Across the DinerVerse

You've seen the bazillion billboards along the interstate: "Been injured in an accident? Call (insert law firm name here) and win!" They're plaintiff attorneys; specialists in personal injury law. You get hurt, somebody else pays--namely insurance companies and corporations. It's a huge business, and like most business sectors in the world, technology is leading the way helping these law firms research and acquire vital information to build cases against these companies, and to help litigators determine if a potential case is even worth taking.

To attain this data used to take an incredible investment of time and money with no guarantee the investment would return a profitable outcome for the injured client and the attorney representing them.

But two companies are fast out of the gate building up this data/A.I. technology and bringing it to civil litigation law firms everywhere.

I speak with Ryan Shin, founder of SETTLIT, a case intelligence platform based in Toronto, Canada, and Jay Sarmaz, CEO and co-founder of TRUVE, an A.I. powered analytics company in Atlanta, Georgia.

DATA is the currency in growing a business. Listen and learn from this episode--especially if you're a personal injury lawyer looking for an edge against formidable insurance companies and corporations.

I've got some news I want to share with you...

Jack Davenport opened a diner in south-central Los Angeles specializing in home-style soul food back in 1969 near the intersection of Western Ave. and what is today, Martin Luther King Blvd.

Because he wanted to make it a family business, he named the diner Jack's Family Kitchen.

Well, life throws you curves, and Jack's marriage didn't work out. Luckily for him, a woman named LaFay owned a hair salon right around the corner from Jack's, and he spent the next ten years pursuing her. Fay finally said yes but kept her business and built it into the largest hair salon in Los Angeles with a fancy Wilshire Ave. address.

After Jack passed away in 2012 (and thirty years of marriage to Fay), Fay honored Jack's wishes to keep the popular diner open at all costs--and it hasn't always been easy.

Fay, who is coming up on her 80th birthday, offers her thoughts and insights on a host of topics including:

*Working hard to keep the doors open for the benefit of employees, their families, and the south-central community as a whole.

* Race relations in America.

*Reparations.

*Bad hair.

*A rooster-crowing customer who's in love with her.

*Personal responsibility.

*Her relationship with God.

*Her hope for Jack's and the south-central L.A. community.

I think you'll find Fay Davenport a breath of fresh air; a woman with valuable life experience and a healthy dose of postive-can-do-it attitude.

Diner Info:

Jack's Family Kitchen
3965 S. Western Ave.
Los Angeles, CA. 90062
323-296-5215
www.jacksfamilykitchen.com

My father-in-law, Marvin, suggested I do a podcast from a deli in L.A. close to where he grew up. It's called Factors Famous Deli which has been around since 1948!  

I saw a woman sitting in a booth wearing scrubs and assumed she was a medical professional, but I had no idea she was a licensed nurse midwife. I wasn't even really aware that midwives were still a thing--my kids were born via C-section with my wife's gynecologist doing the procedure.

The midwife's name is Kerin, and she's been doing it for over twenty years. We get into birthing babies at home in bed, in blow-up pools, and toilet births--you name it! She also discusses how the United States is NOT the best in the world in regard to women's overall healthcare and low infant mortality rates. Kind of shocking considering we have some of the most expensive health care costs in the world.

Kerin also has strong opinions on other issues including reproductive rights, the impact of the reversal of Roe v. Wade, and the ongoing learning curve that is gender/sex identity for newborns.

Thanks for giving this episode a listen.

Factors Famous Deli
9420 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, Ca. 90035
(310) 278-9175
www.factorsdeli.com

Originating from Lou's Diner on Decatur Blvd. in Sin City, Nevada, I talk with attorney Dan Ambrose, a criminal defense lawyer turned trial coach about his company, Trial Lawyer's University. Dan shares his experience as an overworked, underpaid defense attorney in Detroit, Michigan and the pro-bono murder case that changed his life. 

He later pulled up stakes and moved to L.A. to pursue a career as a personal injury lawyer and found out how demanding the job really is--a tedious and expensive process building winning cases against powerful corporations and insurance companies. After a week in Costa Rica on an Ayahuasca retreat, Dan came to the realization that most trial lawyers suck in the art of litigation and decided his mission was to coach lawyers to WIN big.

Dan shows attorneys how to emotionally connect with a jury, present opening and closing statements, as well as effective voir dire, the jury selection process.  Dan's damn good at what he does commanding $10K per day for his consultation services.

Other topics Dan discusses include the myth of "justice"; ninety percent of American's charged with serious crimes can't afford a defense attorney and must rely on a public defender; most cases are plea bargained and DO NOT go to trial; manipulating the media to sway the jury pool in favor of a client is good strategy, and the take for a personal injury lawyer who wins a lawsuit is 33-40%.

Ultimately, Dan's goal is to radically improve the skills of America's public defenders to benefit everyday people facing tough legal issues. If you're in the legal profession and want to learn more about Dan's mission and the Trial Lawyers University, please visit: www.triallawyersuniversity.com
 

When you hear the term "trophy hunter", you might you have a visceral negative reaction, which is understandable when you see social media photos of wealthy individuals, rifle in hand, smiling proudly next to a dead exotic animal they just killed like an elephant, lion, rhino, or giraffe.  Millions of people worldwide condemn this blood sport. I ran into two trophy hunters who were willing to share their story.

On a recent trip to San Antonio, Texas to visit the Alamo, I checked out the Buttermilk Cafe in nearby New Braunfels, and met a recently married couple, Tom and Marisa Snyder. 

Tom grew up very poor, and despite only having a high school education, he grew a very successful insurance business and decided to give back to those in need by providing free scholarships for kids of all ages to experience the great outdoors on a charitable ranch he founded called Trinity Oaks. The program became so successful, Tom was approached by numerous veterans organizations to host special hunts for the disabled, as well as "dream hunts" for the terminally ill.

One of those dream hunts was for Marisa's husband, Jason, who was dying of cancer.  Jason went on his dream hunt but didn't get to harvest the animal on his wish list. When Tom learned this, he invited a family member to complete the hunt in Jason's honor, which Marisa accepted, and bagged an exotic Axis deer. Marisa was so impressed with Trinity Oaks' ability to transform lives, she volunteered to help out, was soon offered a fulltime position, and began working with Tom directly. They fell in love and married last year.

Since then, they have followed their passion for hunting all the way to Africa to harvest the Big Five and Dangerous Seven animals of the world. They defend their hunting trips which fund anti-poaching programs and feed thousands of people by donating 100% of the meat to local villages.

Listen to their story and make up your own mind regarding the ethics of trophy hunting. If you would like to learn more about Tom's charity organization near San Antonio, please visit: www.trinityoaks.org.

If you're in the San Antonio area, enjoy some great food at:

Buttermilk Cafe
1324 Common St.
New Braunfels, Texas
78130
830-625-8700
www.thebuttermilkcafe.com

My 2023 Fourth of July episode! America's 247th birthday. So, how are we doing?

I decided to get some different perspectives on the topic, and since I wasn't able to get to Philadelphia, PA. where the Declaration of Independence was ratified and signed on July 4th, 1776, I went to the next best place...San Diego, CA!

Why? Well, first, it's a very patriotic town. I mean, the west coast home of the U.S. Marines, Camp Pendelton, is just up the road. The U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet has a huge operation there, not to mention the Naval Air Station on Coronado Island in San Diego Bay. "Top Gun: Maverick" was both set and filmed there.

San Diego has a high level of academic institutions including, UCSD, USD, and the Scripps Research Center, and it's a very diverse place with Mexico's border only a few miles to the south, and the influx of people from all over the world because of the industries related to the Armed Forces based there.

I spoke with four people: A Puerto Rican ER doc; a former Navy radar tech who now works for a defense contractor; an Afro-Latina woman whose grandfather fled an island dictatorship for a chance at real freedom in America; and a gay man from east Texas who is planning a wedding with his partner. Listen and find out what they think. 

Hit me back with your feedback @ patreon.com/dinerverse.

Welcome to season two of the podcast! Very excited to profile new people and new stories, and this week is pretty incredible. Coming to you from the small, idyllic town of Sierra Madre just below the San Gabriel mountains in Southern California, this episode originates from a diner/restaurant affectionately called "The Only Place in Town." They've been in business since 1945 and specialize in traditional American fare, but they do it very well. "The Only Place in Town" is a fave and is always packed.

I met Jack there, the son of an Armenian family who immigrated to America from Lebanon in 1969.  His father found work pretty quickly and saved up his money to buy his first business--a gas station. One gas station soon turned into many and Jack was groomed to take over someday.

Alas, today's gas station biz model is far different from when his father started in the 1970's, and Jack shares all the dirty little secrets that go on behind the scenes when it comes to prices, taxes, middlemen, property ownership, government regulations to ruin stations, excessive permits and fees--and how it all gets passed on to the customer.

Jack also takes a deep dive into the hype and economics driving electric and hydrogen powered cars. How green are they? How robust is their infrastructure? In Jack's opinion, the e-model has a long way to go, and hydrogen is a total bust!

Jack lays it out from first-hand experience as a station owner who took a flier on hydrogen pumps and has seen nothing but failure--everywhere.

Jack doesn't think he'll be in the gas station business much longer. The economic forces at play and the downward pressure on smaller companies are too strong to fight forever.

Listen and learn...

My youngest daughter Cameron (I'm blessed with two!) pitched the idea of interviewing me about being a girl dad for this new Father's Day podcast.  I thought, what the hell, might as well reveal some hard truths about being her poppa and share some of the best and worst moments of my fatherhood journey. Maybe some new, younger dads will learn something.

The first new podcast of season two. Hope you enjoy it and aren't too shocked by my past exploits--it all turns out good in the end!

John

One of most popular episodes from season one, recorded in Grand Junction, CO.

After I recorded an earlier podcast, I checked into a local hotel and hit the lounge for a night cap. I started talking to a guy in the bar, told him what I do and why I was in Grand Junction. He just laughed and said, "I got a story for you." 

This is Keth's harrowing tale of being kidnapped by his father and living on the run for thirteen years. Unbelievable what your own family is capable of doing! 

Back with a brand-new episode next week when my daughter, Cameron, interviews ME about being her dad--the good, the bad and the ugly. Just in time for Father's Day weekend...lucky me.

Until then,
John

The final episode of "Across the DinerVerse's" first season. Already working on diner locations for season two which will premiere in the coming weeks from: New York City, Long Island, San Francisco, and a swing through the Midwest and south.  In the meantime, please enjoy this podcast with amazing country artist, Johnny Young.

A singer, songwriter and accomplished guitarist, Johnny shares his breakthrough journey into the world of country music. From the age of five, Johnny was a natural performer, putting on a show for his kindergarten classmates as Gene Simmons of KISS--to the ecstatic delight of his friends, and the absolute shock of their parents. From there he went on to learn how to play drums, then guitar, which put him on the path to a career in music.

Forming and playing in a number of different bands, Johnny has performed on twenty different record albums as a musician and vocalist. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, the alternative/grunge rock movement was part of his musical development, but country music was naturally in his blood because his parents always had it on the radio in the house.

Just after his father died, Johnny broke-up with a long-time girlfriend, and the Covid pandemic killed the music touring business. He was lost, homeless and unsure of what to do--in his mind he was living a real-life country song. So, he decided to write about those difficult experiences and went to Nashville to record them with Country Music Hall of Fame guitarist and producer, Smith Curry. The resulting self-titled album is a phenomenal debut featuring a dozen tracks of both riff-layered country rockers and moving musical explorations of loss and heartbreak. Johnny was also able to corral Georgette Jones, the daughter of country music's royal power couple, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, for his break-up ballad, "So Long."

Johnny also pulls back the curtain on the current state of the recording industry and highlights the insidious business model of music streaming--which is great for fans, streamers and record companies, but bad for songwriters and artists.

It's a full hour of honest conversation, stories, memories and plenty of great music with Johnny Young from Bogart's Bar inside Club Calpella in Ukiah, California.

For music, videos, tour schedule, merch and all things Johnn Young, please visit:
www.johnnyyoungcountry.com

Club Calpella
6175 N. State Street
Ukiah, CA. 954482
(707) 485-8630
(Facebook) Club-Calpella-Restaurant

Tim never felt like he fit in at home or school. The youngest kid in a blue-collar family with a history of alcoholism, Tim was traumatized at the age of 10 when his older brother and mentor was shot by a Black man for no apparent reason. The incident instilled a fear-based hatred of African Americans that festered into rage-filled violence toward pretty much anyone. He numbed his feelings of pain and inadequacy with alcohol and drugs.

As a teen, he found kinship with '80's punk rockers and skinheads.  One night in Hollywood, Tim and his anarchist friends assaulted a number of young gay men and prostitutes. They left one for dead, got in their cars, and drove back to the safety of the suburbs.

When the first Persin Gulf War began, Tim marched down to the Army recruiter to enlist but was rejected. Defeated, he decided to fight against all foreign "enemies" of the United States here at home. Tim willingly joined the Neo Nazi movement and worked closely with the infamous Tom Metzger and the White Aryan Resistance (WAR).

He met and married a like-minded woman, had a child, and dutifully instructed his son (at age 3!) the ways of Neo Nazism: Nazi salutes, "Heil Hitler's", and an expectation daddy would beat down any Black person he saw.

Luckily, God, life, or the universe had a different path for Tim, and through A.A. and the kindness of his perceived enemies, Tim learned that living a boozy, hate-filled life was untenable. He desperately wanted to CHANGE--and did.

The coda to Tim's amazing story will leave you gobsmacked! 

SHOW NOTES:

Cosmo's Bistro
1031 E. Rout 66
Glendora, CA. 91741
(626) 857-7667
www.cosmosbistroglendora.com

RECOVERY INFO for meetings, literature, guidelines and questions to ask yourself if you think you have an addiction issue. Some common ones are:

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.aa.org

Narcotics Anonymous
www.na.org

Gamblers Anonymous
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Overeaters Anonymous
https://oa.org

Part one in a two-part series about the magical healing power of 12-Step recovery for those willing to give it a try. Originating from Cosmo's Bistro along famed Route 66 in Glendora, California, Cosmo's opens its doors once a week to host a free meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, the first ever 12-Step recovery program in the world. A.A., as it's commonly called, was started by two hard-core alcoholics named Bill W. and Doctor Bob in Akron, Ohio way back in 1935. The first edition "Big Book" of A.A. came along four years later in 1939.

At Cosmo's, I met two guys in recovery. The first, an old-timer with 47 years of sobriety, explains the unrelenting emotional pain that brought him to his knees and into the rooms of A.A. You'll be blown away by some of the miracles he's experienced along the way.

The second man, a one-time Neo Nazi who worked closely with infamous white supremacist and Aryan Nation founder Tom Metzger, will share his story in part two of the series which will drop next week.

Cosmo, the namesake of the bistro, recalls his experience being a Scottish immigrant, and one of seven children who came to America in the 1970's. Even though he's still not legally a citizen, he identifies as one, working 80+ hours per week trying to keep the doors open on his restaurant--even employing his 90-year-old mother to help keep the place neat and tidy.

Cosmo offers insight into the on-going immigrant crisis and what it costs to attract and keep good employees post-Covid.

SHOW NOTES:

Cosmo's Bistro
1031 E. Rout 66
Glendora, CA. 91741
(626) 857-7667
www.cosmosbistroglendora.com

RECOVERY INFO for meetings, literature, guidelines and questions to ask yourself if you think you have an addiction issue. Some common ones are:

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.aa.org

Narcotics Anonymous
www.na.org

Gamblers Anonymous
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Overeaters Anonymous
https://oa.org

Ever drive through a small town in the middle of the desert and wonder what in the hell people do there for a living and for fun? Find out on this episode that originates from the Stanford Inn and Cafe in Salome, Arizona. Founded in 1904, the town has a rich history of ranching and turning parched desert into fertile farmland for a myriad of crops including alfalfa.

But alfalfa requires a lot of water to grow it, and a Saudi Arabian-based corporation is pumping unlimited amounts of precious underground water to grow its own alfalfa on leased and private farms, then shipping it back to Saudi Arabia. Why? Because it's illegal to grow alfalfa in the kingdom where there's way more oil than water.

Local aren't happy about it, but a Salome-based civil engineer reveals some startling facts about Arizona water rights, alfalfa as a cash crop, the cost of land leases, and the fact that what the Saudi's are doing is pretty much business as usual in this part of the western U.S.

You'll also learn about daily life in this desert community that receives visitors from all over the world, and from all walks of life--including up and coming country music recording artist, Johnny Young ("Outlaw").

Show notes:
Stanford Inn, Cafe and Bar
67600 E. Highway 60
Salome, AZ 85348
Owner: Alexa Cox
Facebook: Stanford Inn Bar/Cafe

Saudi Arabian Corp: 
Fondomonte Arizona, LLC
250 N. Litchfield Rd.
Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-322-5148

This episode does NOT originate from a diner, but rather the main cafeteria at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada-Flintridge, California. Commonly known as JPL and administered by the California Institute of Technology (CalTech), JPL is all about getting mankind off planet Earth to explore other worlds.

The idea for this episode comes from me hearing people say, and reading on social media how they want to "get the hell off the planet!" 

Space geeks, this is a podcast episode for you! What is possible? What's happening right now? Getting back to the moon. Getting to Mars. Audio of the Martian atmosphere and the Perseverance Rover. The Deep Space Network! The Hubble and Webb Telescopes.  Space X, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic!

My guest is rocket systems engineer, Greg Kazz, who has survived at JPL for 37 years (they only do five-year contracts at a time!) because he's damn good at what he does. Greg shares what goes on behind the scenes during lunar and Martian missions, and the barriers astrophysicists and engineers face to successfully send a manned mission to Mars--and I have to be honest, it ain't gonna be easy folks!

Plus, Greg weighs in on the commercial companies trying to win the space race--when Elon isn't too busy buying Twitter or God knows what else. Greg also shares tips on how to get a job at JPL, so future scientists and engineers, listen carefully!

If you want to visit the Jet Propulsion Lab in person or virtually online, please visit:

www.jpl.nasa.gov

Enjoy!

The FINAL Installment of this true-crime series of podcasts originating from the Anvil Bar & Grill in beautiful downtown Curtis, Nebraska.  A heinous double homicide as told by the confessed killer, Harold Nokes.

A secret love affair turned into a battle for Harold's affections between two women, his wife, Ena, and his mistress, Kay Hein. But it was Kay's parents who were shot and killed and butchered in the basement of the Nokeses home in McCook, Nebraska fifty years ago.

In his own words, Harold explains how and why Edwin and Wilma Hoyt were murdered. Your job is to listen carefully and determine for yourself if his story is true or total bullshit--perhaps he and his wife Ena did it in cold blood to get Kay's parents out of the way in hopes of reviving their passionate menage' a trois.

We also hear from former Frontier County Sheriff, Lannie Roblee, and the author of the book on the case, "In Cold Blood", Mr.  James Hewitt.

Even by today's standards, this story is haunting, grotesque and hard to imagine. That's why the series is entitled, "American Gothic."

I've uploaded lots of actual case files, transcripts, letters and photos on my Patreon page. Get access for as little three-bucks--and thanks for subscribing and listening.

Show Notes:

Patreon Page
www.patreon.com/dinerverse

IN COLD STORAGE
In Cold Storage: Nebraska Press (unl.edu)
Also available on Amazon.

The Anvil Bar & Grill
223 Center Ave.
Curtis, Ne.  69025
308-367-5119
https://anvilbarandgrill.com

The fourth installment in this true-crime series of episodes originating from the Anvil Bar & Grill in Curtis, Ne. Podcast host John Murphy dives into the criminal investigation of the gruesome murders of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt after a menage' a trois love affair involving their daughter, Kay Hein, and a married couple, Harold and Ena Nokes ended badly.

Murphy interviews lead investigator Lannie Roblee, Frontier County Sheriff at the time, about the challenges of trying to prove the Nokes' guilt when there was little evidence that pointed directly to them. Nebraska State Patrol investigator Jack Sexton and "In Cold Storage" book author, James Hewitt, also provide commentary and insight into the case.

The episode begins with details from the first interviews with Harold and Ena who categorically deny any involvement or knowledge about what happened to the Hoyt's on the night of September 23rd, 1973.  But later, Harold confesses he and Ena made a plan to visit the Hoyt's at their rural farm to discuss the difficulties they were having with Kay. Harold admits bringing a .22 caliber Ruger pistol with him in case things got out of hand.

Sheriff Roblee (retired) explains how, for the first time in Nebraska law enforcement history, eavesdropping devices were used to listen in on the Nokes' conversations as a way to help build the case against them--and it didn't run too smoothly.

Roblee also shares how a Denver psychiatrist concluded Harold was extremely vulnerable and probably very stressed about what they had done and could be broken if he was arrested and separated from his wife. Which is what Roblee did. They also learned from the recorded tapes the Nokes' made a suicide pact which was foiled.

Everything builds toward next week's final episode when Harold Nokes' full confession on how the Hoyts were killed and dismembered is made available to the general public for the first time ever.

Show Notes:

IN COLD STORAGE
In Cold Storage: Nebraska Press (unl.edu)
Also available on Amazon.

The Anvil Bar & Grill
223 Center Ave.
Curtis, Ne.  69025
308-367-5119
https://anvilbarandgrill.com

The third installment of this true-crime series about one of the most infamous murder cases in Nebraska history--the killing and butchering of beloved farm couple, Edwin and Wilma Hoyt. Originating from the Anvil Bar & Grill in Curtis, Ne., retired Frontier County Sheriff, Lannie Roblee, takes podcast host John Murphy through the ins and outs of the investigation.

The episode also features key highlights from official interrogations/depositions of the Hoyt's daugher, Kay Hein, and the man convicted of the murders, Harold Nokes.

Kay and Harold were engaged in a long-term affair until Harold's wife, Ena, became a third participant in the relationship during the swingin' 70's, when pretty much any and everything was fair game in the bedroom.

The menage' trois soon fractured and Kay cut ties with the Nokeses, but Harold wouldn't let her go. Kay was so harassed and bullied by the couple she tried to take her own life. Edwin and Wilma came to Kay's defense and pushed back against Harold and his wife. When Kay ended it for good, the harassment escalated when road signs painted with vulgar comments about Kay's sexual exploits started showing up around town.

Then, the unthinkable happened. The Hoyts suddenly disappeared and days later, human body parts stated floating on the surface of a nearby lake. Kay and the local cops had a good idea who did it, but they had no way to prove it. It was going to take something unique to break the case.

The second installment in this true-crime series of podcasts surrounding the brutal murders of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt in McCook, Nebraska in the fall of 1973.

Originating from the Anvil Bar & Grill in Curtis, Nebraska, as well as the Hi-Way Diner in Lincoln, host John Murphy shares for the first time, exclusive audio from taped interviews with the key people involved in the case: confessed killer, Harold Nokes, his lover and daughter of the murdered couple, Kay Hein, and lead investigator, former Frontier County Sheriff, Lannie Roblee.
 
Murphy also speaks with clinical and forensic psychologist, Dr. Mario Scalora, PhD., about the interpersonal dynamics and possible state of mind that put Kay, Harold, and his wife, Ena, on a journey of sexual exploration that descended into obsession and murder. Murphy questions Scalora on the possibility of all three being undiagnosed sex addicts--which wasn't even on the map of psychological study at the time.

You will hear from Harold and Kay directly on how they met, became lovers, and turned their affair into a three-way relationship with Harold's wife, Ena--an arrangement that couldn't withstand the emotional pressures of sharing physical love and living a double life.

This episode also features thoughts and comments from James Hewitt, a retired attorney and author of the book about the case, "In Cold Storage."

Show Notes:

IN COLD STORAGE
In Cold Storage: Nebraska Press (unl.edu)
Also available on Amazon.

The Anvil Bar & Grill
223 Center Ave.
Curtis, Ne.  69025
308-367-5119
https://anvilbarandgrill.com

The Hi-Way Diner
2105 Nebraska Parkway
Lincoln, Ne. 68502
(402) 423-6066
www.hiwaydinerlincoln.com

The title harkens back to the 1930 classic painting, "American Gothic" by Grant Wood which is displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago. Intended to convey a positive image of rural American values, this episode (and future episodes) leans into the other meaning of "gothic", in this instance, relating to something mysterious, grotesque or horrific.

Podcast host, John Murphy, travels back to his hometown of McCook, Nebraska to explore the infamous Hoyt murders from fifty years ago that erupted after a three-way love affair soured, resulting in the killing and heinous butchering of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt, the parents of a daughter entangled in the relationship.

For the first time, recorded interviews of those involved are revealed, as well as detailed and explicit documents from the once sealed case files. 

Murphy also interviews lead investigator Lannie Roblee, forensic psychologist, Dr. Mario Scalora PhD, and the author of a detailed book about the crime entitled, "In Cold Storage."

The grisly events played out across three counties in southwest Nebraska during the fall of 1973.