Episode 98 The Cult of the Unknown Tongues

In February 1933 a church service in a Kentucky mountain town ended with the death of 72 year old Lucinda Mills. Nine relatives would be accused of murder while the media labelled her death a human sacrifice. What happened in that cabin?

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Episode Resources

Laben T. Mills Obituary. Big Sandy News. July 31,1914

Lucinda Ward Mills. Find A Grave. [Lucinda’s age listed as 65 here but based off of census records she was believed to have been 72] 

Burning of Body on Altar Halted by Inez Police. The Owensboro Inquirer. February 9, 1933 

Cult Victim Held Willing Sacrifice. The Courier-Journal. February 10, 1933

Insanity Plea Planned in Cult Slaying Case. The Courier-Journal. February 11, 1933

Bare Details of ‘Sacrifice’ Death Scene. Indianpolis Times. February 11, 1933

Mills Held Without Bond for Slaying Mother in Cult ‘Sacrifice’. The Lexington Herald. February 12, 1933

Nine Relatives of Cult Victim Are Indicted. The Owensboro Messenger. April 5, 1933

Insanity Held Slaying Cause. The Courier-Journal. April 7, 1933

Two Relative Freed In Cult Slaying Trial. The Lexington Leader. April 9, 1933

Prosecutor Contends Slayers of Mrs Mills Cold Blooded Murderers. The Courier-Journal. April 10, 1933

Mills Kneeling on Mother’s Body Fought Deputies. The Owensboro Inquirer. April 11, 1933

Cult Case Goes to Jury. The Courier Journal. April 12, 1933

Cult Leader Is Given Life Term for Matricide. The Courier-Journal. April 12, 1933

Blaine McGinnis is Given Pardon. Lexington Herald-Leader. November 3, 1933

The Mysterious “Order of the Odd Fellows”. Messy Nessy. January 2020. 

Odd Fellows Have Skeletons in Their Closets--and Their Walls and Attics. Los Angeles Times. April 2001.

Episode Music

Clean Soul, Concentration, Tranquility Base, Almost F in Tranquility, Drone in D and Loss by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: http://incompetech.com

The Dark Glow of the Mountains and There’s Probably No Time by Chris Zabriske  Licensed under Creative Commons

Elegy by Asher Fulero Licensed under Creative Commons

Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use.

Episode 97 Affairs of Honor

Duels were common in America until the end of the Civil War. They were most common in the south where the slightest offense could result in a challenge with duelists following a “polite” code of honor.

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Episode Sources

Field of Honor: A Complete and Comprehensive History of Duelling in All Countries. 1884

Savannah Duels. Chatham County GaArchives History. 1923

Dueling. Encyclopedia of Arkansas. 15 March 2013

8 Legendary Duels. History

"Mourn Columbia!": The Death and Legacy of Stephen Decatur. White House History. November 25, 2019.

The History of Dueling in America. PBS American Experience. 

In the Defense of Honor: The Rise and Fall of Dueling in America. Ultimate History Project. 

Before Burr shot Hamilton, this 1800s Kentucky duel ended in bloodshed. Courier Journal. June 13, 2019. 

Episode Music

Lost, Almost in F Tranquility and Lost Frontier by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: http://incompetech.com

Northern Lights by Chris Haugen, Spirit of Fire by Jesse Gallagher and Alone with my Thoughts by Esther Abrami Licensed under Creative Commons

Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use.

Episode 96 Windsor Ruins

The ruins of Windsor are among the most photographed historic sites in Mississippi. 23 towering columns that cast long shadows on the history of the once grand mansion and places like it across the American south. 

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Episode Sources

Windsor Ruins National Register of HIstoric Places Nomination. 1971, updated 1992

"Burning of the Daniell Residence." The Southern Reveille. February 21, 1890

The Ruins of Windsor. WLBT. April 30, 2011

Cotton. Mississippi Encyclopedia. July 10, 2017.

The Creation Of The Cotton Kingdom. African American History and Culture.

United States Census, 1860. Claiborne County, Mississippi. Population Schedules

Windsor Ruins, Mississippi – A Silent Sentinel to the Magnificent South. Legends of America. November 2019. 

The Windsor Ruins of Mississippi. Parker Studios. June 11, 2019.

Episode Music

Sense of Loss by Purple Planet Music. Purple-planet.com. Licensed under Creative Commons

Fresh Fallen Snow by Chris Haugen and I Need To Start Writing Things Down and I Am A Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor by Chris Zabriske. Licensed under Creative Commons 

Autumn Sunset, Relaxing Piano Music and March of the Minds by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: http://incompetech.com

Devouring the Whole by Ross Gentry. Special thanks to Headway Recordings, in Asheville, North Carolina for permission for use

Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use.

Episode 95 The Richmond Rivalry Murders

On a sweltering day in the summer of 1925, Rudolph Disse went on a shooting spree in Richmond Virginia killing the woman he loved, his rival and a cop

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Episode Sources

Boy Slayer Cool, Little of Criminal About Him. The Richmond Times Dispatch. July 29, 1925

Marvin W. Peers Had Won Divorce. The Richmond Times Dispatch. July 30, 1925

Trial of Disse Underway. El Paso Herald. August 14, 1925

Disse Case Again Postponed. The Danville Bee. August 15, 1925

State Rests in Trial of Disse. The State News and Observer. August 18, 1925 

Disse Sentenced to Electric Chair. The Danville Virginia Bee. August 20, 1925 

Rudolph Disse Must Die in Chair. The Newport Daily Press. August 21, 1925

Beauty Fatal to Two. Casper Star-Tribune. September 27, 1925

Has Condemned Man Lost Calm at Trial? The Richmond Times Dispatch. November 18, 1925 

Drug Addict Slew Girl He Loved and Other Man. The New York Daily News. July 24, 1927

Episode Music

Tranquility Base and Drone in D by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: http://incompetech.com

Gloomy Night by Marwan Nimra Licensed under Creative Commons 

Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use.

Episode 94 The Crime Tourist Slayings

Lester Brocklehurst, Jr was a Sunday school teacher who grew bored of his life. In 1937 he and his girlfriend hit the road on a multi state crime spree that ended with dozens of armed robberies and three murders

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Episode Sources

Officers of Four States Hunt Pair. Anniston Star. May 9, 1937

Holdup Killer Caught in N.Y. Abilene Morning News. May 14, 1937

Three States Attempt to Get Brocklehurst. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. May 14, 1937

Killer Gives Own Story of Crime Career. The Sacramento Bee. May 14, 1937

Sanity Question Stirs Anger of Accused Slayer. The Daily Oklahoman. May 27, 1937

Brockelhurst, Ordered to Die, Falls in Faint. The Richmond Times Dispatch. June 26, 1937

Killer’s Companion Freed of Murder. The Richmond Times Dispatch. June 26, 1937

Bernice Felton Is Indicted by U.S. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 25, 1937

Brocklehurst Fights for Life As Child Is Born. Kenosha News. December 17, 1937

Girl Begins Time for Crime Tour. The Wichita Eagle. May 29, 1939

What’s Behind the Man Behind the Thumb? The News Tribune. July 30, 1939

Gangsters, Mobsters & Outlaws of the 20th Century. Legends of America. February 2020

Gangsters During the Depression. American Experience PBS. 

Bernice Felton, Half of a Serial Killer Couple – Illinois, 1937. Unknown Gender History. January 2, 2021

Episode Music

Ossuary 1 The Beginning, Dark Times, Despair and Triumph, Ambient by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: http://incompetech.com

No 2 Remembering Her - Esther Abrami Licensed under Creative Commons 

Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use.

Southern Mysteries Shorts The Meeting Street Murders

How do you celebrate the milestone of one million downloads of Southern Mysteries? You share a story! Hear the Southern Mysteries Shorts featuring the odd true crime story of the Meeting Street Murders

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Episode Sources

“Sue Stidham Logue”. Murderpedia. 

“How A Mule Kick Killed Eight People”. Who’s On The Move, Midlands Biz. November 1, 2013.

“From a dead calf to the South Carolina electric chair”. The Newport Plain Talk. October 10, 2014.

“Edgefield County Sheriff W.D. “Wad” Allen. EOW: November 16, 1941”. South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame Facebook.November 19, 2019.

“Edgefield County Deputy Sheriff W.L. “Doc” Clark. EOW: November 18, 1941”. South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame Facebook

Episode Music

Cryptic Sorrow, Clean Soul by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: http://incompetech.com; Plantation by Audionautix. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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Episode 93 Murdered in Brooksville

On May 9, 1981, Ricky Merrill and Dori Colyer left Hilltop Lounge in Brooksville, Florida. They never returned. 40 years on, their families are still waiting for justice

Anyone with information on this Cold Case Homicide is asked to contact Detective George

Loydgren at 352-754-6830.If you would like to remain anonymous – Please call Hernando County Crime Stoppers at 1-866-990-TIPS (8477) or submit your tip online at

hernandocountycrimestoppers.com 

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Episode Sources

Who Killed Rick Merrill and Dori Colyer? RickAndDori.com
Father of car’s owner fears worst. St. Petersburg Times/Hernando Times. May 12, 1981
Families complain of delay in identifying bodies. Tampa Bay Times. May 14, 1981
Services planned, but car-fire victims' identities still unconfirmed. Tampa Bay Times. May 15, 1981
Identities confirmed of 2 found in burning car. Tampa Bay Times. May 16, 1981
Cause of death still unknown in care fire. St Petersburg Times, Hernando Times. May 19, 1981
Police have four suspects in murder of two persons found in burning car. St Petersburg Times/Hernando Times. August 1, 1981
Quest remains unfulfilled as tragedy strikes again. St. Petersburg Times/Hernando Times. September 9, 1988
Case of double murder, vehicle arson still cold after 38 years. Fox 13 Tampa. May 10, 2019
Deputies need your help solving 39-year-old Brooksville cold case. WTSP. May 8, 2020
Cold Cases: Ricky Merrill & Dori Colyer. Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. October 12, 2020

Episode Music

Tranquility Base, Clean Soul, Slow Hammers, Virtutes Instrumenti, Drone in D by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: http://incompetech.com; Spirit of Fire by Jesse Gallagher. The Dark Glow of the Mountains by Chris Zabriske Licensed under Creative Commons.

Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use

Episode 92 Taunted By A Killer

17 year old Shari Faye Smith and 9 year old Debra May Helmick were kidnapped and murdered in neighboring South Carolina counties in the summer of 1985. Their killer taunted the Smith family and police until a piece of evidence Shari Smith left behind led police to her killer.

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Episode Music

Organic Meditations, Despair and Triumph, Almost in F Tranquility, Reawakening, Ambient, March of the Mind by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: http://incompetech.com; Spirit of Fire by Jesse Gallagher and God Be With You Til We Meet Again by Chris Zabriske Licensed under Creative Commons.

Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use.

Episode Sources

State v. Bell. South Carolina Supreme Court Decisions. February 26, 1990

We May Never Find Missing Woman. UPI. October 7, 1996.

Larry Gene Bell. Murderpedia

The Genesis of a Murderer. The Herald. October 20, 2007

Keep on believing: Dawn Smith Jordan on hope after tragedy. South Carolina United Methodist Advocate. March 26, 2019

The Summer of Shari. The Chrysalis Chapters. May 21, 2019

Kidnapper Forces Victim to Write Last Will and Testament Before Killing Her. The True Crime Edition. November 11, 2020

Larry Gene Bell: The Murders of Shari Smith and Debra Helmick. Talk Murder With Me. December 27, 2020

Denise Newsom Porch. The Charley Project.

Episode 91 The Alabama Torso Murders

In June 1959, the discovery of two dismembered torsos terrified residents in North Alabama. The unknown victims were dubbed Mr. X and Mr. Y until a tip led investigators to a farm where they met the woman behind one of Alabama's grisliest crimes

See photos and sources for this episode at southernmysteries.com

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Sources

Hyatt Family Tree Index

Drawings Were Sure to Break Torso Case. The Birmingham News. July 17, 1959.

Mr. X and Mr. Y Source Materials. Jacksonville State University Digital Commons Special Collections. 1959. 

Redeemed in the Valley. The Anniston Star. January 14, 2009

Notorious 'Torso Murders' blood trail revealed in AL.com Vintage photos. Al.com February 11, 2016. 

Music

Despair and Triumph, Lost Time and Brethren Arise by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. The Dark Glow of the Mountains by Chris Zabriske, Meditation 1 by Audionautix, Spirit of Fire by Jesse Gallager. Licensed under a Creative Commons; Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use.

Episode 90 The Mystery of the Poisoned Milk Bottle

Walter Samples was a retired engineer who lived a quiet life in Memphis. That was until someone left a poisoned bottle of milk on his front porch in February 1941. His murder investigation revealed the 69 year old had been living a double life and dozens of people had motive to kill him.

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Music

Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use. Relaxing Piano Music, Lamentation, Long Note Two, Concentration and Colorless Aura by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: http://incompetech.com Slow Hammers by the Mini Vandals. Licensed under a Creative Commons