Small Town Murder — “My Imaginary Murder Friend – Riceboro, Georgia”
Hosts: James Pietragallo & Jimmie Whisman
Episode Date: October 16, 2025
Overview
In this riveting episode, James and Jimmie unravel the jaw-dropping, labyrinthine murder case of Nicholas Kasotis—a legal prodigy, Navy JAG officer, and world-class fabulist—whose life devolved into paranoia, delusion, and murder. Set in the sleepy town of Riceboro, Georgia, the episode follows the bizarre saga of espionage-level secrets, a fabricated FBI agent, a fake pregnancy, endless moves, and ultimately, the gruesome dismemberment and disposal of Kasotis’s wife, Mindy. All told with the hosts’ trademark blend of deep research, true-crime horror, and biting, absurdist humor.
Key Discussion Points & Timeline
1. Riceboro, Georgia — The Setting
- [07:12–20:31]
- Classic "Small Town Murder" breakdown: location, history, stats, real estate prices, and the annual Rice Fest (with hilarious flyer critiques and deep dives into the world-famous “Swanee Quintet”).
- Memorable quote:
- Jimmy (on the demography): "Jeff Probst needs to be the mayor of this town." (11:02)
2. Meet Nicholas Kasotis: Overachiever & Navy JAG
- [21:39–34:45]
- Childhood in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, academic stardom—Boston University, Northeastern Law, Georgetown, and a military career as a JAG officer.
- Prosecution and defense attorney within the military, extensive service including time in Iraq and Italy.
- Notable quote:
- James (on military TV): "You put a TV show on, anyone over 70…they love it." (24:51)
3. Personal Life & Marriages
- [36:07–41:54]
- Marriage to Heather—a childless, eventually acrimonious union ending in a $1.5 million divorce settlement.
- Nicholas’s claims of “millions,” but none to give; financial misrepresentation and mounting pressure.
- Enter Mindy: bright, earnest, from a tight-knit and religious North Carolina family.
4. "The Threats Begin": Cultivating Paranoia and Going on the Run
- [49:47–78:18]
- Amidst financial pressure and (dubious) Washington Post attention, Nicholas spins a tale: his family targeted by foreign hackers due to his government credentials.
- Vandalism, drained accounts, anonymous threats, and most of all, a mysterious FBI agent—Jim McIntyre—allegedly comes to the rescue.
- Key moments:
- Mindy is manipulated into total seclusion—leaving the house only rarely, speaking only via Signal.
- Jim McIntyre coordinates their constant, abrupt moves ("50 to 100 times" over several years) and controls all their money, mail, and communications.
- Cameron Nelson, a Navy friend, unwittingly foots their bills—$200K in credit card debt.
- James’ deadpan:
- "Jim, in addition to being an FBI agent and a super sleuth, he’s also a financial advisor." (76:58)
- Jimmie's skepticism:
- "Where the fuck is all this money coming from?" (79:17)
5. Fraudulent Finances, Phantom Pregnancies, and Family Fallout
- [83:25–91:45]
- Nicholas never pays Heather, is sued again, begins a new relationship online with horror author Samantha Kolsnick—who he claims, falsely, to be a widower.
- Mindy starts claiming pregnancy (when not hiding from unseen assassins). Her family doubts the couple but also falls into the web.
- Frequent lies—different stories to different friends about Mindy’s supposed miscarriage, health, and eventual fate.
6. The Gruesome Crime
- [99:40–130:14]
- Thanksgiving 2022: Mindy, allegedly pregnant, is said to leave for a birthing center. Nicholas never sees her again—claims she died suddenly; he signs mysterious paperwork at a vaguely located clinic, never sees her body, receives ashes in a bag for $5,000 on the side of an Alabama road.
- Discovery: In early December, hunters stumble across a dismembered body (torso only) in Riceboro’s woods—arms attached, head and legs gone, surrounded by a cleaning supply blitz.
- Police investigation:
- Forensics show dismemberment by power tools; no evidence of pregnancy; DNA eventually ties remains to Mindy via her mother.
- Surveillance, car telemetry, and receipts place Nicholas at the disposal site, buying a “deer processing kit,” knife, and supplies in the days of Mindy’s death.
- He meanwhile claims to police the continuing saga of Jim McIntyre, shadowy “red-headed men,” and cover stories for every piece of damning evidence.
- Quote (on fake FBI agent):
- James: "He’s a big brown elephant with a long trunk… His name is Snuffleupagus. And I swear he’s real. That’s what he just said." (142:01)
7. The Unraveling: Arrest and Interrogation
- [132:45–143:56]
- Nick is arrested in Pennsylvania in May 2023, soon after marrying Samantha Kolsnick as “Nicholas Stark”—he waives his rights and gives two long, fantastical interviews to detectives.
- He sticks to his delusions: Jim McIntyre, the FBI orchestrating moves; trusts destroyed in a car fire; unknown medical clinics; a wife’s “stroke” death and secret cremation.
- Police methodically destroy his claims with simple questions: “What’s the doctor’s name?”—he has none. “Where’s the death certificate?” “Burned in the car fire.” “Why’d you buy the knife?” “To fix a screen.”
- Memorable exchange:
- (On being asked about car GPS data)
James: "[He] didn't realize his Ford Explorer's Bluetooth is still on... Your phone can be off all you want." (129:10)
Jimmie: "You're a cybersecurity lawyer and didn't know about Bluetooth?" (139:00)
- (On being asked about car GPS data)
8. Trial
- [158:05–181:48]
- The Prosecution’s Case:
- Nicholas, savvy to forensics, cleans up but leaves blood traces matching Mindy’s DNA.
- No evidence Mindy was ever pregnant, let alone had prenatal care; no baby; no documentation.
- He lied to everyone, with every part of his convoluted lie disproven.
- Engaged and remarried quickly after Mindy’s death; bought condoms and Old Spice days after.
- The Defense:
- Claims Jim McIntyre is real, that Nicholas was a “man living in relentless, all-consuming fear.”
- Presents years of documented “paranoia”—but no evidence McIntyre or his threats ever existed.
- Nick testifies:
- Tells his story, complete with red-headed men, cremated remains exchanged for cash on the highway, bags of ashes, screen-fixing knives, etc. The gallery frequently laughs at the absurdity.
- Key quote:
- James: "He took the stand. He swore it was Jim McIntyre orchestrating everything... Several times during the trial he says such crazy lies that everyone laughs. Not gasps, laughs out loud, like it's unbelievable." (166:19)
- The Prosecution’s Case:
9. The Verdict and Aftermath
- [179:33–181:19]
- Jury deliberates for 72 minutes.
- Nicholas is convicted on all 12 counts: malice and felony murder, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, and more.
- During victim impact statements, Mindy’s family scorches him for isolating and destroying her; Samantha (the “third wife”) describes his lies as “rape by deception.”
- Both of Nicholas’s parents continue to profess his innocence—his father’s paternity (once denied by Nick) is scientifically confirmed.
- The judge:
- “[You] created a web of lies that you got yourself tangled in. You wrote fiction, and your life became fiction. But Mindy’s death was real… You, sir, may fuck off.” (182:08)
- Sentence: Life without parole + 25 years consecutive for tampering and dismemberment.
Notable Quotes and Moments (with Timestamps):
- On Riceboro’s Demographics
- “Median age here is 52.3, which is 15 years older than the national average… It’s an old town.” (11:02)
- Introducing the Chimerical Jim McIntyre
- “Mind you, this FBI agent… is also a financial advisor.” (76:58)
- “He’s a big brown elephant with a long trunk. His name is Snuffleupagus. And I swear he’s real.” (142:01)
- On Nicholas’s Arrogance
- “He’s a guy who thinks he is smart and these people are dumb and he can talk his way out of anything…” (136:18)
- “You’re a cybersecurity lawyer and didn’t know about Bluetooth?” (139:00)
- Cleanup Excuses
- “We wanted to leave it [the Airbnb] in the best condition possible. My rating has to be good.” (151:18)
- On the Absurd Lies
- “He took the stand… Several times during the trial he says such a crazy lie that everyone laughs. Not gasps, laughs out loud…” (166:19)
- The Judge’s Final Words
- “You, sir, may fuck off.” (182:08)
Segment Highlights & Timestamps
| Topic/Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Small Town Intro / Riceboro Rundown | 07:12–20:31 | | Nicholas Kasotis’s Background | 21:39–34:45 | | Marriages & Heather Divorce | 36:07–41:54 | | Mindy’s Background & Marriage | 41:54–49:47 | | The “Threats”, Jim McIntyre & On the Run | 49:47–78:18 | | Money, Fraud, and Family Unraveling | 83:25–91:45 | | Fake Pregnancy, Mindy’s “Death” | 93:07–113:52 | | The Murder & Discovery of Dismembered Body | 116:15–130:14 | | Investigation & Interrogation | 130:14–143:56 | | Trial—Prosecution, Defense, Testimony | 158:05–181:48 | | Verdict, Sentencing, & Aftermath | 179:33–end |
Final Thoughts
James and Jimmie take listeners on a wild, winding ride through one of the most convoluted, chilling, and darkly hilarious cases they’ve ever covered. The tale exposes the dangers of unchecked narcissism, the terror of psychological isolation, and the absurd lengths some will go to avoid facing reality. All filtered through a lens equal parts skeptical, sympathetic, and scathingly funny.
Summary Judgment:
Nicholas Kasotis, JAG officer turned self-styled secret agent victim, murdered his wife, attempted to erase her existence, and nearly convinced everyone around him—including himself—that none of it was real. Except, tragically, it was.
For more: Watch the full Riceboro trial on YouTube for the complete, riveting courtroom unraveling.