Paper Ghosts: The Texas Teen Murders

Episode 6: “Spawn of Hell”

Release Date: March 27, 2024
Host: M. William Phelps

Episode Overview

In Episode 6 of Paper Ghosts: The Texas Teen Murders, investigative journalist M. William Phelps dives deep into the connections—and divisions—between the murders of Dana Stidham and Shawna Garber, two young women whose deaths in the late 1980s and early 1990s remain unsolved. This episode takes a hard look at Jack Linney as a prime suspect, investigates Shawna’s tragic story in the foster system, explores the possibility of serial killer BTK’s involvement, and lays out the emotional and investigative complexities faced by the families and detectives over decades. The title “Spawn of Hell” references the severe abuse and trauma endured by Shawna Garber, underscoring the episode’s somber tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Revisiting Jack Linney as Suspect in Dana Stidham’s Murder (02:39–10:16)

• Phelps recaps his focus on Jack Linney as the key suspect in Dana Stidham’s 1989 murder, referencing an early 1990s BCSO (Benton County Sheriff’s Office) interview with Linney.
• Linney’s demeanor during interviews is scrutinized: he’s methodical, cold, and manipulative, giving vague or evasive answers about his whereabouts and vehicles.
• Detectives use “background” questions to gauge Linney’s transparency, already having his vehicle records and suspecting a link between his truck (with a camper) and the crime scene.
  • Quote (Phelps, 05:00): "The one consistent observation about this guy I had heard... is that he's one cold son of a bitch who knows how to play the system."
• Key facts:
  • Linney worked near where Dana’s body was found and had a history of sexual harassment at a local business.
  • Police aim to unsettle Linney and gather enough for search warrants on his home and vehicles.
• Quote (Phelps, 09:50): “The BCSO walked away from that short interview with two major tasks ahead: to find and speak to Linney’s ex wife and daughter and... draft, secure and execute two search warrants.”

2. The Lost Life of Shawna Garber ("Grace Doe") (11:20–20:31)

• Shawna Garber’s real identity took 30 years to confirm; after severe childhood abuse (her mother set her on fire) she was lost in the foster system.
• Interview with Shawna’s brother reveals how the system and an abusive mother ("an evil, vindictive spawn of hell" [16:00]) isolated Shawna and prevented siblings from reconnecting.
• Letters from her brother were never delivered, highlighting systemic failings that may have shaped her fate.
  • Quote (Phelps, 18:00): “If Shawna had gotten those letters... would I be talking about her now as a murder victim?”
• After aging out of foster care, Shawna disappeared from records, making her victimology and murder investigation especially difficult.

3. Investigative Challenges: Missing Person Who Wasn’t Reported (20:31–24:38)

• Detectives emphasize the near impossibility of tracking a missing adult who was never formally reported as missing.
• Interview with McDonald County Sheriff Rob Evenson outlines the lack of records, acquaintances, or a steady paper trail for Shawna after leaving foster care.
• Suspicions arise regarding her possibly being involved with drugs, but certainty is elusive.

4. Forensic Details of Shawna’s Murder & Suspect Parallels (25:49–29:47)

• Cause of death presumed as strangulation, inferred by bindings despite the lack of physical evidence due to decomposition.
• The bindings and circumstances of the scene (hogtied with a single shoelace, towel over face, coaxial cable) suggest personal violence and potentially a sexual motive.
  • Quote (Investigator, 28:50): "Strangulation is a very personal... It is murder. It is indeed. If you're that close to someone as opposed to just saying having shot someone from a distance."
• Law enforcement sees parallels between Shawna’s and Dana’s cases, including geographic and forensic details, sparking theories they could be linked or the work of the same killer.

5. BTK/Serial Killer Theory: Debunking the Connection (29:47–47:04)

• BTK (Dennis Rader) becomes a suspect due to similarities in bound victims.
• Dr. Katherine Ramsland, a forensic psychologist and BTK expert, discusses BTK’s methods, fantasies, and geographical movements.
• Ramsland analyzes bindings used in Shawna’s murder versus BTK’s known M.O.—noting key differences in complexity, obsessional quality, and signature habits.
  • Quote (Ramsland, 44:09): "Some of the bindings on Shauna are very similar to the ropes found and confiscated by police when Dennis was arrested... but not all of them... I don't think he ever used coaxial cables."
  • Quote (Ramsland, 45:51): “That's a lot of bindings, which that suggests. It's not about keeping her captive so much as the binding itself. But that's not something that Rader would do... there's an obsessive quality to it.”
• BTK’s own reaction to the crime scene photos reportedly included disgust at the overbinding and lack of control or order.
• Law enforcement and Phelps ultimately move BTK far down the suspect list for Shawna, focusing instead on local suspects like Jack Linney.

6. The Case Against Jack Linney Grows (48:31–51:28)

• New evidence: Linney’s alibi for Dana’s disappearance is false (he claimed to be away, but punch records showed him working locally).
• Search warrants of Linney’s property found significant forensic evidence: blood, female hairs, and a disturbing array of cords and twine, indicative (to investigators) of serial offender behavior.
  • Quote (Phelps, 49:35): “As they entered the basement... what they found pointed in the direction of what I could say is a serial killer... over a hundred spools of different cords.”
• Phelps prepares to confront Linney, setting up the tension for future episodes.
• Interview clips foreshadow the tragic outcome for Linney’s ex-wife (“She killed herself shortly after DCSO detectives spoke with her... I think probably she was at a breaking point.” [51:28]) and Linney’s capacity for threat and violence.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Shawna’s Childhood:
  • "Because our mother was an evil, vindictive spawn of hell." – Shawna’s brother (16:00)
• Describing Jack Linney:
  • “One cold son of a bitch who knows how to play the system.” – M. William Phelps (05:00)
• On Systemic Failures:
  • “If Shawna had gotten those letters... would I be talking about her now as a murder victim?” – M. William Phelps (18:00)
• Comparing Bindings:
  • "Even [BTK] has commented... 'Wow, those are like some of the ropes I use, but not all of them.'" – Dr. Katherine Ramsland (44:09)
• On BTK’s Methods:
  • "The torture, probably not so much, even though that would sort of. What he wanted to achieve was to terrorize Wichita, his hometown." – Dr. Katherine Ramsland (35:39)
• Conclusions on BTK:
  • “I was convinced, after looking at all of the available evidence and conferring with law enforcement, that Dennis BTK Rader should be moved far down on the list of potential suspects in Shawna Garber's murder...” – M. William Phelps (48:01)
• Finding Evidence at Linney’s:
  • “There had to been, like, over a hundred spools of different cords... it just was pretty ominous.” – M. William Phelps (50:15)

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• 00:00–01:58: Ads / show intro (skip)
• 02:39: Phelps introduces Jack Linney and interview tape
• 11:20: Identifying “Grace Doe” as Shawna Garber
• 14:26: Hearing about the abuse and foster system from Shawna’s brother
• 16:00: “Spawn of Hell” quote – brother on their mother
• 18:00: Impact of undelivered letters
• 20:31: Systemic barriers to finding and investigating Shawna
• 25:49: Details of Shawna’s bindings and cause of death speculation
• 29:47: BTK enters the picture as possible suspect
• 33:34–43:00: Dr. Ramsland details BTK’s psychology and methods
• 44:09: Direct linking/comparison of crime scene bindings
• 48:31: Return to Jack Linney, forensic findings, and his suspected involvement
• 51:28: Aftermath for Linney’s ex-wife, clips of threat and intimidation

Tone and Language

The episode is intense, empathetic, and investigative. Phelps maintains a determined, analytic tone, unafraid to express frustration at systemic failures and the chilling behaviors of suspected killers. Interspersed expert commentary and direct family interviews deepen the emotional impact.

Summary

Episode 6, “Spawn of Hell,” uses newly uncovered interviews, forensic details, and expert psychological analysis to untangle fact from rumor in two cold-case murders. The episode rules out the sensational theory of BTK’s involvement and narrows the investigative lens on Jack Linney as a highly likely suspect, constructing a chilling portrait of trauma, predation, and investigative tenacity that keeps both cases alive in the present tense.