Episode 80

On November 18, 1947, a fire tore through Ballantynes department store in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 41 people and changing the nation forever. It remains New Zealand’s deadliest fire disaster — and one that exposed shocking negligence.

In this episode, we retrace the events leading up to the blaze, the chaos of the evacuation, and the devastating aftermath. We’ll look at how overcrowding, building construction, and a lack of fire protection systems turned a busy shopping day into tragedy, and how the disaster forced long-overdue changes to fire safety and labor laws.

Ballantynes wasn’t just a tragedy — it was a turning point. But it also raises a haunting question: why do we keep having to relearn the same lessons, decades later?

Listener discretion is advised.

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Sources:

Staff Told Not To Evacuate: The Ballantynes Fire — Fascinating Horror (YouTube, July 16, 2024). Watch here

A Tragic Series of Events | Ballantynes Fire | A Short Documentary — Retelling (YouTube, October 24, 2021). Watch here

Episode 79

In Part 2 of our Bath School Massacre series, we step back from the timeline to ask the harder questions: what drives an otherwise rational man to the brink of ruin—and what finally pushes him over the edge? We’ll uncover just how long, and how meticulously, Andrew Kehoe had been planning his attack, and the unsettling foresight that made the tragedy possible.

From there, we confront the psychology behind Kehoe’s actions, the societal pressures that fed his resentment, and the dangerous mix of grievance and obsession that culminated in tragedy. We don’t shy away from the uncomfortable truths about acts of mass murder, because the only redemption in a story like this is in asking what we can learn—and how we can do better.

Listener discretion is advised.

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The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified. 

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Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet. 

Sources:

Bernstein, Arnie. Bath Massacre: America’s First School Bombing. University of Michigan Press, 2009.

Schechter, Harold. Maniac: The Bath School Disaster and the Birth of the Modern Mass Killer. Little A, New York, 2021.

Episode 78

On May 18, 1927, the quiet farming town of Bath, Michigan, was shattered by the deadliest school massacre in U.S. history. Long before Columbine, Sandy Hook, or Parkland, one man wired an entire school with explosives — and changed the way America would understand mass violence forever.

In this episode of Crime to Burn, we dig into the life and mind of Andrew Kehoe — a farmer, a school board treasurer, and the man who became America’s first school bomber. What drove him from grievances and financial struggles to an act of calculated terror? Was it narcissism, psychopathy, or something even more insidious simmering beneath the surface?

Join us as we walk through the events of that fateful day, the psychology of grievance and vengeance, and the community that was left to pick up the pieces.

Listener discretion is advised.

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The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified. 

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Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet. 

Sources:

Bernstein, Arnie. Bath Massacre: America’s First School Bombing. University of Michigan Press, 2009.

Schechter, Harold. Maniac: The Bath School Disaster and the Birth of the Modern Mass Killer. Little A, New York, 2021.

Episode 77

In this episode of Crime to Burn, we revisit the devastating fire at Greybeard’s Tavern in Jacksonville, Florida, and the deeply flawed arson case that followed. Randal Wagoner, a local truck driver, was arrested and charged with both arson and murder after the fire claimed the life of Katherine Johnson.

What first looked like an open-and-shut case unraveled. Investigators leaned on experts who couldn’t back up their findings with scientific proof, relied on questionable witnesses, and overlooked other possible suspects.

Was Katherine Johnson’s death really a murder — or a tragic accident miscast as a crime? We’re bringing you all the shocking details of a case that collapsed under scrutiny, but not before Wagoner spent three years behind bars awaiting trial.

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The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified. 

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Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet. 

Sources:

State of Florida v. Randal Wagoner – Homicide Investigation (Fourth Judicial Circuit, November 15, 2018). State Attorney’s Office report outlining case facts, problems in proof, and reasons for dismissal.

Harding, Ashley. Woman's body found in Greybeard Tavern fire. News4Jax, December 1, 2013, 6:40 PM. Link.

Lashway, Zachery, and Powers, Frank. Man who spent 3 years behind bars has murder, arson charges dropped — Randal Wagoner released last year after judge agreed case against him 'weak'. News4Jax, November 19, 2018, 5:28 PM. Link.

Pantazi, Andrew. Botched forensics lead to dropped charges — Prosecutors say murder case was built on flimsy evidence from police, Fire Marshal and medical examiner. Florida Times-Union / jacksonville.com, November 16, 2018 (updated). Link.

Episode 76

In the finale of The Flora Four: Between Rumors and Reality, we bring the story full circle. Nearly a decade after the fire that claimed the lives of four young sisters in Flora, Indiana, we examine why this case remains unsolved — and who really benefitted from the official arson ruling.

From conflicting investigator depositions to shifting fire science, we uncover how shaky evidence and rushed conclusions may have shaped the narrative. Was this truly a deliberate act of arson, or did the label itself protect powerful interests from facing criminal negligence charges?

As we lay out the flaws in the investigation, we revisit the landlords, insurance money, and the haunting possibility that the truth was buried under bureaucracy and rumor. The families still wait for justice — but what if the answers don’t point where officials want you to look?

Join us as we close this case file, pulling together the fire science, the politics, and the human toll of a community still searching for accountability.

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The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified. 

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Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet. 

Sources:

If you want to go down the rabbit hole on this case, there are lots of theories and discussion on this board, just be warned, you could get lost in there for weeks.

For a complete source list, please also see show notes for Episodes 74 and 75. Additional sources used in Part 3 include the following.

Deposition of Gaylin Rose, Plaintiff, Gaylin Rose v. Birch Tree Holdings, LLC, et al., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Cause No. 2:18-cv-00197-JTM (September 25, 2020).

Episode 75

In Part 2 of The Flora Four: Between Rumors and Reality, we dig into the tangled web of suspects, motives, and unanswered questions surrounding the fire that claimed the lives of four young sisters in Flora, Indiana.

From Gaylin Rose’s boyfriend Colten Creasy to the complicated history of Jennifer Dean (a.k.a. Jennifer Barnes, Jennifer Miller), we examine the relationships, rumors, and criminal connections that kept investigators circling. Was this a case of small-town drama spilling into something darker—or did Gaylin’s circle of friends pull her into dangerous territory?

Then we follow the money. With Josh Ayres and Troy Helderman’s Birch Tree LLC carrying nearly $400,000 in insurance on a house valued at just $45,000—and a pattern of past insurance claims—the financial motives are impossible to ignore. Add in rumors of fire tricks and unanswered police reports, and the smoke around this case gets even thicker.

Join us as we peel back the layers of romance, drugs, race, and financial gain in search of what really fueled this fire.

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified. 

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet. 

Sources:

If you want to go down the rabbit hole on this case, there are lots of theories and discussion on this board, just be warned, you could get lost in there for weeks.

For a complete source list, please also see show notes for Episode 64. Additional sources used in Part 2 include the following.

Sandra Chapman. Emails Confirm Top Homeland Security Leaders Knew of Concerns over Flora Fire Investigation. 13 Investigates, WTHR. October 6, 2017; updated January 15, 2018. Link

Mike Potter. ‘No help’ | 4 girls died in the Flora fire. 8 years later, the case remains unsolved. 13WTHR. November 21, 2024; updated November 25, 2024. Link

Steven Brown. Mom calls for justice 6 years after Flora fire killed her 4 girls, ‘I pray every day something comes out’. Fox 59. November 21, 2022. Link

Aishah Hasnie. Seasoned private investigator in Flora fire says mistakes happen with inexperience. Fox 59. June 26, 2017. Link

State of Indiana v. Jennifer L. Dean, Case 08C01-2017-MR-000002 (Case summary/docket filed July 14, 2021).

Holly Eitenmiller. Final defendant sentenced in 2019 murder of Lafayette man amid sex trafficking claims. (Originally circulated via Reddit board; Link

Sandra Chapman. Owner of Flora house where 4 girls died in fire wants release of police and fire records. 13 Investigates, WTHR. December 12, 2018; updated February 13, 2019. Link

Susan Scholl. Flora’s sewer issues rise to the top for 2019. Carroll County Comet. December 5, 2018. Link

Deposition of Troy Helderman, Landlord, Gaylin Rose v. Birch Tree Holdings, LLC, et al., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Cause No. 2:18-cv-00197-JTM (Filed 2022).

Deposition of Joshua Ayres, Landlord, Gaylin Rose v. Birch Tree Holdings, LLC, et al., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Cause No. 2:18-cv-00197-JTM (Filed 2022).

Deposition of Joshua Ayres (Insurance Coverage), Gaylin Rose v. Birch Tree Holdings, LLC, et al., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Cause No. 2:18-cv-00197-JTM (Filed 2022).

Deposition of Todd Hetrick, P.E., CFEI, CFI, CVFI, Fire Investigator, Gaylin Rose v. Birch Tree Holdings, LLC, et al., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Cause No. 2:18-cv-00197-JTM (December 20, 2021).

Deposition of Jeffrey Tipton, CFI, CFEI, CVFI, Fire Investigator, Gaylin Rose v. Birch Tree Holdings, LLC, et al., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Cause No. 2:18-cv-00197-JTM (January 24, 2022).

Deposition of Candace Ashby, Ph.D., Fire Investigator, Gaylin Rose v. Birch Tree Holdings, LLC, et al., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Cause No. 2:18-cv-00197-JTM (December 21, 2021).

103 E. Columbia Street Rental Agreement. (Filed as exhibit in Gaylin Rose v. Birch Tree Holdings, LLC, et al., Cause No. 2:18-cv-00197-JTM).

IC Rental Agreements. (Filed as exhibit in Gaylin Rose v. Birch Tree Holdings, LLC, et al.).

Episode 74

On November 21, 2016, a fire tore through a home in Flora, Indiana, claiming the lives of four young sisters: Keyana, Keyara, Kerriele, Kionnie. Nearly nine years later, the case remains unsolved, mired in contradictions, unanswered questions, and a community still searching for justice.

In this episode of Crime to Burn, we sift through the layers of rumor and fact surrounding the Flora fire. From conflicting reports about accelerant use to the shifting narratives in the press, we trace how early investigative missteps and public speculation blurred the line between truth and gossip. We’ll examine the timeline of the fire, the aftermath that shook Carroll County, and the resignation of key officials that left even more questions hanging in the air.

What we cover in this episode:

The night of the fire and the immediate response

Early statements by officials and how they conflicted

The role of rumors in shaping public perception

Why investigators and community members remain at odds

The lasting impact on a small Indiana town still waiting for answers

The Flora case is more than just an unsolved fire — it’s a story about trust, accountability, and the thin line between official record and whispered speculation.

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Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet. 

Sources:

WTHR YouTube. “8 Years Since Deadly Flora Fire Killed 4 Girls.” Posted Nov 21, 2024. Link

Turner, Dakariai. “Flora Fire | Questions Remain 7 Years After 4 Sisters Killed in Intentionally Set Fire.” WISH-TV I-Team 8. Link

Brown, Steve. “Dashboard Camera Video Reveals Rescue Attempt in Deadly Flora Fire.” CBS4. Link

Wilkins, Ron. “FBI, Indiana State Police Go Door to Door to Try to Solve Fatal 2016 Flora Fire.” Lafayette Journal & Courier, July 7, 2025. Link

“Randle Turns in Law Badge After 3 Decades of Service.” Carroll County Comet. Link

Paul, Joseph. “Fire Chief Resigns One Year After Fatal Flora Fire That Killed 4 Children.” Lafayette Journal & Courier, Nov 15, 2017. Link

Gay, David. “Docs: Settlement Reached in Flora Arson Fire Civil Suit.” FOX59, Sept 14, 2023. Link

Chapman, Sandra. “Product Liability Lawsuit Dismissed in Flora Fire Case.” WTHR 13 News, Jan 29, 2020 (updated Jan 31, 2020). Link

Rose v. Birch Tree Holdings, LLC. United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana, Aug 22, 2022. Opinion. Link

True Crime Garage. “The Flora Fire [Episode 538].” Posted Nov 26, 2021. YouTube Link

“Camden Man Charged with Attempted Murder, Arson.” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, May 12, 1993. Newspaper Archive.

Pharos-Tribune Coverage, Late 1992. Headlines include: “Camden Man Charged with Attempted Murder, Arson,” and notice of upcoming arson trial. Newspaper Archive.

Bell, Amy. “Camden Man Charged With Attempted Murder, Arson.” Pharos-Tribune (Delphi, Indiana). Archival clipping from local print edition, circa Sept 1992. Accessed via Delphi Media Archives (Reddit).

“Camden Man Charged With Arson.” Pharos-Tribune (Delphi, Indiana). Archival clipping from local print edition, June 1992. Accessed via Delphi Media Archives (Reddit).

Bell, Amy. “Mistrial Declared in Arson Case.” Pharos-Tribune (Delphi, Indiana). Archival clipping from local print edition, early 1993. Accessed via Delphi Media Archives (Reddit).

“Camden Fire Department Rebuilds After Arson.” Pharos-Tribune (Delphi, Indiana). Archival clipping from local print edition, 1992–1993 coverage. Accessed via Delphi Media Archives (Reddit).

Indiana State Police Report. (Flora Fire investigation records, ISP file)

Flora Police Report. (Initial incident report, Flora Police Department, Nov. 2016)

Flora Arson Report. Todd Hetrick & Jeremy Lemon, Investigators. (ATF/Fire Marshal collaboration)

Carroll County E911 Records. “E-911 Flora Volunteer Fire Dept. call logs (July 2017).”

Indiana Public Access Counselor. Advisory Opinion 17-FC-134 (re: Flora Fire Department records request). July 20, 2017

Carroll County E911 v. Hasnie. Amicus Brief of Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press & 16 media organizations. Indiana Court of Appeals, Cause No. 19A-MI-2682

FVFD Chief / Public Access Counselor. Advisory correspondence re: records access (2017).

Federal Court Filing. USDC IN/ND Case No. 2:18-cv-00197-JTM, Document 196-28 (filed April 13, 2022).

ISO (Insurance Services Office). Letter to Chief Bruce Dickey, Flora Fire Department, April 25, 2012. Community Mitigation Analyst Report — Public Protection Classification (PPC) Class 6 rating for Flora, IN.

Britt, Luke H., Indiana Public Access Counselor. Formal Complaint No. 17-FC-167: Aishah Hasnie v. Carroll County E-911. Opinion issued July 2017. Found in APRA Suit E911 documents

Episode 73

In the late 1980s, Florida’s Gulf Coast was a powder keg of cocaine, cash, and violence. In this episode, we dive into the wild case of Jeff Matthews — a drug kingpin whose ego was as big as his rap sheet, and whose grudges were… explosive.

When a federal investigation started closing in, Matthews didn’t just lawyer up — he plotted bombings. One of his alleged targets? A Fort Myer's Florida fire marshal. And somehow, in the tangled web of suspects, an innocent-sounding pizza joint landed in the crosshairs of investigators.

From late-night parties and sudden gunfire to booby-trapped vans and high-stakes plea deals, this case has it all: drugs, bombs, and one very memorable slice of Florida true crime.

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Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet. 

Sources:

“The Man Who Bombed the DEA | The FBI Files | Real Crime”, Real Crime YouTube channel. Posted January 23, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57R6UN4kvtQ

The Fort Myers Bomber, Middle District of Florida, United States District Court. Retrieved from the official court website: “The Fort Myers Bomber” page, Middle District of Florida https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/fort-myers-bomber

Episode 72

Was it arson—or was it a tragic accident?

In the final installment of our five-part series, we walk through the evidence from the perspective of a fire protection engineer. We’ll dissect the fire’s behavior, ignition theories, the official investigation, and what was left out—and we’ll finally ask the big question: does the science match the story we were told?

From code violations and wiring issues to survivor testimony and suspected cover-ups, this episode brings it all together. If you've been waiting for the fire nerd deep dive... this is it.

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet. 

Sources:

Inside the Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire by Ron Elliott – A detailed account of the tragedy, drawing from survivor stories, official records, and historical context to paint a vivid picture of the events leading up to the fire.

The Beverly Hills Supper Club: The Untold Story Behind Kentucky's Worst Tragedy by Robert D. Webster – A deep investigative dive into the fire, including previously unreleased documents and interviews that challenge the official narrative and explore allegations of corruption and cover-up.

Crime to Burn is a production of Crime to Burn, LLC. We light fires in your brain, not your buildings. All rights reserved.

Episode 72 (Emergency Bonus Episode)

This is not a regular episode.

In 2024, Paul Clifford was brutally murdered—his body set on fire in an act of unspeakable violence. Now, the Pima County Attorney’s Office is preparing to offer plea deals that could allow 2 people accused of murdering him to walk with barely a slap on the wrist.

Paul’s wife, Christina Clifford, is speaking out. In this urgent bonus episode, she shares her story—and her outrage. With court decisions looming, she’s asking for your help.

There are only days left to act.

You can call the Pima County attorney at 529-724-5600 or go to their website pcao.pima.gov and click on the “contact us” link at the very bottom of the page for an email from.

You can reach Christina Clifford on TikTok @enchanteddesertessentials

You can also reach out to us at [email protected] and we will do our best to help you reach Christina. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet. 

Sources:

Personal interview with Christina Clifford (audio recorded for Crime to Burn), July 2025.

Crime to Burn is a production of Crime to Burn, LLC. We light fires in your brain, not your buildings. All rights reserved.