Hillbilly Crime Investigates

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.

  1. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    Magistrates Respond

    Two of the Bell County magistrates understood the assignment and got with the program. They did not think they knew better than everyone else and go behind the backs of the people going against the will of the people. That is how leadership works. Even if you disagree with it, if it is the majority of the opinion, then you have to go with the majority decision. Majority rule. But unfortunately some elected officials didn't seem to get that memo, so we will take care of that at election time. God will. #bellcounty #datacenter #KentuckyPower #energycrisis #news #politics #lawmakers #NDA #elected

    6 min

  2. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    Bell County Special Meeting

    On June 26, 2026, the Bell County fiscal court called a special called meeting to hear public comments on a data center proposal. The land owner who bought the property 3 years spoke and didn't really appear to receive a very welcome response. #hillbillycrime #hillbillyhouse #datacenter #KentuckyPower #lawmakers #smoothtalkers #politics #land #permits #handshakes

    10 min

  3. 2d ago

    A Legal System That Protects Its Own

    In this episode of Hillbilly Crime, we break down the complex intersection of power, money, and local corruption by examining the Alex Murdaugh case through the lens of our own community dynamics in Letcher County. Key Discussion Points: The Financial Web: We trace how Alex Murdaugh utilized his status as a high-profile attorney to misappropriate settlement funds from vulnerable clients, grieving families, and victims of accidents (9:33 - 12:56). The Power of the "Dynasty" Mask: We explore how generations of family influence in the legal system created a culture of silence where peers looked away from suspicious behavior, gambling, and a party lifestyle (18:02 - 20:13). The Turning Point: A deep dive into the 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, which served as the crucial pressure point that began to unravel the family’s financial empire and exposed their desperate attempts to control the narrative (20:56 - 25:15). Justice and Misconduct: We analyze the first murder trial, the controversial role of former Clerk Becky Hill, and the implications of the South Carolina Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the conviction due to jury tampering (34:14 - 44:30). Bringing it Home: We ask the hard questions about our own backyard: When people inside the system stop questioning one another, who is left to protect the truth? We discuss how the "courthouse crowd" mentality can leave regular people susceptible to the same corruption seen in national headlines (45:05 - 50:54). This episode serves as a warning label for what happens when the machinery of justice becomes a tool for the powerful to hide their tracks.

    56 min

  4. 6d ago

    Mountain Money Train: Amler Millions

    Tonight’s Hillbilly Crime episode digs into the Mountain Money Train — the flow of AMLER grant dollars across Eastern Kentucky and the long shadow they cast over our communities. We break down how these grants are awarded, who benefits, and why so many families feel left behind while the same hands keep catching the money. I walk through the history of AMLER funding, the promises made to coal counties, and the reality we’re living with today. We look at the projects that moved forward, the ones that stalled out, and the questions nobody in power seems eager to answer. If you’re trying to understand where the money went, who controlled it, and how these decisions shape our region’s future, this episode lays it out plain. Appalachian truth, Appalachian voice, Appalachian receipts.

    1h 32m

  5. Jun 12

    Chicken Little Court: The Sky Is Falling?

    This video from Hillbilly Crime provides a critical examination of a recent change-of-venue hearing in the Mickey Stines case, where the former sheriff is charged with the murder of Judge Kevin Mullins. Jamie Hatton's Testimony: The host analyzes the 10-minute testimony of Letcher County Attorney Jamie Hatton (14:36-24:53). While the testimony highlights community talk and the existence of "Team Mickey" vs. "Team Judge" factions, the host points out that Hatton admitted no one explicitly told him they could not be fair or ignore evidence (12:48-13:10).The "Chicken Little" Argument: The host argues that the move to change the trial's venue is based more on "courthouse panic" and speculation than on proven legal necessity. She emphasizes that voir dire (jury selection) exists specifically to screen for bias, and suggests that anonymous community comments are not a reliable metric for jury pool integrity (30:04-32:45).Controversy Surrounding Matt Butler: The video explores the behavior of Commonwealth Attorney Matt Butler, including allegations that he avoided being served with a subpoena regarding the venue motion and attempted to exclude the defense investigator from the courthouse (36:26-41:20).Public Record vs. Panic: The host stresses that for such a high-profile case, the judicial system requires solid evidence for a venue change rather than just community rumor or the convenience of officials (54:21-55:05).Small Town Dynamics: Much of the discussion highlights the influence of local political circles and the perception of the "good old boy" system within the Letcher County courthouse (43:12-46:19).Conclusion: The host reiterates that while the case is undoubtedly significant and emotionally charged, the integrity of the judicial process depends on adhering to constitutional standards rather than responding to media or community pressure (1:09:09-1:10:09).Key AnalysisMain Takeaways

    1h 18m

  6. Jun 11 ·  Bonus

    Officer Ashley Taylor Police Interview

    Officer Ashley Taylor Discusses When She Noticed They Were at the Wrong Address in Doug Harless Case. Police interview. #DougHarless #Police #Interview #hillbillycrime #investigates #misconduct #incompetence #coverup

    28 min

  7. Jun 11 ·  Bonus

    Witness Cross Examination

    Here is a little bonus.

    1 min

  8. Jun 11 ·  Bonus

    Can Letcher County Seat a Jury?

    Why can't Letcher County even try to seat a jury for the Mickey Stines trial? Do you think they are following the process they are supposed to follow or just doing what they think will be easier for Judicial Economy as Jamie Hatton says? Is that Constitutional? #hillbillycrime #hillbillyhouse #investigates #trial #MickeyStines #ChangeofVenue #jury #jurors

    1 min
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About

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.

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