Banjos, Bombs, and Bathtub Drownings: A Tour of Arkansas Crime

Things I Want To Know

Send us a text

Ever wondered what dark secrets lurk beneath the surface of America's quiet small towns? In this episode, Paul and Andrea pull back the curtain on two shocking criminal cases from Northwest Arkansas that time has nearly forgotten.
The conversation begins with a puzzling 1972 case where Lieutenant Carl Martins, a young Springdale police officer, survived when a bomb detonated under his car right at the police station. Despite involvement from the FBI, ATF, and even a grand jury investigation, the case went cold with surprising speed. Why would someone attempt a mob-style hit in a town of barely 30,000 people? And why did the story fade from newspapers after just six mentions? The hosts theorize about possible motives while planning to file Freedom of Information Act requests to uncover the truth behind this mysterious attempted murder.
Even more disturbing is the 1974 murder spree of Shirley Marie Curry, a mother who, enraged over losing custody of her children, embarked on a killing rampage across multiple towns. In a single evening, she murdered her two sons, her ex-husband, her daughter, and her ex-husband's half-sister before attempting to kill a sixth victim. When captured, her chilling question to officers—"I missed the sixth one, didn't I?"—revealed her calculated bloodlust. Despite the severity of her crimes, she was initially declared mentally ill and legally irresponsible before eventually spending the remainder of her life in prison.
These forgotten cases reveal how even seemingly quiet communities harbor dark histories that rival more notorious crime capitals. Join Paul and Andrea as they resurrect these cold cases and discuss what they tell us about America's hidden criminal past. Have stories like these been buried in your hometown too? Visit paulgnewton.com for more content as they continue their investigation into these Arkansas mysteries.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the show

Want to host a Podcast? Buzzsprout can help! Use this link to Find out More.
Check out Paul's Website

챕터

1. Welcome and Life Updates (00:00:00)

2. Marriage and Name Changes (00:08:15)

3. "Things I Wanna Know Voices" Series (00:14:40)

4. The 1972 Springdale Car Bombing (00:20:42)

5. Shirley Marie Curry's Murder Spree (00:27:12)

6. Missing Persons and Highway Cases (00:41:23)

7. Closing Thoughts and Website Promotion (00:48:10)