My Favorite Murder: Rewind with Karen & Georgia - Episode 65: "Pre-Milked Cereal" (October 8, 2025)

Podcast: My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Host: Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
Episode Air Date: October 8, 2025
Original Episode Date: April 20, 2017

Episode Overview

This episode of "Rewind with Karen & Georgia" revisits and reflects on Episode 65, "Pre-Milked Cereal," from the early days of "My Favorite Murder." Karen and Georgia offer fresh commentary and memories about the original show, update listeners on the topics, share behind-the-scenes insights, and discuss how the show and their lives have evolved since. Major topics include random TV chat, community building among Murderinos, reflections on true crime coverage and its ethics, and deep dives into two notable Los Angeles cases: the murder of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen and the death of Mitrice Richardson. The tone is their signature blend of irreverent humor and heartfelt reflection.

Key Discussion Points & Memorable Moments

1. Podcasting, Nostalgia, and “Pre-Milked Cereal”

• [02:04] The title "Pre-Milked Cereal" is explained through a classic Karen-Georgia riff on laziness, convenience foods, and the absurdity of “pre-milked” breakfast offerings.
• [05:01] Karen jokes: “It’s not that prepackaged pre-milked cereal. Gross. Pre-milked, Pre Milked. I said it.”
• [32:22] Georgia: "We were like, what's the word? Visionaries. In 2017, we're like, why isn't this a thing? And Kellogg was like, guess what? 2022, they launched Insta Bowls."

2. TV Talk and the Ritual of Comfort

• [03:45] Georgia admits to rekindling cable TV for the ritual of eating comfort food and background noise.
• [04:40] Classic Georgia confessional: “Let’s be honest. I’m eating cereal for lunch.”
• Discussion of cultural habits, like the need for TV noise while eating.

3. Behind the Scenes Insights & The Power of Community

• [17:33] Karen reads a heartfelt message about Murderinos meeting up at live shows, highlighting the community built around the podcast.
• [18:59] Georgia: “That’s what the live shows have done probably the most for us…You’re gonna meet 100 fucking cool people that are your friends.”
• [20:17] Karen: “...it’s thrilling to be able to be a part of this thing that you guys are doing.”
• Reflecting on the evolution of the podcast: juggling multiple "corners" at the top of each show and the pressure to perform for their audience.
• [31:37] Karen: “Having never started this podcast. Don’t say that, Karen.”

4. Birthday Corner: Celebrating Steven

• [20:48] Steven, the beloved producer, is celebrated for his 30th birthday with organic whiskey and a $300 donation in his name to a cat rescue.
• [23:34] Classic Karen and Georgia banter about gifts, kimono recommendations, and cat ranch dreams.
• [24:47] They tease Steven about the next 30 years and discuss absurd future goals: cat ranches, donut faces, learning to fly planes.
• [26:11] Karen: “We Amelia Earhart the fuck out of this tour.”
  Georgia: “That means we die on an island.”
  Karen: “Yep.”
• [27:46] Georgia: “The 30s are your best. The 20s? You couldn’t fucking pay me to be in my 20s again.”

Detailed Case Recaps

CASE 1: The Unsolved Murder of Hollywood Publicist Ronni Chasen (Karen)

[42:05–79:03]

Background & Setup

• [42:05] Karen covers the 2010 murder of Ronni Chasen, acclaimed Hollywood publicist. Chasen was gunned down in her Mercedes in Beverly Hills after a film premiere.
• [48:56] Colorful portrait of the area—wealth, glamor, sharp contrast with other parts of LA.
• [51:05] Chasen's clients had earned 150 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture wins (“No Country for Old Men”, “Slumdog Millionaire”, “The Hurt Locker”).

The Night of the Murder

• [60:19] Chasen waits at a red light, ambushed by a gunman who shoots her four times. Her car crashes; she is pronounced dead soon after.

Investigation & Doubts

• [63:22] Police close the case on ex-con Harold Smith, who kills himself when approached by police; they cite ballistics evidence and witness tips.
• [66:23] Karen highlights suspicious holes:
  • Ballistics were inconclusive.
  • No fingerprints dusted on the passenger side (where gunman shot).
  • Surveillance footage never released.
  • The murder weapon was a stolen gun from a retired LAPD officer.
• [68:34] Former LAPD detective T.T. Williams Jr.: “...a black man supposedly on a bike in the middle of the night. He’d be stopped 15 times. He would have stood out like a sore thumb.”
• [73:01] Chasen's recent will couldn't be found so her estate went to a niece; overall, her death was treated with troubling expedience and ambiguity.
• [76:38] Karen and Georgia grapple with the case’s eerie unsolved status and possible cover-up.
• [81:43] Karen’s 2025 update: Beverly Hills PD has not reopened the case despite calls for justice. Journalist Gary Baum remains vocal about the unresolved murder and its racial/policing context.

Notable Quotes

• [70:48] Stan Kephart (police expert): “It’s not what you think about a suspect. It’s what you can prove. And it appears that there is room for doubt that Harold Smith is the perpetrator in this case.”

Reflections

• The hosts stress the importance of giving credit to true crime journalists ([[79:03]]). This case marks the moment they resolved to always cite their sources in the show.
• [82:01] Karen: “To me, it seems like such a specific hit… it would be a perfect place. It’s super dark…”

CASE 2: The Vanishing and Death of Mitrice Richardson (Georgia)

[86:16–125:29]

Background & Setup

• [87:01] In 2009, 24-year-old Mitrice Richardson, a recent college grad, visits a Malibu restaurant and behaves erratically, possibly in a manic state.
• [87:40] She can’t pay her bill, referencing Michael Jackson “avenge Michael Jackson,” sparking concern.

Arrest & Police Actions

• [92:26] Police decide not to place her under psychiatric hold—too much paperwork—and instead arrest her, confiscate her phone, purse, and car.
• [93:44] Mitrice's mother calls repeatedly, asking police not to release her into the night.
  Mother: “...she’s not from that area, and I would hate to wake up to a morning report saying girl lost somewhere and her head chopped off, but the deputy assured Mitrice’s mother not to worry.” ([94:48])
• [94:45] Mitrice is nonetheless released around 12:30AM, alone, with only the clothes she was wearing, 11 miles from her car, into the cold and dangerous Santa Monica mountains.

Disappearance & Discovery

• [95:57] Next morning, her mother tries to report her missing; police tell her to wait.
• [97:53] Earliest sightings: neighbor calls about a prowler and loud screams; those sightings vanish into the wilderness.
• [102:17] Almost a year later, park rangers discover Mitrice’s naked, mummified body in a remote canyon. Her clothes are scattered and her shoes and T-shirt are never found.
• [103:34] The coroner’s investigation is ruined as police unlawfully remove the remains before the coroner arrives.
• [103:55] Her mother later finds a finger bone at the site—evidence was left behind.

Controversies & Corruption

• [115:31] Georgia: “Animals can’t take your jeans off” – skeptical about wildlife being responsible.
• Extensive mishandling—missing evidence, conflicting reports, untested clothing, lost surveillance footage.
• [117:06] Department cleared itself of all wrongdoing despite forensic sabotage. Subsequent lawsuits are settled out of court; the department admits no fault.
• [118:39] Ongoing advocate Dr. Rhonda Hampton files complaints, but efforts are dismissed/minimized.
• [124:34] Recent update: Sheriff in 2019 orders review; again, “death remains unresolved.”
• [125:29] $25,000 reward is still available, and the podcast “Lost Hills” Season 4 digs deeper.

Notable Quotes

• [94:48] Mitrice’s mother: “...I would hate to wake up to a morning report saying girl lost somewhere and her head chopped off...”
• [116:57] Georgia: “Well, you don’t have the neck bones to test to see if she was choked to death because you left them behind.”
• [124:37] Georgia: “I just think of her being released in such a state, in such a place with no resources, and that just breaks my fucking heart.”

Other Notable Segments

Reflections on the True Crime Genre & Ethics

• Discussion on the glamorization of certain cases and discomfort with stories like Casey Anthony ([09:30]). Both express distaste for the media’s focus on “hot girl” criminals.
• [12:45] Karen: "It's just sad and then awful. There's nothing in there that I go, ooh, this is fascinating. I just go, this is a tragedy."

Correction Corner

• [28:43] Karen admits to a factual error from the past regarding Cherry Hill's location, and both muse about the pitfalls and humility of amateur research.

Podcast Recommendations

• [15:26] Georgia plugs "The Vanished" podcast’s episode on Mimi Lewis, emphasizing changing terminology from “runaway” to “lured away.”

Updates, Changes, and Silver Linings

• [121:34] Karen highlights a recent (2025) L.A. policy update requiring police to focus on de-escalation, a rare hopeful note.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “You’re gonna meet 100 fucking cool people that are your friends.” – Georgia ([18:59])
• “We Amelia Earhart the fuck out of this tour.” – Karen ([26:11])
• “It’s not what you think about a suspect. It’s what you can prove.” – Stan Kephart (read by Karen, [70:48])
• “Animals can’t take your jeans off.” – Karen ([115:22])
• “To me, it seems like such a specific hit...it would be a perfect place. It’s super dark...” – Karen ([82:01])
• “I just think of her being released in such a state, in such a place with no resources, and that just breaks my fucking heart.” – Georgia ([124:37])
• “That's the best part of this podcast—how many people have come together through it.” – Georgia ([35:04])

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [02:04] – Explanation of “Pre-Milked Cereal”
• [17:33] – Community story read by Karen
• [20:48] – Steven's Birthday Corner
• [42:05] – Karen begins breakdown of the Ronni Chasen case
• [63:22] – Police closure of Chasen murder and holes in their case
• [79:03] – Reflection on sourcing and crediting true crime journalists
• [86:16] – Georgia begins the Mitrice Richardson case
• [93:44] – Mother’s warning phone call to police
• [102:17] – Discovery of Mitrice's remains
• [117:06] – Department cleared of wrongdoing in Mitrice's death
• [124:34] – 2025 update: review of Mitrice's case
• [121:34] – LAPD de-escalation policy update

Episode Character & Tone

Maintaining their trademark mix of sardonic wit and empathy, Karen and Georgia bounce from goofy asides (pre-milked cereal, house kimonos, hot tubs) to honest, heartfelt reflection on the real-world impact of the cases they cover and the Murderino community they fostered. Their open acknowledgment of their own learning curve—especially about journalistic ethics and how to responsibly cover difficult topics—adds special resonance for longtime listeners.

For Further Listening

• “The Vanished” – The Mimi Lewis Story (recommended by Georgia)
• Lost Hills Season 4: The Mitrice Richardson Story (recommended follow-up for Georgia’s case)

Final Thoughts

"Pre-Milked Cereal" is a classic example of what makes My Favorite Murder a phenomenon: fierce curiosity, unflinching takes on power and justice, deep compassion for victims, and real, laughter-through-the-tears camaraderie. This episode, updated for the Rewind series, pulls back the curtain on the podcast’s evolution while still delivering gripping, unresolved true crime tales—and a few new lessons for both fans and hosts.