Small Town Murder: "Perverted Pest Killer - Velma, Oklahoma"
Hosts: James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman
Date: March 13, 2026

Episode Overview

James and Jimmie take listeners to Velma, Oklahoma—a tiny, closely-knit town with just over 600 residents—where the facade of rural peace is shattered by a brutal, senseless crime in 2012. In their signature blend of deeply-researched storytelling and irreverent humor, the hosts dissect the tragic murder of local high schooler Braley Henry by a disturbed and dangerous convenience store clerk, Miles Bench. The episode is loaded with shocking small-town details, the peculiarities of everyone knowing everyone else, and the gallows humor that makes Small Town Murder so distinctive.

Velma, Oklahoma: The Setting (05:38–13:39)

• Population: 601, average income around $68k, with low housing prices and mostly petroleum jobs.
• "Everyone knows everybody. Most people here are related in some way. Well, that's scary." — James (09:41)
• Local color: Old Settlers Picnic and Rodeo, famous for attracting the nation’s top "calf ropers" and quirky events like "mutton busting" and "mini bronc."
• Jimmie: “Your dating scene sucks.” (09:46)
• The Velma Cousins joke: A running bit about everyone in town being related and the local football team being named “the cousins.” (10:02–10:19)

The Crime: Vanishing at the TeePee Totem (13:49–17:33)

• On the evening of June 6, 2012, 21-year-old clerk Miles Bench and 16-year-old high schooler Braley (Braylee) Henry both disappear.
• Discovery: Customer Tammy Wilkerson finds an empty store and a massive pool of blood—"She does see a giant pool of blood... So she's like, well, that looks like, who's probably the clerk." – James (15:01)
• Police realize two major things at once: the missing clerk and missing teen; a rare occurrence in Velma.

Who Was Miles Bench? Background and Grim Foreshadowing (18:45–28:52)

• Childhood: Polite, with a learning disability but considered “normal intelligence,” transitioning out of special education.
• History of sexual aggression, starting in his teens: Caught masturbating while watching a neighbor swim, and was sexually aggressive toward women and girls as young as high school students.
• “His dick is like a homing beacon. It just goes wild. Scary.” – James (25:09)
• Violent household incident: At 17, Bench beat his stepfather severely after a trivial argument. (25:49–28:05)
• Military stint: Briefly entered the Navy, flamed out quickly due to inability to follow basic instructions; went AWOL, got busted for car theft, and started unraveling mentally. (33:25–38:27)

The Red Flags: Inappropriate Behavior at the TeePee Totem (38:27–45:31)

• Bench continuously approaches underage girls, inappropriate touching, and failed attempts to lure them alone.
• Notable incident: “He came up behind her while she was at the soda fountain, put his arms on around her and under her breasts... he said, oh I’m sorry I thought you were a high school girl.” (41:34)
• Several complaints to store management ignored; instead, he gets trusted with closing duties.

Victim: Braley (Braylee) Henry (45:31–48:01)

• 16-year-old high achiever: president of FFA, multi-sport athlete, Honor Society member, pageant competitor, and deeply involved in community.
• “She is an achiever, this girl. Really.” – James (46:34)
• Described as tall, athletic, smart, and well-loved; her murder devastates the community.

The Crime in Detail: Assault and Murder (48:01–51:25)

• Bench attacks Braley in the store, drags her to the stockroom, and brutally beats and strangles her to death.
• “She fought hard… she was fucking fighting with nails and teeth and everything.” – James (58:01)
• Body is stuffed in a shopping cart, dumped in her own car, and left on Bench’s grandparents’ land, partially buried.

Investigation & Arrest (52:11–55:15)

• Miles returns home suspiciously early from work; claims he quit or was fired.
• Braley’s body found easily by police dogs; her car (driven by Bench) picked up on I-40.
• Bench’s first words on being stopped: “I wasn’t driving this car.” (55:15)
• Immediately admits: “I think I fucked up. I may have killed somebody.” (55:57)

Aftermath: Confessions, Trial, and Legal Oddities (56:02–80:00)

Forensics

• Braley’s injuries: catastrophic blunt force head trauma, asphyxiation, consistent with being stomped to death and dragged; defensive wounds prove she fought back.
• Medical examiner: “Instead of breathing air, she was breathing blood.” (59:44)

Bench's Behavior & Legal Defense

• Repeatedly confesses, attempts blackout/insanity defense (“I just blacked out.”)
• Makes jail escape attempt—dons a trustee’s uniform, is easily recaptured.
• At trial, defense pleads insanity. Multiple witnesses (relatives, psychologists) cite bizarre behaviors (paranoia, delusions about Navy agents, “chip in his brain”).
• “We all have to be a little crazy to keep from going insane, right?” – Miles, while booking (65:10)
• Prosecutors: “Our prisons are full of stupid people. If they weren’t stupid, they wouldn’t be criminals.” (76:12)

Verdict and Sentencing

• Jury convicts after two hours: Guilty of first-degree murder.
• Judge: “You, sir, may fuck off. Death penalty.” (77:45)

Appeals and The McGirt Case

• Bench’s defense argues technicalities and Native status post-conviction amid Supreme Court jurisdiction shuffle (McGirt v. Oklahoma, 2022).
• Death sentence is briefly overturned but then reinstated after legal clarification.

Community Response and Legacy (80:00–End)

• Braley Ray Henry Memorial Scholarship and annual golf tournament founded by her family to honor her memory and support local achievers.
• Profound impact on Velma—entire town mourns, school driveway renamed “Braley’s Way.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “He’s just jerking it to the neighbor. Swimming. That’s a pretty obvious emotion.” – Jimmie (23:03)
• “Fuck me, fuck me!” – Miles, seen shouting out his window nude as a teen (23:41)
• “You stupid idiot.” – James, on Bench’s response to his grandpa after the murder (52:25)
• “She fought hard for this, against him.” – James (48:01)
• “You, sir, may fuck off. Death penalty.” – Judge (77:45)
• “If you like anything we’re doing here, please get on whatever app you’re listening to and give us five stars.” – James (End)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Velma, OK Background: 05:38–13:39
• Crime Discovery: 13:49–17:33
• Miles Bench Background: 18:45–28:52, 33:25–38:27, 72:38–74:59
• Incidents at TeePee Totem: 38:27–45:31
• Braley Henry Bio: 45:31–48:01
• Crime Details: 48:01–51:25
• Arrest: 52:11–55:15
• Confession/Evidence: 56:02–59:44
• Forensics: 59:44–60:29
• Legal Defense/Trial: 67:22–80:00
• Community Legacy: 80:00–End

Tone and Style

The episode is delivered in the hosts’ trademark mix of analytical storytelling, empathy for victims, and biting, often dark humor aimed at institutional failures and perpetrators—not at the suffering. Their banter relieves some of the tension from the story’s horror but never obscures the tragedy at its heart.

Final Thoughts

The hosts underscore the tragedy of a promising young life destroyed by a community’s insufficient response to repeated warning signs. Despite the bleakness, they celebrate Braley’s legacy and encourage listeners to contribute to her memorial fund if able.

"Poor Braley. She did nothing horrible, nothing wrong. But be a great person and get fucking murdered for trying to just wanted a Dr. Pepper." – James (80:00)