In the second episode of the Crimes in the Carolinas podcast hosted by librarians Shellie Taylor and Dottie Smith, we'll delve into the unsolved 1937 murder of 16-year-old Elva Brannock in Allegheny County, North Carolina. The episode covers the initial discovery of Elva's body, the subsequent investigation, the primary suspects—including local moonshiners and a man named Paul Edwards—and the community's response.

Special insights are provided by Julie Gibson, a retired captain from the Iredell County Sheriff's Office. The hosts also discuss the societal and forensic challenges of the investigation in the 1930s and speculate on potential conspiracy theories and the possibility of utilizing modern DNA testing to solve the case. The episode concludes with a preview of an upcoming discussion on guerrilla warfare during the Civil War in North Carolina.
00:00 Introduction and Hosts
00:58 Setting the Scene: Murder in the Mountains
01:15 The Investigation Begins
03:16 Discovery of Elva's Body
04:50 Suspects and Community Reactions
07:20 Law Enforcement and Forensic Challenges
15:45 New Evidence and Arrests
23:59 Paul Edwards: A Suspicious Character
27:36 Paul Edwards and Lonnie Wright: Suspects Under Scrutiny
29:23 The Arrest of Estelle Moxley
30:38 Frank Murphy's Chilling Confession
35:57 Eyewitness Testimonies and Community Reactions
44:41 Theories and Speculations: Was There a Cover-Up?
50:30 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Access the blog article about this episode here.