The new Amazon Prime documentary Who Killed Nicole? examines the infamous O.J. Simpson murder case, and claims that the once-beloved NFL star didn't personally kill anybody but was, instead, an inadvertent accomplice to the gruesome crimes he was tried for. Directed by Kyle Saylors, the true crime story is based on 20 years of research by Simpson's former business associate and friend, Norman Pardo.
Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, was murdered at her Los Angeles home on June 12, 1994, along with friend Ronald Goldman. O.J. Simpson became the immediate suspect, and seemingly fled from authorities five days later in a white Ford Bronco; a pop culture event that was broadcast live across the world and preceded the rise of primetime reality television. After an 11-month trial, O.J. Simpson was acquitted on October 3, 1995, but he's still widely perceived to be the real killer; a privileged professional athlete who had all the right connections and clout to essentially manipulate the law.
Who Killed Nicole? doesn't paint a flattering portrait of O.J. Simpson, nor is the documentary a brilliant piece of technical filmmaking. But the story presented is full of evidence that's either been overlooked or ignored by the general public over the years. Here are the biggest reveals from Who Killed Nicole? on Amazon.
Pardo Has 70 Hours Of Personal O.J. Simpson Footage
Pardo's documentary features previously-unreleased footage of O.J. Simpson, a small portion of the approximately 70 hours that was accumulated over several years. In various clips, Pardo films from the backseat of vehicles while his client speaks about different topics. The partnership began in 1999 after Pardo boasted to a friend that he could successfully promote anybody. Shortly thereafter, Pardo become O.J.'s new manager and friend.
In Amazon's Who Killed Nicole? documentary, Pardo doesn't hold back when discussing his former client, as recalls that O.J. Simpson looked "pathetic" during their first meeting. According to Pardo, their personal and professional relationship improved after a successful promotional event at Madison Square Garden. From there, Pardo claims that he didn't set off to make a documentary, but rather wanted to fulfill a "quest" to find out who actually killed Nicole and Goldman.
Early on, Pardo states that "The only way I can be free is to really say what’s on my mind," and also that “It’s not gonna be pretty." As with O.J. Simpson, the Pardo persona can be distracting in Who Killed Nicole?, but he does indeed have a strong foundation for his argument: 70 hours of private conversations with an accused murderer.
Pardo Cites Two Main Reasons For The Murders
According to Pardo, the murders stem from Nicole's drug use and ability to blackmail her ex-husband. O.J. Simpson allegedly got tired of paying drug deals but knew that his ex-wife had photographic evidence of spousal abuse in a safe deposit box. During an interview with Wendy Williams, O.J. discusses Nicole's circle of friends and an audio recording in which he can be heard shouting. Pardo suggests that O.J. wanted to protect his children, but was also complicit in Nicole's drug use because he funded the transactions.
On the night of the murders, O.J. Simpson allegedly showed up at Nicole's house to intimidate one of her friends. That person turned out to be Goldman, who didn't have a driver's license at the time and was presumably driven to Bundy Drive in Brentwood by a friend. In Who Killed Nicole?, Pardo acknowledges that the Goldman family can be connected to the criminal underworld, as Ron's step-mother was previously married to Marvin Glass - a middle man for Colombian drug cartels. But Pardo doesn't claim that the Goldmans are somehow partially responsible for what happened.
In Who Killed Nicole?, Pardo connects the dots by exploring the ramifications of O.J. Simpson's fractured relationship with Robert Kardashian. Specifically, Pardo states that O.J. cheated on Nicole with Robert's then-wife, Kris Jenner, who - according to O.J. - actually needed a doctor after a mutual yet rough sexual encounter. Everything changed after that, allegedly, as both couples divorced not long after. And that's where the murder case becomes more complicated.
Robert Kardashian Allegedly Hired A Contract Killer
Pardo claims that Kardashian paid William Wasz $15,000 to kill O.J. Simpson's ex-wife. But why? In the documentary, Pardo cites an official proffer document in which Wasz admits that he had two meetings about Nicole. During the first meeting, O.J. and Kardashian enlisted Wasz to conduct surveillance on Nicole which began in January 1994. But Wasz also reveals that he had a second meeting with only Kardashian, in which he was offered a "bigger job" - to kill Nicole.
But Wasz was arrested during a traffic incident and imprisoned. Not only did authorities confiscate a pistol and a crack pipe, but also Nicole's "book" that O.J. so desperately wanted. The big twist, according to Pardo, is that O.J. seemingly didn't know that Kardashian had a private meeting with Wasz. So, with Nicole's blackmail book out of play, O.J. needed to take a more direct approach with his ex-wife's circle of friends. On the evening of the murders, Pardo claims that O.J. showed up at Nicole's house and waited outside for a friend; someone who knew Nicole. That person is the same individual who allegedly drove Goldman to Bundy Drive.
Pardo Claims That Glen Rogers Is Nicole's Real Killer
The owner of Nicole's property was James Peters, a man who was presumably working as a painter shortly before the murders. But that's factually impossible because someone killed Peters in October 1993. In Who Killed Nicole?, Pardo builds upon existing theories that the real killer is indeed Glen Rogers, who allegedly assumed Peters' identity and formed a romantic relationship with Nicole. When O.J. Simpson needed someone to help intimidate Nicole's drug-dealing friends, he enlisted Rogers aka Peters.
According to Pardo, O.J. merely intended to scare both Goldman and Nicole on the night of the murders. But what he didn't anticipate, it seems, is that a planned confrontation would lead to murder. And O.J. certainly could not have known that Rogers would eventually become a convicted serial killer, one who began a crime spree approximately one year after Nicole and Goldman were murdered.
Who Killed Nicole? alleges that Goldman called Peters/Rogers for a ride to Nicole's home on the evening of the murders. As for O.J. Simpson, Pardo claims that he waited in the bushes to confront Goldman, either rightfully or wrongfully. Pardo also suggests that O.J. and Peters/Rogers cornered Goldman, who then defended himself. During the scuffle, O.J. was cut and fled. The next day, "Peters" didn't show up to a painting job, evidenced by documents presented by Pardo in the documentary.
As O.J. prepared for a fight to Chicago, Rogers allegedly contacted Nicole and waited for her outside. Pardo claims that Nicole likely spotted Goldman's body and was then killed for drug money. O.J.'s blood was already at the scene due to a confrontation with Goldman, and Rogers - as he admitted later to Pardo through written letters - went back to O.J's residence and threw a bloody glove over a fence; the result of being offended that he was left alone during the scuffle with Goldman.
The Murders Happened Approximately 90 Minutes Apart
Most people believe that Nicole and Goldman were killed at the same time. But, according to Pardo, the evidence shows that they were actually killed 90 minutes apart. Melting ice cream was found at Nicole's home at 12:45 a.m, which means that she was alive between 11:30-12:00 at night, approximately 60-to-90 minutes after Goldman was killed at 10:30 p.m. Pardo addresses the shifting timelines of phone calls between Nicole and her mother on the evening of the murder, which he views as yet another example of misdirection that the general public doesn't fully understand. The facts, as detailed in Who Killed Nicole?, show that the victims were killed during two separate confrontations. From Pardo's perspective, Goldman was murdered for being in the wrong place at the wrong time (and because he fought back), while Nicole was later murdered because Rogers knew that she'd come outside with drug money.
Who Killed Nicole? Teases A Larger Conspiracy Theory
Who Killed Nicole? reveals that FBI files associated with the case have been sealed, and that Rogers' admitted involvement hasn't been taken seriously. At the very least, according to Pardo, most people simply aren't familiar with the facts, but rather cling to opinions that have been heavily influenced by flimsy concepts that has been debunked over the past 25 years. Whatever the case, the fact remains that Rogers went on a killing spree in 1995, and later became known as "The Cross Country Killer." According to Pardo, Rogers should have initially been tried for murdering Nicole and Goldman. He also notes that O.J. Simpson likely would've been convicted as an accomplice, which could explain why he now refuses to speak with Pardo after learning that the investigation led to Rogers.
Who Killed Nicole? on Amazon Prime ends with Pardo wondering about Kardashian's involvement in the O.J. Simpson murder case. Specifically, he questions why Kardashian - a member of O.J.'s defense team - looks so disturbed and morose during the acquittal announcement. Pardo also states that Kardashian hadn't practiced law for years prior to O.J.'s trial, but suddenly renewed his license, possibly to use "attorney-client privilege" as a means to protect himself from testimony. As Who Killed Nicole? concludes, Pardo theorizes that perhaps it was all a matter of "payback."