MFM Minisode 430

Summary

My Favorite Murder Minisode 430: Hero Pet Stories – Detailed Summary

In Minisode 430 of My Favorite Murder (MFM), hosts Karen Kilgarith and Georgia Hardstark delve into a heartwarming segment dedicated to "Hero Pet Stories." This episode, released on April 7, 2025, features listeners' inspiring tales of pets who went above and beyond to save their owners from perilous situations. Through engaging narratives and emotional reflections, Karen and Georgia highlight the profound bonds between humans and their animal companions. Below is a comprehensive summary capturing all key discussions, insights, and notable moments from the episode.

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I. Introduction to Hero Pet Stories

The episode begins with Karen Kilgarith welcoming listeners, seamlessly transitioning into the main theme of heroic pets. Skipping traditional advertisements and intros, Karen and her guest, Cleo, set the stage for a series of compelling stories that celebrate the bravery and loyalty of pets.

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II. Listener-Submitted Hero Pet Stories

A. Edith the German Shepherd Saves Karen's Dad

[02:02 – 03:38]

Karen shares a personal and harrowing experience involving her family's German Shepherd, Edith. Growing up on a farm, Edith was not just a pet but a vigilant protector.

• The Incident: One day, while Karen’s father and his brother were playing near the house, Edith sensed danger as a rattlesnake approached. Despite the boys’ dismissal of Edith’s warning, the snake struck Karen's dad. In a swift and selfless act, Edith intervened, getting bitten in the process to shield him.

• Aftermath: The family neighbor promptly dealt with the snake, and Edith received immediate veterinary care, including antivenom. Though Edith was lethargic, her heroic act ensured Karen’s father’s safety, although it left a lasting impact on the family’s perception of pet ownership.

• Notable Quote:

  Karen Kilgarith: "I swear one of the main reasons my dad won't get a pet again is from that traumatic experience. Oh, and another note. The neighbor who killed the snake took it and stuffed it. And it is now sitting on the upstairs of my parents house." [02:27]

B. Amanda's Cat Saves Her Father's Life

[04:32 – 06:15]

Amanda recounts a deeply emotional story where her cat played a pivotal role in saving her father's life.

• The Crisis: In May 2020, during a routine morning, Amanda’s father, Arthur, suffered a massive stroke resulting in him collapsing at the bottom of the stairs. Unaware of the severity, Amanda’s mother remained asleep until Amanda’s cat, Amanda, began persistently disturbing her, allowing her mother to discover Arthur's condition in time.

• The Heroic Act: Thanks to Amanda the cat's intervention, family members could call emergency services and perform CPR, leading to Arthur’s survival and extended recovery through months of therapy.

• Notable Quote:

  Amanda: "We were told to say our goodbyes because he had a very small possibility of surviving, but after months of therapy and intervention, he is still here today." [05:46]

C. Lee's Parrot Peachy Prevents an Abduction

[09:10 – 13:24]

Lee shares a suspenseful encounter where her parrot, Peachy, acted as an unexpected savior during a potential abduction attempt.

• The Encounter: At ten years old, Lee was approached by a stranger claiming to be lost and asking for help navigating to a neighbor’s house. Sensing something amiss but feeling obliged, Lee attempted to decline politely. As the woman insisted and grabbed Lee’s arm, Peachy reacted instinctively.

• Peachy's Defense: Peachy bit the assailant's hand fiercely, causing her to release Lee and flee the scene. Despite Peachy's initial aggression, the bird's timely intervention likely prevented a more severe outcome.

• Aftermath: Peachy survived the bite and continued to be a beloved pet. The family cherishes the memory of Peachy's brave act, though it influenced Karen’s reluctance to adopt more pets due to the trauma associated with Edith’s incident.

• Notable Quote:

  Karen Kilgarith: "I’m so sorry. I did not see that coming at all." [03:24]

D. Jennifer's Calico Maddie Detects a Brain Tumor

[15:06 – 16:36]

Jennifer narrates a touching story about her calico cat, Maddie, whose unusual behavior prompted a critical medical discovery.

• The Signs: At six years old, Jennifer experienced persistent dizziness, vomiting, and ringing in her ears. Maddie, usually affectionate, began aggressively rubbing against Jennifer’s head—behavior Jennifer described as pushing her off the couch repeatedly.

• The Revelation: Although Jennifer initially resisted acknowledging her symptoms, Maddie’s unwavering insistence led Jennifer’s mother to seek medical attention. Subsequent tests revealed that Jennifer had a brain tumor, leading to timely surgery and successful treatment.

• Notable Quote:

  Jennifer: "Although Maddie wasn't the reason I went to the doctor, I still consider her my hero cat. And she was my best friend for 17 years." [15:25]

E. Kendall's Story of Trevor the Butter Dog

[17:54 – 21:10]

Kendall shares a humorous yet heroic tale about Trevor, a dog with a notorious appetite for butter, affectionately nicknamed the "butter dog."

• The Incident: At thirteen, Kendall found Trevor choking on a stick of butter. Demonstrating courage beyond her years, she manually dislodged the butter from Trevor’s throat, preventing a potentially fatal airway blockage.

• Trevor’s Antics: Trevor was known for his massive paws and rebellious nature, often causing chaos but also endearing himself to the family with his unique personality.

• The Legacy: Kendall cherishes the memories of Trevor, who lived for twelve amazing years and remains a beloved figure in her family lore.

• Notable Quote:

  Kendall: "I took my 13 year old hand and reached a table down his throat, extracting the semi melted but mostly cold stick of butter." [19:41]

F. Sarah's Hero Horse Cleo Comes to the Rescue

[21:10 – 24:30]

Sarah recounts a dramatic event where her horse, Hero, alongside her companion Cleo, intervened during a threatening situation at her workplace.

• The Threat: While working the late shift at a gas station in a West Coast beach town, Sarah felt uneasy when a tall, thin man began staring into apartment windows. Her intuition signaled danger, prompting her to leave swiftly.

• The Rescue: As the man advanced towards her, Cleo appeared atop Hero, brandishing a beer bottle and aggressively confronting the assailant. Hero's presence and their combined intimidation caused the man to retreat, ensuring Sarah's safety.

• Aftermath: Grateful for their timely intervention, Sarah decided to leave her night shifts and expressed profound appreciation for Hero and Cleo's heroism.

• Notable Quote:

  Sarah: "Knowing the routine, I stick my hand down his throat and pull out the stick to both the amusement and horror of my aunts, uncles and cousins." [20:54]

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III. Host Interactions and Reflections

Throughout the episode, Karen and Cleo engage in light-hearted banter, balancing the emotional weight of the stories with humor and warmth. They reflect on the immense courage animals display, often in the direst of circumstances, reinforcing the theme that pets are not just companions but true heroes.

• Karen’s Reflections: Karen expresses deep admiration for the pets featured, acknowledging how their acts have left indelible marks on their owners' lives. She muses on the unpredictability of pets' loyalty and bravery, sharing personal anecdotes that resonate with listeners.

• Cleo’s Contributions: As a guest, Cleo provides her own narratives, enhancing the episode's relatability. Her stories complement Karen's, offering diverse perspectives on animal heroism across different species.

• Notable Host Quote:

  Karen Kilgarith: "The heroes are all around us. Days are getting longer and nights are getting shorter. And that means there's less time for all your night stuff, like doom scrolling." [06:32]

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IV. Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Edith's Heroism:

  Karen Kilgarith: "I swear one of the main reasons my dad won't get a pet again is from that traumatic experience." [02:27]

• Peachy's Bravery:

  Karen Kilgarith: "I didn't know what happened in the following moments? Except that the snake lunged at my dad and out of nowhere, Edith jumped in front of him, getting bit in the process." [02:46]

• Amanda’s Cat Saving a Life:

  Amanda: "But it's all because of a hero cat who wouldn't give up." [06:15]

• Jennifer on Maddie's Intuition:

  Jennifer: "Maddie just needed to feel safe." [10:45]

• Kendall’s Butter Rescue:

  Kendall: "He gave us 12 amazing years and he will live on forever as our best butter dog." [20:59]

• Sarah's Horse Heroism:

  Sarah: "Needless to say, I never worked the night shift again and paid for Cleo's beer the next time I saw her and told Hero." [24:14]

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V. Conclusion

Minisode 430 of My Favorite Murder serves as a touching tribute to the incredible acts of bravery performed by pets. Through detailed listener stories, the episode not only entertains but also underscores the invaluable role animals play in human lives. Karen Kilgarith and her guest Cleo skillfully navigate the balance between humor and heartfelt emotion, offering a refreshing and uplifting narrative within the true crime comedy genre. The episode reinforces the message that heroes come in all forms, often with four paws and a wagging tail.

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Stay Connected:

• Listen to More Episodes: My Favorite Murder is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and other major podcast platforms.
• Engage with the Community: Share your own hero pet stories by emailing [e-mail].
• Follow on Social Media: Connect with My Favorite Murder on Instagram and Exactly Right's YouTube page for updates and additional content.

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This summary captures the essence of Minisode 430, highlighting the emotional and heroic narratives shared by listeners, and the hosts' engaging delivery that celebrates the extraordinary bonds between humans and their pets.

Transcript

[Karen Kilgarith]

This is exactly right.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Something unexpected happened after Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in Bone Valley season one.

[Gilbert King]

Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I was becoming the bridge between Jeremy Scott and the son he'd never known.

[Gilbert King]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Listen to new episodes of bone Valley Season 2, starting April 9 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Cleo]

Hello and welcome to my favorite murder.

[Karen Kilgarith]

That's Georgia Hardstar, that's Karen Kilgarith, and this is the minisode.

[Cleo]

That's right. Good job.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Thank you.

[Cleo]

You did it. Oh. And so it's almost National Pet Day.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Happy National Pet Day.

[Cleo]

Happy National Pet Day to everyone who celebrates and even those who don't.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Yeah.

[Cleo]

You know you're still part of the clan.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Yeah. You have to be.

[Cleo]

We're forcing you.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Get in here with us.

[Cleo]

Go adopt a pet.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Look around. You'll find a cat.

[Cleo]

Yeah. Go to the shelter. Adopt an animal.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Look in a tree. That's where we found my cat Rudy, back in the 90s. Well, to kick off National Pet Day, we're gonna tell some hero pet stories.

[Cleo]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgarith]

I won't read you the subject line. It says, hi, lovelies. Karen, this one's for you and your Irish family. So I'm writing after listening to the countless minisodes about crazy family stories and now this recent episode 463. Talking about Peg Plunkett's large Irish Catholic family, this is where the inspiration finally struck. My dad was born, one of the youngest in a baker's dozen. Growing up, his mom was a nurse and his dad worked for the newspaper. You can imagine the chaos the kids got into with two hard working parents. The youngest of 13.

[Cleo]

That's insane.

[Karen Kilgarith]

That's a schoolhouse.

[Cleo]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Anyway, onto the hero pet segment. When my dad was maybe 11ish, they had moved recently from a medium sized city to a farm town. There they had a small farm, some chickens, and a German shepherd named Edith.

[Cleo]

Edith.

[Karen Kilgarith]

I love Edith.

[Cleo]

That's a great name for a large dog.

[Karen Kilgarith]

So good. One day, my dad and his older brother were playing in the grass near the house when Edith began to growl. Hackles Raised at some movement nearby, the boys didn't think much of it and continued to play. Not much later, the familiar rattling sound made my dad and his brother freeze in terror as they looked up and were face to face with a rattlesnake. I don't know what happened in the following moments? Except that the snake lunged at my dad and out of nowhere, Edith jumped in front of him, getting bit in the process.

[Cleo]

Edith, no.

[Karen Kilgarith]

The boys called for help and the neighbor came out and assisted in killing the snake. Edith was rushed to the vet and given an antivenom. Poor girl was so lethargic from the incident, they had to pick up her head to sit in the water bowl for her to drink. Thankfully, our beautiful hero lived a long life thereafter. Oh, thank God, Edith. She pulled through. I swear one of the main reasons my dad won't get a pet again is from that traumatic experience. Oh, and another note. The neighbor who killed the snake took it and stuffed it. And it is now sitting on the upstairs of my parents house.

[Cleo]

What?

[Karen Kilgarith]

I'm so sorry. I did not see that coming at all.

[Cleo]

That's hilarious.

[Karen Kilgarith]

In parentheses it says, I swear that's the only redneck thing they own in their perfect suburban home. I love that. That's really quite a memory. Yeah. Like quite a keepsake.

[Cleo]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Okay, this is long enough. Thank you so much for everything you do. I've listened to you through all my major life milestones. From graduating college, getting married, having two kids with a third on the way, getting to Baker's dozen and struggling with the mental health roller coaster. You've been a guiding light to so many. And I can't imagine where all of us would be without the amazing guidance of you lovely ladies. If I wrote all this, just added it in cut and paste. Very lovely. Keep kicking ass and taking names. With warmest regards, SSDGM, Rachel and then NPS. In case you were wondering, those 13 kids had 40 kids, my first cousins, and an ongoing count of around 70 to 80. 80ish. Second cousins.

[Cleo]

Holy shit.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Woo.

[Cleo]

Wow. It's a lot of people to borrow money from.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Yeah.

[Cleo]

Wow.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Edith.

[Cleo]

Edith. Good girl. Okay. Mine is a cat hero.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Okay.

[Cleo]

To whom it may concern, you're the wind beneath my wings, my eternal flame, and even my candle in the wind. But none of that is why we are here.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Incredible opening.

[Cleo]

That's a good one. My parents have an orange 13 year old Maine coon named Jack Love. A Maine coon who loves people more than any cat I've ever known and just might think he is a human.

[Karen Kilgarith]

A Maine coon that loves people must be the most fun.

[Cleo]

Just a giant lovable teddy bear that comes to life. Love that he's fun and noisy and part of the family. And in May of 2020, he saved my dad's life. At the time, my dad Arthur was getting up early to exercise, and my mom, Julie, would typically be in bed. Still, the day after Mother's Day, it was no different until Jack went into their bedroom and began bothering my mom. That's the cat, not the by. Jumping on her, hitting her with his paws, and not leaving when she tried to swat him away. Finally, my mom got up and found my dad at the bottom of the stairs, gasping in what we now know is the death rattle. She was able to call 911 and perform CPR, and he was eventually airlifted to a bigger hospital until discovering he had suffered a massive stroke.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Wow.

[Cleo]

We were told to say our goodbyes because he had a very small possibility of surviving, but after months of therapy and intervention, he is still here today.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Wow. Great.

[Cleo]

Not exactly, but still my dad. And it's all because of a hero cat who wouldn't give up. Thank you for all you bring to the world. Amanda.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Amanda.

[Cleo]

That's such a good cat.

[Karen Kilgarith]

That cat saved her father's life.

[Cleo]

I know. Cause if that mom hadn't woken up, he would have stayed down at the bottom of the stairs for even longer, losing oxygen, who knows what.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Yeah. And also, Amanda, you're. I understand that's a traumatic thing to go through, but we all change all the time anyway, so it's like that's what's gonna happen eventually. And to have him there to be with you is really a gift. So I'm glad that's the way that story turned out. Oh, my God. Hero.

[Cleo]

I know.

[Karen Kilgarith]

The heroes are all around us. Days are getting longer and nights are getting shorter. And that means there's less time for all your night stuff, like doom scrolling.

[Cleo]

Rewatching your favorite comfort show for the hundredth time, and of course, making dinner.

[Karen Kilgarith]

But Hungryroot is here, so you have more time for your night stuff.

[Cleo]

Hungryroot is like having your own personal shopper and nutritionist all wrapped into one. They take care of the weekly grocery shopping and recommend groceries and meals tailored to you. I love that they take even the decision making out of your hand. Because if you're not great at cooking, if you're not experienced at, like, making yourself dinner and food and feeling good about it, you're not going to be able to, like, pick out your groceries. So you're like, I like this, I like that. I hate lamb, I hate broccoli, I love Brussels. And they're like, okay, great, this is what you want to eat. And you're like, yes, this is what I want to eat. Then they send you perfect meals, like Zesty Bison Avocado Lettuce wraps Crunchy Veggie Chorizo tacos.

[Karen Kilgarith]

You are going to love Hungryroot Take.

[Cleo]

Advantage of our exclusive offer for a limited time get 40% off your first box plus get a free item in every box for Life.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Go to hungryroot.com mfm and use code.

[Cleo]

Mfm that's hungryroot.com mfm code mfm to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your Choice for life.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Hungryroot.com MFM Code MFM Goodbye.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Something unexpected happened after Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in Bone Valley Season one.

[Karen Kilgarith]

I just knew him as a kid.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Long silent voices from his past came.

[Gilbert King]

Forward and he was just staring at me.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And they had secrets of their own to share.

[Gilbert King]

Gilbert King I'm the son of Jeremy Lynn Scott.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I was no longer just telling the story. I was part of it.

[Gilbert King]

Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I was becoming the bridge between a killer and the son he'd never known.

[Gilbert King]

If the cops and everything would have done their job properly, my dad would have been in jail. I would have never existed.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I never expected to find myself in this place. Now I need to tell you how I got here.

[Gilbert King]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Bone Valley Season 2 Jeremy Jeremy, I.

[Gilbert King]

Want to tell you something.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Listen to new episodes of bone Valley Season 2 starting April 9 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and to hear the entire new season ad free with exclusive content starting April 9th. Subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Karen Kilgarith]

The subject line of this email is the time my pet bird saved me from being abducted. Hello. When I was about eight years old, my sister's best friend was looking to rehome a pet parrot. The friend said that the parro, a peach faced lovebird named Peachy.

[Cleo]

Aww.

[Karen Kilgarith]

And then in parentheses it says yeah, I know. Real creative. Was too aggressive toward her and her siblings. We found out later that the siblings were abusive toward little Peachy and that he was just acting in self defense.

[Cleo]

Peachy.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Yeah, but the parents wanted him out of the house regardless. My sister being only 14 at the time, with no prior experience caring for birds and without asking permission from her parents.

[Cleo]

A bird, a surprise bird is not cool. Peachy. Oh my good sudden Peachy is like Peachy, here's your pet Peachy for the next 50 years or whatever 50 plus.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Oh my God, that's so funny. Fortunately, my parents weren't too mad about this. Peachy was a bitter little bird who hated everyone on principle. Oh, Peachy was a bitter little bird who hated everyone on principle and especially my sister. For some reason, at first, Peachy rejected me just as violently as he did everyone else. But once my mom explained to me that I had to be gentle and patient with him as he was still scared and uns sure I changed my whole approach after that. Peachy and I were practically inseparable.

[Cleo]

Yes, let them come to you.

[Karen Kilgarith]

I love that. He especially liked to tuck up against my neck and take naps while hiding under my long hair. When he was positioned like this, he was often hidden from view. Yeah, Peachy just needed to feel safe.

[Cleo]

Good Peachy.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Fast forward to a late summer evening when I was 47 years old.

[Cleo]

What?

[Karen Kilgarith]

No. So fast forward to a late summer evening during my 10th year. I was quietly playing with some toys in the front yard of my house and Peachy in his customary position, dozing under my hair when a car pulled up in front of my house. There was an adult woman inside that I didn't recognize. She said that she was lost and that she was looking for the house of one of my neighbors and if I wouldn't mind helping her. I remember being a little nervous about the whole situation from the get go. But I recognized the surname of the family she said she was looking for, so I thought it was a pretty legitimate request. You're 10 years old.

[Cleo]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgarith]

She then asked if I would be willing to take a ride with her and show her the way step by step.

[Cleo]

Okay. No adult who is trustworthy would ask a child to get in their car. A child?

[Karen Kilgarith]

A child.

[Cleo]

Like it's just so creepy.

[Karen Kilgarith]

And also, no sane adult would get involved in something like that. Or just like that wouldn't be the solution to your problem. That would be you having a whole new set of problems with the police.

[Cleo]

Jesus.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Okay. I was trying to politely decline and indicate that I needed to go when she took hold of my arm, still trying to act nice, but insistent now that I go with her.

[Cleo]

Oh my God.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Big mistake, Peachy. For some reason, remember, Peachy was a bitter little bird.

[Cleo]

Uh huh.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Peachy for some reason had remained quiet during this whole exchange. But as soon as the lady grabbed my arm, he lashed out at the woman and bit her hand so hard that as she drew back, he stayed attached to her by his beak, his little wings beating frantically to keep balance as she tried to shake him Off.

[Cleo]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Luckily, he let go before the ladies. Flailing could seriously hurt him. And he seemed none the worse for wear after crash landing to the ground, though he was giving off alarm screams. I didn't know what the woman did after that as I was too focused on getting Peachy and myself back inside my house as quickly as possible. Though I'm sure the commotion caused her to leave quickly.

[Cleo]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Yeah. I still think of Peachy as a hero who very well could have saved my life that day. He did.

[Cleo]

Absolutely. You know what? And I bet Peachy sitting on her neck there was like. Felt her adrenaline go up. I'm like, just could tell if something was wrong. Yes, right, Absolutely.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Her little heart starts racing. She's like, I don't. I feel weird.

[Cleo]

She's like, oh.

[Karen Kilgarith]

She's like, you feel weird? I feel weird.

[Cleo]

I'm gonna attack this fucking lady. I've been waiting my whole life for this.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Finally it's justified.

[Cleo]

I'm gonna cry. Okay, go on.

[Karen Kilgarith]

And also just that idea that, like, if those other kids were abusive, it's like you can imagine kids grabbing a bird or something like that where he doesn't like those kinds of moves anyway.

[Cleo]

And so he does it to his person and he's like, fuck this shit.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Fuck you.

[Cleo]

Hi, Peachy. Fuck you.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Peachy goes full metal. Death metal. It's been 10 years since Peachy passed away, but I still love him with all my heart. And I know he loved me in return just as much, if not more. Stay sexy and know that pets will always remember and appreciate all the love you give them. Lee.

[Cleo]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Lee. You got Georgia. You got her.

[Cleo]

You really got me.

[Karen Kilgarith]

You got her. Yeah.

[Cleo]

A bird, like, a bird doesn't have to love you. Cats, they love people. Dogs, they love people.

[Karen Kilgarith]

But a bird, a bird's like, do you have any sunflower seeds? Right, we're done.

[Cleo]

I kind of don't care. Yeah, but then it's like, when a bird loves you, you're a really special person.

[Karen Kilgarith]

A bird with a peach colored face. Get over here, Peachy.

[Cleo]

Okay, I have a hero. Calico. Just imagine it's Dottie. She looks exactly like my Dottie.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Okay.

[Cleo]

Okay. Oh, hey there. Not sure if this is the type of animal hero stories you're looking for, but here goes. When I was five years old, my mom got us her, my brother and I, some kittens from my great aunt's farm. Feisty little, but they were all very sweet once we brought them home. Farm cats, man. Don't with Them? Yeah. One cat in particular was named Maddie, and she was a calico who loved everybody. When I was six years old, she had this weird habit and would rub up against the back of my head aggressively and wouldn't stop even when I pushed her away. And never did this to anyone else. We love these fucking stories. She would climb up on the back of the couch and push so hard against my head, she almost pushed me off the couch a couple times. This is. I was a small child around the same time. I was constantly sick with dizziness, vomiting, and ringing in my ears. And it says, side note, I didn't know how to describe ringing in my ears to my mom. So I would say the cats are in my ears and won't stop meowing.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Get it?

[Cleo]

That's so smart. Fast forward one year, my mom decided to take me in to get some tests done because I was so sick all the time and nothing had helped. Turns out I had a goddamn brain tumor.

[Karen Kilgarith]

That cat knew she had a brain tumor.

[Cleo]

Long story short, I had surgery and everything is fine now. When I. That's a long story short.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Yeah, exactly. Thank you for that very needed synopsis.

[Cleo]

Appreciate you. When I got home from the hospital, the first thing Maddie did was jump up onto the back of the couch where I was sitting. She walked back and forth a couple of times and sniffed my head. My mother just stared, not saying anything. Maddie jumped down and walked away without pushing or rubbing on my head. My mom's eyes got wide and said oh my God, out loud. We just stared at each other while Maddie sat next to me and licked her paws like nothing had ever happened. For the rest of her life, she never pushed my head the way she had before. And from then on, my mother and I decided that she knew something was wrong with me and was trying to warn us. Although Maddie wasn't the reason I went to the doctor, I still consider her my hero cat. And she was my best friend for 17 years. Stay sexy and trust those bitchy little calicos. Best, Jennifer. And here's a picture, a couple pictures of Maddie. And then. And then Jennifer got a tattoo of Maddie's paw prints with her name written on it. It's so beautiful.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Also, that cat is so cute.

[Cleo]

So sweet. I have a bitchy little. I have two bitchy little calicos. And they are just the best.

[Karen Kilgarith]

They're so cute, little comic book cats.

[Cleo]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Something unexpected happened after Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in Bone Valley season one.

[Karen Kilgarith]

I just knew him as a kid.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Long silent voices from his past came.

[Gilbert King]

Forward and he was just staring at me.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And they had secrets of their own to share.

[Gilbert King]

Gilbert King I'm the son of Jeremy Lynch.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I was no longer just telling the story. I was part of it.

[Gilbert King]

Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I was becoming the bridge between a killer and the son he'd never known.

[Gilbert King]

If the cops and everything would have done the job properly, my dad would have been in jail. I would have never existed.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I never expected to find myself in this place. Now I need to tell you how I got here.

[Gilbert King]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Bone Valley Season 2 Jeremy.

[Gilbert King]

Jeremy, I want to tell you something.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Listen to new episodes of bone Valley Season 2 starting April 9 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and to hear the entire new season ad free with exclusive content starting April 9th. Subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcast.

[Karen Kilgarith]

The subject line of this email is Butter Dog. Hi everyone. I told myself I could write in when I finally got caught up on episodes. And seven years later, here we are.

[Cleo]

Oh my God, how many more people are waiting? Like, send your emails now, please.

[Karen Kilgarith]

That's the old saying. Send your emails while you can. Today, I want to tell you about Trevor. Trevor was not a hero dog, nor a villain dog. He is better described as a butter dog. We got Trevor on Craigslist on my first day of eighth grade. All the way back in 2011. The family's dog accidentally had a litter of puppies and Trevor got returned because he was too crazy for the person who picked him.

[Cleo]

Yikes.

[Karen Kilgarith]

They asked for $25 in a good home. My dad brought two 20s they couldn't find change for, but Trevor was worth far more than $40.

[Cleo]

Aww.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Trevor had the biggest paws and the sassiest attitude and destroyed everything that he could. He was some type of big black lab mix with a white tee on his fore. He was lovingly called T Bone by my father.

[Cleo]

Cute.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Trevor was also a bit of a misogynist and adamantly refused to listen to me or my mother. That's funny. Imagine it's 2012 or so. I was probably wearing a neon or peplum and I definitely had a mustache drawn on my finger. Remember how huge that was?

[Cleo]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgarith]

The tattoos.

[Cleo]

Yeah. God.

[Karen Kilgarith]

I was home alone, not sure why, when I heard a little weird coughing sound coming from the kitchen. It sounded somewhere between a cough and barfing and 13 year old me went to investigate. I walked into the kitchen to see Trevor hacking up small yellow blobs on the hardwood floor. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I pried his mouth open to find an entire stick of cold butter lodged in the back of his throat. Oh no. The whole thing. He was choking on it.

[Cleo]

Oh no.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Coughing up bits as it melted. Seemingly fearless, I acted. I took my 13 year old hand and reached a table down his throat, extracting the semi melted but mostly cold stick of butter.

[Cleo]

Oh my God.

[Karen Kilgarith]

My father, Kevin is the youngest of six in an Irish Catholic military family. Shout out to Irish Catholics. Am I right, Kieran? It's in parentheses. Kevin eats butter at an aggressive rate. Her father, Kevin.

[Cleo]

Oh my God.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Every day a fresh stick got put out on the butter dish. Kevin, however, rarely remembers to put the COVID back on the butter dish.

[Cleo]

Kevin.

[Karen Kilgarith]

It seems that Trevor put his big paws up on the counter and scarfed down the entire stick.

[Cleo]

Damn.

[Karen Kilgarith]

This story became lore within my family. That Christmas Eve when all the family gathered, my father declared it was time for me to tell the butter story. Me, now 14, was telling the story slowly and deliberately, really building up the mystery. Partway through the story, I hear a weird sound coming from the kitchen. A half barf, half cough type of sound.

[Gilbert King]

No.

[Karen Kilgarith]

And then it says there was all caps. No, period, fucking, period, way, period. I stopped my story to rush into the kitchen and find Trevor barfing up little blobs of butter yet again. Knowing the routine, I stick my hand down his throat and pull out the stick to both the amusement and horror of my aunts, uncles and cousins.

[Cleo]

Oh my God.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Trevor was the best boy and worst boy. He gave.

[Cleo]

I love that.

[Karen Kilgarith]

He gave us 12amazing years and he will live on forever as our best butter dog. Stay sexy and cherish your butter dogs while you can. Kendall. She her.

[Cleo]

I love it. I love a bad dog.

[Karen Kilgarith]

George Lopez was a butter dog for sure. She took a whole butter dish outside and buried. She ate the butter and then buried the dish in the lawn.

[Cleo]

She doesn't need it for her next.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Stick of butter when she gets her own apartment. Finally.

[Cleo]

Okay, my last one isn't a dog. And it's not a cat. And it's not a bird. It's a horse. A horse named Hero who eventually lived out to his name. Hello, murder ladies. I used to work in the town on west coast near the beach as a cashier at a little gas station. It was a pretty popular spot for people traveling to Mexico to stop for refreshments. And bathroom breaks before hitting the border, but also had a lot of locals who liked to hang around all day. One such local was a young girl around 30. We'll call her Cleo, who rode her beautiful black mustang horse named Hero to the store every day in order to buy a pack of beer or a stick of beef jerky. Cleo panhandled for tips at the gas station from travelers as she performed tricks on her horse or let people pet him.

[Karen Kilgarith]

That's cool.

[Cleo]

The gas station wasn't in a rural area, so she attracted a lot of attention from passerbys. That's so cool. I would totally like immediately beeline for the horse.

[Karen Kilgarith]

If you were in a city and all of a sudden there's a horse standing.

[Cleo]

A giant, beautiful big black horse.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Yes, yes.

[Cleo]

She probably made more money than I did working at the job. I worked the late shift one Friday night and got off work around 1am As I was locking up to leave, I noticed a tall thin man across the street looking into the windows of one of the apartments. I instantly felt a pit in my stomach and decided to exit out the back door and head to my car that was parked about five blocks away. It says, ugh, beach town parking. Am I right? I walked quickly to my car. I peered over my shoulder and unfortunately, not to my surprise, the man was now crossing the street diagonally right in my direction. He closed the gap quickly and called out to me, hey, do you have a phone I can use? I said nothing because fuck politeness and began to jog down the street to my car, which was now in my sight. I heard his footsteps right behind me and glanced to see him reaching out his hand. I screamed and began to run. Suddenly, from around the corner in front of me, I hear a familiar voice and the fast galloping hooves of a horse.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Oh my God.

[Cleo]

There in front of me, charging up the street, rode Cleo on her horse. Hero. Cleo was shouting profanities at the top of her lungs and swinging a beer bottle over her head. The man turned and ran back towards the apartment while I heard him say, is that a Cleo flew past me and chased the man, tossing her bottle at him as he ducked around a corner.

[Karen Kilgarith]

This is like. It's like a movie.

[Cleo]

I know.

[Karen Kilgarith]

That's the best thing of all time.

[Cleo]

I know. I stood in shock as Cleo disappeared after him and tried to figure out what had just happened. You're just standing there. I had no idea where she came from or what the hell she was doing riding a horse at 1am but I was sure happy to see her.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Yes.

[Cleo]

Soon after, Hiro came trotting around the corner with Cleo atop of him, a beaming smile from ear to ear on her face face. She came up to me while saying, I've always wanted to do that. She walked me to my car and then turned and disappeared in the direction of the man she was going back for him.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Yeah.

[Cleo]

Needless to say, I never worked the night shift again and paid for Cleo's beer the next time I saw her and told Hero. He really was a hero for me that night. Thank you both for being a safe space to talk about tough things and reminding us all to care about our mental health. Sarah.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Sarah, that. I love that story so much.

[Cleo]

Fucking hero.

[Karen Kilgarith]

I kind of like forgot, like the whole setup at the beginning made me forget what was happening. And then suddenly it's like, yeah, hero's gonna come back into this.

[Cleo]

We all need hero once in a while.

[Karen Kilgarith]

But also, I think we do need more horses in urban areas.

[Cleo]

Yeah, let's do it.

[Karen Kilgarith]

They're so magical. Let's do it. Let's start a campaign.

[Cleo]

Let's be the change we want to see in the world, in the horse world or whatever.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Just lets a bunch of wild horses loose.

[Cleo]

Do you have stories about amazing pets you can still write them in on my favorite mur mail.com horse stories, crazy stories, everything stories, whatever.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Best story you have about any pet or I like the idea of. Also, they don't have to be heroes.

[Cleo]

No, we like bad pets, for sure.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Bad pets are great. Average pets that you just really liked.

[Cleo]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Do whatever you want. We love you.

[Cleo]

Stay sexy and don't get murdered. Goodbye, Elvis. Do you want a cookie?

[Karen Kilgarith]

This has been an exactly right production.

[Cleo]

Our senior producers are Alejandra Keck and Molly Smith.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Our editor is Aristotle Acevedo.

[Cleo]

This episode was mixed by Leona Squillacci.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Email your hometowns to my favorite murdermail.com.

[Cleo]

And follow the show on Instagram at My favorite murder.

[Karen Kilgarith]

Listen to my favorite murder on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Cleo]

And now you can watch us on exactly right's YouTube page. And while you're there, please like and subscribe. Goodbye.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Something unexpected happened after Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in Bone Valley Season one.

[Gilbert King]

Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I was becoming the bridge between Jeremy Scott and the son he'd never known.

[Gilbert King]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Listen to new episodes of bone Valley Season 2, starting April 9 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.