Morbid Podcast: The “Hitman” Murders
Episode aired: February 2, 2026
Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Overview
This episode of Morbid dives into the shocking and tragic case known as the "Hitman Murders," centering on the 1993 slayings of Millie Horne, her disabled 8-year-old son Trevor, and their nurse Janice Saunders. Triggered by a multi-million dollar malpractice settlement and a bitter divorce, the case weaves together themes of betrayal, greed, and the dark reach of a published "Hitman manual." As always, Ash and Alaina approach the harrowing events with a blend of thorough research, context, and the comfort of their signature dark humor.
Episode Flow and Timestamps
1. Opening Banter & Book Recs (01:16 – 13:00)
- Joyful moments, Ghost concerts, and Canadian shoutouts.
- Alaina’s book plugs and current reads: horror, romance, and “fun facts.”
- Spirited discussion about messy homes, falling on ice, and random life updates.
Notable Quote:
"Just like try to do that. But yeah, I got to go to the Ghost concert in Connecticut and it was as magical as it always is."
— Alaina [02:13]
2. Case Introduction: Who Were Lawrence and Millie Horne? (14:03 – 27:07)
- Background: Lawrence Horne, a prominent Motown audio engineer, and his tumultuous marriages.
- Family ties: The Hornes’ involvement with major Motown artists and glitzy Detroit in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Key Points:
- Lawrence's early success at Motown: engineer of "My Girl" and more.
- His impulsive, controlling personality (surprise wedding anecdote).
- Marriage to Millie Marie, a glamorous 1970s flight attendant, and rapidly deteriorating relationship.
- Chronic marital instability: "It was a lark. It wasn't a love thing. It was more of an arrangement. It was a distraction." — Lawrence [28:08]
- Two children together: Tiffany and (premature) twins, Trevor and Tamiel.
3. Family Tragedy and Legal Battles (29:10 – 34:41)
- The birth of twins; Trevor’s severe lifelong disabilities after a hospital mishap.
- Extensive medical and emotional needs provided further strain.
- Multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the hospital awarded in 1988:
- Trevor: $2.3 million trust
- Millie: $322,000
- Lawrence: $125,000 (quickly spent on legal fees)
- Lawrence’s career crumbles, falls behind on child support, mounting financial pressure.
Quote:
"That situation broke the back. The relationship never recovered from that."
— Lawrence on Trevor’s medical condition [33:00]
4. The Triple Murder: What Happened on March 3, 1993 (35:49 – 43:45)
Victims:
- Millie Horne: Working mother
- Trevor Horne: Severely disabled, 8 years old
- Janice Saunders: Dedicated nurse
The Night of the Crime
- Janice is working overnight; Millie is asleep.
- Around 2:30am: brief phone call with daughter Tiffany.
- Sometime after: An armed intruder enters through the only unlocked door, using a silenced AR7 .22 caliber rifle.
- Janice is shot dead—two in the head, once through the eye socket.
- Trevor is smothered by hand in his bed, surrounded by stuffed animals [38:05].
- Millie, awakened by Trevor’s medical alarm, is shot in the vestibule—same injuries as Janice.
Quote:
"He placed one hand over the tracheostomy opening in Trevor's throat and one hand over his mouth and nose, and he smothered Trevor to death. That is evil. It's diabolical."
— Ash & Alaina [38:05]
Discovery and Initial Investigation
- Millie’s sister Vivian discovers the bodies; police quickly conclude homicide.
- Crime scene: superficially ransacked, but valuable items untouched—robbery ruled out, suggesting staging.
5. Unraveling the Plot: Who Benefited? (43:45 – 51:22)
-
Police find the only conceivable beneficiary: Lawrence Horne.
- Under Maryland law, Trevor’s death forfeited the trust to Lawrence.
- He owed massive sums in legal fees and child support.
-
Key Interview:
Tiffany (daughter) recalls her father “obsessively” questioning family whereabouts the night before the murders, especially confirming Tamiel would NOT be present (52:23).
6. Closing in: Detective Work and Evidence Trail (54:00 – 59:06)
-
L.A. and Maryland detectives search Lawrence’s apartment; find:
- Hand-drawn map of Millie’s neighborhood
- Videotape of Lawrence and girlfriend Sherry (timestamped to create an alibi)
-
Analysis of Days Inn guests uncovers James Perry—small-time Detroit criminal and self-styled “spiritual advisor.”
-
Phone records link Perry and Lawrence the night of murders and immediately after.
-
Perry’s possession of two mail-ordered manuals:
- “How to Make Disposable Silencers”
- "Hitman: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors"
(Perry exactly follows its procedures, including filing a gun barrel to remove striation patterns.)
Quote:
"James Perry did better than leaving his fingerprint at the scene, because James Perry followed a blueprint."
— Prosecutor Whelan (paraphrased by hosts) [63:43]
7. Arrest, Trials, and the Infamous Hitman Manual (61:15 – 70:00)
Arrests
- Both Lawrence Horne and James Perry arrested July 20, 1994.
- Perry’s trial: Death sentence (later commuted to life); overwhelming circumstantial evidence and use of "Hitman" book.
- Lawrence’s trial: Found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder; life without parole.
Emotional Testimony
- Millie’s sister Vivian recounts discovering her sister’s body [65:33].
- Daughter Tiffany: “He [Lawrence] told me once that Trevor could never be a real son to him because of his condition.” [66:01]
Legal Aftermath for the Book Publisher
- Victims’ families sue Paladin Press, the publisher of "Hitman."
- Court rules the book is NOT protected by First Amendment; publisher required to destroy unsold copies and relinquish rights.
Quote:
"That is a literal manual to murder someone. Get it out of here. And that's the intention of it."
— Alaina [69:20]
8. Reflections & Aftermath (71:06 – 74:12)
- Both Perry (2009) and Lawrence (2017) die in prison.
- Hosts reflect on the heartbreak of the story:
- The senselessness of killing a child for money.
- The unique and uplifting spirits of Millie, Trevor, Janice, and their families.
Key Quote:
"Not only were my mother and my brother and Janice killed, but my family was destroyed. I hope when this is over, we'll be able to rebuild it, because all we have is family."
— Tiffany Horne [66:59]
Memorable Moments & Host Interjections
-
On the “surprise wedding” story:
"Now here… I'm just thinking of me. I would not like this. I'm a control freak."
— Ash [20:19] -
On the “Hitman manual”:
"This isn't like fiction… This is a literal how-to guide. That's the line."
— Alaina [69:36] -
On Lawrence’s morality:
"That's his own son. And the mother of his children. And the woman that has taken—dedicated life helping his family. Your family. Like, what the…"
— Ash [62:05]
Final Thoughts and Cool-down (72:35 – 74:12)
- Hosts wish the surviving family joy and healing.
- Fun fact: Snakes can predict earthquakes days in advance—diverting briefly from grimness.
- Usual lighthearted close: celebrating random animal facts, reading, and seeking moments of happiness in the darkness.
Summary Table: Important Timestamps
| Segment | Time Range | Topic Summary | |---------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 1 | 01:16–13:00 | Personal updates, book recs, banter | | 2 | 14:03–27:07 | Lawrence & Millie’s history, Motown background | | 3 | 29:10–34:41 | Lawsuit, Trevor's medical history, finances, custody battles | | 4 | 35:49–43:45 | The murders: timeline, crime scene, initial investigation | | 5 | 43:45–51:22 | Motive, legal consequences of the settlement | | 6 | 54:00–59:06 | Suspicion, evidence trail, Days Inn, Perry's activities | | 7 | 61:15–70:00 | Arrests, trial, role of the "Hitman" manual, verdicts | | 8 | 71:06–74:12 | Reflections, aftermath, and a final lighthearted fact |
Episode Takeaways
- The case exemplifies the extreme consequences of greed and how dangerous information in the wrong hands (like the "Hitman" manual) can be.
- Policework grounded in persistence and attention to social/family dynamics, phone records, and even the publishing industry proved crucial.
- The emotional devastation on survivors and the resilience of family ties is a resounding theme.
- The legal battle over the "Hitman" book set a precedent for the limits of free speech protections in America.
Overall, this episode is a deeply researched and heartfelt exploration of a case that is shocking both for its brutality and the strange, chilling involvement of a murder manual. Ash & Alaina guide listeners from Motown’s musical heyday to the darkness of murder-for-hire, always with empathy, humor, and insight.