# Episode 9: Rumors and Whispers

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/crooked-tree-a-west-memphis-3-podcast-7844947/episode-9-rumors-and-whispers
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/crooked-tree-a-west-memphis-3-podcast-7844947/episode-9-rumors-and-whispers.md
Podcast: [Crooked Tree: A West Memphis 3 Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/crooked-tree-a-west-memphis-3-podcast-7844947)
Published: 2026-07-14T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/2fc0c4dfc7d4e9bfadd183e92eaa49d83eeee6ad532fff81dae9f3086c955bc2/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiIyYmNmZDdlYy0wNjE5LTQwMmEtYmU3Ni0xN2E1ZTMzNjViZmIiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIzNmNkMjRlMC02NzEzLTQwNDgtYWY1Zi1lMjdjZGQ5Y2M1ODgiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTJjZjcyNGNkZmZkMjBmNjI3OGUyYzQiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmE1NWYwZmMxZWIyNDVjNjc3NmMwYmY3L3BhdWxzLXN0dWRpby1XcXFWcS1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTctMTRfXzEwLTE5LTgubXAzIn0=.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/crooked-tree-a-west-memphis-3-podcast-7844947/episodes/episode-9-rumors-and-whispers
Duration seconds: 2926

## Resource

In Episode 9 of Crooked Tree, Paul Day and Kristin Rich dive deep into the raw, unfiltered door-to-door canvassing notes compiled by West Memphis police during the critical first weekend after the discovery of the bodies of Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore (May 7–9, 1993). From over 700 homes visited and more than 50 tips received, the episode explores a flood of neighborhood rumors, suspicious vehicles (brown Chevys, maroon cars, white vans, red trucks), strange individuals on bikes, reports of cults and Satan worshippers in Robin Hood, gunshots ringing out around 10–11 PM, a dog barking near the pipebridge, and eerie encounters that raised red flags for residents and investigators alike. Paul and Kristin analyze the patterns, inconsistencies, and standout leads—including a resident who stood out enough for an officer to document him in detail—while noting what (and who) is conspicuously absent from the early sightings. Recorded against the emotional backdrop of Mother’s Day weekend, this episode captures the fog of war in the earliest days of the investigation.

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## Transcript

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