Southern Fried True Crime

Today's episode is a "best of October" Southern Fried is from 2022, 167: The Murder of Fred JablinDr. Fred Jablin, a highly regarded professor of communication, was a dedicated husband to his wife, Piper Rountree. For years, he did everything in his power to make her happy, but nothing he did was ever enough. In 2002, the Jablin marriage came to an end and Fred was awarded full custody of their three children. Following the divorce, it took some time for Fred and the kids to adjust to their new normal. Luckily, by the fall of 2004, things were starting to look up. The children were adjusting well, and Fred was moving on romantically. He was even looking forward to his favorite holiday, Halloween. But Fred would never get the chance to celebrate. Piper would make sure of that. Hosted and produced by Erica KelleyResearched and written by Haley Gray & Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley HornerOriginal Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma RadioEdited & Mixed by Erica KelleySources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/the-murder-of-fred-jablinSponsors: -Take off the mask, with BetterHelp. Go to BetterHelp.com/southern for 10% off your first month -Treat yourself to the best bras on the market and save 20% Off at honeylove.com/SFTC. -Newspapers.com & use code “SouthernFried” for an exclusive 20% discount on your subscription -Protect your home with 50% off a new SimpliSafe system, plus a free indoor security camera, when you sign up for Fast Protect Monitoring at SimpliSafe.com/southernfried. -Make switching seasons a breeze with Quince. Go to Quince.com/SFTC for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. -Go to BlueNile.com to find the perfect, timeless piece of fine jewelry.

Texas is known for being tough on crime and those who commit it. Or at least the ones who get caught. There are tens of thousands of unsolved homicides in Texas and nearly as many open missing persons cases. Every week, Gone Cold Podcast—Texas true crime—presents in-depth accounts of unsolved murders and missing persons cases throughout the lone star state, concentrating on lesser-known cases that the media has long left behind. Cases like the recently solved 1974 abduction and murder of Fort Worth High School student Carla Walker, the brazen 2019 murder of Liz Barraza, and the mysterious 1989 disappearance of 13-year-old Elisa Roberson, who seemingly vanished into thin air while she was walking a few blocks from home to meet a friend. On Gone Cold, you’ll also occasionally hear high-profile cases, such as an 8-episode series on the 1996 abduction and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, the little girl behind the Amber Alert.This is a preview of Gone Cold’s coverage of the 2007 case of 19-year-old Brittany Danielle McGlone,who was viciously attacked and savagely slain in her boyfriend’s bed while the rest of the home’sinhabitants were away.As you’re listening, join Gone Cold’s mission to bring these forgotten cases back into the public’sawareness by subscribing to Gone Cold Podcast—Texas true crime wherever you listen to podcasts.https://www.GoneCold.com

In the dark morning hours of September 11th 1991, in the small town of Jasper Alabama, a couple named Earl and Carrie Lawson were awoken by a fake emergency phone call that lured them out of the house. A masked man was waiting in their carport. Earl was bound with duct tape and the assailant forced Carrie their SUV and sped off into the darkness. Carrie had been kidnapped for ransom. It seemed like something you only saw in movies. In the last episode, I told you all about the parade of mistakes the FBI made in this case. Now we’re getting into the repercussions of those mistakes, and even more bad decisions…as Carrie Lawson’s life hung in the balance. Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Erica Kelley & Andrea MarshbankOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica KelleySuggested by: Nocturnal Druid, Reagan Williams and AmandaSources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/carrie-lawson-2This episode is brought to you by: Get 20% OFF @honeylove by going to honeylove.com/SFTC! #honeylovepodThis episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SOUTHERN and get on your way to being your best self.They say time waits for no one, and neither should payday--See EarnIn.com/TOS for more details.

In May of 1993, 18-year-old student Charlotte Childs was eagerly anticipating her high school graduation in Holly Hill, South Carolina. She was busy attending all sorts of pre-graduation celebrations in the lead-up to the big day, including a get-together for her fellow high school seniors the evening before. But after dropping her best friend home in the early hours of graduation day, Charlotte never made it home. Instead, her parents were woken by a call in the dark early hours that their daughter was in the hospital, fighting for her life. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES:US National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233National Domestic Violence Hotline: thehotline.orgCanada: visit this website to find the hotline in your areaUK Domestic Abuse Hotline: 0808 2000 247For resources in other countries, visit this websiteHosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Gemma Harris Additional writing by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica KelleySources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/charlotte-childsThis episode is brought to you by: This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SOUTHERN and get on your way to being your best self.Visit SimpliSafe.com/southernfried to get 20% off any new system with Fast Protect Monitoring. There’s no safe like SimpliSafe.Don’t pull the covers over your head, your health is too important. Download the Teladoc Health app today, or go to TelaDocHealth.com, to make scheduling your next doctor’s appointment so much easier.Treat yourself to the best bras and shapewear on the market and save 20% Off at honeylove.com/SFTC.Indulge in affordable luxury! Go to Quince.com and use promo code SFTC for free shipping.

Parents have to trust caregivers. It’s just a fact of life. Often we feel more comfortable with a family friend than a daycare. That’s what Tiffany and David Shell did for their daughter Annie. They trusted Brandi Giannunzio. She babysat their two youngest daughters. She was good with their girls. They had no reason to believe Brandi would leave their girls with her boyfriend. They had never met Benjamin Brown. But on August 9, 2018, he was left alone with their daughters. And then they had to face the unthinkable. Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Erica Kelley & Gemma HarrisOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma RadioEdited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder and Erica Kelley RESOURCES FOR CHILD ABUSEVisit this website for preventing Shaken Baby SyndromeUS National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453For resources specific to each state, visit this websiteCanada: visit this website to find the hotline in your areaUK Child Abuse Hotline: 0808 800 5000Visit this website for help recognizing child abuseSources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/annie-burkett-shellThis episode is brought to you by: Don’t pull the covers over your head, your health is too important. Download the Teladoc Health app today, or go to TelaDocHealth.com, to make scheduling your next doctor’s appointment so much easier. Indulge in affordable luxury! Go to Quince.com and use promo code SFTC for free shipping. Give all the “moms” in your life a unique, heartfelt gift you’ll all cherish for years—go to StoryWorth.com/southernfried and save $10 of your first purchase.

After Laura Ackerson lost full custody of her sons, she was heartbroken, but she sprang into action. Within 2 weeks, she got another hearing but she still only got weekends. She had to completely overhaul her life. Within a year, Laura found a great apartment and opened her own ad agency—not just a stable job, but a career she was proud of. Meanwhile, Grant Hayes had blown through most of his new wife’s money. His life was swirling down the drain. And with the court ordered pysch evaluation, he knew he was about to lose custody of his kids. Laura had won. He couldn’t let that happen. So when she went missing a month before their next custody hearing, her friends immediately feared the worst. But I’m not sure in their worst nightmares, they could have been prepared to what happened to Laura Ackerson. RESOURCES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCEUS National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233National Domestic Violence Hotline: thehotline.orgCanada: visit this website to find the hotline in your areaUK Domestic Abuse Hotline: 0808 2000 247For resources in other countries, visit this websiteHosted, produced and written by Erica Kelley Researched by Erica and Andrea MarshbankOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley Case suggested by MarciaSources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/laura-ackerson-part-2This episode is brought to you by: Visit SimpliSafe.com/southernfried to get 20% off any new system with Fast Protect Monitoring. There’s no safe like SimpliSafe.They say time waits for no one, and neither should payday--See EarnIn.com/TOS for more details.Treat yourself to the best bras and shapewear on the market and save 20% Off at honeylove.com/SFTC.Nutrition the way nature intended, with real fruits and vegetables, not extracts. Go to FieldOfGreens.com and use promo code SOUTHERNFRIED for 15% off your first order plus free shipping. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code SFTC at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepodFüm: Start the Good Habit at https://tryfum.com/sftc to save 10% off the Journey Pack today.Don’t pull the covers over your head, your health is too important. Download the Teladoc Health app today, or go to TelaDocHealth.com, to make scheduling your next doctor’s appointment so much easier.

In December of 2003, 23-year-old Bart Whitaker had just finished his finals and was about to graduate from college. That night, he went to dinner to celebrate with his parents, Tricia and Kent, and his younger brother Kevin. As they returned home and walked through their door, they were ambushed by a masked gunman. Initially, authorities suspected that this was a burglary gone wrong. But before the funerals had even taken place, detectives discovered that Bart had lied about graduating. And that was just the beginning. Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank and Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma RadioEdited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder and Erica Kelley Suggested by Jessica, Donna, Michelle, and KyleSources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/whitaker-family-massacreThis episode is brought to you by: Get your year started off right with healthy new vitamins. For 50% off your first month, go to TakeCareOf.com and enter code SFTC50Try the revolutionary whole body deodorant Lume. Go to Lume.com and enter code SFTC for $5 off the starter pack. Indulge in affordable luxury! Go to Quince.com and use promo code SFTC for free shipping. Sign up for Newspapers.com--your ultimate resource for exploring the mysteries of the past. Use code SFTrueCrime and get 20% off your subscription.They say time waits for no one, and neither should payday--See EarnIn.com/TOS for more details.

Late on a Sunday night in September of 2016, Atlanta power couple, Tex and Diane McIver, were driving back into the city and got caught in Atlanta’s notorious traffic. Diane’s best friend was driving as Diane rode in the passenger seat and her husband, Tex, sat directly behind her. When they were stopped in what they considered a dangerous part of town, Tex asked for his gun, and then fell asleep. What happened next would cause one of the most hotly debated criminal cases in recent Atlanta history. Written, hosted and produced by Erica KelleyEdited and mixed by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio**Remastered versionSources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/66-tex-diane-mciver-accident-or-murder

When Officer Keith Turner pulled over a car in Moody, Alabama on June 25, 1998, he thought it was a routine traffic stop. The 29-year-old husband and father had no idea that the men in the car were two escaped convicts, Mario Centobie and Jeremy Granberry. In the span of two days, the armed and dangerous fugitives had already attacked one officer and nearly killed another. As Officer Turner walked toward them, Mario stepped out of the vehicle. He reached through the window as if to retrieve his license, but instead he pulled out a gun and fired three times. Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank Additional writing by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley Sources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/keith-turnerThis episode is brought to you by: Get your year started off right with healthy new vitamins. For 50% off your first month, go to TakeCareOf.com and enter code SFTC50Try the revolutionary whole body deodorant Lume. Go to Lume.com and enter code SFTC for $5 offPower up your life with superior brain and body nutrition products from IQBAR! Text SOUTHERNFRIED TO 64000 for 20% off your first order

When a charismatic young doctor announces revolutionary treatments for cancer and HIV, patients from around the world turn to him for their last chance. As medical experts praise Serhat Gumrukcu’s genius, the company he co-founded rockets in value to over half a billion dollars. But when a team of researchers makes a startling discovery, they begin to suspect the brilliant doctor is hiding a secret.From Wondery, the new season of Dr. Death: Bad Magic is a story of miraculous cures, magic and murder. Hosted by Laura Beil.Listen to Dr. Death - Bad Magic: http://wondery.fm/MAGIC_SFTC

In July of 1994, 42 year old Dolly Rose Grigsby was reported missing after visiting a shopping mall in Bluefield, West Virginia. Her husband, Dan Grigsby, did everything he could to try to find his missing wife and mother of their two children. The more time passed, it appeared what happened to Dolly would remain a mystery forever. But a shocking development three months later blew the case wide open. Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Gemma HarrisOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley Sources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/dolly-rose-grigsbyThis episode is brought to you by: Go to SimpliSafe.com/southernfried and for a limited time, save 20% on your home security system when you sign up for Fast Protect Monitoring. There’s no safe like SimpliSafe.Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code SFTC at LumeDeodorant.com

20-year-old Barbara Jane Mackle was a Florida heiress whose life took a harrowing turn in December of 1968. She was kidnapped by two strangers who wanted $500,000 in ransom from her mega-rich father, land developer Robert F. Mackle. Until Robert could meet Barbara’s abductors’ demands, his only daughter was buried alive underground in a ventilated box. Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Andrea MarshbankOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley Sources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/barbara-mackleThis episode is brought to you by: Go to SimpliSafe.com/southernfried and for a limited time, save 50% on your home security system when you sign up for Fast Protect Monitoring. There’s no safe like SimpliSafe.Treat yourself to the best shapewear on the market and save 20% Off at honeylove.com/SFTC.

In April of 1994, Lee Barnett picked up her 11-month-old daughter, Savanna, from her ex-husband Harris Todd’s house in Charleston, South Carolina. They were supposed to return at around six o’clock that evening. But they never showed up. Over the next 20 years, they’d travel the world together, as Lee fled from her child’s father, the FBI, and numerous international agencies. She claimed she was saving her daughter from an abusive father. But Harris claimed that Lee was the actual abuser. Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Erica Kelley and Andrea MarshbankOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley Recommended by Nate and othersThis episode is brought to you by: Give your loved ones the precious gift of memories, bound in a beautiful keepsake book. Go to StoryWorth.com/southernfried to save $10 on your purchase.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try and get a break from your thoughts at BetterHelp.com/SOUTHERNTreat yourself to the best shapewear on the market and save 20% Off at honeylove.com/SFTC.Go to UncommonGoods.com/southernfried for 15% holiday gifts. We’re all out of the ordinary.They say time waits for no one, and neither should payday--See EarnIn.com/TOS for more details.