Going West: True Crime

Episode 547: The Teen Vampire Murders
Date: October 21, 2025
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman

Episode Overview

In this chilling episode of Going West, Daphne and Heath unravel the haunting 1996 murders of Naomi and Richard Wendorf in Eustis, Florida—crimes committed by a group of self-proclaimed teenage “vampires” from Kentucky, led by Rod Ferrell. The case unearths disturbing details of ritualistic violence, adolescent cult mentality, animal cruelty, and the psychological wounds that fueled the tragedy. The episode also scrutinizes the backgrounds of those involved, the cult's evolution, and the aftermath for all impacted.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background of the Wendorf Family and Rod Ferrell

• [03:06] Setting the Stage: “Two parents were brutally murdered inside their home. But the killers were total strangers. And more intriguingly, they were a group of teenagers from Kentucky who called themselves vampires.” — Daphne
• Naomi and Richard Wendorf settled in Eustis, FL, with two daughters, Jennifer (popular, athletic) and Heather (quiet, moody).
• Heather befriended Rod Ferrell, a troubled teen with a transient life between Florida and Kentucky.
• Rod’s background: deep family trauma, including abuse in his mother Sandra’s family lineage and his own childhood.

2. The Vampire Cult Origins

• [06:13] “According to Rod, he was a 500-year-old vampire... named Vassago... described as his alter ego.” — Daphne
• Rod's induction into "vampirism" came after a ritual with friend Jaden Murphy in a cemetery.
• [08:50] "That's...crazy...it's so weird how much stuff goes on that we don't see." — Daphne
• Rod's mother Sandra was deeply enabling: dressing in goth, supporting rituals, and even facing criminal charges for her role.
• [11:29] "This is a grown ass woman." — Daphne on Sandra’s involvement

3. Escalation to Violence

• [12:57] Warning: Animal Cruelty - Rod’s violence first surfaced with the killing of a kitten, which shocked his friend.
• As Rod lost his original cult due to his escalating cruelty, he recruited more at-risk teens (Scott Anderson, Charity Kesey, Dana Cooper) and relished being their “vampiric father.”
• The cult's activities grew darker - leading to a gruesome incident at the Murray, Kentucky animal shelter:
  • [20:56] “On the morning of October 14, 1996...as many as 40 dogs running wild in the street. Eight were left unaccounted for... and...two puppies... mutilated.” — Daphne
  • The sheriff suspected cult involvement due to ritualistic evidence at the crime scene.

4. Flight to Florida and Murder of the Wendorfs

• [26:16] Cult’s Plan: The group flees Kentucky to Eustis, FL, with dreams of escaping to New Orleans and living out their vampire fantasy.
• Heather, reconnected with Rod, allegedly asked for help to escape abuse—a claim uncorroborated.
• Their plan: steal Heather’s parents’ Ford Explorer. Heather leaves a note for her sister and provides details for Rod and Scott to enter the house.
• [29:48] Murders: Rod bludgeons Richard Wendorf on the couch (22 blows) and then Naoma (21 blows) after she confronts him. Scott watches but does not participate.
  • [29:48] "It's now or never. Because if he gets up, I'm a fucking dead motherfucker. So I just beat him until he died." — Rod (police interrogation)
  • [31:33] "You could have teamed up with the two victims before they were murdered and gotten Rod to stop or left the house or found a phone." — Daphne

5. Aftermath, Arrest, and Trials

• Group flees in the stolen vehicle; Heather discovers her parents are dead and is appalled.
• Jennifer returns home and calls 911 after finding her parents.
• A multi-state manhunt culminates with an arrest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after one of the cult’s mothers tricks them with a money order.
• [39:42] “On November 28, 1996, which happened to be Thanksgiving Day, all five teenagers were arrested on the spot..." — Heath
• Heather was not charged after police believed she wasn’t complicit in the murders.
• Sandra, Rod’s mother, becomes a local pariah as she supports her incarcerated son.

6. Legal Consequences and Legacy

• [41:43] Rod's 1998 trial: found to be manipulative and violent, sentenced to death at age 18—the youngest on death row at the time.
• Codefendants:
  • Dana and Charity: accepted plea deals, served reduced sentences.
  • Scott: sentenced to life without parole, later reduced to 40 years.
  • Heather: not charged, but court admonishment read at trial.
• [44:53] "He seemed almost excited at the prospect of being put to death via the electric chair." — Daphne
  • [45:27] Rod: "The electric chair's always been a main icon...I always did wonder what it'd be like to sit in it and actually experience death through it...So that part doesn't really bother me at all."
• 2000: Rod's sentence commuted to life; later prison interviews show apparent remorse, contrasted to his younger, narcissistic self.
• [49:02] “Regardless of the outcome of this resentencing, please just know how deeply sorry I am for all the hurt that I have caused. I'm sorry for all the pain and your loss. I'm sorry for everything.” — Rod (resentencing hearing, 2019)
• Rod attracts “jailhouse groupies,” marrying and divorcing while incarcerated.
• [52:17] Family impact: Jennifer delivers an emotional plea against parole, describing her shattered life and trauma.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the cult’s transformation:
  [12:57] "This quickly turned from...harmless folly and dress up with his friends to much darker, evil criminal activity." — Daphne

• On animal cruelty and rituals:
  [21:54] "Circle of tamped down earth where the attackers were believed to have circled around the remains of the animals. Eerily so. It’s almost like, you know, this makes you think of a ritual." — Daphne

• On cult mentality and peer pressure:
  [31:33] "Like there could have been something that you could have done." — Heath
  [31:35] "Maybe this was like a peer pressure moment where he felt like he had to go along with it, but it's like...you're literally watching somebody murder people." — Daphne

• On Rod’s narcissism and lack of remorse:
  [45:27] "So I always did wonder what it'd be like to sit in it and actually experience death through it...So that part doesn't really bother me at all." — Rod
  [45:30] "Regarding the murders, he admitted, 'It never really crosses my mind much.'" — Daphne

• On adult remorse:
  [47:42] "I do feel like out of all the cases we cover, we see remorse the most from adults who committed crimes as teenagers." — Daphne

• On the impact of violence:
  [52:17] "My life was so full. I had love, I had it all, until I had nothing." — Jennifer Wendorf

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:06] - Introduction and overview of the case
• [04:32] - Wendorf and Ferrell family backgrounds
• [06:13] - Rod's vampire persona and childhood trauma
• [08:50] - The vampire rituals and cult structure
• [12:57] - Animal cruelty as turning point, Rod’s cruelty escalates
• [20:56] - Animal shelter massacre and suspicion of cult ritual
• [26:16] - Cult's escape to Florida, Heather’s involvement
• [29:48] - Murders of Richard and Naomi Wendorf
• [39:38] - Arrest in Baton Rouge after money order sting
• [41:43] - The trial, sentencing, and aftermath
• [44:53] - Rod’s psychological profile and quotes from interviews
• [47:42] - Reflection on adolescent crime and remorse
• [49:02] - 2019 resentencing hearing
• [52:17] - Jennifer Wendorf’s impact statement and family trauma

Overall Tone & Approach

Daphne and Heath maintain an empathetic yet darkly humorous tone, often expressing disbelief at the cult’s absurdities, horror at the cruelty, and heartfelt sympathy for the victims and their families. Their commentary blends true crime analysis with cultural insight—especially regarding teen subcultures, cult psychology, and the lasting damage of familial trauma.

For more on this case, check out the hosts’ social media for photos and discussion. Stay tuned for their special Halloween episode (#550)—“something a little bit spooky”—airing soon.