Morbid Podcast: The Shocking Murder of Terry King (Part 2)

Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Date: January 1, 2026

Overview

In this deeply disturbing and layered episode, Ash and Alaina conclude their two-part exploration of the murder of Terry King. The episode picks up in the aftermath of Terry's death, which was initially disguised as an arson but quickly unraveled to reveal a tangled web of abuse, manipulation, and tragedy involving his two sons—Derek and Alex King—and family acquaintance Ricky Chavis. The hosts examine the complexities and nuances of the case, delve into the investigation, and reflect on broader themes of child victimization, the justice system, and the lasting effects of trauma.

Main Discussion Points and Key Insights

The Case Recap and Investigation Deepens

• Recap of Part 1: Terry was found dead in his home after a fire; initial suspicion was accidental, but autopsy revealed blunt force trauma (03:17).
• The investigation quickly draws attention to Ricky Chavis, an eccentric family acquaintance with a shady past.
• Ricky's “helpfulness” during the investigation and the high-security setup at his trailer immediately strike detectives as odd (04:34).

Suspicion Toward Ricky Chavis Grows

• Interviews with acquaintances and foster parents reveal that Ricky often hosted Derek and Alex at his home, contradicting their story of hiding in the woods (05:56).
• Notable Quote, Elena (on Ricky):
  "That was weird. So he spent the rest of the afternoon interviewing the people who had known Derek and Alex the best. And like the interviews he had conducted earlier that day, Ricky Chavis's name kept coming up again and again." (05:24)
• Detectives learn Chavis helped the boys plan escapes from home and kept pushing the idea that their father was abusive (07:16).

Discovery of the Boys and Their Initial Confession

• Derek and Alex are found with Chavis and brought to the station (08:07).
• Ricky spins a tale of a mysterious call leading him to the boys; claims Derek confessed to murder on the car ride back (08:55).
• Florida allows for minors to be interrogated without adult presence, something both hosts find alarming (09:37).
  • Alaina: "That's wild to me... minors can be, like, interviewed, like, interrogated, essentially... especially in a guardian or parent prison." (09:39)
• Derek confesses in chilling detail to killing his father as he slept, and to setting the fire (11:35):
  • Derek: “I went in there, I hit him once and I heard him moan. And then I was afraid he might wake up to see us, so I just kept hitting him. I hit him somewhere around 10 times.” (12:00)
• The reported abuse remains vague; specifics are lacking, with both boys referencing "mental abuse" that Ricky had told them about (14:44).

The Role of Ricky Chavis and the Narrative of Grooming

• Chavis is revealed to have a criminal past, including conviction for sexual abuse of teenage boys (24:32).
• Alex’s recovered diary shows inappropriate, romanticized feelings toward Ricky, with the clear implication that Ricky groomed and sexually abused him (26:16).
• Ash: “So based on everything they learned from the interviews and now from the evidence, it was clear that Ricky Chavis had played some kind of role in Terry King's [murder]. And it was also very clear that he had been sexually abusing at least one of these boys.” (26:43)
• The power Chavis held over the boys, especially Alex, is extensively discussed—how Chavis manipulated their perception of reality and of their father.

Legal Quagmire: Trials, Verdicts, and Justice System Failures

• Derek and Alex are shockingly slated to be tried as adults (16:21).
• The press and community struggle to accept the possibility of children committing murder; many suspect outside manipulation (17:18).
• Chavis is charged as an accessory after the fact, but cannot be directly tied to the murder and arson due to lack of evidence (27:36).
• Chavis’s pattern of grooming vulnerable boys and using them for petty crimes and sexual exploitation is detailed, drawing parallels to other notorious child predators (30:09).
• Multiple manipulative acts from Chavis, including attempting to contact Alex from jail, cement his predatory intentions (34:40).

The Boys Change Their Story

• Derek and Alex recant their original confession, now alleging Ricky committed the murder while they waited outside, and later asked them to take the blame (37:54).
  • This aligns with classic predator behavior and introduces skepticism regarding the boys’ original confessions.
• Debate follows over the credibility of both their initial and revised statements; the trauma and manipulation faced by the boys is foregrounded.
  • Alaina: “At the end of the day, I don't know who I think swung out... I could see it going both ways.” (51:15)

Courtroom Outcomes & Systemic Failures

• After much legal back-and-forth, Derek and Alex are found guilty of second-degree murder, facing up to 22 years in adult prison, a sentence the hosts harshly criticize as inappropriate for traumatized children (51:47, 52:17).
  • Elena: “As their frontal lobe is developing… Why are all of these adults not thinking about that?” (54:43)
• Chavis is acquitted of murder, but later convicted of accessory, arson, and receives a 30-year sentence (58:26).
• Despite evidence of sexual abuse, Chavis is acquitted of lewd and lascivious acts on Alex, a verdict both hosts call outrageous (58:58).

Aftermath and Reflections

• Derek and Alex serve years in juvenile facilities. After release, both struggle with connection and trauma; Alex dies of a drug overdose in 2024, while Derek lives quietly in Florida (61:09).
• The hosts lament the unending tragedy for all involved, emphasizing systemic failures and the cycles of abuse and neglect.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On minors being interrogated without adults
  Alaina: "That's wild to me... minors can be, like, interrogated, essentially... especially in a guardian or parent prison." (09:39)

• On the chilling, detailed confession
  Derek (via Ash): “I went in there, I hit him once and I heard him moan. And then I was afraid he might wake up to see us, so I just kept hitting him. I hit him somewhere around 10 times.” (12:00)

• On the influence of Ricky Chavis
  Elena: "No 40 year old is friends with a 12 year old. And if they are, it's weird. Red flag weird." (21:22)

• On the sentencing of traumatized children
  Elena: “The easy thing for everybody that should have been in front of everybody's face is some adult should have stood up there and said, ‘What's this gonna do?’” (54:07)

• Reflections on the failure of justice and system response
  Ash: "Nobody won. Nobody won in the race. And it was from the start. From the very start of their lives." (61:29)

Critical Timestamps

• Recap of the crime and Ricky's role: 03:17–07:34
• The boys’ arrest and initial confession: 08:55–12:10
• Lack of clear abuse evidence and role of Ricky: 14:05–15:14
• Revelations about Chavis’s past and grooming: 24:32–30:20
• Boys try to recant, implicate Ricky in murder: 37:54–41:44
• Trial outcomes and system critique: 51:27–56:58
• Aftermath and discussion of what became of Derek and Alex: 60:00–61:17

Host Tone & Commentary

• Candid, irreverent, and empathetic: The hosts maintain their trademark mix of dark humor and heartfelt outrage, at times making pointed critiques of systemic failure and expressing profound empathy for child victims.
• Critical of the criminal justice system: Repeatedly, both Ash and Alaina highlight institutional shortcomings—whether it's allowing children to be interrogated alone, or sentencing to adult prison.
• Anger toward predators: They make no attempt to hide their revulsion toward Chavis and frequently advocate for more forceful protection of children.
• Reflective and heavy-hearted: The episode ends with a clear sense that there are no victors in such tragic cases, only untold harm and lives cut short.

Closing & Memorable Closing Moment

To lighten the mood, Ash and Alaina end with a fun “dolphins have names for each other” fact (63:23), a brief and sweet palate cleanser after a harrowing journey through one of the most tragic true crime stories they've yet discussed.

Summary Verdict:
This episode provides a wrenching, nuanced exploration of one of the most shocking and sorrowful cases in recent American criminal history. The hosts’ meticulous research, raw emotion, and critical perspective make for a thought-provoking listen, ultimately underlining just how much more society, law enforcement, and the justice system need to do to protect—and rehabilitate—vulnerable children.

“Be good to each other. And protect children." – Ash (64:51)