A forthcoming Peacock documentary is expected to revisit the OJ Simpson murder case through a provocative new lens: whether the former NFL star may have had help from an alleged mob-connected associate in the killings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
Simpson was cleared of criminal charges in October 1995 after one of the most closely watched trials in American history. Sixteen months later, however, a civil jury found him financially responsible for the wrongful deaths of Brown and Goldman.
The name of Joseph “Joey” Ippolito Jr. did not play a central role in either courtroom battle. But the late restaurateur and former convict, long mentioned in rumors and reports surrounding the case, is now reportedly the subject of renewed scrutiny over what, if any, role he may have played.
Our News Outlet reviewed unauthorized clips that were leaked without approval from Peacock, NBC or Ample Entertainment, the company behind the documentary. The footage includes interviews with two of Ippolito’s brothers. Ippolito died in 2006. A source familiar with the production told Our News Outlet that the documentary explores in detail the theory that Ippolito may have carried out the killings alongside Simpson.
Charles “Charlie” Ehrlich, a longtime associate of Simpson, is also interviewed in the project. In one clip reviewed by Our News Outlet, Ehrlich appears to reject any suggestion that he was involved in the case.
Ehrlich, now 72, confirmed to Our News Outlet that he participated in the documentary before ending the call. When contacted again and asked directly whether he had any involvement in the murders of Brown or Goldman, he replied: “No comment.”
OJ Simpson denied murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown (right) and her friend Ronald Goldman
Joseph Ippolito Jr was arrested for drug trafficking before the Goldman-Brown murders, and federal prosecutors alleged the restaurateur had mob connections. He died in 2006
Goldman was not believed to have been the intended target, but he was killed alongside Brown
Ehrlich has previously been pulled into public discussion of the June 1994 knife killings outside Brown’s Los Angeles condominium. He sued the Miami New Times for defamation after it reported on a movie script that Ehrlich argued falsely suggested he had a role in the murders.
The lawsuit survived a summary judgment motion and was moving toward trial before the Miami New Times reached a settlement with Ehrlich in 2025. His attorney, Robert J. Hantman, told Our News Outlet the agreement was close to $100,000. A lawyer for the Miami New Times did not respond to a request for comment.
Ehrlich’s connection to Simpson extends beyond the new documentary. Simpson maintained until his death from cancer in 2024 at age 76 that he did not kill Brown or Goldman. Ehrlich also told Us Magazine in 2024 that he “never believed” Simpson, his friend, “was involved” in the murders.
A convicted former cocaine trafficker and longtime Florida strip club manager, Ehrlich was in the Las Vegas hotel room where Simpson stole sports memorabilia at gunpoint in 2007. Simpson was later convicted on 12 counts and served nine years in a Nevada prison, while Ehrlich was sentenced to probation after pleading down to lesser charges.
Simpson with Charlie Ehrlich during their 2007 robbery trial
Meanwhile, Ippolito was close with AC Cowlings, the lifelong friend and former teammate of Simpson. It was Cowlings who led LAPD on a low-speed chase with Simpson in the back seat of a white Ford Bronco on June 17, 1994 before Simpson ultimately surrendered at his Brentwood mansion.
As confirmed by Cowlings’ attorney to the Boston Herald in August 1994, Ippolito once helped Cowlings kick a freebase cocaine habit and in return, Cowlings asked a federal judge to release Ippolito on bail as he awaited trial on drug charges in 1993.
Later, after being sentenced to 10 years behind bars, Ippolito walked away from a minimum-security style prison camp on a military base in Pensacola, Florida on May 6, 1994, according to a Boston Herald report at the time.
The Herald also reported that the FBI and federal prosecutors had telephone records showing calls from Ippolito’s Santa Monica restaurant to Simpson’s Brentwood estate.
As for Ippolito’s alleged mafia connections, federal law enforcement officials claimed he was a member of the DeCavalcante crime family of New Jersey with ties to New York’s Lucchese family.
Spokespeople for both NBC and Ample Entertainment declined to comment to Our News Outlet for this story.
Motorists stop and wave as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco driven by Al Cowlings, carrying OJ Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in LA
OJ is pictured during the 1995 double-murder trial. He was ultimately acquitted by the jury
Another documentary, ‘O.J. Unseen: Exploitation of Evil,’ premiered on ID and HBO Max this week. It includes a clip from Simpson’s unaired hidden-camera prank show in which producers tried – and failed – to catch him confessing on tape.
Simpson authored a hypothetical account of the 1994 murders with the help of ghostwriter Pablo Fenjves in 2007 titled: ‘If I Did It.’
In the hypothetical description offered by Simpson, he intended to go to ‘scare the s*** out of’ Nicole by confronting her at her condominium with an accomplice named ‘Charlie’ on June 12, 1994.
But rather than being based on Ehrlich, this ‘Charlie’ was simply a fictitious friend who was bestowed the name by Fenjves, the ghostwriter has since explained.
Simpson pretends to sell a white Ford Bronco during production of his doomed prank show
OJ Simpson defense attorney Johnnie Cochran (center) posited a theory that Brown and Goldman were murdered by drug dealers who were looking for her friend, Faye Resnick
There have long been rumors that Simpson may have committed the 1994 murders with one or two accomplices.
Simpson defense attorney Johnnie Cochran posited a theory during the murder trial that Brown and Goldman may have been killed by drug dealers looking for her friend, Faye Resnick, who was battling a cocaine problem.
However, at least one member of Brown’s family remains skeptical that Simpson had an accomplice.
‘I’ve heard about the conspiracy theory for years,’ Brown’s sister told Our News Outlet by email. ‘To me it’s a bunch of BS.’
An exact date for Peacock’s documentary has not been revealed, but it is expected to run by the end of 2026.
