Digest

This episode of Small Town Murder Express delves into the murder of Ernest Lutrell, a 70-year-old man found dead in his home in Keithville, Louisiana. The hosts, James Petrogallo and Jimmy Wiseman, explore the intricate family dynamics surrounding Ernest's death, uncovering a shocking plot driven by greed and manipulation. The episode begins by introducing the setting, Keithville, Louisiana, a small town known for its ZYDECO music and the annual Mad Bug Madness Festival. The hosts then delve into the murder itself, focusing on the initial investigation and the discovery of Ernest's tied hands, suggesting a robbery gone wrong. As the investigation unfolds, the hosts introduce the key players in the case, including Ernest's wife Loretta, their daughter Katie, and granddaughter Kimberly. They discuss the family's financial situation, Ernest's health issues, and the complex dynamics surrounding his will. The episode highlights the family's greed and conflict over Ernest's estate, particularly Katie's desire for the land and her frustration over Ernest's refusal to pay off Kimberly's student loans. The hosts then focus on Tina and Chris, the couple living in a trailer on Ernest's property, and their potential involvement in the murder. The investigation reveals a shocking plot to kill Ernest, orchestrated by Katie. She manipulated Ernest's finances while he was in the hospital, obtained power of attorney, and transferred money to her own control. She also conspired with Tina to hire a hitman, Eric Crane, to kill Ernest. The episode details the events leading up to Ernest's murder, including Tina's meeting with Eric Crane and the plan to make it look like a robbery. The hosts also discuss the aftermath of the murder, including the police investigation and the discovery of the missing truck. The investigation reveals that Eric Crane is friends with Tina's son, adding another layer of suspicion to the case. Eric eventually confesses to killing Ernest during a phone call to his former boss, which was broadcast live on television. The police investigate Tina and Chris, finding evidence of their involvement in the crime. Tina reveals that she offered Eric Crane $1000 to kill Ernest. Her son, Bubba Lewis, confesses to the police that his mother killed Ernest. LaReta, Ernest's wife, is arrested at his funeral, but she is later diagnosed with severe Alzheimer's disease and declared mentally incompetent to stand trial. The investigation reveals that Katie was the mastermind behind the murder plot. Evidence found at her house, including a handwritten map of Ernest's home, confirms her involvement. The episode concludes with the guilty pleas and sentencing of the individuals involved in the murder. Eric Crane pleads guilty to first-degree murder and agrees to testify against Katie. Tina pleads guilty to second-degree murder. Katie is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison plus 60 years. LaReta dies in 2014 at a facility for Alzheimer's patients.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Murder of Ernest Lutrell

This episode of Small Town Murder Express investigates the murder of Ernest Lutrell in Keithville, Louisiana, revealing a complex web of family greed, manipulation, and a shocking plot orchestrated by his sister-in-law, Katie. The hosts, James Petrogallo and Jimmy Wiseman, explore the intricate family dynamics surrounding Ernest's death, uncovering a shocking plot driven by greed and manipulation.

00:03:27

The Setting: Keithville, Louisiana

The hosts introduce the setting, Keithville, Louisiana, a small town known for its ZYDECO music and the annual Mad Bug Madness Festival. They discuss the town's history, demographics, and local attractions.

00:11:20

The Murder and the Initial Investigation

The hosts delve into the murder itself, focusing on the initial investigation and the discovery of Ernest's tied hands, suggesting a robbery gone wrong. They discuss the suspicion surrounding the murder and the potential motives behind it.

00:16:48

The Family Dynamics and Financial Conflicts

The hosts introduce the key players in the case, including Ernest's wife Loretta, their daughter Katie, and granddaughter Kimberly. They discuss the family's financial situation, Ernest's health issues, and the complex dynamics surrounding his will. The episode highlights the family's greed and conflict over Ernest's estate, particularly Katie's desire for the land and her frustration over Ernest's refusal to pay off Kimberly's student loans.

00:31:47

Tina and Chris: The Suspects

The hosts focus on Tina and Chris, the couple living in a trailer on Ernest's property, and their potential involvement in the murder. They discuss Tina's theft from Ernest, his decision not to press charges, and the deteriorating health of both Ernest and Loretta.

00:38:32

The Plot to Kill Ernest

The hosts uncover the shocking plot to kill Ernest, including Tina's conversations with Katie, Katie's desire for Ernest's death, and Loretta's agreement to hire a hitman. They discuss Katie's manipulation of Ernest's finances and her motive for wanting him dead.

00:49:27

The Investigation and Loretta's Role

The hosts examine the police investigation, including their interviews with Tina, Chris, and Loretta. They discuss Loretta's inconsistent statements, her dementia, and the possibility of her involvement in the murder.

01:00:00

The Investigation Begins and New Leads Emerge

The podcast delves into the investigation of Ernest's death, focusing on the initial interviews with Mildred and Loretta. Mildred expresses her dislike for Loretta and accuses her of trying to have Ernest committed. Loretta appears detached and emotionally distant, raising concerns about dementia. A woman in Shreveport contacts the police, claiming to have seen Ernest's truck at her friend's house. The police investigate and find the truck gone, but the homeowner confirms it was there earlier that day. The investigation leads them to Eric Crane, who lives in a trailer park behind the Shreveport Regional Airport.

01:02:31

Confrontation, Tear Gas, and Suspicious Connections

The police confront Eric Crane at his trailer, but he slams the door in their faces. After a standoff, the SWAT team is called in and uses tear gas to force Eric out. He denies any involvement in Ernest's death and provides an alibi that is quickly proven false. The investigation reveals that Eric Crane is friends with Tina's son, adding another layer of suspicion to the case. The police try to get Eric to confess, but he maintains his innocence. However, his unique boot pattern matches the bloody footprints found at the crime scene.

01:11:59

The Mastermind and the Final Outcomes

The investigation reveals that Katie was the mastermind behind the murder plot. Evidence is found at her house, including a handwritten map of Ernest's home with detailed information. A cellmate of Katie's reveals that she confessed to the murder, claiming she wanted to collect the profits from Ernest's death. The episode concludes with the guilty pleas and sentencing of the individuals involved in the murder. Eric Crane pleads guilty to first-degree murder and agrees to testify against Katie. Tina pleads guilty to second-degree murder. Katie is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison plus 60 years. LaReta dies in 2014 at a facility for Alzheimer's patients.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was the Mad Bug Madness Festival and why was it significant to the case?

  The Mad Bug Madness Festival was a two-day street festival in Keithville, Louisiana, featuring ZYDECO music, crawfish eating contests, and other local attractions. It was significant because it provided a potential alibi for Tina, who claimed to be at the festival during the time of Ernest's murder.

• What was the relationship between Ernest Lutrell and his wife Loretta?

  Ernest and Loretta had been living together for 50 years but never officially married. They had each had children from previous relationships but had no children together. Their relationship was strained, with Loretta's daughter Katie believing that Loretta was taking advantage of Ernest.

• Why did Katie want Ernest dead?

  Katie was motivated by greed and a desire for Ernest's estate. She was angry that Ernest had sold the mineral rights to his property and that he had not paid off her daughter Kimberly's student loans. She believed that Ernest would be better off dead so that she could inherit his money and property.

• How did Tina and Eric Crane plan to make Ernest's murder look like a robbery?

  Tina instructed Eric to take Ernest's guns, keys, and truck after killing him, making it appear as though a robbery had taken place. This was intended to mislead the police and deflect suspicion from Tina and Katie.

• What was the role of Loretta Lutrell in Ernest's murder?

  Loretta's role in the murder is unclear. While she was diagnosed with dementia and may have been easily manipulated by Katie, she was also involved in the plot to hire a hitman and provided Eric with access to the house. Her dementia may have made her a willing participant in the murder, but it is also possible that she was unaware of the full extent of the plan.

• What was the initial suspicion surrounding Loretta's involvement in Ernest's death?

  Mildred, Ernest's sister, accused Loretta of trying to have Ernest committed and expressed her dislike for her. Loretta appeared detached and emotionally distant during the interview, raising concerns about dementia.

• How did the police find Eric Crane, the suspect in Ernest's murder?

  A woman in Shreveport contacted the police, claiming to have seen Ernest's truck at her friend's house. The police investigated and found the truck gone, but the homeowner confirmed it was there earlier that day. The investigation led them to Eric Crane, who lived in a trailer park behind the Shreveport Regional Airport.

• What evidence ultimately led to Eric Crane's arrest?

  The police found Ernest's truck near Eric Crane's trailer and seized his boots, which matched the bloody footprints found at the crime scene. Crane then confessed to killing Ernest during a phone call to his former boss, which was broadcast live on television.

• What role did Tina, Ernest's neighbor, play in the murder?

  Tina confessed to her son, Bubba Lewis, that she had killed Ernest. She also revealed that she had offered Eric Crane $1000 to kill Ernest.

• Who was the mastermind behind the murder plot?

  Katie, Ernest's sister-in-law, was revealed to be the mastermind behind the murder plot. Evidence found at her house, including a handwritten map of Ernest's home, confirmed her involvement. A cellmate of Katie's revealed that she confessed to the murder, claiming she wanted to collect the profits from Ernest's death.

• What were the final outcomes for the individuals involved in the murder?

  Eric Crane pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole. Tina pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. Katie was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison plus 60 years. LaReta died in 2014 at a facility for Alzheimer's patients.

Show Notes