Hillbilly Crime Investigates
by Elizabeth Jones
Hillbilly Crime is an independent Appalachian investigative podcast hosted by Elizabeth Jones. From the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, we dive deep into crime, corruption, power, and the real stories affecting rural communities that rarely make national headlines.As a single mom in recovery building an investigative media network from my living room, this podcast follows the truth wherever it leads — from courtroom documents and public records to the lived experiences of people in Appalachia.If you believe small towns deserve real journalism, you’re in the right place.
Episodes
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Michael McKinney; The DNA Tales.
In this episode of Hillbilly Crime, host Elizabeth provides a detailed breakdown of the ongoing legal case surrounding the death of Amber Spradlin, who was found dead in Floyd County, Kentucky, in June 2023 (0:03 - 4:27). Case Overview and Key Figures: The Defendants: Michael "MK" McKinney III...
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Bible Story; Joseph & the Pit
Bible Study... Join us. Gotta start somewhere. #Bible #Study #Joseph
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Responsibility & Betrayal
Keep your attention on what we know.
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New DNA Bombshell: Amber Spradlin Case Update
This video from Hillbilly Crime provides an update on the Amber Spradlin homicide case (7:46), focusing on a new Kentucky State Police (KSP) laboratory report (12:00) and three recent defense motions filed in late October 2026 (10:19). Key highlights of the update: DNA Report Findings: The host...
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Laura Owens Gets 30 Days: The Backstory
This video from Hillbilly Crime provides a detailed breakdown of the legal proceedings regarding the sentencing of Laura Owens (4:44), who pleaded guilty to four felonies related to a fabricated pregnancy scheme involving Clayton Echard and Greg Gillespie (5:42). Key highlights discussed in the...
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Why Did Laura Only Get 30 Days?
Why do you think the judge only gave this woman 30 days? Going through his explanation, he says she didn't benefit from it and so her mental health had to be the basis of the problem. Or that was my interpretation of what he said. What did you think?
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Private Conduct, Public Power: Who Needs to Answer?
When does somebody’s private behavior become the public’s business? We discuss what changes when conduct reaches into public work and why an independent investigation matters. Accountability means getting answers, including answers that could clear someone. Join Hillbilly Crime Time for a...
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Who Approached Mickey Stines After His Surrender?
Who could get close to Mickey Stines after he surrendered? We examine the footage and discuss why I believe access should have been more restricted. The conversation centers on who was approaching him, the circumstances surrounding those interactions, and how that moment was handled.
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Mickey Stines’ Surrender: Why the Panel Disagrees
The panel watches the same surrender footage and comes away with very different interpretations. We get into the disagreement over Mickey Stines’ behavior and what, if anything, it tells us about the insanity argument. Hear both sides of the discussion and decide which points you find convincing.
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Mickey Stines: The Unanswered Question About the Gun at Lunch
One account describes a big gun. Another describes a small gun. But there’s another question we want answered: was the gun in its holster, or had it been taken out? We compare the reported accounts and discuss the missing context around that lunch, including whether the full interview provides an...
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The Moment Mickey Stines Surrendered
Mickey Stines surrenders, and the officers’ reactions give us plenty to talk about. We watch the footage and discuss his apparently calm demeanor during that moment. Pull up a chair with Hillbilly Crime Time as we take a closer look at the interaction and what caught the panel’s attention.
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Why Are they Relying on the Video Only?
Neither home was searched after the shooting, and no other phone was confiscated. One phone was voluntarily handed over to KSP by reportedly Christine Bolling. She was the employee of Mickey's Sheriff's Department who appeared to be intimately involved with the former Sheriff, by way she was...
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Bail Hearing Not Meant to Be Trial Rehearsal
Mickey Stines and his bail analysis.
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Why the Appeals Court Keeps Mickey Stines Behind Bars
This video from Hillbilly Crime, hosted by Elizabeth Jones, discusses the Kentucky Court of Appeals decision to uphold the denial of bond for former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines (4:45). Key Legal Analysis: Bond Denial Affirmed: The court ruled that the Commonwealth sustained its...
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Laura Owens: The Bachelor is NOT the Baby Daddy!
This video, hosted by Elizabeth on the channel Hillbilly Crime, discusses the sentencing of Laura Owens, who pleaded guilty to four felony charges related to pregnancy fraud (7:12). Case Background: Owens was involved in a long-term pattern of manipulation affecting multiple men over roughly 10...
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Will the Phone Convict the Business Partner?
This video from Hillbilly Crime provides a breakdown of Day 1 in the murder trial of Andrew Griffin (3:06), who is accused of killing Thomas "Tom" Strussion and his wife, Angela Strussion (5:48). The couple was found dead following a house fire on September 21, 2021, which investigators later...
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Testimony in James Huffman Trial
Jurors went to see the parking lot where the fight took place behind Street Side Bar and Grill on New Year's Eve Night when the death of Michael Hogg happened. James Huffman claimed self-defense, but he was convicted of Murder in a Letcher County court.
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Hillbilly Crime Trial Archive: James Huffman | Voir Dire, Part 1
Before the testimony comes the question that shapes the entire trial: who will sit in the jury box? We’re opening this Hillbilly Crime trial collection with Part 1 of voir dire, the jury-selection process in the James Huffman trial. Prospective jurors are questioned to help determine who can…
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Rolling Their Eyes at the Culture
This is a short clip from one of our live shows. Not quite sure what its about, let's see.
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Loretta Lynn's Secrets or Lies?
I ran across a video the other day that told all kinds of awful things about 5 men in Loretta's life. I am sure that it wasn't always roses, but the video describes her being hit by her husband and other instances of violence. It describes her being taken advantage of and secretly hating the men...
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Praise and Worship: Cryin' Holy
We singing and Praising the Lord today. Crying Holy Unto the Lord, come join us.
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What is Heaven Like?
A man named Jim Woodford describes what his experience was like. Praise the Lord. Do you believe in God?
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Don't Lose Your Purpose
They were still in the temple, but look at what they were doing in it. Buying, selling, changing money. Jesus walked in and told them to take it out of His Father’s house.Tonight, we’re reading John 2:13–16 and talking about how we can get caught up in everything around us and lose sight of why…
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She Knew He Was Married
Text messages with the mistress about the wife.
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Sandra Birchmore; What Happened to the Complaint
This video from Hillbilly Crime provides an overview of the ongoing federal trial of former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell, who is accused of killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child in February 2021 (0:06 - 0:17, 22:58 - 23:30). Key trial developments and evidence discussed: The...
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The Steps of a Good Man
Help us read a little Bible today.
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The Name of Jabez
Do you know where the name of Jabez came from? Let's do some Bible reading. How many want to read the Bible together?
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Blacklisting & Local Jobs
What do you think about how local corruption works?
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Mistrial for Jury Misconduct
A five-year-old’s death. Nearly nine years later, the trial reaches deliberations—and ends in a mistrial over jury misconduct.Tonight on Hillbilly Crime, we’re watching recorded courtroom proceedings from the David Prevatte case and following what led the judge to stop the trial.This is the…
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Why Did They Chase Ahmaud Arbery?
This video by Hillbilly Crime provides an in-depth investigation into the killing of Ahmaud Arbery on February 23, 2020. The hosts analyze the events leading up to the incident, the roles of the three men involved—Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William "Rody" Bryan—and the subsequent...
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Sandra Birchmore; The Beginning
This video from Hillbilly Crime provides a detailed summary of the second day of witness testimony in the trial of Matthew Farwell, held on October 13, 2026. The trial concerns the 2021 death of Sandra Birchmore, which the federal government alleges was a murder staged to look like a suicide by...
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What Travis McMichael Knew Before the Chase
What did Travis McMichael actually know before he went after Ahmaud Arbery? In this cross-examination, the prosecutor separates what he had seen earlier from what he knew on February 23. The questions then turn to a handgun stolen from his car; McMichael says he does not know who took it and...
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The Eight-Year Gap in Gregory McMichael's Arrest Powers
Eight years of missing arrest powers, followed by a waiver. This archival News4JAX report follows Gregory McMichael's earlier work as a district attorney's investigator, the lapse discovered in 2014, and Jackie Johnson's support for a waiver. It also raises questions about the cases he worked....
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Why William Bryan Joined the Chase
Seeing somebody run does not tell you what they have done. William 'Roddie' Bryan joined Gregory and Travis McMichael in the pursuit of Ahmaud Arbery and recorded the killing. I'm walking through each man's role, their eventual convictions, and the gap between suspecting a theft and having…
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3 Encounters with Jenkins Officer Jim Stephens
Here are 3 recordings that show 3 different encounters with officer Jim Stephens. Would you trust this officer's decisions or investigation skills? Seems like he does more complaining about his job than he does actually doing his job. We have a child who has been relentlessly bullied for years…
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Tonight, About the Blood!
The Blood of Jesus is not just for certain people. The Jailer's sister confronts a lady at the food stamp office... let me translate for you. #HillbillyCrime #HillbillyHouse #Investigates #SetUp #Foundation #SpiritualWarfare
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Who Was Listening to Sandra Birchmore?
This video, hosted by Elizabeth Jones on Hillbilly Crime, provides an overview of the second day of witness testimony in the trial of Matthew Farwell (3:36-4:14), who is charged in connection with the 2021 death of Sandra Birchmore (6:41-7:39). Key trial developments covered in this episode:...
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Bullies Confront Kid at Dollar General
This kid who just turned 17 has been relentlessly bullied for several years. He is a young junior photographer who has just learned on his own and he routinely takes pictures up at the lake in Jenkins and in town, where he also lives. He has walked the streets of Jenkins all his life. He has been…
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Bullied Kid vs Jenkins Cop: Part 2 Good Advice?
What do you think? Do you think this is good advice from this cop? So the backstory is this kid since he was about 13 has been taking pictures around town and he takes wonderful scenic photos and take pictures in town. Certain people have decided to target him and complain that he put his…
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Police Show Up at Bullied Kids House
How would you expect the conversation to go between a police officer and the mother of a relentlessly bullied teenager? Would you expect the police to help her pursue charges on these adults who were attacking and physically assaulting him and pulling guns on him in the street? What about when…
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Sandra Birchmore & the Call Before Her Death
This video, hosted by Elizabeth on the Hillbilly Crime channel, focuses on the tragic case of Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old woman who died in February 2021 (35:29 - 36:01). The host examines the circumstances surrounding her death, specifically looking at allegations of grooming and abuse...
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Hillbilly Hideouts; The Rental Receipt
Palm Beach County, Florida: officers question a U-Haul renter, check the rental agreement and payment record, then make an arrest. Listen to the renter’s explanations, do they make sense? The video does not independently establish intent or a court outcome. Which record would you have checked...
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Abusive Husband Gets a Surprise
An abusive husband gets surprised by police when they come knockin on his door. The poor babies. #HillbillyCrime #TrueCrime #Abuse #Bodycam
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Stines Exam Paused
An examination date can decide what gets reviewed first. I walk through the Stines court order discussed in our October 10 show: the sealed first examination, the second-exam request, and why the appeals court paused it. The temporary order does not decide guilt or the ultimate merits. Which next...
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Hillbilly Hideouts Swamp Search
Bunnell, Florida: a driver flees a traffic stop, and the search moves from a car to a pond. Watch the lights, listen for the answering voice, and follow the boat pickup. Deputies take the man into custody and ask about medical complaints. This is a fleeing-driver search, not a missing-person…
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Bullies Target Kid in Store
The Bullies of Jenkins decided to start targeting this kid several years ago. In this video they catch him in the store and then start to gang up on him outside. Background: He lives in town and has taught himself to take real nice photos of scenery and town, and because some people's homes can…
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The Jailor's Sister Says "I'm CORRUPT"
In this episode of Hillbilly Crime, host Elizabeth discusses ongoing allegations of public corruption in Letcher County, Kentucky, specifically concerning the aftermath of the case involving the late Judge Kevin Mullins and Sheriff Mickey Stines (6:16 - 7:06). Key Highlights: Public…
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She Woke Up; Failed Tennessee Execution
This video from Hillbilly Crime examines the failed September 30, 2026, execution of Christa Pike, the only woman on Tennessee’s death row. Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, a crime that occurred when Pike was 18. Key takeaways from the video include:...
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James Huffman Murder Trial; Prosecutors Opening Statements
The James Huffman trial. This case goes back to New Year’s in Whitesburg, Kentucky. A night that started with people out celebrating ended with 24-year-old Michael Hogg dead, others injured, and a courtroom years later trying to answer one central question: Was this self-defense, or was this...
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Caroline Stines Report; Insanity
This video from Hillbilly Crime (0:03:06) investigates claims made by Caroline Stines regarding a 2012 report allegedly filed by Mickey Stines. The host uses this as a starting point to explore broader allegations of corruption within the legal and court systems of Letcher County, Kentucky. Key...
About this show
Hillbilly Crime is an independent Appalachian investigative podcast hosted by Elizabeth Jones. From the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, we dive deep into crime, corruption, power, and the real stories affecting rural communities that rarely make national headlines.As a single mom in recovery building an investigative media network from my living room, this podcast follows the truth wherever it leads — from courtroom documents and public records to the lived experiences of people in Appalachia.If you believe small towns deserve real journalism, you’re in the right place.
Hosted by
Elizabeth Jones
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