Podcast Summary: Murder: True Crime Stories

Episode: SOLVED: The Lake Waco Murders, Part 1

Host: Carter Roy
Release Date: September 30, 2025

Main Theme

This episode explores the infamous 1982 Lake Waco triple homicide, beginning with an in-depth look at the victims, their backgrounds, and the sequence of events that led up to their murders. The episode critically examines the investigation’s early missteps, focusing on the intuition-driven approach of Patrol Sergeant Truman Simons and how it shaped the case’s direction. Listeners are given a vivid account of a crime that not only shocked a community but also possibly resulted in the wrongful conviction of an innocent man.

Key Discussion Points

1. Setting the Stage: Waco’s Dark History

• Waco, Texas is known for both its idyllic and infamous sides—home to Baylor University, Magnolia Market, the 1993 Branch Davidian siege, and, crucially, the 1982 Lake Waco Murders (19:23).
• The Lake Waco Murders involved the brutal deaths of Jill Montgomery (17), Raylan Rice (17), and Kenneth Franks (18).

2. Victim Backgrounds and Relationships

• Jill Montgomery:
  • Grew up in Waxahachie, struggled with dyslexia, low self-esteem, and family upheaval (parents’ divorce).
  • After difficulties at home, moved to the Methodist Home in Waco for structure and support.
  • Became close friends with Gail Kelly (notably similar in appearance).
• Kenneth Franks:
  • Also lived at the Methodist Home, had a tough childhood, dealt with learning disabilities, rebellious streak, and parents’ divorce.
  • Dated Jill; remained friends after their breakup.
• Raylan Rice:
  • Jill’s best friend from Waxahachie, described as bubbly and close-knit with Jill’s family (16:38).
  • Family lived above a funeral home.

3. The Day of the Murders (July 13, 1982)

• Jill returns to Waco with Raylan to pick up her final paycheck and visit Kenneth (24:00).
• The trio meet at Caney Park, a local teenager hangout. Kenneth’s father remembers a handshake and a warning to be home by midnight—the last time he saw his son alive (25:23).
• By 4:30am, Kenneth hasn’t returned home; his father finds Raylan’s car abandoned at the park and reports the trio missing (26:08).

4. Discovery of the Crime Scene

• Simons describes receiving a call about a “questionable death” at Spiegelville Park by Lake Waco (27:46).
• Kenneth’s body is found first—stabbed, bound, gagged, and oddly posed with aviator sunglasses (28:30).
• Jill and Raylan are quickly located nearby—both gagged, bound, stabbed, and sexually assaulted, showing evidence of torture (29:18).
• Memorable moment: Simons promises the victims, “I will not let your deaths go unsolved,” as he kneels by their bodies ([30:55]).

5. The Investigation’s Early Flaws

• Detective Salinas speculates about a drug connection, focusing on suspects that don’t pan out (e.g., Terry Lee Harper) (30:30).
• Initial evidence is sparse: a couple of beer cans, no murder weapon, no fingerprints.
• The department soon moves the case to an inactive status, filing it away less than two months after the murders (32:01).

6. Sergeant Truman Simons Takes Over

• Simons, unwilling to accept inaction, directly asks the police chief to let him work the case (“If the department let him run with it, he’d solve the murders in less than a week.” [32:43]).
• Quickly pieces together a lead from former Methodist Home resident Lisa Cater, who points to Munir Deeb, a local store owner with animosity towards Kenneth (33:09).

7. The Munir Deeb Theory

• Deeb had a contentious relationship with Kenneth; rumors of jealousy and threats, especially centering around Gail Kelly, Jill’s friend.
• Deeb had taken out a suspicious insurance policy on Gail Kelly, listing himself as her “common law husband”—potential financial motive if she died (35:42).
• Simons theorizes the murder was a botched hit intended for Gail, but the killers mistook Jill for her; Kenneth and Raylan were “collateral damage.”

8. Questionable Tactics and Dead Ends

• Deeb passes a polygraph; Simons is stunned but undeterred, convinced Deeb is involved (37:08).
• Determined, Simons quits the police force to become a jailer at the jail holding suspect David Spence, believing he’ll crack the case from the inside ([38:32]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Carter Roy on Simons’s methods:
  “Simons had a knack for sniffing out dangerous criminals. It wasn’t just about his investigative skills. It was more like a sixth sense. He’d been right so many times, he didn’t even question it anymore. But when it came to the Lake Waco murders, Simons should have been more cautious.” [02:31]

• On Jill’s final day:
  “Something about the way Jill said it gave Nancy pause. This wasn’t some teenage angst. It sounded like Jill was scared to go back.” [15:17]

• Kenneth’s father’s dread:
  “Kenneth wasn’t perfect, but if he was running late, he usually called. Richard knew he couldn’t just sit around and wait anymore. He had a feeling that Kenneth was in trouble.” [25:48]

• Simons’s vow at the crime scene:
  “He knelt beside Jill’s body and whispered a promise in her ear. He would not let her death go unsolved. He would find her killer and make them pay, even if it was the last thing he ever did.” [30:55]

• Simons’s gut-driven theory:
  “He believed that Deeb had hired some guys to kill Gale, but the hitmen had mistakenly identified Jill as Gale. Remember, the two girls looked nearly identical, and so they killed Jill instead.” [36:37]

Important Timestamps & Segments

• Background on Waco & Lake Waco murders: 13:50–16:00
• Victim profiles & home life: 16:01–19:57
• The day of the murder: 24:00–27:45
• Crime scene discovery & description: 27:46–30:55
• Early investigation & suspects: 31:00–33:08
• Simons takes over, shifts the case’s trajectory: 32:43–33:33
• Focus on Munir Deeb: 33:09–37:08
• Simons’s unorthodox strategy: 38:32–end

Summary & Tone

The episode is narrated with somber gravity and a sense of urgency, underscored by Carter Roy’s meticulous attention to the emotional lives of the young victims. Simons is depicted as both a dogged investigator and a cautionary figure—his reliance on instinct ultimately leading the investigation down questionable paths. The host’s tone is reflective, gently critical of law enforcement’s failings while keeping listeners invested in the quest for real justice.

Closing

Part 1 leaves listeners at the precipice of a major shift in the investigation. Next episode promises to examine how Simons’s obsession cast suspicion, potentially resulting in the wrongful conviction of several men—all driven by a community desperate for closure and a detective’s unshakeable vow.

This summary was prepared for those seeking an engaging and thorough understanding of the episode’s narrative arc, main developments, and emotional core without the need to listen to the entire podcast.