PODCAST

Hard Times and True Crimes

Darlene Hildreth and Melody Gwyn

Listen to two Southern, Christian women tell each other historical true crime stories.

true crime

All Episodes

79:24

95.Caril Ann Fugate: Hostage or Accomplice? The Truth...

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2025/03/12

Send us a text Episode Summary: This week, we’re diving into one of the most notorious crime sprees in American history—the 1958 murder rampage of Charlie Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. Was Caril Ann Fugate a hostage or an accomplice? Did she have chances to escape, or was she trapped in a nightmare she couldn’t control? We’ll walk you through the murders, the trial, and the fallout that still lingers decades later. 📌 In This Episode: ✔️ Charlie Starkweather’s dark obsession...

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43:52

94.Sean Patrick Goble: The Serial Killer Truck Driver

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2025/03/05

Send us a text🔎 Episode Summary:Truck stops, open highways, and a killer hiding in plain sight—Sean Patrick Goble was a long-haul trucker with a dark secret. 🚚💀 In the early 1990s, Goble crisscrossed the country, using his job as a cover to prey on vulnerable women leading to multiple murders. But what led to his capture? And could there be more victims authorities have yet to uncover? 🤔In this episode of Hard Times and True Crimes, we dive into the chilling case of Sean Goble, the

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33:04

92. Blood in Birmingham: The 1983 True Crime Murder...

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2025/02/19

Send us a text In this episode, we revisit the dark case of Kathleen Bedsole's murder in 1983, and the attempted murder of Charles Leonard, Jr., a crime that shook the communities surrounding Birmingham, Alabama to their core. We delve into the disturbed mind of David Duren, the man accused of the brutal killing, and unravel the events that led to one of the most infamous true crime stories in the region. What We Cover: An in-depth look at the night of the murder - what happened, how it...

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42:07

91.Love Lost: The Valentine’s Day Murders of Jesse...

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2025/02/14

Send us a text Episode Summary: On Valentine’s Day 1971, a young couple Jesse McBane and Patricia Mann vanished after a romantic night in Durham, North Carolina. Days later, their bound and strangled bodies were discovered deep in the woods. Their deaths were no accident—this was a meticulously staged murder. Over 50 years later, the case remains unsolved. Who was behind this horrific crime, and why have investigators struggled to bring justice to Jesse and Patricia? Join us as we unrav...

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42:33

93. The Gaffney Strangler: Murder, Mystery and Sweet...

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2025/02/12

Send us a text 🔊 Narrator: Curtis Hildreth 🎼 Music by: Isaiah Hildreth Episode Summary: In this episode of Hard Times & True Crimes, we take you back to Gaffney, South Carolina, a small Southern town known for its peaches, its mill-town roots… and one of the most chilling murder sprees in state history. Between 1967 and 1968, the community was terrorized by a man who became known as The Gaffney Strangler—Lee Roy Martin. Martin preyed on girls and young women, leaving behind a trail ...

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44:41

90. Deadly Connection: The 2006 Chatroom Murder

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2025/02/05

Send us a text In this episode of Hard Times and True Crimes, we dive into a chilling case that highlights the dark side of online interactions. In the early 2000s, an internet chatroom became the setting for a deadly deception - what started as a seemingly harmless online friendship between marine_sniper and talhotblond, turned into a love triangle that ended in murder. We'll explore how a web of lies, manipulation, and hidden identities led to a fatal encounter. Join us as we break do...

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38:32

89. Murder at Muddy Creek: The Ida Ball Warren Case...

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2025/01/28

In this episode, we delve into the lesser-known case of Ida Ball Warren, a woman from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, whose story shocked the state in 1914. It all began with the discovery of a body in Muddy Creek—a chilling find that, months later, would unravel a dark web of secrets and lead investigators straight to the man's own house.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe events leading up to Garrett Warren’s murder.How the discovery in Muddy Creek led investigators to Ida.Public reaction t...

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30:25

88. Mayberry's Dark Day: The 1951 Mt. Airy Bombing

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2025/01/22

Send us a textOn New Year's Day 1951, a respected member of the Mt. Airy community was targeted in a car bombing. He was a teacher, a new husband, the son of a police chief, and an upstanding citizen. It took two years for the bomber to be apprehended when they targeted another victim. Narrator: Curtis HildrethIntro and Outro Music: Isaiah HildrethSources:Pickens, Cathy. True Crime Stories of Western North Carolina. Arcadia Publishing, 2022.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-high-point-en...

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45:24

87. Murder in the North Carolina Mountains: Nancy Ann...

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2025/01/15

Send us a textIn 1913 Nancy Ann Kerley's name became infamous in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Her story remains a chilling legend in the region's history. Listen to this episode to find out why.Music By Memphis Robinson Gora Sources:newspapers.comfindagrave.comhttps://www.facebook.com/LadyFromTheMountains13/posts/the-legend-of-nance-dude-stoned-by-children-considered-a-witch-by-some-and-a-com/295072048854981/https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Conard-284https://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/j...

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48:23

86. Charlie and Frankie Silver: Tragedy in Western NC

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2024/12/24

Days before Christmas in 1831, Charlie Silver went missing from his home, leaving behind a young wife and baby. In the mountains of Western North Carolina, his family searched to no avail. Unfortunately, Charlie was eventually found but not all in one piece. Narrator: Curtis HildrethIntro and Outro Music: Isaiah HildrethNarrator of The Ballad Of Frankie Silver excerpt - Lily HildrethSources:You Tube Documentary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ6DViANMIcMcCrumb, Sharyn. The Ballad of F...

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48:10

85. The Ashland, Kentucky Murders of 1881 (Pt.2)

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2024/12/18

On Christmas Eve in 1881, the bodies of three teenagers were found in a burning house. The brutal way in which they were killed would shock the country. Listen to the conclusion of the story on this episode. Music By Riley HildrethSources:https://sites.rootsweb.com/~kycarter/journals/neal_craft_murder.htmThe Story of the First Hanging in Carter County by Glen R. Haneyfindagrave.comnewspapers.comThe Ashland Tragedy: Murder, a Mob and a Militia in Kentucky by H E Joe Castle and J. M. Huff...

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40:56

84. The Ashland Kentucky Murders of 1881

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2024/12/11

On Christmas Eve in 1881, the bodies of three teenagers were found in a burning house in Ashland, Kentucky. The brutal way that they died would shock not only the community, but the entire nation. Music by Isaiah and Riley HildrethSources:findagrave.comwikipedia.comThe Ashland Tragedy: MURDER, A MOB & A MILITIA IN KENTUCKY by Joe Castle and JM HuffFresh Hell Podcasthttps://sites.rootsweb.com/~kycarter/journals/neal_craft_murder.htmSupport the showhardtimesandtruecrimes.com buymeacof...

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39:33

83. The Morgan Murders: Cumming, Georgia

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2024/12/04

The residents of Cumming, Georgia were in an uproar in 1972 after two sheriff deputies were murdered. Just months later, in the same vicinity, a middle-aged couple was murdered in their bed and the community was on edge. Were the killings connected? Could it be retaliation or was it something else altogether? Was anyone else in danger?Narrator: Curtis HildrethIntro and Outro Music: Isaiah Hildreth Sources:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62SuK3_9mR4https://www.newspapers.com/image/3...

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45:21

82. Thanksgiving- Eve Murders of the Germond Family

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2024/11/27

On Thanksgiving Eve in 1930 , a dairy farming family of four were brutally murdered. Their deaths shocked the nation. Ninety-five years later, the murders are still unsolved. Listen to the episode to see if you think you know who the killer is. Male Narrator: Curtis HildrethMusic: Isaiah HildrethSources:findagrave.comnewspapers.commodernfarmer.comThe Germond Family Murders: A Scientific Conclusion to a Cold Case by Vincent Cookingham PHDOld Timey Crimey PodcastBetween th...

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54:04

81. The Thanksgiving Massacre: Jupiter, Florida

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2024/11/20

On Thanksgiving Night, in 2009, Paul Merhige joined his family for their annual get-together. He had not been invited but decided to attend anyway. He called his father to get directions to his cousin's home and his father complied. What happened after he arrived that evening was a nightmare that tore the family apart. Sources:https://www.newspapers.com/image/781522952/?match=1&terms=Merhige%20paulhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/658361509/?match=1&terms=Merhige%20paulhttps://www.news...

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55:11

80. The Murder of Crystal Faye Todd in Conway, South...

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2024/11/13

In 1991, seventeen year old Crystal Faye Todd didn't come after a night out with friends. Her mother instinctively knew something was wrong. Listen to the story of the disappearance, rape and brutal murder of an all-American girl from Conway, South Carolina. Music by Isaiah HildrethSources:newspapers.comfindagrave.comForensic FilesSouthern Fried True CrimeCarolina CrimesSupport the showhardtimesandtruecrimes.com buymeacoffee.com/hardtimesTC

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53:00

79. Undark: The Story of The Radium Girls

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2024/11/06

With the discovery of radium by the Curies in 1898, great strides were made in the scientific field. Along with the possibilities were risks not yet known. One of the inventions - luminous paint- made painting watch dials big business in the early 1900s. But within two decades the dangers were coming to light.Sources:Narrator: Curtis HildrethIntro and Outro Music: Isaiah HildrethSound Effect Music: Radium Dance - Composer: Schwartz, Jean , Victor Dance Orchestra. Public Domain: Recorded Sound...

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40:36

78. The Real Exorcist

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2024/10/30

In 1973 a movie opened in theaters that scared the nation - The Exorcist. But you may not be aware that it was based on true events that took place in 1949. Billy Graham urged audiences not to see it due to its depiction of evil, but audiences continued to flock to see it for its scare factor. These are the details of what happened and the truth is scarier than fiction. Intro and Outro Music: Isaiah HildrethNarrator: Curtis HildrethSources:O'Reilly, B., & Dugard, M. (2023). Killing t...

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77:57

77. Witches or Martyrs: The Salem Witch Trials

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2024/10/23

The trials began in 1692 when a group of young girls in the Puritan village of Salem, Massachusetts claimed they were being tormented by local women who were practicing witchcraft.Male Narrator: Curtis HildrethMusic by Isaiah HildrethSources:Killing Witches by Bill O’Riley O'Reilly, B., & Dugard, M. (2023). Killing the Witches: The Horror of Salem, Massachusetts https://salemwitchmuseum.com/my-account/history-education/https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=2&p...

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50:36

76. Carnage in Carthage: NC's Deadliest Mass Shooting

Hard Times and True Crimes ·

2024/10/09

A rocky marriage, a controlling husband, an estranged wife, and alcohol addiction; a destructive combination that led down a deadly path and ultimately ended in tragedy for several families. Narrator: Curtis HildrethIntro and Outro Music: Isaiah HildrethSources:https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-4948199https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthage_nursing_home_shootinghttps://www.newspapers.com/image/960980039/?match=1&terms=Wanda%20Nealhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/632593184/?match=1&terms=Wand...

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Hard Times and True Crimes

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