181: The Real Suburban Axe Murder: Candy & Betty

181: The Real Suburban Axe Murder: Candy & Betty

Author: Erica Kelley June 5, 2023 Duration: 1:21:52
On a hot Friday the 13th in June of 1980, Allan Gore was worried. He couldn't get a hold of his wife, Betty. For hours, he'd called her over and over. No answer. Betty always answered. She didn’t get out by herself, especially not with their two small daughters. She hated when he traveled--scared of being alone, so Allan was trying to check in to reassure her. Now he was starting to panic. He finally got his neighbors to get into his house. When he called back, he could never have been prepared for the staggering horror of what happened to his wife.

Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/candy-and-betty

This story has been requested numerous times literally since I started the show. I understand the fascination now. A real suburban axe murder. It sounds like fiction. So thank you most recently to Melody and Denise but also to everyone who has emailed me over the years. Y’all were right. This one was a doozy.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank & Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder of Southern Gothic & Erica Kelley

  • This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp.com/SOUTHERN and get on your way to being your best self.

Hosted by Tennessee native Erica Kelley, Southern Fried True Crime digs into the dark, complex, and often unsettling stories that have shaped the American South. This podcast moves beyond the headlines to examine both historical cases and contemporary crimes, all through the lens of the region's distinct culture. Erica brings a local's perspective, balancing a layer of charm with a direct, no-nonsense approach-what she aptly calls southern sass. Each episode is a deep dive into how geography, tradition, and social structures influence these events and their outcomes. You'll hear detailed narratives that reveal how the justice system operates in the Deep South, for better or worse. The show connects the past to the present, exploring how history echoes in modern courtrooms and investigations. It’s a blend of societal observation, cultural history, and true crime analysis, all grounded in Erica's firsthand understanding of the territory. Listen for thorough research presented in a conversational tone, where the setting is as crucial as the crime itself. This isn't just about the what, but the why and how, specifically within a southern context. Tune in for a compelling exploration where the stories are as layered and potent as the region's famed cuisine.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Southern Fried True Crime
Podcast Episodes
206: The Murder of Dolly Rose Grigsby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:19
In July of 1994, 42 year old Dolly Rose Grigsby was reported missing after visiting a shopping mall in Bluefield, West Virginia. Her husband, Dan Grigsby, did everything he could to try to find his missing wife and mothe…
205: The Santa Claus Bank Robbery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:30
In the lead-up to Christmas, 1927, the good citizens of Cisco, Texas, were looking forward to celebrating the holiday with their nearest and dearest. But a group of men who rolled into town on the morning of December 23…
204: The Kidnapped Heiress: Barbara Jane Mackle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:38
20-year-old Barbara Jane Mackle was a Florida heiress whose life took a harrowing turn in December of 1968. She was kidnapped by two strangers who wanted $500,000 in ransom from her mega-rich father, land developer Rober…
203: The Hicks Babies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:05
More than 200 babies, known as the “Hicks Babies,” were sold by Dr. Thomas Hicks from the back of the Hicks Community Clinic in McCaysville, Georgia during the 1950s and 1960s. Until his actions came to light, he was a r…
202: The Fugitive Lee Barnett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:08
In April of 1994, Lee Barnett picked up her 11-month-old daughter, Savanna, from her ex-husband Harris Todd’s house in Charleston, South Carolina. They were supposed to return at around six o’clock that evening. But they…
201: The Murder of Carrie Daugherty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:59
Everyone who frequented Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria in Knoxville, Tennessee, knew bartender and waitress Carrie Daugherty. She was a friendly 24-year-old woman who had a quick wit and a sweet smile. But, on March 19, 200…
200: The Murders of Jennifer Corbin & Dolly Hearn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:21
27-year-old Dorothy “Dolly” Hearn and 33-year-old Jennifer Corbin never met—but the two women had a lot in common. Both were intelligent young women in Georgia who had their whole lives ahead of them, and both of them di…
199: The Legs Murder Scandal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:54
One of my most requested cases for Spooky Season: The Legs Murder ScandalOn a rainy and cold January day in 1935, a rabbit hunter came across a sugar sack on a rural road in Laurel, Mississippi. He opened it up and found…
198: Karla Faye Tucker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:23
On June 12th of 1983, 27-year-old Jerry Lynn Dean and 32-year-old Deborah Ruth Thornton met at a pool party. Right away, their chemistry was apparent—even though their budding relationship was doomed from the start. Jerr…
197: Memphis Serial Killer: George Howard Putt-part 2 of 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:19
In August and September of 1969, one man killed five people in the span of 29 days in Memphis, Tennessee. These violent crimes shook the city of Memphis to its very core. Lock sales skyrocketed. Families adopted large do…