Murder In America – EP. 194: TEXAS - The BROOMSTICK MURDERS: Serial Killer Kenneth McDuff’s Dark Beginning

Date: March 21, 2025

Hosts: Courtney Shannon & Colin Browen
Podcast: Murder In America, Bloody FM

Overview

In this gripping episode, Courtney and Colin dive deep into the crimes of Kenneth Allen McDuff, an infamous but lesser-known serial killer from Texas. Tracing his troubled upbringing in the small town of Rosebud through his evolution into a remorseless killer, the hosts focus on his earliest (and most notorious early) crime spree: the brutal "Broomstick Murders" of 1966, which claimed three young lives and shocked the entire state. With thorough research, chilling first-hand accounts, and stark storytelling, the episode paints a disturbing portrait of a man who would slip through the cracks of the justice system time and time again.

Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Rosebud, Texas and the McDuff Family

[04:14 – 07:59]

• Rosebud, a close-knit farming town; deeply affected by small-town values.
  • “Anyone who entered the town was greeted with a large sign that read: Rosebud, we call it home.” ([04:54], A)
• The McDuff family was outwardly successful: owned businesses, attended church, but considered odd and standoffish.
  • "The MacDuffs weren’t the friendliest family in Rosebud when Kenneth was growing up. In fact, they were downright weird." – From Gary Cartwright, Texas Monthly ([07:46], A)
• Addie McDuff ("Pistol Packing Mama") ruled the family with an iron fist; fiercely protected her children, especially Kenneth.
• Anecdotes of Addie’s confrontational and intimidating behavior, including her regularly threatening others with a pistol ([09:37], B).

2. Kenneth McDuff's Troubled Youth

[10:50 – 18:07]

• Kenneth (and his brother Lonnie) were notorious bullies; involved in violence and theft from an early age.
• School officials noted his low IQ (92), antisocial behavior, and unchecked aggression.
  • “He refused to interact with her. She admitted he just sat there in stony silence and refused to make eye contact. That was the most unusual young boy.” ([11:52], C)
• Kenneth consistently bullied peers, bragged about misdeeds, and was excused by his domineering mother.
• Brutal family punishments (by father J.A.) seemed to exclude Kenneth, marking him as the "golden child" ([15:01], A).
• Reports of sexual abuse within the family, ignored by parents ([15:01], A).

3. Escalation into Crime

[18:07 – 23:34]

• Kenneth drops out of school after being humiliated in a fight; begins a string of burglaries.
• Sentenced to 52 years for burglary but paroled after just 9 months due to overcrowding ([21:13], C).
  • Upon release, shows no remorse: "All they was just pranks," McDuff laughed when asked about his crimes ([21:36], C).
• Forms an intense friendship with Roy Dale Green—a vulnerable and impressionable new accomplice.
• Kenneth brags to Roy about violent sexual assaults and, chillingly, about having killed women before ("Killing a woman is like killing a chicken. They both squawk." [23:34], C).

4. The Broomstick Murders: August 6, 1966

[24:53 – 41:13]

• Kenneth and Roy head to Fort Worth, where Kenneth eyes three teenagers at a baseball field.
• Victims: Louise Sullivan (16), Robert Brand (17), Marcus Dunham (15)—all described as good, well-liked kids with bright futures ([27:19], A).

The Crime:

• Kenneth and Roy approach the teens, force the boys into the trunk of their car, and kidnap Louise ([30:06], C).
• Kenneth executes Robert and Marcus (“It looked like an execution, which didn’t make a lot of sense. These three teenagers were good kids.” – Sheriff, [45:41], A).
• Louise is raped by both men, mutilated with a broomstick, and finally strangled with it ([33:12]–[35:42], A).
  • “She kept saying, 'Stop. I think you ripped something.'” ([35:03], A)
• The killers attempt to cover their tracks, washing the car and disposing of evidence.
  • “You see this, Roy? This is the kind of thing that could put us in prison.” ([38:47], A)

5. Aftermath and Investigation

[43:04 – 51:59]

• Parents quickly realize something is wrong; an early community-led search begins.
• Bodies of the boys are found in the trunk—Louise missing.
• Roy, wracked with guilt, confesses to his family and authorities after hearing about the murders ([47:15], C).
• Roy helps police find Louise’s body, leading to the moniker: "The Broomstick Murders."
  • “The media quickly dubbed the slayings as ‘the broomstick murders.'” ([49:30], C)
• Manhunt for McDuff ends with his swift arrest following a high-speed chase and shootout—he shows no remorse ([51:48], A).
  • “He expressed no interest in any conversation about anything...I had never seen anyone like this. And I’d been on the police beat for a long time at that point. He was a monster.” – Bob Sullivan, reporter ([53:01], B)

6. Trial and Sentencing

[54:52 – 60:00]

• McDuff refuses to speak or cooperate; relies entirely on legal defense and alibi claims from his mother Addie ([57:13], B).
• Roy's nervous, low-IQ testimony vs. Kenneth’s unnervingly calm and cold denial form the backbone of the trial.
• Both convicted: McDuff sentenced to die in the electric chair ("Old Sparky"); Roy receives 25 years, ultimately serves just 13 in prison/mental health hospital ([59:49], A).
• Community feels a sense of relief believing the "monster" is safely behind bars—temporarily.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the McDuff Family:

  • “The MacDuffs weren’t the friendliest family in Rosebud…they were downright weird.” ([07:46], A)

• On Kenneth’s Early Violence:

  • “This young man had been angry with the world ever since he was in fourth or fifth grade. His mother was neurotic and unreasonable.” ([13:03], A)

• The Crime’s Callousness:

  • “He calmly responded, ‘It had to be done.’ There was no remorse, no emotion at all.” ([33:12], C)

• The Impact of the Murders:

  • "I still remember it because I think it was the worst thing I ever saw. I saw those bodies and when you’re on the police force you see a lot of death. But I had never seen anything that matched the cruelty of what MacDuff did.” – Reporter Bob Schieffer ([46:29], A)

• Community’s Reaction:

  • “This crime was so horrifying that people all over Texas were talking about it. Even people over two hours away in Rosebud.” ([47:15], C)

• Roy’s Breakdown:

  • “He started screaming, ‘My God, I’ve gotta tell somebody.’” ([47:15], C)

• On Kenneth’s Remorselessness:

  • “…He showed no remorse. He showed no hesitancy about any of it…He was a monster. He was a monster. I don’t think he had any conscience.” – Bob Sullivan ([53:01], B)

Key Timestamps

• Introduction & Context:

  • [02:01] — Framing serial killers in America
  • [04:14] — Anatomy of Rosebud, Texas and the McDuff family

• Young Kenneth McDuff / Family Dysfunction:

  • [09:37] — "Pistol Packing Mama" and family anecdotes
  • [13:03] — School and community views on Kenneth

• Path to Crime:

  • [18:07] — Dropping out, crime escalation
  • [21:13] — Prison, early parole, and Roy Dale Green's introduction

• Details of the Broomstick Murders:

  • [27:19] — Introductions of victims and events leading up to the crime
  • [30:06 – 38:47] — Abduction, murder, sexual assault, and aftermath

• Investigation and Community Impact:

  • [43:04 – 49:30] — Families' discovery, Roy's confession, Louise’s body found

• Arrest, Trial, and Sentencing:

  • [51:48] — Kenneth’s arrest and personality
  • [54:52 – 59:49] — Trial proceedings and sentencing

Episode Tone & Language

• The hosts maintain a serious, detailed, and empathetic tone, blending narrative storytelling with investigative insight. They frequently bring in direct quotes from newspapers, witnesses, and family members, keeping the focus on the devastating impact of Kenneth McDuff’s crimes.

Teaser for Next Episode

[60:45 – 61:42]

• Listeners are told that despite the death sentence, Kenneth McDuff would eventually be released and kill again—his story is not over.
  • “This death row inmate would somehow get released back into society, and as you’ll hear in part two of this story, he would go on to kill again.”

Summary

This episode offers a chilling, meticulously detailed account of how Kenneth McDuff’s early life and unchecked violence led to one of the most brutal crimes in Texas history. Listeners are left with the unsettling knowledge that justice was not the end of McDuff’s story—a harrowing promise for the next episode.