Small Town Murder – "On Deadly Ground: Cabot, Arkansas"

Podcast: Small Town Murder
Hosts: James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman
Episode Air Date: August 21, 2025

Overview

In this chilling and darkly comedic episode, James and Jimmie dive into the story of Beverly Carter, a well-known real estate agent from Cabot, Arkansas, who vanished while showing a rural property in 2014. The episode unspools the meticulous investigation, the bizarre twists involving ransom and a botched plan, and the insidious nature of the killers. Through a mix of grim detail, sharp research, and their signature comedic banter, the hosts also probe real estate culture in small-town America, the cult of "safety," and the ripple effects of this tragedy on the industry.

Table of Contents

• Cabot, Arkansas: Setting the Scene (05:53–20:19)
• The Disappearance: Beverly Carter Goes Missing (21:15–42:27)
• The Investigation: Community & Police (42:28–55:27)
• The Suspects: Aaron Lewis & Crystal Lowery (57:21–99:19)
  • Aaron Lewis: A Life of Crime and Chaos (57:21–93:49)
  • The Pursuit and Capture (93:49–106:16)
• The Crime: Abduction to Murder (110:08–140:03)
• The Aftermath: Trials, Reforms, and Legacy (141:39–178:17)
• Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
• Timestamps of Key Segments

Cabot, Arkansas: Setting the Scene

05:53–20:19

• Town Profile: Central Arkansas suburb, about 30 minutes from Little Rock, population ~27,000, rapid growth from 1980s to now.
• History: 1976 tornado destroyed much of downtown, now commemorated with "Cabot Fest."
• Character of the Town: Described through resident reviews—"quaint and safe," "strip malls," some resentment toward outsiders.
• Demographics: Predominantly white, high marriage and Baptist rates, housing is affordable, cost of living low.
• Real Estate Snapshot:
  • Cheap rent ($940 for 2BR) and some fixer-uppers.
  • House #1: "A mess… where you find a body in an abandoned place" – $74k for almost 2 acres (14:00),
  • House #2: Decent family house $174k (15:05).
  • House #3: 5 bed/6 bath mansion, $820k – "Big ol' house… T-ball for every B-hole, baby." (15:25)
• Things to Do: Cabot Fest (post-tornado unity), Twisted Nightmares haunted house, and the legendary "cricket spitting contest."
  • "If I gave you til the end of time, you would never guess—cricket spitting contest." – James (18:10)
• Crime Rate: Property crime slightly above US average, violent crime significantly below.

The Disappearance: Beverly Carter Goes Missing

21:15–42:27

• Date: September 25, 2014.
• Timeline:
  • 9:00pm: Carl Carter, Beverly’s husband, calls 911:
    “My wife, her car is here. The door’s open, but she’s gone. Please help me.” (21:15)
  • Beverly’s brown Cadillac is at the property she was showing. Purse and credit cards left in the car, house door open.
  • Carl says he searched the house, including the attic, with his phone flashlight.
  • Police find his fingerprints “all over the house.” (22:49)
• Victim Background: Beverly, gregarious and well-liked, top real estate agent, had recently remade herself (lost 60 lbs, cosmetic surgery, marathon training).
• Marriage: Married to Carl since her teens, marriage had survived early cheating and abuse, but was strong for years.
• Last Known Activity: Beverly’s last appointment was with "Stephen and Crystal Adams" to show a remote house. She texted Carl the address as a safety precaution. (41:48)
• Odd Text: 1am, Carl gets a reply from Beverly’s phone:
  “Sorry phone being dead, having drinks now.”
  Family knows this is not her—she doesn’t drink.
• Real Estate Code: Coworker uses the industry “red folder” code to signal potential danger—no response.

The Investigation: Community & Police

42:28–55:27

• Community Response: Massive local search, 200+ volunteers, real estate offices close so staff can help search.
• Police Work: Search focuses on tire tracks, dust disturbances ("person laid down here"), neighbors saw a “skinny white male with a black car” earlier.
• Digital Forensics: Find communications with “Stephen and Crystal Adams” connected to an anonymous TextMe account, which traces to Crystal Lowery.
• Industry Reaction:
  • Real estate protocols change overnight: buddy system, client meetings at offices, background checks, and massive surge in agent self-defense classes.

The Suspects: Aaron Lewis & Crystal Lowery

57:21–99:19

Aaron Lewis: A Life of Crime and Chaos

57:21–93:49

• Identity: Crystal Lowery’s husband, 33, white, skinny, black Ford Fusion—a match for neighbor’s sighting.
• Disturbed Childhood:
  • Dysfunctional family, multiple moves, neglect, possible abuse.
  • Diagnosed ADHD, Ritalin/Prozac/Lithium as a preteen.
  • “I believe both my parents deserved to die for how they brought me up. They were shit.” (66:20)
• Early & Escalating Crime:
  • First arrest at 17 for bank robbery (sentenced to 6 years)
  • Federal charges for auto theft, parole violations, constant trouble in prison (e.g., storing feces in his cell, shitting himself to upset guards – 86:48)
• Career: Most jobs end from misconduct or indolence. Failed relationships, two kids with different women, quick marriage to Crystal for legal “optics.”
• Drug History: Experimented with hard drugs (meth, LSD, ecstasy). Hospitalized after 7-day meth binge.
• Psych Symptoms: Antisocial personality disorder, lots of impulsivity, violent prison incidents, lack of therapy outside jail.

The Pursuit and Capture

93:49–106:16

• Police Surveillance: Track Aaron Lewis; he spots a tail, flees in a Ford Fusion, crashes (face-mashed on steering wheel). (96:02)
• Escape at Hospital: Slips away with half his face hanging off, despite heavy police presence.
• Public Sighting:
  • Seen at a bus stop and then Subway sandwich shop the next day (103:05).
  • Recognized by multiple customers, flees, chased by a horde of sandwich-wielding locals, ultimately found hiding in an office closet.
    “Now he’s got a… Instead of torches and pitchforks, they have footlongs and bags of Doritos.” – James (103:49)
• Interrogation: Gives multiple wildly different stories:
  • Blames an Air Force pal "Trevor."
  • Claims affair with Beverly via Craigslist.
  • Claims a threesome plot with his wife and Beverly.
  • Claims “Beverly wanted more excitement in her life”… all disproven by evidence.

The Crime: Abduction to Murder

110:08–140:03

• The Plot: Financially desperate, Aaron and Crystal decide to kidnap a “rich” real estate agent for ransom—not realizing commissions don’t mean deep savings.
• Targeting Beverly: Chosen after stalking her online and recognizing her from billboards. Scouted her life, listings, and marital status for ransom viability (122:58–123:07).
• The Abduction:
  • Aaron sets up a viewing as “Stephen Adams,” meets Beverly at a remote property; Crystal, as “Crystal Adams,” is “running late.”
  • Beverly, breaking her own safety rule, enters alone with Aaron—tased, bound, and dragged into a car trunk. Sends Crystal a trunk photo with “Help” as a joke caption. (127:53)
• Kidnapping Fails:
  • At home, Beverly is locked in a bathroom; prescription bottles reveal her captors’ real names.
  • Aaron tries to retrieve Beverly’s debit card from crime scene—police are already swarming.
  • Texts from Beverly’s phone attempt to make it appear she left willingly.
• Decision to Kill:
  • Crystal, via text, passive-aggressively tells Aaron to “do whatever you want,” washing her hands of involvement ("Whatever. It don’t take that long to do what you need to do. I’m not helping anymore.” – Crystal via text, 135:21).
  • Aaron attempts to strangle Beverly, fails, resorts to taping her entire nose and mouth with six layers of duct tape—killing her by suffocation in a slow, agonizing process.
• Aftermath:
  • Buries her in a shallow grave at Argos plant (elbow poking out of ground), buy hashbrowns and coffee at Waffle House at 4am afterward (139:54).
  • Planned ransom: $100,000; Beverly had only $130 in her account.
  • Had other agents on a list if Beverly “didn’t work out.”

The Aftermath: Trials, Reforms, and Legacy

141:39–178:17

• Crystal Lowery:
  • Confesses fully, flips states evidence, pleads to 30 years (145:50).
  • Attempts clemency in prison (“I have found God”… letter, 170:24)—rejected, eligible for parole 2035.
• Aaron Lewis:
  • Claims innocence, wild stories continue; files his own legal motions, attempts to represent himself.
  • Insists in letters: "Beverly wanted it. She was bored with her life. I gave her excitement. She died happy." (174:32) – Clear lack of remorse.
  • Receives two consecutive life sentences, without parole (163:15).
  • Remains a prison disciplinary disaster; has fans who write and send money.
• Beverly’s Family & Real Estate Community:
  • Son Carl Jr. starts Realtor safety foundation, delivers training with crime scene photos and Beverly's last audio recording.
  • Industry-wide changes: buddy system, panic-button jewelry, enforced check-ins, “red folder” code words, and legal reforms for enhanced penalties.
• The Property:
  • Site of vigils, hard to sell, eventually purchased below value; general sentiment from Carl Sr.: “It’s just a house. It didn’t kill her, they did.” (176:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cricket Spitting Contest:
  “If I gave you til the end of time, you would never guess—cricket spitting contest.” – James (18:10)

• On the Suspect’s Excuses:
  “I kidnapped her with my friend Trevor from the air force base.” (106:55)
  “Me and Beverly were having an affair. We met on Craigslist.”
  “Threesome with Crystal and Beverly Carter.”

• On Real Estate Realities:
  “Every agent looks rich because the photo’s taken after they just got their teeth whitened, their best outfit, best jewelry, and Photoshopped just right.” (155:48)

• On the Murder Method:
  “Couldn’t even bring a knife and cut her throat like a gentleman… If you’re gonna murder me, make it fast, please.” – James, on suffocating with duct tape (137:40)

• On Passivity in Crime:
  “Do whatever you want. Good night.” – Crystal, shelving responsibility for the murder (134:28)

• On Cop Banter:
  “That’s the last time he’ll be eating fresh.” – Detective, after Aaron is caught in Subway (105:32)

• On Prison Behavior:
  “He was collecting it to see how much shit he could collect. It’s like the Grand Canyon, you can see the different periods…” (86:52)

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Segment | Start | Notable Moments | |--------------------------------------------------------------|------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Cabot, Arkansas Background | 05:53 | Town stats, tornado history, local color (cricket spitting) | | Beverly Carter Goes Missing | 21:15 | Husband 911 call, police response, scene details | | Early Investigation & Community Search | 42:28 | Friend/coworker mobilization, early forensics, “red folder” code usage | | Suspect Discovery, Digital Clues | 53:54 | Tech tracing to Aaron/Crystal, forging “Adams” IDs | | Aaron Lewis: Backstory and Crime Record | 57:21 | Dysfunction, early crime history (bank robbery at 17), prison issues | | Police Pursuit & Subway Arrest | 93:49 | Hospital escape, “eaten fresh” chase, public helps capture | | Interrogation: Wild Excuses | 106:17 | “Trevor,” “Craigslist affair,” voice memo as “synthesis software” | | The Crime & Murder Details | 110:08 | Targeting, abduction, failed ransom, murder, confession texts | | Aftermath: Trials & Real Estate Safety Reforms | 141:39 | Crystal’s plea, Aaron’s antics, sentencing, industry reforms (panic jewelry, buddy system, etc.) | | Victim Legacy & House Fate | 176:07 | House becomes vigil site, hard to sell, ultimately “just a house…didn’t kill her, they did.” |

Tone & Style

The episode maintains Small Town Murder’s signature mix of deep research and irreverent humor, balancing the atrocity of the crime with takedowns of the killers’ idiocy, snarky asides about real estate jargon and small-town quirks, and moments of empathy for the Carter family. James and Jimmie lampoon the cluelessness of the criminals (e.g., returning to the crime scene, using their real prescription bottles at home), finger-point the inadequacy of early industry safety culture, and re-emphasize at every turn: the joke is always on the criminal, never the victim.

Summary for New Listeners

If you haven’t heard this episode, you'll get a comprehensive, gripping, and at times darkly hilarious walkthrough of a notorious Arkansas murder case, the flaws in both real estate and criminal thinking, and the broader lessons adopted by an entire profession. The hosts serve up a blend of research, small-town Americana, and caustic wit—never at the victim’s expense—while driving home the needless tragedy and enduring impact of Beverly Carter’s murder.

“Everybody has a secret life.” — Local cop, skeptical, when pressed on whether the model agent could really just be as nice as she seemed (52:09)

“Do whatever you want. Good night.” — Crystal Lowery, texting Aaron mid-kidnapping (134:28)

Next time: When meeting a stranger, always bring a friend—and never trust Milwaukee’s version of Pete Davidson.