Digest

This episode of Small Town Murder Express delves into the life and death of Walter Gibbs, a rancher from Lemon, South Dakota. Walter was a quiet, hardworking man who was raised on a ranch and never had any romantic entanglements until he was in his 50s. He hired Dolores Wall, a young woman with an IQ of 74, to care for his ailing mother. The two began a relationship and married in 1964, but divorced in 1973. Dolores then married a man named Christensen and had a daughter named Robin. In 1979, Walter found love again, not with Dolores, but with her identical twin sister, Darleen. The two married and divorced twice, with Walter marrying Darleen again in 1982. In 1983, Walter and Darleen divorced again. Walter then married June Penny in 1984, but they divorced in 1986. Meanwhile, Dolores and her daughter Robin were struggling to make ends meet and were convicted of theft. In 1988, Darleen married Jerome Phillips, a convicted felon she met in prison. Dolores and Robin moved in with Darleen and Jerome. In 1989, Dolores contacted Walter and offered to move back to Lemon and take care of him. Walter agreed and moved back into his house with Dolores, Darleen, and Jerome. Walter's will named his cousin Bernice Botner as the beneficiary, but he later changed it to Dolores. In 1990, Walter died in his sleep. The cause of death was ruled natural, but there were suspicions that he had been poisoned. Darleen was arrested for setting the house fire that destroyed Walter's home. She was sentenced to 50 years in prison for arson. The episode concludes with a discussion of the bizarre and tragic events that led to Walter's death and the strange relationships he had with the Wall twins. The episode then details the events leading up to Walter's death, including the arrest of Darleen and Jerome for lamb rustling, Darleen's conviction for arson, and the subsequent investigation into Walter's death. The episode concludes with the trial of Darleen and Dolores, with Darleen being found guilty of murder and Dolores being found not guilty due to her low IQ. The episode also discusses the sentencing of Jerome and the aftermath of the trial, including the ruling on Walter's estate.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the podcast Small Town Murder Express and its hosts, James Petrogallum and Jimmy Wiseman. They invite listeners to join them on another insane edition of the show, promising 15 pounds of insanity in this episode. They also remind listeners to check out their live shows and Patreon page for bonus content.

00:03:23

The Story of Walter Gibbs

This Chapter begins the story of Walter Gibbs, a rancher from Lemon, South Dakota. Walter was born in 1904 and raised on a ranch. He was a quiet, hardworking man who never had any romantic entanglements until he was in his 50s. He hired Dolores Wall, a young woman with an IQ of 74, to care for his ailing mother. The two began a relationship and married in 1964, but divorced in 1973.

00:28:39

In the Shadow of Princeton

This Chapter is an advertisement for the Wondery podcast In the Shadow of Princeton. The podcast tells the story of a murder that took place at Princeton University and the investigation that followed. The hosts of the podcast, Erecia Skidmer Williams and Brooke Sifrin, invite listeners to join them on a journey into the dark side of royalty.

00:29:55

Walter's Marriage to Darleen

This Chapter continues the story of Walter Gibbs and his relationship with the Wall twins. Walter married Darleen, Dolores's identical twin sister, in 1979. The two married and divorced twice, with Walter marrying Darleen again in 1982. In 1983, Walter and Darleen divorced again.

00:33:38

Dolores's Conviction and Walter's Death

This Chapter details Dolores's conviction for theft and Walter's death. Dolores and her daughter Robin were struggling to make ends meet and were convicted of theft. In 1990, Walter died in his sleep. The cause of death was ruled natural, but there were suspicions that he had been poisoned.

00:38:59

Darleen's Arson and Walter's Will

This Chapter focuses on Darleen's arrest for arson and the dispute over Walter's will. Darleen was arrested for setting the house fire that destroyed Walter's home. She was sentenced to 50 years in prison for arson. The episode concludes with a discussion of the bizarre and tragic events that led to Walter's death and the strange relationships he had with the Wall twins.

00:53:26

The Murder Investigation

This Chapter details the investigation into Walter Gibbs's death. Darleen and Jerome are arrested for lamb rustling, and Darleen is interviewed by police about Walter's death. She claims that Walter was murdered by her and her cohorts, and she names Dolores and Jerome as the perpetrators. The police investigate her claims and eventually exhume Walter's body, finding evidence of sleeping pills in his stomach. This leads to the official charging of Darleen, Dolores, and Jerome with first-degree murder.

01:08:51

The Trial and Verdict

This Chapter details the trial of Darleen and Dolores. Jerome testifies against the twins, claiming that he smothered Walter with a pillow while Darleen held his arms down. Dolores's defense is that she is too intellectually disabled to understand what was happening. The jury deliberates for five hours and finds Darleen guilty of murder, but Dolores not guilty. The episode concludes with the sentencing of Darleen and Jerome.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was Walter Gibbs's relationship with the Wall twins?

  Walter Gibbs was married four times to two identical twin sisters, Dolores and Darleen. He married Dolores in 1964 and divorced her in 1973. He then married Darleen in 1979 and divorced her in 1983. He married Darleen again in 1982 and divorced her again in 1983. He married Dolores again in 1977 and divorced her again in 1978. This unusual relationship was a major part of the story of Walter Gibbs's life and death.

• What happened to Walter Gibbs?

  Walter Gibbs died in his sleep in 1990. The cause of death was ruled natural, but there were suspicions that he had been poisoned. His home was also destroyed by a fire that was set by Darleen Wall. The events surrounding Walter's death were bizarre and tragic, and they raised questions about the role of the Wall twins in his life and death. Walter was later found to have been murdered by his wife Darleen and her lover Jerome Phillips.

• What was the outcome of the dispute over Walter Gibbs's will?

  Walter Gibbs's cousin Bernice Botner objected to the probate of his will, claiming that he was incompetent when he changed it. The court ruled that Walter was mentally competent and that there was no confidential relationship between him and Dolores Wall. The cousin appealed the decision, but the outcome of the appeal is not mentioned in the transcript. After Walter's death, the estate was ruled to go to his cousin, as Dolores was deemed a "willful slayer" due to her involvement in the murder.

• What was the significance of the house fire?

  The house fire that destroyed Walter Gibbs's home was a significant event in the story. It was set by Darleen Wall, who was later convicted of arson. The fire also played a role in the dispute over Walter's will, as it led to the destruction of the house that was left to Dolores Wall in the will.

• What was the role of the Wall twins in Walter Gibbs's life and death?

  The Wall twins played a significant role in Walter Gibbs's life and death. They were involved in his marriages, his divorces, and the events that led to his death. Dolores Wall was named the beneficiary of Walter's will, and Darleen Wall was convicted of arson for setting fire to his home. The twins' relationship with Walter was complex and often troubled, and it ultimately led to his tragic death. Darleen was convicted of Walter's murder, and Dolores was found not guilty due to her low IQ.

• What was the significance of the will change?

  The will change was a significant event in the story because it changed the beneficiary of Walter Gibbs's estate from his cousin Bernice Botner to Dolores Wall. The will change was made at the request of Walter, but there were suspicions that he had been influenced by Dolores and Darleen Wall. The will change also played a role in the dispute over Walter's estate after his death. The will was eventually ruled to go to Walter's cousin, as Dolores was deemed a "willful slayer" due to her involvement in the murder.

• What was the significance of the town of Lemon, South Dakota?

  The town of Lemon, South Dakota, was the setting for the story of Walter Gibbs. The town was small and quiet, and it was known for its cowboy culture. The town's isolation and lack of opportunity played a role in the events that led to Walter's death.

• What was the significance of the country music theme?

  The country music theme was a recurring element in the story of Walter Gibbs. The hosts of the podcast often used country music metaphors to describe the events of the story. The country music theme also highlighted the rural setting of the story and the characters' connection to the land.

• What was the significance of the "crazier than bedbugs" saying?

  The saying "crazier than bedbugs" was used by one of Walter Gibbs's friends to describe the Wall twins. The saying highlighted the twins' unusual behavior and their role in the events that led to Walter's death. The saying also reflected the rural setting of the story and the characters' use of colloquialisms.

• What was the overall message of the episode?

  The overall message of the episode was that even in small towns, strange and tragic events can occur. The story of Walter Gibbs was a reminder that life is unpredictable and that even the most ordinary people can be caught up in extraordinary circumstances. The episode also highlighted the importance of family, relationships, and the consequences of our actions.

Show Notes