Buried Bones: The Haystack Murder (Feb 4, 2026)

Hosted by Kate Winkler Dawson & Paul Holes

Episode Overview

This episode of Buried Bones dives deep into a jaw-dropping 1923 murder case from Lodi, California, known as "The Haystack Murder." Journalist Kate Winkler Dawson presents the case of Alexander "Alex" Kells—a prominent butcher and rancher found apparently murdered and burned in his car beneath a haystack—only for the truth to unfold as a shocking tale of staged death, identity confusion, and the tragic killing of an innocent man. Together, Kate and retired investigator Paul Holes dissect historic forensic practices, community context, and the human psyche in both perpetrators and victims.

Main Topics & Key Insights

1. Background & Setting the Scene

• Case Selection Anecdote:

  • Kate shares how a mistaken research tip led her to the wrong “haystack murder” and, serendipitously, the subject of her book "The Sinners All Bow"—but today’s case comes from the originally intended story [04:21].
  • "If she had told me the correct story...I would have had a completely different book." — Kate [04:47]

• Lodi in 1923:

  • Agricultural hub with vineyards, cattle, and grain, facing post-WWI economic fallout: bankruptcies and desperation among local farmers [05:01, 07:15].
  • Paul adds present-day context, recalling his own investigations in the region and vivid details of its geography and climate [05:33].

2. The Crime Scene

• Discovery:

  • On September 12, 1923, a burning haystack reveals a charred car with a body inside [10:11].
  • Forensic challenge: extreme fire damage, identity only possible through license plate and surviving personal effects [17:35].
    • "The car has been burned down to the metal." — Kate [11:17]
    • "Bodies and vehicles that have been burned...not a fun thing to deal with." — Paul [13:09]

• Victim:

  • Identified as Alexander Kells: German immigrant, self-made wealthy butcher, owner of ranches and meat markets, social club member [18:21]. His wife confirms ID via keys and coin purse clasp.
  • Estimated worth: $250,000 in 1923 (~$5 million today) [18:21].

3. The Investigation

• Forensic Hurdles:

  • Only three teeth remain in the skull (high heat/fire), hands tied behind back (probable homicide), no clear cause of death [20:04, 21:38].
    • "Teeth...end up surviving super high temperatures...so that's where I'm a little bit not sure..." — Paul [20:30]
    • "When they look at the remains, they find out that his hands are tied behind his back." — Kate [21:38]

• Timeline of Alex’s Day:

  • Hires unknown man at employment office; spotted with unknown woman; works at butcher shop; seen snacking on sardines (to Paul’s disgust); last seen alone heading toward scene of death [22:43–23:38].

• Death Threats & Motive Clues:

  • Alex’s pregnant widow reports he’d received death threats. He likely carried significant cash for rent collection that day [25:13].

• Forensic Twist:

  • Advanced autopsy raises identity doubts—stature, stomach contents, and overall clues not matching Alex's profile [30:56].
    • "Alex is taller than the person whose spine this belongs to." — Kate [30:56]
    • "Now you're relying on this pathologist...are you telling me this possibly isn't Alex?" — Paul [31:34]

4. The Truth Unravels: Staged Death & Doppelganger

• Suspicion Grows:

  • Community tips: Alex sighted alive in Nevada and aboard a train; police detain a man attempting suicide who claims to be Alex Kells [38:39].
    • "I need proof. Do they establish his identity?" — Paul [39:09]

• Alex's Confession:

  • Admits staging his own death for insurance motives—to provide for family amid shame from impending bankruptcy [40:13, 48:45].
  • "He had about $100,000 worth of insurance on himself...His wife and daughter." — Kate [40:13]
  • He hired a stranger (“Mack”), lured him, killed him (shot, then bludgeoned him), burned the body to destroy evidence, and fled [47:03].
    • "He said he drove Mack to his ranch and then he shot him twice in the head...then he beat him with an iron bar." — Kate [47:03]
    • Paul questions forensic corroboration, the difficulty in matching bullet wounds after extreme burning [48:45–49:48].

• Historic Parallels:

  • Kate recounts a nearly identical 1925 case (Charles Schwartz), proposing this crime as possible inspiration for staging deaths using an unwitting lookalike [42:06].

5. Trial, Sanity, and Community Impact

• Legal Proceedings:

  • Alex is tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. His wife, Annie, kept in the dark during pregnancy ("overly conservative," says Paul) [54:00].
  • Refuses counsel; wife later fights for a new trial and insanity defense, citing prior instability [56:20].

• Insanity Exam:

  • Outdated method: spinal fluid tests for “mental illness” (Paul critiques as futile by modern standards). He believes actions show clear awareness of right/wrong [57:06–58:03].
    • "I don't know what would be found in spinal fluid...1920s technology..." — Paul [57:06]
    • "I don't see this as somebody who is not knowing right from wrong." — Paul [58:03]

• Victim Named:

  • The murdered man: Edward "Ed" Meserve, an itinerant farmhand newly arrived for temporary work [55:17].

• Execution & Aftermath:

  • Lodi community petitions for life sentence instead of execution; Governor refuses, calls it “one of the most cold blooded and deliberately planned murders in the history of the state” [60:13].
  • Alex is hanged Jan 4. Family receives only a fraction of insurance payout, though completely innocent [61:32].
    • "Their lives have been forever altered as a result of Alex's selfish actions." — Paul [63:49]
    • Kate points out the overlooked plight of perpetrator’s families, paralleling the families of notorious criminals like the Golden State Killer [61:45].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

The Forensic Challenge of Burned Bodies

• "Teeth...end up surviving super high temperatures...so that's where I'm a little bit not sure what they're observing. Why is that?"
  — Paul Holes [20:30]

The Twist in Identity

• "Alex is taller than the person whose spine this belongs to...We don't know if this is Alex Kells."
  — Kate Winkler Dawson [30:56]

The Mental Toll & Motive

• "I saw these staring eyes everywhere I went. I couldn't stand it...I was totally humiliated. I'm gonna have to file for bankruptcy. I didn't wanna do that to my family."
  — Alex, per Kate [52:26, 50:49]

On Crime and Punishment

• "The reasons why Alex made that decision, who knows...But fundamentally, Ed lost his life because Alex decided to be selfish."
  — Paul Holes [68:43]

Important Timestamps

• [04:47] — Kate recounts how she discovered the story
• [10:11] — The burning haystack and discovery of the car and body
• [17:35] — Identification process and personal effects
• [21:38] — Discovery that the victim’s hands were tied
• [30:56] — Forensic confusion: the body’s spine doesn’t match Alex’s stature
• [38:39] — “Alex” sighted alive; man detained attempts suicide and confesses
• [40:13] — Insurance motive and the confession
• [47:03] — Detailed confession: the murder and staging
• [54:00] — Wife not notified of Alex's survival and arrest
• [55:17] — Victim’s identity is confirmed (Edward “Ed” Meserve)
• [60:13] — Community wants commutation, Governor refuses; Alex hanged

Tone & Style Notes

• The episode balances somber historical analysis with moments of dark humor and empathy, especially as Kate and Paul wrangle with the human cost of the crime, the randomness of victimization, and the tragic ripple effect on families and communities.
• Paul continually brings the perspective of modern science and investigative logic, while Kate highlights the era’s social, economic, and emotional pressures that drove the case.

Summary Takeaway

The Haystack Murder is a haunting case of desperation, self-destruction, and unintended victims. Through it, Kate and Paul examine not only the limits of historic forensics but also enduring questions of shame, social pressure, and empathy for the innocent. The episode underscores the ripple effects of crime—on victims, families, and the wider community—while drawing a clear line between mental health struggles and the awareness of right and wrong.

For show notes, references, and further visuals, see @buriedbonespod on social media, or visit the Exactly Right podcast network website.