Criminology Podcast: Rhonda Hinson Replay (Episode 237)

Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Morford
Original Air Date: December 2022 (Replay aired December 28, 2025)
Topic: The complex and still-unsolved 1981 murder of Rhonda Hinson in Valdese, North Carolina.

Episode Overview

The hosts revisit the chilling unsolved murder of 19-year-old Rhonda Hinson, who was shot and killed just days before Christmas in 1981. The case remains a source of pain and mystery for her family and community, compounded by lost evidence, witness contradictions, and multiple theories swirling around her final hours. Mike Ferguson and Mike Morford break down the case piece by piece, examine key suspects, and highlight the baffling circumstances that have kept this tragedy in the public eye for over four decades.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Holiday Reflections & the Case’s Emotional Impact

• [03:30] The hosts reflect on the emotional burden of covering true crime stories, especially around the holidays, noting that some families forever have “an empty seat at their table.”
• The pain is intensified for families like the Hinsons whose tragedy struck at Christmas.

"When you realize that some of the families we talk about... will forever have an empty seat at their table on Christmas... that pain is really amplified because it was around Christmas when they lost their loved one to violence." — Mike Ferguson [03:30]

2. The Night of the Crime: Rhonda’s Background & Final Hours

• [04:45] - [08:00] Rhonda was popular, athletic, and had just started a clerical job at Hickory Steel Company.
• [07:52] She left a company Christmas party shortly after midnight, dropped off two friends, and began the 10-mile drive home.
• Her mother, Judy, awoke with a premonition of something terrible happening to Rhonda.

"I felt like something had happened to Rhonda. I felt like Rhonda was dead. I felt like she had been in an automobile accident." — Judy Hinson, as cited by Mike Morford [08:34]

3. The Crime Scene: Unusual Evidence and Initial Theories

• [10:16] Police found Rhonda’s Datsun on the wrong side of Mineral Springs Road, with the driver's door open and Rhonda's body placed neatly outside.
• She was killed by a shot from a high-powered .30 caliber rifle fired through the trunk, back seat and driver’s seat.
• The odd placement of her arms led police away from the theory of a stray bullet and toward suspicion of homicide.

“She would have been conscious for an estimated 10 to 15 seconds after being struck... based on the position of her arms, it didn't seem like a natural position.” — Mike Ferguson [10:55]

4. Rhonda’s Behavior Before the Murder: Clues & Concerns

• [11:36] Rhonda’s parents noted she was anxious in the weeks before her murder—unable to sleep, showering at night, and seeking company for errands.
• She asked her mother if it was ever OK to be involved with a married man, changing the subject when advised against it.

5. Witnesses & Vehicles Near the Scene

• [12:41] - [15:17] Multiple witnesses described:
  • A blue Chevrolet with two white males,
  • A blue 70s Chevelle/Nova (possibly with gray primer and front-end damage),
  • A Trans Am,
  • A tan hatchback (possibly Mark’s),
• Tim Pons and Mark Mickle, who stopped at the scene, said they didn’t see Rhonda’s body.
• Tim and Mark’s story raises questions, as Rhonda was found dead there only 12 minutes later.

6. Random Sniper or Targeted Killing?

• [16:37] Investigators considered random sniper activity due to similar incidents in the area but couldn't connect those arrested for vandalism to Rhonda’s shooting.
• Police refocused on a targeted motive due to the position of the body and the open driver’s door.

"My husband thinks it was just a random shot by some people... playing around with a rifle... I think she was targeted." — Judy Hinson, as cited by Mike Morford [17:50]

7. Suspects & Theories: Greg McDowell, Mark Turner, and Others

• [18:39] - [21:18] Rhonda was dating Greg McDowell. She confided to her cousin that Greg’s father, Charles, touched her inappropriately.
• The relationship was troubled: Greg was jealous and allegedly controlling; his letters to Rhonda became critical.
• On the night Rhonda died, she’d planned to stay at a friend's house, called Greg who was reportedly upset, and then was seen crying.
• Items like her sweater and Greg’s jacket, unaccounted for earlier, were found in her car after her death, muddling the timeline.

"That seems so strange to me, and I would think it would be very off putting to the other person." — Mike Ferguson [23:17] (On Greg’s critical letters to Rhonda)

8. Timeline Reconstruction & Physical Evidence

• [26:16] - [36:18] Analysis of the gear shift position and car location suggests Rhonda was shot while shifting, her car rolling to its final position.
• The partial roll-down of her window indicates she may have recognized whoever she stopped for.
• The scenario where Mark Turner passes Greg, gives him Rhonda’s sweater, and then Greg returns belongings to Rhonda (possibly in a heated exchange) is discussed as a plausible chain of events.

9. Investigation Fumbles: Lost Evidence and DNA

• [40:25] Carelessness with evidence hampered the investigation:
  • The trunk lid was lost,
  • Many fingerprints not retained,
  • Key DNA found on Rhonda’s sweater did not match any suspects and remains unidentified.

"So, to put it mildly, the police in this case have been careless with evidence. And if you're Rhonda's family, that has to make you angry." — Mike Morford [40:51]

10. Ongoing Pursuit & Community Frustration

• [42:44] Despite aging, the case remains active with periodic new leads and a standing $20,000 reward.
• As of 2025, the DNA from the sweater has not matched any known individuals.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "A mother's intuition—I’ve just heard too many stories... who have had, I don't know if you want to call them premonitions or feelings about things that later turned out to be true in connection with their children." — Mike Ferguson [09:27]
• “If someone had wanted to actually kill Rhonda, it makes more sense to shoot through the rear window, not the trunk... The path of the bullet ending up in Rhonda's heart would be an almost impossible shot to make on purpose.” — Mike Morford [25:22]
• "Rhonda... was laid to rest on Christmas Day 1981, 41 years ago. And for the last four decades, Rhonda's family has wondered who murdered her and why." — Mike Ferguson [43:19]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:30] – The emotional impact of discussing cold cases at the holidays
• [10:16] – Details about the crime scene and victim's body
• [12:41] – Witness accounts and suspicious vehicles
• [18:39] – Deep dive into Rhonda’s relationships and potential motives
• [21:10] – The night of the crime: events and key interactions
• [25:22] – Ballistics and forensic analysis theories
• [40:25] – Mishandling of evidence and DNA findings
• [42:44] – Current status and ongoing investigation

Summary & Takeaways

• Rhonda Hinson was an athletic, promising 19-year-old, gunned down mysteriously just before Christmas.
• Multiple suspects, unclear motives, and conflicting witness testimonies have muddied the case for decades.
• Mishandling and loss of evidence by authorities have frustrated her family and the wider community.
• A crucial piece of unidentified DNA remains the best hope for a resolution.
• Theories about the killer include her boyfriend Greg, his father Charles, her friend Mark, a jealous rival, or a random shooter, but no one has been charged.
• The case remains open and active, with authorities urging the public to come forward with any information.

Call to Action

If you have any information about Rhonda’s murder, contact:

• Burke County Sheriff's Office: 828-438-5506
• Crime Stoppers: 828-437-3333

A $20,000 reward remains for information leading to resolution of the case.

This episode encapsulates the heartbreak, frustration, and enduring questions that haunt the Rhonda Hinson case, making it one of the most perplexing unsolved mysteries in North Carolina’s history.