Small Town Murder Express: The Deadly Grandma & The Doppelgänger – Austin, Arkansas

Podcast: Small Town Murder
Hosts: James Pietragallo & Jimmie Whisman
Episode Date: January 10, 2026
Episode Topic: Two strange and deadly cases from small-town Arkansas: the murder conviction of "Deadly Grandma" Barbara Jo Still, and the bizarre “doppelgänger defense” of Jimmy Don Wooten.

Episode Overview

In this fast-paced “Express” episode, James and Jimmie hilariously dig into two true crime tales from Arkansas. First, they unravel the story of Barbara Jo Still, a supposedly sweet grandma with a deadly secret. Then, they recount the wild case of Jimmy Don Wooten, whose defense after a shooting spree is one of the dumbest (and oddly memorable) on record. Along the way, the hosts riff on small town living, ludicrous festival fare, and the classic quirkiness of rural criminality, delivering both detailed research and signature snark.

Arkansas and Austin: Small Town Snapshot

• Timestamps: 03:05–10:06
• Quick intro to Austin, Arkansas: a leafy, growing Little Rock suburb with 3,486 people, median income above national average ($78k), but low home values ($201k).
• Quirky local history: “The city was settled in 1872, when the railroad built tracks about a mile southeast of old Austin… They dragged buildings over a mile!” (A, 05:12)
• Limited amenities, but a “small town feel.”
• Amusing events include the Ozark Roots Dulcimer Festival and the Arkansas State Dulcimer Championships – “It looks like a small boat they put strings across.” (B, 07:29)
• Satirization of tourist suggestions: “You wanna go to Dry Creek? Dry Creek sounds great.” (A, 10:02)

Case One: The Deadly Grandma – Barbara Jo Still

Background & Suspicious Circumstances

• Timestamps: 10:09–26:00

• Introduction to Barbara Jo Basinger/Still, born 1933. Married first to J.W. Still, military man, had three kids.

• In 1979, J.W. Still is found dead of a gunshot: ruled suicide.

  • “I’ll give you one partner committing suicide. Any more than that, it’s your fault.” (A, 24:06)

• By 1984, Barbara is living with her second partner, Floyd Gibson Jr.

Floyd’s Disappearance (1986)

• Floyd’s sister can’t reach him; Barbara Jo says he left with $14,000 cash and two suitcases, but didn’t take his truck (A, 17:08).
• She drains $64,000 from their joint account over 3 months and trades his truck for a new one.

Investigation Intensifies

• Neighbors notice constant fires in Barbara's yard—she says it's an “old septic tank.”
  • “She just had fires going constantly, for over a month. Eternal flame.” (A, 19:26)
• Favorite quilt of hers suddenly “stolen”: “That’s a damn nice quilt… There’s quilt thieves out there.” (A/B, 20:29-20:33)
• Police dig under a fabricated shed and find…the missing quilt – with Floyd’s body inside. (A, 21:38)
  • “[Dead] Floyd, wrapped up in her prize clothes, Floyd.” (A, 21:48)

Barbara Jo’s Story Evolves

• Initially claims Floyd skipped town, then changes her tune: he threatened her, then “shot himself”; she buries him in the yard–to “keep him close.” (A, 25:48)
  • “She wrapped the body up in this quilt… in the good quilt…put it in her garbage.” (A/B, 24:52–24:58)
  • “[Felt she needed to bury him there because] my first husband had been taken from me and buried somewhere I couldn’t visit.” (A, 25:58)
• Medical examiner: wound inconsistent with suicide; also, the gun she turned in was not the murder weapon. (A, 31:25)

Trial & Conviction

• Motive: Floyd gave her power of attorney 2 weeks before vanishing. She drained ~$80k after his death.
• Jury deliberates less than two hours: Guilty of First Degree Murder (A, 36:02).
  • “The judge says, you, grandma, may fuck off. Life in prison.” (A, 36:34)

Aftermath and Appeals

• Multiple failed appeals (1987–2020), including claims of ineffective counsel and lack of physical murder weapon.
• As of the episode, Barbara Jo Still—now pushing 90—is still behind bars in Arkansas. (A, 40:59)

Case Two: The Doppelgänger Defense – Jimmy Don Wooten

The Shooting at Long Pool Recreation Area

• Timestamps: 42:27–56:01

• August 5, 1994: David Lasalle, cousin Henry Porter (49), and Henry’s daughter Molly (18) hiking near Long Pool area.

• repeatedly encounter “ATV Man” (eventually, Jimmy Don Wooten).

• ATV Man acts agitated, eventually ambushes the trio with gunfire:

  • Lasalle fatally shot in the head.
  • Henry Porter shot multiple times (shoulder, face, forearm) but survives, protects his daughter.
  • Molly escapes unharmed, hides under a rock.

The Idiotic Defense

• An hour later, Jimmy Don Wooten goes to police and reports his ATV stolen:
  • Says he was shot at by a man who “looked exactly like me. It was like looking in a mirror.” (A, 55:14)
• Cops find his ATV and pistol (the murder weapon) with him.
  • Excuse: “Oh, yeah, I found it again later.” (A, 57:01)
• Quoted by James: “His story is, ‘my doppelgänger is running around the woods stealing from me and killing people.’” (A, 55:21)
• Clothes match victims’ descriptions: he was wearing swim trunks at the time.

Courtroom & Sentencing

• Picked out of a lineup by survivors.
• Defense pleads “it was another guy who looks identical”; prosecution and jury are not convinced.
• Convicted of capital murder and more; sentenced to death by lethal injection. (A, 78:41)

Legal Saga

• Minimal mitigation effort by his attorney (“His lawyer told the jury, ‘He’s got no criminal record, he’s a good worker…’” A, 77:20)
• 2020: Death sentence is overturned due to ineffective counsel (had a hilariously terrible lawyer), commuted to life without parole.
• Wooten’s background: severe poverty, abusive upbringing, lifelong learning disabilities.
• Hosts on his defense: “I got the perfect crime—you just say some guy looked just like me did it. That’s how you get it.” (A, 67:53)

Notable Quotes & Moments

Small Town Laughs

• “This is what he does: his all-dulcimer set. You can’t escape Ludacris.” (A, 08:58)
• “Anything you bury in the yard looks suspicious. Anything.” (A, 42:14)
• “Chef Boyardee—why are you burying it?” (A, 42:27)

On Crime and Excuses

• “I’ll give you one partner committing suicide. Any more than that, it’s your fault.” (A, 24:11)
• “Her story is shitty. Your lawyer should have told you to shut the fuck up.” (A, 38:34)
• “He did all my police work. Yeah.” (B, 57:06)
• “That’s the hillbilly ‘Now yous can’t leave.’” (A, 50:26)
• Regarding the defense: “Best story, ‘duffel bagger’ [doppelgänger].” (B, 75:09)
• “They didn’t say, ‘fuck you, slow down with your ATV.’ There was never a word exchanged other than cordial talking...None of this makes sense.” (A, 71:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |----------------------------------------|----------------| | Introduction & Town Profile | 00:15–10:06 | | Barbara Jo Still’s story | 10:09–41:30 | | “Stolen Quilt” story | 20:18–21:42 | | Investigation & Discovery | 17:44–25:48 | | Medical Examiner’s Findings | 31:25–33:00 | | Trial/Conviction/Appeals | 35:25–40:59 | | Jimmy Don Wooten’s shooting rampage | 42:27–56:01 | | Doppelgänger Defense | 54:33–58:03 | | Courtroom & Sentencing | 73:29–78:42 | | Hosts’ Final Thoughts | 82:30–end |

Hosts’ Signature Tone & Humor

• Casual, irreverent, and frequently self-deprecating.
• Lampooning small town quirks and outrageous criminal excuses.
• Comedic, but also well-researched and clear about the tragic elements of these cases.

Summary for the Uninitiated

If you missed the episode, you’ll hear two truly astonishing Arkansas murder cases, each upended by the logic-defying actions of alleged criminals. From the fires and quilts of a deadly grandmother to a man blaming his “evil twin” for murder, the cases are as dark as they are bizarre. The hosts expertly mix gallows humor, sharp research, and local flavor—making even the most absurd crime stories both informative and gut-busting.

Don’t miss:

• The reveal of the missing quilt
• The all-time dumbest criminal excuse (the “doppelgänger defense”)
• Classic small town festival tangents (“Ludacris on dulcimer!”)
• A parade of quotes and asides on the absurdity of crime in rural America

Final Word

James: “There you go. Three-named Arkansas murderers in one hour for you.” (A, 82:30)
Jimmie: “That lawyer was right about one thing, the only thing that makes sense.” (B, 82:39)

For more, visit shutupandgivememurder.com!

[End of Express Summary]