SMALL TOWN MURDER
Podcast: Small Town Murder
Hosts: James Pietragallo & Jimmie Whisman
Episode: Poison Pudding Problems – Columbus, Indiana
Release Date: April 23, 2026

Episode Overview

James and Jimmie dive into the darkly bizarre story of a “picture-perfect” small town romance gone fatally wrong in Columbus, Indiana. With their signature fusion of deep research and biting comedy, the hosts lay out the case of Alan Duvall, a beloved local whose death in 2007 initially looked like a tragic mix of alcohol and heat—but quickly unraveled into a tale of financial desperation, a suspiciously timed life insurance policy, missing drugs, an over-the-top dessert, and a cold-blooded scheme. The episode explores small-town dynamics, peculiar personalities, and the disturbing planning often underlying “accidental” deaths.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

About Columbus, Indiana (05:42–23:13)

• Small town but not tiny: Population of ~50,000.
• Town’s motto: “Unexpected, Unforgettable.” Nickname: “Athens of the Prairie.”
  “Some balls on these people.” – James (08:04)
• Local culture: Not enough nightlife, restaurants, or engaging date ideas. Hosts mock the town’s lack of “escape rooms and axe throwing,” instead referencing its “Chuck Taylor Day” (celebrating the shoe legend with a giant fiberglass sneaker) and a renowned Ethnic Expo.
• Economic snapshot: Mixed college/family town, fairly affordable housing, but with high property crime rates.

The Victim: Alan Duvall (23:15–38:42)

• Background: Born 1945, Navy veteran, worked various blue-collar and sales jobs, “life of the party,” friendly and generous but not wealthy (“He lived in a hotel rent-free as maintenance man”).
• “He’s a koozie man... Always has a beer, rarely truly drunk.” – Jimmie (37:08)
• Active, healthy for his age, loved cars (especially Corvettes), family, and pickup basketball.

The New Bride: Tammy Smith Engelman Duvall (39:03–47:14)

• Background: 13 years younger than Alan, twice-divorced, worked as a CNA, “looked great for her age” (surgically enhanced), known as a “good looker,” but financially irresponsible and described by her ex as “shrewd, beguiling, sociopathic.”
• “There was one Christmas when I was short on money... she left $300 for my kids.” – Her friend Jennifer (44:08)
• Verdict from her own daughter: “A very beguiling, shrewd person.”
• Meeting Alan: Quick courtship, married within 12 weeks, lots of family skepticism.

Rapidly Tumultuous Marriage (49:09–56:31)

• Red flags:
  • Alan appears wealthy but isn’t.
  • Tammy expected lavish spending (honeymoon to Hawaii)—on her credit card, expects reimbursement.
  • Pushes Alan to leave rent-free hotel living, buy a house, and get a stable job.
  • Daughter (16) is openly hostile to Alan, leading to regular conflict.
  • Tammy’s restless shopping sprees create deep financial crisis—creditors, overdue bills, looming foreclosure, unpaid college tuition.
  • Alan's drinking a constant tension point; Tammy refuses to accept.
• “She likes to spend money like he likes to drink.” – Jimmie (53:13)

The Affair, Friction, and Financial Crisis (56:31–70:39)

• Tammy begins an affair with Gary Ruddle, a local insurance agent (described as torrid).
• Neighbor alerts Alan to Gary's daytime visits.
• Alan, hopeful for reconciliation, still helps around the house.
• Tammy allegedly calls police claiming Alan hit her daughter—no injuries/charges, but leads to Alan moving out.
• Tammy told friends she was “done with Alan”; Alan (heartbroken) believed they’d reconcile once the daughter left for college.

Missing Drugs and Suspicious Behavior (73:25–83:13)

• At her workplace (nursing home), a strong liquid morphine (“Roxanol”) bottle goes missing after Tammy is left alone; she blames a relative, but the evidence is fishy.
• Flexeril (muscle relaxant) disappears from Alan’s cousin’s home after a party both attended, with 100–200 pills missing.
• Tammy invites Alan over to sign “mortgage insurance” papers (it’s a life insurance policy in reality). Gary is present for the signature.

Alan’s Death: The Poison Pudding (84:15–89:07)

• Aug 23, 2007: Alan visits the house to fix the A/C. Tammy serves chicken salad and her “signature” dessert—chocolate dirt pudding (crushed Oreos, pudding, cream cheese).
• Serves Alan two Long Island iced teas despite pushing him to quit drinking.
• Alan goes outside “to cool down” and falls asleep in a lawn chair.
• Morning of Aug 24: Tammy finds Alan “dead” on the porch.
  “This is the healthiest dead person I think I’ve ever seen.” – Officer (87:23)
• Suspicious urgency: Tammy instantly requests cremation the same day, despite Alan owning a burial plot and wishing for a military funeral.
  “Why does he need to be cremated right this second when he owns a burial plot?” – Det. Mark Crutchen (90:13)

Investigation & Autopsy Results (92:18–105:15)

• Family, friends, and even Tammy’s own daughter and son-in-law call police, all suspecting her.
• Autopsy findings:
  • Blood alcohol at 0.436 (lethal for almost everyone).
  • Morphine in system: 6,590 nanograms/ml (over 100x the therapeutic dose).
  • Flexeril: 8x therapeutic dose.
• Detective officially opens a homicide investigation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “Dirt Pudding” recipe:
  “You crumbled up some fucking cookie on some Jell-O pudding. Stop acting like you did this.” – Jimmie (83:14) “She came to the fork in the road and went straight, man.” – James (83:38)

• On her insurance tactics:
  “She convinced Alan to list her as a beneficiary on his life insurance policy by convincing him they’d eventually reconcile.” – James (102:27)

• On her history of poisoning:
  “Thanksgiving 2004, [Tammy] brings pudding to her ex-boyfriend, insists he eat it, then tries to get him to sign a policy with her as beneficiary. She takes the bowl when he won’t sign.” (115:01)

• On her wild lies to police:
  “Initially, she says he didn’t drink that night; later, it was two Long Island Iced Teas, then a bunch of tequila, then whiskey and morphine…” (114:42)

• On her string of explanations:
  “She believes, though, her final story, this is my final answer and I’m sticking to it, is that he accidentally drank himself to death. That’s what she said was her final story. Then she changed that...” (125:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Town background & reviews: 05:42–23:13
• Alan’s background & personality: 23:13–38:42
• Tammy’s backstory & relationship with Alan: 39:03–47:14
• Marriage and mounting problems: 49:09–56:31
• Tammy’s affair & separation: 56:31–70:39
• Drug disappearances & insurance policy setup: 73:25–83:13
• Alan’s last evening, death, and the pudding: 83:14–89:07
• Initial investigation, autopsy results, and family suspicions: 92:18–105:15
• Police interrogations and shifting stories: 108:14–125:06
• Case against Tammy – the trial & evidence: 128:05–140:55
• Similar famous “poisoning” cases: 162:03–171:23

The Trial & Aftermath

• Prosecution’s case: Circumstantial, but damning; highlighted financial despair, insurance motive, serial deception, and drug access/opportunity.
• Steven Brown (ex-boyfriend) testifies: Tammy tried the same pudding/insurance combo on him years before Alan’s death (131:05).
• Defense: Leans hard on suicide theory; points to lack of direct morphine theft proof and the possibility of Alan taking drugs himself (149:18).
• Verdict: Guilty of murder, six counts insurance fraud, and three counts obstruction of justice (152:41).
• Sentence: 60.5 years in prison (157:22); earliest release date: Dec 2040.

Reflections on the Case, Similar Incidents, and the Perils of Trust

• Hosts discuss notorious other “poison pudding”/“deadly wife” cases (Sabrina Limon, Stacey Castor, Audrey Marie Hilley, etc.) (164:59–171:23), noting the particular premeditation and psychological makeup required for poison killings.
• “You have so many opportunities to change your mind... So anyway, five months of planning this. That’s not, ‘I shot him in a moment of anger’—that is fucking sick.” – James (171:55)

Closing Thoughts & Personal Touches

• James reflects on how much we trust others with our food (“We go to clubs and eat cookies strangers bake us”), and how much easier it would be for someone to slip you something deadly than anyone wants to admit (179:54–181:54).
• Jimmie: “I’d feel bad to ruin a steak with poison, honestly. Their last thought would be, ‘Jimmy makes a shit steak.’ No, I don’t!” (181:07)
• Alan remembered fondly: “He seemed like a party. He seemed like a fun guy. Not a dude to kill over 100 grand, that’s for sure.” (182:03)

Essential Takeaways

• Alan Duvall’s murder was a meticulously-planned, cold-blooded killing driven by financial desperation, pattern behavior, and a shocking lack of empathy from his wife, Tammy.
• The evidence was largely circumstantial but painted an unescapable picture thanks to a pattern of deception, similar prior acts, and a string of coincidental drug disappearances wherever Tammy went.
• The case is a classic showcase of how “nice towns,” “nice people,” and “accidental deaths” are often far more complicated—and dangerous—than they first appear.

Recommended for listeners who enjoy:

• True crime with comedic commentary
• Bizarre small-town stories
• Cases with layers of deception and dramatic twists

Notable Quote to Remember:
“She is a stone cold killer, plain and simple. She killed her husband, a person who I feel truly loved her. And all she could see was $100,000 stamped on his forehead.” – Prosecutor during sentencing (153:15)

If you loved this episode, check out the Small Town Murder Patreon for bonus episodes—including the highly recommended Corey Richins murder drama, another “black widow” saga!