Digest

This podcast episode investigates the disappearance and murder of Janet Dennis, a mother of three, from her home in Oklahoma City. The episode begins with the discovery of Janet's absence by her son, Tad, and the initial investigation by the police, who find no signs of struggle or foul play. The focus then shifts to Janet's troubled marriage to Leroy Dennis, her new relationship with Jim Umbenhauer, and the suspicious behavior exhibited by both men. As the investigation progresses, the police uncover inconsistencies in Leroy's alibi, his financial motive for wanting Janet dead, and witness testimony placing him at Janet's house on the night she disappeared. The discovery of Janet's burned remains on Leroy's ranch provides crucial evidence, leading to his arrest and subsequent trial. The episode details the trial, the prosecution's arguments, the defense's strategy, and the emotional testimony of key witnesses, including Janet's son, Tad. The jury ultimately finds Leroy guilty of first-degree murder but sentences him to life without parole due to Tad's emotional plea. The episode concludes with a discussion of Leroy's appeal, the role of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, and the challenges faced by individuals seeking clemency. The episode also mentions the tragic death of Leroy's son, Ted, in a drunk driving accident.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Show Promotion

This segment is an advertisement for Wondery Plus, promoting early access to podcasts like "Small Town Murder" and other true crime shows.

00:00:56

Welcome to Small Town Murder

The hosts welcome listeners to the episode and briefly mention the show's recent focus on Oklahoma.

00:01:41

Show Promotions and Upcoming Events

The hosts promote their other podcasts, "Crime in Sports" and "Your Stupid Opinions," and encourage listeners to attend their upcoming live shows and virtual events.

00:25:44

The Case of Leroy Dean Dennis and Janet Maria

The hosts introduce the case of Leroy Dean Dennis and Janet Maria, focusing on their backgrounds, relationship, and eventual divorce.

00:37:02

Contrasting Personalities of Leroy Dennis

The hosts discuss the contrasting personalities of Leroy Dennis as perceived by residents of both Oklahoma City and his hometown of Seiling, highlighting his reputation as a helpful neighbor in the city and a less-liked figure in his hometown.

00:47:09

Janet Maria's Disappearance

The hosts detail the events leading up to Janet Maria's disappearance, including her Friday night routine, her son Tad's discovery of her absence, and the initial response from the police.

00:54:39

The Disappearance of Janet Dennis

The podcast episode begins with the disappearance of Janet Dennis, a mother of three, from her home in Oklahoma City. The police investigate her home and find no signs of struggle or foul play. Janet's purse, car, and toiletries are missing, suggesting she may have left intentionally.

00:05:33

Exploring Seiling, Oklahoma

The hosts delve into the history and demographics of Seiling, Oklahoma, highlighting its agricultural roots, unusual gender ratio, and low cost of living.

00:14:48

Seiling Real Estate Report

The hosts provide a humorous overview of the real estate market in Seiling, showcasing the unique and sometimes bizarre properties available in the town.

00:18:16

Things to Do in Seiling

The hosts discuss the limited attractions in Seiling, focusing on the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum and the Seiling Open Rodeo, offering their humorous commentary on both.

00:25:15

Crime Rate in Seiling

The hosts discuss the low crime rate in Seiling, attributing it to the town's remote location and its predominantly rural population.

00:59:20

Investigating Janet's Relationships

The police interview Janet's friends and co-workers, who reveal that she had been unhappy in her marriage to Leroy Dennis and had been much happier since starting a relationship with Jim Umbenhauer. They also learn that Leroy had been controlling and abusive towards Janet.

01:02:11

Jim Umbenhauer's Suspicious Behavior

Jim Umbenhauer, Janet's new boyfriend, exhibits suspicious behavior. He obtains a key to Janet's house after her disappearance and searches the home while Leroy and the children are away. He also claims to have been driving around looking for Janet's car when he coincidentally found it at the airport, at the same time as the police.

01:09:02

Leroy Dennis's Alibi and Rumors

Leroy Dennis, Janet's ex-husband, appears on the news pleading for information about Janet's whereabouts. The police investigate his alibi and find inconsistencies in his story. Rumors begin to circulate in the small town that Leroy is responsible for Janet's disappearance.

01:10:13

The Divorce and Custody Battle

The police learn that the divorce between Janet and Leroy was not amicable. Leroy had argued with Janet in front of their children and was adamant about gaining full custody of them. He also owed Janet $30,000 from their divorce settlement and was facing bankruptcy.

01:14:28

New Witnesses and Evidence

A witness comes forward claiming to have seen Leroy outside Janet's house on the evening she disappeared. Another witness reveals that Leroy was packing Janet's belongings into boxes the Monday after she vanished. The police are increasingly suspicious of Leroy.

01:21:55

The VHS Tape and its Contents

The police search Janet's house again and find a box of men's toiletries belonging to Jim Umbenhauer. Inside the box, they discover an unlabeled VHS tape. The tape contains sexually explicit content, showing a naked woman being restrained and burned.

01:27:08

The Fire and the Bones

The neighbor who reported seeing a fire on Leroy's property the morning after Janet disappeared is found to have misremembered the date. The police decide to search Leroy's ranch more thoroughly. They discover burned human bone fragments in a secluded area of the ranch.

01:32:15

Leroy's Arrest and Defense

The bones are identified as Janet's remains. Leroy is arrested and charged with her murder. He denies any involvement in her death and claims to have no knowledge of how the bones ended up on his ranch.

01:34:54

The Police Narrative and Tad's Testimony

The police develop a theory that Leroy abducted Janet from her home, took her to a holding area, and then killed her on his ranch. Tad, Janet's son, testifies that he remembers playing with bones on his father's ranch and that Leroy claimed they belonged to a possum.

01:41:35

The Neighbors' Perspectives

The neighbors in Oklahoma City have mixed opinions about Leroy. Some describe him as a devoted father and good neighbor, while others portray him as a strange and untrustworthy individual.

01:43:32

Financial Mismanagement and Suspicions

The podcast reveals that Leroy had been mismanaging the finances of an elderly woman, Amber Doer, who he had known since childhood. He had been given power of attorney to administer her money and had used it to purchase a certificate of deposit in his son's name.

01:53:09

The Couple's Financial Crimes

The police investigate further and discover that Janet had been involved in Leroy's financial crimes. They had jointly deposited money from Amber Doer's account into their own bank account.

01:55:15

The Case Against Lee Roy Dennis

The podcast discusses the case against Lee Roy Dennis, who is accused of killing his ex-wife, Janet Dennis. The case is circumstantial, with no direct evidence linking Dennis to the crime. The podcast explores the evidence, including the discovery of Janet's bones on Dennis' property, the lack of a crime scene, and the conflicting alibis of both Dennis and his ex-wife's boyfriend.

02:12:57

The Trial and Verdict

The podcast details the trial of Lee Roy Dennis, including the prosecution's arguments, the defense's strategy, and the testimony of key witnesses. The podcast highlights the lack of a definitive cause of death and the emotional impact of the trial on Dennis' children. The jury ultimately finds Dennis guilty of first-degree murder, but sentences him to life without parole due to the emotional testimony of his son.

02:29:10

The Appeal and Its Aftermath

The podcast examines Lee Roy Dennis' appeal, focusing on the defense's arguments regarding the effectiveness of his legal representation and the prosecution's use of a surprise witness. The podcast also discusses the role of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board and the challenges faced by individuals seeking clemency. The episode concludes with a brief mention of the tragic death of Dennis' son, Ted, in a drunk driving accident.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the unusual gender ratio in Seiling, Oklahoma?

  Seiling has a significantly higher female population than male, with 63.3% of the town's residents being female.

• What is the significance of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum?

  The museum offers visitors a glimpse into the history of Route 66, a renowned highway that holds a special place in American culture.

• What are some of the unique features of the real estate market in Seiling?

  The real estate market in Seiling features a variety of properties, including a three-bedroom house with views of open fields, a large trailer with no windows, and a four-bedroom house on 17.46 acres with a huge barn.

• What are some of the events that take place at the Seiling Open Rodeo?

  The Seiling Open Rodeo features traditional rodeo events like bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, and mutton busting, as well as unique events like wild cow milking.

• What are the contrasting personalities of Leroy Dennis as perceived by residents of Oklahoma City and Seiling?

  Leroy Dennis is known as a helpful and friendly neighbor in Oklahoma City, while in Seiling, he is seen as a less-liked figure with a reputation for stealing fencing and other petty crimes.

• What are the circumstances surrounding Janet Maria's disappearance?

  Janet Maria disappeared on a Friday night after having dinner with her children and decorating their house for Christmas. Her son Tad discovered her absence the next morning, finding her bed made and her toiletries missing.

• What was the initial response from the police regarding Janet Maria's disappearance?

  The Oklahoma City Police Department initially dismissed Janet Maria's disappearance as a common occurrence, suggesting that she would likely return over the weekend.

• What are the key pieces of evidence that point to Leroy Dennis as the suspect in Janet's disappearance?

  The key pieces of evidence include the discovery of Janet's burned remains on Leroy's ranch, the inconsistencies in his alibi, his financial motive, his desire for custody of the children, and the witness testimony placing him at Janet's house on the night she disappeared.

• What was the main evidence presented against Lee Roy Dennis?

  The main evidence was the discovery of Janet Dennis' bones on Lee Roy's property, along with the testimony of his children who said he told them the bones belonged to a possum.

Show Notes