MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
Episode: For the Love of Money
Release Date: January 16, 2025
Host: Ballen Studios
Introduction
In this gripping episode of the MrBallen Podcast titled "For the Love of Money," Ballen Studios delves into two chilling true stories that exemplify the destructive power of money. The first tale, "Loan Shark," explores the desperate measures a young student takes to maintain a façade of wealth, leading to a tragic and violent culmination. The second story, "Western Russian Farm Animal," uncovers a meticulously planned murder masked by grief, revealing how financial desperation can drive individuals to unimaginable lengths.
Story 1: Loan Shark
Timestamp Highlights:
- [00:10] Introduction to the concept that money is the root of all evil.
- [02:31] Alan Ruby’s extravagant lifestyle and reliance on his father’s wealth.
- [04:22] Alan’s criminal actions escalate as he resorts to violence to secure his financial standing.
- [07:32] The legal consequences Alan faces after committing heinous crimes.
Summary: The first narrative centers around Alan Ruby, a 19-year-old freshman studying Political Science at the University of Oklahoma. Despite his modest demeanor in person, Alan curates an opulent image on social media, showcasing exotic sports cars, expensive watches, and luxurious vacations in cities like Paris, London, and New York City. This lavish lifestyle is entirely funded by his father, a successful businessman and newspaper publisher.
As the media landscape shifts from print to digital, Alan’s father’s newspaper struggles financially, prompting him to instruct the family to cut back on spending. Alan, however, is deeply addicted to his extravagant ways. [02:31] Despite promises to curb his spending, he continues to misuse his father's credit card and racks up substantial debt from loan sharks.
The pressure mounts when Alan faces a $3,000 debt to a particular loan shark. [04:22] In a desperate bid to secure the necessary funds without seeking help from his parents, Alan commits a horrifying act: he murders his entire family. His plan is straightforward—by eliminating his family, he becomes the sole heir to their estate, allowing him to clear his debts and maintain his lavish lifestyle.
After the murders, Alan attempts to cover his tracks by disposing of evidence and continues to live normally, even partying in Dallas while his family lies dead at home. His facade remains unbroken until the authorities discover the bodies, and Alan's insincere reactions immediately raise suspicions. [07:32] Ultimately, Alan confesses to his crimes and opts for a plea agreement, resulting in a life sentence without the possibility of parole, thus ensuring he remains incarcerated indefinitely.
Notable Quote:
- Mr. Ballin: "Alan was only able to project this phony lifestyle on social media because he was spending his father's money." [02:31]
Story 2: Western Russian Farm Animal
Timestamp Highlights:
- [09:20] Introduction to Corey Richins and the discovery of her husband’s death.
- [12:10] Corey’s initial attempts to cope with grief by creating a children's grief book.
- [31:23] Revelation of the true nature of Eric Richins’ death and Corey's involvement.
- [32:43] Final notes on Corey’s arrest and the ongoing investigation.
Summary: The second story introduces Corey Richins, a 31-year-old woman from suburban Utah, who and her husband Eric are on the brink of a significant real estate deal. [09:20] Celebrating their potential $1 million profit from a $2 million mansion sale, the couple eagerly anticipates their enhanced financial future. Despite living in a conservative area where Corey was expected to remain a homemaker, she has recently hired a nanny to pursue her professional ambitions, much to her husband's satisfaction.
However, the night of March 3, 2022, takes a sinister turn. After comforting their seven-year-old son during a nightmare, Corey discovers that Eric is unresponsive and cold. [12:10] She dials 911 in a panic, only to be met with the devastating news that Eric has died from a fentanyl overdose. Initially, the community perceives it as a tragic accident, with no immediate evidence pointing to foul play.
Struggling with grief, Corey engages her sons with stories and illustrations portraying Eric as an angel, which helps them cope. Inspired by this, she decides to create a children's grief book titled "Are You With Me?" published on April 13, 2023. The book becomes an instant success, garnering praise from parents and media alike.
However, the surge in attention indirectly leads to the reopening of Eric’s case. [31:23] Detectives discover unusual activity on the family's electronic devices, including Corey's suspicious search history related to destroying evidence and prison systems. Combined with tips from Eric’s distraught family suspecting Corey’s involvement, the investigation gains momentum.
The truth unfolds as it is revealed that Corey had been embezzling funds from Eric’s accounts and feared he would divorce her to prevent further financial misconduct. To secure her standing and prevent the shutdown of financial faucets, Corey meticulously planned and executed the murder by poisoning Eric with fentanyl laced in their celebratory Moscow Mule drinks. Her subsequent actions—to cover up the crime and exploit the tragedy for profit—solidify the evidence against her.
On May 8, 2023, Corey is arrested and charged with aggravated murder, facing the death penalty if convicted. Her once-celebrated grief book is pulled from sale, marking a dark end to her facade of a grieving widow.
Notable Quotes:
- Co-host: "It really seemed like it had finally gotten through to him that this was a really big problem." [07:31]
- Mr. Ballin: "Corey had been working for weeks to figure out the right fentanyl dose to give to her husband." [31:23]
Conclusion
In "For the Love of Money," MrBallen Podcast masterfully unravels two harrowing tales where the pursuit and preservation of wealth lead to irreversible destruction. From Alan Ruby's path of deceit and violence to Corey Richins' calculated murder and manipulation of grief, the episode underscores the lengths to which individuals may go when driven by financial desperation and the façade of success. These stories serve as stark reminders of money's potential to corrupt and the dark shadows it can cast over human lives.
Note: All stories are based on true events, with some details fictionalized for dramatic purposes to protect the identities of those involved.