Blue Ridge True Crime

Blue Ridge True Crime

por Alfred Dockery | Appalachian True Crime

Historia Crímenes Verdaderos

Temporada 1

The Insane Story of America's First Armored Car Heist

In 1927, as Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic and "talkies" revolutionized film, a brutal bandit named Paul Jaworski and his Flathead Gang used buried dynamite to launch a Brinks armored car into the air in America's first armored car robbery. This is the story of a criminal with a death wish, a failed getaway, a daring jailbreak, and a three-state crime spree that ended in Pennsylvania’s electric chair. Podcast Sources ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Sources & Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore More Content ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime YouTube Channel⁠

Sharyn McCrumb on The Ballad of Frankie Silver (Full Interview)

In the winter of 1831, in the remote mountains of North Carolina, a young woman named Frankie Silver was accused of the brutal ax murder of her husband, Charlie. Her conviction, execution, and the gruesome dismemberment of the body made her the first woman hanged by the state of North Carolina. But her story didn’t end at the gallows—it became a legend, a haunting ballad, and a centuries-old question about justice, class, and culture in early America. In this compelling episode, host Alfred Dockery is joined by New York Times bestselling author Sharyn McCrumb to discuss her acclaimed novel, The Ballad of Frankie Silver. McCrumb, a celebrated Appalachian writer, delves into her years of meticulous research, separating folklore from fact and reconstructing a tragic tale that still resonates today. Timestamps (00:00) Podcast Introduction (00:18) The Case of Frankie Silver (00:52) Sharyn McCrumb: I write the stories that won’t go away (03:15) The Haunting Story of Charlie Silver's Graves (09:41) Unraveling the Trial of Frankie Silver (17:28) Burgess Gaither: The Perfect Witness (26:56) Writing The Ballad Series (No Candy Bars) (31:00) The Two Souths and Historical Research (35:21) Debunking the Hollywood Hangings (36:37) 19th Century Southern Hangings: Carts and Trapdoors (43:26) This Dreadful, Dark and Dismal Song (52:04) Swain: The Weasel Governor (57:57) How Did Charlie Silver Die? A Theory (1:08:48) The Rich Never Hang (1:10:46) See You on the Backroads Sharyn McCrumb's Website Podcast Sources ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Sources & Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore More Content ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime YouTube Channel

The Unlucky Murderer: A Torn Dollar Bill Sealed His Fate

In the turbulent summer of 1917, as America grappled with war and social upheaval, the small city of Salisbury, North Carolina, was rocked by a brutal crime. The night watchman at the local streetcar barn was found savagely beaten and stabbed, and the payroll safe was broken open. What began as a senseless murder and robbery would unravel into a chilling tale of greed, a wooden leg, and a killer whose story would haunt the state's newspapers for half a century. This is the story of a cold-blooded killer, Baxter Cain, and an unfortunate victim, Abel Harris. A true crime story about a wooden leg, a torn dollar bill, and a date on the calendar, all entwined to create a grim legacy that outlived the men involved. Podcast Sources ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Sources & Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore More Content ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Great Clayton GA Bank Heist: Tommy Guns and Roofing Nails

In the sleepy mountain town of Clayton, Georgia, a botched bank robbery in 1934 sets off a wild chase across three states. The bandits have a unique weapon: a half-gallon bucket of roofing tacks. Sheriff Luther Rickman gives pursuit in a "little old Ford," dodging nails and driving on the wrong side of the road. The trail leads to a stolen Packard, a bloody car crash, and a connection to one of North Carolina's most notorious bootlegging ex-officials. This is the twisted, true story of the Clayton Bank Heist, a tale of financial ruin, moonshine, and a trail of clues that leads to only one man. Podcast Sources ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Sources & Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore More Content ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Iron Irene Schroeder: The First Woman Electrocuted in Pennsylvania

Before Bonnie and Clyde captured the nation's attention, another couple was blazing a trail of crime across America: Irene Schroeder and Walter “Glenn” Dague. She was a young mother, the press dubbed "Iron Irene." He was a seemingly respectable car salesman. Their story begins with a deadly roadside shootout that left a Pennsylvania State Trooper dead. What followed was a desperate, multi-state crime spree involving kidnappings, daring escapes, and a final, fiery gunfight in the Arizona desert. This is the unforgettable true story of Irene Schroeder and Glenn Dague: a tale of violence, swift justice, and a legacy of redemption that reached all the way to the moon. Podcast Sources ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Sources & Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore More Content ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Travis Rountree on Hillsville Remembered: Appalachia's Most Notorious Shoot-Out

March 14, 1912. The Carroll County Courthouse in Hillsville, Virginia, was a scene of tobacco smoke and small-town gossip—until it became a killing ground. When Floyd Allen stood after being convicted and declared, “Gentlemen, I ain’t a-going,” more than 50 shots rang out. In the chaos, the judge, sheriff, and prosecutor were killed, and the powerful Allen family fled, triggering a massive manhunt that captivated the nation. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Travis Roundtree, author of Hillsville Remembered, to unravel the complex history of Appalachia's most notorious shootout. Hillsville Remembered: Public Memory, Historical Silence, and Appalachia's Most Notorious Shoot-Out by Dr. Travis A. Rountree The Carroll County Courthouse Tragedy by R.W. "Ron" Hall is available from The Carroll County Historical Society and Museum. Feud: Hatfields, McCoys, and Social Change in Appalachia, 1860-1900 by Altina L. Waller Ballads Ballad of Claude Allen (YouTube) Ballad of Sidna Allen (YouTube) Podcast Sources ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Sources & Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore More Content ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Hillbilly Heist: Misadventures in Money Laundering

Buckle up for the true story of the 1997 Loomis Fargo heist. This is Ocean's Eleven goes country, with a crew of small-time crooks, a would-be hitman, and one of the world's worst money launderers.What happened next was a colossal cascade of failure. Podcast Sources ⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Sources & Links⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore More Content ⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠ My Book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Blood on the Blue Ridge on Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠ (written with Scott Lunsford)

The Greenbrier Ghost: Testimony from the Great Beyond?

In 1897, a young West Virginia woman named Zona Heaster Shue was found dead. The official cause was "an everlasting faint." Case closed. But then, her mother, Mary Jane Heaster, claimed her daughter's ghost visited her for four consecutive nights with a chilling accusation: Zona had been murdered by her husband, her neck broken. This is the only known case in American history where testimony from a ghost helped convict a murderer. But was it a spectral vision, a mother's desperate dream, or a clever ruse to ensure justice? Join us as we dig into the bizarre and compelling story of the Greenbrier Ghost, where folklore and true crime collide. Topics & Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: The Chilling Roadside Marker 03:05 - A Marriage of Inconvenience: Meet Zona Heaster and the mysterious "Trout" Shue. 04:55- The Body of the Crime: The discovery of Zona's body and Trout Shue's suspicious behavior. 07:05 - Cause, Mode, and Manner of Death: Mary Heaster's crusade and the shocking results of the autopsy. 08:35- Trial and Testimony: The defense's fatal mistake and Mary Heaster's unforgettable day in court. 13:15- A Verdict, A Legend, and A Roadside Marker: The jury's swift decision and the mob that arrived too late. 15:10 - Recent Developments & The "Fisher's Ghost" Connection: How an Australian ghost story in the local newspaper might have inspired a legend. 18:45- Conclusions: Separating history from haunting—what really happened to Zona Heaster Shue? Mentioned in this Episode: The Man Who Wanted Seven Wives by Katie Letcher Lyle The Unquiet Grave by Sharyn McCrumb The "Fisher's Ghost" legend from Australia Greenbrier Independent Article (Click Newspaper Articles PDF) Link to Substack post on "Fisher's Ghost" Podcast Sources ⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Sources & Links⁠⁠⁠ Explore More Content ⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠ My Book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Blood on the Blue Ridge on Amazon⁠⁠⁠ (written with Scott Lunsford)

William Ritter on the Ballad of Tom Dooley (The Story Behind the Song)

We're heading down a dark trail into one of Appalachia's most enduring mysteries. In May of 1866, Laura Foster rode out on her family's mare and vanished into the North Carolina mountains. Her body was later found in a shallow grave, sparking a manhunt, a sensational trial, and a public hanging that would be immortalized in a folk song known around the world. But what really happened to Laura Foster? Was Confederate veteran and "rock star" fiddle player Tom Dooley truly the killer, or was he protecting a deadly secret? In this episode, host Alfred Dockery is joined by folklorist and musician William Ritter to separate fact from folklore.  You can find more of William Ritter's work at https://www.songtoseed.com. Podcast Sources ⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Sources & Links⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore More Content ⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠ My Book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Blood on the Blue Ridge on Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠ (written with Scott Lunsford)

Flatwoods: A Monster, A Myth, and Legends of the Weird

Travel back to September 12, 1952, in the small town of Flatwoods, West Virginia. What began as a flash in the sky witnessed by a group of boys playing football quickly spiraled into one of America's most bizarre and enduring UFO encounters. This is the story of the terrifying, ten-foot-tall Flatwoods Monster—a story of mass hysteria, Cold War anxiety, and the two fascinating paranormal investigators who turned a local legend into a national phenomenon. Visit the Blue Ridge True Crime Substack for articles and updates. Check out the Blue Ridge True Crime YouTube Channel for video versions of episodes. Buy my book, written with my friend Scott Lunsford: Blood on the Blue Ridge

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