logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2023
45m 21s

231: Billy Jack Gaither

MORBIDOLOGY
About this episode
Sylacauga is a small town in central Alabama, nestled amid the rolling hills and forests of Talladega County. Back in the 1990s, this tight-knit community was so diminutive that it lacked fundamental establishments such as motels, restaurants, or even a solitary traffic signal. The town's limited size fostered a culture where nearly everyone was familiar with each other. Within the context of small-town Alabama, individuals within the LGBTQ+ community often chose to conceal their identities. Many found solace in relocating to the more embracing city of Birmingham. In 1999, the world would come to learn exactly why.

SPONSORS -

June’s Journey: Thank you to June’s Journey for sponsoring this episode! The objective of this murder-mystery game is to find objects that are hidden within beautiful, colorful and carefully crafted scenes. Download June’s Journey for free on the Apple app store and Google Play.

SmartLabels: Thank you to SmartLabels for sponsoring this episode! Say goodbye to countless minutes rummaging through storage bins for your Halloween decorations with SmartLabels. Download their app on the app store and buy their QR labels at: https://www.qrsmartlabels.com/collections/frontpage

SHOW NOTES - https://morbidology.com/morbidology-the-podcast-231-billy-jack-gaither

PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/morbidology

Audio Credit:
Epidemic Sound
Evening of Chaos - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Empty Reflections - ErikMMusic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgq4SPKHlyI
A Mothers Sacrifice - OurMusicBox - https://ourmusicbox.com/
Dark Tranquility - Anno Domini Beats - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6mBav72Ak

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/morbidology--3527306/support.
Up next
Nov 24
336: Dru Sjodin
Chris Lang was on the phone to his girlfriend as she headed to her parked car at the Columbia Mall in Grand Forks, North Dakota, one evening in 2003. They chatted about their day but then her voice trailed off. She uttered “oh my god” before the line went dead…<br /><br /><b><i>S ... Show More
52m 17s
Nov 17
335: Kirsten Costas
It was just after 9PM one June in 1984 when Alex Arnold opened his front door to a teenage girl. She was panicked, telling him her friend had been “acting weird.” What happened next would expose the hidden pressures, jealousies, and hierarchies of a seemingly perfect high school. ... Show More
46m 33s
Nov 10
334: Farmville Murders
In September of 2009, a police officer in Farmville, Virginia, arrived at a home to carry out a welfare check. As he stepped onto the property, a pungent odor hit him, strong enough to stop him in his tracks. It was clear that something inside wasn’t right.SPONSORS -Gusto: Gusto ... Show More
39m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2020
S&S Liquor Store Murders, “A Family Affair” | MURDERISH Ep. 068
On October 27, 1988, McLean County Coroner William Anderson had just come from the Central Catholic vs. University High School football game. Afterward, he was due to meet with members of his re-election campaign to go over strategies. Before the meeting, Anderson was volunteered ... Show More
1h 12m
May 2017
Bully
Skidmore, Missouri is a very small town. In the '70s, there was only one bar, one grocery store, and one bully. Ken McElroy was so ruthless and intimidating that even police officers looked the other way. He terrorized the town for decades, until they finally fought back. We spok ... Show More
29m 39s
Jan 2021
“Katie Beers, Against all Odds” | MURDERISH Ep. 073
On December 28, 1992, nine-year-old Katie Beers vanished from a Long Island amusement center. National headlines in the days that followed read “The Tiny Tragedy from Long Island” and “America’s little girl lost.” The ripple effects were extensive. Not only was a young child miss ... Show More
1h 7m
May 2022
Jill & Kirstie Foster: Familicide丨MURDERISH Ep. 110
When a family’s financial situation drastically improves, temptation can lurk around every corner. And sometimes, outward appearances completely obscure a less glamorous reality. Chris Foster of Lancashire, England had known a working-class lifestyle for most of his adulthood. In ... Show More
1h 3m
Jan 2017
#2 - A Kidnapping & Murder in Raynham, Massachusetts - Part 1
<p>This week, we check out what was the peaceful, affluent town of Raynham, Massachusetts, until a day in 1978 that changed everything. A monster of a human being becomes the stuff of nightmares with this brutal killing. Along the way, we learn about how ugly cars were in the '70 ... Show More
57m 43s
Feb 2017
#3 - A Kidnapping & Murder in Raynham, Massachusetts - Part 2
<p>This week, we finish up the story of what was the peaceful, affluent town of Raynham, Massachusetts, until a day in 1978 that changed everything. A monster of a human being becomes the stuff of nightmares with this brutal killing.Along the way, we learn about how ugly cars wer ... Show More
59m 7s
Jan 2022
Sarah Stern: “The Mysterious Box” | MURDERISH Ep. 099
Daydreaming about coming into a sudden windfall is probably something we’ve all done. We let our minds wander for a brief moment, thinking of all the things we’d accomplish if it happened, and how happy we would be having received such a rare treat. Who would you share the money ... Show More
53m 43s
Jun 2022
Wendy DiRodio: “Deadly Envy” | MURDERISH Ep. 112
At 61 years old, Wendy DiRodio’s life was just getting started. An accomplished author, therapist and dance instructor, she was ready to excel in the only part of life where success had escaped her: love. She’d begun dating a handsome younger man; there was even talk of marriage. ... Show More
55m 4s
Aug 2023
Becky Sears
Ep 141: A woman is found beaten in her garage in a quiet Georgia suburb. Only a day later, her best friend is shot. Are these crimes just an awful coincidence? Or is something more sinister happening in this neighborhood? This is the Becky Spears story Sources for Today's Episod ... Show More
39m 47s
May 2017
#16 - A House Of Horrors in Lino Lakes, Minnesota
<p>This week, we look at the town of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, where a family did their best to try to help one of their own, with the result of 5 senseless murders, that this town will never forget. Along the way, we find out where wild rice grows, how similar a heron is to a flami ... Show More
1h 2m