Murder Sheet: The Cheat Sheet – Cancer and Cake (March 20, 2026)
Overview
In this "Cheat Sheet" episode of Murder Sheet, hosts journalist Áine (Anya) Cain and attorney Kevin Greenlee deliver a western-themed roundup of recent and notable true crime cases spanning Utah, Alaska, Iowa, and Ohio. The discussion is wide-ranging and covers the murder trial of Corey Richards in Utah, a murder-suicide in Alaska with Arizona ties, the cold case arrest in the murder of Iowa realtor Ashley Oakland, and a legal dispute involving the rapper Afroman in Ohio. The hosts provide background details, legal commentary, and reflections on case outcomes, interspersed with their trademark banter and listener Q&A.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Western Theme & Opening Banter (00:30–03:09)
- The episode leans into a “western” theme, prompting playful discussion about Anya wearing a cowboy hat.
- Anya clarifies she’s not actually wearing a hat and jokes about the absurdity of themed accessories on an audio podcast.
- Notable Quote (Anya): "Anytime I think of myself wearing a cowboy hat, I just imagine...there's a scene where one of the moms is yelling at the other one and one of them is wearing this, like, little cowboy hat. And one of the moms is like, I can't take you seriously in that hat." (01:38)
Utah: The Murder of Eric Richards and the Conviction of Corey Richards (04:02–21:29)
Case Background & Listener Engagement
- The hosts break down the high-profile Utah case where Corey Richards was convicted of murdering her husband Eric Richards.
- Listener requests for coverage prompted this in-depth review, highlighting community debate over Corey’s innocence.
Timeline and Key Evidence (04:02–11:46)
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2020–2021: Marital breakdown; Eric takes legal action to shield assets and changes beneficiary on life insurance due to suspected financial abuse by Corey.
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June–August 2021: Corey alleged to have submitted fake bank statements; prosecutors accused her of fraud.
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2021–2022: Corey reportedly expresses feeling trapped in the marriage and applies for an insurance policy on Eric's life, forging his signature.
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February 2022: Eric experiences sudden allergic-like symptoms after eating food provided by Corey, suspects attempted poisoning.
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Drug Connection: Testimony at trial from Carmen Lauber indicating Corey sought prescription pills and fentanyl, corroborated by phone records and location data. "The Michael Jackson stuff"—interpreted as fentanyl—was requested by Corey.
- Notable Quote (Anya): "She was committing fraud. According to prosecutors, in 2021 she told somebody that she felt trapped in the marriage and that it would be better if her husband was dead." (07:06)
Eric's Death & Aftermath (11:46–13:58)
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March 4, 2022: Corey calls 911 in the early morning; Eric is found dead.
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Toxicology reveals five times the lethal dose of fentanyl.
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Corey signs a real estate deal immediately after, then searches online for forensic details and insurance payout info.
- Notable Quote (Anya): "Dr. Pamela Sue Ulmer testified that Eric had no fatal heart disease. This was not a stroke. There was not a natural cause for this. In fact, the toxicology indicated what the cause was, and that was five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system." (10:50)
Legal Tactics & Trial Outcome (13:58–21:29)
- Defense moves for judge-directed acquittal (bypassing jury), which is denied; rests without calling witnesses.
- Legal Insight: Sometimes considered weak by juries, but can be strategic if the defense believes prosecution's case is insufficient.
- Discussion on jury instructions and inadmissible evidence:
- Notable Quote (Anya): "There's a risk with that, obviously. So ultimately, the jury came back after three hours, guilty on all counts. And they said it was not a hard debate." (18:49)
Summary: Corey Richards was convicted on all counts after a dramatic, evidence-heavy trial. The case sparked community debate on the strength of evidence and the ethics of jury deliberation.
Alaska (with Arizona Tie): Murder-Suicide of Comedy Club Owner Matt Becker (21:29–29:34)
Background & Crime (21:29–25:25)
- Matthew Thomas Becker, former owner of Bisbee, Arizona’s Chuckleheads comedy club, diagnosed with terminal illness, travels to Alaska and murders his ex-father-in-law, then dies by suicide.
- Social media statement from Chuckleheads’ former manager emphatically invalidates Becker’s legacy in light of his crime.
- Notable Quote (Social Media, read by Anya): "Matt ruined everything that the team at Chuckleheads ever tried to build...it's horrible that he turned tears of joy into tears of tragedy. God, that's corny." (25:25–27:14)
Reflections on Legacy and Rationalization (27:14–29:34)
- Hosts decry rationalizations often made for killers, emphasizing that some acts permanently erase any prior good deeds.
- Notable Quote (Anya): "There are some things that are so egregious and so awful that those positive memories don't matter anymore." (26:18)
- Discussion of parallels with other public figures, the dangers of excusing homicidal behavior, and the role of mental illness.
Iowa: Cold Case Arrest in 2011 Murder of Realtor Ashley Oakland (30:02–41:13)
Victim Background (30:05–35:24)
- Ashley Oakland: 27, highly accomplished realtor in West Des Moines, involved in community service and local organizations, beloved by family and friends.
Murder Details (35:24–37:19)
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Ashley shot to death in a townhouse she was showing in April 2011. The case receives significant local attention; open houses cancelled; tip lines and reward funds established.
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A “scruffy young man” was sought as a possible witness, not necessarily a suspect.
- Notable Quote (Anya): "The nature of the job puts people, often women, but men have been victimized too, alone with people who may have ill intent." (36:15)
Cold Case Development & Arrest (37:19–41:13)
- More than a decade later, cold case unit established by Iowa AG leads to grand jury indictment of Kristen Elizabeth Ramsey, a woman and administrative worker for the same developer as the murder site.
- Surprise Detail: Arrest of a female suspect in a type of crime usually committed by men.
- Notable Quote (Anya): "Not what I was expecting, frankly, because not to say that women can't kill each other, but usually in cases like this, you're looking at a man." (40:05)
Legal and Community Response
- Her family welcomes the new attention and efforts, as the community still mourns the loss and celebrates Ashley’s life with playground dedications and awards.
Ohio: Legal Battles – The Afroman Defamation Case (41:13–49:41)
Case Overview (42:12–43:17)
- Rap artist Afroman (Joseph Foreman) lampoons law enforcement on social media after a botched 2022 police raid; uses real bodycam footage and satirical music/videos.
- Law enforcement sues for defamation after some content exaggerates or invents details.
Free Speech, Satire, and Social Commentary (43:17—49:41)
- Jury rules for Afroman, upholding First Amendment protections for satire.
- Notable Quote (Afroman’s attorney, cited by Kevin at 45:30): "It's all entertainment. They made fun of everybody for entertainment. And some of it is a social commentary, but it is not fact. And everybody knows that. Nobody looks at Lil Wayne's song Pea Monster and says, there's a monster in that song."
- Hosts discuss government accountability, the need to let criticism go, and appropriate legal reactions to satire:
- Notable Quote (Anya): "If people want to dunk on us or be like, you guys are losers or you guys stink, I. I don't know. Like, I'm not gonna sue them for it. You know, like, it's like, I might. I. At some point, you just kind of have to log off and ignore it." (46:48)
Ohio: Live Event Banter, Hat Lore, and Listener Dynamics (49:41–54:35)
- Hosts recount their recent live appearance at the Marion County Public Library, the "big hat" running joke, and the careful consideration of audience composition when planning inside jokes for live events.
- Notable Quote (Anya): "If I got up and did a stupid bit about a hat, like, 'oh, here comes the hat, folks,' they're gonna think I'm either a lunatic or very tasteless." (51:44)
- Brief discussion about balancing their show’s playful and serious sides.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Five times the lethal dose is pretty extreme.” — Kevin, discussing the Corey Richards murder case (11:43)
- “There's some things that are so egregious...those positive memories don't matter anymore.” — Anya (26:18)
- “Not what I was expecting...usually in cases like this, you're looking at a man.” — Anya, on the Ashley Oakland suspect (40:05)
- “It's all entertainment...nobody looks at Lil Wayne's song Pea Monster and says, there's a monster in that song.” — Afroman’s attorney (45:30)
- “You have to have more of a sense of humor about it. Or even if you don't...just move on.” — Anya (48:01)
- “As everyone should [listen to all our episodes], obviously. And they know the lore, they know the jokes about hats and cereal and all this other stuff.”— Anya (51:01)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:09–03:09 – Western theme banter, hat jokes, and show intro
- 04:02–21:29 – Utah: Corey Richards murder trial and verdict
- 21:29–29:34 – Alaska/Arizona: Matt Becker murder-suicide and reflections on legacy
- 30:02–41:13 – Iowa: The cold case and arrest in the Ashley Oakland murder
- 41:13–49:41 – Ohio: Afroman vs. law enforcement, freedom of speech and defamation law
- 49:41–54:35 – Live show recap, Murder Sheet inside jokes, and audience engagement
Tone & Style
The episode moves fluidly between engrossing legal commentary, deeply empathetic victim stories, and lighthearted humor between the hosts. The hosts balance serious critical analysis of true crime and justice with playful asides, making for an engaging and accessible listen, even for those unfamiliar with the cases.
Conclusion
This Cheat Sheet episode offers a diverse cross-section of true crime cases with rich legal insights, firsthand reporting, and thoughtful audience engagement. Anya and Kevin’s dynamic carries listeners through both harrowing and lighter moments, uncovering not only the facts of each case, but their broader cultural and legal significance.