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376. Ultimate Betrayel: The Fort Leonard Wood Murders

376. Ultimate Betrayel: The Fort Leonard Wood Murders

Author: Our True Crime Podcast September 9, 2026 Duration: 1:07:53
Our True Crime Podcast
SocietyCultureJournalsPersonalSociety & CultureTrue Crime
In October 1976, two teenagers took a late-night drive near a remote military base in the Missouri Ozarks and simply vanished into thin air. Months later, a second carload of kids was pulled over by a figure of authority on those same dark roads, leading to a brutal murder and betrayal, with one brave survivor. When the predator behind the badge is finally caught, investigators are left with a troubling question: could the same man responsible for this tragedy also be the answer to what happened to the two teens who went missing months before? Our team: Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Inky Pawprint⁠⁠ Sources: Bates v. United States, 517 F. Supp. 1350 (W.D. Mo. 1981) :: Justia 234: Frozen Tears: The Fort Leonard Wood MP Murders w/ J.B. King Crime Traveler: The Ft. Leonard Wood Massacre TRUE CRIME STORY Alfred Elmer Hoffman Marshal – The Charley Project Teresa Joanna Gossage – The Charley Project 701 F.2d 737 Photos of Wesley August “Wes” Hawkins - Find a Grave Memorial Anthony Lee “Tony” Bates (1958-1977) - Find a Grave Memorial Fort Leonard Wood - Wikipedia History :: FORT LEONARD WOOD Article From Jan 22, 1977, page 2 - Daily American Republic at Newspapers.com™ Oct 17, 1976, page 21 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™ Jan 22, 1977, page 1 - The Daily Capital News at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™ May 04, 1977, page 27 - Daily American Republic at Newspapers.com™ Article From Feb 16, 1977, page 9 - Henryetta Daily Free-Lance at Newspapers.com™ May 04, 1977, page 29 - The Springfield News-Leader at Newspapers.com™ May 03, 1977, page 1 - The Springfield News-Leader at Newspapers.com™ Feb 23, 1977, page 29 - The Springfield News-Leader at Newspapers.com™ May 08, 1977, page 2 - The Kansas City Star at Newspapers.com™ Article From Jun 10, 1977, page 1 - The Kansas City Times at Newspapers.com™ Jun 10, 1977, page 4 - The Kansas City Times at Newspapers.com™ Article From Apr 16, 1980, page 2 - Daily American Republic at Newspapers.com™ Article From Jan 08, 1981, page 10 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™ Article From Jan 09, 1981, page 8 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™ Article From May 31, 1981, page 35 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™ Article From Aug 23, 1981, page 29 - The Kansas City Star at Newspapers.com™ The Debate Over Whether Dissociative Identity Disorder Is "Real" | Psychology Today Jul 26, 1977, page 13 - Times Record at Newspapers.com™ (found sane) Article From Jul 27, 1977, page 2 - The Montgomery Advertiser at Newspapers.com™ Jan 15, 1977, page 1 - Times Record at Newspapers.com™ Article From Jul 23, 1977, page 6 - The Kansas City Star at Newspapers.com™ Jul 27, 1977, page 27 - Journal and Courier at Newspapers.com™ Article From Jul 26, 1977, page 38 - Portland Press Herald at Newspapers.com™ Article From Jul 26, 1977, page 18 - Omaha World-Herald at Newspapers.com™ Article From Jan 15, 1977, page 1 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™ Article From Jan 15, 1977, page 2 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™ Jan 15, 1977, page 9 - The Register at Newspapers.com™ Jan 15, 1977, page 29 - The Times at Newspapers.com™ https://www.newspapers.com/image/887035596/?match=1&terms="Johnny%20Lee%20Thornton"%20&search-id=af39819e-93b9-4829-b9ea-44130a34b461&search-rank=7 Article From Feb 17, 1977, page 25 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™ Jul 27, 1977, page 1 - The Kansas City Times at Newspapers.com™ Jul 27, 1979, page 11 - The Springfield News-Leader at Newspapers.com™ May 20, 1979, page 83 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™ Jun 19, 1979, page 4 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™ Real 'Sybil' Admits Multiple Personalities Were Fake : NPR The Mesmerizing Story of ‘Sybil Exposed’ | Kirkus Reviews Aug 09, 1980, page 11 - Albany Democrat-Herald at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™ Frozen Tears: The Fort Leonard Wood MP Murders | # **EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 9 - [Frozen Tears: The Fort Leonard Wood MP Murders](https://www.facebook.com/groups/682974085504257/ | Facebook Frederick E Williams (1958-1977) - Find a Grave Memorial https://phelpscountyfocus.com/2023/02/15/talking-waynesville-the-mp-murders-of-1977/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a whole world of strange and unsettling stories that rarely make the headlines, and that's exactly where you'll find Our True Crime Podcast. Each episode digs into one of those bizarre, lesser-known cases from any corner of the globe, stories that often defy easy explanation. Hosts Jen and Cam guide you through these peculiar narratives with a genuine sense of respect for those involved, balancing the darker details with their own conversational chemistry and a bit of well-timed humor. You might even get a smidge of song along the way, because real life, especially the strange parts, rarely follows a single tone. This isn't just a retelling of facts; it's a shared exploration of the oddities hidden within human behavior and society. Tuning into this podcast feels like pulling up a chair with two friends who have a knack for finding the most compelling, offbeat tales. You'll hear the careful research, the thoughtful discussions, and the personal touch that Jen and Cam bring to every story, making even the most obscure case feel immediate and fascinating. If you're looking for a true crime experience that ventures far beyond the usual cases and does so with character and heart, you've found it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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Special: Rogue Transmissions 4: DungeonPunk (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Hey Everyone, Edward October and some other indie podcasts put together a 2-part anthology. Cam and I did a short true-crime episode in this first part. With the help of JT from Brew Crime. The 2nd part will be out in tw…
361. The Sleepover: Browning Family Massacre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:28
In the quiet suburb of Cockeysville, Maryland, nothing bad was supposed to happen. Families left their doors unlocked. Neighbors trusted one another. And the Browning family seemed picture perfect. Fifteen-year-old Nicho…
The Murder of Kiara Agnew with Nikki for Serial Napper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:28
In this month’s special, Cam and Jen talk with Nikki from ⁠Serial Napper⁠. In March 2023, 23-year-old Kiara Agnew left her home in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to celebrate her birthday in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It…
360. In the Woods: The Murders of Kara Kopetsky & Jessica Runions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:48
On a May morning in 2007, a 17-year-old girl walked out of her Missouri high school, stepped away from a security camera, and vanished. For nearly ten years, her family lived without answers. They were certain they knew…
359. Stolen: The Abduction and Murder of Hailey Owens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:08
Just after 5:00 p.m. on February 18, 2014, ten-year-old Hailey Owens set out on the short walk home from a friend’s house. What began as an ordinary Tuesday turned horrific when neighbors Carlos and Michelle Edwards watc…
Sister Tadea Benz & Johnny Garret with Courtney from Book of the Dead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:13
This month, we have a talk with Courtney from The Book of the Dead, who joins us to talk about the murder of Sister Tadea Benz and the execution of Johnny Frank Garret. In October 1981, the quiet city of Amarillo, Texas,…
358. Unbelieveable: The Murder of Mindi Kassotis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:29
When hunters in Bulltown Swamp discovered the remains of an unidentified woman in late 2022, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was left with a mystery that felt impossible to solve. There were no matching missing perso…
357. Waiting in the Dark: The Murder of Beverly Guenther [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:58
In the early 1990s, long before his name would be tied to something unthinkable, Scott McLaughlin was already unraveling. Untreated childhood trauma, cognitive struggles, and severe mental illness shaped his life. Suicid…
356. In the Boat Shed: The Houston Heights Murders & Dean Corll [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:42
The 1970s were more than just shag carpet and polyester; they were a time of deep contradiction. While things felt full of possibility, a shadow of distrust hung over everything—fueled by Vietnam, Watergate, and a strugg…

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