Podcast Summary: My Favorite Murder – Episode 501: Live at Bass Concert Hall (Austin Night 1)

Date: October 9, 2025
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Location: Austin, Texas, Bass Concert Hall
Podcast Network: Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

Overview

Episode 501 of My Favorite Murder takes place live in Austin, Texas, with Karen and Georgia bringing their signature true-crime comedy to the Bass Concert Hall. The duo offers hilarious banter, audience interaction, and two deeply absorbing true crime stories connected to Texas. The episode closes with a riveting hometown story from an audience member, tying local color and personal history to infamous Texas crime lore.

Main Segments

1. Opening Banter & Texas Vibes (02:00–08:30)

• Karen and Georgia react to Austin’s lively and hot atmosphere, joke about matching outfits, and riff on the chaos and joy of live shows.
• Georgia recounts an amusing encounter with a “city raccoon” during a walk downtown with Vince.
  • Quote: “A fucking raccoon jumps out of a trash can holding food and climbs into a gutter. Boom. I fucking lost my mind.” (04:47 – Georgia)
• The duo lovingly teases the quirks of road life, returning to live touring, and introduces themselves for newcomers and the “drag along” crowd.
• They explain the show’s unique blend of true crime and comedy, emphasizing that their humor is a coping device not meant to trivialize crime.
  • Quote: “We don’t think murder is funny. We just think we’re funny. So that said, if you don’t like it, you can get the fuck out.” (08:11 – Karen)

2. Story 1: The Kiss and Kill Murder of Betty Williams (08:30–35:05)

Summary

Georgia presents the infamous "Kiss and Kill" case from Odessa, Texas—a chilling and tragic 1961 murder. She draws from Pamela Colloff’s Texas Monthly article A Kiss Before Dying and the memoir Washed in the Blood by the victim’s cousin, Shelton Williams.

Highlights

• Setting: Odessa, a town overshadowed by its rowdy reputation and oil wealth—“Odessa is where you raise hell.” (13:15 – Georgia).
• Victim: Betty Williams, a sharp, rebellious 17-year-old “who pretended to be above it all,” was increasingly alienated yet longed for acceptance.
• Events Leading Up: After being shunned for her nonconformity and sexual openness, and suffering at home, Betty openly asks classmates (and her ex, Mac Herring) to help end her life—cries for help that tragically go unheeded.
  • “She spends the next several months telling multiple classmates that she wants to end her life and asks them to help her to do so, which is such a cry for help.” (20:49 – Georgia)
• The Murder: On March 20, 1961, Mac Herring, her football-player ex-boyfriend, shoots and kills Betty at her request, then calmly retrieves her body for police.
  • Quote: “He brings police to the land his father uses for hunting ... leads them to a pond ... takes off his leather jacket and all his clothes, goes into the water and pulls her body to shore.” (28:01 – Georgia)
• Aftermath: Mac, shockingly, is acquitted by a jury after pleading temporary insanity, lives an unremarkable life, and dies in 2019.
  • “The jury finds Mack not guilty. The prosecutor tries to appeal ... verdict is upheld, and Mack goes on to live a very normal life.” (32:10 – Georgia)
• Legacy: Betty becomes a ghostly legend at Odessa High—students tell stories, seek blessings before plays, and recount supernatural happenings connected to her.
  • “If you say the name Betty, sometimes you hear unaccounted for footsteps crossing the stage. And her presence is always talked about fondly.” (34:37 – Georgia)

3. Story 2: The Great Texas Declaration of Independence Forgeries (38:00–81:11)

Summary

Karen details an audacious saga from Texas rare-books history: the forgery scandals surrounding the Texas Declaration of Independence (TDI) in the late 20th century. She uses sources including Texas Monthly, The New York Times, and Antiques Roadshow.

Highlights

• Protagonist: Tom Taylor, an honest rare bookseller, unwittingly resells expertly forged copies of the TDI, then dedicates himself to unmasking the fakes.
• Forgers & Eccentric Collectors: The caper involves three vibrant personalities—
  • John Jenkins: The flamboyant, gambling-loving dealer.
  • William Simpson: A shrewd, low-key Houston auctioneer.
  • C. Dorman David: Eccentric, wealthy, and ultimately the criminal mastermind with a passion for calligraphy, wives (seven!), and forgeries.
  • “He's incredibly, you know, charismatic and charming because he marries and divorces seven women.” (58:41 – Karen)
• Forging Methods: David uses antique papers, candle smoke and linseed oil ink, and photographic negatives as the basis for his “dupes.”
  • “He perfects his calligraphy ... even hires a trusted lithographer to enlarge negatives ... uses ink he makes out of candle smoke and linseed oil.” (63:27 – Karen)
• Impact: Many leading institutions—universities, libraries, even a governor’s private collection—are duped by the fakes.
• Downfall: David’s addiction, reckless behavior, and antagonism of fellow dealers draw law enforcement attention; ultimately, he confesses forgery to The New York Times.
  • Quote: “In an interview ... David admits he's directly responsible for the two fake declarations that Tom Taylor sold. And he even explains how Tom's one genuine copy served as the template for his later dupes.” (70:48 – Karen)
• Aftermath: The forgeries become so notorious, they acquire value in their own right. No one is prosecuted—there’s too much plausible deniability.
  • “According to PBS’s Antiques Roadshow, David’s fake Texas Declarations ... can be worth up to $1,000 today from buyers.” (80:29 – Karen)

4. Audience Hometown Story: Taking Down a Texas Cult (87:10–93:20)

Summary

Laura, an audience member, shares her harrowing connection to helping expose the polygamous YFZ Ranch cult near El Dorado, Texas.

Highlights

• Laura was born profoundly Mormon; relatives were polygamists involved in infamous cults.
  • “My great-great-great grandfather was one of the first converts and was called polygamy when he came to Salt Lake City. ... A lot of my family is still polygamists, so I know these people.” (87:55)
• After leaving a marriage to a man tied to cult leader Warren Jeffs, she used online forums and LiveJournal to collect and report cult activity data.
• Her sleuthing eventually provided crucial evidence to the Texas Rangers, including details about hidden rooms designed to destroy DNA evidence.
  • Quote: “Somebody had asked on a chat board, does anybody have a blueprint for a potato burning shed that gets hot enough to destroy DNA evidence?” (90:19 – Laura)
• Laura’s tips contributed to the investigation and conviction of cult leaders—and she finally received back child support with interest from her ex-husband thanks to investigative coordination with the Rangers!
  • Quote: “A month after all of this happened, I got an email ... with a list of all known aliases ... I got my child support with interest.” (92:34 – Laura)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Texas energy:
  “This is insane. Our second city of our 2025 tour. … It would have been our first, but we were waiting for it to kind of get a little cooler here. And then we couldn't wait anymore, so we decided to come.” (02:51–03:08 – Karen)
• About true crime + comedy:
  “We don't think murder is funny. We just think we're funny. So that said, if you don't like it, you can get the fuck out.” (08:13 – Karen)
• Kiss and Kill Case:
  “He brings police to the land ... leads them to a pond ... pulls her body to shore.” (28:01 – Georgia)
• Forgeries:
  “He perfects his calligraphy. ... He even hires a trusted lithographer ... and prints versions ... using ink he makes out of candle smoke and linseed oil.” (63:34 – Karen)
• Audience story punchline:
  “I helped the Texas Rangers take down the polygamous sex cult at the YFZ Ranch in El Dorado, Texas.” (87:17 – Laura)
• Georgia on stagecraft:
  “People over 40 should not be on stage. Why is this happening?” (25:44 – Georgia, in a self-deprecating live-show riff)

Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Start | End | Notes | |--------------------------------------------|---------|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Opening Banter & Texas Vibes | 02:00 | 08:30 | Outfits, live energy, “drag alongs” explanation | | Kiss and Kill Murder Story (Georgia) | 08:30 | 35:05 | Detailed true crime story, Odessa, TX | | Texas Declaration Forgeries (Karen) | 38:00 | 81:11 | Rare books, forgers, Texana, “Real Housewives” parallels | | Audience Hometown Story (Laura) | 87:10 | 93:20 | Texas Rangers, cult, early Internet sleuthing | | Closing Banter/Audience Praise | 93:20 | 93:46 | Thanks and farewells (content ends, followed by outro/ads) |

Tone & Style

The episode blends sharp, irreverent humor with deep empathy for victims and a genuine curiosity about human behavior. Karen and Georgia’s conversational tone is quick, self-aware, and peppered with witty asides, audience banter, and affectionate ribbing.

Conclusion

Why listen?
This live Austin episode showcases everything My Favorite Murder fans love: darkly compelling Texas crime, jaw-dropping twists, infectious chemistry, cultural context, and the warmth of community—both among the hosts and with the audience.

Stay Sexy, and Don’t Get Murdered!