MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

Episode: “Watch It Again” (Podcast Exclusive)
Date: November 24, 2025
Host: John Allen (MrBallen)

Episode Overview

In this chilling episode, MrBallen delves into the baffling and brutal murder of Don Fluitt, a beloved father and community volunteer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Through gripping storytelling, MrBallen unravels the investigation from the first ominous hints–a cowering dog, an overturned trash can, and a shadowy figure on security footage–to the shocking betrayal at the heart of the crime. The episode highlights both the slow, painstaking process of police work and the pivotal role of forensic evidence, culminating in a satisfying but deeply unsettling resolution.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Don Fluitt’s Life and Character

• Personal background: Don Fluitt was a 54-year-old single father, known for his community service, especially the “Spaghetti Sunday” tradition where he and his daughter, Sienna, would cook and serve food to the homeless. He had recently returned from a difficult Christmas in California after his sister’s passing.
• Quote:
  • “Don felt proud that he'd created something so meaningful for the community, and it was especially important to him that he had done it with Sienna.” (05:15)
• Struggles and Redemption: Don's earlier life had been marred by drug use and the loss of custody of his first two children. He’d turned himself around, fighting for partial custody of Sienna and remaining actively involved in her life.

The Night of the Murder

• Sequence of Events:
  • December 28, 2016: Don and Sienna return to Albuquerque late at night. Sienna is dropped off at her mother Christine’s house around 7:45pm. Don returns home alone.
  • Notable oddities: Don’s dog, Buddy, is unusually skittish. The garage door behaves strangely; Don hears it stop and roll back up as if something tripped the sensor.
  • An overturned trash can at the curb, found by Don, is later revealed to be a key part of the killer’s plan.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “He could have sworn he heard the garage door stop closing and roll back up again, as if something had maybe tripped the sensor.” (09:50)

Discovery of the Crime

• Don Fails to Report to Work:
  • Don’s absence the next morning raises alarms with his coworker, Valerie. Sienna also expresses worry, saying her father didn’t call her before bed as he always did.
• Crime Scene:
  • Valerie and another coworker find Don’s house unlocked and, upon searching the garage, find his body.
  • The scene is brutal: “Don's throat was cut with a gaping wound… there were smaller cuts and scrapes… signs of blunt force trauma… burst capillaries… a sign of strangulation.” (14:20)
  • Attempts to clean the scene are evident: bleach, wet towels in the washer, but blood traces remain.

The Investigation

• Detective Kaplan’s Role:

  • Kaplan notes there are no signs of forced entry, and nothing is stolen. The violence of the attack suggests it was personal.

• Suspects Considered:

  • Christine (Don’s ex-wife): Quickly ruled out due to a solid alibi.
  • Terry White (Christine’s new husband): Claims an alibi (with sister and work), which is initially supported.
  • Don’s brother Dennis: Had a feud with Don over inheritance and was found taking control of Don’s possessions after his death.
  • Landlord Benny Ruiz: In and out of the house post-murder, mentions potential homeless perpetrator, but this is doubted by Kaplan.

• Home Security Footage:

  • Pivotal evidence comes from a neighbor's surveillance camera, revealing a “hooded figure” lurking and tipping over the trash can, intending to lure Don out and sneak into the garage.
  • The timing and knowledge of Don’s habits point to someone very familiar with his routine.

• Family Dynamics & Motives:

  • Discussion with Don’s children from his first marriage points more suspicion towards brother Dennis, but ultimately there is no evidence to charge him.
  • Terry, meanwhile, is increasingly revealed as someone who resented Don’s presence and influence in Sienna’s life.

Breakthrough & Resolution

• Forensic Evidence:

  • After months of dead ends, the key evidence comes from DNA found under Don’s fingernails–indicative of a fierce struggle.
  • Bombshell Moment:
    • “The key piece of forensic evidence that was left behind…was DNA found under Don's fingernails that belonged to none other than Sienna's own stepfather, Terry White.” (36:51)

• Arrest and Aftermath:

  • Terry White’s alibi collapses. He is arrested and charged with Don’s murder.
  • Terry tries to implicate Christine, but charges against her are dropped due to lack of evidence.
  • Terry is convicted in August 2018 of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, and tampering with evidence. He is sentenced to life plus 12 years.
  • Final Quote:
    • “Don was not able to save his own life, but by aggressively fighting back, he'd given investigators a clue that would solve his murder and also ensure that in his absence, his daughter Sienna would grow up in a safe and secure home.” (36:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Setting the Show’s Tone

  • “If you’re a fan of the strange, dark and mysterious delivered in story format, then you’ve come to the right show…” (01:07)

• On Don’s Transformation

  • “These days, Don lived a squeaky clean life and went to church every Sunday. But it was not always that way.” (07:10)

• Crime Discovery

  • “She looked over at her coworker, then the two of them nervously stepped inside… and when she looked down, she screamed.” (13:55)

• Detective Kaplan Analyzes the Garage Door Incident

  • “Kaplan thought about those strange flashes of light he saw in the video, and then also that hooded figure he had seen lurking near the garage. And all at once, it was like the pieces clicked into place.” (23:33)

• The Twist

  • “The DNA found under Don's fingernails belonged to none other than Sienna's own stepfather, Terry White.” (36:51)

Timeline & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Introduction, scene setting: a neighborhood in fear | | 04:00 | Don and Sienna return from California, Spaghetti Sunday | | 09:30 | The dropoff at Christine’s, odd garage door moment | | 13:30 | Valerie discovers Don’s body in the garage | | 14:20 | Detective Kaplan arrives, crime scene described | | 17:25 | Investigating motives, talking with landlord and Christine | | 22:10 | Reviewing security footage; suspect’s method becomes clear | | 29:45 | Questioning Don’s brother Dennis | | 32:00 | More dead ends, a stalled investigation | | 35:45 | The forensic DNA breakthrough | | 36:51 | Terry White revealed as the killer | | 39:10 | Aftermath: conviction and sentencing |

Analysis & Reflections

MrBallen masterfully peels away layers of a complex case, utilizing forensic science and close attention to human motive. The episode’s structure mimics a puzzle, with each suspect and dead end building suspense. The ultimate solution–that Sienna’s stepfather, Terry, committed the murder–is both shocking and heartbreaking, highlighting the darkness that can sometimes lurk closest to home.

Throughout, MrBallen retains his signature storytelling style: matter-of-fact, unhurried, with a hint of dark humor and empathy for the victim and those left behind. The detail about Don’s DNA—act of resistance even in the end—offers both justice and a poignant sense of closure.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

• What You’ll Get: A deeply-researched, emotional true crime story that captures both the victim’s life and the painstaking work of solving a seemingly motiveless crime.
• What Stands Out: The ordinary details—the Christmas decorations, the Spaghetti Sunday tradition, a nervous dog—are woven into a narrative that feels intimate and real.
• Resolution: Through careful police work and forensic evidence, the killer is brought to justice, ensuring Don’s legacy lives on through his family and acts of kindness.

Note: Story events and some names may have been fictionalized or altered for privacy and dramatic effect, as per the episode’s closing disclaimer.