My Favorite Murder: Rewind with Karen & Georgia – Episode 67 "Live at the Egyptian Room" (October 22, 2025)

Episode Overview

This episode of Rewind with Karen & Georgia takes listeners back to the iconic "Live at the Egyptian Room" show, first released on May 4, 2017, from Indianapolis. Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, joined by producer Molly and regular guest Steven, revisit one of their most memorable live events, offering behind-the-scenes anecdotes, reflections on how their live shows and research process have evolved, and full recaps of their two headline cases: the notorious serial killer Belle Gunness and the chilling story of Herb Baumeister. The episode concludes with a dark and unusual hometown murder from the audience—featuring crime, family secrets, and a grave sense of humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflections on the Egyptian Room Live Show

• Warm Welcome to Indianapolis
  The hosts reminisce about being anxious that their jokes about the city might've put off listeners, but instead found the Indianapolis crowd warm and energetic.
  • "You guys just charmed the shit out of me today." – Steven [12:07]
• Audience Gifting Ritual
  Multiple gifts were described, from cat mugs and earrings (from local store Silver in the City) to an SSGDM-engraved guitar pick, prompting genuine emotion on stage.
  • "When we see a fucking present, we both lose... and then we start crying." – Steven [05:58]
• Pre-show Chaos
  Karen and Georgia unpack (and poke fun at) their last-minute, often chaotic preparations and research habits.
  • "We're trying to do our book report the night before every single time." – Karen [08:41]
• Venue Stories
  The Egyptian Room's odd chairs, static electricity, and the famous "Supremacy Soup" store were favorite running gags.
  • "Is that how you make money around here? Is fucking up my hair real good?" – Karen [10:17]
  • "It's called Supremacy!" – Steven [12:18]

2. True Crime Stories

A. Karen’s Case: Belle Gunness, Mistress of Murder Farm [28:07–53:13]

• Background:
  Belle Gunness, a Norwegian immigrant, committed a series of murders in the late 1800s and early 1900s, including multiple husbands and suitors, by poisoning, arson, and insurance fraud.
• Signature Details:
  • Burned properties for profit; suspicious deaths always when insurance covered them.
  • Used personal ads to lure suitors, insisting "Triflers need not apply."
  • Killed at least two biological children and multiple husbands.
  • Disappeared after staging her own death in a house fire, leaving behind a decapitated woman's body and her dentures to "identify" herself.
• Notable Reactions:
  • "God, she loved to kill people and burn things down. Is that a local thing or was that just her taste?" – Karen [28:34]
  • "Triflers need not apply is our next shirt." – Karen [43:39]
• Legacy & Updates:
  Many bodies unearthed on her Indiana farm, but authorities never found Gunness. In 1931, a woman suspected of being her died before she could be conclusively identified.
  • "She got away with it. She got away with it." – Karen [53:09]
  • In 2018, Harold Schechter's book "Hell's Princess" brought renewed attention and became a definitive account. [53:43]

B. Georgia’s Case: Herb Baumeister, The Fox Hollow Farms Killer [56:39–88:00]

• Background:
  Indiana businessman Herb Baumeister led a double life as a prolific serial killer in the 1980s-90s, luring gay men to his estate and murdering them. He was connected to the "I-70 Strangler" cases.
• Signature Details:
  • Owned Save-A-Lot thrift stores and lived in a mansion with an indoor pool (and bizarre mannequin collections) in Westfield, Indiana.
  • Victims were mostly gay men from local bars; police long disregarded the cases due to homophobic attitudes.
  • Key witness Tony went undercover, attempting to entrap "Brian Smart" (Baumeister's alias), and survived a near-strangulation.
  • Discovery: Baumeister’s wife, upon learning the truth, granted police access to Fox Hollow Farms in his absence, leading to discovery of at least 11—possibly up to 25—victims’ remains.
  • Baumeister fled to Canada and died by suicide before trial.
• Memorable Commentary:
  • "I never got a creepy or eerie feeling about the house until I was older and started noticing odd things. Such as the secret room behind my friend's bathroom mirror." – Hometown Email [84:25]
  • "He gets to just kill himself and never have to deal with any of it. Never talks about it." – Steven [87:24]
• Recent Updates:
  As of 2024, advanced DNA analysis continues to identify victims. A four-part Hulu documentary, "The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer," explores a possible accomplice and ongoing identifications.
  • "There are at least 25 victims suspected to have been buried at Fox Hollow." – Producer Molly [89:22]

3. Hometown Murder – Taylor & Rebecca’s Story [92:24–97:32]

• Summary:
  Taylor shares a chilling family murder involving a baby girl (her "cousin" Sherry Lynn), whose naval serviceman father murdered her in Hawaii, disposed of the body in Pearl Harbor, and later returned home after serving a prison term. Taylor recounts (with dark comic relief) the family’s afterward—she was dressed in her murdered cousin’s hand-me-downs, leading to eerily similar childhood photos.
• Memorable Lines:
  • "There's a set of pictures where you can't really tell who's who, 'cause we're in the same clothes. It's like a V.C. Andrews novel. What the fuck?" – Karen [97:10]
  • "My family's pretty messed up." – Taylor [97:32]

4. Show Evolution: From DIY to Professional

• The hosts reflect on how their live show preparation has grown—from anxiety, last-minute research, and self-done makeup to having a support team and understanding the process.
  • "Our pre-show, live show prep is so much better now because people did help us do things." – Producer Molly [22:27]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------| | 05:58 | "When we see a fucking present, we both lose... and then we start crying." | Steven | | 08:41 | "We're trying to do our book report the night before every single time." | Karen | | 12:07 | "You guys just charmed the shit out of me today." | Steven | | 28:34 | "God, she loved to kill people and burn things down. Is that a local thing or was that just her taste?" | Karen | | 43:39 | "Triflers need not apply is our next shirt." | Karen | | 53:09 | "She got away with it. She got away with it." | Karen | | 67:41 | "You should see how someone looks when you're doing it to them. Their lips change colors. And that's how you can tell it's working. And you're like, cool, let's make out. Like, who the fuck would." | Steven | | 89:22 | "There are at least 25 victims suspected to have been buried at Fox Hollow." | Producer Molly | | 97:10 | "There's a set of pictures where you can't really tell who's who, 'cause we're in the same clothes. It's like a V.C. Andrews novel. What the fuck?" | Karen | | 87:24 | "He gets to just kill himself and never have to deal with any of it. Never talks about it." | Steven |

Recommended Timestamps

• Live show opening banter & pre-show chaos: 02:28–14:00
• Gifts and local culture: 05:17–14:57
• Research process confessions: 08:08–10:00
• Karen's recap: Belle Gunness story: 28:07–53:13
• Georgia's recap: Herb Baumeister story: 56:39–88:00
• Recent updates for both cases: 53:37–54:27; 89:22–90:33
• Audience hometown murder with Taylor and Rebecca: 92:24–97:32

Unique “MFM” Recap Touches

• The hosts regularly riff, giggle, and roast each other and themselves, making light of their own research tactics and the bizarre realities of investigating historic murders.
• They maintain a balance of comedy and reverence for victims—mocking murderers and systems that allowed them to operate, while keeping listeners engaged and informed.
• The show’s storied relationship with its audience is celebrated through gift discussions and the encouragement of sharing hometown murders, even the most disturbing ones.

Episode Title Discussion

• The original episode was titled "Live at the Egyptian Room."
• Alternate modern titles were jokingly considered, including “I Use Georgia” (for Steven’s font confession), “Too Many Nouns” (about suspiciously convoluted excuses from Belle Gunness), and “Triflers Need Not Apply.”

Final Thoughts

This "rewind" episode is an entertaining, rich blend of true crime storytelling, host chemistry, and behind-the-scenes podcasting culture. Karen and Georgia, with longtime collaborator Steven and Producer Molly, offer both newcomers and longtime fans a masterclass in navigating horror, humor, and humanity—all in front of a live, deeply invested audience. The intricate details of both headline cases, updates on recent forensic developments, and the inclusion of unforgettable hometown murder stories solidify it as a standout in the MFM catalog.

Stay sexy. Don't get murdered.

End of summary.