My Favorite Murder Minisode 460 Summary

Podcast: My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Date: November 3, 2025
Episode Type: Minisode (Listener Hometown Stories)

Episode Overview

In this engaging minisode, Karen and Georgia return to reading listener-submitted "hometown" stories—a beloved format where fans share their own brushes with crime, the paranormal, and "hometown weird" with that trademark MFM blend of dark humor and empathy. Listeners will enjoy a parade of jaw-dropping, chilling, and often funny tales, including one about a Zodiac killer suspect godfather, a real-life serial killer hall monitor, a Dairy Princess in a murder mix-up, psychic orbs, a real-life “Forrest Gump” dad, and a unique way to help train cadaver dogs.

Key Discussion Points and Stories

1. A Zodiac Suspect Godfather

(Karen – 02:09)
Listener Christina, who they met at a live Oakland show, reveals her godfather was at one time a suspect in the Zodiac Killer investigation.

• Her dad and a friend (her future godfather "Joe") were asked to bring in their guns for ballistics testing related to the Zodiac case.
  • “Are you really calling everyone with a registered 9 millimeter? And the guy goes, oh, no, your buddy in there, he's a suspect.” (Karen, quoting the story, 03:41)
• Joe matched the profile: stocky, short hair, glasses, loner, military background, but was never arrested nor mentioned in Zodiac books.
• Christina grew up near Vallejo, two blocks from famed Zodiac suspect Arthur Lee Allen.
  • Neighbor’s “off” encounter: invited to see Allen’s knife collection and got weird vibes.
    • “She said, something about him made her so uncomfortable, she left almost immediately.” (Karen, 05:00)
• Christina’s godfather remained quirky but never truly suspicious, and her parents, recovered Catholics, saw no reason NOT to make him godfather.
• Ends with MFM gratitude and signature sign-off: “Stay sexy, and don’t get suspected.” (Christina, 05:57)

2. Middle School Hall Monitor Turned Serial Killer: "Stinky"

(Georgia – 06:00)
Lauren and her BFF Bean recount a chilling school memory from Poughkeepsie, NY.

• Their middle school hall monitor "Stinky" (Kendall Francois) was large, handed out arbitrary detentions, and was generally unsettling.
  • “He was a huge, intimidating man who took in giving out too many detentions, especially to girls.” (Georgia, 06:25)
• Lauren recalls getting a detention from him (alone, after Bean ran off), only to discover later he was an active serial killer who murdered at least eight women.
• The story touches on red flags and trusting your instincts, with humor about their 90s fashion.
  • “And he was called Stinky because he always smelled like. Everyone called him that.” (Georgia, 09:15)
• Their friendship endures decades later, but Bean will never live down leaving Lauren alone with a killer.

Notable exchange:

• “The person writing this letter always gets to pick the restaurant.” (Karen, 09:01)
• “Stay sexy and at all costs avoid the serious in the hallway.” (Georgia, 09:03)

3. Dairy Princess—And a Close Brush with a Double Murder

(Karen – 11:15)
Listener Cat, a former Dairy Princess, recounts her mother’s brush with true crime.

• Cat’s mom, also a Dairy Princess, briefly became a murder suspect when her parents confused her with a victim of Kenneth Bianchi (part of the Hillside Stranglers) in Bellingham, WA, 1979.
• After staying out all night without notice, Cat’s grandma discovers her daughter’s last name on a victim report, storms the police station, but ultimately, her daughter is safe.
  • “My grandma brought it up to her friend who was a clerk with the sheriff's department...” (Karen, 12:22)
• Family never let mom live the scare down, reminding her:
  • “Remember the time you made me believe that you were a murder victim. This is what you deserve.” (Karen, 14:19)
• Conclusion: Stay sexy. And maybe let your parents know where you are!

4. Mom’s Orbs—A Psychic and a Message from the Beyond

(Georgia – 15:09)
Raina from Canada retells a heartwarming, eerie psychic-reading story.

• A psychic relays a message from her late father: “Tell your mom it was him, and they’re called orbs.”
• Raina’s mom, overwhelmed after her husband’s sudden death and caring for two young kids, had once seen “floating light balls” comfort her colicky newborn.
  • “She had just laid down when he began to cry again... my mom looked down the hallway… and saw these floating light balls going up and down over my brother's crib.” (Georgia, 16:18)
• Family never discussed the orbs, mom believing it was just grief or exhaustion—until the psychic’s message validated her.
• Karen and Georgia love verifiable psychic stories:
  • “I love like, there's nothing better than a psychic story where the person can say, I know. Never told anyone that.” (Karen, 17:37)

5. Real Life Forrest Gump Dad

(Karen – 19:42)
Listener Sam claims her dad is the “Forrest Gump” of true crime and disaster, with a lifetime of proximity to infamy and tragedy:

• Grew up across from Paul Cox (“Blackout Murderer”),
• Pulled over in NYC the same night as a Son of Sam attack,
• Survived 9/11,
• Witnessed the Hudson River “Sully” plane landing,
• Was at the Vegas Harvest Festival shooting, staying next door to the shooter.
• “That feels to me like an email filled with lies. Because that's insane.” (Karen, 21:50, both shocked and incredulous)

6. Donating Placentas for Cadaver Dog Training: A Murderino PSA

(Georgia – 22:32)
Lauren provides a practical, little-known tip for murderino moms-to-be:

• Pregnant women can donate their placenta to aid cadaver dog training; connection with local search/recovery teams is key.
  • “I googled some search and recovery groups in my area and just asked them if they were interested in a donation... the search and recovery team were able to pick it up from me and I gotta meet the dogs who would be benefiting from my donation.” (Georgia, 23:00)
• Karen and Georgia are impressed and squeamish at the idea of eating placentas, but on board with helping solve crimes.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “He’s the Zodiac Killer and you have a system set up in your body to tell you, you know that.” — Karen, 05:08
• “The fluttering that freaks her out.” — Lauren (as read by Georgia) on moths, 07:23
• “It's like you don't even know what the big deal is.” — Karen on being a teenager, 14:53
• “Tell your mom it was him, and they're called orbs.” — Raina’s dad, via psychic, 15:21
• “Stay sexy and donate your placenta.” — Lauren, 23:22

Important Timestamps

• 02:09 — Story 1: Godfather was a Zodiac suspect
• 06:00 — Story 2: Serial killer hall monitor “Stinky”
• 11:15 — Story 3: Dairy Princess doubles as a murder scare
• 15:09 — Story 4: Psychic, orbs, and comfort from beyond
• 19:42 — Story 5: Forrest Gump Dad
• 22:32 — Story 6: Donating placentas to train cadaver dogs

Final Thoughts

This minisode is classic MFM: drawing together the bizarre, hilarious, and unsettling, but always with empathy for listeners and an eye for the “human” side of true crime folklore. Each story evokes that feeling of small-town eerie, “couldn’t happen to me...but what if it did?” that keeps fans coming back for more. As always, Karen and Georgia encourage listeners to send their own stories and keep the Murderino community strong.

Stay sexy and don’t get murdered!