob break up, she tells her friend Mindy all about Bob’s wife and his bizarre behavior. You see, Mindy dated Bob too, in fact a lot of women in Vegas dated Bob and they all have their own strange stories to tell. Before too long they form a club dedicated to bitching about Bob, eating noodles and figuring out what happened to his wife, Gail. In this riveting nine part series, Carole Fisher uncovers the truth of Gail Katz’s death, the systems that failed her and all the girlfriends that brought her justice.
In Season 2, The Girlfriends are back to investigate one part of the story that’s still a mystery. During the investigation into Gail’s case, a torso washed up on Staten Island and was misidentified as Gail. Nobody knows her name or what happened to her after she was ruled out from the case. The amateur lady's detective club have a new mission: to uncover the identity of this woman and finally find Our Lost Sister. The Girlfriends is produced by Novel for iHeartPodcasts.
For more from Novel visit Novel.Audio
Episodes (38)

The Girlfriends S3/E8: No Regrets
Struggling to adjust to life outside of prison, Kelly tries to start fresh. And Anna discovers that while her story is nearly over, for Kelly… it’s only just the beginning. If you’re affected...

The Girlfriends S3/E7: Going Underground
Years into her incarceration, with a decade left to serve… a new law might finally give Kelly, and some of her inmate clients, a chance at freedom. But for some, it might have come too late. If...

The Girlfriends S3/E6: Guilty Schmilty
Reeling from the jury’s verdict, Kelly searches for the strength to keep fighting in a new maximum security prison. If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to NO MORE...

The Girlfriends S3/E5: Is He Dead Yet?
Kelly’s case finally goes to trial and the prosecution throws everything they have at her. How can she convince a jury that, not only is she not guilty but that she’s a victim too? If you’re...

The Girlfriends S3/E4: The Shawties
Stuck in Rikers Island Jail, Kelly forms a family of women who’ve been through hell, just like her. But she’s got enemies too. And as she studies for her case, she begins to discover that the law…...

The Girlfriends S3/E3: He Said, She Said
In 2010, a traumatised Kelly sits in a police cell and reckons with the horrors of the previous night. Years later, Anna tries to make sense of the night of the murder and discovers that some of the...

The Girlfriends S3/E2: The Good, The Bad and The Kelly
Anna traces a path back through Kelly’s turbulent life to answer the question: how did she get here? If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to NO MORE at...

The Girlfriends S3/E1: Hell's Gate
Meet Kelly Harnett. She’s a loving sister, a childhood gymnast and an aspiring DJ. And, according to the justice system; she’s also a murderer. Anna travels to New York to meet Kelly, and to try...

Introducing Season 3 of The Girlfriends: Jailhouse Lawyer
What does it mean to be a victim, or a villain? What happens when the line between the two starts to blur? On 7th July 2010, Kelly Harnett says her abusive boyfriend murdered a man right in front of...

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E8: Nadya & Pussy Riot Punk the President
When Nadya Tolokonnikova saw her country Russia change under President Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime, she knew she had to do something. She started the iconic ski-mask-wearing art protest...

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E7: Eilís Runs the Ball Barn
As a trans woman, Eilís Ní Fhlannagáin didn’t have much faith in mainstream health care. So when she wanted gender affirming surgery to remove her testicles, she turned to her best friend and trainee...

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E6: Madison and Christine Become Digital Detectives
Madison Conradis had her life turned upside down when someone began posting naked photos of her online. Soon, the abuse intensified with anonymous messages and calls to her family, friends and even...

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E5: Rose Solves, At Least, 86 Cold Cases
Rose Brady’s job running Baltimore County’s SVU was a frustrating one. The sexual violence crimes she and her team were investigating were just the tip of the iceberg. Her department was sitting on...

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E4: June Rocks America
From the moment she heard a guitar being played in an empty classroom at her convent school in the Philippines in 1961, June Millington knew what she wanted to do with her life: rock and roll. So...

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E3: Nelly Goes Undercover
Nellie Bly was a true trailblazer. In late 19th century America, women were expected to get married and become housewives, or go into a suitable career like teaching. But Nellie didn’t do any of...

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E2: Lu Ann Escapes the Order
When Lu Ann Cooper was just fifteen years old, she was told to drop out of school and marry her first cousin. She would be his fourth wife. Lu Ann grew up inside the so-called Kingston Clan, a...

The Girlfriends: Spotlight, E1: Tracy Hits the Bullseye
In 2019 Tracy Otto was a college student in Tampa, and a fitness fanatic. Then a violent attack by an ex-boyfriend changed her life forever. She was left paralysed from the chest down, and lost her...

The Girlfriends: Spotlight... Coming Soon
In Season 1, The Girlfriends told the story of how a group of incredible women came together to bring down one bad ex-boyfriend and seek justice for the murder of Gail Katz. In Season 2, we found the...

The Girlfriends S2/Bonus 1 - The Girlfriends’ Guide to: Identifying a Doe
The Girlfriends’ Guide, hosted by Producer Anna Sinfield, is a three part mini series where we lay out how you can solve crimes and keep your girlfriends safe. We dive back into our archive of...

The Girlfriends S2/Bonus 2 - The Girlfriends’ Guide to: Tackling Intimate Partner Violence
In the second episode of The Girlfriends’ Guide, we learn how to tackle domestic violence in our own lives from the people who fight it every single day. If you are affected by this episode please...

The Girlfriends S2/Bonus 3 - The Girlfriends’ Guide to: Finding a Missing Person
In the third instalment of the Girlfriend’s Guide we turn our attention to the over 600 thousand people who go missing every year in the United States. With the help of a citizen sleuth and former...

The Girlfriends S2/E5: Her Legacy
To find an end to the story, the Girlfriends go back to the beginning. If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to DNA Doe Project, an organisation we’ve partnered...

The Girlfriends S2/E4: Desperately Seeking Susie
While Detective Mindy gets to talk to a (real life) cop about the case of our Lost Sister, the rest of the gang gets a breakthrough. If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach...

The Girlfriends S2/E3: Lost and Found
Producer Anna is joined by Alayne Katz for a pilgrimage to New York City’s biggest public cemetery…could our girl be there? If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach out to...

The Girlfriends S2/E2: Mindy Goes Undercover
Looking for clues to our Lost Sister’s identity, our Chief Investigator Mindy Shapiro visits her old New York City stomping grounds. If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach...

The Girlfriends S2/E1: A Double Mitzvah
The club returns! Carole, Mindy, Alayne and Anna are back together again to eat food, drink wine… and solve a 35 year old cold case. If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show please reach...

Introducing Season 2 of The Girlfriends: Our Lost Sister
In Season 1, The Girlfriends told the story of how a group of incredible women came together to bring down one bad ex-boyfriend and seek justice for the murder of Gail Katz. But there’s one part of...

The Girlfriends: Our Lost Sister... Coming Soon
In Season 1, The Girlfriends told the story of how a group of incredible women came together to bring down one bad ex-boyfriend and seek justice for the murder of Gail Katz. But there’s one part of...

The Girlfriends S1/E9: A Sisterhood
After 20 years behind bars Bob finally speaks about what he did. Carole, Mindy and Alayne discuss what it means to live in a world without Gail, and so many other women like her. If you are affected...

The Girlfriends S1/E8: The Girlfriends Vs Bierenbaum
15 years after Gail’s death, Bob is put on trial. The Girlfriends, Gail’s friends and Alayne all weave together the circumstantial evidence that the prosecution believe is enough to prove Bob...

The Girlfriends S1/E7: Cowabunga
Bob learns that the DA are after him and when his arrest becomes a national news story, another Girlfriend surfaces. If you are affected by any of our topics please reach out to NO MORE at...

The Girlfriends S1/E6: Women Who Like to Gab
The prosecutors arrive in Las Vegas to interview The Girlfriends. Hearing the stories from Bob’s time in Vegas, they become convinced that he murdered Gail. But in an attempt to make their argument...

The Girlfriends S1/E5: The Best Job a Lawyer Could Have
Bob moves again, but this time to the sleepy midwestern town of Minot, North Dakota. For Carole and Mindy it seems like Bob might be getting away with it, until some prosecutors from the Manhattan...

The Girlfriends S1/E4: Phone Calls from Manhattan
The search for Gail begins. After a rocky start, Gail’s sister Alayne, takes over the investigation into her disappearance. After four years of searching, the police make a shocking discovery. If...

The Girlfriends S1/E3: Bubbly, Bouncy and Very Alive
We head to New York City to learn about Gail. In conversation with her loved ones, Carole hears about Gail’s love stories, curly hair, teenage dreams and the last time her friends saw her. If you are...

The Girlfriends S1/E2: Lobsters for Dinner
Carole is wined, dined and shouted at by Bob until they split. After their break up, Carole tells her friend Mindy about the skeletons in Bob's closet and they start investigating. If you are...

The Girlfriends S1/E1: The Good Jewish Doctor
It’s the early 90s and a new eligible bachelor named Bob has arrived in Las Vegas. Every local single Jewish lady wants to date him, but something’s off. It turns out Bob has a secret that he hoped...

Introducing: The Girlfriends
Introducing the new podcast The Girlfriends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
About this Podcast
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Categories
True Crime, Society & Culture, Documentary, Relationships