Murder in the Heartland

Murder in the Heartland

Murder in the Heartland is your podcast for small-town American crime. Each episode is told through the collective point-of-view of a Middle American town and its residents, and every story documents a town and people in the heart of the country, and the provocative crime that tore through it. The townspeople are not only the storytellers, but they also hold the clues to the crimes that have forever changed their lives, and how they understand their home. 



Also, go back and listen to episodes of Hot & Deadly. Featuring some of ID’s most salacious stories against the backdrop of coast-to-coast wetlands, the open road, and the mysteries of the deep South, Hot & Deadly is direct audio from three hit ID series: Swamp Murders, Highway To Hell, and Southern Fried Homicide. 


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Resumen del episodio

This episode investigates the disappearance of Rusty and Becky Porter from Willard, Missouri, beginning with the unsettling discovery of a home smelling of bleach and showing signs of a struggle. Investigators initially explored various motives, including drug debts and conflicts with family members like Rusty's uncle, Bob Campbell. The investigation eventually led to a breakthrough via a jailhouse snitch, uncovering the couple's remains in an abandoned cabin. The case concluded with Philip Friend's confession regarding his father Tony's involvement in the execution-style murders, revealing that Robert Campbell orchestrated the killings for $100,000.

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Destacados

The house reeked of bleach, but the only bottle of bleach that was on the scene was full.

00:06:07 · This detail highlights a major inconsistency found by investigators during the search of the home.

In Rusty's restraining order against Robert Campbell, he wrote that Robert had passed by the house in his vehicle and yelled out the window, you won't be around much longer.

00:16:00 · This quote reveals a specific, ominous threat made by a family member toward Rusty.

Like Rusty and Becky, their home had been invaded. Like Rusty and Becky, nothing of particular value had been stolen. And like Rusty and Becky, there were no obvious suspects.

00:23:50 · The speaker uses these similarities to explain why investigators feared a potential connection between the Porter disappearance and the Willingham murders.

And they found that each one of them had been killed by a contact wound from a gun being placed right up against the skull, execution style.

00:32:22 · This detail reveals the brutal nature of the murders once the remains were discovered.

So basically, Robert Campbell hired his brother-in-law, his wife's brother, to kill Russell for $100,000.

00:38:48 · The narrator explains the financial motive and the familial connection behind the orchestrated murder.

Episodios

80-

Orders of Protection

This episode investigates the disappearance of Rusty and Becky Porter from Willard, Missouri, beginning with the unsettling discovery of a home smelling of bleach and showing signs of a struggle. Investigators initially explored various motives, including drug debts and conflicts with family members like Rusty's uncle, Bob Campbell. The investigation eventually led to a breakthrough via a jailhouse snitch, uncovering the couple's remains in an abandoned cabin. The case concluded with Philip Friend's confession regarding his father Tony's involvement in the execution-style murders, revealing that Robert Campbell orchestrated the killings for $100,000.

20 ago. 2026
79-

Irreplaceable Gems

This episode explores the tragic murders of Karen and Jim Develbliss, well-known convenience store owners in Greenfield Township, Ohio. The investigation initially focused on the victims' grandson, Jeremy Moore, following the discovery of a ransacked home with no signs of forced entry. As detectives pursued various leads involving potential motives of inheritance and financial resentment, they eventually shifted focus from local suspects to Eric Hockman and Heidi Kidwell. Following a tip regarding blood-stained cash found by a moving company employee, authorities tracked the couple to Florida, where recovered stolen items led to confessions and convictions.

13 ago. 2026
78-

A Toddlers Terrible Tale

This episode explores the brutal murder of Charlene Puffenbarger in Twinsburg, Ohio, and the long-running investigation that followed. Initially, investigators faced a wide pool of suspects and a lack of physical evidence, even dealing with traumatic eyewitness accounts from Charlene's son that pointed toward law enforcement. A breakthrough finally arrived years later when a coworker's recollection of a chilling admission by Willard McCarley, combined with the discovery of a discarded police jacket and advanced DNA testing on a leather belt, linked McCarley to the crime. The case concludes with his arrest and sentencing for a murder motivated by a dispute over child support.

06 ago. 2026
77-

Hunt for a Killer

The investigation into the death of Larry Holman in Festus, Missouri, initially began as a suspected hunting accident but quickly unraveled into a complex murder inquiry. Detectives explored various leads involving suspicious figures near the crime scene and investigated rumors regarding Tammy Holman's extramarital affairs with men such as Tim Smith, Tom Ruble, and Charlie Miller. The case reached a turning point when evidence and confessions linked Charlie Miller to the shooting. The investigation ultimately revealed that Tammy Holman was the mastermind behind the murder, orchestrating the killing in pursuit of a perceived million-dollar insurance payout.

30 jul. 2026
76-

Murder on Beer Can Alley

This episode investigates the murder of Nicole Birdie in Algona, Iowa, which began with the discovery of human remains inside a burned pickup truck. The investigation initially focused on Nicole's husband, Chad, and explored the personal tensions within her marriage and the community's reaction to the crime. The search for evidence eventually shifted focus toward Randy Bodie, a friend who was with Nicole the night she died. Following the discovery of DNA evidence linking him to the crime, Bodie entered a plea deal, confessing to the assault and strangulation of Nicole. The episode concludes with the impact of his reduced sentence on Nicole's grieving family.

23 jul. 2026