Bless This Mess: A Southern True Crime Podcast

Bless This Mess
  • 4.6 (734)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Bless This Mess: A Southern True Crime Podcast, where the tea is sweet but the history is dark. We are a husband and wife team from Louisiana serving up murder, mystery, and mayhem from across the southern states. Pull up a rocking chair, fill your mason jar with sweet tea (or something a little stronger), and sit for a spell on the porch with us. We dive deep into each case, taking turns sharing the story, but there's always room for some husband-and-wife banter and a few well-placed f-bombs along the way. If you love true crime but prefer we get straight to the point without the porch chit-chat, check out our weekly A Little Less Mess episodes—same cases, trimmed down and focused on the facts. Want even more time on the porch? Join “The Porch Crew” over on our Patreon! Upgrade your sweet tea to something stronger and get early ad-free episodes, our exclusive Friday bonus hangouts (Sittin', Sippin', & Bullshittin'), and even your very own official Porch Crew mason jar.

  1. 4h ago

    [Kentucky] Double Jeopardy & The Polaroid Confession of Mel Ignatow

    Grab your mason jar and pull up a rocking chair—this week on Bless This Mess, Cara and Stew are heading to Louisville, Kentucky! On a September morning in 1988, 36-year-old Brenda Sue Schaefer’s car was found abandoned on the shoulder of Interstate 64 with a flat tire. What initially looked like a random roadside breakdown soon unraveled into a calculated plot orchestrated by her wealthy ex-fiancé, Mel Ignatow, and an accomplice. But after a high-profile trial ended in a shocking “Not Guilty” verdict, a routine home renovation ten months later uncovered hidden evidence beneath the floorboards that left prosecutors and the nation grappling with the strict constitutional limits of the Double Jeopardy Clause. Support the show Listen to our Monday minisode A Little Less Mess right here on the main feed.   Hang out with us on Patreon for The Weekly Pour on the Porch and Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’.Please rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media for case updates, what's in our mason jars, true crime documentary recommendations, and Southern suppers. Search @blessthismesspodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.Sources for this episode The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY): Archival investigative reporting, trial transcripts, and case coverage (1988–2008).CBS News (48 Hours): Double Jeopardy: Can A Murderer Avoid Prison?Kenton County & Jefferson County Circuit Court Records: Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Melvin Henry Ignatow (1991–1992).U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky: United States of America v. Melvin H. Ignatow (Federal Perjury Indictment, Confession & Sentencing, 1992).WAVE 3 News (NBC Louisville): Retrospective coverage, police archival interviews, and final death investigation records .True Crime Archives & Forensics Case Files: The Murder of Brenda Sue Schaefer and the Double Jeopardy Precedent.

  2. 2d ago

    A Little Less Mess: The Watcher of 657 Boulevard [New Jersey]

    In this week's Monday minisode of A Little Less Mess, Cara travels outside the South to the picturesque suburb of Westfield, New Jersey.  In June 2014, Derek and Maria Broaddus purchased their dream 1.3-million-dollar historic home at 657 Boulevard. But just days after closing—before they even finished moving their three young children in—they found a chilling letter in the mailbox from an anonymous writer calling themselves "The Watcher." Demanding to know when the house would be filled with "young blood" and detailing their renovations in real time, the letters sparked a nightmare of neighbor paranoia, private investigators, a shocking female DNA clue, and an unsolved mystery that left a family with nowhere to run. Support the show Listen to our Monday minisode A Little Less Mess right here on the main feed.   Hang out with us on Patreon for The Weekly Pour on the Porch and Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’.Please rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media for case updates, what's in our mason jars, true crime documentary recommendations, and Southern suppers. Search @blessthismesspodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Sources for this episode  New York Magazine / The Cut: The Haunting of a Dream House (Reeves Wiedeman, 2018). Westfield Police Department & Union County Prosecutor’s Office: Public investigative case files and DNA forensic records (657 Boulevard Investigation).Today Show / NBC News: New Jersey Couple Tormented by 'The Watcher' Speaks Out (Archival Coverage & Interviews).Vanity Fair / Time: The Real-Life Unsolved Mystery of The Watcher at 657 Boulevard.

    A Little Less Mess: The Watcher of 657 Boulevard [New Jersey]

  3. Aug 20

    [Tennessee] Shots in the Dark: The Lorenzen Wright Story

    A beloved NBA star. A chilling midnight 911 call with eleven gunshots . A murder weapon hidden at the bottom of a Mississippi lake . This week, Cara and Stew take you to Memphis, Tennessee, to unravel the 2010 murder of Lorenzen Wright . Tune in as we dissect the greed, the botched dispatch records, and the seven-year investigation that exposed a deadly conspiracy orchestrated by his ex-wife, Sherra, and church deacon Billy Ray Turner.Support the show Support the show Listen to our Monday minisode A Little Less Mess right here on the main feed.   Hang out with us on Patreon for The Weekly Pour on the Porch and Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’.Please rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media for case updates, what's in our mason jars, true crime documentary recommendations, and Southern suppers. Search @blessthismesspodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.Sources for this episode The Commercial Appeal (Memphis): Comprehensive archives on the disappearance, investigation, and trials of Sherra Wright and Billy Ray Turner (2010–2022)Shelby County Criminal Court (Tennessee): State of Tennessee v. Billy Ray Turner & State of Tennessee v. Sherra Wright case records and plea documentsAssociated Press / AP News: "Jury hears gunshot-filled 911 call from slain NBA player" & trial coverageESPN / E:60: A Murder in Memphis – Investigative documentary and reporting on Lorenzen WrightMemphis Police Department & FBI: "Operation Unfinished Business" case files and Mississippi lake dive recovery reportsGermantown Police Department (Tennessee): July 19, 2010 emergency 911 audio log and dispatch transcriptsWREG News Channel 3 & WMC Action News 5: Memphis local broadcast trial archives and family interviews

  4. Aug 18

    A Little Less Mess: The Bradford Bishop Murders [Maryland]

    A Yale-educated diplomat. Five murdered family members. A fifty-year international manhunt. This week on A Little Less Mess, Cara dives into the chilling 1976 Bradford Bishop murders in Bethesda, Maryland, exploring how a high-society government official orchestrated one of the most calculated family annihilations in American history and completely disappeared. Support the show Listen to our Monday minisode A Little Less Mess right here on the main feed.   Hang out with us on Patreon for The Weekly Pour on the Porch and Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’.Please rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media for case updates, what's in our mason jars, true crime documentary recommendations, and Southern suppers. Search @blessthismesspodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.Sources for this episode WILLIAM BRADFORD BISHOP, JR. - FBI https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/murders/william-bradford-bishop-jrBradford Bishop - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford_BishopBishop Family Murders: A 1976 Bethesda Manhunt - Ghosts of DC https://ghostsofdc.org/2026/07/09/bishop-family-carderock-springs-1976/CRIME: The Bishop Murders https://time.com/archive/6845494/crime-the-bishop-murders/How William Bradford Bishop Was Added to the FBI's Ten ... https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/how-william-bradford-bishop-was-added-to-the-fbis-ten-most-wanted-list/78455/

    A Little Less Mess: The Bradford Bishop Murders [Maryland]

  5. Aug 13

    [South Carolina] Murder in The Little Pee Dee River

    A missing father. A body in the Little Pee Dee River. A secret affair with a deputy coroner. This week, we are breaking down the 2020 murder of Gregory Rice in Horry County, South Carolina. Tune in as we discuss how a web of anonymous text messages and surveillance footage unraveled a deadly conspiracy between Meagan Jackson and her lover, Christopher Dontell, leading up to the dramatic verdicts handed down in 2025. Support the show Listen to our Monday minisode A Little Less Mess right here on the main feed.   Hang out with us on Patreon for The Weekly Pour on the Porch and Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’.Please rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media for case updates, what's in our mason jars, true crime documentary recommendations, and Southern suppers. Search @blessthismesspodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Sources for this episode Court TV: "SC v. Meagan Jackson: Coroner Affair Murder Trial" (Trial Coverage & Testimonies)ABC News: "Father's disappearance exposes shocking affair and murder plot"WPDE / ABC 15 News (South Carolina): "Jury selected in trial for woman charged in 2020 murder"WPDE / ABC 15 News (South Carolina): "Ex-Horry Co. deputy coroner sentenced to 20 years for role in 2020 murder case"WBTW News 13: Trial Roster & Case CoverageHorry County Police Department: Missing Persons Archives (October 2020)

  6. Aug 10

    A Little Less Mess: Lululemon Murder [Maryland]

    In this mini-episode of A Little Less Mess, we’re venturing outside the South to cover one of the most brutal and bizarre crimes in recent history: The 2011 Lululemon Murder. When a store manager in Bethesda, Maryland opened the doors to a gruesome, bloody crime scene, one employee was dead and another was found bound in the back room, claiming masked men had attacked them. But the evidence told a completely different, terrifying story. Join Cara for a 15-minute deep dive into a case of theft, a horrific betrayal, and a desperate cover-up. Support the show Listen to our Monday minisode A Little Less Mess right here on the main feed.   Hang out with us on Patreon for The Weekly Pour on the Porch and Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’.Please rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media for case updates, what's in our mason jars, true crime documentary recommendations, and Southern suppers. Search @blessthismesspodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.Sources for this episode CBS News: “Brittany Norwood found guilty of first degree murder in Lululemon trial”The Washington Post: “Court papers: Lululemon killing a horrific attack”All That’s Interesting: “Lululemon Murder: The Vicious Killing Over Leggings”ABC News: “Maryland Yoga Shop Killing: Brittany Norwood Stole Merchandise Before Killing Jayna Murray”Dan Morse (Book): The Yoga Store Murder: The Shocking True Account of the Lululemon Athletica KillingMaryland Court of Special Appeals: Norwood v. State of Maryland (2015)

    A Little Less Mess: Lululemon Murder [Maryland]

  7. Aug 6

    [Texas] The Ghost Train to Denton: The Disappearance of Mary Virginia Carpenter

    In 1948, Mary Virginia “Jimmie” Carpenter arrived in Denton for summer classes—and vanished between the train station and her dorm. We walk through the cab driver’s changing story, possible ties to the Texarkana Phantom Killer, and a haunting cold case that still has no answers. Support the show Listen to our Monday minisode A Little Less Mess right here on the main feed.   Hang out with us on Patreon for The Weekly Pour on the Porch and Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’.Please rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media for case updates, what's in our mason jars, true crime documentary recommendations, and Southern suppers. Search @blessthismesspodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.Sources for this episode The Charley Project – “Mary Virginia Carpenter”Wikipedia – “Disappearance of Virginia Carpenter”Denton County History & Culture – “The Chilling Disappearance of Virginia Carpenter”The Doe Network – Case File 1198DFTX, Mary Virginia CarpenterTexas Monthly – “The Phantom Killer”FBI Vault – archival materials on mid‑20th‑century missing persons investigationsDenton Record‑Chronicle and Texarkana Gazette

  8. Aug 3

    A Little Less Mess: The West Mesa Bone Collector [New Mexico]

    The most successful serial killers are the ones you’ve never heard of.   Welcome to this week’s Monday minisode of A Little Less Mess! Today we are looking at the terrifying, unsolved case of the West Mesa Bone Collector. Between 2003 and 2005, a serial killer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, buried 11 women in the desert—and got away with it because he knew exactly who to target so that no one would come looking.  It wasn't until a dog walker stumbled across a bone in 2009 that the city realized what had been happening right in their backyard.   Sources: [1] Major Cases https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/major-cases [2] 27 Little-Known True Crime Stories https://www.buzzfeed.com/crystalro/little-known-true-crime-stories-fs [3] True Crime Tales: 10 Cases Buried in the Archive https://texasarchive.org/true-crime-tales [4] Buried Cold Cases: Little-known unsolved murders & ... https://www.facebook.com/groups/buriedcoldcases/ [5] America's 5 Most Notorious Cold Cases (Including One ... https://www.britannica.com/list/americas-5-most-notorious-cold-cases-including-one-you-may-have-thought-was-already-solved [6] What are some lesser known unresolved crime cases that ... https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/dx8ooy/what_are_some_lesser_known_unresolved_crime_cases/ [7] 5 Unsolved Serial Killer Cases to Know About https://www.oxygen.com/unknown-serial-killers-of-america/crime-news/5-unsolved-serial-killer-cases [8] 50 Unsolved Murders in 50 States | Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY0xWuE3h1c

    A Little Less Mess: The West Mesa Bone Collector [New Mexico]
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About

Welcome to Bless This Mess: A Southern True Crime Podcast, where the tea is sweet but the history is dark. We are a husband and wife team from Louisiana serving up murder, mystery, and mayhem from across the southern states. Pull up a rocking chair, fill your mason jar with sweet tea (or something a little stronger), and sit for a spell on the porch with us. We dive deep into each case, taking turns sharing the story, but there's always room for some husband-and-wife banter and a few well-placed f-bombs along the way. If you love true crime but prefer we get straight to the point without the porch chit-chat, check out our weekly A Little Less Mess episodes—same cases, trimmed down and focused on the facts. Want even more time on the porch? Join “The Porch Crew” over on our Patreon! Upgrade your sweet tea to something stronger and get early ad-free episodes, our exclusive Friday bonus hangouts (Sittin', Sippin', & Bullshittin'), and even your very own official Porch Crew mason jar.

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