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Karen Kilgariff
This is exactly right.
Georgia Hardstark
Hello, and welcome to Rewind with Karen and Georgia.
Karen Kilgariff
Because you see, every Wednesday, we take the time to recap our old episodes for you, but we add all new commentary, we add updates, and we add insights.
Georgia Hardstark
Mm.
And today we're recapping episode 31, which we named Namaste Sexy.
Karen Kilgariff
Such a good name.
Georgia Hardstark
So good.
Karen Kilgariff
So now join us as we take you back to August 25, 2016. And now you can be a day one listener, just like we are.
Georgia Hardstark
So let's listen to the intro of episode 31.
Karen Kilgariff
Well, it doesn't matter if you're ready, Steven.
Georgia Hardstark
As we be. Right. Like the real us is just be raining Steven.
Karen Kilgariff
Steven includes a 7 second just me reaming him before the episode starts.
Georgia Hardstark
It's like a. What's it called when you're a hostage and you're like, trying to send a message to the outside world?
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, it's all Stockholm syndrome at the time.
Georgia Hardstark
Stockholm syndrome.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, that's right. Stephen has really bad Stockholm syndrome. Evil. We are starting now. Welcome to my favorite murder.
Georgia Hardstark
Karen. Karen. I'm just gonna yell your name.
Karen Kilgariff
Karen Georgia.
Georgia Hardstark
Karen.
Karen Kilgariff
Georgia. We started the podcast. How do you feel so far?
Georgia Hardstark
I can't stop. I'm great. How are you? So bad.
Karen Kilgariff
I don't know if you've ever asked me how I was like that. How are you? How are you really?
Georgia Hardstark
How are you?
Karen Kilgariff
Let's have a moment of vulnerability. I feel a lot of anxiety about. Gosh, so many things. You know, that weird Wednesday feeling. We're recording this on Wednesday. Will we get up in time? You know, job stuff. I drink too much coffee all day.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, you did?
Karen Kilgariff
Am I drinking too much Diet Coke to the point where I'm killing myself?
Georgia Hardstark
How many do you drink?
Karen Kilgariff
Diet Coke?
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, I. It's only like 23 a day.
Georgia Hardstark
I like that. Every episode now you have to admit, like, you have to confess something. You do. That's like. Because you had smoke told us you smoked cigarettes last time.
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, very rarely. It's not like. I wouldn't call that. It's not a thing. It's just. That's like my secret sneak away once in a while.
Georgia Hardstark
I think you're in denial.
Karen Kilgariff
I know. What's your big reveal?
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, what's a good one? What's a good one?
Karen Kilgariff
It's a fun one.
Georgia Hardstark
I have adult acne.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay.
Georgia Hardstark
That sucks.
Karen Kilgariff
I can relate to that.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, I don't like that. That's about it.
Karen Kilgariff
That's all you're willing to do.
Georgia Hardstark
I mean, my life is a Fucking. Oh. I have nothing that I hide.
Karen Kilgariff
I feel like that's. I think people can. It helps people lock in to our humanity.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
When we're just sitting here going, you.
Georgia Hardstark
Know, gross, disgusting, horrible humanity.
Karen Kilgariff
Check out this hideousness.
Georgia Hardstark
And they have a. Make it a podcast.
Karen Kilgariff
Roast. It better be a podcast. I want to look at it. We're getting a lot of. Is very enjoyable and of course, feeding the ego. A lot of people are doing fan art picture things of us, which. The thing I enjoy the most is they always give me a huge nose. I don't think I have a huge nose, do they?
Georgia Hardstark
You don't have a huge nose.
Karen Kilgariff
I think I have a pretty buttony nose.
Georgia Hardstark
You have a cute little button nose.
Karen Kilgariff
I mean. Thank you. I just wanted you to say that.
Georgia Hardstark
I've noticed. Yeah. I have a large jaw in them, which I actually have an undersized jaw. Hence my Invisalign.
Karen Kilgariff
That's right.
Georgia Hardstark
But thank you.
Karen Kilgariff
But you know what? But thank you. We're the most ungrateful assholes of all time. Here we have a couple notes.
Georgia Hardstark
Can you draw us better?
Karen Kilgariff
Please draw me better. Make my nose a lot smaller.
Georgia Hardstark
Listen, if you want to make it onto instagram.com My favorite murder, you gotta draw us true to life.
Karen Kilgariff
There's some really good ones of us, really awesome drawings where, like, you look at it and go, oh, my God, this looks like we have a comic book.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Which is super cool. So thank you you so much.
Georgia Hardstark
You're fucking backpedaling so hard right now. I know.
Karen Kilgariff
I'm embarrassed.
Georgia Hardstark
Don't be. Go to the Instagram and you'll see a bunch of like. We post that shit.
Karen Kilgariff
We post all of them. We post everything that we see and find that you guys send us. And we love it all. A lot of people made us new logos that say the fuck word. Murder mystery show, which we really love and appreciate. That was so great. That was good times.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
And also, I just wanted to mention on Twitter, Paige, we got, quote, a million shout outs from Sweden. These guys who have a podcast called the Power Meeting Podcast sent us a tweet that said, a million shout outs from Sweden. Which I didn't know until I read it that that's all I've ever wanted in my life. Shout outs from Sweden.
Georgia Hardstark
Also, Australia loves us.
Karen Kilgariff
Fuck yeah, Australia. You were number five in Australia.
Georgia Hardstark
That's amazing. That's a big place, right?
Karen Kilgariff
They must not be about accuracy down there, because I feel like everything I've ever said about Australia on this podcast has been deeply wrong.
Georgia Hardstark
Well, we did an Australian murder once, so maybe that's why.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, that's right.
Georgia Hardstark
They like love us for doing that. Because there's some good ones there.
Karen Kilgariff
There are some amazing ones. Yours was. It was the son who washed his clothes before he did anything.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, he murdered. He went on a paper route, murdered his family, blamed his dad, washed his clothes.
Karen Kilgariff
Or was that New Zealand?
Georgia Hardstark
No, I think it was Australia.
Karen Kilgariff
Watch the numbers plummet.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, my God.
Karen Kilgariff
Why did I even bring this up?
Georgia Hardstark
I don't know. I brought it up.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, okay. This is all your. Oh, also, we got a tweet From Glitter Pizza 91, God bless your heart, that said, why not at the end of every murder, why don't you ring a gong? Which I read out of context, just read as a random tweet. And it made me laugh very hard. Then I understood. I saw a bunch of other tweets that said, what's that noise? What's that creepy, spooky noise that we keep hearing? And it was. We got. Steven set us up with these awesome mic stands. Yeah, they look like what you see, like real radio people using. So we don't have to like touch our mics and make noise anymore. But what we did was we touched the mic stands and we were making the springs.
Georgia Hardstark
Because I can't sit still.
Karen Kilgariff
Right? Is that super loud?
Georgia Hardstark
That's it. It's perfect.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay. Yeah, that's the sound.
Georgia Hardstark
Listen, I have add, I think, right? That's what my psychiatrist tells me.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay.
Georgia Hardstark
I can't fucking sit still. I want to move around. I know, but it's. You know, I'm going to sacrifice that for the podcast.
Karen Kilgariff
Well, we really appreciate it. Speak for everybody.
Georgia Hardstark
Thank you. And myself, you have a button nose.
Karen Kilgariff
And you guys made out of coal.
Georgia Hardstark
We also had. We just ended our last T shirt sales and we. We are giving half the money to end the backlog Dot org.
Karen Kilgariff
Nice. How much is that?
Georgia Hardstark
Do I say? Because what if it's like. That's not. What if they're like.
Karen Kilgariff
Well, it was just a one month sale, right?
Georgia Hardstark
We're sending two grand to end the backlog. That's great, right?
Karen Kilgariff
Good. Two more than they fudgeing had before.
Georgia Hardstark
I got so freaked out when I hey, we're gonna get 50% to end the backlog. Cause I expected people. This is the opposite of what happened, but I expected people to be like, only 50%. You're being so. You're being so greedy. And then all these people are like, that's so incredible. I'm like, oh, okay. Like I've just been being hard on myself.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes. I mean, I think it's just weird to be in this position where you can actually put something out, have people buy it and then actually give money. That's like a neat, cool thing. But also we've never done it before, so everything feels wrong and bad and weird.
Georgia Hardstark
Is there anything else that you love right now? Anything going on in the News? We know JonBenet's brother is getting. Oh, did you watch? You and I both looked at each other at the exact same moment watching that trailer. That JonBenet docu series trailer.
Karen Kilgariff
We have to watch it together. I insist you watch it.
Georgia Hardstark
Can I tell you something?
Karen Kilgariff
What?
Georgia Hardstark
A magazine wants us to do a recap every night of it.
Karen Kilgariff
That's awesome.
Georgia Hardstark
I know. The trailer gave me freaking chills.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay. We watched the trailer at work today.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh my God.
Karen Kilgariff
I love the people at work work with because they're super into shit like this too. And when it got to the part trailer spoiler. When it got to the part where they have reconstructed the Ramsey's house, the.
Georgia Hardstark
Room by room recreated down to the.
Karen Kilgariff
Detail of shit that was like leaning against the walls.
Georgia Hardstark
Life changing.
Karen Kilgariff
These people are going, these, these investigators, these, these very qualified people from all walks of criminal. Forensicness. Yeah, criminality.
Georgia Hardstark
Criminality.
Karen Kilgariff
They're going to be able to walk through and talk about and restage things that happen.
Georgia Hardstark
Do you think they'll come to a conclusion? It clearly in the trailer you can tell that they're going to. They're like, yeah, there was no. This is not an outside job, motherfuckers.
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, that's what they're leading you to believe.
Georgia Hardstark
That's true. But. And then like, oh, they're. Oh, when they played the. When she hung up the phone and you can hear her in the background. I still don't hear it. Do you. Have you listened to that?
Karen Kilgariff
You mean when they say like they reduced all the sound? Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
And they hear her say, I'm not talking to you.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes.
Georgia Hardstark
I still don't hear it. Do you?
Karen Kilgariff
No, but I feel like that's almost like one of those ghost investigations where they're like, do you hear it? And then they put the subtitles and you're like, I guess I hear. If you want me to hear it, I'll hear it.
Georgia Hardstark
Totally.
Karen Kilgariff
I'll hear whatever you want.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
My thing was because everybody at my job, everybody pointed out like the thing that freaked them out or that they liked the most. And mine was that when Patsy Ramsey said, I love that child she did it with her eyes closed.
Georgia Hardstark
That was the creepiest part, is both of them being both of them speaking was so fucking eerie.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. And two camera, like, basically, clearly some lawyer said, you have to go out there and tell these people you didn't kill your daughter and you have to make a statement. And when Patsy Ramdi said, I didn't kill my daughter, and then she closes her eyes and goes, I love that child. And then they state, stay closed. Like, to me that I just love those, like, that means something. I don't know what it means.
Georgia Hardstark
Also, saying that child means something because.
Karen Kilgariff
It'S like she's not saying my daughter. JonBenet.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, it's like that child. Yeah, she's like that child. She can't take. Take ownership of the thing.
Karen Kilgariff
Remember, did you ever watch the show Lie To Me with Tim Roth where it was all about the person that read micro expressions and it was like a whole company?
Georgia Hardstark
No.
Oh, I know someone who worked on it that I dated, so I didn't watch it.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, yeah, because you're mad.
Georgia Hardstark
No, he was very nice.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, Oh.
Georgia Hardstark
I don't want to step on his.
Karen Kilgariff
I just love that show because that kind of stuff of, like, being able to interpret what people are really doing underneath how they mask when they point.
Georgia Hardstark
It out and they're like, would they, like pause it and be like, this thing right here and that thing?
Oh, I love that.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, yeah. You should watch that show. It's pretty good. I don't know if it's on anything, but. Okay, well, did you catch up on the Night Of? We've only got one episode left.
Georgia Hardstark
I gotta say.
Karen Kilgariff
You're out.
Georgia Hardstark
Everyone telling me about stuff about it and talking to other people about it has made me want to watch it less.
Karen Kilgariff
You're so fucking punk rock, Georgia. I swear to God, you're just like.
Georgia Hardstark
Are you being mean right now?
Karen Kilgariff
No, I mean it in that way of like. You're just like, you know what? I don't have to like it if you like it. It's a good way to be. I respect it.
But I think that's how I think.
That'S what it is. Where you're like, does everybody like it? Then everybody can fuck with it.
Georgia Hardstark
Well, what everyone's telling me about it. Thank you. That actually means a lot to me. But what everyone's telling me about it is like, I don't care about the PR and stuff. I want the trial stuff. And from what everyone. Someone said to me, someone was like, and I'm not going to take Responsibility. But I don't remember who said it was like, listen, I watched Orange is a New Black. I don't need to know what's going on in prison. Like, so did I.
Karen Kilgariff
Totally the same.
Georgia Hardstark
It's totally the same. I just like, I don't. I want to know the, the, the way that they find out how the investigation goes, how the trial goes, stuff in prison I don't care about.
Karen Kilgariff
Right. I. You know what? I feel the same way because I find. And this is. You're gonna, this is gonna blow your mind. I find prison to be really depressing. So I don't want to know. I fear going there.
Georgia Hardstark
Who hurt you as a child?
Karen Kilgariff
I know.
Georgia Hardstark
Prisoner.
Karen Kilgariff
It was a warden. Yeah. I don't like, I know it's living hell and there are many, many people in this country that are there. Yeah. And that's awful to me.
Georgia Hardstark
Especially if people are there that like, oh, it was really hard for me to watch him get taken in to get. What's it called when you get processed in?
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
Because it's like no one gives a shit about you and like immediately are just trash. Yeah. Like the way you know when you wait in line at a post office and you get to the next teller and you can tell they've had a hard day and they fucking hate everything. So you can smile and be like, hi. And they can be nice and so they'll give you a better experience and be happier.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
Like, you can't do that in prison. What am I supposed to do? I didn't learn to be polite for nothing.
Karen Kilgariff
No, it's like, I mean, and it is like we talk a lot. We talk a big game about like send them away. Because we talk about these specific stories where people cut off 15 year old girls arms and leave them to die and these horrible cases and of course you want Larry Singleton to disappear from the planet. But the reality of a human being in a prison is a nightmare. And like. And so I'm not saying I'm not a hypocrite or that I can't rectify those two things, but it's. Yeah. Watching it. What I love in that show is that they're laying in. It's just really good writing. And I really like to watch good writing. It makes me feel smart. And again, I'll say it for the millionth time. Riz Ahmed. Oh my God.
Georgia Hardstark
Someone made a. I want his DNA inside me. A couple people made. Someone made a valentine last. Last week.
Karen Kilgariff
I said, you serial killer Valentine. Yeah, yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
I said I want His DNA inside me, meaning I want to have his baby because he's so cute. That I want like that, but it just didn't sound like that.
Karen Kilgariff
No, it's literally the most not cute, kind of disgusting thing. But that's not what you meant.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay. You know what I don't like about. I don't like innocent people in prison that I. People like Larry Singleton deserve to be in prison. Good. Have a fucking horrible time. But innocent people, oh my God, that terrifies me.
Karen Kilgariff
It's horrible. And it happens and we all know what happens. And it's incredibly stressful.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, yeah. All right.
Karen Kilgariff
But I like it. It's. To me, it's worth the stress. And there's things that are happening that are exciting.
Georgia Hardstark
I won't not try it. It does disappoint me. I mean, I don't know what happened. Maybe I'll watch the last episode. Is that okay?
Can I do that?
Karen Kilgariff
Yay. It's your life. Jump in, jump out. I don't know.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. Can they please bring the family back on abc? That's all I ask.
Karen Kilgariff
Is that all you want this Christmas?
Georgia Hardstark
That's all I want for Hanukkah Christmas.
Karen Kilgariff
All right, I think that's it.
Right?
Georgia Hardstark
Are you in?
Karen Kilgariff
Is there anything you need to say?
Georgia Hardstark
I got nothing.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, is this. Are we now 45 minutes in? Basically, I'm first this week, right?
Georgia Hardstark
Okay, tell me.
Karen Kilgariff
I am.
Georgia Hardstark
Mine is short too, so take your time.
Okay, we are back from the intro.
Karen, remember when podcasts used to just.
Be audio and you could wear whatever you want. You could sit however you want.
Karen Kilgariff
You just. Do you like.
I think that's really where that saying came from as podcast in 2016, it.
Georgia Hardstark
Was a beautiful, glorious time of just being you. Do you think we would have started a podcast if we had known that video would have been.
Karen Kilgariff
Was like, I certainly. I can give you my answer before you finish the sentence. Fuck no.
Are you kidding?
A middle aged TV writer being like, yeah, let me get in there and make some clips and make some content for. What is it, Gen Alpha? No, thanks.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, I mean, the one positive thing I can think of about it all is that I'm learning a lot of new makeup tips and tricks, which I didn't think I would do. So later, like late in life I thought I'd gotten them all down, you.
Karen Kilgariff
Know, but now you're.
What?
What are you getting?
Georgia Hardstark
What do you know?
My face is falling and so I have to like, do different things to it.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, I meant what.
Georgia Hardstark
What tricks have you learned that how.
To stop your face looking like it's falling.
Karen Kilgariff
What's the trick?
Georgia Hardstark
I don't know. Bronzer. I think it's bronzer. And it's also like some kind of weird eyeshadow thing.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
You know, just layering layers and layers of makeup.
That'll do it.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. Like make shadows if they don't exist. Essentially.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
No, it's been a nightmare. Like, I. Not a nightmare. It's great. I'm lucky. But, like, I've gotten all my filler dissolved because, like, you can see the bumps on the video. Like, I can totally see everything that's wrong now.
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, I feel like we've never been strangers to our own flaws and foibles. And then. Yeah, it's just a new way of. It's a fun thing. And it's like where podcasting's going. It's just kind of like the option that you need to give people.
Totally, totally.
But it definitely is distracting and it distracts the mind. As we perform.
Georgia Hardstark
Do you know us, though? We change along with the times.
Like we are with it.
Karen Kilgariff
That's what we like to do. Right now, this show is not on video. So I'm wearing just a towel on my head just for. Just got out of the bathtub.
Georgia Hardstark
I'm literally wearing a shirt that says bullshit on it really big.
Karen Kilgariff
And this is what we're doing.
Georgia Hardstark
That's it.
Karen Kilgariff
All right. Well, I like how in that we just did a new intro because there wasn't that much going on in this intro. Some of our old intros are just chock full of insanity, but this mostly is like that. We are so stoked to only be audio.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
And then me loving the night of. And you not so much.
Georgia Hardstark
No. That was a long running discussion or topic of discussion.
This podcast.
Karen Kilgariff
I think it was like a first. Cause I remember and tell me if I'm wrong. When we first talked about the night of, we had both watched it, like unplanned.
Right. So then it was like, did you.
See it was that feeling.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
And then I lost interest. But, you know, Riz Ahmed kept doing it for you.
Karen Kilgariff
It was such a good show.
Georgia Hardstark
It was. All right, well, should we get into your story and also like the reason this episode's called Namaste Sexy.
Karen Kilgariff
Absolutely.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay, let's hear Karen's story from this episode 31 about the Lululemon murder. Or as I liked to say back then, not on purpose, Lululemon. Here we go.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay, mine is. I wish I had four months to research this because the first time I heard of this murder, I thought, oh, who cares? Not. Not about the people. But that's not my style. Like, as we've said a million times, but like, Silence of the Lambs is my ideal murder everything situation. You've got a weird serial killer that's got an MO And a whole plan and a creepiness. Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
And I, like, has always been this crazy way. It's not like he's.
Karen Kilgariff
It's not a one off. It's not a crime of passion. It's not. Whatever. That's. I find that extreme criminal mind thing fascinating. So when I first heard about this crime, I was like, oh, that's not. That's not my thing at all. But it kept coming back. I would see it every once in a while, looking for other stuff. And then I finally started looking into it, and it is so fascinating. All right, so it's the Lululemon murder.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, yes.
Karen Kilgariff
In Bethesda, Maryland.
Georgia Hardstark
That is fascinating. I didn't know that.
Karen Kilgariff
I know.
Georgia Hardstark
That is definitely not one that I would have looked into.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay.
Georgia Hardstark
I'm excited.
Karen Kilgariff
Me too. Thanks.
Georgia Hardstark
Thank God.
Karen Kilgariff
So I first heard of it, I think it was like a year ago or something. I was doing Tig Notaro's. Tig Notaro has a comedy festival every year called the Benson Ball in D.C. which is where she's from. And so whoever was driving us to the theater that night, we drove down the street and we passed a Lululemon. I don't think it was the one we were driving by because Bethesda, I believe, is north of Washington D.C. but he brought it up and told the story.
Georgia Hardstark
Love him.
Karen Kilgariff
And he basically just said, oh, did you hear about that really terrible crime that happened at Lululemon? It was really bad, you know, and it was basically one of the employees killed another one. And so I was just like, you know what? I know now we're talking yoga pants. We're talking karma, passion. I'm not interested in any of this.
Georgia Hardstark
For anyone listening that doesn't know Lululemon is a fucking high end kind of. When I see girls wearing yoga pants with Lululemon, I'm like, oh, you spent a lot of money on yoga pants and didn't buy them a Rite Aid. Yeah, you're better than me.
Karen Kilgariff
Crazy expensive. Like, they're almost. It's. It's like Louis Vuitton of yoga pants, which is a hilarious paradox of. This is yoga.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. And they have like the. The like logo out so you can see them.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, hell yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
You know what I mean?
Karen Kilgariff
Yes.
Georgia Hardstark
Instead of hiding your shame, they put it out there.
Karen Kilgariff
Right? So when I first Googled this, a couple Huffington Post articles came up, and one that I really liked is by a girl named, believe it or not, Elizabeth Licorice. Great. That's.
Georgia Hardstark
She wins.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. And she amazing. She's all red and her skin is twisted. No, no, no. Cancel it. Steven Mark.
Georgia Hardstark
Delete that. Delete that, Stephen.
Karen Kilgariff
Mark. That concept. Oh, okay. So she wrote an article called Lululemon's Cult. Get fit or Die trying. So this girl started working at Lululemon. That's how you pronounce it, right?
Georgia Hardstark
Lululemon?
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
I don't give a fucking shit.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay.
Georgia Hardstark
It sounds right.
Karen Kilgariff
It's how it's spelled, and that's what I assumed. And then I said Lulimon. Lulamont.
Georgia Hardstark
I think it's Lulamon, Lou.
Karen Kilgariff
But there's an extra. Luloman would be. There's too many loos. All right, so I think it's Lululemon.
Georgia Hardstark
Let's call it.
Karen Kilgariff
Let's not give a shit.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay.
Karen Kilgariff
All right, so I think you're right.
Georgia Hardstark
I think you're right.
Karen Kilgariff
It has. This girl worked there, and so she's talking about what a creepy, like, culture this business has, which is very funny because, like, when I worked at the gab in the 90s and I only worked there for a year, I really hated it. But it is this thing where they want you as a person that's getting paid shit and mostly working part time so they don't have to give you full time benefits and all that stuff, but they still want you to really dig into it. They care about it. Yeah. This culture, the retail culture of like, and if you sell this, you'll get this. And we have to get our numbers up here. Meanwhile, Dawn Fisher, the owner at the time, was making, like, billions of dollars.
Georgia Hardstark
You. I hate that.
Karen Kilgariff
It's. It's so. I can see where that was in the 90s. It's now, you know, 20 years later, and they have refined this concept so it's like branding and marketing and, you know, lifestyle choices, and it's all that.
Georgia Hardstark
I bet. So kind of thing where they don't call you an employee, they call you, like a team member or whatever, The.
Karen Kilgariff
The thigh master. So this girl. Yeah, this girl worked there and talked about that. She said Lululemon wants you to know it's elevating the world from mediocrity to greatness and creating components for people to live long, healthy and fun lives. But if you dig deeper, you find.
Georgia Hardstark
About, yeah, you can't do that. And fucking pants. You bought a target. Come on, man.
Karen Kilgariff
No, no, no, no. You have to get really superficial to. To rise above mediocrity. But if you dig deeper, you'll find you'll learn that about Landmark Forum.
Georgia Hardstark
No, they don't.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes. Which is the ultra secretive, eerily cultish educational series which Lululemon employees are strongly encouraged to attend.
Georgia Hardstark
Shut up.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes. Now, Lou, now I know. I have a friend who did Landmark Forum and is like, I believe in it. I think it's great. And I said, yeah, but isn't it a crazy pyramid scheme where you basically have to bring people in and you spend thousands of dollars? And he goes, yeah, but I just didn't do that. Like, I got what I wanted and I left. And I'm like, well, you're. You're a strong willed person, but I think it's one of those things that, like, it's like est or anything that just. It makes money off of people kind of going, this is the answer to my life. And then trying to get everyone I know into it. So.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, it makes me sad.
Karen Kilgariff
So they encourage their employees to. To go to the Landmark Forum, which is bizarre to me. So bizarre. And before you're in line for Landmark, you're bombarded with Brian Tracy Motivational CDs and a book club club that culminates with Atlas Shrugged.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, shit.
Karen Kilgariff
So it's not.
Georgia Hardstark
It's so culty.
Karen Kilgariff
It's like, get that money and get yours. And empowerment, but in this weird culty way, which also. It's like, this is your job. This is your retail job.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
So they. She said it. All of it made walking into work feel like a. She was time traveling to Salem, because with the Lululemon creed and catechism comes a collective mentality that thrives on scapegoats and leaves you feeling worthless if you subsist on anything but spring water and kale. Once another employee sneered at me from across the floor and said, the soda I happened to be enjoying would rot me from the inside out. Eventually, we were all issued reusable acrylic cups and forbidden to drink anything but water.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, my God. Stop it.
Karen Kilgariff
So this is. I'm. I'm just trying to paint a little bit of a picture. And I really encourage, if you're slightly interested in this, to look up these articles because it's pretty fascinating how many directions that goes in of.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, that sounds like a fun read.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, well. And just the intensity of a retail job.
Georgia Hardstark
This is like it bums me out so much to think that what people expect from you when they're not willing to give you any respect at all.
Karen Kilgariff
Or right every bout when you work there, everything about you is inventoried and measured in terms of authenticity and integrity, which sounds reasonable until you realize your yoga mat's on a sweaty, slippery slope. That missing your extra. I'm still reading the article. Missing your extracurricular kickboxing class. Taking too long to pee during your break or falling to throw. Or failing to throw a kitchen party. And then she says in parentheses, don't ask what in the fitting room means you're deficient in character and devoid of morals.
Georgia Hardstark
What's a kitchen party? I'm gonna ask.
Karen Kilgariff
We have to find out. But it's like, I think it's in, you know, it's secret in house language. Yeah, those girls happen to just be older, sportier versions of seriously cutthroat sorority sisters. So that's one person's take about what it felt like to work there. So what's kind of to go along with that? This company's had a lot of controversy since they started. It's a Canadian company. They opened in, I think, well, in 2002 to mark the opening of their second store in Vancouver. They offered a free outfit to anyone who would stand naked on the street for 30 seconds.
Georgia Hardstark
Are you fucking. How about for people who can't afford them and are homeless, you fucking assholes.
Karen Kilgariff
But, like, also. So it's a store that's mostly women's clothing and you're basically trying to get ladies to stand around naked so you give them their $140 yoga pants.
Georgia Hardstark
That's so sad. You're asking them to exploit themselves. Yeah. Oh, my God.
Karen Kilgariff
That same owner, I can't find his name right now. He in an interview with the National Post Business magazine, which sounds very Canadian to me, but I'm not sure. He said he purposely named it Lululemon with lots of Ls because, quote, it's funny to watch Japanese people try to. He also once blogged that breast cancer quote came into prominence in the 1990s due to all the cigarette smoking power women who were on the pill and taking on the stress previously left to men in their.
Georgia Hardstark
I'm going to Lulu murder you, you piece of shit.
Karen Kilgariff
His. Sorry, that guy's name. I'm trying to. Oh, that guy's name is Chip Wilson. And of course, later on, everybody heard about the they in. I think it was 2011. Oh, no, sorry. 2013. They had to recall Their line of Luan yoga pants because they were see through. I remember that they were see through.
Georgia Hardstark
I've seen girls g strings from behind in yoga before.
Karen Kilgariff
And then that same CEO, when he was interviewed on Bloomberg TV about it, he was asked what the nature of the pants recall was. He said, quite frankly, some women's bodies just don't work for it. It's more about the rubbing through the thighs, how much pressure there is over a period of time.
Georgia Hardstark
You fucking dick.
Karen Kilgariff
So he's basically saying if you're not emaciated, you can't wear our yoga pants. And if you do, it's your fault.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
So he's a superstar. After he said that, of course he was asked to step down from being the CEO because. Because it's, you know, at the time it was 2013. So I'm sorry, sir, that it's not 1945 anymore. You can take that shit elsewhere. In 2007, they had a line of clothing called Vita C S E A which the company said was made from seaweed fiber. And according to the tags, they said it released marine amino acids, minerals and vitamins into the skin upon contact with moisture.
Georgia Hardstark
Moisture. Did it stink? Did it stink?
Karen Kilgariff
Reducing stress and providing anti inflammatory, antibacterial, hydrating and detoxifying benefits. So the New York Times. That's exactly right. The New York Times commissioned a laboratory test of a shirt made from Vita C and there was no significant difference in mineral levels between the Vita C fabric and a plain cotton T shirt. In other words, the labs found no evidence of seaweed in the Lululemon clothing at all. To do that, we're not done. In 2008, a mother and daughter found a hidden message in the shopping bag. Underneath the layer of inspirational quotes such as friends are more important than money, there was a second note that said, quote, some brief or quick fix instance.
Georgia Hardstark
Whoa, start over.
Karen Kilgariff
Some brief or quick fix incidences when our minds are clear to be creative are when drunk or stoned or just after an orgasm.
Georgia Hardstark
What does that mean? Okay, so they're promoting being drunk or.
Karen Kilgariff
Stoned or orgasms or having an orgasm so that you can be creative. How do they hide it? This is inside a yoga pants bag. So they had this. It turned out that they had printed this up initially. People saw it and were like, what the fuck are you doing here? Well, the other. The other quotes were, the athlete's high is the most long lasting as it can last up to six hours. And there's a little difference between addicts and a fanatic athlete. Both are continually searching for a way to remain in a creative state. So it was all this weird. They were very pro drugs and sex. And then a couple people got the bags and were like, what's wrong with you guys? This is a yoga pants store. So they took the bags and just sewed over them with. Friendship is more important than money. But all you have to do is wash the bag a couple times. And then the other label came out.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, I bet those are worth some money on ebay.
Karen Kilgariff
It's pretty hilarious. And also creepy. Like, you're getting these weird messages anyway.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
And they just. The answer back when that happened was not an apology. They were basically like, we're about speaking our mind. We're about living in this, having new ideas, new experiences. And they basically were like, yeah, we do what we want. We're trying to inspire people. So.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, my God. So, yeah, I. I have. Yeah, go on just how.
Karen Kilgariff
You're saying how.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, but also. But also good for them. But don't shop there. Like, I don't. They can do that. It's fine.
Karen Kilgariff
You can do that. Like, here's the thing. Yoga is a practice that's about connecting to yourself and connecting, you know, be having a body mind connection so that you are more in yourself and calmer, more normal. It's not about spending money. Yeah, but it's not about being better than your sorority sister.
Georgia Hardstark
But to get a mantra for transcendental meditation is fucking three grand. Like, how do you. How do they.
Karen Kilgariff
Well, no, that's based on how much money you make. But I mean, I'm not defending it because it's. It costs money. But what I'm saying is this is a store that's creating that culture of, you will spend money always, and you will spend money on bullshit. Because we're gonna lie straight to your face and say that our clothes are made of detoxifying seaweed.
Georgia Hardstark
That's insane.
Karen Kilgariff
Crazy.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
So anyway, that's just a little background.
Georgia Hardstark
All right.
Karen Kilgariff
So the worst thing that happened to them, of course, was in 2011. On the morning of March 12, an employee entered their store, the Bethesda, Maryland, store. And she actually went in. She heard something inside, I think it said. And so she went and got a guy off the street and said, you have to go in there and check. I'm supposed to open this door. And there's weird noises. And the guy walked in to, like, a bloody scene. And it turned out that Brittany Norwood and Jana Murray were lying in the store. Jana was dead, and Brittany was tied up bound hands and feet. Jana had a rope around her neck and hammer knife wounds to her head.
Georgia Hardstark
Holy shit.
Karen Kilgariff
And she'd been repeatedly struck with a metal stand. Later on, the medical examiner found out she had 330 distinct wounds on her body.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, my.
Karen Kilgariff
330.
Georgia Hardstark
How long would that take to hit someone 330 times?
Karen Kilgariff
And how much rage and how personal?
Georgia Hardstark
That's like 10 minutes of hitting.
Karen Kilgariff
It's insane overkill.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
So when the cop touched Britney, she flinched. And then she tells the story that the night before they closed the shop, and then she'd gone to. I'm saying Jana, but I think it's Jaina. Did I say Jayna? I think it's Jaina. So she'd gone to Jaina and said, I need to go back in. I forgot something. And when they went back in, two masked attackers came, like, stormed into the store. Whoops. Stormed the store and with guns and attacked them. And Britney said, raped them and tied them up and killed Jayna and left her for dead.
Georgia Hardstark
Had she been hit at all or hurt?
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, she had injuries, too.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay.
Karen Kilgariff
And her pants were slid at the crotch. It all looked very bad, so.
Georgia Hardstark
Looked.
Karen Kilgariff
It all looked very bad. So. Sorry, I have to scroll down on my dumb thing. So, of course panic set off because this is apparently a super high end area. Like, because that's how those stores are always in, like, really. So people are freaking out. Like, there's no violent crime in that area at all. Immediately, the cops are set up, a manhunt. There's $150,000 reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest. It's like, big and huge. And they start talking to people around the neighborhood. And they talk to these employees at the Apple store, which was right next door. And these employees say that, yes, they heard two women arguing and yelling and some weird thumping and fighting noises the night before, but they never called 911.
Georgia Hardstark
How do you.
Karen Kilgariff
They didn't get asked that question in court, which of course, because it's like, ultimately it's not about them and what they did or didn't do, aside from. I'm sure they struggle with it because it's hideous. But, yeah, they didn't. And then somebody included in one of these articles that I read, it was this really awesome thing about how when you have a phone or a computer or something that distracts you, you are like some percentage I won't make up. And I'll just be honest that I don't know it. But, like, a very high percentage less likely to get Involved with anything happening around you.
Georgia Hardstark
Wow.
Karen Kilgariff
So they're in an Apple Store, so it's probably like, weird noise. Weird noise. Go back to playing Yahtzee with friends or whatever on your phone.
Georgia Hardstark
I don't know if I would. Like, how would you get involved? It just so depends on the situation. If you can't expect people to be being, you know. Getting murdered.
Karen Kilgariff
No.
Georgia Hardstark
If you hear a fight, you're not like, I'm going to go make sure no one's getting murdered.
Karen Kilgariff
No, not at all. And especially in that area.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
No, it's a weird thing. I'm sure they had never had any experience like that.
Georgia Hardstark
No.
Karen Kilgariff
And that's not. They probably were like, oh, no, those girls are fighting the end. That's what I thought. It's just unfortunate because even just a call to say, maybe you should just go check. I think it's that thing of, like, people aren't willing to just risk being wrong, which is right. Which is sad.
Georgia Hardstark
Or not being able to read a situation correctly.
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, the way a couple of these articles talked about it, there was like, extended thumping and fight sounds and.
Georgia Hardstark
No.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, you should have checked that out at one per. At one point, they heard a woman scream. Oh, please, God, help me.
Georgia Hardstark
What the. Okay. No, you should have gone over there.
Karen Kilgariff
I guess I buried the lead on that one. I should have brought that up earlier.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, my God. All right, so. Yeah, go on.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. So even if you're not sure. Yeah, roll the dice. Okay. So. So from that, they realize that these employees only heard two women the entire time. They don't hear anything about men's voices. They don't hear anything else, so they're suspicious. Also, there's this really awesome statistic I found that I know the exact number. 4. According to the Bureau of the justice of Statistics. No.
No.
According to the Bureau of justice statistics, only 15% of homicides are committed by someone who doesn't know the victim.
Georgia Hardstark
15. That's crazy.
Karen Kilgariff
So in some ways, relax, Right? Because it's very, very.
Georgia Hardstark
Except don't, because your family's gonna murder you.
Karen Kilgariff
It's gonna be your husband with that milkshake.
Georgia Hardstark
I wonder if that's the reason why we're so fascinated with stranger murders. What?
Karen Kilgariff
The cord.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, I think you're. Are you hitting it with her leg? Okay. I wonder if that's why we're so fascinated about stranger murders, is because they're so rare.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes.
Georgia Hardstark
And so they sound like there are a lot more of them, but in actuality.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. Everyone talks about the ones that happen because they're so crazy and weird.
Georgia Hardstark
So it seems like they're more likely. That's really interesting.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. So the cops know this. I mean the cops, they say that all the time on like 2020 or whatever where it's like you always look to the husband, the wife, the friends, the people that they know. So one of the big breaks in the case was that they looked in Jayna's car and Jayna's the murder victim. She's the victim.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay.
Karen Kilgariff
So they process her car and they find Britney's DNA in the car. And then they ask Brittany, have you ever been in Jaina's car? And she said no.
Georgia Hardstark
That man, I love when they fucking trap someone like that. Or do you just said yes.
Karen Kilgariff
Right.
Georgia Hardstark
You would not have been a suspect.
Karen Kilgariff
But they never do because they were in the car. So they're trying to cover. They think that lie is going to get them out and. Yeah, that's. That's the greatest.
Georgia Hardstark
I love that.
Karen Kilgariff
So also they realized they had had all the tests processed and Brittany had said that they were both raped by these masked men. But when the test came back, they. There was no sign of rape on either of them. There was no, you know, evidence of it. Yeah, there was all of the normal things that they find.
Georgia Hardstark
No penetration. No.
Karen Kilgariff
On either of them.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay.
Karen Kilgariff
And also her wounds were few and superficial, right?
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. If you're gonna hit someone 30, some 300 something times and the other person just gets a little.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, that's crazy about.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
And also because then that's like there's some crime of passion taking place.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. So there is an intended victim here.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes, exactly. And also then they realize that for the angles, they start studying the angles of the. Of the wounds. Clearly self inflicted. And she tied herself up. It was all. They start looking back on its stage.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Now there were in the blood, there were two shoe prints. Jaina's shoe prints were not in the blood. Britney's shoe pins were in the blood. And a size 14 men man's shoe. One set of men's shoes were in the blood, so not two.
Georgia Hardstark
Like she grabbed some shoes off the fucking shelf.
Karen Kilgariff
That's exactly right.
Georgia Hardstark
Son of a bitch.
Karen Kilgariff
And walked around through as if a man was walking through.
Georgia Hardstark
What an idiot that she didn't grab both of fucking. Oh, because it's like the display pair, right. Oh my God. So it's like brilliant and so stupid at the same time.
Karen Kilgariff
Well, it's that thing of like you are. You can't cover up a murder you just can't.
Georgia Hardstark
You're not as smart as you think you are.
Karen Kilgariff
You can't. And also, cops have seen it a million times. Like they know what they're looking at and what looks weird and what doesn't. So ultimately they basically get her to start talking. And it turns out six days after the crime actually happened was the same night of Jayna's memorial. They arrest Brittany Norwood for first degree murder. And so basically they figure out that that day Britney had been caught shoplifting a pair of yoga pants by Jayna. And that's what caused that was the inciting incident. Obviously much more was going on for her to get stabbed over 300 times. And they said she used five different weapons, all found within the store.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, my God.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. And there was a blood trail that showed how Jayna tried to escape through the back door. And she had 107 defensive wounds. Oh, my God. So the. And they said that that was the most that medical examiner had ever seen on a victim.
Georgia Hardstark
Wow.
Karen Kilgariff
So this was a crazy and horrible and ext. Extended period of time where this murder happened. Now here's the creepiest part to me is Britney goes. Clearly just goes fucking berserk. Snaps. She gets caught. Now she's in that. She's out of this system. She's the worst of the worst. If you're bad for drinking Diet Coke on the floor, imagine what getting caught, shoplifting would be like in that culture at that store. Also, I don't think it was probably very easy because Britney was black and I don't know what the percentages were of people who were black that worked at Lululemon, but I bet that was an element in it. I'm sure that brought. There was something that brought to the table. There was other articles that talked about how she had stalked her boyfriend. I think she had. She was definitely, maybe a borderline personality. She had definitely had some issues, whatever. But this girl viciously and insanely murders her coworker and then lays down in blood for hours and hours until she gets discovered crazy in the same room as a dead body. I mean, that's the creepy level of that. Oh, and also she went. Because when she called Jayna back to let her back into the store, Jayna was double parked. So she had to go get into her car and she went and parked it down like a couple blocks away. And that's how she got. They got that DNA of hers in there. So essentially she had 10 hours to stage and plan this crime and figure it all out. So anyway, she was Convicted in an hour. They tried to say that she was insane, and they were like, no, sorry. This was insanely premeditated. Yeah, I mean, that's bad phrasing. This was very premeditated. And obviously she tried to cover it up.
Georgia Hardstark
So she knew it was a.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes.
Georgia Hardstark
Wrong.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes, exactly. And I guess. Oh. So she was got. She got a life sentence and with no possibility of parole. So it turned out that the Lululemon murder was much more fascinating than I could ever imagine it. Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
I thought she just, like, went in there and shot her. Like, I didn't even know any of the details.
Karen Kilgariff
No, it was grisly as hell.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
And just that the element, like the. The pressurey sales, sorority sister element of it is fascinating to me. Somebody. There's a guy that wrote a book, his name's David Morse, and it's called the. This is going to be wrong. I want to say it's called the yoga pants murder, but that's not going to be right. The yoga store murder.
Georgia Hardstark
There we go.
Karen Kilgariff
So close.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, are there. Are there crime scene photos?
Karen Kilgariff
I'm sure there are, but.
Georgia Hardstark
But I want to see them without the body, so I'm not that fucked up.
Karen Kilgariff
They wanted to show the crime scene photos when they were trying to pick the jury, and they. The, I think, was it when they were trying to pick the jury. I guess that doesn't really make sense, but they were basically trying to introduce these photos and, like, the defense fought it because they're so awful. Her skull was cracked. Her spine was severed.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, I don't want to see that.
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, it's terrible. I mean, you. You know, she was stabbed over 300 times.
Georgia Hardstark
Insane.
Karen Kilgariff
Horrifying.
Georgia Hardstark
Holy shit.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. So there you go. Namaste.
Georgia Hardstark
Namaste. Namaste, Karen.
Karen Kilgariff
Namaste, everybody.
Georgia Hardstark
Should we end on an om. Well. Oh, well. Fuck. All right. Oof.
That's a gruesome and sad one.
Karen Kilgariff
Horrible.
Georgia Hardstark
We're back. Karen, do you have any updates?
Karen Kilgariff
No case updates. Basically, it's all status quo. Although we got to the bottom of kitchen parties. So that was the thing that we talked about. It was a Lululemon, kind of like Ali rally style. Let's all get together, you know, like some sort of retail bullshit cult thing that they make up to make it seem interesting, and then you get people to whatever what it was.
Georgia Hardstark
I'd have to work that day, but, like, they still have to come to the fucking.
Karen Kilgariff
No, no, this was a different. This was almost like a little bit of a manipulation of the customers. So essentially There are these islands near the fitting rooms and the employees were expected to just kind of hang out there and then stage casual conversations. Like, you're in the kitchen, quote unquote, and basically talking about yoga pants or like, oh, you need that. I can actually recommend you this great jacket or whatever.
Georgia Hardstark
Leaves me alone. I mean, as someone who's done that job before.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
At Funky diva back in 1999, like, I know how it goes and I hated every minute of doing it and I hate every minute of it being done to me.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes.
The retail PTSD of, like, being forced to engage when people don't like it and are rude to you actively.
Georgia Hardstark
Right.
Karen Kilgariff
Really sucks. It's like, if you're the greeter at.
The Gap this day, I wonder if.
They still do greeters.
I don't think they do.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, I don't think so.
But I bet you better fucking get said hi to, though.
Like.
Like, if you're a secret shopper for them.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, yeah.
Like, you have to eyes up.
You don't have to stand there.
Like, we used to have to literally.
Stand there and be like, socks are on sale today and blah, blah, blah. Like that whole thing where you're like having this hip interaction with the person you're about to buy jeans from.
It's just like, who cares?
Georgia Hardstark
No one needs help finding anything. Unless it's like a movie and they're like on a mission to get this one thing. No one needs help finding anything. Can I help you find anything today? No.
Karen Kilgariff
In this day and age, doesn't the average customer really know their rights in the way of, like, they're going to find you and let you know the kind of help they need. Like, no one's shy anymore about this.
And that's.
I'm going to say it again, but that's my big complaint about Sephora. I just want to go and touch all the eyeshadows and look at all the samples. I don't want to. I don't want someone to help me because oftentimes they're like, oh, you need that? Well, then come over here. And I'm like, no, I'm over here. I want to be in this area. Yeah, Like, I don't want to be.
I don't want to be the fed through this.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, no, totally. That's a.
That's a long Zen journey that you want to take when you're there.
Karen Kilgariff
That's right. Hot bath of a Sephora. Anyway, also the old founder, or I guess the original founder who's no longer involved in the business of Lululemon is a man named Chip Wilson who has just been spouting pretty nasty rhetoric for years, and so much so that the company had to come forward and say that his views don't represent the company's values and that they are committed to creating an inclusive environment in that company. So hopefully that's true, and hopefully that actual work is getting done.
But.
And also, you know, the information I was looking for that could have been really cool to, like, unveil right now is that they also change their internal practices, and they don't make everything feel.
Like they're this weird club that you're.
Trying to get into while you have a retail job.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Which was one of the things we.
Talked about of, like, what the pressures.
And what this job must have felt like to result in this horrifying murder. But still, there's no way to get that information unless we had a secret.
Employee, which we don't. It'd be so cool.
Georgia Hardstark
We should have done that.
Karen Kilgariff
Although they no longer ask their employees to pursue shoplifters, which is insane that they ever did that. Never do that.
Georgia Hardstark
No.
Karen Kilgariff
Never do that. Okay, now it's time for Georgia's story about Tent Girl and the Doe Network.
Georgia Hardstark
Ready for mine?
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay. Mine is about the Tent Girl and the Doe Network. What? You know those.
Karen Kilgariff
Doe as in deer?
Georgia Hardstark
No, D, O, E as in, like, Jane Doe.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, oh, oh.
Georgia Hardstark
Like doe. A doe. A dead body. A female dead body. Oh, my God. I had to.
Karen Kilgariff
You did it.
Georgia Hardstark
Did it, did it. All right, so on May 17, 1968, a well digger named Wilbur Riddle was killing time between jobs, picking up glass insulators on a dirt road was just outside Lexington, Kentucky. So he's scavenging.
Karen Kilgariff
Sure.
Georgia Hardstark
He comes across a large green tarpaulin, and that was commonly used by carnival workers to store the big, like, big top tension. And inside, he finds the new decomposing body of a young woman. She appeared to be in her teens, and she had been dead for months.
Karen Kilgariff
Ooh.
Georgia Hardstark
They couldn't figure out her exact cause of death, but it was thought that she'd been knocked out with a blow to the head and then tied up inside the bag to slowly suffocate. And the way they knew this is that her nails were worn down and broken.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, no.
Georgia Hardstark
As if she had been trying to escape.
Karen Kilgariff
Nightmare.
Georgia Hardstark
Yes. She couldn't be identified and became known as the tent girl.
Karen Kilgariff
Sorry, is 68, you said?
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay.
Georgia Hardstark
It became a local legend. And her grave had a headstone that had. That they had put The, a sketch of the, what the police had sketched she might have looked like. And it said tent girl. Found May 17, 1968 on Highway U.S. highway 25 North. Died about April. Like all these weird statistics about her. Unidentified so it was a place where local teens would visit to cause trouble and to scare each other. And like on Halloween you had at night you had to go touch the gravestone and run away and stuff. And so a couple decades later, there's a teenager who moves into town named Todd Matthews and he hears about the story of Tent Girl by a girl he's got a crush on. Nine months later he and this girl get married. And it turns out her name is Lori Riddle. Her father was Wilbur Riddle, who found Tent girl. Ooh. So Todd Matthews becomes obsessed with the case and for decades he's determined to find out the true identity of Tent Girl. Todd's two siblings had died at birth and it really stuck with him. And so he says that he felt like Tent Girl had become his sibling until he could find her real family, which is so fucking sweet I might cry. So when the Internet's created, he saves up enough money for he like works low income jobs, saves up enough money to buy a computer. And then he trolls chat rooms and search engines and missing personal listings searching for details that match Tent Girl. And he creates a website devoted to finding her identity. And this is before any of like web sleuthing shit is going on. Like in his mind, he's just going to email as many people as possible until he finds out who this missing person is. So cut to the night, January 1998, and Todd has been online for hours looking at random stuff when he comes across a classified ad from a woman who's searching for her missing 24 year old sister, Barbara Ann Hackman Taylor. He Todd sees the three words Lexington, 1977, missing, and he knows it's her immediately. So in December 1967, 24 year old Barbara Ann Hackman was a mother and a waitress. She had married young and then mysteriously disappeared. They thought it was a teenager originally when they found the body, but she was actually 24, which is just another reason like why cops, it wouldn't have taken someone amateur to find this person. Because you're looking for a teenager, you're not going to find someone with totally different statistics.
Karen Kilgariff
Right.
Georgia Hardstark
You know what I mean?
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, they won't fall into that category for you.
Georgia Hardstark
So Matthew's arranges to have Tent Girl's body exhumed. And in April 1998, DNA tests proved that Barbara Ann Hackman is Tent Girl.
Karen Kilgariff
Wow.
Georgia Hardstark
I know. The family chooses to have Barbara's remains kept in the original spot with the original headstone. They just added a little stone underneath with her real name, nickname, date of birth, presumed date of death, and the inscription, loving mother, grandmother, and sister. Oh, I know.
Karen Kilgariff
She was a grandmother at 24.
Georgia Hardstark
No, I think she had her baby, her daughter, and now she's a grandmother.
Karen Kilgariff
Got it.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. All right, so he died before Tent Girl was identified. But Barbara's husband, George Earl Taylor, never filed a missing persons report. And he told Barbara's family that she had left him for another man. Yeah. All right, so you know how she was fucking found? In a tarpaulin. Am I saying that right? That was common. Commonly used by carnival workers to store big tents. Guess what George's job was?
Karen Kilgariff
He was an accountant. Was he an accountant? Was he. Did he work at rei? Carnival worker.
Georgia Hardstark
Yes, he was a carnival worker. He died of cancer in October 1987. And I hope he rots in hell.
Karen Kilgariff
Good, good, good.
Georgia Hardstark
Glad.
Karen Kilgariff
Go fuck yourself.
Georgia Hardstark
Go fuck yourself. Isn't that crazy? Like, what is. What a. There's nothing besides, like. Besides fingerprints that could have, like, made it more of a. Like, here's who done it.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, I mean, did they.
Georgia Hardstark
Karen, don't question.
Karen Kilgariff
I won't.
Georgia Hardstark
Did they play? Did they, like, tie it back to the carnival he was working at? And did he maybe.
Karen Kilgariff
No, I just meant, like, at the time when they found her, did they take that tarpaulin or whatever it's called, evidence, and then go interview some carnival workers?
Georgia Hardstark
Right. See what local carnival was in town, and then it.
Karen Kilgariff
Could that be the third season of True Detective? This story of, like, the carnies?
Georgia Hardstark
Those are great questions. I was just excited that they had put that together, but, gosh, I wish they had done that before he died of cancer. Yeah, that's a good point. Point.
Karen Kilgariff
But, I mean, you know.
Georgia Hardstark
Well, okay, can I do a different story? No, I'm kidding. All right, so. So the ending of this is pretty amazing that Todd Matthews goes on to help create the DOE Network, which I'm obsessed with. It's an online database containing thousands of profiles for unidentified Does. Jane and John does and Baby does and amateur sleuths try to connect unidentified bodies with missing people.
Karen Kilgariff
Amazing.
Georgia Hardstark
Like, people who are, like, nurses and. And janitors and all these crazy people who, like, are doing this for free in their free time. Just sit there and try to find matching characteristics to get these people found and get them, you know.
Karen Kilgariff
So is it, like, web sleuthing where anyone can do it and enter the information.
Georgia Hardstark
They started. They started regulating it because I think that a lot of. A lot of police were getting annoyed with all the calls they were getting. Like, I think it's this person. I think it's that person. So there's like, for each. Each town or each city, there's. There's like a main person that. And it has to go through like a crazy vetting process now. So if you're like, I think this missing person is this unidentified body. They have to like, it has to be checked out by like, a bunch of people who have been certified by the DOE network to do that. But yeah, you can kind of just like look for. It's almost like that game where you. What was the memory one where you turn over a face and you turn it back over and you have to remember where the face is called memory than you. So he also co founded NAM US I think it's supposed to be name Us, but there's no e. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. And another thing they do is they. They. They hire or they. People who. Who. Who are. Who draw portraits and stuff just for free. Like, can. We'll take a dead body and sketch out what the face would look like or take a missing person and sketch out what their face would look like now. Oh, and they all do it for free.
Karen Kilgariff
Wow.
Georgia Hardstark
It's pretty amazing. Next place where we give money for the T shirts. I don't know.
Karen Kilgariff
We can discuss it.
Georgia Hardstark
We can. All right. So as of 2007, I couldn't find any more recent statistics. There's approximately 40,000 unidentified human remains stowed in back rooms of morgues, buried before they're identified and buried in unmarked graves across the country.
Karen Kilgariff
What's that number?
Georgia Hardstark
40,000.
Karen Kilgariff
Shit.
Georgia Hardstark
And that's 2007. The National Crime Information center records nearly 90,000 missing people at any given time. So 40,000 of those unmarked unidentified people. You know, their websites list 70 successful identity resolutions that the site has assisted with.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, that's nice.
Georgia Hardstark
36 had occurred within the first five years. And tent Girl was the first case to be identified by use of the Internet. Wow. Isn't that incredible? Todd Matthews, he just, like, was an obsessive compulsive with this case. And because of that, so many families have been able to find out what happened to their loved ones. And I'm so fascinated with those stories of, like, she left home one day and, you know, we thought we'd hear from her again, and we didn't. And we don't know if she's alive or not. She might have just fucking moved on and hated our dad and, you know. Right. But then they find they're like, you know, by the side of the road, this person with this crazy tattoo is found, and why can't we identify this person? And. And so they put all the stuff in the info in the thing and that's very cool. Yeah. Tent girl. There's a photo of her. It looks like a lot like the drawing. Sad, right?
Karen Kilgariff
Well, yeah, but it's like the tragedy that something good came out.
Georgia Hardstark
I know.
Karen Kilgariff
It's very cool. And also just nice, that idea that, like. Yeah, that's. If you have. It's just so nice for the families. Like, the. That idea of just not knowing is so torturous.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. And I've kind of been wanting to do. I've been thinking a lot lately about, like, what can I. How can I volunteer my time in some way that we're. This true crime thing we're doing? And I'm like, you know, do I work for. Do I go volunteer for women's shelter or something like that? And this, like, I feel like that's what these people are doing is they're like, for. No, they're not making any money. They have jobs. They don't need them. They just want to help. Help find. It's just they're really into these crazy puzzles and piecing these things together and they just. Right.
Karen Kilgariff
And if you have that specific ability of, like, you can draw, you know, what they're a picture of what they last looked like or whatever. It's like everybody pitching in what their specific talent. Yeah. Yeah, that's very cool.
Georgia Hardstark
I like that. So maybe I'll. Maybe I'll do something like that. And I can't draw, but I can look at tattoos and remember if they were found on dead bodies or not.
Karen Kilgariff
Do it.
Georgia Hardstark
I'm really good at that.
Karen Kilgariff
Remembering.
Georgia Hardstark
No. Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Nice.
Georgia Hardstark
So that was short one, but I thought it was important.
Karen Kilgariff
No, that was cool. I like that. It, like, it's good information.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, that's a good one. Totally.
Karen Kilgariff
Well, I guess that's it.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. Thank you for listening. Thank you so much. Can you guys. If you rate, review and subscribe on itunes, that helps us a lot and we appreciate it. And gosh, it's nice having you guys listen in this podcast. Also, Elvis is sitting right in front of Steven's face because Steven gave him a cookie last time.
Karen Kilgariff
I like that you just said, gosh, Gosh, it's nice you listen, everybody Gee whiz G whiz G willikers, everybody. Thank you.
Georgia Hardstark
Thanks.
Karen Kilgariff
And you know what?
Georgia Hardstark
Stay sexy and don't get moided. Elvis, you want a cookie? Want a cookie?
Karen Kilgariff
Whoa. Bye.
Georgia Hardstark
Bye.
Karen Kilgariff
We're back. Georgia, are there updates for this case?
Georgia Hardstark
Yes, there are updates. This is one of those cases. I love that there is this tragic story and something beautiful comes out of it because people, because of humans and humanity and, you know, caring about causes that have nothing to do with you and just personalizing them. So I love this story and I love Todd Matthews. And unfortunately he passed away earlier this year. He was only only 53. And his contributions to the cyber detective community live on through the DOE Network and name us. And there's a article you can check out if you want on Vice called the Pioneering Cyber Detective who cracked a 30 year old cold Case by Sammy Carmela that I recommend. And together the DOE Network and NamUs have resolved over 65,000 missing, unidentified and unclaimed persons cases.
Karen Kilgariff
Amazing.
Georgia Hardstark
Which is incredible. So get involved in that. If you're good at sleuthing. I'm not.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. If you're a person that's interested in true crime, that is an incredible way to actually, you know, do something constructive with. With this interest and interact and help people out.
Georgia Hardstark
Well, yeah, Like I, when I had a boring desk job and didn't do anything, I wish I had known about this. Instead, I was just blogging.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
So that doesn't feel as good as like helping find missing people.
Karen Kilgariff
You were helping other funky divas in your area.
Georgia Hardstark
That's all. That's my fucking goal in life. And my creed. My creed and my motto.
Karen Kilgariff
And here's your other motto is Namaste.
Sexy, which was the title of this episode.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. So no more number puns. Thank God.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, that's right.
Georgia Hardstark
And so if we're naming this episode today based on something we said in the episode, would it be trailer spoiler, Which Karen jokes she's going to spoil the trailer of the new JeanBenet Ramsay docuseries. Don't. You can't even spoil a trailer these days.
Karen Kilgariff
That's right.
And then Georgia said, gosh, it's nice. That's so funny. Gosh, it's nice. Because we were thanking listeners for listening to the show and she said, gosh, it's nice having you guys listen.
Was that sarcastic?
Georgia Hardstark
No. I hear my gosh is definitely something that has, you know, regularly come out of my mouth. Is there some?
Karen Kilgariff
Is it.
Who says?
Georgia Hardstark
I don't know. I think it's like quaint and old timey, and I like it like that.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, it is. It's nice.
I don't.
Georgia Hardstark
I don't care about taking God's name in vain, so why would I. Gosh, it's nice. I guess. You know what? It's like a humbled thing. I'm just humbled.
Gosh.
Karen Kilgariff
Golly. Golly gee.
Georgia Hardstark
Golly gee.
Karen Kilgariff
Well, well.
Georgia Hardstark
Gosh, guys, thanks so much for listening.
Karen Kilgariff
Gosh, I'd pick that title for the.
Show title because I love it.
It's nice.
Georgia Hardstark
It's nice.
And so are you guys. And we appreciate you still.
Gosh.
Karen Kilgariff
Gosh, if I was listening right now, I'd turn this off. Off. Stay sexy and don't get murdered.
Georgia Hardstark
Goodbye.
Goodbye, Elvis. Do you want a cookie?
Podcast Summary: "Rewind with Karen & Georgia - Episode 31: Namaste Sexy"
Podcast Information:
Timestamp: [00:21] - [01:32]
Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark welcome listeners to "Rewind with Karen and Georgia," a segment where they revisit past episodes, offering fresh insights and updates. They introduce Episode 31, "Namaste Sexy," revisiting its original airing on August 25, 2016. The hosts share a playful exchange about the episode's name and reminisce about their early days as podcasters.
Notable Quotes:
Timestamp: [03:08] - [07:12]
Karen and Georgia discuss the fan art and social media interactions they've received over the years. They express appreciation for the creative drawings, particularly humorous exaggerations like Karen's oversized nose. The hosts highlight their engagement with fans on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, sharing positive feedback from international listeners, especially from Sweden and Australia.
Notable Quotes:
Timestamp: [07:12] - [08:14]
The hosts talk about their recent merchandise sales, mentioning that half of the proceeds from their latest t-shirt sale are being donated to End the Backlog, a charity organization. They express surprise and gratitude at the overwhelming support from their listeners, reflecting on their initial fears about public generosity.
Notable Quotes:
Timestamp: [08:14] - [14:36]
Karen and Georgia delve into their current interests in true crime media, including discussions about the JonBenet Ramsey docuseries trailer. They share their thoughts on upcoming true crime shows like "The Night Of," with Karen expressing enthusiasm while Georgia remains ambivalent, citing a lack of interest in the show's focus on prison life and trials.
Notable Quotes:
Timestamp: [18:37] - [47:13]
Overview: The centerpiece of Episode 31 revisited is the gruesome murder case at a Lululemon store in Bethesda, Maryland. Karen recounts how she initially dismissed the story but became fascinated upon deeper investigation. The murder involved Brittany Norwood, an employee who brutally killed her coworker Jana Murray in an over-the-top violent rampage within the store.
Key Points:
Atmosphere of Lululemon: The company culture at Lululemon is depicted as cult-like, emphasizing extreme standards of authenticity and integrity among employees. Karen references an article titled "Lululemon's Cult: Get Fit or Die Trying," highlighting the company's manipulative practices, such as encouraging employees to attend the Landmark Forum and fostering a toxic work environment.
The Crime Scene: On March 12, 2011, Brittany Norwood entered the Bethesda store during work hours, only to brutally murder Jana Murray with 330 distinct wounds using multiple weapons found in the store. Brittany was found tied up but survived with injuries, leading to a rapid conviction for first-degree murder.
Investigation Insights: The investigation revealed inconsistencies in Brittany's accounts, such as DNA evidence placing her in the victim’s car despite her denial. The medical examiner noted the unusual number of wounds, suggesting a crime of passion rather than a random attack.
Cultural and Racial Elements: Karen speculates that Brittany being Black may have been a factor in the case dynamics, although details on this aspect remain limited.
Notable Quotes:
Timestamp: [15:25] - [26:00]
The discussion shifts to the broader implications of retail culture on employees' mental health and behavior. Karen and Georgia critique the intense pressures placed on Lululemon employees to meet high sales targets and adhere to strict lifestyle standards. They draw parallels to their own negative experiences in retail jobs, emphasizing the detrimental effects of such environments.
Notable Quotes:
Timestamp: [47:13] - [51:18]
The hosts wrap up the Lululemon murder case by summarizing Brittany Norwood's conviction. They highlight the overkill nature of the crime, the swift legal proceedings, and the life sentence without parole that Brittany received. Karen reflects on the complexity of the case, noting how workplace pressures and a manipulative company culture may have contributed to the tragedy.
Notable Quotes:
Timestamp: [51:18] - [64:40]
Overview: Georgia presents her story about the "Tent Girl," an unidentified female victim found in 1968 near Lexington, Kentucky. The case remained unsolved until Todd Matthews, a dedicated amateur sleuth, utilized the emerging internet to identify her decades later.
Key Points:
Discovery of Tent Girl: In 1968, Wilbur Riddle discovered the decomposing body of a young woman under a tarpaulin used by carnival workers. The victim, later identified as Barbara Ann Hackman, suffered severe injuries indicative of a struggle and attempted escape.
Todd Matthews' Quest: Inspired by personal tragedy and driven by obsession, Matthews scoured early internet platforms to match missing persons reports with unidentified remains. His persistent efforts led to the exhumation and DNA testing of Tent Girl, conclusively identifying her as Barbara Ann Hackman.
Impact of the Doe Network and NamUs: Matthews co-founded the Doe Network and contributed to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), aiding in the resolution of over 65,000 missing and unidentified cases. Georgia expresses admiration for Matthews' dedication and the positive outcomes of his work.
Notable Quotes:
Timestamp: [64:40] - [66:20]
In wrapping up the episode, Karen and Georgia reflect on the significance of their discussions. They emphasize the importance of community engagement in solving cold cases and encourage listeners to contribute to organizations like the Doe Network and NamUs. Georgia shares thoughts on volunteering and using personal skills to aid in true crime investigations.
They conclude with light-hearted banter, thanking listeners and maintaining their signature humorous rapport.
Notable Quotes:
Conclusion: Episode 31, "Namaste Sexy," serves as a deep dive into two compelling true crime stories—the Lululemon murder and the Tent Girl case. Through their nuanced discussions, Karen and Georgia illuminate the dark intersections of retail culture and personal obsession in solving mysteries. Their candid reflections and incorporation of listener interactions provide a rich, engaging experience for both longtime fans and new listeners.