MK True Crime – Halloween Edition

Episode: Horror Movie Actress Sues for Harassment, “Julio Foolio” Murder Trial, and The Halloween Candy Killer
Air Date: October 31, 2025
Host: Mark Eiglarch
Panelists: Ashley Merchant (Criminal Defense Attorney), Matt Murphy (Former Prosecutor, True Crime Author)

Episode Overview

In this special Halloween edition of MK True Crime, host Mark Eiglarch and his expert panel dive into:

1. The lawsuit brought by Terrifier actress Catherine Corcoran against the film’s producers, blending issues of contract, workplace safety, and sexual harassment.
2. The gripping murder trial of Alicia Andrews, accused as an accomplice in the killing of rapper Julio Foolio (Charles Jones), unpacking the complexities of accomplice liability in homicide cases.
3. A revisit of the chilling real-life case that fueled America’s fear of poisoned Halloween candy: the 1974 “Halloween Candy Killer,” Ronald Clark O’Bryan.
4. Some lighter moments discussing class action lawsuits over Reese’s Pumpkins and listener Q&A, all with a blend of legal acumen and signature dark humor.

Main Segments Breakdown

1. Actress Sues Producers of Terrifier for Harassment and Unpaid Royalties

[05:00 – 15:09]

Key Discussion Points:

• Background: Catherine Corcoran files a federal lawsuit after starring in the cult horror slasher Terrifier, alleging breach of contract (unpaid royalties) and distribution of non-consensual nude footage, as well as sexual harassment and unsafe working conditions.
• Context: The movie, dismissed by the panel as “B — or C — level” but surprisingly lucrative ($105+ million grossed globally), kept costs low partly at the expense of cast safety and fair compensation.

Insights:

• Matt Murphy [05:00]:
  • Notes sexual harassment and hostile workplace claims “kind of a kitchen sink” move for attention.
  • "It’s a contract dispute… I think we’re seeing a little bit of the kitchen sink thrown in the plaintiff’s case."
• Ashley Merchant [06:28]:
  • Sees “fluff thrown in to aggravate people… They knew that’s what's going to get people… otherwise it’s just a breach of contract, and nobody really cares about that. That’s not newsworthy."
  • Producers’ admission (“we don’t keep records”) likely provoked the lawsuit.

Memorable Moments & Quotes:

• [06:09] Mark Eiglarch: “Who put the gun to [her] shooting?”
• [07:49] Mark Eiglarch (to Murphy): ”She’s hung upside down by her ankles over 10 hours in freezing temperatures… She claims she didn’t want to be topless. Who's that on?”
• [10:32] Mark Eiglarch: “She agreed to an extremely low upfront per diem rate… with the understanding she would get 1%. She’s made less than like, 2 grand.”
• [11:59] Matt Murphy: “No juror wants to hear that. No federal judge is going to want to hear that… You’re gonna take a hit in this either settlement or…”

Legal Analysis:

• Strong consensus: Contractual issues will likely withstand motions to dismiss, but the harassment claims are unlikely to survive statute limitations.
• Litigation likely to end in a settlement for unpaid royalties, not punitive damages for working conditions or alleged harassment.

2. Murder Trial: The Killing of Rapper Julio Foolio (Charles Jones)

[16:33 – 32:36]

Key Discussion Points:

• Case Facts: Alicia Andrews is on trial for first-degree murder, accused as a lookout/accomplice for the killing of rapper Julio Foolio; the alleged shooters are being tried separately.
• Legal Strategy: Prosecution tries “low-hanging fruit” first to flip co-defendants; defense aims to distance Andrews from direct involvement, focusing on her lack of direct action or intent.

Analysis & Quotes:

• Ashley Merchant [17:47]:
  • “She might have had some inkling as to what was happening, but whether or not she actually conspired... I think that's kind of far-fetched.”
• Matt Murphy [19:14]:
  • “I am certain that behind the scenes, they've made great efforts with this young woman to get her to flip already… You go for the lowest hanging fruit, you go for the weakest link in the chain…”
• Gang Association:
  • Prosecution’s introduction of Andrews’ boyfriend’s gang ties intended to prejudice the jury.
  • [22:23] “I would have fought my butt off to try and keep any reference of gang out of her trial since she is not charged with gang charges.” – Ashley Merchant
• Text Evidence:
  • [23:05] “He need to die.”—Prosecution uses this 2021 text from Andrews as evidence, though defense points out it predates the murder by several years.
• Jury Considerations:
  • [26:05] “I would have that jury charge on merely present blown up as big as the court would let me… That’s a defense.” – Ashley Merchant
• Trial Fireworks:
  • Exchange between judge and defense over witness contamination with sequestration rule [28:19–29:26].
  • “We've all been yelled at. The judge is right. They screwed up… they turn around, try to blame the prosecutor.” – Matt Murphy [30:20]

Memorable Moment:

• Discussing why young women sometimes refuse to testify against their “bad boy” boyfriends, often to their detriment:
  • “It never, ever works out well for them.” – Matt Murphy [19:57]

3. The Reese’s Pumpkins Class Action Lawsuit

[33:43 – 39:18]

Key Discussion Points:

• The Lawsuit: Hershey’s sued over “misleading packaging” — pumpkins did not match wrapper imagery.
• “How do you establish damages on something like this?” – Matt Murphy [35:51]
• Lawyerly creativity:
  • [39:11] Ashley Merchant’s mock argument: “He wanted that money back so he could go and he could find her an actual bell…”
  • Ultimately, panel dismisses it as a prime example of why civil courts get bogged down with frivolous claims.

4. Revisiting the "Halloween Candy Killer" — Ronald Clark O’Bryan

[40:08 – 48:20]

Key Discussion Points:

• Case Recap: 1974, O’Bryan poisons his 8-year-old son’s Halloween Pixy Stix for life insurance money, creating decades of Halloween paranoia.
• Both panelists agree: The facts are especially egregious and justify the death penalty.
• Legal/Ethical Dimensions:
  • The role of defense attorneys in death penalty cases—emotional toll, constitutional right to defense.
  • [43:02] Matt Murphy: “You are 100% convinced. And it's got to be genuinely awful. It has to shock the room…”
• Death Penalty Process:
  • Execution occurred within seven years—remarkably quick by today’s standards.
  • O’Bryan’s last-ditch appeals included challenging the legality of lethal injection drugs.

Quotes:

• [41:27] Ashley Merchant: “I mean, it gives me goosebumps to even think about. His son started throwing up… and within an hour his son was dead. It's unimaginable…”
• [44:21] Matt Murphy: “I could have watched this guy get executed and frigging eat popcorn as they did. This is so…”
• [48:20] Ashley Merchant: “With death penalty cases, you have to make sure at that point in your life that you can emotionally handle it, because he's probably going to be executed, and he was."

Listener Q&A

[52:22 – 53:55]

• Book Follow-up:
  • Matt Murphy confirms a forthcoming sequel to The Book of Murder, featuring more serial killer prosecutions, after signing with Disney.
  • “I went into the unit thinking I knew everything about serial killers and I knew nothing…” – Matt Murphy [52:48]

Closing Arguments

[54:01 – 59:12]

Ashley Merchant: Accomplice Liability Explained

• Outlines legal definitions: Accomplice, conspiracy, felony murder—why people like Alicia Andrews can be charged equally to actual shooters if they aid, agree, or facilitate.
• "The law treats you the same as it does if you committed the crime… all it requires is that you helped…"

Matt Murphy: Halloween, Serial Killers & Police Cuts

• Discusses how rare but real serial killers are, and how funding cuts to police disproportionately affect specialized units, hampering their ability to protect communities from the actual predators horror movies are based on.
• “Psycho killers are real, and we must have good cops that are well trained to catch them and make sure that they don't get our loved ones next.”

Mark Eiglarch: Resilience Through Dark Times

• Shares a moving personal story about overcoming the loss of a child and the role of pain in growth:
  • “We don’t look at ourselves as victims… Instead, today, when we have those challenges, we say, we're so grateful that this is happening for us. You see, through our pain, we've grown…”

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Lawsuits:
  • “This is why we can't have nice things. This is why we can't have a fast and efficient court system because we have stuff like this.” – Ashley Merchant [36:23]
• On Prosecutorial Strategy:
  • “You go for the lowest hanging fruit, you go for the weakest link in the chain, and you try to flip them or get them to testify.” – Matt Murphy [19:14]
• On Halloween Paranoia:
  • “He also killed my Halloween experience when I was a kid.” – Mark Eiglarch [39:19]
• On Serial Killers:
  • “The FBI estimates there are between 25 and 50 active serial killers in the United States at any given time… But…they are the consummate interspecies predator. And we need good cops to track them down.” – Matt Murphy [57:06]

Segment Timestamps

• Introduction & Overview [00:56 – 05:00]
• Terrifier Lawsuit [05:00 – 15:09]
• Julio Foolio Murder Trial [16:33 – 32:36]
• Reese’s Pumpkins Lawsuit [33:43 – 39:18]
• Halloween Candy Killer/O’Bryan Case [40:08 – 48:20]
• Listener Mail & Book Discussion [52:22 – 53:55]
• Closing Arguments [54:01 – 59:12]

Tone & Style

The episode mixes dark humor (“The clown himself has become famous. But I couldn’t even get to the scene that they’re talking about because the movie was so funny-freaking bad…” – Matt Murphy [09:26]), real legal deep-dives, and personal empathy—especially in Mark’s heartfelt closing monologue. Panelists use sharp, direct language, balancing seriousness with levity, and never shy away from sharing strong, candid opinions.

Summary Takeaways

• Hollywood lawsuits often include “headline” allegations to generate leverage and publicity, but contracts are what matter most in court.
• Accomplice liability can carry the same weight as pulling the trigger—jury selection and timeline of evidence are critical in such trials.
• True crime origins: The Halloween candy myth has a singular, horrifying origin in parental greed—a stark reminder tragedy can seed national paranoia.
• Legal system quirks: Not all lawsuits filed have merit—some are just plain nuts.
• Resilience and compassion: Panelists temper their professional experiences with humanity and advice for those going through struggles—fitting for Halloween’s haunting spirit.

For fans of true crime, legal drama, or simply a smart, entertaining podcast for your Halloween, this episode probes the dark, the absurd, and the deeply human with expertise and heart.