Shows
Front Porch Mysteries with Carole TownsendThe DateSometimes life throws unexpected curves that temporarily interrupt even our most cherished routines. In this brief but deeply personal episode, I share news that's difficult to deliver—a serious head-on collision has temporarily paused my storytelling.What began as a promising evening on June 25th—my husband and I heading to a rare midweek date night of dinner and a concert—turned catastrophic in an instant. The accident left me with multiple broken bones in both legs, broken ankles, damaged kneecaps, a broken finger, and four broken ribs. After waking up in the trauma department and enduring three...2025-07-1002 min
Front Porch Mysteries with Carole TownsendThe Jefferson Davis EightIn the small Louisiana town of Jennings, a troubling series of murders has remained unsolved for nearly two decades, revealing dark truths about how some communities value certain lives less than others. Between 2005 and 2009, eight women were found dead—Loretta Chasson, Ernestine Patterson, Kristen Gary Lopez, Whitney Dubois, Laconia "Muggy" Brown, Crystal Benoit Zeno, Brittany Gary, and Nicole Guillory—all connected through their struggles with addiction, involvement in sex work, and roles as police informants.What makes these murders particularly disturbing isn't just their brutality but the web of suspicious circumstances surrounding the investigation. When Loretta Chasson's body...2025-06-2643 min
Front Porch Mysteries with Carole TownsendTerror in Southern LouisianaBeneath the mystical façade of Louisiana's voodoo legends and Creole culture lurks a modern horror story few could imagine. For over a decade, from 1993 to 2006, the Baton Rouge area was gripped by fear as women disappeared and turned up murdered with alarming frequency. The community transformed – doors once left unlocked were bolted shut, morning jogs became dangerous endeavors, and the friendly Southern hospitality gave way to justifiable paranoia.What makes this case extraordinary isn't just the brutality of the crimes, but the revelation that stunned even veteran investigators: two separate serial killers operated simultaneously in the sam...2025-06-1232 min
Front Porch Mysteries with Carole TownsendCreatures in the MistThe blue mist shrouding the Great Smoky Mountains hides more than just breathtaking vistas and ancient forests – it conceals centuries of mysteries that continue to elude explanation. This rugged wilderness, spanning Tennessee and North Carolina, draws millions of visitors annually to its trails and streams. Yet beneath its serene beauty lurks an unsettling statistic: the Great Smoky Mountains ranks among America's five deadliest national parks, with 101 recorded deaths in just thirteen years.More chilling still are those who simply vanish without a trace. Since record-keeping began, at least five people have disappeared completely in these mountains – six-year-old Denn...2025-05-2930 min
Front Porch Mysteries with Carole TownsendMalice Aforethought: The Susan Smith MurdersA mother's desperate claim that her two young sons were kidnapped by a carjacker unravels into one of the most shocking murder cases in South Carolina history. The Susan Smith case reveals how a web of lies, inconsistencies, and a devastating confession led to the discovery of a premeditated crime that shocked the nation.• Susan Smith reported her sons Michael (3) and Alex (14 months) were taken during a carjacking on October 25, 1994• For nine days, America watched as Susan and her husband David made tearful pleas on national television• Investigators noticed troubling inconsistencies in Susan's story, including speaki...2025-03-1427 min
Front Porch Mysteries with Carole TownsendThe Missing Sodder ChildrenOn Christmas morning in 1945, a family's holiday joy shattered when flames consumed their home and five children mysteriously vanished. The Sodder family of Fayetteville, West Virginia, faced unthinkable tragedy that sparked theories of conspiracy and kidnapping. Starting with a strange phone call that Jenny Sautter received just before the blaze began, the episode delves into the moments leading to the horrifying fire that would change their lives forever.We explore the bizarre occurrences that transpired that fateful night. Why did their coal trucks fail to start? Why was the ladder inexplicably missing? Why was the phone line...2025-02-2726 min
Front Porch Mysteries with Carole TownsendThe Alday MurdersDiscover the shocking crime spree of Carl Isaacs and his gang, whose violent escape from the Maryland State Penitentiary led to a terrifying series of events in 1973. How did a group of fugitives leave a trail of car thefts, burglaries, and brutal murders across several states? Unravel the gripping narrative of their journey southward, culminating in the harrowing Alday family massacre in Donaldsonville, Georgia, an event that left an indelible mark on the community and the justice system.Experience the desperate and chaotic flight of these criminals, from the haunting break-in at the Alday family trailer to...2025-02-1333 min