Crimes of the Carolinas

Join us as we dive into the Westmoreland murder case with special guest Chris Stonestreet.

Hosts Shelly and Dottie of Crimes of the Carolinas are back with the conclusion of a two-part case set in Salisbury, North Carolina.The episode focuses on the theory that the brutal Lyerly family murders were the work of a train-hopping serial killer active during the time period. Learn the full theory, possible connected cases, and suspects.

Hosts Shelly and Dottie of Crimes of the Carolinas introduce a two-part case set in Salisbury, North Carolina. On the night of July 13, 1906, at Barbara Junction, Isaac Lyerly (68), his third wife Augusta Barringer, and two children, nine-year-old John and five-year-old Alice, were beaten to death in their home, which was also set on fire. The episode focuses on how the investigation quickly became a racially driven “witch hunt,” placing suspicion on nearby Black sharecroppers Jack Dillingham and wife Della and the Gillespie family amid North Carolina’s post–Civil War backlash against Reconstruction.00:00 Welcome Back00:56 Friday the 13th, 1906: The Lyerly Family Murders at Barbara Junction02:23 Addie’s Discovery04:29 From Investigation to Witch Hunt06:09 Reconstruction to Backlash13:11 Propaganda & the Press19:58 The Grandfather Clause: Literacy Tests, Poll Taxes, and Disenfranchisement24:43 1906 Fallout Begins26:48 Media Narratives and Finger-Pointing27:17 How Early News Framed the Lyerly Girls’ Escape28:28 Sympathy vs. Suspicion30:40 Arrests After the Murders34:49 Defense Warnings, Officials’ Pleas, and a Growing Mob39:14 The Lynching and Propaganda44:54 Aftermath and Reckoning48:58 Alternate Suspects & What’s Next

In episode three of the Crimes of the Carolinas, we delve into guerrilla warfare in Western North Carolina during the Civil War. This episode explores the guerrilla tactics used by both Union and Confederate sympathizers, the strain on small mountain communities, and how political divisions and familial loyalties created deep-seated bitterness and violence that continued well into the Reconstruction era.

In the second episode of the Crimes in the Carolinas podcast hosted by librarians Shellie Taylor and Dottie Smith, we'll delve into the unsolved 1937 murder of 16-year-old Elva Brannock in Allegheny County, North Carolina. The episode covers the initial discovery of Elva's body, the subsequent investigation, the primary suspects—including local moonshiners and a man named Paul Edwards—and the community's response. Special insights are provided by Julie Gibson, a retired captain from the Iredell County Sheriff's Office. The hosts also discuss the societal and forensic challenges of the investigation in the 1930s and speculate on potential conspiracy theories and the possibility of utilizing modern DNA testing to solve the case. The episode concludes with a preview of an upcoming discussion on guerrilla warfare during the Civil War in North Carolina.00:00 Introduction and Hosts00:58 Setting the Scene: Murder in the Mountains01:15 The Investigation Begins03:16 Discovery of Elva's Body04:50 Suspects and Community Reactions07:20 Law Enforcement and Forensic Challenges15:45 New Evidence and Arrests23:59 Paul Edwards: A Suspicious Character27:36 Paul Edwards and Lonnie Wright: Suspects Under Scrutiny29:23 The Arrest of Estelle Moxley30:38 Frank Murphy's Chilling Confession35:57 Eyewitness Testimonies and Community Reactions44:41 Theories and Speculations: Was There a Cover-Up?50:30 Conclusion and Next Episode PreviewAccess the blog article about this episode here.

Crimes of the Carolinas 01: Till Death do us PartWelcome to the first episode of the new Crimes of the Carolinas podcast hosted by true crime enthusiasts Shelly Taylor and Dottie Smith. In this debut episode, our hosts delve into the historical true crimes of Mary Minish and Netta White Harrison. Both women murdered their husbands, leading to significant legal and social ramifications. They explore details surrounding Minish's 1883 ax murder in Union Grove and Harrison's shooting incident in 1912 after suffering from severe mental instability. The episode also touches on the conditions and controversies in mental health institutions during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to the New Crimes of the Carolinas Podcast01:00 Introduction to Female Killers02:25 The Case of Mary Minish03:43 Mary Minish's Time in the Asylum05:27 The Scandal at Dorothea Dix Hospital08:11 The Case of Netta White Harrison10:26 Netta's Mental Health and Legal Battles15:51 Reflections on Historical Mental Health Care20:07 Preview of the Next EpisodeAccess the corresponding blog post and transcript for this episode on our website.The Crimes of the Carolinas podcast is a production of the Iredell County Public Library. We are committed to delivering content that is both educational and captivating, and strive to present information that is as accurate as the historical records allow.