Murder: True Crime Stories

Summary

Summary of "Murder: True Crime Stories" Episode – The Burger Chef Murders

Released May 12, 2025, by Creative Reason Media Inc.

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of Murder: True Crime Stories, the host delves into the chilling events surrounding the Burger Chef Murders that took place on November 17, 1978, in Speedway, Indiana. This case intertwines ordinary fast-food routines with the sinister undercurrents of unexpected violence, leaving a community shrouded in mystery and fear.

Setting the Stage: A Busy Night at Burger Chef

The night of November 17, 1978, was anything but ordinary at the Burger Chef restaurant in Speedway. With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, the restaurant anticipated a surge in customers. Moreover, CBS was broadcasting the nationwide "Star Wars Holiday Special" from 8 PM to 10 PM, leading Burger Chef to launch the "Star Wars Fun Meal" promotion. This event attracted numerous Star Wars enthusiasts eager to grab their themed meals before the restaurant closed its doors at 11 PM.

As per their schedule, the late shift consisted of four employees responsible for closing tasks, such as cleaning the kitchen in preparation for the next day. However, an unexpected change altered the night's dynamics. Originally, an employee designated to close was slated to be replaced due to performance issues. This individual, referred to as Employee X in FBI files, had not yet been notified of his termination.

Unexpected Changes and Rising Tensions

At 9:45 PM, 16-year-old Daniel Davis called his parents seeking permission to extend his shift until midnight, expressing a desire to earn extra money for Christmas presents. His parents consented, trusting him to return home safely, as Daniel had assured them he was responsible.

Meanwhile, Jane, one of the employees, had a protective presence at the restaurant. Her boyfriend, who was notably vigilant, frequently stopped by to ensure her well-being. On this particular night, he arrived around 10 PM, checked in with Jane through the drive-through window, and left reassured after confirming her safety.

Jane wasn’t the only one prepared for emergencies. Her coworker, 16-year-old Mark Flemons, who stood over six feet tall and had studied karate, had previously encountered a violent robbery at a fast-food establishment in Oklahoma. This experience prompted Mark to offer protection to Jane and the team at Burger Chef. Jane had also rehearsed a safety plan with her parents, emphasizing compliance over confrontation during robberies to ensure the safety of herself and her colleagues.

A Night to Remember: The Murders Unfold

As midnight approached, 17-year-old Brian Kring returned Ginger Haggard, his date and coworker, to her parents' home. Seeking to show appreciation for Mark covering Ginger's shift, Brian decided to help with the closing tasks. He parked in the back lot, noticed Daniel's car—a 1973 Ford Pinto—with all the lights on, and assumed his friends were still working. Deciding to join them, Brian entered the restaurant.

Inside, Brian immediately sensed something was amiss. "The back door was usually bolted shut, but tonight it was ajar," Brian recounts [03:15]. Upon investigating, he discovered the safe was open, the cash register drawers had been emptied, and significant amounts of money were missing. Alarmed, he contacted the manager for guidance, who instructed him to call the police.

The Intruder: Unmasking Employee X

Shortly after the call, Employee X made his unexpected appearance, arriving in the van he had previously claimed was broken down. Brian found X's behavior suspicious: "Why would someone who had just claimed he couldn't get to work show up at the restaurant uninvited after it had already closed?" [04:10]. When Brian mentioned the police, X fled the scene immediately, disappearing before law enforcement arrived.

Aftermath and Investigation

The police arrived to find the restaurant in disarray, the back door ajar, and the safe open with missing funds. The presence of Employee X raised numerous questions, particularly given his recent termination and absence from scheduled shifts. As investigations unfolded, the community grappled with the motives behind the late-night intrusion and the subsequent murders that ensued.

Key Insights and Unanswered Questions

This case highlights several critical points:

1. Employee Dynamics: The replacement of Employee X and his sudden appearance raises concerns about internal conflicts and possible motives tied to employment disputes.

2. Security Measures: Despite having safety plans in place, the team was vulnerable to an unexpected and potentially armed intruder, highlighting gaps in their emergency preparedness.

3. Community Impact: The murders at a familiar local establishment like Burger Chef left a lasting scar on the Speedway community, prompting discussions on workplace safety and the psychological impacts of violent crimes in everyday settings.

Notable Quotes

• Brian Kring reflecting on the odd behavior of Employee X: “Why would someone who had just claimed he couldn't get to work show up at the restaurant uninvited after it had already closed?” [04:10]

• Jane discussing her safety plan: “Every time the subject came up, she wouldn't try to be a hero. She'd just give the robber whatever they wanted in order to protect herself and her team.” [02:40]

Conclusion

The Burger Chef Murders remain a haunting chapter in true crime history, illustrating how ordinary environments can harbor extraordinary tragedies. Through meticulous storytelling, this episode sheds light on the intricate web of human emotions, motivations, and unforeseen events that culminate in such dark outcomes. As the investigation unraveled, it not only sought justice for the victims but also forced a community to confront the fragility of safety in seemingly mundane settings.

For those intrigued by this case and eager to explore more such compelling true crime stories, the episode serves as a testament to the profound and often unsettling realities that lie beneath the surface of everyday life.

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This summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting the critical events, characters involved, and the overarching themes that make the Burger Chef Murders a case worth studying.

Transcript

[A]

Hey folks, Cummings here. If you're loving the no Sleep podcast, you should check out the Crime House Original Podcast Murder True Crime Stories each episode of Murder True Crime Stories explores the story of an infamous solved or unsolved murder. From crimes of passion to high profile assassinations, serial killers and money motivated murders. Host Carter Roy covers it all, but what sets Murder True Crime Crime Stories apart is the unique approach to these stories. Not just covering the evidence, but highlighting the victims, their lives, what led to their deaths, and if they ever got justice. Some of the names you'll recognize Chandra Levy, Lacey Peterson, the Black Dahlia, and others you may not Betsy Aardsma, David Blakely, Theora Hicks, but every episode is full of shocking twists, gripping true crime storytelling and unbelievable moments. Search Murder True Crime Stories and follow now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday and now enjoy this special preview of Murder True Crime Stories the Burger Chef Murders.

[B]

Besides the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, the Burger chef in Speedway, Indiana had another reason to schedule four people for the late shift that Friday night. On November 17, 1978, CBS was broadcasting the Star Wars Holiday Special nationwide. As part of a licensing deal, Burger Chef was offering the Star Wars Fun Meal. The special aired from 8pm to 10pm that left just one hour for Star wars fans excited by the special to get their Fun meals before Burger chef closed at 11. After that, the four young employees on the closing shift planned to spend the next hour or so cleaning the kitchen and getting the restaurant ready to reopen the next morning. As I mentioned, 16 year old Daniel Davis wasn't supposed to be one of those four. According to FBI files, another employee was originally scheduled to close, but this person had a history of performance issues and his termination had already been finalized. Investigators redacted the employee's name and age before his files were released. So all we know about him is that he was a white male and he hadn't been notified yet that he was fired. Friday night was set to be his last shift, but he never showed up. That's why at 9:45pm Daniel called home and asked for permission to work until midnight. His team needed the help and Daniel wanted the extra hours so he could earn money to buy Christmas presents. Daniel's parents said he could stay and that they'd wait up to make sure he got home safely. Daniel told them not to worry about waiting up for him. Fifteen minutes later, at 10pm, Jane's boyfriend stopped by to check on her. Per the FBI's files, her boyfriend was extremely protective and liked to stop by every Once in a while to make sure she was okay. So that night he pulled his car around to the drive through window and Jane told him that everything was fine. Her boyfriend drove off reassured that Jane was safe. That may have been because he saw that 16 year old mark Flemons was also working. Mark stood over 6ft tall and studied karate. After a recent murder at a fast food restaurant in Oklahoma, Mark had told Jane that he'd protect her if anything bad ever happened at Burger Chef. Jane knew that burger joints open late were a popular target for robbers. She'd even rehearsed a plan with her parents in case her restaurant became a target. As she told them, every time the subject came up, she wouldn't try to be a hero. She'd just give the robber whatever they wanted in order to protect herself and her team. It was a smart plan, but whoever entered the Burger Chef between its closing at 11 and midnight wasn't your typical fast food robber. Meanwhile, a few blocks away, another Burger Chef employee had no idea his co workers were in mortal danger. Around midnight, 17 year old Brian Kring took his date and coworker, 17 year old Ginger Haggard back to her parents house. After dropping Ginger off, Brian drove to Burger Chef. Mark had covered Ginger's shift that night so she could keep her date. Brian planned to show his appreciation by helping Mark clean up. After closing, Ryan parked in the back lot near the rear entrance. He spotted Daniel's car, a 1973 Ford Pinto parked nearby. He noticed all the lights were on inside the restaurant. He figured his friends were still cleaning and headed in to join them. Almost immediately, Brian knew something was wrong. The back door was usually bolted shut, but tonight it was ajar. And when he went inside, he saw the safe was open and the cash register drawers were pulled out. With all the money missing, Ryan called his manager to ask what to do. The boss told him to call the police. That's when someone else showed up. The unidentified white male employee who had called out claiming car trouble. He drove up in the van that had supposedly broken down earlier that night. For convenience. I'll call this employee X. Brian found X's behavior strange. Why would someone who had just claimed he couldn't get to work show up at the restaurant uninvited after it had already closed? As soon as Brian mentioned he'd called the police, X took off. He was long gone by the time the cops showed up a few minutes later. If you like this episode, please search for murder true crime stories wherever you get your podcasts and please follow so you get new episodes every Tuesday.

[A]

Hey, thanks so much for listening to catch the rest of this episode and so much more. Don't forget to search and follow Murder True Crime stories wherever you get your podcasts.

[C]

It.