Crimes of the Carolinas

Iredell County Public Library

4.5 (8)
True Crime

If you have a fascination with true crime and a passion for the intriguing tales history holds, this podcast is for you! Dive into the captivating world of Iredell County's most notorious crimes, as well as riveting stories from neighboring counties and throughout Western North Carolina. Join us as we unravel the mysteries right in our own backyard. Hosted by Iredell County Public Library.

Aug 5

Kids Killing Kids

In this anniversary episode of Crimes of the Carolinas, Shellie is joined by guest a new guest co-host to navigate a major transition and dive into one of Iredell County's darkest historic true crime cases.
Jun 2

Murder Runs in the Family

What are the odds that three brothers from the same family would commit the exact same horrific crime? In this spine-chilling episode of Crimes of the Carolinas, hosts Shellie Taylor (Iredell County’s local history librarian) and Dottie (technical services maven) unpack the disturbing, real-life saga of the Wall family. Between 1944 and 1949, a dark shadow fell over Iredell County, North Carolina, as three brothers—Ralph, Russell, and Jay Wall—each ended an argument by shooting and killing their wives. The community was left reeling. Was it a supernatural curse? A bizarre hereditary sleep disorder? Or was it chillingly calculated? But the mystery doesn't end with a string of tragic murder-suicides. Years after Russell Wall supposedly fled into the rural North Carolina woods to turn the gun on himself, whispering rumors began to trickle back to the sheriff's office: Russell might still be alive. Join Shellie and Dottie as they dig through the archives to trace an incredible multi-state manhunt, an undercover FBI operation, and a boastful stranger in an Alabama bar that blew a historical true-crime case wide open. Listen now to uncover how a local tragedy spawned a national investigation, and decide for yourself if it was fate, a curse, or pure malice.
Apr 6

The Woman in the Well

Join us as we dive into the Westmoreland murder case with special guest Chris Stonestreet.
Mar 16

Murder, Trains, and Social Injustice Part 2

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.
Feb 23

Murder, Trains, and Social Injustice Part 1

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 Back 00:56 Friday the 13th, 1906: The Lyerly Family Murders at Barbara Junction 02:23 Addie’s Discovery 04:29 From Investigation to Witch Hunt 06:09 Reconstruction to Backlash 13:11 Propaganda & the Press 19:58 The Grandfather Clause: Literacy Tests, Poll Taxes, and Disenfranchisement 24:43 1906 Fallout Begins 26:48 Media Narratives and Finger-Pointing 27:17 How Early News Framed the Lyerly Girls’ Escape 28:28 Sympathy vs. Suspicion 30:40 Arrests After the Murders 34:49 Defense Warnings, Officials’ Pleas, and a Growing Mob 39:14 The Lynching and Propaganda 44:54 Aftermath and Reckoning 48:58 Alternate Suspects & What’s Next
11/06/2025

Brother Against Brother

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.
07/24/2025

Murder in the Mountains

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 Hosts 00:58 Setting the Scene: Murder in the Mountains 01:15 The Investigation Begins 03:16 Discovery of Elva's Body 04:50 Suspects and Community Reactions 07:20 Law Enforcement and Forensic Challenges 15:45 New Evidence and Arrests 23:59 Paul Edwards: A Suspicious Character 27:36 Paul Edwards and Lonnie Wright: Suspects Under Scrutiny 29:23 The Arrest of Estelle Moxley 30:38 Frank Murphy's Chilling Confession 35:57 Eyewitness Testimonies and Community Reactions 44:41 Theories and Speculations: Was There a Cover-Up? 50:30 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview Access the blog article about this episode here.
06/18/2025

Till Death do us Part

Crimes of the Carolinas 01: Till Death do us Part Welcome 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 Podcast 01:00 Introduction to Female Killers 02:25 The Case of Mary Minish 03:43 Mary Minish's Time in the Asylum 05:27 The Scandal at Dorothea Dix Hospital 08:11 The Case of Netta White Harrison 10:26 Netta's Mental Health and Legal Battles 15:51 Reflections on Historical Mental Health Care 20:07 Preview of the Next Episode Access 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.

8 Episodes

4.5

out of 5

8 Ratings

If you have a fascination with true crime and a passion for the intriguing tales history holds, this podcast is for you! Dive into the captivating world of Iredell County's most notorious crimes, as well as riveting stories from neighboring counties and throughout Western North Carolina. Join us as we unravel the mysteries right in our own backyard. Hosted by Iredell County Public Library.

Creator

Iredell County Public Library
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

8
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2025 Crimes of the Carolinas
Show Website

Crimes of the Carolinas