Sponsored message
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
Criminal Justice

People vs. Karen, Part 3: Katie Sorenson Goes To Trial

A light-skinned woman with shoulder length brown hair, wearing large round eyeglasses, is seated in a courtroom.
Katie Sorensen and her attorney, Charles Dresow, listen as her sentence is read by judge Laura Passaglia during her sentencing at Sonoma County Superior Court in Santa Rosa on June 29, 2023.
(
Kent Porter
/
The Press Democrat
)

Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.

Listen 52:50
Nury & The Secret Tapes: Part 3
Host Antonia Cereijido presses former L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez to account for the racist, hurtful comments she made on the secret recording that rocked Los Angeles and led to her resignation. CONTENT WARNING: Sensitive subject matter. Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/donate Go to Hellofresh.com/50imperfect and use code 50imperfect for 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months! Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Topline:

In the third episode of Imperfect Paradise: People vs. Karen, Katie Sorensen's criminal case heads to trial. The Sonoma County district attorney argues that Sorensen was an aspiring influencer who fabricated a sensational story to go viral. Will a jury find her guilty?

Imperfect Paradise: People vs. Karen tells the story of Sadie and Eddie Martinez, a Latino couple who were falsely accused of attempted kidnapping by a white woman in December 2020, and how they fought to hold her accountable.

What's in Episode 3: Sadie and Eddie Martinez take the witness stand and tell the jury no attempted kidnapping ever happened at the Michaels craft store in December 2020. Katie Sorensen also testifies — marking her first public appearance since making her viral Instagram video more than two years earlier.

What's the prosecutor's argument? The prosecutor argues that Sorensen was an aspiring influencer who made up the entire attempted kidnapping story to gain followers and boost her online business, Motherhood Essentials.

What's Sorensen's defense? The defense attorney argues that Sorensen was extremely nervous at Michaels that day due to the pandemic, and she misinterpreted Eddie and Sadie Martinez's behavior as threatening. But he maintains Sorensen truly felt afraid, and did not knowingly file a false police report.

The question is: Did Sorensen knowingly lie to police about what happened? And can the prosecutor convince a jury of that, beyond a reasonable doubt?

Sponsored message

Where can I listen?:

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible year-end gift today

A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right