Criminology Podcast – Episode 374: Martha Leanne Greene

Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Morford (Morph)
Original Release Date: August 31, 2025

Overview of the Episode

This episode of the Criminology podcast tackles the mysterious 1987 disappearance of Martha Leanne "Leann" Greene, a 17-year-old from White Bluff, Tennessee. Unlike recent high-profile cases, Leann's disappearance barely made the headlines, yet it remains as enigmatic and heartbreaking as any. Hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Morford explore the sequence of events, police investigation missteps, leading suspects, and the enduring pain for Leann's family—while also reflecting on the broader context of missing persons in small-town America.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Background & Timeline

• Leann Greene: 17-year-old high school junior, twin to brother Lawson, two older sisters (Lisa, Lori). She was looking forward to prom and worked part-time as a hostess.
• Evening of Disappearance – April 15, 1987:
  • Lawson picks up Leann after her shift at the Holiday Inn in Dixon (03:53).
  • Driving their cousin’s ‘79 Monte Carlo, they run out of gas on Highway 46 near Fabric Road (~1 mile from the hotel; it’s raining heavily).
  • The Puckett family, returning from church, stops to help them.
  • Notable Moment: “One of the last things Leann ever said to her brother Lawson was, ‘I'm scared.’ She didn't say what of, and Lawson didn't ask.” (08:01)
  • Lawson and the Pucketts go to get gas, leaving Leann in the car. She wants the keys to listen to the radio.
  • Lawson is gone for 8–15 minutes. When he returns, Leann is missing; her purse and the keys are still in the car, with no signs of struggle. (09:50)

Immediate Aftermath & Theories

• Initial Search: Investigation treats the disappearance as possible foul play due to Leann’s excitement for prom and the improbability of her leaving voluntarily (10:38–12:03).
• Family and Friends: “She had her pink prom dress and matching shoes laid out on her bed, waiting for her to look at it and try it on one more time before prom night.” (11:01)
• Runaway Theory: Dissected and basically dismissed due to circumstances—lack of motive/opportunity, unfinished plans, and no history of running away.
• Law enforcement notes a lack of crime scene preservation: friends/family trampled the site, and the car wasn’t impounded until the next day (13:31).

Law Enforcement’s Handling

• First on the scene was an inexperienced 19-year-old officer, Jeff Bledsoe: “I could see no obvious signs of a struggle, and her belongings left in the car had me thinking she was expecting a return back to the car.” (15:40)
• No clear direction or clues on the ground; rain complicated evidence gathering.
• Early hypothesis: abduction by a stranger, perhaps someone driving past.

Main Suspect: Robert McKinley Richards

• Pattern of Violence: Serial sexual assault suspect, history of impersonating law enforcement, was present on Highway 46 the night Leann vanished.
• Notable Suspect Details:
  • Used a blue police-style light and wore fake uniforms to lure victims (21:02).
  • Multiple attacks on women using same ruse, described as increasingly aggressive (22:25–23:59).
  • Knew someone local and visited the Dixon area multiple times during the same period (24:10).
• Confessions & Contradictions:
  • Confessed to killing Leann (and another woman) under hypnosis and to several prison inmates/cellmates. Provided details only an insider might know, such as a description of Leann’s jewelry (25:12).
  • Later recanted when Leann’s parents visited him in prison. Cellmate says Richards was “relieved because he thought he had convinced them that he didn't kill her.” (29:55)
• Demise: Killed in prison in 1991 under bizarre circumstances—he allegedly convinced his cellmate to kill him due to paranoia about being in danger from the CIA (31:34–32:41).

Other Theories & Suspects

• Bible Belt Strangler & Other Serial Murderers: Possibility raised due to overlap in time/area with redhead murders, but significant differences in victimology, circumstances, and MO (34:17).
• Henry Harris Jr.: A trucker found dead with Leann's missing persons flyers and a note. Ultimately, insufficient evidence and none conclusive (35:43).

Impact on Family and Community

• Brother Lawson: Wrongly suspected in “internet sleuth” circles due to the car's breakdown but alibied and cleared. He’s blamed himself for years: “He blamed himself for his twin sister Leann's disappearance, feeling that he was responsible...He’s probably played that moment back a lot of times in his life.” (39:18, 46:11)
• Parents: Mother passed away in 1997; father in 2023, both never knowing what happened to their daughter. Leann declared legally dead in 1999 (39:18).
• Local Law Enforcement: The case still haunts officers decades later: “Her photo still hangs in my office as a constant reminder to never give up,” said Captain Randy Starkey (41:16).

Lingering Questions

• Why did Leann say she was scared, and why did she choose to stay in the car alone? (09:01, 47:07)
• Why was the car door later found to have a potential kick mark only disclosed a decade later? (40:07)
• With no evidence, remains, or clear confessions, the community and family are left only with speculation.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “I'm scared.” (Leann to Lawson, recounted at 08:01)
• Jeff Bledsoe (first officer at the scene): “I could see no obvious signs of a struggle, and her belongings left in the car had me thinking she was expecting a return back to the car.” (15:40)
• Sheriff Mike Breedlove: “She has not just walked off there by herself. We're pretty sure it's a stranger abduction.” (10:38)
• Mike Ferguson: “One thing that you would have to say is that this Richards guy is a tantalizing suspect.” (26:50)
• Marsha Ehret’s sister (suspected Richards victim): “I'm sure Theresa would have stopped if she thought it was a police officer. Just as sure as I am that Richards took Teresa and killed her.” (25:51)
• Captain Randy Starkey: “Her photo still hangs in my office as a constant reminder to never give up.” (41:16)
• Former Detective Woods: “Richards looked me square in the eyes, raised his right hand and said, 'I swear on my mother's life that I killed Leanne Greene.'” (42:06)
• Mike Morford: “If he hadn’t murdered anyone, it wouldn’t be a leap to expect him to eventually do that, because he just showed a pattern.” (44:08)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 03:19 | Case Introduction: Recap of previous episode and opening on Leann’s disappearance | | 04:31 | The night of Leann’s disappearance unfolds in detail | | 08:01 | Leann tells her brother, “I’m scared” | | 10:38 | Leann officially reported missing; early theories discussed | | 13:31 | Police investigation mishandlings and evidence lost | | 15:40 | Officer Bledsoe’s observations at the scene | | 17:21 | “Three suspected serial murders or rapists driving on Highway 46 the night that Leanne disappeared” | | 17:54 | Focus shifts to suspect Robert McKinley Richards | | 21:02 | Fake officer ruse discussed as possible abduction method | | 25:12 | Confessions, unique knowledge, and subsequent recantation by Richards | | 29:55 | More on Richards’ admissions and denial to Leann’s parents | | 31:34 | Richards’ prison death by cellmate (suicide by proxy) | | 34:17 | The “Bible Belt Strangler” and other suspect theories | | 39:18 | Effects on Lawson and family; Leann declared legally dead | | 41:16 | Case’s lasting impact on local investigators | | 45:16 | Host reflections on how a quick errand turned tragic | | 47:07 | Re-examining Leann’s brief but haunting "I'm scared" comment |

Tone & Reflections

The hosts maintain their signature blend of compassion, careful skepticism, and empathy for families. Their dialogue is warm and conversational with pointed commentary on police procedures, societal changes, and reflections on “what might have been” for Leann and her family.

Conclusion

Despite extensive leads, including a deeply suspicious main suspect who both confessed and recanted, as well as enduring pain and guilt for her family, the fate of Martha Leanne Greene remains unknown. The hosts encourage continued awareness and tips to law enforcement, hoping for answers even after nearly four decades of mystery.

For Tips:
Dixon County Sheriff's Office: 615-xxx-xxxx
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation: tips@tbi.gov

Next Episode: Tune in next Saturday night for another true crime case with Mike and Morph.