Morbid

In 1959 the state of Kansas was absolutely shocked to find that one of its most prominent and well-liked families, The Clutters, had been murdered. Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, two convicts that had recently been released from prison were the ones responsible. Both had been told by a fellow inmate while incarcerated that the Clutter family had a large amount of cash stashed in a safe on their property. The two broke into the family home and searched for the safe, they then woke up the family when they couldn't find it, tortured and murdered them one by one.

thank you to exquisite David White for research assistance

References

Capital Wire Service. 1959. "Two Itinerant Laborers Held for Murder Quiz." Topeka Daily Capital, November 20.

Capote, Truman. 1965. "In Cold Blood." The New Yorker, September 25.

Cowan, Carole. 2005. "Persons Unknown." New York Times, Jan 23: F6.

Garden City Telegram. 1965. "Last Words Attack Capital Punishment." Garden City Telegram, April 14: 1.

Gonsalves, Antone. 1984. "25 years later, 'In Cold Blood' murders still haunt." United Press International, November 11.

Greer, Bob. 1959. "Clutter Family Murders." Garden City Telegram, November 16: 1.

Hegeman, Roxana. 2009. "The Stains of In Cold Blood Still Fresh 50 Years Later." Guelph Mercury, November 10.

Hickock, Richard. 1960. "Spectre of Noose Haunts Prisoner." Topeka Daily Capital, March 25.

Kalbfleisch, Gay. 1959. "Empty Shell Cases, Fatal Shot Found." Topeka Daily Capital, November 19: 1.

Keglovitts, Sally J. 2004. "In Cold Blood Revisited: A Look Back at an American." Federal Probation: A Journal of Correctional Philosophy and Practice 68 (1).

Kull, Ron. 1960. "Crime Plans Listed." Topeka Daily Capital, 03 24: 1.

—. 1960. "'They'll Both Get the Rope'." Topeka State Journal, March 23: 1.

—. 1960. "'Wells Was to Get Cut,' Says Hickock." Topeka State Journal, March 26.

McAvoy, Gary. 2019. And Every Word is True. Bremerton, WA: Literati Editions.

New York Times. 1959. "Wealthy Farmer, 3 of Family Slain." New York Times, November 16: 39.

State Journal News Services. 1960. "Jury Tours Clutter Farm; Death Asked." Topeka State Journal, March 23.

State of Kansas vs. Hickock & Smith. 1961. 363 P.2d 541 (Supreme Court of Kansas, July 8).

Time Magazine. 1960. "Kansas: The Killers." Time Magazine, January 18.

Topeka State Journal. 1965. "Clutter Case Reporter Finds Relief in End of Long Story." Topeka State Journal, April 14: 1.

United Press International. 1959. "Fear, Grief Follow Murder Shock." Topeka Daily Capital, November 16: 1.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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Dellen Millard and Mark Smich are two of the world's biggest fuck boys, and unfortunately cold-blooded killers. Dellen, better known as "Dell", had everything in his life served to him on a silver platter and never bothered to finish much of anything. Mark Smich lived a life carrying out petty thefts and selling single cigarettes outside of a high school he no longer went to. The two of these assholes crossed paths due to some catastrophe in the stars and decided that they wanted to steal a truck. Their plan of doing so would lead to murder and an investigation that would uncover several other mysterious deaths.

Thank you to the vivacious David White for research assistance

References

Alamenciak, Tim. 2013. "Shocking Twist in Kidnap Mystery." Toronto Star, May 12.

BBC News. 2018. Dellen Millard killed father as he slept and inherited millions. September 24. Accessed January 4, 2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45632106.

Brocklehurst, Ann. 2016. Dark Ambition: The Shocking Crime of Dellen Millard & Mark Smich. Toronto, ON: Viking.

Casey, Liam. 2019. "Serial killer Dellen Millard appeals conviction and sentence for father's murder." CBC News, January 22.

—. 2018. "Wayne Millard Was 'Very Happy' in the Weeks Before His Death, Trial Hears." Globe and Mail, June 18.

Clairmont, Susan. 2013. "Police Probe Millard Links to Other Cases." Guelph Mercury, May 18.

—. 2022. "Killers Could Get Earlier Parole Eligibility." The Spectator, November 26.

—. 2013. "Smich Cowers in Court Before Justice of Peace." The Spectator, May 24.

Crib Foreign, Robert, Liam Casey, and Jennifer Pagliaro. 2013. "Jailhouse Interview: Dellen Millard Says He Didn't Kill Tim." London Community News, December 2013.

Hayes, Molly. 2013. "Tim Bosma was a 'Hard-Working Country Boy'." Guelph Mercury, May 15.

—. 2013. "Search Extends to Waterloo Farm." The Spectator, May 14.

—. 2013. "Timothy Bosma Put His Pickup Truck Up for Sale on Two Different Website." The Spectator, May 9.

Leitner, Richard. 2013. "Bosma Suspect's 'Ambition' Tattoo Unique: Police." Flamborough Review, May 10.

London Community News. 2013. "Have You Seen Tim Bosma?" London Community News, May 8.

Magi, Kim. 2013. "Tim Bosma Search: Police Arrest Man in Mississauga." Mississauga News, May 11.

Metroland Media. 2013. "'I Am Broken Because Part of Me is Gone'." Brant News, May 15.

Peterborough Examiner. 2018. "Courtroom Erupts with Cheers after Millard, Smich Sentenced for Babcock Murder." Peterborough Examiner, February 26.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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Listener Tales 66!!! It's like route 66 but completely different. This installment of Listener Tales includes a tale about those hellacious 2016 killer clowns, a grandmother reincarnated into a little brother, a FUCKING wild tale of a flesh pedestrian making their presence known to several campers and so much more!! You guys are the cats meow and we are so obsessed with you!!! If you've got a listener tale please send it in to [email protected] with "Listener Tale" somewhere in the subject line.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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The murders of Billy Payne and Billie Jean Hayworth were incredibly senseless. The case would end up being dubbed "The Facebook Murders" because of an ongoing feud between the victims and a woman named Jenelle Potter who had moved to their small town years earlier. Strangely enough, all three had been part of the same friend group at one time, but unreciprocated romantic feelings would tear the friend group apart. The case would involve catfishing, manipulation, Facebook.... and even the CIA.

Thank you to the astounding David White for research assistance

References

Diaz, Joseph, and Alexa Valiente. 2015. "How a Social Media Feud Led to the Murder of a Young Tennessee Couple." ABC News, October 9.

Ghianni, Tim. 2012. "Handguns Found at Home of 'Facebook' Murder Suspect." Fort McMurray Today, February 15.

Lee, Murry, Ashley Sharp, and Slater Teague. 2021. Daughter, mother convicted in ‘Facebook murders’ case asking for new trials. July 12. Accessed December 23, 2022. https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/mother-daughter-convicted-in-facebook-murders-case-to-appear-in-court-tuesday/.

Schoals, Gayle. 2016. "Tricked Into Murder: Obsession, CIA Conspiracies and Shocking Killings." The Sun, September 4.

Sharp, Ashley. 2021. Attorneys respond to ‘guilty’ plea, reduced sentence of Barbara Potter in 2012 ‘Facebook Murders’. November 11. Accessed December 26, 2022. https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/attorneys-respond-to-guilty-plea-reduced-sentence-of-barbara-potter-in-2012-facebook-murders/.

State of Tennessee v. Barbara Mae Potter. 2018. E2015-02262-CCA-R3-CD (Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee at Knoxville, September 26).

State of Tennessee v. Marvin E. Potter. 2016. E2015-00013-CCA-R3-CD (Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee at Knoxville, March 8).

Thompson, John. 2012. "Slaying Suspect's Daughter Interviewed ." Knoxville News Sentinel, February 10.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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On March 4th, 1999 the body of Cordell Richards was found in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The man had been absolutely brutalized. He was tied to a tree, beaten, burned, and had his throat cut. The medical examiner notices something strange though; he found maggots present at the scene but some of them had been charred. This meant that the man had likely been burned after his body had already begun decomposing. Why would the killer(s) come back after the fact? And better yet, who had done this to the 31 year old father of two?

Thank you to the lovely David White for research assistance!

References:

Associated Press. 1999. "Teens charged with veteran's death." Lakeland Ledger, March 19.

—. 2000. "Teen emotional as lawyer describes scene of slaying." Ocala Star-Banner, February 16.

—. 2000. "Video shows suspects returning cleaver." Ocala Star-Banner, March 18.

—. 2002. "Court reverses death sentence." Sarasota Herald Tribune, November 8: 7B.

—. 2000. "Girl, 17, convicted in killing." Sarasota Herald-Tribune, February 18: W6.

Gainsville Sun. 1999. "Accessory to murder charges are dropped." Gainsville Sun, September 23: 1.

—. 2000. "Son of minister gets death sentence." Gainsville Sun, May 17.

Hawkins, Erik. 2020. Florida Teen Trio Torture, Bludgeon And Immolate Man Chained To A Tree. February 27. Accessed December 6, 2022. https://www.oxygen.com/killer-couples/crime-news/kristel-maestas-ronald-bell-murder-cordell-richards-torture#:~:text=When%20Fort%20Walton%2C%20Florida%2C%20police,with%20his%20wrists%20also%20bound.

Kristel Rose Maestas v. State of Florida. 2021. 1D19-1767 (First District Court of Appeal, State of Florida, April 20).

2003. New Detectives: Case Studies in Forensic Science. Directed by Bertrand Morin. Produced by New Dominion Pictures. Performed by New Dominion Pictures.

Ronald Lee Bell, Jr. v. State of Florida. 2002. SC00-1185 (Supreme Court of Florida, November 7).

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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Listener Tales 65 is brought to you SAY IT WITH ME.....by you, for you, from you and all about YOU! This installment has a new fun(?) theme of NASTY NEIGHBORS. We've got tales of neighbors showing up unannounced to drop their kids off without prior plans to do so, neighbors breaking into your apartment, and neighbors punching your houseguests in the face! It's a wild ride.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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Juliane Koepcke's story will have you questioning any recent complaint you've made. This woman was the sole survivor of a plane crash in 1971. After the plane went down, she continued to survive in the AMAZON RAINFOREST among hundreds and hundreds of predators. It took 11 days for her to be rescued and when you hear what Julianne faced within those 11 days, you will be a changed human.

When I Fell From the Sky by Juliane Koepcke

List of books to help with fear of flying OR just education on flying and flying mechanics!

Cockpit Confidential by Patrick Smith

Soar by Tom Bunn

BBC. 2012. Juliane Koepcke: How I survived a plane crash. March 24. Accessed November 30, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17476615.

1998. Wings of Hope. Directed by Werner Herzog. Performed by Juliane Koepcke.

Koepcke, Juliane, and Beate Rygiert. 2011. When I Fell From the Sky: the True Story of One Woman's Miraculous Survival. Translated by Ross Benjamin. Green Bay, WI: TitleTown Publishing, LLC.

New York Times. 1951. "Colombia Plane Crashes: 27 killed when Lansa Craft Falls." New York Times, March 22: 13.

—. 1970. "Peru panel studies crash fatal to 99." New York Times, April 13: 2.

—. 1971. "Plane Carrying 93 Missing Over the Mountains of Peru." New York Times, December 25: 20.

United Press. 1948. "2 Britons Among 30 Dead In Colombian Air Crash." New York Times, December 16: 16.

Wigg, Richard. 1972. "Girl's ordeal starts a jungle search." The Times, January 6: 5.

Williams, Sally. 2012. "The woman who fell to earth." Daily Telegraph, March 17.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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In February 2007 Christopher Little came home to find a stranger hanging from the rafters in his garage. Things only got worse when he entered his home and found his estranged wife Julie Crocker savagely murdered in their bedroom. Luckily their two young children, who were also in the home, were left unharmed. But who was this stranger in the garage? Had she done this to Julie and then become so distraught afterward that she ended her own life? Chris wasn't sure who she was, but when he was told that the woman was Paula Menendez, ex-wife of Julie's new boyfriend he was pretty sure that was the case. The only problem was that detectives weren't so confident in Chris's assumption and felt like there was something very off about his entire story.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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Listener Tales 64 is, of course, a beautiful array of tales sent in by you beautiful beasts. We can't say enough how much we love reading these and connecting with you on a more personal level when we get to do these eps! This installment features a life-saving badass cat, a ghost missing a stomach, and the potential unsolved murder of one of our listener's best friends. If you have a listener tale please send it to [email protected] with "Listener Tale" somewhere in the subject line!

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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Part two of Theodore Durrant is here and we start off with Blanche Lamont's body being discovered. When you hear the difference between the state of Blanche's body in comparison to Minnie's you will be absolutely baffled. But have no fear, Alaina shares with us a theory as to why both bodies were found in such different states. We then go through the trial and find out whether Theo will pay for these crimes with his life, or get off scot-free.

Daily Inter Ocean. 1895. "Another Body Found." Daily Inter Ocean, April 15.

Dowd, Katie. 2016. "The tale of the 'Demon of the Belfry,' San Francisco's forgotten Jack the Ripper." SF Gate, October 31.

McConnell, Virginia. 2001. Sympathy for the devil: the Emmanuel Baptist murders of old San Francisco. Westport, Conn: Praeger.

New York Times. 1897. "Durrant Breaking Down." New York Times, October 18: 5.

—. 1895. "Durrant is Found Guilty." New York Times, November 2: 1.

—. 1898. "Durrant is Put to Death." New York Times, January 8.

—. 1895. "Lunatic Tries to Kill Durrant." New York Times, August 6: 1.

Peixotto, Edgar. 1899. Report of the trial of William Henry Theodore Durrant. Detroit, Michigan: The Collector Publishing Company.

San Francisco Caller. 1895. "Clews Still Lead to Theodore Durrant ." San Francisco Caller, April 18.

The Daily Picayune. 1895. "A San Francisco Jack the Ripper." The Daily Picayune, April 15.

The Morning Oregonian. 1895. "Mysteriously Missing." April 10: 3.

The Sunday Inter Ocean. 1895. "Murdered in a church." The Sunday Inter Ocean, April 14: 5.

The Sunday Oregonian. 1895. "In a Pastor's Study." The Sunday Oregonian, April 14: 6.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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