The Big Story
Death in the Family
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A dramatized crime story based on the case of Julia Kulinich, who killed her husband and two children and initially blamed her husband for their deaths. A reporter’s repeated interviews with Kulinich led him to recognize that her account was false; she confessed five months after the killings. At trial, questions about her sanity complicated the case, and she received a life sentence after being convicted of second-degree murder and manslaughter.
The broadcast also reflects the legal and ethical tensions involved in adapting real crimes for radio. The Big Story’s producers and NBC changed names and circumstances, while retaining the reporter’s name. Kulinich sued to stop the program, arguing that it would expose her to harassment and humiliation. An injunction issued shortly before airtime was later vacated, and the broadcast went ahead as scheduled.
The episode centers on the reporter’s pursuit of the truth and the consequences of turning a real investigation into a radio drama. Its subject matter is stark, with the courtroom dispute and the effort to protect identities adding another layer to an already disturbing case.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.