Episode Overview

Podcast: Scams, Money, & Murder
Episode: The Burger Chef Murders, Robbery Gone Wrong Pt. 2
Hosts: Vanessa Richardson, Carter Roy
Date: January 15, 2026

The episode delves into the second part of the infamous 1978 Burger Chef murders in Speedway, Indiana—a still-unsolved quadruple homicide involving four teenage fast-food workers. Carter Roy guides listeners through the massive, decades-long investigation, the suspects and red herrings encountered, various investigative techniques (including hypnosis), and the confounding confessions that have kept the case open in the public imagination. The episode highlights different law enforcement theories about the killers, the emotional aftermath, and the tragic loss to the victims’ families and community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Early Investigation & Errors (05:10–09:30)

• Chaos in Speedway:
  The murders occurred against a backdrop of violence—bombings and other murders—leaving residents feeling as if "the world is literally ending." ([05:10])
• Critical Mistakes:
  Police treated the initial scene as a minor theft, allowing the restaurant to be cleaned and reopened before evidence could be collected. No crime scene photos were taken, and subsequent contamination made gathering forensic evidence nearly impossible.

  "They didn't even take photos of the crime scene. Then once the victims' bodies were discovered, police accidentally contaminated the second crime scene." – Narrator ([05:50])

• A Surplus of Theories, Few Leads:
  Suspicion fell on everyone from jealous boyfriends to employees, and even on Brett Kimberlin—a man who was convicted of bombings but whose alibi checked out for the murders.

Witnesses and Hypnosis in the Hunt for Suspects (09:30–15:37)

• Eyewitnesses Describe Suspicious Men:
  Multiple witnesses saw a bearded man and a clean-shaven man in a car near the scene, with sketches and even clay busts made and broadcast by police.
• Forensic Hypnosis as a Tool:
  To corroborate the stories, Detective Virgil Vandegrift used hypnosis, then a cutting-edge if controversial tool. The hypnotized teen witness described one of the female victims, supporting the theory the killers were in the car with the victims.

  "In a trance state, the teenager was able to describe a female passenger in the vehicle. His description matched one of the victims." – Narrator ([12:56])

• Undercover Police Tactics:
  Vandegrift went undercover at local bars, befriending a suspect who boasted about the killings. But the suspect later denied involvement and passed a polygraph—then considered reliable.

  "Not only did he brag about the murders, he even broke his own pool cue in half to show how he'd treated the victims." – Narrator ([13:49])

Shifting Suspicions: Gangs, Drugs, and Dead Ends (17:10–24:15)

• Alternative Suspects:
  Focus shifted to a local fast food robbery gang after Detective Ken York chased a hunch; the physical descriptions fit but a key suspect shaved before a lineup, thwarting the ID process.
• Victims’ Siblings and Coincidences:
  The emerging criminal histories of two victims' siblings (drug-related arrests, violent crimes) spurred new theories, but no evidence tied them to the murders.
• The Investigation Stalls Out:
  Despite relentless man-hours and effort, all leads fizzled. By 1983, the FBI advised administratively closing the case—until a jailhouse confession re-ignited hope.

The Forrester Confession and Its Collapse (24:15–33:30)

• A Startling Confession:
  In 1984, inmate Donald Wayne Forrester volunteered to confess. Clearly angling for a transfer (out of fear for his life as a convicted sex offender), Detective Mel Willsie remained cautious.
• Details Only the Killer Could Know:
  Forrester's knowledge of the crime scene and his ability to locate where shell casings were disposed matched confidential evidence:

  "He took Mel directly to the crime scene...He was even able to describe their positions." – Narrator ([27:05])
  "Shocking even themselves, the detectives found the casings. They appeared to match the bullets found in Ruth and Daniel's bodies." – Narrator ([28:04])

• The Collapse:
  Before charges could be filed, a police leak made Forrester recant, claiming coercion. The case closed again, and years later, Forrester died, taking the full truth with him.

Competing Theories & The Modern Day (33:30–36:34)

• Detectives Remain Divided:
  • Virgil Vandegrift & Mel Willsie: Convinced Forrester was the killer.
  • Ken York & Others: Believe a local fast food robbery gang was responsible, citing a supposed deathbed confession.

  "Mel Willsie...and Virgil Vandegrift...both think Forrester did it...Ken York...believes the crew of fast food robbers he found...were to blame." – Narrator ([34:50])

• Modern Efforts:
  Detective Sergeant Bill Dalton (appointed 2018) applies new forensic and AI methods, but without success. In 2024, the original Burger Chef building was demolished—another symbolic ending to a case stuck in limbo.

Remembering the Victims (36:35–36:55)

• The episode closes by individualizing the victims—teenagers with ambitions, close families, and futures stolen.

  "The robber or robbers who broke into the Speedway Burger Chef that night...took a few hundred bucks...But they also stole something of infinitely greater value. Everything these four promising young people would have contributed to the world." – Narrator ([36:46])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Investigation Frustrations:

  "Four bodies, no significant forensic evidence, and no credible suspects. 1978 was coming to an end, and the Burger Chef case wasn’t any closer to being solved." – Narrator ([14:57])

• Undercover Drama:

  "It didn't take long for Virgil to lead his new pool buddy to the topic of the killings. The strategy seemed to pay off. Not only did he brag about the murders, he even broke his own pool cue in half to show how he'd treated the victims." – Narrator ([13:32])

• On the Tragedy’s Human Cost:

  "If we can't get them justice, maybe the next best thing is to remember them as more than just murder victims." – Narrator ([36:46])

Timeline of Key Segments

• [05:10] — Scene set: chaos in Speedway, bungled crime scene, start of investigation
• [09:30]–[14:57] — Focus on eyewitness sightings and innovative tactics (hypnosis, undercover)
• [17:10]–[24:15] — Theories involving fast food robbery gangs and drug links; case stagnates
• [24:15]–[33:30] — Forrester confession, his knowledge, police validation, and recanting
• [33:30]–[36:35] — Wrapping up competing theories, current (unsuccessful) investigatory efforts, and emotional tribute to victims

Episode Tone

Grim, matter-of-fact, but also compassionate—especially in the closing tribute to the victims. The hosts balance procedural detail and suspense with empathy for the families and the community affected.

Conclusion

This episode paints a haunting portrait of a notorious, still-unsolved crime. Blending procedural breakdown with personal remembrance, the podcast conveys both the obsessive complexity of the investigation and the devastating loss of four young lives. Law enforcement remains divided in their theories, and despite advanced modern methods, the case is unsolved—underscoring the lingering cost of a robbery gone horribly wrong.