117. The Hippy Smuggler, P1

Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling

BBC

True Crime, Comedy

4.3 • 922 Ratings

🗓️ 4 May 2026

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the first of this two-parter, Iain uncovers the origin story of Gary Betzner, a cropduster pilot from Arkansas who got himself embroiled in the dangerous world of drug smuggling

Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available twice a week on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:06.1	Can I just say?
0:07.6	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast.
0:10.0	It's such a wonderful listen.
0:11.7	So nice.
0:12.5	There are loads more like it on BBC Sounds.
0:14.8	Different paces, different heights, the roof is buckling.
0:17.9	Where you can also listen to live sports commentary.
0:20.2	It's right foot goes for goal.
0:22.6	And then enjoy even more podcasts full of analysis and reaction to the big stories.
0:27.7	The stat that is astonishing is they ended with the lowest amount of possession.
0:31.2	And she's had to live with that.
0:32.8	So if you love sport, a passion, it's almost like a religion.
0:35.8	Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:37.8	Sort of expecting that every week now.
0:40.8	A warning to our listeners before we begin,
0:42.8	there will be a reference to suicide in my opening scene.
0:45.8	So listener caution is advised.
0:47.9	Thank you.
0:51.6	It's the 18th of September, 1977.
1:00.0	We're in Arkansas in a city about 50 miles east of Little Rock called Des Arc. We're on a road leading out of town. More specifically, we're on the Des Arc Bridge.
1:05.0	Roughly 50 feet below, the White River is rushing past, heading north towards Missouri.
	...

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