In 1973, a horrific fire killed 32 people in the gay bar, the Upstairs Lounge in New Orleans. When city and state officials and the churches turned their backs on the victims and survivors of the tragedy, the gay community rallied together. Today it is known as the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement in New Orleans. Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/55-the-upstairs-lounge-fireSuggested Reading: The Up Stairs Lounge Arson: Thirty-Two Deaths in a New Orleans Gay Bar, June 24, 1973 by Clayton Delery-Edwards & Let the Faggots Burn: The UpStairs Lounge Fire by Johnny TownsendWritten, hosted, produced by Erica KelleyResearched by Erica KelleyEdited by Chaes GrayOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison-Gamma RadioMerch | Donate | In the Media:https://southernfriedtruecrime.com @southfriedtruth (Twitter)  @southernfriedtruecrime (Insta)https://www.facebook.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://www.youtube.com/southernfriedtruecrime

55: The UpStairs Lounge Fire

Erica Kelley is a native Tennessean exploring historical and contemporary true crime in the South. Southern charm is attempted but southern sass is bountiful. Join her as she shows you just how southern fried the justice system can be in the Deep South.

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In December of 2003, 23-year-old Bart Whitaker had just finished his finals and was about to graduate from college. That night, he went to dinner to celebrate with his parents, Tricia and Kent, and his younger brother Kevin. As they returned home and walked through their door, they were ambushed by a masked gunman. Initially, authorities suspected that this was a burglary gone wrong. But before the funerals had even taken place, detectives discovered that Bart had lied about graduating. And that was just the beginning. Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank and Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma RadioEdited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder and Erica Kelley Suggested by Jessica, Donna, Michelle, and KyleSources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/whitaker-family-massacreThis episode is brought to you by:  Get your year started off right with healthy new vitamins. For 50% off your first month, go to TakeCareOf.com and enter code SFTC50Try the revolutionary whole body deodorant Lume. Go to Lume.com and enter code SFTC for $5 off the starter pack. Indulge in affordable luxury! Go to Quince.com and use promo code SFTC for free shipping. Sign up for Newspapers.com--your ultimate resource for exploring the mysteries of the past. Use code SFTrueCrime and get 20% off your subscription.They say time waits for no one, and neither should payday--See EarnIn.com/TOS for more details.

212: The Whitaker Family Slayings

On May 22 1992, Betty Wilson frantically called 911 from her Huntsville, Alabama home. She found her husband, the esteemed Dr. Jack Wilson, in a pool of blood. Someone had bludgeoned and stabbed him to death. Initially, police had no suspects. Until an anonymous tip led them to a man named James White. James confessed to killing Dr. Wilson to prove his love for Betty’s twin sister, Peggy. According to James, Peggy had insisted that he murder her sister’s husband. But, according to Peggy and Betty, James was nothing but a deranged liar.Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank and Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley Sources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/jack-wilsonThis episode is brought to you by:  This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SOUTHERN and get on your way to being your best self.Treat yourself to the best bras and shapewear on the market and save 20% Off at honeylove.com/SFTC.Get a special 20% off any new SimpliSafe system when you sign up for Fast Protect Monitoring at SimpliSafe.com/southernfried - “There’s no safe like SimpliSafe”True Crime Podcast Training: Go to TrueCrimePodcastTraining.com today and enter code SFTC to get $150 off ANY course. 

211: Evil or Innocent Twins: Betty, Peggy & The Murder of Dr Jack Wilson

Late on a Sunday night in September of 2016, Atlanta power couple, Tex and Diane McIver, were driving back into the city and got caught in Atlanta’s notorious traffic. Diane’s best friend was driving as Diane rode in the passenger seat and her husband, Tex, sat directly behind her. When they were stopped in what they considered a dangerous part of town, Tex asked for his gun, and then fell asleep. What happened next would cause one of the most hotly debated criminal cases in recent Atlanta history.I covered this case in August 2019. But In June 2022, the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously reversed Tex’s convictions. This episode is a refresher on the original episode and an analysis on the new developments in the case. Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Gemma Harris and Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley Sources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/tex-mciver-updateThis episode is brought to you by:  Indulge in affordable luxury! Go to Quince.com and use promo code SFTC for free shipping.Try the ultimate brain & body boosting products. Text SOUTHERNFRIED to 64000 to get 20% off your IQ Bar Ultimate Sampler Pack. (EatIQBar.com)

210: Update on the Tex McIver Case

Late on a Sunday night in September of 2016, Atlanta power couple, Tex and Diane McIver, were driving back into the city and got caught in Atlanta’s notorious traffic. Diane’s best friend was driving as Diane rode in the passenger seat and her husband, Tex, sat directly behind her. When they were stopped in what they considered a dangerous part of town, Tex asked for his gun, and then fell asleep. What happened next would cause one of the most hotly debated criminal cases in recent Atlanta history. Written, hosted and produced by Erica KelleyEdited and mixed by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio**Remastered versionSources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/66-tex-diane-mciver-accident-or-murder

REMASTERED Ep66: Tex & Diane McIver: Accident or Murder?

When Officer Keith Turner pulled over a car in Moody, Alabama on June 25, 1998, he thought it was a routine traffic stop. The 29-year-old husband and father had no idea that the men in the car were two escaped convicts, Mario Centobie and Jeremy Granberry. In the span of two days, the armed and dangerous fugitives had already attacked one officer and nearly killed another. As Officer Turner walked toward them, Mario stepped out of the vehicle. He reached through the window as if to retrieve his license, but instead he pulled out a gun and fired three times. Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank Additional writing by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley Sources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/keith-turnerThis episode is brought to you by:  Get your year started off right with healthy new vitamins. For 50% off your first month, go to TakeCareOf.com and enter code SFTC50Try the revolutionary whole body deodorant Lume. Go to Lume.com and enter code SFTC for $5 offPower up your life with superior brain and body nutrition products from IQBAR! Text SOUTHERNFRIED TO 64000 for 20% off your first order

55: The UpStairs Lounge Fire

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