EP252: Murder for Hire?

Step into the dark and tangled web of Betty Lou Beets, The Black Widow. In this exclusive Early Release episode, we unravel the chilling story of a woman whose life was marked by love, betrayal, and murder. With five husbands and two mysterious deaths, Betty Lou’s tale blurs the line between victim and villain. Was she a misunderstood woman fighting for survival—or a calculating predator with a deadly agenda? Join us as we uncover the shocking details, explore the motives, and question the legacy of this infamous femme fatale.

9 Des 202459min

On June 10th, 1983, the decomposing body of a well-dressed man was found in a desolate canyon near Los Angeles. John Doe #94 would soon be identified as missing variety show producer Roy Radin. He'd last been seen after meeting with a mysterious woman in a gold dress. Her name was Lanie Jacobs.  Jacobs and Radin were obsessed with becoming Hollywood movie producers. And when their paths collided, it led them to a tantalizing film deal promising fame and fortune. But then, a twisted script unfolded, plunging them into a million-dollar cocaine and cash heist, a tangled web of lies, and ultimately – murder.  The trail led investigators right to Hollywood's doorstep, linking former golden boy producer Robert Evans to the case and dredging up Radin's own troubled past.  But the case turned ice cold. It would take more than five years of dogged pursuit by the L.A. Sheriff’s Department detectives, a secret undercover witness, and another murder almost 3,000 miles from Hollywood – to unlock the truth.  This is the story of a doomed Hollywood partnership, a grisly murder and the search that stretched across the country for a killer – or killers.  From Wondery, and the team behind the hit series Hollywood & Crime: The Dating Game Killer, The Wonderland Murders, Death of Starlet, and the Execution of Bonny Lee Bakley comes a six part series that dives into the dark side of Hollywood through a shocking murder – fueled by ruthless ambition and desperate dreams. Co-hosted by Tracy Pattin and Josh Lucas.  Listen to Hollywood & Crime: The Cotton Club Murder: Wondery

2 Des 20244min

On Tuesday, June 18, 1985, Jerry Estes was woken by pounding on the door of his office. After a busy Monday, he’d stayed late socializing and drinking beer after hours with some employees and fallen asleep at the Sale Barn, his cattle auction house and café in Nixa, Missouri. He opened the office door half-dressed. His cook, Alice, was standing before him talking excitedly, followed close behind by a distraught server, Dayna. After Alice took a deep breath and slowed down, Jerry found out that Alice and Dayna had spotted a black Camaro with the license plate “JACKI-1” abandoned on the side of Highway 160 with the driver’s side door open. He knew whose car this had to be. One of his servers at the Sale Barn Café, Jackie Johns, had purchased her “dream car” last year. The black, hard top, Camaro with red leather interior was her private world. Listen to this week's episode to hear more about what happened to Jackie Johns.SOURCES:1) Book: "Murder on a Lonely Road: A Beauty Queen, a Privileged Killer, and a Twenty-Five Year Search for Justice" by George Pawlaczyk and Beth Hundsdorfer2) CONVICTION UPHELD: Judge Refuses Retrial in murder of Jackie Johns

25 Nov 202456min

In this episode, we’re diving into the twisted and tragic story of Ezra McCandless, a young woman with a turbulent love life that led to a shocking and brutal crime. Ezra’s tale is one of passion, betrayal, and deadly obsession—capturing headlines and the public's morbid curiosity.We’ll dissect the events that led up to that fateful day, the complex relationships that fueled her actions, and the strange web of lies and manipulation uncovered in the courtroom. Was Ezra a master manipulator who took things too far, or was she another victim of a tragic love triangle?Early access listeners, prepare to be pulled into the chilling story of “Killer Girlfriend” Ezra McCandless. This is one case you won’t want to miss.

21 Nov 202437min

On September 16, 2019, police officers responded to a car crash in the city of Hickox, Brantley County, Georgia. Michael Wayne Jones Jr.'s white Chrysler Pacifica minivan was the only car involved in the accident. When police responded to the crash, nobody was prepared for what Michael had to say about his wife, Casei Jones, and his children.SOURCES:1) Casei Jones Obituary (2019)2) Death Penalty Possible For Family Annihilator Who Drove For Weeks With Remains In Tow3) Flies obviously were flying around’: Florida man explains how he masks smell after killing wife & 4 children, driving with their bodies for days4) Casei Jones: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know5) Man who beat wife to death with bat then strangled and drowned 4 young children sentenced to death6) Bodies of four kids found after mom discovered dead in husband’s van7) Jury weighs death sentence for Florida man who killed wife with bat and murdered her 4 kids8) Evil dad who murdered wife and four children aged from one to 10 sentenced to death9) Deputy Report On Casei Jones and Children Murders10) YouTube: The sad case of Casei Jones and her children | Michael Jones Interrogation and confession!

12 Nov 202446min

Marybeth Tinning murdered each of her children in cold blood. The motive was that she enjoyed the sympathy and attention she received when her children brought to the hospital.The causes of death for Tinning's first eight children was initially thought to be genetic. Even when her sixth child, Michael – who was adopted and not of blood relation – died in 1981, authorities failed to open an investigation.

28 Okt 202449min

On the morning of March 12, 2011, Rachel Orteli, the manager of a Lululemon in the suburbs of Washington D.C., walked up to the storefront ready to start her day and get the store opened. As Rachel approached the front door, she noticed that the door was already unlocked. Once inside, Rachel found the store in disarray: clothes thrown about, mannequins knocked over, clothing racks tipped. Immediately concerned, Rachel ran out of the store and called 911. When police arrived and further entered the store, they discovered this was not just a robbery. They found 30-year-old Jayna Murray dead and facedown in a pool of blood in the back hall and 28-year-old Brittany Norwood in the bathroom bound at the wrists and ankles with zip ties. Listen to this week's episode to hear what happened.SOURCES:1) Timeline: Lululemon Investigation and Trial2) Macabre Daily Pt. 13) Macabre Daily Pt. 24) YouTube: Snapped (Season 9, Ep19)5) Murder Victim's Brother: Murray Would Have Been "Insulted" To Learn Another Employee Was Stealing6) Jayna Troxel Murray Obituary 7) Brittany Norwood's Murderpedia Page8) Photos from Brittany Norwood's Murder Trial9) Lululemon Murder Wikipedia Page

24 Okt 202443min