Small Town Murder: "Death Party Crime Spree – North Smithfield, Rhode Island"

Podcast: Small Town Murder
Hosts: James Pietragallo & Jimmie Whisman
Episode: Released February 14, 2026

Overview

In this episode, James and Jimmie travel to North Smithfield, Rhode Island, for the podcast’s classic blend of small town portraiture and true crime. The focus is a 1992 murder that began with what hosts dub a “five-day teenage rager,” spiraling into a brutal killing, robbery, and a cross-state crime spree. With characteristic irreverence, they dissect the details, backgrounds, and fallout—both legal and human—while peppering the story with dark humor and sharp social commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. North Smithfield: Small Town Vibes

• Location & Demographics:
  • North Smithfield is described as a quintessential small Rhode Island town—“a Boston suburb” (04:22)—with a population of ~12,500 and median home prices over $430,000.
• Community Culture:
  • James and Jimmie joke about the "everyone knows everyone" cliché;
    • James: “Why do they want to go everywhere and have to see somebody? … Don’t you ever want to just put a hat on in your warmups and go get … an orange juice?” (07:26)
  • Noted local events like the “Great Pumpkin Festival” and the whimsically described “Rootstock”—a combination of agriculture, music, and “backyard archaeology” (11:01-12:45).
• Work & Commute:
  • Residents lament lack of local jobs and potholes.
    • Jimmie: “Do you know anyone in Phoenix that works less than 20 minutes away from their job?” (09:18)

2. The Setup: Thanksgiving 1992

• The Ramela Family:
  • Local chiropractor Francis Ramela takes the family (except 20-year-old son Trevor) to the Cayman Islands for Thanksgiving, leaving Trevor with the house for the week.
• The Party:
  • Trevor hosts a five-day party for local teens—beer flows, and notably, Trevor is “carrying a .22 revolver for the entire week” (19:44).
    • Jimmie: “That’s Trev, man, it’s just a party pistol.” (20:10)
• Key Figures Introduced:
  • Steven Parkhurst, 17, troubled background, recently out of group homes.
  • Ryan Wright, 16, school friend.
  • Numerous local kids with rough upbringings or tenuous ties to Trevor.

3. Escalation: Grudges, Guns, and Teen Drama

• Steven’s Troubled Past:
  • Physical abuse, drug exposure, foster systems, group homes—setting up the theme of “broken kids in a broken system.”
    • James: “He’s not really afraid of much at this point.” (31:07)
• Party Conflict:
  • Steven is accused of taking advantage of a drunk 16-year-old, is kicked out at gunpoint by Trevor (35:24).
  • The next day, Steven vows revenge after hearing Trevor allegedly pressured a girl for sexual favors:
    • James (as Steven): "Don’t worry, I’m going to kill him. On the last night of this party.” (40:05)

4. Murder Night: Revenge and Brutality

• The Night of November 27, 1992:
  • Final party—Trevor, after earlier conflicts, relents and lets Steven and Ryan sleep over.
  • The murder: Steven and Ryan steal Trevor’s guns, ambush him as he rushes outside:
    • Trevor is beaten with a black powder rifle until it shatters and is shot behind the ear execution-style.
      • James: “They beat his face into a bowl of what and shot him. This is crazy…” (51:53)
  • Trevor is also robbed, and his car (a Toyota Celica) is stolen.

5. The Crime Spree: Trail of Violence

• Aftermath:
  • Steven & Ryan flee in the Celica, start a crime spree.
  • In Mystic, CT, they shoot a man (who survives), then rob hotel clerks in Connecticut and Ohio.
    • James: “So that’s why a chiropractor caused this whole thing, unfortunately.” (54:21)
  • Eventually arrested in Indiana with the murder weapon and cash from robberies.

6. Investigation and Prosecution

• Evidence & Witnesses:
  • Multiple partygoers identify Steven.
  • Steven and Ryan openly brag about the murder in juvie to other detainees (57:49).
• Steven’s Defense:
  • Claims he was too drunk, didn’t mean to kill anyone—contradicted by evidence and subsequent crimes.
    • James: “He said it just went off and Trevor fell. He said, I never looked at the body and never saw any blood. That’s his story now.” (62:02)
• Verdict & Sentencing:
  • Steven: Guilty on all counts; sentenced to life plus 45 years (all consecutive). (64:21)
  • Ryan: Pleads guilty, receives 60 years plus 7 more in Connecticut.

7. Juvenile Justice, Reform, and Parole

• Legal Developments:
  • Discussion of evolving Supreme Court rulings on juvenile sentencing (Roper v. Simmons, Miller v. Alabama, Graham v. Florida).
  • Steven’s sentences gradually get reduced to life with parole as legal landscapes shift.
• Rehabilitation and Release:
  • In prison, Steven obtains degrees, trains service dogs, becomes an advocate for juvenile justice.
    • James: “He’s a Buddhist now. … Nurture a person and give them a plan, they can. Can follow it?" (74:14)
  • Paroled after 30 years, now working for criminal justice reform groups (75:35).
• The Debate:
  • Hosts note furious online debates between those advocating mercy for juvenile offenders and those who see only the brutality of the crime.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Small Town Life:
  • James (on five-star town reviews): “Why does everyone always say that in every five star review? ... Don't you ever want to just put a hat on in your warmups and go get... an orange juice?” (07:26)
• Brutality of the Attack:
  • James: “They beat his face into a bowl of what and shot him. This is crazy.” (51:53)
• On Youth & Sentencing:
  • James: “When you’re 16 and someone says 50 years, you go, I’ll be dead by then. That doesn’t even exist.” (69:44)
• Rehabilitation:
  • James: “He goes around and speaks to high schools about crime prevention. He’s a Buddhist now. … Trained 14 service dogs, including one for a Boston Marathon bombing survivor.” (74:01)
• Mercy vs. Retribution:
  • James: “That asshole deserves it, but I’m a different guy... I deserved every bit of that life plus 45 when I was 17. But what about the 30 year old or 40 year old that I’ve become?” (76:00)

Major Timestamps

• 00:00–04:01: Host banter, town intro, demographics
• 13:46–19:44: The beginning of the party, introduction of the .22 revolver
• 21:42–32:38: Steven’s background (family abuse, foster care, delinquency)
• 35:24: Assault accusation; Steven kicked out at gunpoint
• 40:05: Steven’s boasts about plans to kill Trevor
• 42:30–52:46: The night of the murder—details of the assault, killing, and aftermath
• 54:00–57:47: Multi-state crime spree, arrests
• 64:21: Sentencing verdicts
• 67:09–74:31: Appeals, legal reform, parole and post-prison advocacy
• 76:00: Final thoughts, debate on redemption versus punishment

Tone & Style

Classic Small Town Murder: irreverent, unflinching, and darkly funny, the hosts weave social commentary through their retelling—often using gallows humor to highlight the absurdity and tragedy of the events in equal measure.

In Summary:
This episode covers not just the facts of a vicious murder tied to a weeklong party, but the broader story of failed families, changing philosophies on youth offending, and the possibility of redemption. The hosts’ banter belies a surprisingly nuanced look at crime, consequence, and what small town America reveals about both.