Note: The below article was originally written on May 30, 2024. Since that publication, additional releases of documents have been sent to The Black Vault, and those document releases are available in the “Document Archive” section at the bottom of the article.
The FBI has released a set of documents related to O.J. Simpson following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted by The Black Vault.
This release, dated May 30, 2024, includes nearly 500 pages of material detailing the federal agency’s involvement in the high-profile case of the former NFL star.
The documents reveal extensive information about the federal oversight and inter-agency cooperation during the investigation.
One of the notable elements of the FBI file is the documentation of the agency’s support for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during the investigation of the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
A communication dated June 12, 1995, illustrates the depth of FBI involvement, stating, “Due to the intense media interest in captioned matter, and the potential prejudicial impact that public dissemination could have on pending criminal proceedings, the following information should be handled on a strict need to know basis.”. This highlights the high stakes and media sensitivity surrounding the case, and how the FBI handled that reality.
The documents also reveal detailed efforts to track down leads, including the infamous Bruno Magli shoes believed to be worn by the murderer. An airtel from October 3, 1994, indicates that the FBI was asked to assist in tracing the sale of these shoes across the United States and Puerto Rico. The report notes, “FBI Laboratory Examiners have been able to conclude, through examination of bloody footwear impressions left at the SIMPSON homicide crime scene, that the murderer wore size 12 Bruno Magli, style ‘Lorenzo’ or ‘Lyon’ shoes”.
Another aspect of the FBI’s involvement was the handling of public tips and theories, which were documented and either pursued or dismissed based on their credibility.
The released documents also cover various communications and surveillance efforts, including forensic analyses and inter-agency exchanges. In one memo addressed to The Honorable Lance A. Ito, the FBI discusses the results of toxicological tests on blood samples from Simpson, stating, “No methamphetamine was identified in the K68 blood”.
Despite this release, The Black Vault has noted that additional documents responsive to this case were not included, but were reviewed for release. These documents may contain further details about the FBI’s role and findings in the case, and have been requested. Once released, they, too, will be posted on The Black Vault.
This initial release from the FBI provides a compelling and detailed look into the extensive involvement of federal authorities in one of the most infamous criminal cases in recent history.
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Document Archive
Simpson, O.J.– FBI Release #1 – [479 Pages, 89.2MB]
Simpson, O.J.– FBI Release #2 – [789 Pages, 146MB]
Simpson, O.J.– FBI Release #3 – [369 Pages, 49.3MB] – Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson, born July 9, 1947, is a former American football running back, broadcaster, actor, and convicted felon. Known by the nickname “The Juice,” Simpson gained fame as a record-breaking NFL player with the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers, becoming the first NFL player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season in 1973. Following his football career, he pursued acting and sports broadcasting. However, his life took a dramatic turn in 1994 when he was tried and acquitted for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Despite the acquittal, he was later found liable for their deaths in a civil trial. In 2008, Simpson was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping, leading to a prison sentence from which he was released in 2017. His life remains one of the most controversial and widely publicized in American history.
