Hard Times and True Crimes

Darlene Hildreth and Melody Gwyn

Listen to two Southern, Christian women tell each other historical true crime stories. 

  1. 2D AGO

    121. Reverend: The Case That Drew Harper Lee

    Beginning in 1972, a series of suspicious deaths in rural Alabama left a community fearful, divided, and searching for answers. At the center of it all was a man known simply as “The Reverend,” whose life seemed marked by tragedy, rumor, and lingering suspicion. Whispers of voodoo, insurance payouts, and unanswered questions spread quietly through the region — eventually capturing the attention of one of America’s most celebrated authors, Harper Lee. What followed would become one of the South’s most unsettling true crime stories… a haunting case that blurred the lines between faith, folklore, justice, and revenge. Sources Primary Book Sources •Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee — Casey Cep •Biographical research regarding Harper Lee and her work Historical Records & Research Materials •newspapers.com   •Court records and legal reporting related to the proceedings •Findagrave.com Podcast Credits Hosted by Darlene Hildreth & Melody Gwyn Narration by Curtis Hildreth Music by Isaiah Hildreth Send us Fan Mail To purchase your merch - email us at hardtimesandtruecrimes@gmail.com with what you want, size, and a shipping address. We can accept Venmo or CashApp Support the show hardtimesandtruecrimes.com                    buymeacoffee.com/hardtimesTC

    1h 18m

  2. MAR 18

    120. MJ Auman: Suicide or Murder? The Heather Hicks Auman Trial in Randolph County, NC

    In this episode of Hard Times & True Crimes, we take a deep dive into a local Randolph County case that captured the community's attention - the trial of Heather Auman, accused in the death of her husband, MJ, a local firefighter.  After attending the trial in person, we walk you through the case from beginning to end - starting with the events leading up to that day at the lake, the 911 call, and the questions that quickly followed.  Heather claimed that MJ died by suicide. But as investigators began to examine the scene, and as testimony unfolded in court, a different narrative began to emerge.  This episode is based on testimony, evidence, and firsthand observations from inside the courtroom.  This case hits close to home for many in Randolph County, and throughout this episode, we aim to tell MJ's story with care, clarity, and respect.  If you followed the daily trial updates on TikTok, this is the full story - everything you didn't see in those short recaps.  Follow us for more true crime stories. Join our Facebook group for discussion and updates. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Narrator: Tim Gwyn Intro & Outro Music: Isaiah Hildreth Send us Fan Mail To purchase your merch - email us at hardtimesandtruecrimes@gmail.com with what you want, size, and a shipping address. We can accept Venmo or CashApp Support the show hardtimesandtruecrimes.com                    buymeacoffee.com/hardtimesTC

    1h 8m

  3. MAR 4

    119. The Murder of Bridget Cleary: The Irish Fairy Burning of 1895

    In March of 1895, a young Irish woman named Bridget Cleary was brutally murdered by her husband and several relatives in the small village of Ballyvadlea in County Tipperary. For several days, Bridget was subjected to interrogations, forced herbal mixtures, and violent rituals meant to “drive out” the fairy believed to be inhabiting her body. On the night of March 15, 1895, she was burned to death in the family home. Sources Books The Burning of Bridget Cleary – Angela BourkeIrish Superstitions – Lady WildeMeeting the Other Crowd: The Fairy Stories of Hidden Ireland – Eddie Lenihan & Carolyn Eve GreenHistorical Newspaper Archives Irish Times historical archives (1895 coverage of the trial)Freeman’s Journal trial reportingThe New York Times international coverage of the caseBritish Newspaper Archivenewspapers.comOnline Historical Resources Smithsonian Magazine – Article on the Bridget Cleary caseIrish Central – Historical features on the Cleary murderHistory Ireland – Research articles on Irish folklore and the caseNational Folklore Collection – Documentation of Irish fairy and changeling traditionshttps://philcleary.com.au/bridgetcleary/https://grokipedia.com/page/Death_of_Michael_Leahyhttps://www.digitalmedievalist.com/people/bridget-cleary-sex-death-fairies-and-other/https://brehonacademy.org/changelings-fairies-and-witchcraft-the-full-unsparing-account-of-bridget-clearys-murder-in-march-1895/wikipedia.comMusic:  “The Parting Glass – Royalty Free Vocal Version” by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. “Long Road Ahead B” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Source: Incompetech.com Send us Fan Mail To purchase your merch - email us at hardtimesandtruecrimes@gmail.com with what you want, size, and a shipping address. We can accept Venmo or CashApp Support the show hardtimesandtruecrimes.com                    buymeacoffee.com/hardtimesTC

    57 min

  4. FEB 4

    118. Bitter Blood (Part 2): The Collapse of a Southern Dynasty — Re-Released in Memory of Jerry Bledsoe

    In Part 2 of our Bitter Blood series, we continue the shocking true story made famous by North Carolina author Jerry Bledsoe in his bestselling book Bitter Blood. What began as a volatile marriage spiraled into paranoia, obsession, and a custody battle that would end in one of the most devastating family murder-suicides in North Carolina history. We re-released this series in memory of Jerry Bledsoe, who passed away in December 2025. His reporting preserved this case with depth, compassion, and journalistic integrity — and without his work, many details would have been lost to time. 🎙️ Episode Credits Researched and Written by: Darlene Hildreth & Melody Gwyn Male Narration: Curtis HildrethOriginal Music: Isaiah Hildreth 📚 Sources Jerry Bledsoe, Bitter BloodContemporary newspaper archives via Newspapers.comMemorial records via Find a GraveCourt records and historical reporting from North Carolina regional outlets Send us Fan Mail To purchase your merch - email us at hardtimesandtruecrimes@gmail.com with what you want, size, and a shipping address. We can accept Venmo or CashApp Support the show hardtimesandtruecrimes.com                    buymeacoffee.com/hardtimesTC

    1h 30m

  5. JAN 27

    117. Bitter Blood Pt. I (Re-Release) | In Memory of Jerry Bledsoe | North Carolina True Crime

    Jerry Bledsoe, North Carolina’s #1 New York Times bestselling true crime author, passed away on December 31, 2025, in Asheboro, NC. In honor of his life and legacy, we are re-releasing our two-part episode on Bitter Blood — the book that brought national attention to one of the most disturbing murder cases in North Carolina history. Sources We researched and built this episode using: Bledsoe, Jerry. Bitter Blood (book)Newspapers.com (archived newspaper reporting, obituaries, and contemporary coverage)FindAGrave.com (burial records and memorial details) Credits Hosted by: Darlene Hildreth & Melody Gwyn Male Narration: Curtis Hildreth Original Music: Isaiah Hildreth Send us Fan Mail To purchase your merch - email us at hardtimesandtruecrimes@gmail.com with what you want, size, and a shipping address. We can accept Venmo or CashApp Support the show hardtimesandtruecrimes.com                    buymeacoffee.com/hardtimesTC

    1h 11m

  6. 12/24/2025

    116. Marion Parker: The Infamous 1927 Los Angeles Kidnapping and Murder

    In this special Christmas episode of Hard Times and True Crimes, we examine one of the most disturbing crimes in American history: The kidnapping and murder of Marion Parker in Los Angeles in 1927.  In December 1927, Los Angeles was rocked by the kidnapping and murder of Marion Parker, a crime so horrific it dominated national headlines and left a permanent mark on American true crime history.  This episode explores the details of the crime, the historical context of 1920s Los Angeles, and why the Marion Parker murder continues to haunt true crime history nearly a century later - especially during a season associated with family, innocence, and hope.  Listener discretion is advised.  Sources:  Book: Taylor, T. (2017). I Want To Come Home Tonight: The Haunting Story of Marion Parker. Whitechapel Productions.  Narrated on Audible by Charles Huddleston Where you can purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/Want-Come-Home-Tonight-Haunting/dp/1892523833 Music credit: Music used in this episode appears courtesy of the audiobook narrator of I Want to Come Home Tonight: The Haunting Story of Marion Parker by Troy Talor and is used with permission.  www.newspapers.com  Narrator of episode: Curtis Hildreth Send us Fan Mail To purchase your merch - email us at hardtimesandtruecrimes@gmail.com with what you want, size, and a shipping address. We can accept Venmo or CashApp Support the show hardtimesandtruecrimes.com                    buymeacoffee.com/hardtimesTC

    52 min

  7. 12/10/2025

    115. A Christmas Nightmare: The Crimes of Ronald Gene Simmons

    Ronald Gene Simmons lived quietly in Arkansas throughout the 1980s, keeping mostly to himself and his large family. Outwardly, he appeared to be living a simple life in the country—but behind closed doors was a world shaped by control, fear, and long-term abuse. In December of 1987, during the week of Christmas, the darkness inside the Simmons home finally erupted. What unfolded became the largest family mass murder in American history. In this episode, we walk through the days leading up to the killings, the psychological unraveling that no one around him fully saw, and the series of violent attacks that shocked the entire state of Arkansas. 🎧 Credits Hosts: Darlene Hildreth & Melody Gwyn Male Narrator: Curtis Hildreth Original Music: Isaiah Hildreth Produced by: Hard Times and True Crimes Podcast Find us on Facebook & Instagram: @HardTimesAndTrueCrimes Sources for This Episode Include: •Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Archives •United Press International (UPI) Reports •Associated Press Coverage, 1987–1990 •State of Arkansas v. Ronald Gene Simmons Court Documents •Encyclopedia of Arkansas – “Ronald Gene Simmons” •Time Magazine Archive: “Christmas Killings in Arkansas” •Academic Analyses on Family Annihilators & Spree Killers •Local Arkansas retrospective reports and interviews newspapers.comcrime library.orgfindagrave.com Send us Fan Mail To purchase your merch - email us at hardtimesandtruecrimes@gmail.com with what you want, size, and a shipping address. We can accept Venmo or CashApp Support the show hardtimesandtruecrimes.com                    buymeacoffee.com/hardtimesTC

    1h 2m

  8. 11/19/2025

    114. Erin Patterson Australia Mushroom Poisoning Case: The True Crime Story Everyone's Searching For

    In 2023, Erin Patterson sat down to lunch with her in-laws. A fatal family lunch in rural Australia. A handful of mushrooms. Three deaths. One survivor. And a woman at the center of a case that grabbed the world's attention almost overnight.  In this episode, we break down the 2023  Erin Patterson Australia mushroom poisoning case step-by-step - the timeline, the medical findings, the early interviews, the evidence released so far, and why investigators believe this incident is anything but ordinary.  From the quiet town of Leongatha to global headlines, this is the full story of the case that left a community stunned and the world asking the same question: what really happened during that deadly meal? Intro and Outro Music: Isaiah Hildreth Sources: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-02/police-charge-erin-patterson-mushroom-poisoning-deaths/103056694 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leongatha_mushroom_murders https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-lies-that-unravelled-how-erin-patterson-deceived-police-in-her-first-interview-20250707-p5md8g.htmlhttps://www.google.com/search?q=erin+patterson+trial+script&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1055US1057&oq=erin+patterson+trial+script&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMgoIAxAAGIAEGKIEMgoIBBAAGIAEGKIEMgoIBRAAGIAEGKIE0gEIMzc4NmowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:47b85422,vid:lf5QfJ8Kd_I,st:0 https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/erin-patterson-trial-live-updates-more-witnesses-appear-before-jury-in-trial-of-mushroom-cook-20250507-p5lx8f.html https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-08/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial-air-traffic-controller/105464254 https://www.9news.com.au/national/mushroom-deaths-victoria-heather-wilkinson-public-memorial-service/2408018a-4ee1-44a4-877f-1a2cd7ede6af https://todayspaper.theaustralian.com.au/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=4361e090-b704-47f1-9816-4557e2589d84&share=true Send us Fan Mail To purchase your merch - email us at hardtimesandtruecrimes@gmail.com with what you want, size, and a shipping address. We can accept Venmo or CashApp Support the show hardtimesandtruecrimes.com                    buymeacoffee.com/hardtimesTC

    44 min
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About

Listen to two Southern, Christian women tell each other historical true crime stories. 

Information

  • Creator
    Darlene Hildreth and Melody Gwyn
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    123
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hard Times and True Crimes
  • Show Website
    Hard Times and True Crimes

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