The Unforgotten — Season 2, Episode 1: "The Unlocked Door"

Published: October 14, 2024
Host: Charlie Scudder (Free Range Productions)

Episode Overview

In the premiere of Season 2, "Unnatural Causes," host Charlie Scudder investigates the chilling series of murders committed at independent senior living communities in the Dallas area — crimes that went undetected for years due to systemic flaws and ageist assumptions. Through survivor accounts, family interviews, and his own reporting, Charlie reveals how the attack on Mary Bartel and the death of Ann Conklin exposed a serial killer targeting elderly women, and how institutional negligence allowed the killer to go unnoticed. This season dives into the crimes, the cover-ups, and the broader issues of how society cares for its most vulnerable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Attack on Mary Bartel (00:01–03:59)

• Jackie Midkiff discovers her neighbor, Mary Bartel, unconscious in her bed after finding the door ajar, and calls 911.
  • The paramedics revive Mary, who insists she was attacked by a man in green gloves claiming to be a gym visitor.
• Mary's sworn testimony describes feeling instant danger upon seeing the man's green gloves, her futile attempts to reach her medical alert button, and ultimately passing out as he smothered her (02:58–03:59).
• Emergency services initially doubt her story, suspecting confusion or a nightmare, but her consistent details begin to suggest otherwise.

Mary Bartel (03:00):
"I knew instantly when I saw those two green rubber gloves. Number one, I should not have opened the door. Number two, my life was in grave danger."

2. Discovery of Ann Conklin’s Death (04:27–06:08)

• Jenny Bassett recounts finding her mother, Ann Conklin, dead on the floor of her apartment across the hall.
  • Ann’s dog, Helen, was agitated and Jenny describes the scene of panic and disbelief.
• Police and emergency personnel realize the connection between the two incidents, prompting suspicion of foul play.

Jenny Bassett (05:28):
"She was on the floor right there, like right into the walk in...my mom has a jacket on...and she's face down, one side's up. I mean, she didn't look right. Right away I knew it wasn't good."

3. Serial Pattern in Senior Living Communities (06:08–07:59)

• The host, Charlie Scudder, reframes the narrative:
  • These weren’t isolated events but part of a string of attacks on elderly women in “secure” independent living facilities across North Texas.
  • Mary and Ann’s cases fit into a pattern ignored by police, medical examiners, and facility managers.
• Many deaths were misattributed to natural causes, allowing the killer to continue undetected.

4. Systemic Flaws & Ageism in Elder Care (08:00–14:51)

• Host explores how Mary Bartel’s Midwestern background and her experience echoes concerns familiar to many families placing loved ones in senior living.
• The senior living industry is a multi-billion-dollar business with 30,000+ residences in the US — yet security lapses and ageist assumptions persist.
• A tour with Linda Prickett at the Highland Springs community demonstrates the amenities and perceived safety — but residents recount knowing victims of previous attacks, shattering illusions of security.

Linda Prickett (15:37):
"It's kind of a freedom. There's something about a freedom being here."

Susie Kimbrough (17:19):
"It's just hard for me to believe that she had to go through that, because she was a very vibrant, fun person and everybody loved her."

Charlie Scudder (20:06):
"Can you imagine if this string of robberies and deaths had happened on a college campus like that?...What made these killings so different, so easy to overlook?"

• Dr. Michael Wasserman (20:27–21:38):
  Geriatrician highlights ageism as the root cause for dismissal and inaction in the face of these crimes.

  "The reason this happened, the reason this guy got away with it, is ageism. We need stories like the one you're telling, which... shows that one person could get away with murder because no one cares about this population."

5. The Fatal Flaw in Security & Investigation (21:38–27:43)

• Between 2016 and 2018, at least a dozen elderly women were killed in senior communities, with theft and similar MOs overlooked as natural deaths.

  • The killer, Billy Chemirmir, targeted affluent residents. Valuables disappeared, but skepticism from families was brushed aside.

• Multiple incidents occurred even after initial survivor reports (e.g., Ella Lawson in Frisco survived a similar attack but received little follow-up).

• Karen Harris recounts the unsettling final days with her mother, Miriam Nelson:

  • A strange man entered Miriam’s apartment under pretense of maintenance—a necklace soon went missing.
  • After Miriam’s subsequent death, Karen's grief is compounded upon learning her mother may have been murdered.

Karen Harris (26:29):
"Every time I tell that story, it just makes me smile because she was just giggling, telling me...I know it's weird that you're having to buy me bras, but just go in and get several and I'll try them all on."

(On hearing her mother was a victim:)
"It's such a different level of grief when you know that someone has mistreated your loved one." (28:04)

6. Missed Warnings and Community Reactions (28:57–29:54)

• In response to rumors, flyers were posted urging residents to lock doors — but pragmatism and skepticism prevailed among many, including Ann Conklin herself.
• Ann’s daughter Jenny describes her mother's reluctance to live in fear, even joking about the risks.

7. Arrest and Aftermath: Billy Chemirmir’s Modus Operandi (29:54–End)

• Police piece together the crimes after Mary’s attacker is described and a suspicious vehicle report links to Chemirmir.
• Chemirmir, an ex-caregiver, wore gloves and professional clothing to gain entry, smothered victims (with little visible evidence), and quickly fenced stolen jewelry.
• Only after his arrest were previous “natural” deaths investigated as murders — a process hindered by poor institutional coordination and forensic limitations.

Charlie Scudder (Summary):
"...Once inside, he'd force the women to the floor or to the bed and use a pillow to smother them to death...Even trained forensic investigators...wouldn't be able to tell unless they were already looking for a smothering case."

• Hypothetical: Could better security vigilance have stopped him earlier? The episode closes with a teaser for a forthcoming security guard’s account, suggesting an opportunity was missed even as warning signs emerged.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "[Ageism] is a symptom of a bigger problem. The reason this guy got away with it, is ageism." – Dr. Michael Wasserman [20:36]
• "It's kind of a freedom. There's something about a freedom being here." – Linda Prickett [15:37]
• "I knew instantly when I saw those two green rubber gloves...my life was in grave danger." – Mary Bartel [02:58]
• "If this string of robberies and deaths had happened on a college campus...parents would pull their kids from the dorms...What made these killings so different, so easy to overlook?" – Charlie Scudder [20:06]
• "It's such a different level of grief when you know that someone has mistreated your loved one." – Karen Harris [28:04]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01 — 911 call and discovery of Mary Bartel
• 02:58 — Mary Bartel’s account of the attack
• 04:27 — Jenny Bassett finds her mother, Ann Conklin, dead
• 06:08 — Attack is framed as part of a serial pattern
• 08:00 — Introduction of societal concerns and personal connection (Charlie’s family)
• 13:21 — Tour of Highland Springs; resident perspectives
• 15:37 — Residents share feelings of independence and security
• 17:04 — Residents’ memories of murdered friends
• 20:27 — Dr. Wasserman on ageism
• 23:05 — Miriam Nelson’s suspicious visitor and missing necklace
• 26:29 — Karen Harris’s last conversation with her mother
• 28:04 — Discovery and reaction to the murder in Miriam’s case
• 29:54 — Police connect the crimes; Chemirmir’s modus operandi
• 31:26 — Systemic insecurity, broader questions on prevention

Episode Tone & Style

The episode balances investigative rigor with empathy — blending survivor and family voices, detailed crime reporting, and larger systemic analysis. The tone is urgent yet personal, interspersed with moments of warmth and dark humor from families, residents, and the host.

Summary

Episode 1 of Season 2 takes listeners deep into the world of independent senior living, revealing how a serial killer preyed on elderly women for years due to institutional failures and societal neglect. Using personal stories and expert analysis, host Charlie Scudder exposes both the crimes and the culture that allowed them to happen, setting the stage for a suspenseful, socially relevant investigation across the rest of the season.