Episode 593: Lee Roy Martin: The Gaffney Strangler
Episode 593: Lee Roy Martin: The Gaffney Strangler
9Digest
The episode begins with an introduction to the podcast "Morbid" and its hosts, Ash and Elena, followed by an advertisement for Wondery Plus. The main focus then shifts to the Gaffney Strangler case, starting with the murder of Annie Deadman and the initial arrest of her husband, Roger Deadman. The hosts detail a mysterious phone call received by a reporter, leading to the discovery of three more victims: Nancy Christine Tina Reinhardt, Nancy Carol Paris, and the confirmation of Annie Deadman's body location. The episode then explores the abduction of 15-year-old Opal Diane Buxen, the growing panic in Gaffney, and the emergence of Lee Roy Martin as a suspect. The hosts discuss Martin's past criminal record and the conflicting opinions of law enforcement officials about his involvement. The episode details the surveillance of Martin, the discovery of Opal's body, and Martin's eventual confession to killing all four women. The hosts discuss the evidence gathered against Martin, including personal items belonging to the victims found at various locations. The episode then explores the aftermath of Martin's arrest, the release of Roger Deadman, and the impact of the case on the town of Gaffney. The hosts delve into Martin's attempted suicide, his evaluation at a state hospital, and the details of his crimes, including necrophilia and his enjoyment of the impact on the victims' families. The episode concludes with Martin's trial and sentencing, his explanation for his actions, his death in prison, and the release of Roger Deadman. The hosts reflect on the lasting impact of the Gaffney Strangler case on the town and the importance of justice.
Outlines
The Gaffney Strangler: A Story of Murder and Mystery
This episode delves into the chilling story of the Gaffney Strangler, a serial killer who terrorized the town of Gaffney, South Carolina, in the 1960s. The hosts discuss the investigation, the victims, and the eventual capture and conviction of the perpetrator, Lee Roy Martin.
The First Victim and the Wrongful Conviction
The episode begins with the murder of Annie Deadman and the initial arrest of her husband, Roger Deadman. The hosts discuss the evidence against Deadman and the circumstances surrounding his wrongful conviction.
The Mysterious Phone Call and the Discovery of More Victims
This chapter details a strange phone call received by Gaffney Ledger reporter Bill Gibbons, who is given directions to three locations where he is told to find bodies. Gibbons, along with Sheriff Julian Wright, investigates the locations and discovers the bodies of Nancy Christine Tina Reinhardt, Nancy Carol Paris, and confirms the location of Annie Deadman's body.
The Abduction of Opal Buxen and the Growing Panic
This chapter focuses on the abduction of 15-year-old Opal Diane Buxen, the fourth victim, and the subsequent search for her. The hosts discuss the growing panic in Gaffney as residents fear for their safety and start buying guns for protection.
Lee Roy Martin: A New Suspect Emerges
This chapter introduces Lee Roy Martin, a mill worker and father of three, as a potential suspect in the murders. The hosts discuss Martin's past criminal record and the conflicting opinions of law enforcement officials about his involvement.
Surveillance, Discovery, and Arrest
This chapter describes the surveillance of Lee Roy Martin by law enforcement officials, who are hoping to find Opal alive. The hosts discuss the discovery of Opal's body and the subsequent arrest of Martin.
Confession and Evidence
This chapter details the confession of Lee Roy Martin, who admits to killing all four women. The hosts discuss the evidence gathered against Martin, including personal items belonging to the victims found at various locations.
Aftermath and Justice
This chapter discusses the aftermath of Martin's arrest and the release of Roger Deadman, who was wrongfully convicted of Annie Deadman's murder. The hosts reflect on the impact of the case on the town of Gaffney and the importance of justice.
Keywords
Gaffney Strangler
The Gaffney Strangler was a serial killer who operated in Gaffney, South Carolina, in the 1960s. He was responsible for the murders of four women, including Annie Deadman, Nancy Christine Tina Reinhardt, Nancy Carol Paris, and Opal Diane Buxen.
Lee Roy Martin
Lee Roy Martin was the perpetrator of the Gaffney Strangler murders. He was a mill worker and father of three who confessed to killing all four victims.
Mass Hysteria
Mass hysteria is a phenomenon where a group of people experience similar physical symptoms, often without a clear medical explanation. It is often triggered by stress, fear, or anxiety.
Circumstantial Evidence
Circumstantial evidence is indirect evidence that suggests a person's involvement in a crime but does not directly prove it. It is often used in conjunction with other types of evidence to build a case.
Miscarriage of Justice
A miscarriage of justice occurs when a person is wrongly convicted of a crime. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including faulty evidence, prosecutorial misconduct, or ineffective legal representation.
Necrophilia
Sexual attraction to corpses. It is a paraphilia, a sexual interest that is considered atypical or deviant.
Irresistible Impulse
A legal defense used to argue that a defendant was unable to control their actions due to a mental condition.
Split Personality
A term often used to describe dissociative identity disorder (DID), a mental health condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities.
Q&A
What was the Gaffney Strangler's motive for killing the four women?
The Gaffney Strangler's motive for killing the four women is not entirely clear, but it seems he was driven by a desire for attention and a need to be recognized for his crimes. He was upset that Roger Deadman was getting credit for Annie Deadman's murder and wanted to ensure that he was the one who received recognition for his actions.
How did law enforcement officials finally get Lee Roy Martin to confess to the murders?
Law enforcement officials used a psychological tactic to get Lee Roy Martin to confess to the murders. They drove him around in silence, refusing to ask him questions or engage with him. This tactic played on Martin's narcissism and need for attention, eventually leading him to confess to the crimes.
What was the impact of the Gaffney Strangler case on the town of Gaffney?
The Gaffney Strangler case had a profound impact on the town of Gaffney. It created a climate of fear and anxiety among residents, who were afraid to leave their homes. The case also highlighted the importance of justice and the need to ensure that the right people are held accountable for their crimes.
What evidence came to light during Leroy Martin's evaluation at the state hospital?
The evaluation revealed that Martin was a necrophiliac and that he enjoyed the impact his crimes had on the victims' families. He also seemed to revel in the ways that his crimes affected the people of Gaffney, specifically the victim's families.
What was Martin's explanation for his crimes?
Martin claimed to have a split personality, with a violent side responsible for the murders and a remorseful side. He said his good side was the one that didn't want him to go to prison.
What happened to Roger Deadman, who was wrongly convicted for one of the murders?
Deadman served 10 months in prison before being released after Martin confessed to the crime. He was able to reclaim custody of his son and found work as an electrician.
How has the Gaffney Strangler case impacted the town of Gaffney?
The case continues to haunt the town, with stories and rumors persisting about the crimes and the bridge where they occurred. Locals claim to hear screams and cries of young women at the bridge.
Show Notes
In the winter of 1968, reporter Bill Gibbons got an anonymous call from a man who wanted to confess to three murders in the small town of Gaffney, South Carolina. Gibbons thought the call was a prank, but he took it to the sheriff and the two men travel out to the first of three locations where the caller claimed to have left the bodies. After searching casually through the underbrush for a short time, the men discover the nude body of twenty-year-old Nancy Carol Paris, who’d been strangled to death. At the second location, they discovered the body of fourteen-year-old Tina Rhinehart, who appeared to have been killed in the same manner as Paris. Investigators soon learned that the third location the caller gave was where police had discovered the body of Annie Dedmond six months earlier.
In the days that followed, the “Gaffney Strangler,” as the press would come to call him, would contact Gibbons several more times, demanding that he print stories about the murders in the newspaper. He also insisted that Gibbons and the sheriff’s department needed to do something about the fact that Annie Dedmond’s husband, Roger, was sitting in jail for Annie’s murder. Then, a week later, the strangler struck again, this time kidnapping fifteen-year-old Opal Buckson in broad daylight, throwing her in the trunk of his car while her sister watched helplessly. Opal’s body would be discovered a week later, dead like the others.
A few days after the discovery of Opal’s body, police arrested Lee Roy Martin, a local mill worker and father of three who’d been born and raised in Gaffney. The arrest shocked the local residents and left everyone wondering, in a town as small as Gaffney, how could they have lived their entire lives with a violent psychopath and never known it?
Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research!
References
Charlotte Observer. 1972. "About Roger Dedmond, convicted of killing his wife." Charlotte Observer, November 7: 30.
2015. A Crime to Remember. Directed by Christine Connor. Performed by Christine Connor.
Dalton, Robert, and Craig Peters. 2009. Gaffney Strangler terrorized town 40 years ago, murdering 4 women. July 5. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2009/07/05/gaffney-strangler-terrorized-town-40-years-ago-murdering-4-women/29885910007/.
Fuller, Bill, and Jack Horan. 1968. "Dog only murder witness?" Charlotte Observer, February 10: 1.
Gaffney Ledger. 1968. "Attorneys ask court transcript of trial." Gaffney Ledger, February 21: 1.
—. 1968. "Officers search well; find Opal's clothing." Gaffney Ledger, February 28: 1.
Howe, Claudia. 1968. "Grim mystery, violent deaths engulf Gaffney." Charlotte Observer, February 14: 10.
Jones, Mark R. 2007. Palmetto Predators: Monsters Among Us. Charleston, SC: The History Press.
Martin, Tommy. 1988. "Lives of golf pro, texile worker crossed paths on February 13, 1968." Gaffney Ledger, February 5: 4.
—. 1968. "Martin sentenced to life in prison." Gaffney Ledger, September 19: 1.
McCuen, Sam E. 1968. "Crank telephone calls plague Gaffney police." The State, February 16: 19.
—. 1968. "Gaffney girl is kidnapped." The State, February 14: 1.
—. 1968. "Mother convinced her son innocent." The State, February 9: 1.
Skipp, Catherine. 2009. "Gaffney, S.C. haunted by murderous memories ." Newsweek, July 8.
The Gaffney Ledger. 1968. "Martin is charged in 3 stranglings." Gaffney Ledger, February 19: 1.
The State. 1968. "2 bodies found after phone call." The State, February 9: 1.
—. 1968. "Suspect attempts suicide." The State, February 21: 15.
Truluck, Jack. 1968. "In-laws believe Dedmond is guilty." Gaffney Ledger, February 21: 1.
United Press International. 1968. "Lee Roy Martin indicted in 4 Gaffney stranglings." Greenville News, May 21: 1.
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