MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
Episode: The Knot (Podcast Exclusive)
Date: October 27, 2025
Host: MrBallen (Ballin Studios)
Episode Overview
In this exclusive episode, MrBallen recounts the chilling true crime case of Misty Morse, a 22-year-old woman found murdered and submerged in Florida’s Indian River in July 2000. The episode intricately details the investigation, the people closest to Misty, and how a single piece of evidence—a dog hair trapped in duct tape—became the key to unraveling the case.
Core Themes & Story Purpose
- Exploration of a dark, mysterious, and perplexing murder case
- Examination of how forensic evidence can unexpectedly shift the direction of an entire investigation
- Analysis of the relationships and motives surrounding Misty Morse’s death
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Crime Scene & Initial Investigation
[03:30–13:10]
- Misty Morse, a busy 22-year-old juggling jobs and college, is last seen by her mother on July 20, 2000.
- Three days later, a man discovers what appears to be a manatee but is actually a woman's body in the Indian River, Florida.
- Detective Gary Harrell observes the body: bound with red-and-white sailboat rope ("cow hitch knot" tied), duct tape over the eyes, bags tied to the feet (likely originally containing rocks for weighing down).
- “As soon as he laid eyes on the body, he knew... This was no accident. This woman had been murdered.” — MrBallen ([08:00])
2. Victim Identification and Autopsy
[13:10–16:40]
- The body is severely decomposed, making it difficult to determine cause or time of death—fingerprints confirm victim as Misty Morse.
- No immediate evidence of sexual assault. No defensive wounds, leading Harrell to theorize Misty likely knew her killer.
- “The tape over her eyes... was the kind of thing you do if you know your victim personally, and you can't stand your victim staring at you while you kill them.” — MrBallen ([15:25])
3. The Last Night & The Phone Calls
[17:00–22:40]
- Misty was preparing for a night out; her mother, Linda, recalls hearing two late-night phone calls ([21:50]).
- Friends confirm Misty never met them at the bar; phone records reveal two quick calls at 1:58 am and 2:23 am—the latter presumed to be the killer picking Misty up.
- “Whoever called Misty before she left home... possibly was the last person Misty talked to. And if Misty's mom was right... that person had come to pick Misty up, well, they might very well be the killer.” — MrBallen ([21:30])
4. Focus on Suspects
[22:40–46:00]
- Teddy Underwood (casual romantic interest): Felon with a sexual battery record; polite, cooperative, provides a DNA swab and alibi (confirmed by friends) ([29:45]–[34:00]).
- Ricky Franklin (persistent suitor): Many daily calls to Misty, has a boat. Appears devastated, produces Misty's driver's license (she allegedly gave it to him to hold on their last date) ([35:10]–[40:30]).
- “Even though he had just met Misty, he loved her.” — MrBallen/Harrell quoting Ricky ([38:45])
- Brent Huck (ex-boyfriend/secret lover): Navy training background, charter boat captain, lives near the dump site, owns Misty’s dog Chiba ([41:00]–[44:50]). Initially provides a solid alibi.
5. The Breakthrough: Forensic Surprise
[46:00–50:50]
- Key evidence: Short hairs found on duct tape; not Misty’s.
- FBI lab: Hair is not from any male suspect—it’s not even human. It’s matched to dog hair, specifically Misty’s own dog, Chiba.
- “It would turn out the hair that Harold had sent to the FBI lab was not human hair. It was dog hair. And investigators eventually matched it to Misty's beloved dog, Chiba.” — MrBallen ([50:30])
6. Reconstructing the Crime and Resolution
[50:50–54:30]
- Investigators piece together the likely sequence: Misty was lured out after late calls by her killer (later determined to be Brent, her ex).
- Motive crystallizes: Brent heard a false rumor Misty might be pregnant—panic over the possibility of losing his serious girlfriend pushed him over the edge ([52:00]).
- Brent’s original alibi falls apart; timeline review gives him opportunity to commit the crime.
- The dog hair on the duct tape, direct from his home, conclusively places Misty and the crime at Brent’s house.
- Brent is convicted of first-degree kidnapping and murder, receiving two life sentences.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the significance of forensic detail:
- “She was so bloated and already so decomposed, he couldn't even tell how old she was. He assumed she'd been in the water for at least a few days, which meant it was unlikely they'd be able to recover any DNA or forensic evidence from her body.” — MrBallen ([11:08])
- On suspect psychology:
- “Women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner... There was the tape over her eyes... the kind of thing you do if you know your victim personally...” — MrBallen ([15:50])
- On the impact of a tiny clue:
- “It would turn out the hair that Harold had sent to the FBI lab was not human hair. It was dog hair. And investigators eventually matched it to Misty's beloved dog, Chiba, who now was living with Brent Huck.” — MrBallen ([50:20])
- On the emotional toll:
- “Because no matter how many times he had done this, notifying loved ones about a death was always awful.” — MrBallen ([16:33])
Important Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 03:30 | Misty’s last evening at the beach | | 08:00 | Discovery of Misty’s body | | 13:10 | Autopsy findings and identification | | 21:30 | Crucial late-night phone calls | | 29:45 | Teddy Underwood interview and DNA sample | | 35:10 | Ricky Franklin interrogation, license revelation | | 41:00 | Brent Huck background and initial alibi | | 46:00 | Laboratory analysis of hair from the duct tape | | 50:20 | Revelation of the dog hair; breakthrough in the case | | 52:00 | Brent’s motive and crime reconstruction | | 54:30 | Brent’s conviction and case conclusion |
Style & Tone
The episode maintains MrBallen's signature style: suspenseful, empathetic, and detail-oriented storytelling aimed at immersing listeners in the investigating detective’s perspective. MrBallen fundamentally builds suspense by focusing on small details—particularly the value of overlooked forensic evidence—and the emotional impact of violent crime on loved ones.
Final Notes
This episode is a masterclass in how a seemingly tiny, “irrelevant” detail can unravel a complicated murder mystery. Through careful interviews, persistent investigation, and scientific analysis, the truth behind Misty Morse’s tragic end is ultimately exposed—not by direct evidence from her body, but by a single dog hair that linked her killer to the crime.
“If you enjoyed today's story and you're looking for more bone-chilling content, be sure to check out all of our studio's podcasts... Until next time. See ya.” — MrBallen ([Final minute])