American Homicide: S1:E23 – Bodies on the Bayou, Part 2
Release Date: March 27, 2025
Host: Sloane Glass
Produced by: Glass Podcasts in partnership with iHeartPodcasts
Introduction
In the gripping second part of “Bodies on the Bayou,” host Sloane Glass delves deeper into the mysterious murders surrounding Emma Raine, a woman whose life has been marred by the deaths of her three husbands. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, this episode unravels the chilling connection between Emma and the tragic fates of those she married.
Hurricane Katrina and Its Aftermath
Timestamp: [03:00]
The episode opens by setting the scene with the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. With winds exceeding 155 mph, the Category 5 storm led to massive flooding, displacing tens of thousands of residents and severely crippling the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD).
John Simmerman, a journalist for the Advocate Newspaper, provides insight into the chaos that ensued:
“The police department in New Orleans was in chaos during that time. It was pretty lawless around here after Katrina.” [03:41]
The evacuation forced hundreds of police officers to leave, and many never returned, leaving the city vulnerable to a surge in crime. The murder rate in New Orleans soared to about 150% higher than the national average, complicating investigations and leading to numerous unsolved cases.
The Case of Ernest Smith
Timestamp: [04:45]
One such cold case was that of Ernest Smith, who was murdered in front of his New Orleans home in April 2006. Smith was shot twice in the doorway of his townhome, where his body was later found:
“Somebody came up on him and shot him in the doorway there. Apparently he'd fallen into the house, the bottom of a stairwell inside there, which sort of created a bloody scene.” [05:09]
Despite thorough investigations, no arrests were made, and the case went cold. Emma Smith, Ernest’s widow, relocated to Mississippi and soon remarried to James Raine, a military buddy of Ernest.
The Second Murder: James Raine
Timestamp: [05:29]
Tragedy struck again in 2011 when James Raine was brutally murdered at his home in Mississippi:
“James Raine was killed. He was shot up badly at the house he shared with Emma Raine. It looked to be very deliberate.” [05:43]
Suspicion quickly fell on Alfred Everett, James’s stepbrother, whose peculiar behavior and eventual admission of killing Ernest Smith added layers of complexity to the case. Alfred confessed to killing Ernest for a few thousand dollars but claimed he never received the payment, instead being given two old cars by James Raine.
Admission and Investigation by Alfred Everett
Timestamp: [06:28]
Alfred Everett revealed that Emma and James were having an affair and conspired to murder Ernest to collect his life insurance, which Emma had recently increased and added James as a beneficiary:
“Alfred said Emma and James were having an affair at the time, and the two wanted Ernest dead so they could collect his life insurance.” [06:33]
Despite his confession, Alfred disappeared, prompting James’s relatives to contact the police, leading Detective Descenda Barnes of the NOPD to reopen Ernest Smith’s cold case in 2012.
Deep Dive Investigation
Timestamp: [07:29] – [09:16]
Prosecutor Laura Rodrigue and Detective Barnes meticulously examined Emma Raine’s alibi and inconsistencies in her statements. Key revelations included:
- Emma claimed to have been upstairs with a toothache during Ernest’s murder, but crime scene photos showed her bed was properly made, indicating she hadn’t been away as she stated.
- Blood spatter patterns contradicted her alibi, suggesting she had to navigate through the blood to exit the scene, leaving no evidence of her presence upstairs.
“The blood was completely perfect. There were no footprints, nothing was smeared, which indicated that she could not have been in her bed upstairs sleeping.” [09:16] — Laura Rodrigue
Additionally, phone records indicated communication between Emma and James on the night of the murder, raising further suspicions.
Uncovered Past Crimes: The Leroy Evans Case
Timestamp: [11:02] – [12:22]
Investigators uncovered Emma’s prior marriage to Leroy Evans, who became a paraplegic after being hit by a vehicle in 1993. Suspicion arose when Leroy’s feeding tube was inexplicably removed, leading to his death by asphyxiation. Leroy’s mother accused Emma of foul play, though no charges were filed:
“Emma Raine was the last person in his room before his feeding tube had been removed.” [11:53]
This revelation painted Emma as a potential serial widow, although her first husband’s death remained officially unexplained.
Charges and Trials
Timestamp: [10:17] – [21:22]
Alfred Everett was charged and convicted for Ernest Smith’s murder, receiving a life sentence:
“Alfred Everett was convicted of murder. The penalty will be life in prison.” [21:16]
With Alfred’s conviction, the focus shifted to Emma Raine. Despite mounting evidence, including forged insurance documents and circumstantial links between Emma and the murders, prosecution faced challenges in gathering witnesses willing to testify against her.
Due to courtroom constraints, prosecutors relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, presenting family trees and insurance policy flowcharts to the jury:
“We had to put that up on a large board in front of them where we had diagrammed...” [32:04] — Laura Rodrigue
Trial Proceedings and Evidence
Timestamp: [23:03] – [26:10]
During the trial, Emma’s defense attempted to shift blame to her deceased third husband, James Raine, labeling him as the mastermind behind the murders. However, Alfred Everett’s refusal to testify weakened the defense’s stance.
Prosecutor Rodrigue emphasized Emma’s lack of remorse and calculated actions:
“She never gave me the impression of any remorse at all for any of the family members...” [22:28]
Despite the absence of direct evidence, the prosecution successfully connected the dots through comprehensive circumstantial evidence, leading to a jury deliberation of just three and a half hours before delivering a guilty verdict.
Verdict and Aftermath
Timestamp: [32:54] – [35:28]
Emma Raine was convicted of second-degree murder for the killing of Ernest Smith, receiving a life sentence alongside concurrent charges for tax fraud:
“Emma Raine was convicted of murder. The penalty will be life in prison.” [33:11]
Furthermore, Emma was required to pay over $94,000 in restitution, which she managed to cover using the life insurance payout from her third husband, James Raine—a sum that was fraudulently acquired by forging the name of Ernest’s biological daughter:
“Emma used the payout of life insurance from husband number three, James Raine, to pay back the IRS.” [34:54]
Continuing Unsolved Cases
Timestamp: [35:54] – [36:13]
The murder of James Raine in 2011 remains unsolved, with investigators suspecting Emma’s involvement but lacking sufficient evidence to charge her directly. Surveillance footage showed Emma tampering with the security system on the night James was killed, but no concrete proof tied her to the act:
“They see her approach the box or the main area where you control the surveillance equipment, and then the equipment is sort of shut off.” [36:13]
Personal Impact: Apostle Jackson’s Story
Timestamp: [37:18] – [40:28]
The episode concludes with the emotional testimony of Apostle Jackson, Ernest Smith’s mentor and father figure, who grapples with the aftermath of the murders:
“If I had not told him that the word of God said he had to forgive and he had to be with his wife, he probably would be alive today. That's a burden to carry.” [37:52] — Apostle Jackson
Jackson reflects on the consequences of his advice to Ernest, leading to deep-seated guilt and a lifelong sense of responsibility for not preventing the tragedy:
“I couldn't convince me that this nice woman could have her husband killed. Just couldn't convince me of it.” [39:02]
Conclusion
“S1:E23 – Bodies on the Bayou, Part 2” offers a profound exploration of manipulation, deceit, and the dark intricacies of Emma Raine’s life. Through meticulous investigation and heartfelt testimonies, host Sloane Glass paints a harrowing portrait of a woman connected to multiple unsolved murders, leaving listeners both captivated and disturbed by the depths of human deception.
Notable Quotes
-
John Simmerman:
“Somebody came up on him and shot him in the doorway there... It was still barren around there. There weren't a lot of people living out there.” [05:09] -
Laura Rodrigue:
“The blood was completely perfect. There were no footprints, nothing was smeared... she had to go around him and step into the blood...” [09:16]
“Emma Raine’s biological daughter forges the name of Ernest Smith’s biological daughter...” [18:21]
“She never gave me the impression of any remorse at all...” [22:28] -
Apostle Jackson:
“If I had not told him that the word of God said he had to forgive and he had to be with his wife, he probably would be alive today.” [37:52]
“You just couldn't convince me that this nice woman could have her husband killed.” [39:02] -
Sloan Glass:
“Emma Raine was a suspect in the death of her first and third husbands, but she was only charged with murdering her second husband...” [30:04]
“It was one of the most frightening and unsettling stories we’ve covered.” [Implicit in summary]
Looking Ahead
In the next episode, “Bodies on the Bayou” will investigate the case of four women murdered in their Louisiana homes, uncovering a power struggle that allowed one of the state’s most prolific serial killers to elude capture. Listeners can expect another intense and compelling narrative as the series continues to explore America’s most enigmatic murder cases.
Contact Information:
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