The Binge Cases: Scary Terri – Episode: The Last Will

Host: Jonathan Hirsch
Release Date: December 9, 2024
Producer: Sony Music Entertainment
Episodes Series: The Binge Cases
Podcast Description:
Between 1977 and 1989, a dozen people connected to Terri Hoffman, a spiritual leader in Dallas, Texas, died under mysterious circumstances. Investigative reporter Jonathan Hirsch delves into the tangled web of manipulation and deceit surrounding Hoffman, unveiling a dark narrative reminiscent of infamous figures like Charles Manson.

1. Introduction to the Case

Jonathan Hirsch opens the episode by presenting the mysterious case of Devereaux Cleaver, a 13-year-old who tragically drowned in 1978. What makes this case enigmatic is the last will and testament Devereaux left behind, which designated Terry Johnson (later revealed as Terry Hoffman) as the beneficiary of her estate.

Key Details:

• Devereaux's Will: Written in her own handwriting, dated August 1978, six months before her death. It bequeathed all her property, including a $200,000 trust fund, to Terry Johnson and her organization, Conscious Development of Body, Mind and Soul, Inc.
• Terry Hoffman's Organization: Received significant financial assets meant to fund its spiritual endeavors.

Jonathan Hirsch (00:51):
"How the hell in all the 171 million acres of Texas does a teenager find themselves compelled to sign a will?"

2. The Suspicious Wills and Deaths

Jonathan introduces the pattern of suspicious deaths connected to Terry Hoffman. Alongside Devereaux Cleaver, Sandra Cleaver and her childhood nanny, Louise Watson (affectionately known as Wheezy), died under mysterious circumstances.

Insights from Croom Beatty (02:09 & 11:06):
"Terry had both wills. I guess there was some serious money in Sandra's former family."
"Immediately, immediately. Because it had happened again."

Core Questions Raised:

• Influence Over Victims: Did Terry Hoffman exert undue influence over individuals to secure their wills?
• Premeditation: The deaths appear premeditated, with beneficiaries consistently being Terry Hoffman or her organization.

3. Legal Battle and Settlement

Croom Beatty and other family members contested the wills, suspecting foul play and Terry Hoffman's manipulative tactics. The legal proceedings, however, led to a settlement where Terry received half of the contested estates.

Ken Fairchild's Account (14:39):
"Terry obviously had strong influence over Sandra and I. I didn't realize that about Devro until, you know, until the trial."

Settlement Outcome (18:45):
"We had a very good lawyer who at the very end said that I should go ahead and settle, which we did. So Terry got half of it and I got half of it."

4. Terry Hoffman's Influence and CDBMS

Terry Hoffman’s rise in the Dallas area during the mid-1970s is explored, highlighting her charismatic yet manipulative persona. She founded the Conscious Development of Body, Mind and Soul, Inc. (CDBMS), attracting a diverse group of followers through her lectures and spiritual teachings.

Jeanine Snyder’s Introduction (21:16):
"I'm one of those weird people who was always psychic, was always introduced as."

5. Jeanine Snyder's Testimony

Jeanine Snyder provides a firsthand account of her experiences with Terry Hoffman. Initially drawn to Terry’s meditation group for solace, Jeanine soon recognized Terry's manipulative nature.

Key Points from Jeanine Snyder:

• Initial Attraction: Jeanine found comfort and understanding in Terry’s teachings, which promised spiritual growth and community.
• Manipulative Practices: Terry sold expensive spiritual jewelry purported to offer protection and energy absorption. Members like Jeanine invested significant amounts of money, believing in the spiritual benefits.

Jeanine Snyder (26:10):
"I didn't even see that the jewelry that she was conning all of us by selling us all this jewelry, because it had purpose, let me tell you."

6. Terry's Manipulative Practices

Terry Hoffman employed various strategies to control and manipulate her followers:

• Spiritual Control: She positioned herself as a "living master," guiding followers through personal and spiritual crises.
• Financial Exploitation: The sale of semi-precious stones and spiritual artifacts served as both a revenue stream and a means of exerting control.
• Emotional Manipulation: Terry influenced personal relationships, as seen when she advised Jeanine’s husband to explore other relationships, sowing discord to maintain her influence.

Jeanine Snyder on Relationship Manipulation (32:05):
"She had a very passionate sexual connection, but he had lots of work to do. He was a damaged human being, just as I was."

7. The Black Lords and Increasing Extremes

Under Terry’s leadership, the CDBMS began espousing increasingly bizarre and dangerous beliefs, including the existence of "Black Lords" intent on taking over Earth. Followers were encouraged to perform rituals and engage in protective measures against these perceived threats.

Jeanine Snyder on Black Lords (33:35):
"The storyline at the time was that the Black Lords wanted to take over Earth. We needed to fight the battles against the darkness as agents of light."

Escalation to Violence:

• Bloodletting Practices: Terry claimed that Black Lords were poisoning followers' blood, necessitating blood extraction to cleanse them.
• Ritualistic Battles: Followers participated in choreographed battles using talismans and symbolic weapons.

Jeanine Snyder on Bloodletting (34:46):
"We had our protection and we had our swords and our shields and all the symbols of the elements that had been empowered."

8. Breaking Free and Consequences

As Terry’s manipulations became more overt, some members, like Jeanine, began to see through the facade and attempted to distance themselves from the group. This defiance was met with hostility and further manipulation from Terry, leading to traumatic incidents.

Jeanine Snyder's Breaking Point (37:29):
"I really was quite innocent. You know, it’s. I got savvy to darkness way later."

Impact on Personal Lives:

• Violent Incidents: Jeanine recounts a traumatic event where she believes Terry’s negative energy caused her son to suffer a severe injury.
• Emotional Toll: Leaving the group deeply affected her, highlighting the psychological control Terry exerted.

Jeanine Snyder on Personal Tragedy (37:29):
"I drove an Osmobile, and my son was only 4, and I was taking him to school and the door wasn't quite closed... I run over his arm... I assure you my son will be protected as long as I'm alive."

9. Conclusion and Ongoing Mysteries

Jonathan Hirsch wraps up the episode by reflecting on the enigmatic nature of Terry Hoffman. Despite the numerous suspicious deaths and manipulative practices, concrete evidence tying Terry directly to criminal activities remains elusive. The episode leaves listeners pondering the extent of Terry's influence and the true nature of the tragedies surrounding her.

Jonathan Hirsch (19:03):
"She was almost godlike, a guru of sorts. Terry G. It was baffling to people on the outside."

Final Reflections:

• Ambiguous Evidence: Lack of a "smoking gun" makes legal prosecution challenging.
• Enduring Suspicion: Families and followers remain skeptical of Terry's innocence, hinting at unresolved mysteries.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jonathan Hirsch (00:51):
  "How the hell in all the 171 million acres of Texas does a teenager find themselves compelled to sign a will?"

• Croom Beatty (02:09):
  "Devereaux had a $200,000, I believe, trust fund from grandparents. Terry would have made quite a cleanup."

• Jeanine Snyder (26:10):
  "I didn't even see that the jewelry that she was conning all of us by selling us all this jewelry, because it had purpose, let me tell you."

• Jeanine Snyder (37:29):
  "I drove an Osmobile, and my son was only 4... I assure you my son will be protected as long as I'm alive."

Final Thoughts

"The Last Will" episode of The Binge Cases: Scary Terri meticulously unravels the sinister connections between Terri Hoffman and a series of unexplained deaths among her followers. Through compelling testimonies and investigative insights, Jonathan Hirsch paints a chilling portrait of manipulation and spiritual deceit, leaving listeners both informed and unsettled by the dark underbelly of Terri Hoffman's influence.

For those intrigued by this harrowing tale, subscribe to The Binge Cases on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to continue feeding your true crime obsession with ad-free access to all episodes.