Ricky Kasso: The Acid King – Podcast Summary

Podcast: Morbid
Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Episode Title: Ricky Kasso: The Acid King
Date: January 15, 2026

Overview

In this gripping episode, Morbid hosts Ash and Alaina dive deep into the infamous true crime case of Ricky Kasso, a.k.a. "The Acid King," whose murder of Gary Lauwers in 1984 became entangled with the era’s satanic panic. With their signature blend of dark humor, thorough research, and empathetic reflection, the hosts dissect the sensationalized myths, the real-life tragedies, and the ripple effects of addiction, neglect, and hysteria.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Tone: Everyday Joy and Heavy Topics

• Both hosts begin by acknowledging the darkness in current events and the power of finding small joys amid difficult times.
• They encourage listeners:

  “I really think it's important to find little joys because everything sucks so much.” (Alaina, 03:43)

• Light moments include stories about mundane happiness—like mopping with Pine-Sol or using foot masks—before shifting to the episode’s heavy true crime narrative.

2. Northport, Long Island: Setting the Scene

• The story unfolds in Northport, a quiet, idyllic community that became a focus for rumors of the occult and witchcraft.
• Ash highlights:

  “Given how popular the occult had become by the early 1970s, it was only a matter of time before that made its way to Long Island.” (Ash, 09:51)

• The hosts describe local legends, disappearing livestock, and the area’s proximity to the infamous Amityville murders, setting the stage for the panic to come.

3. Ricky Kasso’s Troubled Upbringing

• Ricky grew up in an outwardly typical household, but beneath the surface, pressure from his father centered around sports and achieving specific standards.
• Ricky’s early exposure to drugs is foregrounded:

  “One day in the fall of 1977, when he was in fifth grade, a friend's brother gave him a hit off a joint and the experience changed his life.” (Ash, 23:42)

• Drugs became Ricky’s escape and coping mechanism, with his use escalating rapidly through early adolescence.

4. Escalation: Addiction, Crime, and Alienation

• By age 13, Ricky was regularly using and dealing drugs, breaking into homes, and stealing—even from churches (“the body of Christ crackers”), showing increasing desperation (31:38–32:53).
• His relationships with family unravel; by 14, he is largely estranged, often living in woods or couch surfing.

5. Satanic Panic and Symbolic Identities

• The “Knights of the Black Circle,” a group of local misfit teens, became the scapegoats for Northport’s fears.
• Stereotypes were rampant:

  “People who were assumed to be involved in Satanism wore denim, drank, did drugs, listened to heavy metal music.” (Ash, 41:53)

• In reality, most “Knights” were just teens dabbling in counterculture to get attention or provoke, not actual practitioners.

6. The Precipitating Events: Grave Robbing & Further Decline

• Ricky’s behavior spirals: he and another youth rob a crypt for body parts, which Ricky claims (possibly facetiously) is for a satanic ritual (51:36).
• Police paperwork notes pentagrams and “hierarchies of hell,” fueling hysteria.

7. Gary Lauwers: Another Lost Youth

• Gary, once well-liked, falls into addiction and homelessness—mirroring Ricky’s path.
• Conflict is set: Gary steals PCP from Ricky, and, despite returning some, is viciously beaten and eventually threatened with death.

  “Ricky told Gary if it happened again, he would kill him.” (Ash, 58:52)

The Murder

8. The Night of Violence (June 19, 1984)

• Ricky, Gary, and others are partying in the woods, all consuming LSD.
• The situation turns dark:
  • Ricky antagonizes Gary, and a physical altercation ensues.
  • Ricky stabs Gary nearly 30 times, reportedly demanding he say “I love you, Satan” while Gary cries out for his mother (62:36–62:50).
  • The group buries him in a shallow grave and leaves.
• The aftermath is chillingly apathetic: Ricky brags about the murder and takes friends to see Gary’s body.

9. Discovery, Investigation, and Arrest

• The crime is eventually reported via an anonymous call (64:53).
• Initial law enforcement skepticism delays discovery; only after a nun reports a student’s concern do police look—finding Gary’s remains.
• Jimmy, Ricky’s close friend, confesses quickly; the narrative emerges that the killing, while discussed in “Satanic” terms, truly stemmed from drug-fueled paranoia and vengeance.

Analysis & Consequences

10. Media Frenzy and Satanic Panic

• Authorities and press hyper-focus on the ritualistic “sacrifice,” feeding national anxieties:

  “You've got a whole group of Satan worshipers. This was a sacrificial killing.” (Robert Dunn, 70:08)

• The real, deeply sad context—drug addiction and untreated mental illness—gets buried under sensational headlines.

11. Tragedies Upon Tragedies

• Ricky hangs himself in jail before trial (73:51).
• The only other major participant, Jimmy, is eventually acquitted; the truth of individual responsibility remains murky.
• Gary’s humanity is lost amid the noise, as is his family’s pain.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On the importance of small joys:
  “It’s really important to find little joys because everything sucks so much.” – Alaina, 03:43

• Setting the scene for Northport:
  “It's like the quintessential bedroom community. …Just a quiet town where nothing terrible ever happened.” – Ash, 09:21

• Commenting on the absurdity of vacation announcements in the newspaper:
  “Who the fuck thought of that? …That was made by a criminal.” – Alaina, 33:43

• On Satanic Panic stereotypes:
  “People who were assumed to be involved in Satanism wore denim, all black clothing, drank, did drugs, and listened to heavy metal music.” – Ash, 41:53

• On the murder scene:
  “Suddenly, me and Albert heard Gary say, ‘I love you, Mom.’ …and then saw Ricky stab Gary in the back.” – Recap from Jimmy’s account, 62:12

• On media complicity in perpetuating myths:
  “In a press conference the next day…described the murder as nothing less than a sadistic, torturous, sacrificial killing. A satanic ritual murder. I was like, you had me until the very end.” – Ash, 71:22

• On reality versus myth:
  “The truth of Gary's murder has been completely forgotten. …the salacious rumors of Satanism and the occult remain to this day.” – Ash, 77:40

Important Segment Timestamps (MM:SS)

• Setting the mood & self-care chat: 01:27–08:08
• Case introduction (Ricky Kasso and Northport’s dark rumors): 08:43–13:43
• Grave robbing story & local urban legends: 11:44–16:09
• Early life of Ricky Kasso & family dynamics: 18:01–21:43
• Descent into drug use/crime: 23:44–36:12
• Satanic panic context and ‘Knights of the Black Circle’: 39:49–44:39
• Murder details – Gary Lauwers: 62:12–63:21
• Law enforcement/media reaction & aftermath: 64:53–71:02
• Trial, myth vs. fact, and closing reflections: 71:36–79:22

Tone and Delivery

• The hosts’ conversational, comedic banter adds levity without disrespecting the gravity of the crime.
• Memorable, offbeat analogies (e.g., “I measure garlic with my heart”; discussion of “the body of Christ crackers”) reflect their signature style.
• Deep empathy shines through, especially for the lost and vulnerable teenage victims.

Conclusion

Ash and Alaina deftly unravel the truth behind a crime that was sensationalized and mythologized throughout the 1980s, separating fact from fiction. Their verdict: this was not a ritual murder, but a grim product of addiction, neglect, and community failure. They urge listeners not to lose sight of the real tragedy—the lives destroyed by drugs and indifference—and remind all that, in the end, seeking truth is more important than indulging urban legends.

For further information, resources, and reading:

• Save Our Cemeteries
• [Rolling Stone article: “Kids in the Dark” by David Breskin]
• [Morbid Podcast – Full Episode Archive]

Fun Fact from the Hosts:
“The most pancakes flipped in one minute is 140.” (Ash, 79:36)

This summary is intended for listeners seeking a comprehensive, timestamped, and authentic recounting of the episode’s content, focus, themes, and highlights.