Butchering Family - Harrington, Delaware

This episode recounts the horrifying case of the Smiths, who were brutally murdered in their home on February 7, 1979. The details emerge as hosts James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman delve into the lives of Bayard and Alberta Smith, an elderly couple leading a modest retirement surrounded by family. After a heavy snowfall, their son Arthur discovers their bodies, leading to the revelation that they had been brutally stabbed multiple times—Bayard with 79 stab wounds and Alberta with 66.

Investigators quickly zero in on William Flamer and Andre Deputy, two local men with criminal histories who had been drinking heavily the night before. Their confessions reveal they entered the Smiths' home under the pretense of searching for a lost relative and subsequently attacked the couple. The narrative details their chaotic decision to steal frozen food and a television immediately after the murders, leaving a trail of evidence linking them to the crime.

Flamer and Deputy face separate trials, with Flamer's defense arguing he was coerced by Deputy. Despite attempts to downplay their actions, both are sentenced to death after graphic testimonies reveal the brutal nature of the killings. The podcast highlights the absurdity and tragedy of their choices as well as the resulting family devastation, ultimately leaving listeners to grapple with the shocks of rural crime.