My Favorite Murder: Rewind with Karen & Georgia – 78: The Freshest Recording

Released: January 7, 2026
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
Podcast: My Favorite Murder (Exactly Right / iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode of "Rewind with Karen & Georgia" revisits the original episode 78, "The Freshest Recording," first released July 20, 2017. The hosts offer real-time commentary on the original episode, peppering in updates on the cases discussed, personal reflections, and reactions to now-outdated perspectives. The theme centers around the ongoing evolution of true crime storytelling, advances in forensic technology, and the enduring emotional resonance of the cases they cover—most notably the John Wayne Gacy victim identification, the Ellen Halbert survival story, and the Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders.

Key Topics & Insights

1. A True ‘Fresh’ Episode Recording

• The episode is notable for being recorded and released on the same day—a first for the show in 2017, adding a spontaneous, immediate tone.
• Memorable Banter: They joke about doing a morning recording, discussing whether it's acceptable to drink whiskey that early, and revisit Karen's history with alcohol and sobriety.
  • Karen: “If you or any of your friends are drinking whiskey in the morning, that was the end stage for me right before I was hospitalized...”(2:44)

2. Karen’s True Crime TV Experience & Reflections on Jury Responsibility

• Karen recounts a memorable experience moderating a press panel for Oxygen’s "The Jury Speaks," where she interviewed jurors from controversial trials (George Zimmerman, O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson).
• She highlights the emotional toll on jurors and how public anger often targets them instead of systemic judicial flaws.
  • Karen: “Instead of blaming the justice system that let George Zimmerman go, they blamed the jury for voting the way that they were told to vote, which is if you have reasonable doubt...” (4:16)
• Both hosts reflect on the changing understanding of race, bias, and justice, growing beyond the perspectives of their younger selves.

3. True Crime News Update: John Wayne Gacy Victim Identified

• The hosts discuss real-life case updates, specifically the identification of a John Wayne Gacy victim, Jimmy Hawkinson, decades after his murder (8:00–13:28).
  • Georgia: “So there’s eight unidentified victims…[in] 1978 when they found the bodies...His mother actually went to Chicago in 1979...But because she didn’t have dental records, they couldn’t tell her anything.” (9:04–9:30)
• The discussion pivots to advances in forensic genealogy and the emotional gravity of finally having answers.
  • Karen: “It makes me happy that they're still working the way they are for this. There's something about that that's very heartening to me.” (14:00)

2025 Update

• Georgia adds a retrospective: As of 2025, five Gacy victims remain unidentified, with investigators urging more families to submit DNA.
  • Georgia: “As of 2025, five Gacy victims remain unidentified, with investigators urging relatives nationwide to submit DNA samples for comparison.” (29:48–30:23)

4. Listener Interaction & Gifts

• The hosts thank Murderinos for tips and updates, read heartfelt listener letters, and give shout-outs to listeners who’ve sent handmade gifts inspired by the show, such as the Sisters Gamble’s custom Murderino necklaces (20:11–22:56).
  • Listener Quote: “With the mindset of ‘fuck perfection,’ I successfully created a little bit of jewelry for you guys and all the other Murderinos out there...[because] you inspired the whole thing.” (21:05–22:14)
• They reflect on the impact of encouragement to “just do things”—echoing Brene Brown’s theme of fighting perfectionism.

5. Survivor Story: Ellen Halbert and Enduring Aftermath

• Karen retells the I Survived episode featuring Ellen Halbert—an Austin woman attacked in her home in 1986 by Troy Eugene Wigley.
  • Summary: Halbert survived being raped, stabbed, and left for dead. Despite immense trauma, she became a renowned victims’ advocate and criminal justice reformer in Texas (35:13–50:04).
  • Karen: “He starts to explain to her what his deal is and basically says that he’s been hiding in her attic for two days…then he says, I’m going to rape you. She begs for mercy as a Christian woman. He says it doesn’t matter what he does to her because no one’s ever going to catch him.” (39:00–40:00)
  • Karen: “She was determined to come out on the other side stronger...She starts to speak out for victims’ rights and what needs to change in what she calls our offender-focused criminal justice system. In 1991, she’s appointed by then Governor Ann Richards to serve on the Texas Board of Criminal Justice.” (47:14–48:04)

2025 Update

• Troy Wigley remains in prison, denied parole as of the latest update. Karen and Georgia note how survivor stories shifted their approach to sharing true crime, placing higher value on hope and resilience.

6. Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders

• Georgia covers the harrowing 1977 case where three young girls—Lori Lee Farmer, Doris Denise Milner, and Michelle Guse—were sexually assaulted and murdered on their first night at Camp Scott, Oklahoma (52:08–79:42).
  • Key details: The killer entered their tent after leaving menacing notes weeks earlier. The prime suspect, Gene Leroy Hart, was acquitted but imprisoned for earlier crimes and died in custody. The case remains deeply divisive and technically unsolved due to inconclusive DNA evidence.
  • Georgia: “A counselor at Camp Scott had found that her tent had been ransacked and her donuts were stolen. And in the donut box...was a note warning that three girls would be murdered at the camp in the future.” (54:25)
  • Karen: “So they hunker down for the night...tent eight is known as Kiowa...and it’s about 86 yards away and it’s partially obscured by the shower for the camp. So it was like the most remote cabin.” (55:56)
  • Georgia: “It truly is such a nightmare story. Just heartbreaking.” (84:47)

2022–2025 Updates

• New DNA tests “strongly point” to Hart but remain officially inconclusive.
• Hulu/ABC series “Keeper of the Ashes,” hosted by Kristin Chenowith (who narrowly missed attending the doomed camp) revisited the case in detail.
• Conflicting claims of possible other perpetrators, reflecting ongoing pain and ambiguity—no definitive closure provided yet.
  • Georgia: “In 2023...Buddy Bristol said he’d been at the campsite...‘one of the other men murdered the little girls and the other men who he named are still living in the community today.’” (83:42)
  • Karen: “We want a definite answer, and there’s just nothing to give.” (83:58)

7. Meta-Reflections and Podcast Tone

• The hosts highlight the difference between now and 2017 in terms of forensic capabilities and their willingness to explore ambiguous or unresolved cases.
• Their style remains a mix of sincere empathy, speculative discussion (“vague postulating”), and irreverent humor, even on dark topics.
  • Karen: “This podcast is speculation…I like to lie out. What was the quote...the vague postulating.” (11:48–12:05)
• The episode jokes about titles ("Morning Positive," "Sincere Vague Postulating") and addresses their personal quirks—like knowing childhood phone numbers, or ambitions to start bringing briefcases.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Jury System:
  • Karen: “Instead of blaming the justice system that let George Zimmerman go, they blamed the jury for voting the way they were told to vote…” (4:16)
• On Listener Engagement:
  • Karen: “Thank you, mommy...Now all the tweets are ‘I know you’ve already seen this, but just in case.’ Which is sweet. Thank you, mommy.” (8:13)
• On Survivors:
  • Karen: “She makes a full recovery. It takes her years of pain and hard work...She realized she has to get help, gets counseling, starts to speak out for victims rights.” (47:01–47:22)
• On Gacy and Forensics:
  • Georgia: “As of 2025, five Gacy victims remain unidentified, with investigators urging relatives nationwide to submit DNA samples for comparison.” (29:48–30:23)
• On the Girl Scout Murders:
  • Georgia: “It truly is such a nightmare story. Just heartbreaking.” (84:47)
• On the Podcast’s Essence:
  • Karen: “This podcast is speculation…I like to lie out…Vague postulating.” (11:48–12:05)
• Personal Touches:
  • Dottie the kitten’s “origin story”; reflections on shifting energy ("Morning Positive"); and humorous regrets about not naming episodes after their quirks.

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Recording Banter & Sobriety Jokes: 00:21–03:19
• Karen’s Oxygen/Jury Speaks Story: 03:44–07:05
• Gacy Victim DNA Update: 07:57–14:00
• Listener Mail (Murderino Necklaces): 20:11–22:56
• Ellen Halbert Survivor Story: 34:24–51:06
• Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders: 52:08–79:42
• Case Updates / Modern Forensics Discussion: 79:42–84:50
• Meta-reflection on Podcasting, Titles, and Tone: 85:36–87:19

Final Thoughts

• The episode is one of contrasts: grim true crime content and lighthearted commentary, personal growth as podcasters, and community-building among listeners.
• Recent forensic advancements lead to both progress and frustration—DNA can strongly indicate involvement, but not always conclusively solve cases, leaving families and communities in long-term uncertainty.
• Through their unique balance of empathy, humor, and unabashed speculation, Karen and Georgia continue to create a space where dark stories are examined not just for shock, but for humanity, progress, and hope.

Closing Remark:
"Stay sexy and don’t get murdered." – Karen & Georgia (88:29)

Episode Title Contenders:

• The Freshest Recording (original)
• Morning Positive
• Sincere Vague Postulating