Bloodshed in the Bluegrass
By Sheenah Yoder
Bloodshed in the BluegrassMay 01, 2024
Love and Hate |S2E10
Thursday, August 25 1985, around 10:30pm KSP Trooper Phillip Yates spotted a 1979 GMC Jimmy barreling out of a corn field onto US 68 near Burgin, KY. The vehicle had been reported as stolen. A shoot out, high speed chase and a crash later, the suspect fled on foot.
The man in the stolen vehicle was responsible for so much more.
Special Outgoing song is by the Mighty Lonelys "Where an Old Ghost Remains"
Mighty Lonelys
https://themightylonelys.bandcamp.com/album/sunset-motel
https://www.facebook.com/themightylonelys/
Sources:
The Advocate Messenger 10/21/79, 1/30/80, 8/25/85, 8/27/85, 8/28/85, 8/29/85, 9/1/85, 9/4/85, 9/5/85, 9/6/85, 9/8/85, 10/2/85, 11/10/85, 12/20/85, 1/23/86, 2/16/86, 4/11/86, 6/13/86, 7/11/86, 8/20/86, 8/26/86, 9/12/86, 9/14/86, 10/31/86, 12/7/86, 12/22/86, 1/18/87, 6/22/88, 9/9/88, 4/18/89, 5/14/92, 1/9/94, 1/18/94, 1/26/94, 1/27/94, 1/28/94, 1/30/94, 2/1/94, 2/4/94, 3/8/94, 3/1//94, 3/22/94, 1/1/95, 11/22/96, 12/2/01, 1/29/12,
Lexington Herald Leader 3/16/85, 6/14/85, 8/24/85, 8/25/85, 8/26/85, 8/27/85, 8/29/85, 8/30/85, 8/31/85, 9/4/85, 9/5/85, 9/6/85, 9/7/85, 10/20/85, 11/19/85, 11/20/85, 6/13/86, 6/14/86, 6/17/86, 7/2/86, 7/12/86, 7/17/86, 7/18/86, 7/19/86, 7/31/86, 8/2/86, 8/14/86, 8/15/86, 8/20/86, 8/22/86, 8/23/86, 9/12/86, 9/13/86, 9/28/86, 11/1/86, 1/30/87, 2/20/87, 5/15/87, 7/23/88, 9/9/88, 4/27/89, 10/19/89, 8/22/90, 5/15/92, 1/27/94, 1/28/94, 1/29/94, 2/1/94, 2/4/94, 3/8/94, 7/9/95, 6/29/97, 10/7/97, 10/10/97, 10/24/97, 5/24/99, 7/20/10, 8/11/11, 7/21/12, 9/26/12, 12/25/12, 8/16/12, 11/29/14, 8/24/15
Courier Journal 8/24/85, 8/25/85, 8/26/85, 8/27/85, 8/28/85, 8/30/85, 9/4/85, 9/5/85, 9/6/85, 11/20/85, 4/12/86, 7/8/86, 8/2/86, 8/14/86, 8/21/86, 9/13/86, 12/8/87, 8/22/90, 7/12/92, 1/12/94, 1/15/94, 2/2/94, 3/8/94, 7/15/94, 8/22/96, 9/18/96, 11/23/96, 6/30/97, 5/26/99, 7/16/00, 4/19/08, 7/13/11, 8/11/11,
The State Journal 8/25/85, 9/5/85, 1/16/94, 2/2/94,
Murder database https://murderdb.com/randy-haight-murders-2-in-kentucky/
Murderpedia https://murderpedia.org/male.H/h/haight-randy.htm
KY Online offender look-up http://kool.corrections.ky.gov/KOOL/Details/207803
Haight V Williamson 1992
Haight V Scott Jordan 2001
Haight V Commonwealth of KY 2001
Haight V Commonwealth of KY 2007
Haight V Thompson 2014
A Mountain Cult |S2E9
February 8, 1933 in the Tomahawk community in Martin county, authorities broke down the door of a small mountain cabin. Inside the home, members of a family were chanting, dancing and praying while the family matriarch, bound in chains, lay dead on a makeshift altar.
This story sparked a national media frenzy with the bizarre tale of religious extremism, cults and ritual sacrifice.
Sources:
The Lexington Herald Leader 7/6/31, 2/9/33, 2/12/33, 2/16/33, 2/19/33, 2/28/33, 4/3/33, 4/7/33, 4/8/33, 4/9/33, 4/10/33, 4/11/33, 4/22/33, 11/3/33
The Lexington Leader 2/9/33
The Lexington Herald 2/10/33, 2/11/33, 2/12/33, 4/3/33, 4/6/33, 4/7/33, 4/9/33, 4/11/33,
Courier Journal 2/9/33, 2/10/33, 2/11/33, 2/12/33, 4/2/33, 4/7/33, 4/9/33, 4/11/33, 4/12/33, 4/13/33
The Kentucky Post and Times Star 2/9/33, 2/10/33, 2/11/33, 4/3/33, 4/5/33, 4/10/33, 4/11/33, 4/12/33, 11/3/33
The Winchester Sun 2/9/33, 2/11/33, 4/8/33
The Paducah Sun Democrat 2/10/33, 2/11/33, 4/4/33, 4/5/33, 4/6/33, 4/10/33
The Cincinnati Post 2/9/33, 2/10/33, 2/13/33, 4/5/33, 4/6/33, 4/8/33, 4/11/33, 4/12/33,
The Cincinnati Enquirer 2/10/33, 4/10/33, 4/12/33
The Kentucky Advocate 2/11/33, 2/18/33,
The State Journal 2/11/33, 2/17/33, 4/9/33, 11/3/33
The Owensboro Messenger 2/9/33, 2/10/33, 4/6/33, 4/8/33, 4/11/33, 6/6/33,
The Park City Daily News 2/13/33, 4/10/33
The Middlesboro Daily News 4/11/33
Delphos Daily Herald 2/9/33
The Messenger Inquirer 2/9/33, 2/10/33, 2/11/33, 2/14/33, 4/11/33,
The Messenger 2/10/33, 4/3/33,
The Harlan Daily Enterprise 2/12/33, 1/3/34,
The Santa Rosa Republic 2/9/33
Troy Daily News 2/9/33
The Winchester Sun 2/9/33
The Advocate Messenger 2/9/33, 4/12/33
The Messenger 2/9/33
The Imperial Valley Press 2/9/33
The Galion Inquirer 2/10/33
The Hustler 2/10/33
Marysville Journal Tribune 2/10/33
The Pittsburgh Press 2/10/33, 2/11/33
The Pasadena Post 2/11/33
The Daily Times 2/11/33, 4/12/33
The Daily News 4/5/33, 9/9/34
The Daily Advocate 4/17/33,
The Santa Maria Times 2/15/33
The Charleston Daily Mail 2/19/33,
The Modesto Bee 4/11/33
The Oakland Post Inquirer 4/11/33
The San Francisco Examiner 4/12/33
The Akron Beacon Journal 9/24/64
The Mansfield News 6/15/26
The Pentecostal Witness May 1957:
https://pentecostalarchives.org/?a=d&d=PWI195705-01.1.5&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN------------
Findagrave:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219036500/john-hampton-mills
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/217564833/laben-t-mills
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219037101/lucinda-mills
United States Census Records 1920, 1930, 1940 and 1950
The National Institute of Mental Health:
Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_County,_Kentucky
Marshall Digital Scholar:
https://mds.marshall.edu/asa_conference/2018/accepted_proposals/65/
Mountain Mafia: The Black Legs |S2E8| BONUS
In Eastern Kentucky in the 1930's, the Black Legs Gang was accused of terrorizing citizens Magoffin and Floyd counties. These masked men were allegedly breaking into homes, ripping people from their beds and beating them with switches. The violence was carried out mainly because the victims supposedly talked bad about the gang leader. Others were beaten because they had dirty homes, refused to work or failed to send their kids to school. Will this gang be brought to justice? Or will corruption and widespread fear lead to an acquittal?
Sources:
Lexington Herald Leader: 5/1/33, 3/25/33, 8/1/35, 5/29/36, 1/10/37, 4/8/37
Lexington Herald 3/25/35
Park City Daily News: 5/28/36
The Owensboro Messenger 5/29/36, 1/8/37, 1/9/37, 1/13/37
The Advocate Messenger 8/29/35
Kentucky Post and Times Star 1/8/37, 4/8/37, 4/10/37,
Courier Journal 1/10/37, 1/17/37, 4/7/37, 4/9/37, 4/13/37
Paducah Sun Democrat 1/13/37, 1/17/37
Portsmouth Daily Times 1/13/37
Springfield News Sun 1/13/37
The Times Recorder 1/15/37
Messenger Inquirer 1/18/37, 1/19/37
The Kentucky Advocate 1/11/37, 1/18/37
The Daily News 1/21/37
The Salem News 1/22/37
Lancaster Eagle Gazette 4/9/37
The St Louis Post Dispatch 4/18/37
People leave cults: https://www.peopleleavecults.com/resources/is-this-a-cult/non-religious-cults
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployed_Councils
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Legion_(political_movement)
Two Women Five Murders | S2E7
Wednesday April 23, 1986 two blood spattered women walked into Humana Hospital on Richmond Rd in Lexington, KY. One woman went to use the phone to call a cab while the other headed to the bathroom to wash up. A nurse noticed the blood on the two women and quickly alerted a police officer. The women were arrested for public intoxication.
LaFonda Fay Foster and Tina Marie Hickey Powell were responsible for the deadliest mass murder ever committed by females in Kentucky history.
Special thanks to Jordan Allen and the Bellwethers for the out-going song “Til Death Do Us Part.”
https://www.jordanallenandthebellwethers.com/about
https://youtu.be/aX2WXhaM6Nw?si=BlCEhmmm_cMh515m
Sources:
Lexington Herald Leader: 8/9/70, 7/26/80, 1/12/82, 5/30/84, 5/5/85, 9/8/85, 4/25/86,4/27/86, 4/20/86, 4/26/86, 4/30/86, 5/1/86, 5/3/86, 5/9/86, 5/15/86, 6/29/86, 7/2/86, 7/4/86, 9/2/86, 9/25/86, 10/4/86, 10/30/86, 10/31/86, 11/1/86, 11/4/86,11/6/86, 11/21/86, 12/24/86, 1/1/87, 2/1/87, 2/7/87, 2/12/87, 2/12/87, 2/14/87, 2/15/87, 2/18/87, 2/19/87, 2/24/87, 2/25/87, 2/26/87, 3/3/87, 3/4/87, 3/6/87, 3/10/87, 3/11/87, 3/12/87, 3/13/87, 3/17/87, 3/18/87, 3/20/87, 3/21/87, 3/23/87, 4/1/87, 4/13/87, 4/25/87, 12/7/87, 12/17/87, 12/20/87, 1/3/88, 1/10/88, 2/17/88, 4/27/88, 4/28/88, 6/3/88, 6/5/88, 7/16/88, 8/13/88, 8/28/88, 6/22/89, 8/19/89, 12/26/89, 2/24/91, 6/26/91, 12/20/91, 2/11/92, 5/15/92, 7/18/92, 7/22/92, 7/25/92, 7/30/92, 9/10/92, 9/19/92, 10/24/92, 11/19/92, 12/2/92, 12/30/92, 1/22/93, 2/14/93, 2/23/93, 4/2/93, 2/3/94, 2/4/94, 2/24/94, 10/13/94, 12/21/94, 8/25/95, 11/20/95, 11/20/96, 11/23/96, 11/26/96, 12/18/96, 12/28/96, 1/27/97, 12/31/97, 1/18/98, 8/8/98, 1/12/99, 4/7/01, 4/14/11, 4/26/11, 9/25/11, 4/11/23
Courier Journal: 4/25/86, 4/26/86, 4/19/86, 4/29/86, 5/6/86, 7/2/86, 7/12/86, 10/31/86,11/1/86,11/6/86, 2/14/87, 2/25/87, 2/26/87, 2/27/87, 3/4/87, 3/6/87, 3/12/87, 3/13/87, 3/14/87, 3/17/87, 3/18/87, 3/19/87, 3/20/87, 4/25/87, 6/28/89, 8/20/89, 3/23/90, 6/24/91,6/26/91, 2/29/92
Muderpedia
https://murderpedia.org/female.F/f/foster-lafonda-fay.htm
Kentucky On-line Offender Look-up
Foster v Commonwealth 1991
Foster v Commonwealth 1992
Find a grave
A Murder Most Foul
https://www.fotojones.com/lafonda-fay-foster
The Angel of Death | S2E6
In this episode, we will be telling the story of Donald Harvey, one of the most prolific serial killers in Kentucky and possibly the United States. He murdered at least 15 people who were under his care while working at the Marymount hospital in London, KY in 1970’s . He killed a confirmed 47 people and his total number of victims is estimated to be as high as 58.
Special thanks to Jordan Allen & the Bellwethers for the out-going song "Gamble."
https://www.jordanallenandthebellwethers.com/about
facebook.com/jordanallenandthebellwethers
https://www.youtube.com/@jordanallenmusic12/videos Sources:
The Cincinnati Post: 4/6/87, 4/10/87, 6/24/87, 6/25/87, 6/26/87, 6/27/87, 7/1/87, 7/7/87, 7/8/87, 8/12/87, 8/14/87, 8/17/87, 8/19/87, 8/18/87, 8/19/87, 8/21/87, 8/22/87, 8/23/87, 8/24/87, 8/26/87, 8/27/87, 8/31/87, 9/4/87, 9/5/87, 9/17/87, 9/19/87, 9/22/87, 10/19/87, 11/2/87, 11/3/87
The Dayton Daily News: 4/6/87, 7/26/87, 8/12/87, 8/14/87, 8/16/87, 8/18/87, 8/19/87, 8/20/87, 8/22/87, 8/24/87, 9/19/87, 10/14/87, 10/15/87, 10/16/87, 11/1/87, 11/3/87,
The Cincinnati Enquirer: 4/6/87, 4/8/87, 4/10/87, 4/12/87, 4/15/87, 4/27/87, 6/24/87, 6/25/87, 6/27/87, 7/7/87, 7/9/87, 7/16/87, 7/17/87, 7/18/87, 7/22/87, 7/24/87, 7/25/87, 8/1/87, 8/11/87, 8/12/87, 8/13/87, 8/14/87, 8/15/87, 8/16/87, 8/17/87, 8/19/87, 8/20/87, 8/22/87, 8/25/87, 9/1/87, 9/2/87, 9/4/87, 9/6/87, 9/8/87, 9/9/87, 9/10/98, 9/15/87, 9/16/87, 9/17/87, 9/20/87, 9/22/87, 10/4/87, 10/8/87, 10/15/87, 10/22/87, 11/3/87, 11/4/87, 3/31/17, 3/5/19, 9/26/19
The New York Times 3/30/17
The Akron Beach Journal 8/16/87, 8/19/87, 8/20/87,
The Tribune 3/30/17
Donald Harvey by Dr Mike Aamodt
CNN. com “What Causes Someone to become a Serial Killer?”
Wikipedia
Murderpedia
Defending Donald Harvey: The Case of America’s Most Notorious Angel of Death by William Whalen
Angel of Death: The Life of Serial Killer Donald Harvey by Jack Smith
Donald Harvey interviewed by Criminal Profiler John Douglas - Serial Killer Documentary https://youtu.be/gnRfkSbgnKE?si=h1gJkJgzuGjrsfST
Bardstown: The Sword | S2E5
Bardstown, KY has been no stranger to the news in recent years. The disappearance of Crystal Rogers, the ambush of Officer Jason Ellis, the assassination of Crystal’s dad Tommy Ballard along with the slaughter of Kathy Netherland and her daughter Samantha- have been the topics of numerous podcasts, news broadcasts and social media posts.
About three decades prior to Bardstown events that sparked a nationwide interest, there was another peculiar murder that took several years to solve. This is the story of Bardstown: The Sword.
Sources:
Lexington Herald Leader: 11/2/82, 7/5/85, 4/15/86,
Courier Journal: 11/4/82, 11/14/82, 11/9/83, 7/25/83, 7/1/85, 7/2/85, 7/18/85, 9/5/85, 1/14/86, 4/9/86, 4/15/86, 4/22/86, 3/13/87
The Advocate Messenger: 11/15/82, 4/8/86
The Messenger: 7/1/85
The Paducah Sun: 4/5/88
Messenger Enquirer: 10/18/89
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/louisville-ky/anthony-gowin-7853960
Wave News: 3/24/11, 3/25/11, 4/1/11, 4/26/11
Find A Grave
Wikipedia
Kentucky Bloodbath by Kevin Sullivan
Sheriff Lawrence Hodge: Brought Down by Journalists |S2E4| BONUS
One typical morning in 2010, 20 year-old Adam Sulfridge received a shocking phone call. On the other end of the line was a federal agent who warned the young man that a credible threat had been made against his life.
The person threatening to kill this young journalist and college student was Whitley county Sheriff Lawrence Hodge.
Sources:
Lexington Herald Leader 3/14/03, 11/28/03, 3/16/05, 9/22/05, 10/14/05, 11/21/06, 12/10/07, 6/17/09, 2/26/10, 6/29/10, 11/9/10, 11/27/10, 3/10/11, 3/17/11, 3/22/11, 4/8/11, 5/13/11, 8/26/11, 9/29/11, 11/19/11
The Advocate Messenger 3/28/01, 8/17/04
Messenger Inquirer 12/31/09
The Messenger 11/5/13, 5/16/14
The Paducah Sun 11/9/10
Huffington Post 3/7/12
Times-Tribune 9/28/09, 1/25/2010, 9/21/12
Fox News 5/12/11
Ugly Judge. Com Sheriff Lawrence Hodge
The Institute for Rural Journalism
60 Minutes: Corrupt Kentucky Sheriff Brought Down by Reporters
https://youtu.be/hQx76WemmQg?si=SkGDseI5v5So17gE
Interview with Adam Sulfridge By Grant Doepel
https://youtu.be/cVXrSC9Res0?si=IHIzvgWHlio1ZLMm
Hillbilly Conspiracy 2.0: Walking Short |S2E3
February 27 1989, near Chicago Illinois, an unsuspecting man was leaving for work around 5am when he was struck in the head with a pistol then blindfolded and abducted. His family received a call demanding a sizable ransom. The ransom was a drug debt owed to some men with ties to the Mexican drug trade.
What exactly does an abduction near Chicago IL, a ransom and the Mexican drug dealers have to do with law enforcement corruption in Eastern KY?
A whole lot more than you would think!
Special thanks to Brad Gordon for the outgoing song "Free"
https://youtu.be/xUWdMDMcb-U?si=J9ueFmmJG9gUYpUH
Sources
Chicago Tribune 3/3/89
Park City Daily News 8/16/90, 8/22/91
Courier Journal 8/17/90, 8/19/90, 8/22/90, 8/25/90, 8/29/90, 9/5/90, 9/8/90, 9/12/90, 9/22/90,10/18/90, 3/16/91, 7/2/91, 7/4/91, 7/6/91, 7/10/91, 7/12/91, 7/15/91, 7/17/91, 7/18/91, 7/19/91, 7/20/91, 7/21/91, 7/26/91, 7/27/91, 7/30/91, 7/31/91, 8/6/91, 8/8/91, 8/9/91, 8/13/91, 8/14/91, 8/16/91, 8/17/91, 8/18/91, 8/24/91, 8/26/91, 9/10/91, 10/5/91, 10/18/91, 11/6/91, 11/15/91, 11/19/91, 4/20/92, 12/30/92, 2/19/93, 2/18/94, 2/19/94, 2/23/94, 4/5/94, 4/28/94, 5/19/94, 6/8/94, 8/9/94, 9/7/94, 9/8/94, 9/9/94, 9/10/94, 2/7/95, 2/11/95, 2/18/95, 5/3/95, 5/31/95, 2/15/968/6/96, 8/13/96, 8/5/98, 2/11/02
Lexington Herald Leader 8/17/90, 8/18/90, 8/19/90, 8/24/90, 8/25/90, 8/28/90, 9/4/90,9/11/90,9/22/90,9/27/90 , 10/19/90,10/25/90,10/26/90, 1/27/91, 3/15/91,3/16/91, 3/28/91, 3/29/91, 4/13/91, 6/22/92, 7/2/91, 7/3/91, 7/4/91, 7/6/91, 7/7/91, 7/10/91, 7/11/91, 7/12/91, 7/15/91, 7/17/91, 7/18/91, 7/19/91, 7/20/91, 7/21/91, 7/26/91, 7/27/91, 7/31/91, 8/5/91, 8/6/91, 8/7/91, 8/9/91, 8/13/91, 8/14/91, 8/15/91, 8/16/91, 8/17/91, 8/19/91, 9/4/91, 10/10/91, 10/18/91, 10/19/91, 12/29/91, 1/3/92, 2/2/92, 6/19/92, 7/15/92, 8/6/92, 9/30/92, 12/15/92, 12/30/92, 2/18/93, 2/19/93, 2/19/94, 2/10/94, 2/21/94, 3/3/94, 4/5/94, 4/24/94, 5/4/94, 7/29/94, 5/5/94, 10/9/94, 2/7/95, 2/18/95, 5/3/95, 5/10/95, 6/17/95, 6/8/96, 8/5/98, 9/7/01, 2/9/02, 5/29/02, 11/7/02, 1/26/03, 1/29/03, 5/14/06,
The Advocate Messenger 8/17/90, 7/11/91, 8/7/91
The Paducah Sun 8/17/90, 2/19/94
The Messenger 7/5/91
Messenger Inquirer 8/23/91, 9/30/92
The Kentucky River Serial Killer |S2E2
In the year 2000, along and near the banks of the Kentucky River, a string of dead women sent residents in Anderson county into high alert. The number of deaths and the location of the bodies seemed too suspicious to simply chalk it up to coincidence. This small county of around 19,000 people had never known of anything like this happening before. What exactly was going on in this quiet little county?
Special thanks to The Mighty Lonelys for the out-going song "Stranger"
https://www.facebook.com/themightylonelys/
https://themightylonelys.bandcamp.com/album/sunset-motel
Sources:
Lexington Herald Leader 3/9/94, 7/27/00, 7/28/00, 7/29/00, 10/25/00, 11/22/00, 11/23/00, 11/24/00, 11/28/00, 12/6/00, 12/7/00, 3/16/01, 6/7/01, 6/11/01, 8/9/01, 9/18/01, 10/6/01, 3/21/03, 3/28/01, 10/13/03, 10/15/03, 10/16/03, 10/17/03, 10/18/03, 10/21/03,10/22/03, 12/5/03, 5/4/05, 5/26/05, 4/26/08
Courier Journal: 7/29/00, 11/22/00, 12/8/00, 6/8/01, 9/19/01, 10/14/03, 10/22/03
The Messenger: 11/24/00, 4/27/08
Kentucky On-Line Offender Look-Up
Wikipedia
Bixler v Commonwealth
The Serial Killer Database
"Black Serial Killers the Perception vs Reality" by Vernon Geberth
"Serial Killers Then and Now" by Briar Lee Mitchell
Find a Grave
Criminal Justice Special Topics: Serial Killers as Children
Serial Murder: Multidisciplinary Perspectives for Investigators
FBI. gov
Murder, Lies and the FBI | S2E1
In Pikeville, KY in June of 1989, an FBI informant by the name of Susan Daniels Smith went missing. The main suspect in her disappearance was FBI Special Agent Mark Putnam.
Special thanks to The Mighty Lonelys for the out-going song "40 Degrees."
https://themightylonelys.bandcamp.com/album/sunset-motel
https://www.facebook.com/themightylonelys/
Messenger Inquirer 2/3/89, 6/9/90, 6/12/90; Courier Journal: 6/16/89, 6/13/90, 6/16/90, 6/17/90, 6/19/90, 6/21/90, 6/25/90, 6/27/90, 7/13/90, 7/21/90, 7/31/90, 8/1/90, 8/2/90, 8/3/90, 8/7/90, 8/8/90, 8/25/90; Lexington Herald Leader: 8/18/89, 6/8/90, 6/10/90, 6/12/90, 6/13/90, 6/17/90, 6/18/90, 7/8/90, 7/11/90, 7/13/90, 7/15/90, 7/16/90, 7/18/90, 7/21/90, 7/28/90, 8/1/90, 8/2/90, 10/27/23;The Paducah Sun: 6/8/90;The Advocate Messenger: 6/10/90, 6/13/90, 6/21/90, 7/12/90;Park City daily News: 6/17/90;The New York Post 5/10/21;LA Times 7/7/91;Tampa Bay Times 9/9/91;The Hartford Courant 9/29/00;Wikipedia;The Line Up; New Epilogue for Above Suspicion; The Cinemaholic; Mark Putnam: Love and Murder in Appalachia; Kathy Putnam: The Tragic Story of Mark Putnam's wife
The Pippa Passes Predator | Season Finale
October 16, 1986, Around 9:50 pm, 39 year old Clawvern Jacobs stopped at the 66 Mart in Pippa Passes, KY. He pumped $5 in gas on store credit into his old, white ford pickup with a camper top. As he exited the store, he told the clerk, “I’m going to get me a woman.”
Special thanks to the Low-Grade Mortals for the out-going song: "Phenom Rocker."
https://youtu.be/3ZnzBIMXPMM?si=fcXsVBN_zEg86YLn
https://www.facebook.com/people/Low-Grade-Mortals/100063521589903/
Sources: The Courier Journal: 8/12/78, 9/18/86, 9/19/86, 9/20/86, 10/8/86, 10/15/86, 10/23/86, 11/26/86, 1/15/87, 2/4/87, 4/10/87, 8/1/87, 10/22/87, 12/11/87, 2/25/88, 3/1/88, 3/10/88, 3/25/88, 4/30/88, 5/3/88, 5/10/88, 8/2/88, 8/26/88, 9/14/88, 9/23/88, 2/2/89, 2/15/89, 4/15/89, 5/13/89, 5/21/89, 6/2/89, 6/3/89, 6/16/89, 7/6/89, 7/12/89, 7/13/89, 7/14/89, 7/15/89, 7/16/89, 7/18/89, 9/2/89, 2/9/90, 11/9/91, 2/29/92, 4/13/93, 5/21/93, 2/1/94, 1/9/95, 2/14/95, 2/24/95, 4/21/95, 4/22/95, 5/5/95, 6/23/96, 7/1/95, 7/9/95, 10/4/95, 10/6/95, 10/25/95, 10/29/95, 11/1/95, 11/3/95, 11/17/95, 12/2/95, 6/26/96, 7/27/96, 8/25/96, 12/4/96, 12/11/96, 12/20/96, 12/21/96, 1/23/97, 2/26/97, 2/27/97, 2/28/97, 5/26/99, 1/12/00, 10/26/01, 2/28/02, 5/18/21,
The Lexington Herald Leader: 9/18/86, 9/19/86, 9/24/86, 10/8/86, 1/15/87, 2/4/87, 7/31/87,10/21/87, 12/8/87, 2/24/88, 5/3/88, 9/14/88, 10/22/88, 12/3/88, 12/9/88, 2/15/89, 6/1/89, 6/3/89, 7/6/89, 7/13/89, 7/15/89, 7/18/89, 7/23/89, 9/2/89, 1/28/90, 2/7/94, 12/10/96, 12/21/96, 5/19/21, 6/13/21, 7/2/21,
The Advocate Messenger: 9/17/86, 12/17/96, 10/26/01,
The Messenger Inquirer: 3/1/88
WYMT TV 5/19/21
The Messenger: 9/25/79, 9/15/95
The Paducah Sun 12/28/96
Park City daily News: 12/19/96,
Letcher Co Community News Press: 5/4/94
Jacobs v Commonwealth of KY
MURDERPEDIA
The Kentucky Rampage
April 30, 1972 at 3:20 am, two bandits entered the PDQ Market on West High St in Lexington, KY. Thanks to an anonymous tip, the men were quickly located and arrested at the Scott Hotel on Broadway St. Thirty-one year-old Wilmer Elvis Scott and 29 year-old James Edward Amburgey were booked and placed in jail.
This was just the beginning of a blood chilling crime spree.
Special thanks to the Highs & The Lows for the outgoing song "The Moth Song."
https://www.facebook.com/TheHighsTheLows/
Sources:
Chattanooga Daily Times: 1/12/61, 3/6/61, 10/24/61, 6/13/63, 10/16/63
Knoxville News Sentinel: 3/24/71
Lexington Herald Leader: 5/1/72, 5/2/72, 11/21/72, 10/3/73, 10/4/73, 10/5/73, 10/8/73, 10/15/73, 10/16/73, 11/8/73, 11/17/73, 12/10/73, 4/7/74, 4/9/74, 4/11/74, 4/20/74, 4/26/74, 1/13/75, 1/18/75
The Herald Leader: 11/22/72, 10/2/73, 2/10/74,
The Lexington Leader: 11/24/72, 11/24/72,
The Lexington Herald: 11/22/72, 11/24/72, 11/25/72, 10/2/73, 10/3/73, 10/4/73, 10/6/73, 10/16/73, 10/17/73, 10/19/73, 10/30/73, 10/31/73, 12/9/73, 12/11/73, 1/6/74, 1/15/74, 1/16/74, 1/17/74, 2/11/74, 2/13/74, 4/7/74, 4/9/74, 4/10/74, 4/11/74, 4/14/74, 10/10/74, 9/12/74, 9/13/74, 1/31/76
The Courier Journal: 11/22/71, 10/17/73, 10/31/73, 1/17/74, 2/17/74, 2/10/74, 2/12/74, 3/5/74, 4/10/74, 4/11/74, 4/13/74, 4/14/74, 4/20/74, 9/11/74, 6/20/75,
Park City Daily News: 11/24/72, 11/12/76
The Advocate Messenger: 12/24/72, 12/24/72, 10/2/73, 2/26/75
The Paducah Sun: 10/18/73, 10/19/73, 2/10/74,
Messenger Inquirer: 11/20/72,
The Leaf Chronicle: 10/3/73,
Kentucky On-line Offender Look-up
Find A Grave
Double Jeopardy: The Brenda Sue Schaefer Story
On September 25, 1988 around 6am, a 1984 Buick Regal was found abandoned on I64 in Louisville KY. The car had a flat tire and busted rear window. The radio was missing and there was a small amount of blood in the back seat. Also missing- the car’s owner, 36 year-old Brenda Sue Schaefer. She was last seen with her 50 year old fiance Melvin Henry Ignatow.
This story will take you on some twists and turns, including one of the most bizarre trials in Kentucky history.
Special thanks to Todd and Jessica Slusher Music and their band, The Fairly Famous Hippie Cowboys for the outgoing song.
Todd and Jessica Slusher Music: https://www.facebook.com/toddandjessicaslushermusic/
"Trouble On the Way" by The Fairly Famous Hippie Cowboys: https://youtu.be/ce8Qw6nUfaQ
Sources:
The Courier Journal 9/27/88, 10/13/88, 1/29/89, 3/5/89, 3/13/89, 3/26/89, 8/9/89, 8/10/89, 10/17/89, 1/11/90, 1/12/90, 1/15/90, 1/17/90, 2/1/90, 2/2/90, 2/6/90, 2/7/90, 2/8/90, 2/13/90, 2/17/90, 3/1/90, 3/2/90, 3/14/90, 3/22/90, 4/18/90, 5/9/90, 5/31/90, 6/8/90, 6/9/90, 6/22/90, 7/23/90, 7/24/90, 7/25/90, 8/16/90, 10/3/90, 5/18/91, 5/19/91, 6/14/91, 7/25/91, 9/11/91, 9/12/91, 9/14/91, 10/8/91, 11/2/91, 11/16/91, 11/21/91, 11/21/91, 11/22/91, 11/25/91, 12/3/91, 12/4/91, 12/10/91, 12/12/91, 12/22/91, 12/24/91, 12/27/91, 1/2/92, 1/9/92, 2/4/92, 4/30/92, 5/29/92, 8/6/92, 10/3/92, 10/4/92, 10/7/92, 10/11/92, 10/21/92, 12/17/92, 12/18/92, 1/7/93, 1/22/93, 1/30/93,4/4/93, 4/16/3, 4/17/93, 4/30/93, 8/18/93, 1/24/94, 2/24/94, 3/29/94, 3/30/94,7/8/95, 10/9/95, 9/27/94, 9/30/97, 10/7/97, 10/9/97, 10/17/97, 10, 23/97, 10/23/97, 10/24/97, 10/31/97, 11/1/97, 11/7/97, 11/14/97, 11/15/97, 11/25/97, 11/26/97, 12/24/97, 2/9/98, 2/10/98, 2/24/98, 2/25/98, 2/26/98, 2/27/98, 3/24/98, 3/31/98, 4/21/98, 5/1/98, 5/5/98, 5/7/98, 6/2/98, 7/17/98, 7/23/98, 7/24/98, 8/4/98, 9/12/98, 9/21/98, 9/22/98, 11/29/98, 12/1/98, 12/8/98, 12/10/98, 12/12/98, 1/14/99, 3/4/99, 5/1/99, 12/3/01, 4/27/01, 5/15/01, 5/16/01, 7/28/01, 8/28/01, 10/26/02, 12/1/01, 12/3/01, 12/5/01, 12/6/01, 12/7/01, 12/18/01, 1/15/02, 4/4/02, 4/12/02, 12/24/02, 1/4/03, 3/6/03, 3/22/03, 6/10/03, 6/13/03, 4/21/03, 8/28/04, 12/2/06, 12/14/06, 9/2/08, 9/3/08
Lexington Herald Leader: 1/11/90 1 /12/90, 11/14/92
The Paducah Sun 10/2/88
The advocate Messenger 1/11/90, 9/30/97
Park City Daily News 1/23/92
The Messenger Inquirer 11/27/97
Jury Verdicts. Net The Pence Report
Melvin Henry Ignatow v Honorable Stephen Ryan Judge
Wikipedia
Murderpedia
A Tribute to Trooper Fred Davidson and Bingo the Wonder Dog
This is a bonus tribute show to Bingo, very first cadaver dog in Kentucky and his incredible handler, Trooper Fred Davidson. In this show we will cover some of the many cases that this dynamic duo were a part of and several that they helped solve!
Special thanks to Eric Davidson (no relation) and The Mighty Lonelys for the exclusive outgoing song.
Sources:
Lexington Herald Leader: 9/9/87, 3/19/88, 6/10/89, 6/11/89, 6/17/89, 1/11/90, 12/14/90, 3/26/91, 9/4/91 , 10/1/94
Courier Journal: 9/9/87, 9/19/87, 3/19/88, 6/23/89, 1/10/90, 1/15/90, 12/14/90,3/26/91, 6/11/91, 9/4/91, 5/1/92, 7/2/92
Park City Daily News: 9/9/87, 9/11/87, 9/18/87, 9/21/87, 10/11/87, 11/15/87, 1/25/88
4/20/88, 4/25/88, 5/20/88, 1/10/90, 3/26/91, 7/23/08
News Democrat Leader: 9/10/87, 9/21/87, 10/15/87, 11/12/87,3/31/88, 5/5/88, 5/20/88, 5/26/88,
The Paducah Sun: 10/14/87, 10/15/87,
Messenger Inquirerer: 3/19/88, 1/8/90, 1/9/90, 2/10/90, 4/30/90 , 12/14/90, 3/26/91,
The Advocate Messenger: 1/22/90
The Messenger: 4/30/90, 6/11/90, 3/26/91,
Wikipedia
WYMT
Wolfe and Son Funeral home
Rescue 911 Season 2 Episode 10 "Bingo": https://youtu.be/ameIZhrRfUw
https://themightylonelys.bandcamp.com/album/sunset-motel
The Terror of Leslie County
In this episode, we will take a look into the reign of terror of Paul Douglas Sizemore, that spans from 1987 to 2018 and ended when he laid down in the road of HWY 699, cold, hungry, dehydrated and defeated while KSP Lt. Jackie Joseph slipped the cuffs on his wrist.
Sources:
Courier Journal: 10/29/87, 10/30/87, 12/17/06, 12/12/18
Lexington Herald Leader: 10/29/87, 6/6/88, 12/7/88, 12/8/03, 12/12/18, 12/13/18
Messenger Inquirer: 10/30/87
Park City Daily News: 12/12/18, 12/13/18, 12/24/18
Advocate Messenger: 12/13/18,
Harlan Enterprise: 12/13/18,
Associated Press: 12/19/18,
WKYT: 9/17/18,
WYMT: 12/17/18, 12/17/19, 12/19/18, 12/13/19, 4/13/19
WTVQ: 12/11/18, 12/12/18, 12/18/18, 12/20/18
WVLT: 12/11/18, 12/14/18
WLEX: 12/12/18, 1/2/19
FOX: 12/12/18,
Kentuckystatepolice.org: 12/12/18
United States V Sizemore
KSP Cases: 13-87-1666; 13-87-1667
https://leslieky.goejail.com/inmate/sizemore-paul-d-20079-14105
https://themightylonelys.bandcamp.com/album/sunset-motel
https://www.facebook.com/themightylonelys/
Bloody Breathitt: The Judge, Jury and Executioner- Viola Wickline
December 30, 1936, shrieks erupted from the Breathitt co courtroom as 150 spectators either ran for the exit, hit the floor or took refuge under courtroom seats. The cause for the chaos was tiny 95lb Viola Wickline. She was armed with a pistol and intent on being the judge, jury and executioner. What drove this little mountain woman to kill a man and wound three others?
Time Magazine “Bloody Breathitt” 4/8/40
Life Magazine 1/11/37
1940 & 1950 US Federal Census
Findagrave.com
Commonwealth v Wickline 1936-1945 Lexington Herald: 12/26/36,1/1/37, 1/2/37, 1/10/37, 1/14/37, 1/18/37, 3/12/37, 3/22/37, 4/10/37, 7/4/37, 4/6/38, 4/7/38, 7/7/38, 7/30/38, 10/16/38, 10/18/38, 10/21/38, 10/27/38, 11/15/41
Lexington Herald-Leader: 12/26/36, 12/29/36, 12/31/36, 1/18/37, 2/4/37, 2/10/37, 7/4/37, 4/10/38, 10/30/38, 3/31/39, 4/11/39, 2/20/41, 2/21/41, 11/14/41, 2/18/42, 2/18/42
The Courier Journal:12/30/36, 1/1/37,1/18/37, 2/20/4, 2/26/41, 11/16/42
Messenger Inquirer: 12/29/36, 12/30/36, 12/31/36, 1/3/37, 1/14/37, 2/10/37
Kentucky Advocate: 12/29/36
The Park City Daily News: 12/29/36, 12/30/36, 12/31/36, 1/18/37, 2/10/37
The Owensboro Messenger: 12/30/36, 12/31/36, 1/14/37, 1/19/37, 2/11/37
The Messenger: 12/30/36, 12/31/36, 1/2/37
Kentucky Post and Times Star: 12/31/36, 1/14/37
The Franklin Favorite: 12/31/36, 1/7/37
The Post Crescent: 1/1/37
The Dawson Springs Progress: 1/1/37
Henderson Daily Dispatch: 1/1/37
Advocate Messenger: 4/14/38
Interior Journal: 11/8/38
Cincinnati Enquirer: 2/20/41
Bloody Breathitt: The Story of Bad Amos Fugate
In this episode, we will take a look at the legendary Bad Amos Fugate and his reign of terror on Eastern Kentucky. Was Bad Amos a spree killer? Or, will some of you regard him as a serial killer? Will others think he was accused of crimes he didn’t commit?
By the end of the story, you may even ask yourself, “Was Bad Amos himself brutally murdered?" Sources:
The Lexington Herald Leader: 1/19/1914, 2/28/1914, 7/29/1915, 1/19/1921, 7/25/1921, 7/26/1921, 7/27/1921, 7/30/1921, 7/31/1921, 9/7/1921, 1/14/1922, 3/2/1922. 3/20/1922, 4/20/1922, 6/11/1922, 6/12/1922, 12/15/1922, 12/17/1922, 3/11/1923, 4/8/1923, 5/1/1927,
The Lexington Herald 9/7/1921, 9/17/1921, 3/2/1922, 4/21/1922, 6/13/1922, 7/1/1922, 12/15/1922, 12/19/1922,
The West Virginian: 7/30/1915,
The Courier Journal: 7/25/1921, 7/27/1921, 9/17/1921, 12/15/1922,
The Kentucky Post and Times Star: 7/28/1921
The Big Sandy News: 8/26/1921, 6/16/1922, 7/7/1922,
The Paducah Sun Democrat: 3/2/1922, 4/21/1922,
The Park City News: 3/2/1922,
The Owensboro Messenger: 3/2/1922, 4/21/1922, 6/13/1922, 4/26/1923,
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: 1/7/1923,
Findagrave.com
Clemons V Stoll 1923
"The Ballad of Bad Amos" by Little Bob Fugate https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=4112971
Appalachian Hero: Story of Audacious “Bad Amos” Fugate
Bloody Breathitt: The Story of Elihue Allen and Deputy Grover Cleveland Blanton
On August 7, 1915 around 11am, a volley of gunshots prompted some 50 to 60 voters to hit the ground at the Clemons voting precinct in the Quicksand community of Breathitt county KY. When the gunfire stopped and the gun smoke cleared, one man was dead, one man was dying and one man was injured. The accused claimed self defense although the deceased had been shot in the back. The accused man is the great-great grandfather of the show host, who is determined to get the facts on this 108 year-old family mystery.
Sources:
Thanks to The Common Wealth Band (formerly known as the BPB Band) for the use of their song, "Bloody Breathitt."
https://www.facebook.com/commonwealthmuzic https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=HoMwiQl-GAM&feature=share
Lexington Herald Leader:2/6/1908, 8/7/1915, 8/8/1915, 8/20/1915, 8/25/1915, 8/13/1915, 2/9/1916, 4/16/1916, 4/19/1916, 4/21/1916, 7/15/1916, 9/12/1916, 9/13/1916, 9/14/1916, 9/15/1916, 12/5/1916, 12/6/1916, 12/7/1916, 12/10/1916, 12/12/1916,
The Lexington Herald:6/8/1908, 11/11/1909, 8/22/1911, 5/26/1915,6/16/1915, 8/8/1915, 8/16/1915, 8/17/1915, 8/31/1915, 12/191/1915, 2/9/1916, 2/10/1916, 4/11/1916, 4/15/1916, 7/15/1916,8/17/1915, 8/27/1916, 9/13/1916, 9/14/1916, 12/5/1916, 12/7/1916, 12/10/1916, 12/12/16, 1/5/17
The Courier Journal: 5/1/1915, 8/8/1915, 8/17/1915, 8/26/1915, 8/29/1915, 1/5/1917
The Citizen: 9/2/1915, 12/21/1916
The Clay City Times:8/12/1915, 12/14/1916
The Climax Madisonian:8/11/1915, 8/25/1915, 9/1/1915,
The Owensboro Messenger: 8/22/1915,
The Paducah Sun Democrat: 8/7/1915,
The Interior Journal:6/18/1915, 8/10/1915, 1/9/1917
Ohio County News: 8/11/1915,
The Hartford Republican: 6/18/1915, 8/13/1915,
Messenger Inquirer: 8/8/1915,
The Big Sandy News: 1/12/1917
The Montgomery Times: 8/7/1915
Wilkes-Barr Times Leader: 8/7/1915
The Oregon Daily Journal: 8/7/1915
News-Journal: 8/7/1915
The Wilmington Morning Star: 8/81915
The Anaconda Standard: 8/8/1915
The Fresno Morning Republican: 8/8/1915
The Omaha daily News: 8/8/1915
The Journal and Tribune: 8/8/1915
The News and Observer: 8/8/1915
The Washington Post: 8/8/1915* Details wrong
St. louis Globe Democrat: 8/8/1915
Stauton Daily Leader: 8/9/15
Blueford Daily Telegraph:8/8/1915
Detrioter Abend-Post: 8/8/1915
Hardin Co Independent: 8/19/1915
Passaic Daily News: 8/17/1915
New Berne Weekly Journal: 8/17/1915
Asbury Park Press: 8/17/1915
Emory co Progress: 8/14/1915
St Louis Star and Times: 8/14/1915
Paragould Soliphone: 8/13/1915
Williston Graphic: 8/12/1915
Crawford Mirror: 8/12/1915
The Butler Weekly Times and the Bates co Record: 8/12/1915
Jackson’s Hole Courier: 8/12/1915
The Searchlight: 8/12/1915
Creedmor Times News: 8/11/1915
The Times: 8/9/1915
The Farmer and Mechanic: 8/10/1915
Republican Northwest: 8/10/1915
The Journal: 8/10/1915
Belvidere Daily Republican: 8/9/1915
Trenton Evening Times: 8/9/1915
The Independent Record: 8/9/1915
The Champaign daily News: 8/9/1915
The Garnett Republican-Plaindealer: 3/29/1879
The Cincinnati Daily Star: 3/15/1879, 3/20/1879
Commonwealth V Allen 1915-1916
Allen V Commonwealth 2/8/1916
https://www.odmp.org/officer/24976-deputy-sheriff-grover-cleveland-blanton
Kentucky GenWeb Project: https://www.kykinfolk.com/breathitt/albums/blanton/teresa.html
Kyhistory.com: https://www.kyhistory.com/digital/collection/Ogden/id/257
Bookhiker.com: https://bookhiker.com/2022/11/29/times-editor-killed-in-crash/
Bloody Harlan: Who Shot the Sheriff? Part 3
The story of Harlan co sheriff Paul Louis Browning Jr spans across two decades and so far has included a faked ambush, three trials, two convictions and whole bunch of finger pointing and mudslinging.
As we enter the final episode of the series, will we see Paul Louis Browning rise to the ranks of sheriff again? Or, will we see him take his final fall?
Sources: Lexington Herald Leader: 2/28/81, 5/28/81, 11/1/81, 11/4/81, 5/13/82, 5/14/82, 8/21/82, 8/22/82, 8/24/82, 8/31/22, 9/1/82, 9/15/82, 9/16/82, 9/17/82, 10/6/82, 10/13/82, 10/16/82,10/25/82, 10/26/82, 10/27/82, 10/28/82,10/29/82, 10/30/82, 10/31/82, 11/2/82, 11/3/82, 11/4/82, 11/11/82, 11/14/82, 11/17/82, 11/19/82, 11/20/82, 11/24/82, 11/26/82, 12/2/82, 12/6/82, 12/7/82, 12/16/82, 3/17/83, 3/30/83, 4/1/83, 4/17/83, 4/20/83, 4/21/83, 4/26/83, 6/7/83, 6/10/83, 6/11/83, 6/13/83, 6/17/83, 6/21/83, 6/22/83, 7/16/83, 7/19/83, 7/26/83, 8/10/83 8/13/83, 8/23/83, 8/24/83, 8/26/83, 8/29/83, 8/31/83, 9/24/83, 9/27/83, 10/4/83, 10/26/83, 11/23/83, 12/4/83, 12/24/83, 6/9/84, 10/29/84, 10/30/84, 1/10/85, 1/16/85, 5/1/85, 5/2/85, 11/4/85, 12/11/85, 6/28/86, 9/19/86, 10/8/86, 10/22/86, 11/11/86, 3/28/87, 12/8/87, 12/11/87, 12/12/87, 1/28/88, 1/21/02, 1/30/22, 2/9/02, 3/24/02, 3/25/02, 3/26/02, 3/28/02, 3/29/02, 4/3/02, 4/10/02, 4/15/02, 4/28/02, 5/5/02, 5/12/02, 5/14/02, 5/17/02, 5/22/02, 8/24/02, 11/4/02, 11/6/02, 3/7/03, 12/8/03, 6/29/04, 6/30/04, 7/1/04, 8/14/04, 8/18/04, 10/12/04, 12/23/04, 5/23/05, 7/7/05, 3/13/08, 3/19/08, 3/26/08, 5/6/08, 12/09/08, 1/15/09
Louisville Courier Journal: 5/8/82, 5/13/82, 6/11/82, 6/19/82, 6/24/82, 7/24/82, 8/21/82, 8/22/82, 8/24/82, 9/1/82, 9/4/82, 9/16/82, 10/7/82, 10/16/82, 10/25/82,10/26/82, 10/27/82, 10/28/82, 10/29/82, 10/30/82, 10/31/82, 11/2/82, 11/3/82, 11/4/82, 11/5/82, 11/13/82, 11/17/82, 11/20/82, 11/25/82, 12/4/82, 12/12/82, 12/16/82, 1/18/83, 1/23/83, 1/24/83,1/28/83, 3/18/83, 3/22/83, 3/30/83, 4/8/83, 4/13/83, 4/21/83, 4/29/83, 6/1/83, 6/8/83, 6/9/83, 6/12/83, 6/28/83, 7/2/83, 7/3/83, 7/16/83, 8/11/83, 8/14/83, 8/23/83, 9/13/83, 9/17/83, 9/22/83, 9/23/83, 9/27/83, 10/5/83, 10/26/83, 11/2/83,11/19/83,12/8/83, 12/30/83, 5/3/85, 10/30/85, 6/28/86, 12/9/87, 1/21/02, 3/25/02, 3/28/02, 4/12/02, 5/24/02, 2/28/04, 7/8/05, 1/29/09, 11/4/09
Paducah Sun: 5/13/82
Advocate Messenger:10/12/82, 10/26/22, 10/29/82, 11/2/82, 11/7/82, 12/12/82, 12/14/82, 4/27/83, 11/18/83, 6/7/87, 3/19/08
The Messenger: 11/2/82
Messenger Inquirer:9/1/85
Harlan Daily Enterprise: 12/11/81, 1/13/82, 1/15/81,
Browning V Commonwealth
Harris V Commonwealth
WYMT
Wikipedia
findagrave.com
Bloody Harlan: Who Shot the Sheriff? Part 2
Despite being incarcerated, Paul Louis Browning Jr was still the sheriff of Harlan co and he planned to run his office from his prison cell. Prosecuting attorney Ron Johnson vowed to take steps to get him removed from office. Lester Burns vowed to appeal the sheriff's conviction.
In part 2, we will find out what happened to Sheriff Browning. Did Lester work his magic and get him a new trial? Did Ron Johnson manage to get him stripped of his sheriff's title? Did Paul Browning make good on his promise to spill the tea on corruption in Harlan co?
Sources Lexington Herald Leader: 2/28/81, 5/28/81, 11/1/81, 11/4/81, 5/13/82, 5/14/82, 8/21/82, 8/22/82, 8/24/82, 8/31/22, 9/1/82, 9/15/82, 9/16/82, 9/17/82, 10/6/82, 10/13/82, 10/16/82,10/25/82, 10/26/82, 10/27/82, 10/28/82,10/29/82, 10/30/82, 10/31/82, 11/2/82, 11/3/82, 11/4/82, 11/11/82, 11/14/82, 11/17/82, 11/19/82, 11/20/82, 11/24/82, 11/26/82, 12/2/82, 12/6/82, 12/7/82, 12/16/82, 3/17/83, 3/30/83, 4/1/83, 4/17/83, 4/20/83, 4/21/83, 4/26/83, 6/7/83, 6/10/83, 6/11/83, 6/13/83, 6/17/83, 6/21/83, 6/22/83, 7/16/83, 7/19/83, 7/26/83, 8/10/83 8/13/83, 8/23/83, 8/24/83, 8/26/83, 8/29/83, 8/31/83, 9/24/83, 9/27/83, 10/4/83, 10/26/83, 11/23/83, 12/4/83, 12/24/83, 6/9/84, 10/29/84, 10/30/84, 1/10/85, 1/16/85, 5/1/85, 5/2/85, 11/4/85, 12/11/85, 6/28/86, 9/19/86, 10/8/86, 10/22/86, 11/11/86, 3/28/87, 12/8/87, 12/11/87, 12/12/87, 1/28/88, 1/21/02, 1/30/22, 2/9/02, 3/24/02, 3/25/02, 3/26/02, 3/28/02, 3/29/02, 4/3/02, 4/10/02, 4/15/02, 4/28/02, 5/5/02, 5/12/02, 5/14/02, 5/17/02, 5/22/02, 8/24/02, 11/4/02, 11/6/02, 3/7/03, 12/8/03, 6/29/04, 6/30/04, 7/1/04, 8/14/04, 8/18/04, 10/12/04, 12/23/04, 5/23/05, 7/7/05, 3/13/08, 3/19/08, 3/26/08, 5/6/08, 12/09/08, 1/15/09
Louisville Courier Journal: 5/8/82, 5/13/82, 6/11/82, 6/19/82, 6/24/82, 7/24/82, 8/21/82, 8/22/82, 8/24/82, 9/1/82, 9/4/82, 9/16/82, 10/7/82, 10/16/82, 10/25/82,10/26/82, 10/27/82, 10/28/82, 10/29/82, 10/30/82, 10/31/82, 11/2/82, 11/3/82, 11/4/82, 11/5/82, 11/13/82, 11/17/82, 11/20/82, 11/25/82, 12/4/82, 12/12/82, 12/16/82, 1/18/83, 1/23/83, 1/24/83,1/28/83, 3/18/83, 3/22/83, 3/30/83, 4/8/83, 4/13/83, 4/21/83, 4/29/83, 6/1/83, 6/8/83, 6/9/83, 6/12/83, 6/28/83, 7/2/83, 7/3/83, 7/16/83, 8/11/83, 8/14/83, 8/23/83, 9/13/83, 9/17/83, 9/22/83, 9/23/83, 9/27/83, 10/5/83, 10/26/83, 11/2/83,11/19/83,12/8/83, 12/30/83, 5/3/85, 10/30/85, 6/28/86, 12/9/87, 1/21/02, 3/25/02, 3/28/02, 4/12/02, 5/24/02, 2/28/04, 7/8/05, 1/29/09, 11/4/09
Paducah Sun: 5/13/82
Advocate Messenger: 10/12/82, 10/26/22, 10/29/82, 11/2/82, 11/7/82, 12/12/82, 12/14/82, 4/27/83, 11/18/83, 6/7/87, 3/19/08
The Messenger:11/2/82
Messenger Inquirer: 9/1/85
Harlan Daily Enterprise: 12/11/81, 1/13/82, 1/15/81,
Browning V Commonwealth
Harris V Commonwealth
WYMT
Wikipedia
findagrave.com
Bloody Harlan: Who Shot The Sheriff? Part 1
In the 1980’s, a new but old problem infested Harlan co where accusations of elected officials protecting bootleggers flowed as freely as mountain run off water. Fed up with the shady politics in Harlan co, Paul L Browning Jr announced his bid for sheriff. He vowed to clean up the dirty politics in Harlan co and rid the community of bootleggers.
Was Paul L Browning Jr a straight laced, straight shootin politician or was he just like the rest of them- crooked as a Harlan county road? I'll tell the story and you can decide.
Sources: Lexington Herald Leader 2/28/81, 5/28/81, 11/1/81, 11/4/81, 5/13/82, 5/14/82, 8/21/82, 8/22/82, 8/24/82, 8/31/22, 9/1/82, 9/15/82, 9/16/82, 9/17/82, 10/6/82, 10/13/82, 10/16/82,10/25/82, 10/26/82, 10/27/82, 10/28/82,10/29/82, 10/30/82, 10/31/82, 11/2/82, 11/3/82, 11/4/82, 11/11/82, 11/14/82, 11/17/82, 11/19/82, 11/20/82, 11/24/82, 11/26/82, 12/2/82, 12/6/82, 12/7/82, 12/16/82, 3/17/83, 3/30/83, 4/1/83, 4/17/83, 4/20/83, 4/21/83, 4/26/83, 6/7/83, 6/10/83, 6/11/83, 6/13/83, 6/17/83, 6/21/83, 6/22/83, 7/16/83, 7/19/83, 7/26/83, 8/10/83 8/13/83, 8/23/83, 8/24/83, 8/26/83, 8/29/83, 8/31/83, 9/24/83, 9/27/83, 10/4/83, 10/26/83, 11/23/83, 12/4/83, 12/24/83, 6/9/84, 10/29/84, 10/30/84, 1/10/85, 1/16/85, 5/1/85, 5/2/85, 11/4/85, 12/11/85, 6/28/86, 9/19/86, 10/8/86, 10/22/86, 11/11/86, 3/28/87, 12/8/87, 12/11/87, 12/12/87, 1/28/88, 1/21/02, 1/30/22, 2/9/02, 3/24/02, 3/25/02, 3/26/02, 3/28/02, 3/29/02, 4/3/02, 4/10/02, 4/15/02, 4/28/02, 5/5/02, 5/12/02, 5/14/02, 5/17/02, 5/22/02, 8/24/02, 11/4/02, 11/6/02, 3/7/03, 12/8/03, 6/29/04, 6/30/04, 7/1/04, 8/14/04, 8/18/04, 10/12/04, 12/23/04, 5/23/05, 7/7/05, 3/13/08, 3/19/08, 3/26/08, 5/6/08, 12/09/08, 1/15/09
Louisville Courier Journal 5/8/82, 5/13/82, 6/11/82, 6/19/82, 6/24/82, 7/24/82, 8/21/82, 8/22/82, 8/24/82, 9/1/82, 9/4/82, 9/16/82, 10/7/82, 10/16/82, 10/25/82,10/26/82, 10/27/82, 10/28/82, 10/29/82, 10/30/82, 10/31/82, 11/2/82, 11/3/82, 11/4/82, 11/5/82, 11/13/82, 11/17/82, 11/20/82, 11/25/82, 12/4/82, 12/12/82, 12/16/82, 1/18/83, 1/23/83, 1/24/83,1/28/83, 3/18/83, 3/22/83, 3/30/83, 4/8/83, 4/13/83, 4/21/83, 4/29/83, 6/1/83, 6/8/83, 6/9/83, 6/12/83, 6/28/83, 7/2/83, 7/3/83, 7/16/83, 8/11/83, 8/14/83, 8/23/83, 9/13/83, 9/17/83, 9/22/83, 9/23/83, 9/27/83, 10/5/83, 10/26/83, 11/2/83,11/19/83,12/8/83, 12/30/83, 5/3/85, 10/30/85, 6/28/86, 12/9/87, 1/21/02, 3/25/02, 3/28/02, 4/12/02, 5/24/02, 2/28/04, 7/8/05, 1/29/09, 11/4/09
Paducah Sun 5/13/82
Advocate messenger M 10/12/82, 10/26/22, 10/29/82, 11/2/82, 11/7/82, 12/12/82, 12/14/82, 4/27/83, 11/18/83, 6/7/87, 3/19/08
The Messenger 11/2/82
Messenger Inquirer 9/1/85
Harlan Daily Enterprise 12/11/81, 1/13/82, 1/15/81
Browning V Commonwealth
Harris V Commonwealth
WYMT
Wikipedia
findagrave.com
The Black Widows of Kentucky: Laverne O'Bryan and Lucy Pauline Rogers
There had been no documented intentional poisonings in Kentucky in 100 years until the late 1970’s when multiple cases started popping up in a single city. Was this a resurgence of a centuries old murder technique? Or had the medical community been misdiagnosing victims for decades?
Sources: The Louisville Courier Journal 2/29/61, 7/21/61, 7/22/61, 7/30/61, 8/24/61, 4/2/63, 8/9/67, 12/25/67, 1/27/77, 7/7/79, 10/6/79, 10/11/79, 5/3/80, 5/4/80, 7/22/80, 7/23/80, 7/24/80, 7/25/80, 7/26/80, 7/27/80, 7/28/80, 9/13/80,3/10/82, 6/4/82, 6/19/82, 7/19/82, 8/11/82, 8/17/82, 3/19/83, 3/20/83, 4/30/83, 6/22/83, 6/23/83, 6/24/83, 7/2/83, 7/16/83, 9/24/83, 5/25/85, 8/23/84, 5/25/85, 6/18/85, 6/25/85, 12/10/85, 2/7/86, 4/8/87, 12/23/89, 10/5/92, 12/5/92;The Paducah Sun 10/7/79;https://mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/deadly-wives-lucy-pauline-rogers-killed-one-husband-tried-to-kill-another-husband/;http://unknownmisandry.blogspot.com/2011/09/laverne-obryan-kentucky-black-widow-1980.html; Findagrave.com; LaVerne O'Bryan v Commonwealth
The Appalachian Trail of Blood Part 3: The Murder Trials Where the Death Penalty is on the Table
In this final episode of this series, we will find out the fate of Roger Epperson, Benny Lee Hodge and Donald Terry Bartley. Was Lester Burns able to work his charm in the courtroom and save his clients- and himself, too?
Lexington Herald Leader: 5/18/85, 5/19/85, 5/29/85,8/10/85, 8/13/85,8/14/85, 8/16/85, 8/17/85, 8/22/85, 8/23/85, 8/24/85, 8/30/85, 9/5/85, 10/2/85, 6/5/86, 6/6/86, 6/10/86, 6/12/86, 6/13/86, 6/14/86, 6/16/86, 6/17/86, 6/18/86, 6/19/86, 6/21/86, 6/22/86, 6/24/86, 6/27/86, 7/2/86, /8/5/86, 8/7/86, 8/20/86, 8/23/86,10/4/86, 11/8/86, 11/11/86, 1/28/87, 2/1/87, 2/12/87, 2/19/87, 2/20/87, 11/4/87
Louisville Courier Journal: 8/10/85. 8/14/85, 8/22/85, 8/31/85, 9/7/85, 10/3/85,5/4/86, 6/2/86 6/15/86, 6/19/85, 6/20/86, 6/21/86, 10/4/86, 12/13/86, 12/16/86, 1/1/87, 1/13/87,11/6/87, 11/7/87, 11/8/87, 11/28/87,12/2/87
The Mountain Eagle: 7/7/21
WYMT-TV 11/18/19
KSP Cases 13851303, 13851304, 13851306, 13851296
Kentucky On-line Offender Look-up
Wikipedia
Murderpedia
Findagrave.com
Benny Lee Hodge V Commonwealth
Benny Lee Hodge V Glen Haberlin Warden
Epperson V Commonwealth
Bartley V Commonwealth
Bartley V Wright
“A Dark & Bloody Ground” Darcy O’Brien
The Appalachian Trail of Blood Part 2: The Killers- Roger Epperson, Benny Lee Hodge and Donald Terry Bartley
On August 15, 1985 defense attorney Lester Burns got a desperate phone call from Florida. Three men had been arrested by the FBI for murder amongst other charges out of Kentucky. Who were these men? What drove them to commit such heinous acts?
Lexington Herald Leader: 5/18/85, 5/19/85, 5/29/85,8/10/85, 8/13/85,8/14/85, 8/16/85, 8/17/85, 8/22/85, 8/23/85, 8/24/85, 8/30/85, 9/5/85, 10/2/85, 6/5/86, 6/6/86, 6/10/86, 6/12/86, 6/13/86, 6/14/86, 6/16/86, 6/17/86, 6/18/86, 6/19/86, 6/21/86, 6/22/86, 6/24/86, 6/27/86, 7/2/86, /8/5/86, 8/7/86, 8/20/86, 8/23/86,10/4/86, 11/8/86, 11/11/86, 1/28/87, 2/1/87, 2/12/87, 2/19/87, 2/20/87, 11/4/87
Louisville Courier Journal: 8/10/85. 8/14/85, 8/22/85, 8/31/85, 9/7/85, 10/3/85,5/4/86, 6/2/86 6/15/86, 6/19/85, 6/20/86, 6/21/86, 10/4/86, 12/13/86, 12/16/86, 1/1/87, 1/13/87,11/6/87, 11/7/87, 11/8/87, 11/28/87,12/2/87
The Mountain Eagle: 7/7/21
WYMT-TV 11/18/19
KSP Cases 13851303, 13851304, 13851306, 13851296
Kentucky On-line Offender Look-up
Wikipedia
Murderpedia
Findagrave.com
Benny Lee Hodge V Commonwealth
Benny Lee Hodge V Glen Haberlin Warden
Epperson V Commonwealth
Bartley V Commonwealth
Bartley V Wright
“A Dark & Bloody Ground” Darcy O’Brien
The Appalachian Trail of Blood Part 1: The Murders of Ed Morris, Bessie Morris and Tammy Acker
In 1985 a group of misfits fueled by cocaine, greed and dysfunctional love, left a trail of blood and terror that extended from the deep hollers of the bluegrass state to the sandy beaches of the sunshine state where at least four people were murdered and one was left for dead.
Lexington Herald Leader: 5/18/85, 5/19/85, 5/29/85,8/10/85, 8/13/85,8/14/85, 8/16/85, 8/17/85, 8/22/85, 8/23/85, 8/24/85, 8/30/85, 9/5/85, 10/2/85, 6/5/86, 6/6/86, 6/10/86, 6/12/86, 6/13/86, 6/14/86, 6/16/86, 6/17/86, 6/18/86, 6/19/86, 6/21/86, 6/22/86, 6/24/86, 6/27/86, 7/2/86, /8/5/86, 8/7/86, 8/20/86, 8/23/86,10/4/86, 11/8/86, 11/11/86, 1/28/87, 2/1/87, 2/12/87, 2/19/87, 2/20/87, 11/4/87
Louisville Courier Journal: 8/10/85. 8/14/85, 8/22/85, 8/31/85, 9/7/85, 10/3/85,5/4/86, 6/2/86 6/15/86, 6/19/85, 6/20/86, 6/21/86, 10/4/86, 12/13/86, 12/16/86, 1/1/87, 1/13/87,11/6/87, 11/7/87, 11/8/87, 11/28/87,12/2/87
The Mountain Eagle: 7/7/21
WYMT-TV 11/18/19
KSP Cases 13851303, 13851304, 13851306, 13851296
Kentucky On-line Offender Look-up
Wikipedia
Murderpedia
Findagrave.com
Benny Lee Hodge V Commonwealth
Benny Lee Hodge V Glen Haberlin Warden
Epperson V Commonwealth
Bartley V Commonwealth
Bartley V Wright
“A Dark & Bloody Ground” Darcy O’Brien
The Hillbilly Conspiracy Part 1
On March 16 1986, headlines blazed across news outlets all over Kentucky. Sixteen people were indicted on one of the biggest criminal conspiracies the bluegrass state has ever seen. Amongst those indicted: a former KSP commissioner, a district judge, a former gubernatorial candidate, a sheriff, a doctor, a former county judge executive, a bootlegger, an accountant, a wealthy coal mine owner and a couple of lawyers.
This story has everything you could find in a Hollywood film- a massive drug operation, bribery, fraud, arson, a plot to blow a man up, a hitman and an undercover FBI probe, except it’s all true and it happened right here in Kentucky!
The Paducah Sun 3/16/86, 3/19/86, 3/30/86
Lexington Herald Leader 3/15/86, 3/17/86, 3/18/86, 3/19/86, 4/11/86, 7/18/86, 8/22/86, 8/23/86, 10/10/86, 10/23/86, 10/25/86, 11/13/86, 12/13/86, 12/17/86, 12/20/86, 1/4/87, 1/8/87, 1/9/87, 1/12/87, 1/13/87, 1/14/87, 1/15/87, 1/16/87, 1/17/87, 1/21/87, 1/22/87, 1/24/87, 1/27/87, 1/28/87, 1/29/87, 2/7/87, 2/19/87, 2/20/87, 3/4/87, 3/14/87, 3/27/87, 5/11/87
The Courier Journal 3/9/86, 3/18/86, 3/23/86, 3/27/86, 7/19/86, 8/23/86, 10/11/86, 10/15/86, 10/18/86, 10/21/86, 10/22/86, 1/13/87, 1/14/87, 1/15/87, 1/21/87, 2/4/87, 2/5/87, 2/6/87, 2/7/87, 3/14/87
The Advocate Messenger 3/16/86
The Park City Daily News 3/16/86
Omps Funeral home
Wikipedia
The Hillbilly Conspiracy Part 2
In the first part of this hillbilly conspiracy story, we heard about Marion, Gene, Steve, Roger and Titus, but they were only 5 of the 16 indicted in 1986 on various charges stemming from corruption throughout eastern Kentucky by law enforcement, public officials and others in powerful positions. We’re not done with the story of one of the biggest undercover takedowns in Kentucky history!
The Courier Journal 3/15/86, 3/21/86, 11/11/86, 4/17/86, 5/14/86, 8/19/86, 10/15/86, 11/11/86, 9/5/87, 9/1/88, 9/2/88
Lexington Herald Leader 3/15/86, 4/6/86, 4/16/86, 5/15/86, 8/15/86, 8/19/86, 11/11/86, 11/11/86, 2/12/87, 2/13/87, 3/20/87, 5/15/87, 7/11/87,9/4/87, 9/1/88, 1/24/89, 9/8/90
Porterandsonfd. Com
The Enterprise 6/4/2020
Park City Daily news 9/1/88
Nolangroupmedia. Com
Burns V KY Bar Association
The Murder of Charles "Fred" Cash, Lyon co. KY
On May 9, 1986 a call came into the Western Kentucky Farm Center. The caller reported that a prison van had been spotted in front of a Princeton middle school. Calls to corrections officer Fred Cash's radio were going unanswered. Convicted murderer and inmate William Eugene Thompson was nowhere to be found.
Sources:
Courier Journal 5/10/86, 5/14/86, 6/5/86, 10/14/86, 10/15/86, 10/16/86, 8/7/87, 9/20/90, 2/29/92, 10/1/93, 2/2/98
Messenger-Inquirer 5/10/86
The Messenger 5/13/86, 5/15/86, 5/18/86, 6/4/86, 10/16/86, 10/1/93
Lexington-Herald Leader 5/10/86
Paducah Sun 5/11/86, 10/9/86, 10/14/86, 10/15/86, 10/12/86, 10/16/86, 12/14/86,1/13/95, 1/18/95, 1/21/95, 10/7/95, 10/13/95, 10/19/96, 1/29/98, 2/5/98, 2/6/98, 2/11/98, 2/12/98, 5/15/98, 2/27/06
The Times Leader 10/28/15
OMDP.org
Thompson V Commonwealth
Corrections.ky.gov
The Murder of Gladys Deskins, Pikeville, KY Part 2: Eugene Thompson, Robert Sykes and Woody Christian
On July 12, 1971 Gladys Deskins was murdered in her home in the Meta community of Pike co Kentucky. Who wanted this mother and grandmother dead? And why? The two part story will take you on a wild ride with everything from a murder-for-hire scheme, a massive bootlegging operation, arson and a prison escape.
Source credits:
Deskins V Commonwealth; Sykes V Commonwealth; The Williamson Daily News; The Marion Star; Find a grave . com; Murderpedia; Wikipedia; ATF.gov; Orlando sentinel; Kentucky vital statistics; Louisville Courier Journal; Middlesboro Daily News; The Toledo Blade; The Sunday Times-Sentinel; The Kentucky New Era; The Harlan Daily Enterprise; The Corbin Times Tribune; The Paducah Sun; The Lexington Herald leader
The Murder of Gladys Deskins, Pikeville, KY Part 1: Boone Deskins
On July 12, 1971 Gladys Deskins was murdered in her home in the Meta community of Pike co Kentucky. Who wanted this mother and grandmother dead? And why? The two part story will take you on a wild ride with everything from a murder-for-hire scheme, a massive bootlegging operation, arson and a prison escape.
Source credits:
Deskins V Commonwealth; Sykes V Commonwealth; The Williamson Daily News; The Marion Star; Find a grave . com; Murderpedia; Wikipedia; ATF.gov; Orlando sentinel; Kentucky vital statistics; Louisville Courier Journal; Middlesboro Daily News; The Toledo Blade; The Sunday Times-Sentinel; The Kentucky New Era; The Harlan Daily Enterprise; The Corbin Times Tribune; The Paducah Sun; The Lexington Herald leader