Podcast Summary: Scams, Money, & Murder

Episode: The Burger Chef Murders, Robbery Gone Wrong Pt. 1

Hosted by Carter Roy & Vanessa Richardson

Airdate: January 8, 2026

Episode Overview

This deeply-researched episode is the first of a two-part series on the infamous, still-unsolved Burger Chef Murders of 1978 in Speedway, Indiana. Hosts Carter Roy and Vanessa Richardson weave together an immersive retelling of the night four young fast food employees vanished during a closing shift and were found murdered, a crime that would rock their quiet community and baffle investigators for decades. While the initial theory was a robbery gone wrong, the episode lays out how the case quickly spiraled into a complex and haunting mystery with botched investigations, chilling suspects, and multiple competing motives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Context of the Case

• [00:46] Carter Roy: Opens with reflections on the rite of passage in teen fast-food jobs and sets the scene:

  “Their first paychecks, their first co-workers, their first adult responsibilities… that’s how four young employees felt during their closing shift at the Burger Chef fast food restaurant in Speedway, Indiana on November 17, 1978… But by midnight, when another coworker stopped by to check on them, the entire closing crew had vanished without a trace. None of them would ever be seen alive again, and their killers would never be brought to justice.”

• Episode focus: This is Part 1, detailing the lives of the victims and the events leading up to (and immediately after) the crime.

2. Victim Profiles and Their Dreams

• [04:26–11:08] Carter Roy: Thoughtful, respectful biographies of the four victims:
  • Jane Freit (20, Assistant Manager):
    • Ambitious, cheerful, “Sweet Jane” was beloved by customers and coworkers.
    • Worked extra hours aiming to become a manager before turning 21.
  • Ruth Ellen Shelton (17):
    • Bright honors student, choir singer, reluctant to work long-term in fast food; future plans in computer science.
  • Daniel Davis (16):
    • Early in his job, disciplined, aspired to join the Air Force; juggled Civil Air Patrol, photography, and academics.
  • Mark Flemons (16):
    • From one of the few Black families in the area, devout Jehovah’s Witnesses; wanted to prove himself through work.
• Memorable moment [09:45]:

  “Sadly, it was the last shift they would ever work.”

3. Timeline: The Night of the Crime

• [12:34] The events of Nov 17, 1978:
  • That evening was busier than usual, thanks to the Star Wars Holiday Special Fun Meal promotion.
  • Employee schedule changes were detailed, including Daniel covering for another employee (dubbed “X”) who had called out, only to suspiciously appear at the crime scene after midnight.
• [14:45] Jane’s boyfriend’s check-in:
  • Her boyfriend made a drive-thru visit around 10 PM to make sure she was safe—he left reassured, a chilling note given what would follow.
• [16:23] The discovery:
  • Co-worker Brian Kring arrives after midnight to help clean. Finds the back door ajar, safe open, no money, and personal belongings left behind—immediately senses something is wrong.
  • “X” arrives in his supposedly broken-down van, leaves as soon as the police are mentioned.

“The cops missed their chance to talk to X that night. But they did notice a few suspicious pieces of evidence…” – Carter Roy [17:40]

4. Initial Police Response & Critical Errors

• [18:10–20:30] Police mishandling:
  • Scene not preserved—no dusting for fingerprints, no photos, even allowed cleaning before evidence was fully gathered.
  • Admitted mistake:

    “Officer Buddy Elwanger, who worked on the case, would later admit, ‘we screwed it up from the beginning.’” [20:00]

• Community panic:
  • By 4:30 AM, Jane’s abandoned car was found.
  • By 11:00 AM Saturday, the FBI was involved—but forensic evidence was already lost.

5. Discovery of the Bodies & Cause of Death

• [21:49] Hikers find the bodies Sunday afternoon.
  • Ruth and Daniel: shot with a .38 caliber handgun, found together.
  • Jane: stabbed so violently that the blade broke and was left in her chest.
  • Mark: Beaten, ran into the woods, appears to have collided with a tree, and died of asphyxiation from his own blood.
  • Unexpected brutality and different methods of killing add to the case’s perplexity.

  “Mark’s body became another piece of perplexing evidence in a case that seemed to make no sense.” [22:46]

6. Broader Context: Speedway’s Terrible Year

• [24:03–26:50] Previous violent crimes:
  • Four months prior: Julia Cyphers, a local grandmother, is shot dead (suspected professional hit).
  • September: A bombing spree, with multiple explosions culminating in a man losing his leg—police unsure if crimes are related but fearful.
  • First suspect: Brett Kimberlin, a local businessman with a possible grudge, bomb-making materials in his car, and rumored cartel links.

7. Early Suspects & Theories

• [28:00+] Three main suspects or theories:
  • Brett Kimberlin: Possibly orchestrated both the hit and bombings, but his motive for killing fast food workers is unclear.
  • “Employee X”: The absent co-worker who returns to the crime scene under suspicious circumstances.
  • Escaped inmates: Three men who broke out of an Ohio prison on the day of the murders—seemingly capable of violent hostage crimes.
  • Another possibility: A string of fast-food robberies in the Indianapolis area—perhaps the four were killed because they recognized the intruders.

“If the cops wanted to pin charges on any of their suspects, they'd need hard evidence or at least a confession. Eventually, they would get a confession—but instead of solving their case, it was about to derail it.” – Carter Roy [32:49]

8. Concluding Hook for Part II

• The episode closes by foreshadowing critical missteps, a mysterious confession, and further complexity in the investigation—all to be explored in Part 2.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Carter Roy on tragedy’s impact:

  “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. It's not just a saying, it's a means of survival. Because in the world we're entering, trust is a trap and betrayal is often fatal.” [00:46]

• Crime scene errors acknowledged:

  "We screwed it up from the beginning." - Officer Buddy Elwanger [20:00]

• On the chilling coincidence of the victims’ presence:

  “Daniel’s shift ended a little earlier than the others, but another employee called in … so Daniel got his parents’ permission to stay late and help close. Sadly, it was the last shift they would ever work.” [10:58]

• On the senselessness of the crime:

  “Why would a small time crook murder four people? How did the robber, or robbers, force four strong, smart young people to leave the restaurant with them seemingly without a struggle? And where was the killer now?” [23:05]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:46] – Case introduction and central mystery
• [04:26–11:08] – In-depth profiles of victims and how they ended up working that night
• [12:34–16:23] – Timeline of the Burger Chef closing shift and sequence of key events
• [17:40–20:30] – Discovery of the crime and aftermath
• [21:49–23:05] – The discovery of the bodies and forensic details
• [24:03–28:00] – Background: Other violent crimes creating a climate of fear in Speedway
• [28:00–32:49] – Theories and suspects, including foreshadowing for Part II

Tone and Style

The delivery is empathetic, measured, and investigative—never sensational. There's a focus on the lost promise of the victims’ young lives and the deep sense of injustice felt by both community and investigators. Technical failings, street-level fear, and unanswered questions are described with a narrative blend of detail-driven reporting and reflective sociological commentary.

Summary Takeaways

• The Burger Chef Murders remain one of Indiana’s most baffling unsolved cases.
• Critical police errors at the start of the investigation severely hampered efforts to solve it.
• The time and place—Speedway, 1978—were already fraught with violent crime, deepening confusion over motive and suspects.
• Multiple overlapping theories and a later confession keep the case open-ended, setting the stage for an even more shocking Part II.

For those who haven’t listened, this episode is a skillful, sensitive introduction to a notorious criminal mystery, capturing both the personal losses and the procedural missteps that have cemented the Burger Chef Murders as a haunting American cold case.