My Favorite Murder: "Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 84: Harvard 2"

Podcast: My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Release Date: February 18, 2026
Network: Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
Episode Revisited: "Harvard 2" (originally aired August 31, 2017)

Overview

In this "Rewind" episode, Karen and Georgia revisit their 2017 episode "Harvard 2," offering fresh commentary, personal updates, and behind-the-scenes insights. The pair discuss the shocking true crime case of Theresa Knorr, infamous for her abuse and murder of her own daughters, and also recap wild true crime headlines including the Persian Mummy forgery, the harrowing case of model Chloe Ayling, a creepy attic intruder, and the murder of journalist Kim Wall aboard a submarine. With their signature dark humor and authenticity, the hosts reflect on how podcasting — and their personal lives — have changed, all while keeping things conversational and candid.

Key Discussion Points

1. Revisiting Episode 84: "Harvard 2"

• Podcast Nostalgia:
  • Karen and Georgia reminisce about their early podcast days: technical mishaps, playful banter, and tour tales.
  • The meaning behind the episode title unfolds (“Harvard 2” as an Ivy League joke about Claremont Colleges—[11:27]).
• Personal Updates:
  • Reflections on traveling, flying anxieties (“I’m very angry at the ghost of my mother”—Karen, [04:09])
  • Discussions about live shows, new merch, "doing a different murder every night," and the pressures of the "15 book report" workload ([08:19]).

2. Banter, Sidetracks, and Listener Engagement

• Plant Moms and Puns:
  • Georgia shares her mother Janet’s late-life journey into horticulture and jokes about opening a “Little Shop of Horticulture” ([12:04]).
  • Amusing exchanges about childhood, Catholic upbringing, and blood clot superstitions ([17:02]).
• Listener Interactions:
  • Fans and even Carvel Ice Cream tweet about Fudgy the Whale cakes ([09:54]).
  • Light ribbing at merch ideas and acknowledging fans’ creative Etsy shops ([99:49]).

3. Deep Dive: The Theresa Knorr Case

The Reporting

• Theresa Knorr’s Abuses and Murders ([22:34]–[54:24]):
  • Origin: In 1989, Terry Knorr, aged 20, tells Utah police about her mother’s killing of two daughters; the claims are initially dismissed ([23:07]).
  • Escalating Abuse:
    • Forced isolation, beatings, torture (including burning and force-feeding), chains, and forced participation by siblings ([30:32]).
    • Deep psychological damage; even therapists and lawyers did not believe Terry’s claims due to her affect and background ([25:53]).
  • Murders:
    • Susan shot, nursed, then further abused; ultimately, Susan was set on fire alive by her brothers under their mother’s orders ([41:28]).
    • Sheila forced into sex work, then imprisoned, starved, and her corpse hidden — with the apartment set on fire to cover evidence.
  • Aftermath:
    • Knorr and surviving children go into hiding; one son, Robert, later commits murder during a robbery ([48:12]).
    • Terry is eventually believed due to highly specific details; Theresa arrested in Salt Lake City ([49:21]); conviction to two life sentences ([53:39]).
    • Discussion of culpability of the brothers and complexities of holding children in abusive circumstances responsible ([51:05]).
    • Updates: Terry died in 2011; the case remains notorious for its brutality ([57:17]).
• Comparisons to Other Cases:
  • Parallels with other abuse and manipulation cases, i.e., Sylvia Likens ([31:25]).

Notable Quotes

“You live through a trauma like that of, like, half your family killing the other half. And then you’re supposed to just be like, ‘Oh, no, I’m a reliable witness’... She had to shut her emotions off from all of this so long ago.” – Karen ([25:33])

“This story reminds me of Sylvia Likens, that horrible story I covered a while ago...the mom made the other kids beat up one of them.” – Georgia ([31:25])

4. True Crime Headlines & Bizarre Stories

a. The Persian Mummy Forgery ([61:29])

• Discovery of a “Persian mummy” claimed to be Xerxes' daughter; investigation by Dr. Asma Ibrahim reveals it’s a modern-day forgery with a recent victim—now an unsolved murder ([68:51]).
• Black market attempts to sell fake mummies for up to a billion dollars ([71:02]).

b. Chloe Ayling Kidnapping ([72:04])

• 20-year-old British model kidnapped in Milan, held for ransom, but released when kidnapper claims criminals “don’t kill mothers” ([74:29]).
• Updates: Chloe’s kidnapper Lucas Herba was imprisoned but later released, Chloe wrote a memoir and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother ([91:16]).

c. The Attic Intruder ([77:19])

• Pittsburgh man discovers neighbor crawling through his attic, peering into the vent over his daughter's room ([77:51]).
• Neighbor claims it’s a misunderstanding; convicted of trespassing and fined ([91:30]).

d. The Kim Wall Submarine Murder ([81:45])

• Danish journalist Kim Wall goes missing while profiling submarine builder Peter Madsen ([82:09]).
• Madsen changes story multiple times; Kim’s headless torso later found, Madsen convicted of murder and later attempts prison escape ([92:10]).

“What could we call it? A laboratory.” – Karen mocking Peter Madsen’s “space lab” aspirations ([87:21])

5. Reflections on Podcasting, Mental Health, and Life

• ADHD Talk:
  • Both hosts joke about their attention spans and self-medicating (“I have every kind of med, if you want to try them”—Karen, [89:32]).
• Finances, Family, and Privilege:
  • Karen discusses her dad helping her with finances, the role of privilege in childhood, and the hosts’ experiences of being “broke” rather than “poor” ([95:02], [100:31]).
• Creativity & Resilience:
  • Encouragement for listeners (“Murderinos”) to make art and create side hustles, and pride in the resilience that comes from less comfort ([99:45]).

6. Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Pressures of Live Shows:

  “We don’t do the same murder ever, ever. And...it’s a lot of work. I’m really mad about it.” – Karen ([08:19])

• Plant Moms Unite:

  “My mom is a horticulturist. I want her to call it Little Shop of Horticulture.” – Georgia ([12:04])

• On covering dark topics:

  “It makes it extra dark when you’re from the place where you hear the story.” – Karen ([56:03])

• On white privilege and being ‘broke’:

  “I don’t say anymore I was poor because I say I was broke. That’s my lingo now...I had privilege, and poor isn’t the word I want to use.” – Georgia ([100:31])

Notable Timestamps

• 04:01 – 06:33: Pre-Australia tour anxieties, airborne superstitions
• 11:27 – 12:24: Claremont College "Harvard 2" jokes; Janet’s horticulture
• 22:34 – 54:24: The Theresa Knorr case, from initial report to conviction; detailed discussion
• 57:17: Updates: Terry’s tragic death and lingering mysteries
• 61:29 – 71:13: Persian Mummy forgery, antiquities black market
• 72:04 – 76:06: Chloe Ayling’s kidnapping and aftermath
• 77:19 – 78:49: Pittsburgh attic intruder revealed by footage
• 81:45 – 88:46: Kim Wall’s disappearance and murder onboard the Nautilus
• 89:01 – 90:15: ADHD, medication, and self-diagnosis humor
• 91:16 – 93:01: Crime story updates (Ayling, attic intruder, Kim Wall)
• 95:02 – 100:04: Finances, family support, and privilege
• 100:31 – 102:19: Reflection on “broke vs. poor”; murderinos and side hustles

Tone & Style

The episode remains true to the irreverent, conversational style of MFM — dark topics are softened by gallows humor, digressions, and personal asides. Hosts share vulnerably about family, career anxiety, and therapy, and make space for fan engagement and socio-cultural reflection.

In Summary

This “rewind” episode revisits one of MFM’s darkest, most shocking stories, the Theresa Knorr case, and wraps it inside new reflections, personal growth, and trademark banter. The hosts weave updates, personal anecdotes, and discussions about privilege, trauma, and resilience — all while maintaining deep engagement with their loyal listeners. With a blend of gallows humor and heartfelt authenticity, Karen and Georgia reaffirm why fans return for both catharsis and connection, not just crime.