Small Town Murder – "A Mystery of Stupidity – Pound, Virginia"
Podcast: Small Town Murder
Hosts: James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman
Air Date: April 3, 2026
Summary by [Expert Summarizer]
Episode Overview
This episode of Small Town Murder takes listeners to Pound, Virginia—a remote Appalachian coal town teetering on the edge of nonexistence—and explores the mysterious, scandal-laden 1981 murder of local resident Judy Cantrell. Hosts James and Jimmie deliver their signature combination of thorough research and comedic banter as they break down small-town quirks, a bizarre homicide, and the peculiar cast of characters at its center. The case is a convoluted web of infidelity, inept crimes, and generations-old family entanglements, all set against a “ten pounds of murder in a two-pound bag” backdrop.
Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown
1. Introducing Pound, Virginia (04:24–12:54)
- Location & Vibe: Far in western Virginia, near the Kentucky border; rural and isolated.
- “There is nothing nearby... the nearest city is Pikeville, Kentucky. That's really the closest, which is not a metropolis by the way.” (04:57, James)
- Demographics: Population of only 828, once a thriving coal town now in economic collapse.
- Town Reputation and Nicknames: “The Pound,” lean-ins to innuendo, banned dancing since 1981 (“Footloose situation”).
- Community Reviews: Two extremes: affectionate lifers and meth-plagued gloom.
- “Everyone is on meth and in and out of jail. Perfect. Nice.” (10:54, James reading a 1-star review)
- Quirky Local Events: Storytelling festival with odd tales, bans on dancing, Red Fox festival, and murals about Bigfoot.
- Standout Quote:
- “It is illegal to dance in this town. If you just hear music and feel joy, you're not allowed to have movement to it at all unless you had a permit and you go to city hall and ask for it.” (08:56, James)
2. The Cantrell Family and Small-Town Entanglements (13:06–17:16)
- The Main Players:
- Jeff Cantrell (“William Jeffrey ‘Jeff’ Cantrell”): 30, married since ’71, coal mine engineer, prolific adulterer.
- Judy Cantrell (née Cantrell): Married to Jeff, both share surname from birth, raising questions of familial overlap.
- Family Web: Homes clustered together; father Bill Cantrell lives next door; brother-in-law two doors down.
- “Cantrell in a town of less than a thousand... if people of the same last name are getting married, you assume they're related, correct?” (14:02, James)
- “Cantrells marrying Cantrells, that's tight knit, I would say.” (17:16, James)
3. Marriage, Cheating, and Coal Country Drama (17:19–21:31)
- Explicit Infidelity: Jeff is openly cheating with at least four women, sharing nude photos including with his wife's brother.
- “He's showing nude photos of the woman he's banging to everyone who will look at it, including his wife's brother, which is crazy.” (20:38, James)
- Judy leaves notes in Jeff’s lunchbox professing affection—he reads them aloud to co-workers.
- Culture of Oversharing:
- “If they were my notes, they'd be personal is what this guy said. But he was passing it all around.” (19:52, James)
4. The Night of the Crime – December 8, 1981 (21:31–26:53)
- Judy Returns Home From Karate: Around 9 PM. Two loud booms heard by neighbors.
- Jeff’s “Break-in” Story: He screams for help, says there was a break-in and Judy’s been shot.
- “Someone's broken in and he needs help... they've shot Judy. They've shot Judy.” (23:24, James)
- Scene Details:
- Judy found shot dead on front steps, karate bag and keys at her feet, shotgun belonging to Jeff nearby.
- Jeff hyperventilating, minor injuries only.
- House ransacked in a suspicious manner (“fuck you” written in dust on the TV, valuables left behind).
- Tracking dog finds scent going only to property line; some “stolen goods” scattered in a nearby field.
- “Who steals a clock? I'm breaking and steal their clock. Steal their clock?” (34:31, James)
5. The Investigation and a Tale Full of Holes (33:16–46:03)
- Jeff’s Statement (31 Dec 1981):
- Three attackers, one fat man “sat on him” for hours, tied up with his own long-johns, claims he struggled free only after the attack.
- “Their way of subduing the hostage was the other two guys ransacked the house while the fat one sits on him.” (43:29, James)
- No sign of forced entry or escape; witnesses report no unknown vehicles.
- Physical Evidence:
- All injuries to Jeff are superficial.
- “They bring in a tracking dog... the dog found a scent leading from the back of the house to a boundary fence... but the scent ended there.” (35:04, James)
6. Twists, Phone Calls, and the Case Unravels (48:09–54:00)
- Mystery Caller:
- Wise County Police receive a call from a “man who was involved”—identified by a local officer as sounding like Jeff.
- Lead to evidence hidden at hardware store: pistol, Judy’s nightgown and underwear, old photos. No fingerprints.
- Handwriting Clue:
- The letter “K” on a TV in the Cantrell’s house matches Jeff’s unusual handwriting style.
- Community Theories & Family Alibis:
- Jeff’s parents attempted to provide an alibi.
- Defense highlights uninvestigated vehicles and rumored crime sprees, but with little solid evidence.
7. The Courtroom Circus: Trials, Appeals, and Scandal (53:06–79:14)
- Three Trials, Three Outcomes:
- First Trial: Hung jury (60:02)
- “That story makes sense. And the only guy on site left. But a fat guy sat on him, Jimmy.” (60:13)
- Second Trial (1983): Guilty – Life plus one year (68:51)
- Appeal: Conviction thrown out due to prosecutorial misconduct. Family hired a private attorney (McAfee) as “special prosecutor,” leading to a conflict of interest.
- “He told the jury openly that he was employed by Judy's parents to assist the Commonwealth.” (69:48, James)
- Virginia Supreme Court: “overwhelming probability of conflict of interest.” (70:33)
- Third Trial:
- Takes place in another county to avoid local bias.
- New evidence: Hidden love letters from Judy’s own secret boyfriend (“your second man”), possibly hinting she was also unfaithful.
- “She's out there cheating too. I'd look at that karate instructor first and foremost. Because they're flexible, you know what I mean?” (72:40, James)
- Jury Convicts Again: But sentence is only 23 years (22 for murder, 1 for gun). (78:21)
- First Trial: Hung jury (60:02)
8. Aftermath and Unresolved Questions (79:14–82:30)
- Town’s Reputation: The murder and trials grip the community—yet most still believe Jeff’s guilt despite legal twists and oddities.
- “He must be guilty. So the mayor said that was just one unfortunate thing. We very seldom have break-ins or robberies... the biggest crime rate around here is drunks.” (79:50, James)
- Lack of Closure:
- No alternate suspects seriously pursued.
- Judy buried in Flat Gap, Virginia (“Is there any place that doesn’t sound sexual, doesn’t sound gross? No. That’s why they’re so horny though.” (82:21, James))
- Legacy:
- Jeff likely released within a decade of third conviction, then disappears from public record.
Notable Quotes & Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-----------|----------|------------------------------------------------| | 08:56 | James | “It is illegal to dance in this town. If you just hear music and feel joy, you're not allowed to have movement... unless you had a permit.” | | 19:40 | James | “Smith said that Cantrell seemed proud of the notes. He said, if they were my notes, they'd be personal... But he was passing it all around.” | | 23:24 | James | “He’s in a tizzy. Basically he says someone's broken in and he needs help... they've shot Judy.” | | 43:29 | James | “…this was their way of subduing the hostage, was the other two guys ransacked the house while the fat one sits on him.” | | 69:48 | James | “He told the jury openly that he was employed by Judy's parents to assist the Commonwealth… with the explicit goal, in Judy's father's own words, of getting Jeff Cantrell convicted.” | | 72:40 | James | “She's out there cheating too. I'd look at that karate instructor first and foremost. Because they're flexible, you know what I mean?” | | 74:29 | James | “This letter refers to keeping joint diaries about their affair. Another refers to items marked in a Hustler magazine to give them something to look forward to.” | | 79:50 | James | “He must be guilty. So the mayor said that was just one unfortunate thing. We very seldom have any break ins or robberies. The biggest crime rate around here is drunks.” |
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 04:24 — Introduction to Pound, Virginia
- 13:06 — Entering the Cantrell Family and Marital Webs
- 17:19 — Cheating and Small-Town Sexual Intrigue
- 21:31 — Murder Night: The Event & Initial Cover Story
- 33:16 — Crime Scene Investigation & Jeff’s Surreal Testimony
- 48:09 — Mystery Caller & Hardware Store Evidence
- 53:06 — Trials, Teetering Justice, and Legal Mayhem
- 72:26 — Letters Reveal Judy’s Secret Affair
- 79:14 — Verdict, Aftermath, and Community Fallout
Tone & Style
James and Jimmie maintain a darkly comedic, irreverent banter throughout, subverting true crime tropes and mining both the town and the case for humor, sometimes veering into the absurd:
- Repeated innuendo around “Pound Town” and local place names.
- Ongoing disbelief at the “fat guy sat on me” defense.
- Satirical jabs at the local justice system: “overwhelming probability of conflict of interest.”
- Homespun observations of rural America’s quirks, e.g., prioritizing watching Jeopardy while someone gets shot next door.
Conclusion: Why Listen?
This episode is a masterclass in mixing suspense, true-crime storytelling, and comic sensibility. Even as the case’s outcome remains morally and factually murky, the hosts cut through the gloom with astute observations, brutal punchlines, and an unflinching eye for small-town weirdness. The result: vigorous entertainment and insight for the crime-obsessed and comedy fans alike—no dancing permit required.
For more:
- Small Town Murder releases new episodes every Thursday
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