Podcast Summary: "Terrifying New Details: Charity Beallis’ Son Speaks Out After the Murder of His Family"

Podcast: Drop Dead Serious with Ashleigh Banfield
Host: Ashleigh Banfield
Guest: John Powell (Charity Beallis's adult son)
Release Date: December 12, 2025
Episode Length: ~28 minutes

Episode Overview

This emotional episode centers around the shocking murders of Charity Beallis and her twin six-year-old children, Eliana and Maverick, in Arkansas. Host Ashleigh Banfield brings her signature directness and empathy to a wrenching true crime tragedy that has outraged the community and spotlighted systemic failures in responding to domestic abuse. The episode features a deeply personal interview with John Powell, the surviving adult son, who shares first-hand insights into the family's turbulent life with Dr. Randall Beallis—Charity's ex-husband and father of the twins—whose actions and history are under mounting scrutiny.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Case: Details and Context

Timestamps: [03:00 – 08:00]

• Victims: Charity Beallis (40) and her six-year-old twins, Eliana and Maverick, found shot dead in their upscale home.
• Current Status: No arrests or public suspects have been identified, though the investigation involves at least five state and federal agencies, including the Secret Service and Homeland Security.
• Suspicions: Focus revolves around Dr. Randall Beallis, a prominent family doctor and recent ex-husband, due to his history of violence and proximity to the family.
• Domestic Violence History:
  • Beallis was arrested for strangling Charity in front of the twins in February 2025; pleaded guilty to third-degree domestic battery (a misdemeanor in Arkansas).
  • Charity’s family alleges a decade of abuse.
  • “It's not just the family. There is a mugshot to prove it and a jailhouse orange jumpsuit and an arrest and a plea deal.” - Ashleigh Banfield [04:00]
• Prior Tragedy:
  • In 2012, Beallis’ previous wife, Shawna, died from a gunshot wound ruled a suicide. Her family disputes that ruling and is urging authorities to reopen the case.

2. The Divorce and Legal Aftermath

Timestamps: [07:00 – 10:00]

• Charity and Randall’s divorce was granted the day before the murders, but the final decree wasn't officially filed.
• “If you're still married, you get all the stuff. You're the next of kin. You get the bodies, the babies, all of it. You run the show.” – Ashleigh Banfield [10:10]
• Dr. Beallis is attempting to have the divorce dismissed, presumably for inheritance and next-of-kin rights, while John Powell is legally fighting to ensure the divorce is recognized and that his mother’s wishes are honored (e.g., burial decisions).

3. Firsthand Accounts of Abuse: John Powell Speaks

Timestamps: [09:00 – 24:15]

• Video Evidence: John captured and shares video of Beallis slashing his truck tires while holding one of the twins, demonstrating a pattern of aggression.
  • “What are you gonna do? It's called being the parent. But it's my truck in my name. I paid for it.” – John Powell (Video Clip) [09:15]
  • “That's the most unbelievable parenting I think I've ever seen...especially when you're holding a little baby and wielding a very sharp knife.” – Ashleigh Banfield [09:27]
• Fear and Systemic Failure:
  • Charity repeatedly sought help, writing to officials, senators, and the governor.
  • “She begged for nine months for somebody to listen to her and protect her and them kids, but it seems like nobody wanted to listen.” – John Powell [16:58]
• Allegations from the Twins:
  • Powell explains that his younger brother testified about severe abuse, including being smothered until unconscious, threats of death, and physical violence towards both twins.
  • “He would tell them, if you tell anyone what has happened and what I'm doing, I will kill you. That's on file.” – John Powell [17:45]
• Law Enforcement Response:
  • Police have shared minimal information with the family, citing ongoing investigation. The family describes feeling isolated and unsupported.
  • “Pretty much what I know is what the general public knows as well.” – John Powell [14:49]

4. Personal Memories & Tribute

Timestamps: [23:30 – 24:15]

• John recalls the intelligence, innocence, and creativity of his little siblings:
  • “My little brother, I mean, he learned how to play chess in 45 minutes…Eliana…could draw and paint pictures at six years old like a professional…just very very talented and smart.” – John Powell [24:08]
• Charity is remembered as loving, selfless, and determined to become an advocate for domestic violence survivors.

5. The Host's Reflections and Call for Justice

Timestamps: [25:15 – 27:08]

• Banfield expresses faith in forensic evidence and the eventual solving of the case:
  • “You can't walk into someone's mansion and slaughter a family and not have left forensic information everywhere, right? ... I think we're going to get an arrest and I think it's going to be pretty soon.” – Ashleigh Banfield [25:15]
• Strongly advocates for justice and honors the victims, underscoring the broader systemic issues illuminated by the tragedy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “She begged for nine months for somebody to listen to her and protect her and them kids, but it seems like nobody wanted to listen.”
  – John Powell [16:58]
• “She was doing what she could to survive and keep her family safe.”
  – John Powell [16:39]
• “That's the most unbelievable parenting I think I've ever seen…especially when you're holding a little baby and wielding a very sharp knife over and over again. Yeah, that's a little baby.”
  – Ashleigh Banfield [09:27]
• “I never pictured I'd have to do something like this. It just blows my mind.”
  – John Powell, on battling to bury his mother and siblings [22:29]
• “I want to see whoever did this, I want to see them go down. I want to see them suffer like Coburger. I want to see justice served for this mother and her kids.”
  – Ashleigh Banfield [26:10]

Important Timestamps

• 03:00–08:00: Banfield sets the scene; outlines previous violence and murder history
• 09:00–10:00: Video clip and discussion of John witnessing violence
• 14:28–24:15: Full interview with John Powell, describing abuse, police response, legal battles, and his family’s legacy
• 25:15–27:08: Banfield’s closing reflections and call for justice

Tone & Style

Ashleigh Banfield maintains an empathic yet unsparing tone—mixing irreverence and outrage with reporting gravity. John Powell speaks with raw emotion, clarity, and pain, offering a window into the relentless strain of living under threat and now fighting for basic dignity for his family.

Takeaways

This episode is a powerful indictment of the systemic failures that allow domestic violence to escalate unchecked—even when victims desperately seek intervention. Through Banfield’s reporting and John Powell’s brave testimony, listeners gain both the devastating intimacy of the Beallis tragedy and a call to demand accountability from institutions meant to protect.

For more developments on this case, Banfield encourages listeners to subscribe, promising to bring updates as the investigation progresses and justice (hopefully) unfolds.