Into The Dark – Episode 136: The Man Who Wanted to Be a Movie Monster

Host: Payton Moreland
Date: September 10, 2025

Episode Overview

This week's episode plunges listeners into a chilling case of true crime, delving into the tragic murder of Jamesha "Mimi" Cuvson and her unborn child in Memphis, Tennessee, in June 2020. Host Payton Moreland masterfully unpacks not only the sequence of violent events but also the disturbing motives of the perpetrator, Joshua Dotson—a man who aspired to be a real-life movie monster, seeking infamy akin to the fictional Michael Myers. The episode explores questions around the allure of serial killers, their motives, and the vital importance of keeping victims at the heart of these stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fascination and Horror of True Crime

• Societal Curiosity: Payton examines why people are drawn to stories of murder, remarking,

  “When you hear the story of a brutal killing, it is natural to want to learn more... We want to know all of the details... We need to know everything.” (06:07)

• Warning on Obsession: She raises concerns about individuals who go beyond morbid curiosity and seek to emulate killers:

  “They don’t feel horror, fear, or confusion. They feel inspired. They want to recreate the worst crimes in history and be just like the infamous killers that they read about.” (07:04)

2. Mimi’s Story: A Hopeful Turn Cut Short

• Background: Mimi, 19, was optimistic about motherhood and striving to escape her troubled past. Her friends universally saw her as improving her life for her and her baby.

• Dangerous Relationship:

  • Payton details Mimi’s fraught, abusive relationship with Joshua Dotson, a known criminal with a history of violence and robbery.
  • Friends urged her to leave Joshua for her and her baby’s safety.

• The Night of the Murder:

  • Mimi called a friend for support as she planned to end things with Joshua, indicating her fear for her safety.
  • The call is abruptly ended after Joshua arrives, with the friend hearing arguing and the line going dead.

    “The friend then heard some arguing, and it was clear that Joshua and Mimi had already begun to fight. And then the phone call ended. The line went dead.” (16:20)

• The Fatal Encounter:

  • Joshua, enraged by a breakup, Mimi’s pregnancy, and a Facebook post, pursued violence.
  • He first fired through a locked bedroom door without hitting her, then shot repeatedly through the front door after being locked out, fatally striking Mimi.

3. Joshua Dotson: A Hidden Serial Killer

• Pattern of Violence:

  • Investigation reveals Dotson had killed before:
    • November 2019: Divion Parker, 18, murdered in a grocery store parking lot.
    • May 24, 2020: Reginald Anderson killed, Renita Bennett fatally wounded in a park following a petty argument earlier in the day.
  • Witness testimony and descriptions repeatedly matched Joshua, but connections were only made after Mimi’s murder.

• His Capture:

  • Dotson taunted authorities and Mimi’s friends on social media, declaring his innocence and promising to surrender, but evading arrest.
  • Ultimately, on June 17, 2020, he was apprehended in a Memphis apartment complex without resistance.

4. The Trial and Shocking Confession

• Self-Representation:

  • Joshua represented himself at trial, disregarding standard legal advice.
  • He acted oddly and disrespectfully during proceedings, even falling asleep multiple times.

• Public Confession:

  • On the stand, Dotson not only admitted to killing Mimi and her unborn child, but also boasted about other murders, explicitly stating his motive:

    “He claimed he loved the horror movies Halloween and he wanted to be a real world version of the villain from those films – Michael Myers. In fact, he didn’t want to just be like Michael Myers. Over and over again, in his testimony, Joshua said, ‘I am Michael Myers.’” (56:52)

• Cold Rationalization:

  • He explained killing Mimi because “she knew too much” and dismissed her life’s value due to her past as a sex worker—a chilling glimpse into his warped worldview.

• Courtroom Reaction & Aftermath:

  • The confession left the courtroom speechless. The prosecution pointed out how Joshua dishonored and disrespected Mimi’s memory throughout his testimony.

• Conviction and Sentencing:

  • Joshua was found guilty after just 45 minutes of jury deliberation. He received 102 years (51 for Mimi, 51 for the baby), and later an additional 159 years after pleading guilty to other murders, totaling 261 years.

5. Reflections on Infamy, Victims, and the True Crime Community

• The Lure of Notoriety:

  • Payton speculates that Joshua wanted fame and attention above all else:

    “He didn’t actually care about getting away with the crimes. He only wanted to have his chance to make people feel horrified when they heard about who he was and what he had done.” (01:04:10)

• A Caution for the True Crime Genre:

  • The host strongly urges listeners to keep focus on victims, not perpetrators:

    “We should also remember there is a tragedy at the heart of every single murder. Five people lost their lives at little Joshua’s hands. And that’s not counting everyone who was threatened by him, frightened by him, attacked by him, non-fatally in his life.” (01:05:15)

  • The judge in the case called it “the saddest she had ever seen in her entire career.” (01:06:10)

• Payton’s Closing Thoughts:

  • She emphasizes that Joshua is not a master criminal or an anti-hero worthy of attention, but a deeply disturbed, pathetic individual:

    “He’s not some diabolical, brilliant, genius killer who evaded police. What he did on the stand was honestly the opposite of someone who’s wanting to be infamous. It was so pathetic. It was so pick me. It’s just disgusting. And I just want to be clear that Joshua is not cool. He’s not an idol. He’s not someone to be looked up to.” (01:07:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I am Michael Myers.” — Joshua Dotson, on the stand (56:52)
• “He claimed he loved the horror movies Halloween and he wanted to be a real world version of the villain from those films – Michael Myers.” (56:42)
• “They said that he was dishonoring her memory, disrespecting her even after he had taken her life. This trial was just a show for him to get up and boast about himself being Michael Myers. It wasn’t even about him pleading innocent. He stated he was a serial killer. He likes killing women. He had no remorse at all.” (58:03)
• On the importance of honoring victims:
  “This case is about the victims, and I hope that when we look back on this story, we all remember it through that lens.” (01:08:00)

Key Timestamps

• 06:07 – Payton discusses society’s fascination with true crime
• 07:04 – The dangerous obsession of would-be copycat killers
• 16:20 – Mimi’s final phone call and the immediate aftermath
• 37:30 – Dotsen linked to earlier unsolved homicides
• 48:00 – Joshua taunts authorities and friends on social media
• 56:42 – Joshua’s trial confession and self-styling as “Michael Myers”
• 58:03 – Courtroom reaction and the prosecution’s response
• 01:04:10 – The pursuit of infamy and its consequences
• 01:05:15 – The importance of victim-focused narratives
• 01:07:05 – Denouncement of killer as “not an idol”
• 01:08:00 – Final message: remembering the victims

Conclusion

Payton Moreland’s retelling of Mimi Cuvson’s murder and the subsequent unmasking of Joshua Dotson as a serial killer is both chilling and sobering. With its mix of horror and heartbreak, the episode not only recounts a harrowing string of crimes but also delivers a powerful caution: in our examination of such darkness, we must never lose sight of the lives lost or the humanity at the heart of every case.