Episodes

Mom didn't kill herself. It was murder. That's what one daughter is out to prove. Burden is about the suspicious death of Billie Jean Letterman near Texarkana, Arkansas in 1991. The story covers the night she was shot in the head, how the investigation into her death went terribly wrong, and the family now left with many hard questions. Burden is based on extensive interviews with police, forensic experts, legal experts, paramedics, Billie Jean’s family and friends, and others close to the case....

Billie Jean Letterman died of a gunshot wound to the head at her home in Texarkana, Arkansas in 1991. When paramedics arrive at the scene after she's been shot, Billie’s husband Michael Letterman is behaving suspiciously. At the hospital, medical staff also notice concerning behavior. Police interview Michael to try to understand what happened but are quick to appease him when he becomes nervous and can’t get his story straight. Say hello on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . Thanks to our spo...

Billie Jean Letterman’s daughter Ashly was in the house the night her mother was shot in the head. Ashly is Michael Letterman's step daughter. She was only six years old when her mom died. What she saw that night has been haunting her ever since. Ashly’s father Topper Letterman, who is also Michael Letterman’s older brother, talks about his relationship with Michael and what he thinks happened the night Billie Jean was shot. Say hello on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . Get bonus content on ...

Police officers report what they saw at the scene the night Billie Jean was shot. Lead investigator Sgt. Don Nix talks about the case many years later and says he believes it was a homicide. He has trouble remembering some of the details, though, and contradicts himself numerous times. Ashly speaks publicly about her mom’s case and is told what she is saying only proves that Michael is telling the truth. Say hello on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Aca...

Michael’s first wife tells police about the horrible things Michael did to her when they were married. Hospital records reveal the final moments of Billie’s life. The crime lab sends its findings to lead investigator Sgt. Don Nix. And, five years after she died, the investigation into Billie’s death is reopened. Say hello on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, stories of growing up in the Letterman household. We also hear from Billie's family and friends about times they were afraid of Michael Letterman and efforts to call police. Ashly’s cousin comes forward to say he has information about the night Billie Jean died that he’s never revealed. And, a reflection on the violent past of a man elected prosecuting attorney in Miller County around the time that Billie died, Brent Haltom. He went on to be elected as a judge. Say hello on Face...

Michael Letterman badly abused his first two wives, Gaye and Billie Jean. He beat them, choked them, and held guns to their heads. Gaye got away, but Billie Jean didn’t make it out alive. Michael married for a third time to a young woman named Ginna. This is Ginna’s story about her 15-year marriage to Michael Letterman, the man she calls a monster. We hear how she eventually got away from him and the lingering questions she has about the death of his second wife. Get bonus content on Patreon Hos...

With all the physical evidence lost and little investigation into Billie’s case, we look to Billie’s body for clues about what happened the night she was shot. The 1991 autopsy of Billie Jean Letterman was performed by a controversial medical examiner named Dr. Fahmy Malak. Because Dr. Malak’s work has been called into question numerous times, we took the autopsy results to Dr. Charles Kokes, who became the new chief medical examiner for the state of Arkansas after Malak resigned amid accusation...

On the season finale, a legal expert weighs in on what charges could have been filed against Michael Letterman for the role he played in the shooting death of Billie Jean. Then, a conversation with Billie Jean’s daughter Ashly about the impact telling her mom’s story has had on her and her family. Ashly also talks about present-day experiences with law enforcement’s handling of domestic violence situations. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to share with you a true crime podcast we think you’ll really like. It’s called Ozarks True Crime . Listen to Episode 1 of Season 2 right here. It tells the story of the Feeney family murders. On February 25, 1995, Jon Feeney said goodbye to his wife and two young children before driving to a teacher’s conference an hour and a half away. Two days later, his wife and two young children were found brutally murdered. There are some who are convinced Jon Feeney snuck away from the conference...