Ep 89 James Waybern Hall pt 1

Well cousins, it’s that time again! Time for our season finale shows! What a season we have had! But don’t fret…it isn’t over yet! You still have a few more weeks before we take our August break! This Season 2 final deep dive was requested to us by listener Janie Nesbitt Jones! We traveled to Arkansas in May of 2023 to Crime Con. There is where we met Ms. Jones. This is where we learned about a man who would peak our podcasting interests. A man by the name of James Waybern Hall, or Red, for short, who became one of our region’s prolific serial killers. James Hall is known as “The Arkansas Hitchhike Killer”.  Ms. Jones reached out to us this May, and the crazy thing was, we were looking for topics for our season finale…and Red’s story was in our choices! So we dedicate these episodes to author and expert Janie Nebitt Jones! James Waybern Hall honestly had all the makings of a serial killer…strict, zealot-like religious upbringing, abusive father, submissive mother, a head injury…in addition, Red, as he was often called, grew up on a farm where their meals came straight from the field to table…perhaps helping to appease a fascination with death. Throughout his early life, Red seemed to be charming, manipulative, and a tad bit deceitful. He talked a good game, in other words. He dabbled in petty thief, but that didn’t always bring the thrill it seemed he needed at times. Red LOVED traveling…making stops in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and as far away as Arizona and California.  So buckle up, cousins. Jess is going to kick off this ride with some background info regarding Arkansas’ notorious murderer. Let’s take a ride through the 1940s. Just be careful who you pick-up along the side of the road…   **Please check out Janie Nesbitt Jones’ book “The Arkansas Hitchhike Killer: James Waybern ‘Red’ Hall” wherever you get your books!  Sources: The Arkansas Hitchhike Killer by Janie Nesbitt Jones Murderpedia - James Waybern Hall