Effingham County sits on Georgia’s eastern border and is a located about 30 miles northwest of Savannah. Nestled within a small town in Effingham County lived the Heidt family who were very well-liked and a highly respected local family. The Heidt family’s patriarch was Philip Heidt who was a successful real estate developer. Philip and his wife Linda Heidt had been happily married for 41 years and together they had three sons: Philip Jr. “Craig”, Christopher, and Carey. However, in 2008, unthinkable tragedy struck the Heidt family. On the night of August 25, an intruder entered the Heidt home and silently crept through the darkness. Moments later, the house violently rang with the sound of three shotgun blasts that pierced the silence. Quickly, news of the murders shook a small community to its core. The Heidt Family murders would make local history as a tale of greed, lust, and betrayal with the shocking parricide of a picturesque, home-grown, southern family.

​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff 

References:

Associated Press. (2011, December 19). Georgia man who murdered his brother and father wants new trial. The Florida Times-Union. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/2011/12/19/georgia-man-who-murdered-his-brother-and-father-wants-new-trial/15880739007/

Charleston Post & Courier. (2024, March 15). Charleston Post & Courier recent obituaries: All of Charleston Post & Courier’s recent obituaries. Legacy.com. https://obits.postandcourier.com/us/obituaries/charleston/name/john-rast-obituary?id=23036755

CBS News. (2012, July 14). Affair leads to shocking ga. double murder. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/affair-leads-to-shocking-ga-double-murder/

Effingham Herald. (2010, February 5). Another arrest made in Heidt investigation. Homepage - Effingham Herald. https://www.effinghamherald.net/local/crime-reports/another-arrest-made-in-heidt-investigation/

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138218902/carey_albert-heidt: accessed March 13, 2024), memorial page for Carey Albert Heidt (10 Jun 1976–25 Aug 2008), Find a Grave Memorial ID 138218902, citing Bethel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Springfield, Effingham County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Theresa Hernandez -White (contributor 46523955).

Hodgin, W. (2011, April 21). Robin Heidt accused of threatening new boyfriend’s ex. Savannah Morning News. https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/crime/2011/04/21/robin-heidt-accused-threatening-new-boyfriends-ex/13434034007/

Komanecky, D. (2010, December 12). Family murders play out in Ga. courtroom. The Augusta Chronicle. https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2010/12/12/family-murder-plays-out-ga-courtroom/14568696007/

Komanecky, D. (2018, August 26). Decade passes since murders that Shook Effingham. Savannah Morning News. https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2018/08/25/decade-passes-since-heidt-murders-that-shook-effingham/10943625007/

Komanecky, D. (2010a, December 4). Robin Heidt: Threat before murders. Savannah Morning News. https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2010/12/04/robin-heidt-threat-murders/13381751007/

Reporter, D. M. (2012, January 9). “I don’t really worry what people say”: Wife whose affair with brother-in-law drove him to gun down family speaks out for first time. Daily Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2083886/Robin-Heidt-Wife-affair-brother-law-drove-gun-family-speaks-time.html

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Staff Report. (n.d.). Tuesday night death at Heidt Home Ruled Suicide. Homepage - Effingham Herald. https://www.effinghamherald.net/local/crime-reports/tuesday-night-death-at-heidt-home-ruled-suicide/