Podcast Summary: Scams, Money, & Murder

Episode: Modern Day Pirates
Date: January 29, 2026
Hosts: Vanessa Richardson & Carter Roy

Overview

This episode of Scams, Money, & Murder explores the stories of two infamous young outlaws from very different eras: Abdouwali Muse, the Somali pirate who hijacked the Maersk Alabama in 2009, and Billy the Kid, the legendary Wild West outlaw of the late 1800s. Through gripping storytelling, the hosts draw parallels between these men—both young, desperate, and driven by the lure of quick fortunes—while delving into the consequences of choosing a life outside the law.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Outlaws: Theme Introduction

• [02:00] Vanessa Richardson: Sets the episode’s theme as “Outlaws,” focusing on violent criminals driven by greed.

  “Violent criminals who didn’t care who they had to hurt in order to make money.”
  The episode transitions from a 2009 case of modern piracy to the Old West with Billy the Kid, connected by their rebellion and ultimate downfall.

Segment 1: Somalian Piracy and the Maersk Alabama Hijacking

Abdouwali Muse’s Background

• [04:41] Vanessa: Introduces Abdouwali Muse, born in 1990 in Galkayo, Somalia, against a backdrop of civil war and poverty.
• Muse’s early life marked by hardship; according to his mother, he was a “good boy” who loved reading, but desperation led him to piracy.

  “…as he maneuvered alongside the Maersk Alabama on April 8, 2009, Muse was confident his good luck would continue.”

• The context: Somalia’s economic collapse in the 2000s made piracy an attractive, if dangerous, option. Shipping companies routinely paid multimillion-dollar ransoms.

The Hijacking of the Maersk Alabama

• [04:41–14:55] Story Narrative: The episode provides a dramatic retelling of the 2009 hijacking.
  • Muse and three others, all teens/young men, approach the Alabama 240 nautical miles off Somalia’s coast.
  • The Alabama’s captain, Richard Phillips, and his crew employ tactics (flare guns, water hoses) to fend off the pirates but are ultimately boarded.
  • The pirates take the bridge, but the crew has already initiated anti-pirate protocols. Phillips and his officers operationally sabotage the pirates:
    • Transfer control to the engine room.
    • Disable communications.
    • Provide false info to stall and confuse Muse.
  • Muse, believing help is hours away, attempts to find hidden crew, failing as Phillips steers him away from their hiding places.
  • The crew bluffs the existence of a U.S. Navy ship nearby via radio impersonation, sowing panic among the pirates.

Turning the Tables

• Hostage Negotiations:
  • Crew capture Muse during a skirmish below decks.
  • They propose a trade: Muse for Phillips.
• “No Deal” Betrayal:
  • Muse, once released, reneges on the agreement, kidnapping Phillips into a lifeboat and heading for Somalia.
  • Attempts to negotiate $2 million ransom using a satellite phone.

  “Muse simply replied, no deal. Muse was a businessman.”
  — [16:49] Vanessa Richardson, after Muse breaks the prisoner exchange agreement

U.S. Navy Intervention and Resolution

• The USS Bainbridge arrives; the U.S. Navy initiates negotiations while keeping Muse occupied and sending supplies.
• Muse, regarded as the pirates' leader (“the only thing keeping the other three pirates in line”), boards Bainbridge leaving the remaining pirates disorganized.
• Hostage situation escalates:
  • Phillips is physically restrained; a pirate fires weapon at the Navy ship.
  • Navy SEAL snipers kill the three pirates; Phillips is rescued unharmed.

Aftermath

• Muse is apprehended, flown to New York, and charged with piracy and other crimes.

  “He was the first person to be charged with piracy in a US court in over 100 years.”
  — [19:10] Vanessa Richardson

• Muse pleads guilty and is sentenced to over 33 years in U.S. federal prison.

Segment 2: Billy the Kid—Outlaw of the Wild West

Early Life and Path to Crime

• [19:52] Vanessa: Billy the Kid (born Henry McCarty) was orphaned young and cast out by his stepfather. Initially studious and well-liked.
• Falling in with bad company, Billy commits his first crimes as a teenager, leading to a cycle of arrests, jail breaks (including an escape up a jailhouse chimney), and geographic drifting.

  “He was a model citizen...but tragically for Billy, the fun quickly came to an end.”
  — [20:37] Vanessa Richardson

Becoming an Outlaw

• Billy kills a man in a fight at age 17, making him a fugitive.
• Moves to Lincoln County, New Mexico, and finds ranch work, only to get swept into the violent Lincoln County War after witnessing the murder of his employer, John Tunstall.
  • Billy and other ranch hands, under the name “The Regulators,” seek revenge.
  • Sheriff William Brady (Dolan's ally) is ambushed and killed by Billy’s group.

  “Billy said, ‘I’ll get some of them before I die.’ And with that, the Lincoln county war had begun.”
  — [25:01] Vanessa Richardson

The Lincoln County War escalates

• A five-day siege results in the deaths of several regulators, including their leader Alexander McSween. The story makes national headlines, immortalizing Billy as both hero and villain depending on perspective.

  “But in the end, he left a child alone to be raised without a father, and his only real life legacy was bloodshed.”
  — [44:15] Vanessa Richardson

Capture and Escape

• Billy is eventually captured, tried, and sentenced to hang for the murder of Sheriff Brady.
• Executes a daring jailbreak: kills two guards and escapes singing on horseback.
• Notable Quote:

  “As Billy the Kid rode out of Lincoln for the last time, he was singing.”
  — [41:48] Vanessa Richardson

End of the Legend

• Sheriff Pat Garrett pursues Billy, tracking him to the home of his lover, Paulita Maxwell.
• On July 14, 1881, Garrett ambushes Billy.

  “Quienes?” [Who’s there?], Billy asks in the dark, before Garrett shoots him dead.
  — [43:16] Vanessa Richardson

Aftermath and Legacy

• The press sensationalizes Billy’s death; legends, fake stories, and dime novels ensure his infamy.
• The episode concludes with the reflection that both Muse and Billy the Kid sought to transform their lives through risky, often violent paths, only to face harrowing consequences.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Trust is a trap. And betrayal is often fatal.”
  — [00:46] Carter Roy, on the world of crime

• “You can’t run forever.”
  — [02:55] Vanessa Richardson, on the fate of outlaws

• “He lifted his rifle, aimed it at the massive ship and opened fire...the only thing on his mind was earning enough money from this latest act of piracy to change his and his family’s life for good.”
  — [04:50] Vanessa Richardson, setting the stage for Muse’s motivation

• “While ATM led his unarmed captor on yet another wild goose chase through the lower decks, the other three pirates ordered Phillips to get the rescue boat ready.”
  — [13:26] Vanessa Richardson, highlighting crew resourcefulness

• “Muse was a businessman. The assault on the Maersk Alabama had been costly. They’d lost their boat and he'd been injured. They couldn’t leave with nothing. And even a single American hostage was a valuable commodity.”
  — [16:49] Vanessa Richardson

• “He was the first person to be charged with piracy in a US court in over 100 years.”
  — [19:10] Vanessa Richardson

• “If that's the kind of boy you are, get out.”
  — [21:45] Vanessa Richardson, recounting Billy the Kid's stepfather rejecting him

• “I'll get some of them before I die.”
  — [25:01] Vanessa Richardson, quoting Billy’s vow at Tunstall’s funeral

• “At just 21, Billy died on the floor of his sweetheart’s house.”
  — [43:54] Vanessa Richardson, concluding the saga

• “Despite his short life, the outlaw thief and murderer made quite the impression. But in the end, he left a child alone… his only real life legacy was bloodshed.”
  — [44:15] Vanessa Richardson, on Billy’s enduring myth and real tragedy

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:00] – Intro to Outlaws theme
• [04:41] – Start of the Maersk Alabama hijacking story
• [13:26] – Crew captures Muse; hostage negotiations and the “no deal” moment
• [16:00] – Muse takes Phillips hostage on the lifeboat
• [17:00–19:10] – Navy SEAL intervention and aftermath of the hijacking
• [19:52] – Transition to Billy the Kid
• [25:01] – Billy vows revenge; Lincoln County War begins
• [38:00] – Escalation and conclusion of Lincoln County War
• [41:48] – Billy the Kid’s jailbreak
• [43:16] – Billy the Kid’s death
• [44:15] – Epilogue, reflections on the outlaw life

Episode Tone & Style

The narrative is engaging, vivid, and sympathetic to the backgrounds of both Muse and Billy the Kid without glamorizing their crimes. Vanessa’s delivery is measured and immersive, well-paced with Carter Roy’s incisive, somber observations.

Conclusion

Modern Day Pirates is a compelling juxtaposition of two figures who chased fame and fortune at high risk: Muse, whose quest for a better life through piracy ends in a distant prison cell, and Billy the Kid, remembered as either a folk hero or murderer depending on perspective. Both stories echo the tragic cost of outlaw living—brief moments of notoriety overshadowed by lasting regret and lost futures.

For more true crime stories, the hosts invite listeners to follow the show and connect on social media.