A missing father. A body in the Little Pee Dee River. A secret affair with a deputy coroner. This week, we are breaking down the 2020 murder of Gregory Rice in Horry County, South Carolina. Tune in as we discuss how a web of anonymous text messages and surveillance footage unraveled a deadly conspiracy between Meagan Jackson and her lover, Christopher Dontell, leading up to the dramatic verdicts handed down in 2025.

Support the show

• Listen to our Monday minisode A Little Less Mess right here on the main feed.   
• Hang out with us on Patreon for The Weekly Pour on the Porch and Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’.
• Please rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media for case updates, what's in our mason jars, true crime documentary recommendations, and Southern suppers. Search @blessthismesspodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Sources for this episode

• Court TV: "SC v. Meagan Jackson: Coroner Affair Murder Trial" (Trial Coverage & Testimonies)
• ABC News: "Father's disappearance exposes shocking affair and murder plot"
• WPDE / ABC 15 News (South Carolina): "Jury selected in trial for woman charged in 2020 murder"
• WPDE / ABC 15 News (South Carolina): "Ex-Horry Co. deputy coroner sentenced to 20 years for role in 2020 murder case"
• WBTW News 13: Trial Roster & Case Coverage
• Horry County Police Department: Missing Persons Archives (October 2020)

In this mini-episode of A Little Less Mess, we’re venturing outside the South to cover one of the most brutal and bizarre crimes in recent history: The 2011 Lululemon Murder. When a store manager in Bethesda, Maryland opened the doors to a gruesome, bloody crime scene, one employee was dead and another was found bound in the back room, claiming masked men had attacked them. But the evidence told a completely different, terrifying story. Join Cara for a 15-minute deep dive into a case of theft, a horrific betrayal, and a desperate cover-up.

Support the show

• Listen to our Monday minisode A Little Less Mess right here on the main feed.   
• Hang out with us on Patreon for The Weekly Pour on the Porch and Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’.
• Please rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media for case updates, what's in our mason jars, true crime documentary recommendations, and Southern suppers. Search @blessthismesspodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Sources for this episode

• CBS News: “Brittany Norwood found guilty of first degree murder in Lululemon trial”
• The Washington Post: “Court papers: Lululemon killing a horrific attack”
• All That’s Interesting: “Lululemon Murder: The Vicious Killing Over Leggings”
• ABC News: “Maryland Yoga Shop Killing: Brittany Norwood Stole Merchandise Before Killing Jayna Murray”
• Dan Morse (Book): The Yoga Store Murder: The Shocking True Account of the Lululemon Athletica Killing
• Maryland Court of Special Appeals: Norwood v. State of Maryland (2015)

In 1948, Mary Virginia “Jimmie” Carpenter arrived in Denton for summer classes—and vanished between the train station and her dorm. We walk through the cab driver’s changing story, possible ties to the Texarkana Phantom Killer, and a haunting cold case that still has no answers.

Support the show

• Listen to our Monday minisode A Little Less Mess right here on the main feed.   
• Hang out with us on Patreon for The Weekly Pour on the Porch and Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’.
• Please rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media for case updates, what's in our mason jars, true crime documentary recommendations, and Southern suppers. Search @blessthismesspodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Sources for this episode

• The Charley Project – “Mary Virginia Carpenter”
• Wikipedia – “Disappearance of Virginia Carpenter”
• Denton County History & Culture – “The Chilling Disappearance of Virginia Carpenter”
• The Doe Network – Case File 1198DFTX, Mary Virginia Carpenter
• Texas Monthly – “The Phantom Killer”
• FBI Vault – archival materials on mid‑20th‑century missing persons investigations
• Denton Record‑Chronicle and Texarkana Gazette

The most successful serial killers are the ones you’ve never heard of.
 
Welcome to this week’s Monday minisode of A Little Less Mess! Today we are looking at the terrifying, unsolved case of the West Mesa Bone Collector. Between 2003 and 2005, a serial killer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, buried 11 women in the desert—and got away with it because he knew exactly who to target so that no one would come looking. 

It wasn't until a dog walker stumbled across a bone in 2009 that the city realized what had been happening right in their backyard.
 
Sources:
[1] Major Cases https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/major-cases
[2] 27 Little-Known True Crime Stories https://www.buzzfeed.com/crystalro/little-known-true-crime-stories-fs
[3] True Crime Tales: 10 Cases Buried in the Archive https://texasarchive.org/true-crime-tales
[4] Buried Cold Cases: Little-known unsolved murders & ... https://www.facebook.com/groups/buriedcoldcases/
[5] America's 5 Most Notorious Cold Cases (Including One ... https://www.britannica.com/list/americas-5-most-notorious-cold-cases-including-one-you-may-have-thought-was-already-solved
[6] What are some lesser known unresolved crime cases that ... https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/dx8ooy/what_are_some_lesser_known_unresolved_crime_cases/
[7] 5 Unsolved Serial Killer Cases to Know About https://www.oxygen.com/unknown-serial-killers-of-america/crime-news/5-unsolved-serial-killer-cases
[8] 50 Unsolved Murders in 50 States | Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY0xWuE3h1c

In the spring of 1946, the border town of Texarkana was paralyzed by fear as an unknown attacker began stalking local “lovers’ lanes.” Over ten terrifying weeks, a masked assailant known as the Phantom Killer brutally attacked eight people, killing five of them.

In this episode of Bless This Mess, we break down the four horrific attacks that became known as the Texarkana Moonlight Murders, from the first assaults on back roads to the shocking final home invasion. We discuss how the town responded by arming themselves and shutting down nightlife, the massive multi-agency investigation that followed, and the leading suspect, Youell Swinney, who many believe was the Phantom despite never standing trial for the murders. Finally, we explore how this officially unsolved case became an American legend and inspired the film The Town That Dreaded Sundown.

Support the show

• Listen to our Monday minisode A Little Less Mess right here on the main feed.   
• Hang out with us on Patreon for The Weekly Pour on the Porch and Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’.
• Please rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media for case updates, what's in our mason jars, true crime documentary recommendations, and Southern suppers. Search @blessthismesspodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Sources for this episode

• Encyclopedia of Arkansas – “Texarkana Moonlight Murders”
• Wikipedia – “Texarkana Moonlight Murders”
• James Presley, The Phantom Killer: Unlocking the Mystery of the Texarkana Serial Murders
• Michael Newton, The Texarkana Moonlight Murders: The Unsolved Case of the 1946 Phantom Killer
• Texas Monthly – feature on the Texarkana murder mystery
• Texarkana Gazette 

In the late 90s and early 2000s, the city of Baton Rouge was paralyzed by fear. The public and the police thought they were hunting one monster, but they were actually dealing with three serial killers operating at the exact same time. While Derrick Todd Lee and Sean Vincent Gillis dominated the national headlines, a third killer slipped completely under the radar.

On today’s Monday minisode of A Little Less Mess, Cara skips the chit-chat and dives straight into the overlooked case of Jeffery Lee Guillory. We discuss his forgotten victims—Florida Edwards, Sylvia Cobb, and Renee Newman—and the massive DNA breakthrough from a routine traffic stop that finally brought his reign of terror to an end.

Listen to more Bless This Mess: Need some porch-side banter to go with your true crime? Join Cara and Stew every Thursday for our full-length main episodes!

• Support us on Patreon: Catch The Weekly Pour and our exclusive Friday drops at Patreon
• Follow us on Instagram/TikTok: @blessthismesspodcast
• Watch this episode’s visuals on our Reels!
If you enjoyed this minisode, please leave us a rating and review! 

Sources
[1] The serial killer cases that changed Baton Rouge policing ... https://www.wafb.com/2026/07/01/serial-killer-cases-that-changed-baton-rouge-policing-forever/
[2] The serial killer cases that terrified Baton Rouge did more than put ... https://www.facebook.com/WAFB9/videos/the-serial-killer-cases-that-terrified-baton-rouge-did-more-than-put-families-on/3183616872026807/
[3] Suspected serial killer spoke freely BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) https://legalnews.com/detroit/1079269
[4] The serial killer cases that terrified Baton Rouge did more ... https://www.facebook.com/KSLANews12/posts/the-serial-killer-cases-that-terrified-baton-rouge-did-more-than-put-families-on/1498695402298429/
[5] Where Are Baton Rouge Serial Killers Now? https://www.oxygen.com/serial-killer-capital-baton-rouge/crime-news/where-are-baton-rouge-serial-killers-now
[6] TRUE CRIME | The Jeffery Lee Guillory Story | Jessica Anne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QT2uE-8RzQ
[7] What Did These Three Baton Rouge Murders Have in ... https://www.oxygen.com/serial-killer-capital-baton-rouge/videos/what-did-these-three-baton-rouge-murders-have-in-common [
8] GUILLORY Jeffery Lee | Serial Killer Database Wiki - Fandom https://skdb.fandom.com/wiki/GUILLORY_Jeffery_Lee
[9] Guillory sentenced to 50 years in prison https://www.wafb.com/story/12145893/guillory-sentenced-to-50-years-in-prison/

Our Friday hangout has a new name! Welcome to the very first episode of Sittin’, Sippin’, & Bullshittin’. Cara and Stew are on the porch walking through all the big podcast upgrades: our new weekly schedule, Patreon tiers, Porch Crew mason jars, and a few quick life updates about moving. Then, Cara tells Stew the absolute chaos behind the new Netflix documentary, A Toxic Love Story —a wild true-crime tale of a U.S. Marshal, fake threats, and an insane revenge plot. Grab your Weekly Pour, settle in, and let's get into the mess.

Follow us on Instagram

Like us on Facebook 

TikTok - @blessthismesspodcast 

Support us on Patreon - for early access, ad-free, and Porch Crew perks!

Buy us a Coffee! - one time support to keep the porch lights on.

Rate, Review, and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or where you listen!

Music courtesy of Blanche

What happens when multiple serial killers hunt in the same city? This week, we examine the case of Jeffery Lee Guillory, Baton Rouge's third serial killer. We break down the decades-long investigation, the crucial DNA evidence that broke the case wide open, and his final sentencing to life behind bars.

Find us on the webs!

Follow us on Instagram

Like us on Facebook

TikTok - @blessthismesspodcast

Support us on Patreon - for early access and ad-free, join our Patreon!

Buy us a Coffee! - if you want to support the podcast with a one-time donation, buy us a coffee!

Rate, Review, and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen!

Welcome to A Little Less Mess, it's our companion episode to our main weekly releases. In ALLM, you will find just the facts, no opinions, no jokes, no banter, but do not fear! If you would like to hear our full thoughts on this case (and inappropriate jokes) check out the weekly regular episodes released on Thursdays (they're the numbered episodes).


From 1992 to 2003, Derrick Todd Lee terrorized the Baton Rouge area, murdering young women and leaving little to no clues behind. It would take a brave survivor and advancements in DNA technology to finally put him behind bars.

Reference: The Making of a Serial Killer - Season 1 Episode 2 (Peacock)

Find us on the webs!

Follow us on Instagram

Like us on Facebook

TikTok - @blessthismesspodcast

Support us on Patreon - for early access and ad-free, join our Patreon!

Buy us a Coffee! - if you want to support the podcast with a one-time donation, buy us a coffee!

Rate, Review, and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen!

At the same time that Derrick Todd Lee was committing murders, another serial killer was lurking in the shadows. The fact that there were two active serial killers at the same time caused confusion with the investigations but after Derrick Todd Lee was locked up and the killings continued, they discovered the Second Baton Rouge Serial Killer, Sean Vincent Gillis.

Reference: The Worlds Most Evil Killers - Season 6 Episode 13 (Peacock)

Find us on the webs!

Follow us on Instagram

Like us on Facebook

TikTok - @blessthismesspodcast

Support us on Patreon - for early access and ad-free, join our Patreon!

Buy us a Coffee! - if you want to support the podcast with a one-time donation, buy us a coffee!

Rate, Review, and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen!