OJ Simpson’s FBI documents: Why the organization released murder investigation files after his death

The OJ Simpson murder trial is still making headlines in 2024.

Simpson died in April of this year after a long battle with prostate cancer. The former football star was 76 years old at the time of his death.

Although he first rose to fame on the football field, Simpson is not what he is most remembered for. His legacy is more closely tied to the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The two were brutally stabbed to death outside Brown Simpson’s home, and Simpson became the prime suspect in the case.

After a long trial, Simpson was acquitted. On October 3, 1995, the jury found him not guilty of both murder counts. This makes the case one of the most controversial in US history.

Following Simpson’s death, new information about the murder trial and investigation was released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The agency released documents about the case and the investigation into the two murders.

MORE: Review of the OJ Simpson murder trial

Here’s what the new files released by the FBI say about Simpson and the murders.

What do the FBI documents reveal about OJ Simpson?

Although the FBI released previously unpublished documents from Simpson’s murder trial, much of the information was not new. The vast majority of the files released dealt with evidence collection, fiber testing and blood work.

Most striking were the parts about Bruno Magli’s shoes. The files state that the FBI also traveled to Italy to investigate the designer’s shoe collection. Bruno Magli is a rare shoe that was found to have been worn by the killer.

The documents contain details of how sales of the models sold in the United States at the time were tracked, as well as the soles of the shoes. Simpson denied ever wearing Bruno Magli shoes, but there are newspaper photos that prove otherwise.

You can access the full FBI files on Simpson here.

Why did the FBI release OJ Simpson documents?

FBI policy states that after a person dies, it can release all records collected about that person over the years.

In this case, the first release of the documents comes less than two months after Simpson’s death. He died on April 10 after a long battle with cancer.

It’s unclear if this batch is the only group of files being released by the FBI. The agency has titled these documents “Part 01.” It’s not unusual for the bureau to release documents in batches.

MORE: Looking back at OJ Simpson’s football career

What are Bruno Magli shoes?

Bruno Magli is a well-known brand specializing in shoes and leather clothing for men and women.

The company was founded in 1936 by Bruno Magli and his siblings Marino and Mario. The small business started in the basement of their house in Bologna, Italy.

It is currently owned by Marquee Brands. On their website, Marquee Brands says that Bruno Magli “designed handcrafted shoes and leather for those who appreciate elegant design and impeccable craftsmanship.”