Small Town Murder Small Town Murder

Stormy, Deadly Night - Selma, North Carolina

Oct 2, 2026 · 1h 16m

Summary

Hosts James Petrigall and Jimmy Wman discuss the 1989 murder of 69-year-old Leland Grice in Selma, North Carolina. The episode details how two young men, Franklin Howell and Gordon Marlow, lured a neighbor into driving them to the victim's trailer while huffing lacquer thinner. The pair then robbed and shot Grice in the back of the head, with the driver later providing a full confession to detectives. The hosts also promote upcoming live shows and their Patreon content.

Topics discussed

Intro and upcoming live show dates Patreon promotion and show preview Introduction to Selma, North Carolina Local reviews and community events Discussion of local beauty pageants Context: June 1989 pop culture and music Background on victims Leland and Ruby Grice The night of the murder and discovery Forensic details and initial investigation John Horton's testimony: The setup The drive: Lacquer thinner and the plan The crime: Jumping from the moving truck Arrests and evidence discovery Plea deals and DA controversy Trial strategy and hearsay objections Horton's testimony on confessions Sentencing and appeals process Legal arguments on counsel and mitigation Family background and final thoughts Outro and call to action
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