Southern Fried True Crime

Texas is known for being tough on crime and those who commit it. Or at least the ones who get caught. There are tens of thousands of unsolved homicides in Texas and nearly as many open missing persons cases. Every week, Gone Cold Podcast—Texas true crime—presents in-depth accounts of unsolved murders and missing persons cases throughout the lone star state, concentrating on lesser-known cases that the media has long left behind. 

Cases like the recently solved 1974 abduction and murder of Fort Worth High School student Carla Walker, the brazen 2019 murder of Liz Barraza, and the mysterious 1989 disappearance of 13-year-old Elisa Roberson, who seemingly vanished into thin air while she was walking a few blocks from home to meet a friend. On Gone Cold, you’ll also occasionally hear high-profile cases, such as an 8-episode series on the 1996 abduction and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, the little girl behind the Amber Alert.

This is a preview of Gone Cold’s coverage of the 2007 case of 19-year-old Brittany Danielle McGlone,
who was viciously attacked and savagely slain in her boyfriend’s bed while the rest of the home’s
inhabitants were away.

As you’re listening, join Gone Cold’s mission to bring these forgotten cases back into the public’s
awareness by subscribing to Gone Cold Podcast—Texas true crime wherever you listen to podcasts.

https://www.GoneCold.com

Nancy Brophy fills her novels with romantic betrayals and murder. It’s a far cry from her quiet life in the suburbs, where she and her chef husband, Dan, are living out their golden years. But when Dan is shot dead, Nancy finds herself at the center of a murder case that could be ripped from the pages of her novels.

From Wondery, this is a story about what happens when the line blurs between fiction and reality. Listen to Happily Never After: Dan & Nancy early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. https://wondery.app.link/HNADN_SFTC

Late on a Sunday night in September of 2016, Atlanta power couple, Tex and Diane McIver, were driving back into the city and got caught in Atlanta’s notorious traffic. Diane’s best friend was driving as Diane rode in the passenger seat and her husband, Tex, sat directly behind her. When they were stopped in what they considered a dangerous part of town, Tex asked for his gun, and then fell asleep. What happened next would cause one of the most hotly debated criminal cases in recent Atlanta history.

Written, hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Edited and mixed by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
**Remastered version

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/66-tex-diane-mciver-accident-or-murder

When a charismatic young doctor announces revolutionary treatments for cancer and HIV, patients from around the world turn to him for their last chance. As medical experts praise Serhat Gumrukcu’s genius, the company he co-founded rockets in value to over half a billion dollars. But when a team of researchers makes a startling discovery, they begin to suspect the brilliant doctor is hiding a secret.

From Wondery, the new season of Dr. Death: Bad Magic is a story of miraculous cures, magic and murder. Hosted by Laura Beil.

Listen to Dr. Death - Bad Magic: http://wondery.fm/MAGIC_SFTC

One of my most requested cases for Spooky Season: The Legs Murder Scandal

On a rainy and cold January day in 1935, a rabbit hunter came across a sugar sack on a rural road in Laurel, Mississippi. He opened it up and found a pair of legs and part of a lower torso of a white female. On that same day, 57-year-old Daisy Keeton went missing. She was something of a small town celebrity with her and her large family continuously making the gossip pages in the small town of Laurel. Her daughter, 36-year-old Ouida Mae, was telling everyone that her mama was out of town. But the town wasn’t buying it.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank
Additional writing by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley
Recommended by Kristy, Andrea, and many, many others

Sources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/daisy-keeton

Sponsor:
Wondery’s ‘IHEAR FEAR’--prepare to be taken on a journey into the unknown
Follow I HEAR FEAR on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can binge all episodes of I HEAR FEAR ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus.

On June 12th of 1983, 27-year-old Jerry Lynn Dean and 32-year-old Deborah Ruth Thornton met at a pool party. Right away, their chemistry was apparent—even though their budding relationship was doomed from the start. Jerry had recently separated from his wife, and Deborah was still married. Regardless, Jerry and Deborah decided to have a harmless one-night stand. But that night would turn out to be anything but harmless. By morning, both Jerry and Deborah were brutally killed. The murder weapon? A pickaxe and a hammer. And the murderers? Jerry’s estranged wife’s friends: 23-year-old Karla Faye Tucker and 37-year-old Danny Ryan Garrett. Sixteen years later, in 1998, Karla Faye Tucker would be the first woman executed in Texas in 135 years.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank
Additional writing by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley
Recommended by Eileen and others

Sources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/karla-faye-tucker

This episode is sponsored by EarnIn: They say time waits for no one, and neither should payday--See EarnIn.com/TOS for more details.

One of television's most popular true-crime series is now adapted for your ears with the “48 Hours” podcast. Every week, award-winning CBS News correspondents investigate the most intriguing crime and justice cases. Here’s a preview of a new “48 Hours” episode, “The Night of
the Idaho Student Murders”. "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant sits down with family members of Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodle, two of the four University of Idaho students shockingly murdered the night of November 13, 2022. You can hear the rest of this episode on the “48 Hours” podcast from CBS News. For even more “48 Hours”, listen to the new “Post Mortem” series every Tuesday, where the correspondents and producers share their first hand experiences reporting on the compelling cases they cover.

Listen to 48 Hours ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts: Wondery.fm/48_SFTC

By the 1960s, organized crime gangs were well and truly already becoming a presence across the north of the United States, as underworld figures fought for sole control over highly lucrative gambling, illegal alcohol, and prostitution rings. Down south, things were done a slightly different way. But even though one criminal network in particular didn’t have a strict code, this didn’t make them any less dangerous. Based out of Biloxi, MS, they soon monopolized the control of many illicit activities across numerous states where big profits could be made, but only by those willing to be uncompromisingly ruthless. This is the history of the Dixie Mafia.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Gemma Harris
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-dixie-mafia

Suggested reading:
‘Wicked Phenix City’ by Faith Serafin, ‘Last Gangster in Austin’ by Jesse Sublett, ‘The Twelfth of August: The Story of Buford Pusser’ by W.R. Morris, and of course, ‘Mississippi Mud, Southern Justice, and the Dixie Mafia’ by Edward Humes.

In 1987, a circuit court judge and his wife, a former city council woman, who wanted to be mayor, were murdered in their home in Biloxi, Mississippi. It was obviously a professional hit. Vincent Sherry was a former criminal defense attorney who had defended members of the Dixie Mafia. Now, he was putting criminals away. Margaret Sherry was a fiery republican in a public slap fight with the current democratic mayor. She wanted to clean up the Biloxi strip of seedy night clubs and gambling, which of course, the Dixie Mafia ran. And she wanted to expose corruption in city hall.

Who was the real target? It was a conspiracy that would take four years and the determination of their oldest daughter to unravel.

Written, hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray & Erica Kelley
Edited by Chaes Gray
Case Suggestion by listeners: Casey Porter, Eileen Mace & Drew Stuart
Suggested Reading: Mississippi Mud: Southern Justice & The Dixie Mafia by Edward

In 1927, a young woman met a violent end in a Chattanooga hotel. Reports on how she came to her death are mixed, but the legend of her gruesome story persists almost 100 years later, and for good reason. The tragic young woman’s spirit is said, along with the ghosts of many others, some from the Civil War era, to haunt not only the room where she died but the entire establishment where she spent her final days. Fire, flood, a near-duel, and an infamous mobster are all part of the colorful, yet macabre and paranormal legend of the south’s longest continuously running - though still magnificent - hotel. This is the history of Annalisa Netherly and the Read House in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Gemma Harris
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/annalisa-netherly

To enter the lottery for a night in room 311: https://www.thereadhousehotel.com/311-package/

After the brutal murder of Belinda Temple, an 8 month pregnant school teacher in 1999, the Harris County DA’s office took five years to finally charge her husband, David, with murder. They had an ace in the hole. They had star prosecutor Kelley Siegler. But David Temple’s family hired Dick DeGuerin, the guy who got Robert Durst off after he dismembered his landlord. The trial had the promised fireworks but afterwards, Kelly Siegler was accused of prosecutorial misconduct. So David Temple went to trial for a second time, 20 years after his wife was murdered. Will Belinda Temple and her unborn daughter ever get justice?

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/127-128-the-belinda-temple-case-part-1-part-2

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley
Suggested by: Amy Brooks, Landry Moore & Michelle Kimmey

In January of 1999, 30 year old Belinda Temple, who was eight months pregnant, was found shot to death in her closet in Katy, Texas. Her husband, David Temple, was the obvious first suspect. But there wasn’t much evidence to connect him to the murder and he was seen on store cameras during the suspected time of the murder. But he had the oldest motive in the world. And Harris County DA’s Office would take almost five years to finally bring charges against him. The complicated legal wranglings and clash of two courtroom titans made this case a national sensation. And sometimes the very real woman, Belinda Temple, and her unborn daughter, Erin, are forgotten in the sensationalism. This is part 1 of 2 episodes.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray & Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Suggested by: Amy Brooks, Landry Moore & Michelle Kimmey

In January of 1999, 30 year old Belinda Temple, who was eight months pregnant, was found shot to death in her closet in Katy, Texas. Her husband, David Temple, was tried and convicted twice for the murder of his pregnant wife. But when the jury at his second trial in 2019 became deadlocked in the punishment phase, a mistrial was declared. David appealed, and the long wait for resentencing began. This is an update on Episodes 127 & 128: The Belinda Temple Case.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Gemma Harris
Additional writing by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley

When Mike Williams vanishes on a hunting trip, the authorities suspect he was eaten by alligators but the true predators who took Mike may lurk much closer to home. The mystery of Mike’s disappearance might have faded from memory, if it wasn’t for one woman’s tireless crusade. From Wondery, comes a new season of Over My Dead Body; a story about an obsessive love affair, a scandalous secret and a mother’s battle for the truth. Follow Over My Dead Body: Gone Hunting on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can listen early and ad-free by subscribing to Wondery Plus in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery app. Listen to Over My Dead Body: Wondery.fm/OMDB4_SFTC

Monday, February 4, 1991 started out as a normal day. 40 year old Priscilla Matula was rushing out the door for work. She owned and operated a car dealership with her husband, Nick. It soon became one of those days…where everything seems to go wrong and irritation bubbles to the surface. And making matters worse, by mid-morning, she had not heard from her mother, Margaret Abernathy, which was highly unusual. By noon, Priscilla decided to go check on her mother. What she found brought the whole Abernathy clan to its knees.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank
Additional research and writing by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder of Southern Gothic & Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/margaret-abernathy

This is a short bonus episode for July. It's about the controversial Lindsey Lowe case, so I hope you find it interesting. I had a defense attorney reach out and give me the judge's signed ruling early and also give me some inside baseball about the case. If you want to listen to the original episode first, it's #119.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Gemma Harris
Additional research and writing by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder of Southern Gothic & Erica Kelley

Leon Benson spent 24 years in an Indiana state prison for the 1998 murder of a young man named Kasey Schoen. His conviction hinged on the testimony of two eyewitnesses – but what if their memories turned out to be wrong? And what if the people who knew what really happened had never been allowed to speak? Suspect Season 3: Five Shots in the Dark is the story of two victims: one murdered, one sentenced to life. Follow host Matt Shaer and attorney Lara Bazelon as they investigate how the justice system failed both Leon and Kasey, and who the real killer might be. Join this unprecedented look inside the attempt to overturn a wrongful conviction and find out if justice will finally be served. Listen to Suspect wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge Suspect ad-free on Wondery Plus.

Find Wondery Plus in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts: Wondery.fm/SuspectS3_SFTC

This week, we’re sharing an episode of Alphabet Boys. Alphabet Boys takes you inside secret investigations that the FBI, DEA, CIA, and other alphabet agencies never wanted the public to know about. These cases are both dangerous and absurd … and they raise a troubling question: Are America’s top cops catching criminals -- or creating them? In this episode, you’ll hear real audio from an illegal arms deal and meet our central character, who, despite being arrested, claims he works for the CIA. But does he? You’ll wonder: Who are the good guys? And who are the bad guys?

Listen to Alphabet Boys at https://link.chtbl.com/sftcalphabetboys

Just because the police can’t solve a murder doesn’t mean other people won’t find someone to blame. In season 4 of Witnessed: Devil in the Ditch, journalist Larrison Campbell returns to her Mississippi hometown to reexamine one of its most notorious unsolved cold cases – the murder of her grandmother, Presh. What happens when a family and a community suspect one of their own?

Subscribe to The Binge to get all episodes of Witnessed: Devil in the Ditch ad-free right now. Click ‘try free’ at the top of the Witnessed: Devil in the Ditch show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted by Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart from the hit show Morbid.

When 90-year-old Laurence Pilgeram drops dead on the sidewalk outside his condo, you might think that’s the end of his story. But, really, it’s just the beginning. Because Laurence and others like him have signed up to be frozen and brought back to life in the future. And that belief will pull multiple generations of the Pilgeram family into a cryonics soap opera filled with dead pets, gold coins, grenades, fist fights, mysterious packages, family feuds, Hall of Fame baseball legends, and frozen heads — lots of frozen heads. From Wondery, comes a story about life, death, and what comes next.

Follow Frozen Head on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge early and ad-free by subscribing to Wondery+ in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery App.

Listen to Frozen Head: Wondery.fm/FH_SFTC

For more than three and a half decades, the disappearance of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews was a mystery – a riddle neither authorities nor her family members could solve. The residents of her cloistered Colorado hometown had scoured every inch of prairie. Jonelle’s face had been on milk cartons nationwide. Even the President of the United States had appealed to the public for help. Still, every lead had fizzled. Every person of interest had turned out to be a dead end. Then, in 2019, Jonelle’s remains were unearthed near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. With the discovery came a troubling new question: Had the truth been hiding in plain sight the entire time? Was the man who couldn’t stop obsessing over Jonelle’s disappearance also the person who took her? From Campside Media and Wondery comes season two of SUSPECT.

Former CNN reporter Ashley Fantz and executive producers Matthew Shaer and Eric Benson (Suspect, Over My Dead Body) dig into one of the most mind-bending cold cases in modern history, in an attempt to separate fact and fiction, compulsion from guilt, and true-crime fandom from a motive for murder.

Listen to SUSPECT: Vanished in the Snow early and ad- free by subscribing to Wondery Plus in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery app. Unique Url: https://wondery.app.link/suspect-sftc

On a cool March evening of 2008, motorists on Highway 147 in Auburn, Alabama were startled to see a young girl in the road. She was naked, crying, covered in road rash and waving her arms desperately for help. Despite everyone’s best efforts, 18 year old Lauren Burk did not survive her ordeal. She had been shot and and bled out within 2 to 3 minutes after jumping from a moving car. The Auburn University student had been carjacked in a campus parking lot. The ensuing trial for her murderer, Courtney Lockhart, called into question many troubling aspects of the law. The standard for mental incompetency as well as the Alabama law that a judge can override a jury’s recommendation.

Trigger Warning: Discussion of PTSD due to combat

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Written by Erica Kelley
Research Assistance by Anna Luria
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-murder-of-lauren-burk

- This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp online therapy. Go to BetterHelp.com/southern.
- This holiday, we are sponsored by the amazing gift for loved ones, Aura Frames. Go to AuraFrames.com/southernfried to save $10 off your first purchase.
- To get a much needed break and recharge your holiday brain, play Best Fiends, that’s Friends without the “R”
- Give yourself the gift of peace of mind by going to SimpliSafe.com/southernfried. There’s no safe like SimpliSafe.

In January 2003, police arrived at an unassuming house in Northwest Houston, Texas after receiving a vague message from a local lawyer about a potential crime scene. In the backyard, they discovered the mutilated body of Jeff Wright. The master bedroom was a blood-splattered nightmare. Susan Wright, Jeff’s wife of five years, confessed to his shocking murder. At her trial, Susan claimed she killed Jeff in self-defense but, in an unforgettable courtroom spectacle, prosecuting lawyer Kelly Siegler would try to prove otherwise.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank
Additional Writing by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/blue-eyed-butcher-the-controversial-murder-of-jeff-wright

- US National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: thehotline.org
- Canada: visit this website to find the hotline in your area
- UK Domestic Abuse Hotline: 0808 2000 247
- For resources in other countries, visit this website


- This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp online therapy. Go to BetterHelp.com/southern.
- Every holiday, we are sponsored by the amazing gift for loved ones, StoryWorth. Go to StoryWorth.com/southern to save $10 off your first purchase.
- Also for a unique gift this holiday season, so to Highland Titles.com and use code “CRIME”
- Today’s show is also brought to you by Bare Necessities, he biggest online intimate apparel retailer. Go to BareNecessities.com code: sftc20 for 20% off your first order.

When a shocking crime occurs, former FBI Profiler Candice DeLong will have a lot to say about it. On KILLER PSYCHE DAILY, Candice digs into the motivations and behaviors of the criminal masterminds and killers who are dominating the headlines.

For 10 minutes, five days a week, she draws on her years of experience to break down complex criminal cases, look back at the historic crimes that still haunt us today, and share new insights. With new episodes every Monday through Friday, KILLER PSYCHE DAILY delivers a lot of true crime in just a little bit of time.

Listen only on Amazon Music: www.amazon.com/KPD_us_pfd_AA_110122

Zebb Quinn was only 18 years old when he went missing on January 2, 2000. Authorities had their suspicions that foul play was involved, but it would take 15 years and two other disappearances for anyone to find out what happened to Zebb.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Written by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-vanishing-of-zebb-quinn

- This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp online therapy. Go to BetterHelp.com/southern.
- Every holiday, we are sponsored by the amazing gift for loved ones, StoryWorth. Go to StoryWorth.com/southern to save $10 off your first purchase.
- Also for a unique gift this holiday season, so to Highland Titles.com and use code “CRIME”
- Today’s show is also brought to you by Bare Necessities, he biggest online intimate apparel retailer. Go to BareNecessities.com code: sftc20 for 20% off your first order.

Nothing is as terrifying as the sounds we hear in the dark. The slow creak of a
door opening late at night... or a whisper in a room when you thought you were
alone... or a distant scream in the wind. One noise at the wrong time or place can
scare us for days.

Each episode of I HEAR FEAR plunges the listener into a tale inspired by real
events, from a deadly dance party to a cursed film set. Join host and two-time
Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan for six immersive stories designed to jangle your
nerves and haunt your dreams.

Listen – if you dare. Only on Amazon Music.

Listen to I Hear Fear: www.amazon.com/IHF_us_pfd_AA_110122

In April 1951, a young black woman was closing up a roadhouse tavern and getting ready to sleep there for the night. Hattie Lee Barnes worked as a maid at Lee’s Place and in recent weeks had started sleeping there as caretaker, to watch over the bar after hours. She had a gun to protect herself and the tavern. When she heard a window opening near her bed, she fired the gun at the figure in the window, and her life became a waking nightmare for the next few years. Bullied, intimidated, almost shot to death and wrongly imprisoned, Hattie Lee still testified in an odyssey of trials for the state of Mississippi.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and Written by Erica Kelley
In Collaboration with Trent Brown
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

To order Trent Brown’s Book: Roadhouse Justice: Hattie Lee Barnes and the Killing of a White Man in 1950s Mississippi: https://lsupress.org/books/detail/roadhouse-justice/
and: https://a.co/d/dkMLq69

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-trials-of-hattie-lee-barnes

Sponsors:
SimpliSafe.com/southernfried
Nutrafol.com promo code: SFTC
HighlandTitles.com discount code: CRIME
Microdose.com code: FRIED

Sheree Warren left her job in Salt Lake City on a mild October evening in 1985. She told a coworker she was headed to meet her estranged husband, Charles Warren, at a car dealership. But she never made it, Sheree vanished. When her car mysteriously surfaced weeks later, hundreds of miles away in Las Vegas, no one could say how it got there. When a young mother disappears under unexplained circumstances, police always turn suspicious eyes towards the husband. And although there was distrust around Charles Warren, he wasn’t the only suspect when Sheree went missing. She also had a boyfriend, a former cop named Cary Hartmann, who lived a sinister double life. Season three follows two suspects– men who both raised suspicion for investigators. But with two strong persons of interest with competing facts and evidence, it muddied the murder investigation. This season, host Dave Cawley, digs into the lives of these two men, the details of the case and examines the intersections between domestic abuse and sexual violence. The COLD team seeks to answer the question: what really happened to Sheree Warren?

Hey Prime Members, listen to the Amazon Music exclusive podcast, COLD, in the Amazon Music App. Download the app today:

http://www.amazon.com/COLD_us_pfd_AA_110122

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Written by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Dr. Fred Jablin, a highly regarded professor of communication, was a dedicated husband to his wife, Piper Rountree. For years, he did everything in his power to make her happy, but nothing he did was ever enough. In 2002, the Jablin marriage came to an end and Fred was awarded full custody of their three children.

Following the divorce, it took some time for Fred and the kids to adjust to their new normal. Luckily, by the fall of 2004, things were starting to look up. The children were adjusting well, and Fred was moving on romantically. He was even looking forward to his favorite holiday, Halloween.
But Fred would never get the chance to celebrate. Piper would make sure of that.

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-murder-of-fred-jablin

From 1992-1994, a serial killer stalked young black women in Charlotte, North Carolina. Police came under fire from families and the media once the killer was unmasked. They blamed being understaffed during a crack epidemic, insisting that most of their murder victims were black and they had a good solve rate. As these were young college students, some young mothers and not really involved in the drug epidemic, their families were rightly outraged. There would be plenty of blame to go around to the cops and the courts when serial killer and rapist, Henry Louis Wallace was finally unmasked.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched Haley Gray, Anna Luria and Erica Kelley
Written by Haley Gray and Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/henry-louis-wallace

This episode is brought to you by SimpliSafe: There's no safe like SimpliSafe. Go to SimpliSafe.com/southernfried

The Generation Why Podcast released its first episode in 2012 and pioneered the true crime genre in the podcasting world. Two friends, Aaron & Justin, break down theories and give their opinions on unsolved murders, controversies, mysteries and conspiracies. One of the longest running true crime podcasts out there, Generation Why has a little something for every true crime listener. Follow The Generation Why Podcast on Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Or you can listen ad-free by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app

Listen Here: http://wondery.fm/SF_GenWhy

In the spring of 1994, the southern and eastern seaboard states were terrorized by a serial killer using the I-95 corridor to travel between states and victims. Six gay men were targeted by a drifter, working as a hustler, who would stay in their homes for a week or so…gaining their trust, before violently murdering them. He then took their credit cards and vehicle to move on to his next victim. But the famed serial killer, Gary Ray Bowles, would later insist he killed seven men, but the FBI or state of Florida declined to investigate his 7th victim. There is a murder, still a cold case, which happened a decade before, that eerily matched his 1994 murders. And may have helped Bowles perfect his modus operandi.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Written by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley


Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/gary-ray-bowles

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp online therapy. Go to BetterHelp.com/southern.
Today's show is also brought to you by Best Fiends, that's Friends without the “R”

On the afternoon of August 19th, 2020, 24-year-old Sydney Sutherland went missing while on her regular run in rural Jackson County, Arkansas. Within 2 hours, Sydney’s family realized she was in danger, contacted the police, and organized a search for her. But Sydney never made it home.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Written by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-abduction-and-murder-of-sydney-sutherland

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp online therapy. Go to BetterHelp.com/southern.
Today's show is also brought to you by Best Fiends, that's Friends without the “R” - Best Fiends, as well as SimpliSafe: There's no safe like SimpliSafe! Go to SimpliSafe.com/southernfried

Welcome to the Hellmouth Weirdos! Your favorite Morbid hosts Ash and Alaina are branching out from true crime and heading to Sunnydale for the ultimate Buffy the Vampire Slayer Rewatch podcast! Alaina is a Buffy superfan and Ash has never watched a single episode, so whether you’re Team Angel, Team Spike, or have no clue who those people are…they’ve got you covered! Join them each week as they slay their way through the series, episode by episode, re-watching, and watching for the very first time. They’ll break down Buffy and her friends adventures through weekly recaps, categories, and awards while Ash takes some (wooden stake) stabs at predicting what she thinks will happen next. They'll also welcome the occasional Buffy cast member, guest star, or celebrity superfan to join in the slaying.

Listen to The ReWatcher: http://wondery.fm/SFTC_ReWatcher

In the spring of 1987, 20 year old Corinna Mullen moved to Central City, Kentucky in hopes of providing a better life for her two year old daughter. But within six months of her move, Corinna was found brutally murdered. Who would want to kill the young mother of one? That’s a question investigators wouldn’t know the answer to for nearly 20 years.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray, Anna Luria and Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Suggested by Jennifer Williams Schnell and Valerie Morris

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-murder-of-corinna-mullen

Sponsor: Wondery: Blood Ties, Season Three—Strange Days

From Campside Media and Sony Music Entertainment, the new season of Witnessed: Mystic Mother is out now and sure to be your next podcast obsession!

The story follows the rise and fall of the Phoenix Goddess Temple, which for years claimed to offer “seekers” healing through sensual touch... But when an outsider exposes what’s happening behind closed doors… the temple unknowingly welcomes in a new kind of seeker—undercover detectives.

What some saw as a spiritual home, the state saw as a brothel operating under the guise of religious freedom… So what happens when your religious beliefs might be against the law?

Witnessed: Mystic Mother is available now! Subscribe on Apple podcasts to binge all episodes or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.

For the past 16 years, Susan Loper had flourished as a fitness instructor at the local country club. She was beloved by her clients and had decided to open her own pilates studio. On her final day of work at the country club, Susan went missing and while law enforcement searched for her, the blood found in the studio and outside in the parking lot
left little hope that Susan would be found alive.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Written by Andrea Marshbank and Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

SOURCES: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-stalking-and-murder-of-susan-loper

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
- US National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: thehotline.org
- Canada: visit this website to find the hotline in your area
- UK Domestic Abuse Hotline: 0808 2000 247
- For resources in other countries, visit this website

Everyone who knew Brad Smithwick knew that he loved his two children more than anything in the world. That’s why he fought tooth and nail to gain full custody of them. Finally, on October 3, 2007, Brad got what he was working so hard for: full custody. He was set to fill out the paperwork in two days. But he would never get the chance to sign his name on the dotted line.

This episode was suggested by Albert “Bubba” Summerlin, a retired Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Agent Summerlin assisted with the investigation I’m discussing in today’s case. He was gracious enough to not only recommend the topic, but speak with us on multiple occasions to make sure we got the details right. So, thank you to Agent Summerlin!

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and Written by Haley Gray
Additional writing by Erica Kelley
Special thanks to Albert “Bubba” Summerlin, retired Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-murder-of-brad-smithwick

Sponsors:
Friends without the “R” - Best Fiends
BetterHelp.com/southern

Simply Vanished is a new investigative podcast about unsolved missing person cases.

It is hosted by Josh Newville, a civil rights lawyer who is dedicated to finding answers. Note: Josh is a huge fan of Southern Fried True Crime!

Josh alternates between full investigative seasons (where he dives deep into one specific case), and periods of episodic coverage (where he tells us about unsolved missing person cases and solicits tips to help the official investigation).

Simply Vanished is currently on Season 1, finding explosive new leads in a 20-year-old cold case of a missing college student.

Newville founded Trembling Leaf Media and launched Simply Vanished in 2022. It is currently featured in the New & Noteworthy section of Apple Podcasts’ Darkside Collection.

Simply Vanished episodes are available at simplyvanished.com and everywhere you get podcasts.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray and Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/coweta-county-justice

Sponsors:
SimpliSafe.com/southernfried
BetterHelp.com/southern


In the 1940s, John Wallace was a wealthy and powerful moonshiner who ruled Meriwether County, Georgia with an iron fist. Having the county sheriff in his pocket meant Wallace was allowed to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Even commit murder.

On April 20, 1948, Wallace’s reign would come to an end. That day, he murdered a man, something he’d done many times before. However, this time, Wallace made a grave mistake: he committed the murder just over the Coweta County line.

Wallace did not have the Coweta County Sheriff in his pocket, and he was about to find out what it was like to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

On June 18, 1995, Jennifer Evans, a 21 year old pre-med student, went to a Virginia Beach nightclub with her two friends. While there, she met a young Navy SEAL recruit. They hit it off and she wanted to stay when her friends were ready to leave. So the friends said they would be back to pick her up at closing time.

But when they came back, Jennifer was nowhere to be seen.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley and Haley Gray
Researched by Haley Gray
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-murder-of-jennifer-evans

Sponsors:
Friends without the “R” - Best Fiends
BetterHelp.com/southern

Yana Huss was a kind and gentle person, and a loving mother to her two young children. Tragically, she was also the victim of domestic violence at the hands of her abusive husband. Like many victims, Yana tried to escape numerous times, with little help from authorities, only to be reeled back in by unkept promises and threats. After four years of restraining orders and criminal charges, authorities finally started to take Yana’s allegations seriously. But it was too late.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
- US National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
- Canada: visit this website to find the hotline in your area
- UK Domestic Abuse Hotline: 0808 2000 247
- For resources in other countries, visit this website

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/murder-in-slow-motion-the-death-of-yana-huss

The main sources for today’s episode are the Port Charlotte Sun, and “A Candy Rose”, which is a website featuring lots of police files, timelines, and more.

Sponsors:
The Vanished from Wondery
BetterHelp.com/southern

On October 26, 2014, three members of the well-known and well-liked Champion family were found brutally murdered in their Cadiz, Kentucky farmhouse. The murders came as a shock to the small town’s residents. But nothing would come as more of a shock than the truth of who was responsible for killing Lindsey, Joy, and Emily Champion.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley
Case suggested by an anonymous person from Trigg County

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-champion-family-murders

Sponsors:
SimpliSafe.com/southernfried
BetterHelp.com/southern

In 1996, there were 11,039 victims of hate crimes in the United States. One of them was Fred Mangione, an extremely gregarious man who treated everyone like his best friend.
Fred was more than just a statistic - he was a human being. And he was killed simply because he was gay.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray and Anna Luria
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources:

Sponsors:
Friends without the “R” - Best Fiends
BetterHelp.com/southern

On May 4, 2001, Bonny Lee Bakley was found fatally shot in a car on a dark North Hollywood street. The prime suspect was her husband, famed actor Robert Blake. But Bonny, a longtime con artist, had plenty of enemies. She left behind a trail of men she’d scammed, and she had a volatile relationship with Christian Brando, the troubled son of movie star Marlon Brando.

Not since the O.J. Simpson case had the eyes of the nation been so fixated on a homicide. The search for Bonny’s killer took detectives on an eleven-month odyssey across the country and through Hollywood's underbelly of hustlers, drug addicts, and would-be hitmen. It would be the most expensive murder investigation in LAPD history to date. This is the story of Robert and Bonny’s toxic relationship, her shocking murder, and his chaotic trial. Did actor Robert Blake kill his wife? Or was the murder someone else's vendetta?

From Wondery, and the team behind the hit series Hollywood & Crime (The Dating Game Killer, The Wonderland Murders, Death of Starlet) comes a six-part series about love, obsession and fame gone wrong. Co-hosted by Tracy Pattin and Josh Lucas. Listen by subscribing to Wondery Plus in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery App:

http://wondery.fm/SFTC_TEOBLB

Outlaw couples, especially those that pull off prison breaks, live in our pop culture imagination. We romanticize them as we obsess over them in the press and on social media. But the reality is rarely actually romantic. And as with the case of Jennifer and George Hyatte, an innocent man lost his life for their selfish, forbidden romance.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley
Suggested by Cheryl

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/prison-break-the-story-of-jennifer-and-george-hyatte

Sponsors:
ProvenSkincare.com use code “sftc”

At 6:11am, on November 9, 2005, Darlene Gentry called 911 to report her husband had been shot. Within seven minutes of their arrival at the Gentry house, officers were convinced Darlene’s story didn’t add up. Less than two years later, Darlene was convicted of her husband’s murder.

The murder of Keith Gentry may seem like a shut and close case - a wife kills her husband for the insurance money. That is until you find out that Darlene did not receive a fair trial. The details will leave you asking, “Did Darlene Gentry kill her husband, or is his killer still roaming free?”

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Haley Gray and Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Next Day Podcast & Erica Kelley
Episode suggested by Gabby McCray, and Megan

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-murder-of-keith-gentry

Sponsors:
SimpliSafe.com/southernfried
BetterHelp.com/southern
Wondery: Persona: The French Deception
LittleSpoon.com - use code “southern fried” at checkout

Growing up just outside of Atlanta, Georgia, Holly Harvey never had any rules or discipline - she was allowed to do what she wanted, when she wanted. That all came to an end in the spring of 2004 when Holly’s mother went to prison. Holly was forced to move in with her conservative Baptist grandparents, Carl and Sarah Collier, who immediately put rules in place. By the summer of 2004, Holly was feeling like a caged animal. How far would she go to break free of her cage?

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Haley Gray and Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley


Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/holly-harvey-and-sandy-ketchum

Sponsors:
SplendidSpoon.com/SFTC
Friends without the “R” Best Fiends!
BetterHelp.com/southern

In 1962, Willie Maxwell became an ordained minister. Because of his charm and knowledge of the Bible, Reverend Maxwell quickly became a well-known and respected figure of Baptist revivals across the state of Alabama. But in Coosa County, where Maxwell resided, locals lived in constant fear of The Reverend because they knew the truth - he was a serial killer who couldn’t be stopped.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray and Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley
Episode Suggested by Colleen Wade & several other faithful listeners

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/reverend-willie-maxwell

Sponsors:
SimpliSafe.com/southernfried
LittleSpoon.com promo code: southern fried
Evite.com/SFTC
BetterHelp.com/southern

In the early morning hours of December 16, 2000, 31 year old Mike Williams disappeared while duck hunting on Lake Seminole. Initially, authorities theorized he hit a stump, fell overboard, and drowned. Authorities searched for Mike, and over the course of 56 days, found his boat, jacket, and waders. But there was no sign of Mike anywhere, so authorities added to their theory: after drowning, Mike was eaten by alligators. Mike was officially declared dead, and his missing persons case was closed. But Mike’s mother Cheryl refused to believe the theory, and set out on a long journey for justice. 17 years later, authorities would find out Cheryl was right - Mike hadn’t been eaten by an alligator. He’d been murdered.


Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/mike-williams

Sponsors:
SplendidSpoon.com/SFTC
BetterHelp.com/southern
FunctionofBeauty.com/SFTC

Our family members are not always who we think. When Eleonore Richland exposed her father’s dark legacy, she vowed to clean up the family business – and hired her half-brother, Santino Reyes, to help her do it. But old habits die hard. In the shocking new third season, Eleonore reckons with what her father always taught her growing up: medicine is a bloody business.

From Wondery, the makers of “The Shrink Next Door” and “Dr. Death,” Blood Ties stars Gillian Jacobs (Community, Love), Christian Navarro (13 Reasons Why), and Peter Stormare.

Listen to all six episodes ad free on Wondery+ on May 9. Listen to Blood Ties - Strange Days: https://wondery.app.link/wplus/sftc_bts3

Pat Taylor Allanson wanted nothing more than to be Scarlett O’Hara - to live in Tara with her own Rhett Butler. She spent her whole life trying to convince everyone she was a perfect southern belle. But the truth is Pat was far from a fragile, well-mannered lady. She was a serial killer who enjoyed torturing her victims, killing them slowly and painfully, manipulating them at every step along the way.

This is the story of Pat Taylor Allanson, a woman who would stop at nothing to fulfill her lifelong dream.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray & Anna Luria
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/pat-taylor-allanson

Sponsors:
SimpliSafe.com/southernfried
Best Fiends, that’s friends without the “R”
BetterHelp.com/southern

On July 22, 2010, NBA star Lorenzen Wright was reported missing by his mother - he hadn’t been heard from since July 18. Days after the missing persons report was filed, a 911 dispatcher told their supervisor about a call they’d received just after midnight on July 19 - all they could hear was a man say “goddamn”, then eleven gunshots. After tracing the location of the 911 call, authorities found Lorenzen’s body, heavily decomposed. His cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds from at least two guns. Who wanted the beloved Memphis hero dead and why? That’s a question detectives wouldn’t be able to answer for several years.


Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched Haley Gray
Additional Writing by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources and photos: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/lorenzen-wright

Sponsors:
StoryWorth.com/southernfried
Grove.com/southernfried
FunctionOfBeauty.com/SFTC
ThriveCausemetics.com/southernfried

Lance Herndon was a millionaire. He was also a successful black man in Atlanta in the 1990’s, a golden era for the black elite in what has long been hailed as the American black mecca and the city too busy to hate. Dubbed “the black Jay Gatsby” by one author, Herndon rubbed shoulders with politicians and celebrities. And he used his money and power for philanthropy and gave back so much to his community. His brutal murder in the summer of 1996 was shocking and the investigation revealed a messy private life, unfairly staining the reputation of a hardworking, generous and self made man.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Haley Gray
Additional Writing by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/lance-herndon

Sponsors:
SplendidSpoon.com/SFTC
BetterHelp.com/southern

On June 19, 1982, wealthy Houston, Texas couple James and Virginia Campbell were sound asleep when a gunman entered their bedroom and turned on a light. Authorities arrived on scene, and determined that whoever killed Virginia and James definitely held a grudge against them. But who hated the couple enough to execute them? That’s a question that would take nearly three years and a talented young private investigator to answer.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Written by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray
Research assistance by Anna Luria
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed Erica Kelley

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/james-and-virginia-campbell-1

Sponsors:

Best Fiends, Friends without the “R”
BetterHelp.com/southern
SimpliSafe.com/southernfried
ThriveCausemetics.com/southernfried