Southern Fried True Crime

Erica Kelley
Southern Fried True Crime Podcast

Erica Kelley is a native Tennessean exploring historical and contemporary true crime in the South. Southern charm is attempted but southern sass is bountiful. Join her as she shows you just how southern fried the justice system can be in the Deep South.

  1. 3 JUL

    220: The Murder of Rhonda Oakley

    On September 1, 2016, 52-year-old Rhonda Oakley was due home from a business trip. Only gone one night, she and her husband of less than three years had missed each other. The empty nester and single dad had been inseparable since they met. Rhonda had recently become a full time stepmom to Phillip’s teenaged kids, who had moved from Indiana to the Oakley’s home on the outskirts of Danville, Kentucky. That afternoon, her stepson came home and found Rhonda in a pool of blood, viciously murdered. His father was devastated and his sister was missing. A national manhunt ensued as investigators realized tried to unravel what happened in this peaceful little town where folks had always felt safe.  Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley  Researched and written by Erica Kelley & Gemma Harris Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner  Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio  Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley  Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/rhonda-oakley This 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.Start saving and investing for your future today at Acorns.com/southernfriedGet your coolest and most comfortable sleep with 20% off and free shipping at BollandBranch.com/SFTCVisit SimpliSafe.com/southernfried to get 20% off any new system with Fast Protect Monitoring. There’s no safe like SimpliSafe.Free the pain and discomfort, keep the support with 20% off at HoneyLove.com/SFTCGet the confidence of smelling great from your pits to your feet, go to LumeDeodorant.com and enter code SFTC for 15% off your order.

    1h 8m
  2. 13 JUN

    218: The Kidnapping of Carrie Lawson, Part 1

    In the wee hours of September 11, 1991, Earl and Carrie Lawson were awoken by an urgent phone call from a woman claiming to be a nurse who said Earl’s father was hospitalized and might not make it through the night. The couple threw on clothes and rushed out the door, only to be stopped by a masked man as they were getting in their Ford Explorer. He bound Earl with duct tape, then forced 25 year-old Carrie into the Explorer and raced off into the darkness. Their families were shocked to discover this was a kidnapping for ransom. It seemed like something you only saw in movies…but it was very real and they were terrified for Carrie. **Part 1 of 2.  Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley  Researched and written by Erica Kelley & Andrea Marshbank Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner  Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio  Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley Suggested by: Nocturnal Druid, Reagan Williams and Amanda Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/carrie-lawson This 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.Füm: Start the Good Habit at tryfum.com and use code SFTC to get a free gift with. your the Journey Pack. Don’t panic, it’s botanic!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.Indulge in affordable luxury! Go to Quince.com and use promo code SFTC for free shipping and 365 day returns

    44 min
  3. 28 MAY

    217: The Murder of Charlotte Childs

    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 Kelley Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner  Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio  Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/charlotte-childs This 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.

    34 min
  4. 24 MAY

    216: The Wellnitz Family Murders

    For nearly a decade, the Wellnitz family murders haunted the small town of Columbia, Kentucky. The tight knit community had no clue why these good people were mercilessly executed in their own home. They were known for their thriving veterinary clinic and their kind hearts. But someone had been viciously murdered the family and even though investigators were pretty sure they knew who did it, the case went cold. It took ten years and heroic undercover work to get justice for the Wellnitz family.  Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley  Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank  Additional writing by Erica Kelley Edited and Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner  Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio  Suggested by Dana Schmidt Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/wellnitz-family This 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.Get the confidence of smelling great from your pits to your feet: try Lume, the whole body deodorant. Go to LumeDeodorant.com and enter code SFTC for 15% off your order. Treat yourself to the best bras and shapewear on the market and save 20% off at honeylove.com/SFTC.Füm: Start the Good Habit at tryfum.com/sftc to save 10% off the Journey Pack today. Don’t panic, it’s botanic!Download the Teladoc Health app today, or go to TelaDocHealth.com, to schedule your next doctor’s appointment. Don’t pull the covers over your head, your health is too important!This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get it off your chest and try online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SOUTHERN.

    1h 16m
  5. 11 MAY

    215: The Death of Annie Burkett Shell

    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 Harris Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner  Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder and Erica Kelley  RESOURCES FOR CHILD ABUSE Visit this website for preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome US National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 For resources specific to each state, visit this website Canada: visit this website to find the hotline in your area UK Child Abuse Hotline: 0808 800 5000 Visit this website for help recognizing child abuse Sources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/annie-burkett-shell This 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.

    1h 4m

Hosts & Guests

About

Erica Kelley is a native Tennessean exploring historical and contemporary true crime in the South. Southern charm is attempted but southern sass is bountiful. Join her as she shows you just how southern fried the justice system can be in the Deep South.

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