My Favorite Murder Episode 518 - "Live at the San Diego Civic Theatre (San Diego Night 1)"

Date: February 5, 2026
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark

Episode Overview

In this lively live episode from San Diego, Karen and Georgia bring their unique brand of true crime comedy to the stage, sharing a compelling SoCal historical mystery and a quirky tale of wildlife crime. Rich with banter and local color, the pair cover the enigmatic disappearance of Sister Amy Semple McPherson, a charismatic evangelist who founded one of LA's earliest megachurches, and the undercover sting operation that brought down a notorious butterfly smuggler. The show ends with an emotional hometown story from a member of the San Diego audience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Live Show Banter and Audience Interaction

• Setting: The hosts greet their San Diego audience, riff on signs, ex-cheerleaders, and the unique energy of performing live.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Karen (on live show surprise): “I always forget that’s gonna happen until I walk out on stage, and then it happens. I want to cry every time.” (02:32)
  • Georgia (on audience feedback): “I’m not taking notes from the audience. First and foremost, don’t boss me the fuck around.” (02:55)

2. Stage & Wardrobe Anecdotes

• The hosts share backstage mishaps, like breaking a gifted brooch and the importance of dresses with pockets, playfully contrasting previous tour shows (06:06–07:19).

3. The MFM Tone and Approach

• Explanation for Newcomers: Karen gives a signature “what we do here” speech clarifying that while this is a true crime podcast, “we don’t think murder is funny, we just think we’re funny…” (10:14-11:18)
  • Quote: “...we are the types of people who have had the kind of trauma in our early lives that we then learn to cope with that trauma through humor…” (10:41)

Main Story 1: The Disappearance of Amy Semple McPherson

Told by Georgia (15:32–54:44)

Introduction

• Amy Semple McPherson: A Canadian-born, charismatic preacher and founder of LA’s Angelus Temple, whose 1926 disappearance captivated the country.
• Sources: Book: "Sister: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Amy Semple McPherson" by Claire Hoffman; PBS’s "American Experience: Sister Amy".

Key Story Beats

Early Life and Rise (18:05–23:22)

• Born 1890, raised in a strict Methodist/Salvation Army home.
• Marries preacher Robert Semple, moves to China, he dies of dysentery.
• Remarries, struggles with traditional domesticity, returns to preaching, and becomes immensely popular with tent revivals and theatrical sermons.

Founding Angelus Temple (27:15–31:02)

• Moves to Southern California "on divine instruction."
• Founds the 5,300-seat Angelus Temple in Echo Park, LA (1923).
• Becomes a media phenomenon, attracting tens of thousands — “vintage viral” fame.

Scandal and Disappearance (34:44–54:44)

• May 18, 1926: Vanishes after swimming at Venice Beach; mass public mourning and search efforts ensue.
  • Quote: “There’s deep sea divers and hundreds of officers combing the shore…” (39:18)
• Days turn into weeks; rumors swirl about a love affair with her married radio engineer, Kenneth Ormiston, who is also missing. (40:20)
• Return: Five weeks later, Amy reemerges in Mexico, claiming abduction by kidnappers (“vintage Gone Girl”).
• Public divided: Some believe her miraculous survival, others suspect a cover-up for an affair.
• Grand jury investigates, case dropped due to lack of hard evidence; Amy never fully recovers her prior reputation but continues her ministry.

Memorable Moments

• Karen and Georgia riff on the church’s charity work versus televangelist greed, and the media madness around Amy’s return (34:36, 44:30).
• Karen tells a humorous story about her supposed "Charlie Chaplin house" in LA (32:27–33:43).

Noteworthy Quotes

• Georgia (on Amy): “She’s the original podcaster. That’s OG podcaster.” (27:44)
• Karen (on the spectacle): “If it’s true, she lied to her congregation...wasted police and Coast Guard resources…But Amy maintains her story, and she has the support of thousands of her followers.” (48:31)
• Karen (on a potential kidnapping conspiracy): “Some people point out that Minnie (Amy’s mother) was unhappy with her daughter’s behavior…and wanted her granddaughter to take over…” (49:56)

Segment Timestamps

• Early life and rise: 18:05–23:22
• Founding the Angelus Temple: 27:15–31:02
• Disappearance and fallout: 34:44–54:44

Main Story 2: The Butterfly Sting — Special Agent Ed Newcomer vs. Yoshi Kojima

Told by Karen (57:57–99:41)

Introduction

• Rookie Fish & Wildlife Agent Ed Newcomer goes undercover at LA’s 2003 Bug Fair to bust the notorious “Indiana Jones of Butterflies,” Yoshi Kojima.
• Sources: Book: "Winged Obsession" by Jessica Spears; "Criminal" podcast episode “The Butterfly Smuggler”; Ed Newcomer’s own podcast.

Story Highlights

Bug Fair Sting Operation (58:52–77:06)

• Karen describes the scene at the Bug Fair; Ed targets Yoshi, a legend in illicit insect collecting, suspected of decimating rare populations (66:14).
• Using a nervous informant fails, so Ed goes undercover as “Ted Nelson,” a wealthy hobbyist.
  • Yoshi quickly shows “Ted” a prohibited rhinoceros beetle and slips him 13 butterflies with his email inside, cementing a contact (75:00).

Building Trust & Trailing the Kingpin (77:06–84:25)

• Ed cultivates Ted Nelson’s persona, meets Yoshi at Starbucks, and passes Yoshi’s probing questions (78:22).
• The two negotiate a partnership to sell illegal butterflies online, but Yoshi grows suspicious and reports “Ted Nelson” to the authorities(!), temporarily ending contact.

Breakthrough & Bust (84:25–99:41)

• A year later, Ed bumps into Yoshi at the next Bug Fair and spins a tale that wins back Yoshi’s trust (“Some dollar turned me into Fish and Wildlife… but thanks to your tips, I hid everything”) (86:58).
• Yoshi resumes mailing increasingly rare and endangered butterflies (including Queen Alexandra’s birdwing) worth thousands of dollars (88:43).
• The Twist: Ed suspects Yoshi is attracted to him; Ed uses this, hints at a date, and lures Yoshi back to LA — where he’s promptly arrested.
  • Quote: “He looked down and saw the badge... and that was it. The relationship was over.” (93:09)
• Yoshi pleads guilty on 17 counts, spends 21 months in prison. Years later, Ed encounters Yoshi’s protégé at LAX.
• Final Case: Ed’s retirement case involves finding a baby jaguar in an Alpine, CA parking lot, sold via OnlyFans (seriously) and rescued by a sanctuary (97:02).

Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Karen (on undercover nerves): “I was sweating like crazy.” (80:01)
• Georgia (on Ed’s methods): “That’s so insulting to do that in a natural history museum… Go to a cafe.” (76:10)
• Karen (on story’s heartbreak): “There was a little bit of like making a friend and talking about a mutual interest...But it’s a special agent in disguise. What a bummer. It gets worse.” (92:36)
• Georgia (on Ed’s legacy): “With this case closed, Special Agent Ed Newcomer...closes it by bringing justice to a baby jaguar.” (99:36)

Segment Timestamps

• The Bug Fair setup: 57:57–77:06
• Undercover ploys and near misses: 77:06–84:25
• The bust, aftermath, and retirement: 84:25–99:41

Hometown Story: Anna Marie’s Memory

Guest: Jennifer from San Diego (102:10–105:19)

Story Overview

• Jennifer recounts a tragic hometown crime from Upland, CA: In 1983, a teenage girl, Anna Marie, was lured by her ex-boyfriend’s friend and murdered just before her high school graduation.
• The crime was solved because an accomplice confessed; Anna’s remains were found and identified by dental records. Jennifer shares the importance of looking out for young women in precarious relationships.

Memorable Quote

• Jennifer: “To Anna Marie, we still think of you…” (105:04)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Georgia: “She’s the original podcaster. That’s OG podcaster.” (27:44)
• Karen: “If it’s true, she lied to her congregation... wasted resources... but Amy maintains her story, and she has the support of thousands.” (48:31)
• Ed Newcomer (quote from story): “Nothing pisses me off more. They are not animal lovers. They are either in it for the money or...the obsession of collecting and owning and having and controlling.” (67:42)
• Karen (on final Ed Newcomer scene): “He takes some headphones off, and he exhales and says, ‘I’m too old for this shit.’” (96:06)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Opening banter, stage anecdotes, show format: 02:19–15:32
• Story 1: Amy Semple McPherson: 15:32–54:44
• Story 2: Butterfly smuggling & Ed Newcomer: 57:57–99:41
• Hometown, audience interaction: 102:10–105:19

Closing Remarks

Karen and Georgia round out the show with gratitude for the audience and the supportive Murderino community, reaffirming the bonds their podcast has built over years on the road. The episode is a showcase of their mix of true crime, compassion, and comedy—making complex stories relatable, memorable, and humane.

Final tagline:
“Stay sexy and don’t get murdered!”