Small Town Murder Podcast

Episode: Social Media Mob Murder – Klawock, Alaska
Hosts: James Pietragallo & Jimmie Whisman
Date: October 31, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special Halloween episode, James and Jimmie take listeners to Klawock, Alaska—a tiny, remote community with a population of just 805, hours of darkness in the winter, and a history both rich and rugged. But the episode’s heart is a shocking, recent murder fueled by rumor, outrage, and social media mob justice. The hosts weave in their signature humor while exploring the dangers of misinformation, mob mentality, and "frontier justice," culminating in an in-depth discussion of a tragic real case—with a bonus segment debunking the infamous “poisoned Halloween candy” myth.

Klawock, Alaska: Setting the Scene

[04:03–11:18]

• Isolation & Access: Klawock, on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, is crazy remote. "The only way to really get there is to, like, stop at the port in a ship." (A, 04:03)

  • 4 days’ drive from Anchorage, 48 hours from Seattle (with multiple ferries).
  • Officially designated as an “unorganized area”—even less structured than “unincorporated.”

• Population & History:

  • Current population: 805; in 1920, only 19.
  • Cannery boom surged population; median household income ~$53k/year.
  • Deep native (Tlingit) and settler (notably Serbian/Croatian) roots.

• Town Life:

  • Few amenities. Reviews: “Claw Walk is basically a parking lot… tiny market…local grocery store, that's about it.” (A, 08:10)
  • Everyone fishes; “as a tourist, it is weird to not be able to get fresh fish…everyone fishes for their own.”

• Climate & Community:

  • "The winter nights are 17 hours long of darkness." (A, 11:58)
  • Everyone knows everyone, and most residents are born and bred locals.

The Crime: Mob Justice via Social Media

Incident Timeline: [12:22–28:40]

The Key Players & The Spark

• Lincoln 'Bingo' Petrotrovich: 80-year-old lifelong local from a prominent family of Tlingit and Serbian descent. Related to Elizabeth Peratrovich, a legendary civil rights activist (appearance on US currency in 2020).
• The 13-Year-Old Girl: Family also deep-rooted in town.
• The Incident:
  • March 20, 2023: Bingo, chopping wood, catcalls a girl he can't see clearly—thinks she is older.
  • Realizes she is a young teenager, tries to be friendly, invites her “in for something to eat.” She declines and leaves.
  • Girl tells her uncle, who reports the incident to Alaska State Troopers.
  • Troopers interview Bingo and the girl: No evidence of a crime; he gets a warning and the family is advised to seek a restraining order if worried.

"If you're a 13-year-old girl, there's an 80-year-old man inviting you in to eat—you're creeped out by it. You should be."
— James (A, 21:06)

The Outrage Erupts – Social Media Spiral

• That evening, the girl’s family posts on Facebook, accusing Bingo of being “sexually interested in young girls” (A, 26:31).
• The post quickly escalates from concern to open threats:
  • "We need to protect our own."
  • "Someone should deal with him. That way he won't do it again." (Paraphrased, A, 28:40)
• By midnight, much of the small town is convinced Bingo is a dangerous predator.

“If there’s one thing on social media that people really like to make sure people know, it’s that they hate pedophiles. They really want you to know.”
— James (A, 24:39)

• The mob mentality is stoked by false details—accusing him of wielding an axe, growing more lurid with every retelling.

The Murder: Midnight Vigilantism

[33:34–42:26]

• March 21, 2023, 1:30am:
  • The Vigilante Crew:
    • Moses Scott Blanchard (21), Blaze Andrew Diltz (21), Gonzalo Sanchez (17), and accompanied by the 13-year-old girl.
  • They approach Bingo’s trailer; the girl says she’s scared. The 21-year-olds encourage her.
  • Blaze breaks in—a crime is committed. The three young men enter the trailer, leaving the girl outside.
  • They find Bingo, asleep. They beat him with fists, logs, folding chair, milk crate, and finally a 15-pound decorative cannonball (A, 36:19–36:50).
  • Brutality: All blows focused on his head/face. The attack escalates in savagery; there are no defensive wounds—he’s attacked in his sleep.

“They start punching and kicking this man in his sleep...then they grab some logs… then a folding chair…milk crate…then a 15-pound cannonball.”
— James (A, 36:19)

• Aftermath:
  • A passing motorist repeatedly honks—possibly spooking the attackers.
  • The trio flees, linking up with two other underage locals who give them a ride away. No one calls police right away.
  • State Troopers arrive 90 minutes later (no local police, no ambulance; chief had died two months prior and was not replaced).
  • Bingo is found gravely battered; dies before reaching hospital.

Investigation & Arrests: Facebook as Evidence

[42:11–48:14]

• Troopers screenshot the feverish comment threads—"a real-time mob"—as evidence.
• The 13-year-old confirms the assailants’ identities; they begin interrogating suspects.
• Confessions:
  • Diltz admits: “Because it was on Facebook.” (44:26)
  • Blanchard confesses: beat Bingo and failed to call for help, deciding: “If he survived, he’s probably going to be able to identify me, so I should kill him.” (46:13)

Charges & Legal Strategy

• Both 21-year-olds: First and second-degree murder, manslaughter, first-degree burglary.
• 17-year-old Sanchez: Second-degree murder, manslaughter, first-degree burglary (charged as an adult).
• Bail: $600,000 each.
• Prosecution charges a range (from first-degree murder down) to give the jury options; burglary is open-and-shut.

“Bingo’s niece makes a Facebook post saying, ‘My uncle has been killed over gossip.’”
— James (49:42)

Trial Outcomes & Sentencing

[48:31–59:17]

• Plea Deals:
  • Blaze Diltz pleads to second-degree murder, cooperates as a witness (May 1, 2025).
  • Moses Blanchard—identified as the main aggressor—pleads guilty; admits intent to kill.
• Sentencing:
  • Diltz gets 40 years, with 25 suspended—must serve 15 years before parole (56:04).
  • Strong expectation that Blanchard, the ringleader, will get the max (as of taping, sentencing pending)—likely up to 99 years.
  • Sanchez: Charges downgraded; likely to receive much less time.

“The judge says, ‘I hope that for anyone who’s ever done that, meaning spreading misinformation online, that this is a wake up call.’”
— James (55:58)
“My uncle has been killed over gossip.” — Bingo’s niece, Facebook (49:42)

• Defense attempted to argue “mob mentality” and lack of premeditation; prosecution focused on the brutality and motivation by rumors.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Mob Justice:

  “Stop with the vigilante bullshit. You’re dumb and you don’t have the investigative talent, skills or resources to know what’s true and false to go after people.”
  — James (25:40)

• On Misinformation:

  “They could watch a mob mentality in real time. It’s fucking insane. It’s wild.”
  — James (42:31)

• On Defending the Beating:

  "When you grab a 15-pound cannonball, you're planning on killing somebody, that's death."
  — James (55:34)

Bonus Segment: The Truth Behind "Poisoned Halloween Candy"

[59:17–72:50]

• Hosts debunk the perennial myth of random Halloween candy poisoning, telling the story of Ronald Clark O’Bryan—the only confirmed case of Halloween candy murder in U.S. history.
  • O’Bryan poisoned his own 10-year-old son and tried to cover it by poisoning other children’s Pixy Stix for insurance money in 1974.
• No verified case ever of kids receiving deadly candy from strangers.

“That is how urban legends happen.”
— James (72:50)

Takeaways and Reflections

Discussion Themes

• Isolation and Community: The tightly knit, isolated nature of Klawock sets the stage for rumor to become reality—where Facebook replaces the local grapevine.
• Social Media as a Weapon: The episode demonstrates, in stark terms, the destructive potential of online groupthink, misinformation, and vigilante justice.
• Generational Legacies and Tragedy: The murder of Bingo sits atop generations of local heritage—and was triggered by a catastrophic failure of empathy, critical thinking, and due process.

Memorable Messages

• Beware information spread online—think before you share, comment, or act.
• Mob action can quickly become deadly, even among people who see themselves as upstanding members of a tight community.
• Not every scary urban legend is rooted in truth.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Town History & Life: 04:03 – 12:22
• Introduction of Bingo Petrotrovich & Family: 12:22 – 21:31
• The Incident and Social Media Explosion: 21:31 – 28:40
• Mob Action & Murder: 33:34 – 42:26
• Investigation & Interrogations: 42:11 – 48:31
• Case Resolution & Sentencing: 48:31 – 59:17
• Halloween Candy Urban Legend: 59:17 – 72:50

Final Thoughts

The case of “Social Media Mob Murder” in Klawock, Alaska, is a chilling testament to the power of rumor, the danger of digital mobs, and the consequences of acting on misinformation. The hosts strike a deft balance between small-town quirks, grim realities, and dark humor, never losing sight of the human cost at the heart of the story. The bonus tale about the poisoned Pixy Stix is the perfect coda—a reminder that not every widely held belief (especially those fueled by fear) holds any water.

Closing Urge:
Don’t inspect your Halloween candy too hard…and don’t believe everything you read online.

(Summary by Small Town Murder Podcast Summarizer, October 2025)