Southern Mysteries Podcast

Episode 161 Murder in Sebring - The William Carver Murder Trials

Listen Later

The Carver Murder Trial of 1930 drew national attention for its brutality and mystery. Ruth Carver, her two-year-old son Lee, and family employee Ben Whitehead were all found dead in their Florida home. Ruth’s husband, William Carver, claimed he killed Whitehead in defense of his family, but shifting testimony and new evidence led to multiple murder trials. Nearly a century later, the true story remains a haunting mystery.

Want more Southern Mysteries? 

Hear the Southern Mysteries show archive of 60+ episodes along with Patron exclusive podcast, Audacious: Tales of American Crime and more when you become a patron of the show. You can immediately access exclusive content now at patreon.com/southernmysteries

Connect

Website: southernmysteries.com

Facebook: Southern Mysteries Podcast
Instagram: @southernmysteries
Email: [email protected] 

Episode Sources

  • Carver v. State, 101 Fla. 1421, 134 So. 62 (Fla. 1931)
  • Criminal Genealogy. (2020, November). William Raymond Carver Murder. Retrieved from Criminal Genealogy Blog
  • The Orlando Sentinel. (1930, April 4). 1st Degree Murder Warrant for Carver. Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • The Orlando Sentinel. (1930, April 5). More About Wife. Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • The Orlando Sentinel. (1930, April 6). Cleared by Grand Jury but Being Appealed. Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • The Orlando Sentinel. (1930, April 7). Life Insurance Policy. Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • The Orlando Sentinel. (1930, April 15). Defense Obtains 30 Day Delay in Case. Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • The Orlando Sentinel. (1930, May 12). Carver Placed on Trial - Court Packed. Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • The Orlando Evening Star. (1930, May 14). Jury Tours Crime Scene. Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • The Orlando Sentinel. (1930, May 18). Defense Fights for Carver’s Life…He Testifies at Trial. Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • The Orlando Sentinel. (1930, May 19). Hatchet Shown in Court. Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • The Orlando Sentinel. (1930, May 21). Found Guilty - Motive Was $1000 Life Insurance Policy. Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • The Orlando Sentinel. (1930, May 24). Carver Asks for 2nd Trial. Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • The Orlando Sentinel. (1930, June). Last Chance Plea for New Trial (Details of Juror Who Was in Carver Home on Afternoon of Murders!) Retrieved from Newspapers.com
  • Find A Grave. Frances Louise Van Midde. Retrieved from Find A Grave
  • Find A Grave. Lee Townsend Carver. Retrieved from Find A Grave
  • Find A Grave. Ruth Emilie Carver. Retrieved from Find A Grave

    • Episode Music

    Out of the Mines, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina.

     

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    Southern Mysteries PodcastBy Shannon Ballard
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    904 ratings

    More shows like Southern Mysteries Podcast

    View all
    Most Notorious! A True Crime History Podcast by Blue Ewe Media

    Most Notorious! A True Crime History Podcast

    2,790 Listeners

    The Vanished Podcast by Wondery

    The Vanished Podcast

    15,402 Listeners

    Already Gone Podcast by Nina Innsted

    Already Gone Podcast

    3,967 Listeners

    Gone Cold - Texas True Crime by Gone Cold Productions

    Gone Cold - Texas True Crime

    1,863 Listeners

    Southern Fried True Crime by Erica Kelley

    Southern Fried True Crime

    10,602 Listeners

    American Hauntings Podcast by Cody Beck and Troy Taylor

    American Hauntings Podcast

    1,544 Listeners

    MURDERISH by Cloud10

    MURDERISH

    3,451 Listeners

    Southern Gothic by Southern Gothic Media

    Southern Gothic

    904 Listeners

    Horrifying History by Horrifying History, Bleav

    Horrifying History

    301 Listeners

    Haunted American History by Bloody FM

    Haunted American History

    391 Listeners

    Crimes of the Centuries by Amber Hunt and Audioboom

    Crimes of the Centuries

    3,900 Listeners

    Carolina Crimes by Matt Hiers and Danielle Myers

    Carolina Crimes

    1,380 Listeners

    Mysteries and Histories by Georgia Marie

    Mysteries and Histories

    130 Listeners

    Strange and Unexplained with Daisy Eagan by Strange and Unexplained with Daisy Eagan

    Strange and Unexplained with Daisy Eagan

    9,946 Listeners

    Heart Starts Pounding: Horrors, Hauntings and Mysteries by Heart Starts Pounding

    Heart Starts Pounding: Horrors, Hauntings and Mysteries

    3,828 Listeners