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Our True Crime Podcast

215. For Sin Burns Like A Fire: Death of James Matheney

Our True Crime Podcast

Flanderson Media, LLC

Personal Journals, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.61.3K Ratings

🗓️ 7 June 2023

⏱️ 39 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It is June 16, 1987, and we are in Nashville, Tennessee, and a beloved church named Emmanuel Church of Christ Oneness Pentecostal has experienced a substantial damaging fire. Detective Robert Moore reports to the scene. He quickly determined that the fire had severely damaged the structure, burning extremely hot. The organ had melted, and the chandeliers had fallen to the ground. The walls were black from soot and smoke damage. Although he could see the severity of the fire, he was not there to investigate the fire itself but rather something that the fireman discovered in the church's attic. Since there was no electricity, Moore had to use a flashlight to make his way. In the corner, he notices a pile of stuff, primarily unused wood, materials, just a bunch of stuff thrown on top of what looked like a rolled-up carpet. Wondering what could be on the rug, he begins to unroll it. As it unwinds, human feet appear, but the shock is yet to come. The body had no head, and half of the arm was missing. Upon closer inspection, he notices a belt with a belt buckle. The buckle had the initial ‘T’ on it. Only one person had such a buckle: the well-loved 44-year-old church pastor John David Terry. There was not a break-in, so robbery was out of the question. As the investigation begins, investigators will travel down a deep and twisty path to get a resolution. What they find out is difficult to believe, even for seasoned detectives. Join Jen and Cam on this episode of ‘Our True Crime Podcast’ entitled ‘For Sin Burns Like Fire: Death of James Matheney’This episode is sponsored by HelloFresh, America’s #1 Meal KitUse our special code to get your discount today! Go to HelloFresh.com/otcp and use code otcp50 for 50% off, plus your first box ships free!Listener Discretion courtesy of @octoberpodVHSMusic is courtesy of our executive producer @wetalkofdreamsSources:https://www.nashvillepost.com/home/minister-terry-on-death-row-for-murder-apparently-kills-self-second-suicide-in-west-tn/article_30ffe683-6b66-5e4e-8ff8-0b1b2d28a956.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/27/us/minister-sentenced-to-death.htmlhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115897725/john-david-terryhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt7984224/https://thecinemaholic.com/james-matheny-murder-how-did-john-david-terry-die/https://caselaw.findlaw.com/tn-supreme-court/1257486.htmlhttps://christianpundit.wordpress.com/2019/01/06/preacher-john-david-terry-murdered-and-beheaded-friend-to-fake-own-death-1987-equally-yoked-is-pointless/https://casetext.com/case/state-v-terry-74 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello, I'm Edward October. Over the years, I've narrated more ghost stories, horror shows, and creepypastas that I can count.

0:07.8

And yet, the crimes discussed on our true crime podcast manage to scare the s**t out of me.

0:14.4

This program is not suitable for children or the faint of heart. If you are such a person, go ahead and switch off this podcast.

0:21.5

Listen to something else.

0:24.5

Are you still with us?

0:26.5

Well, we warned you.

0:30.0

Hey, Jen. Hey, Kim, how are you?

0:33.0

I'm pretty good. It's summer. Summer is coming. No, it's fantastic. He's summer break, summer break. It's really weird because, like, my kids are old enough now that they're never home.

0:59.5

So, you know, before it was like, God, I dreaded summer because I had kids on my on me all the time.

1:05.5

What are we going to do?

1:06.5

I'm bored. And now it's like, well, now I'm bored because I'm like, where are you going?

1:10.5

What are you guys doing?

1:11.5

That's what I ask every day.

1:12.5

Can I take you shopping?

1:14.5

Just, you know, I'll buy you whatever you want. Just spend some time with me, please.

1:18.5

Yeah, nope. That's what you get a driver. It's all good. It's all gone.

1:23.5

Anyway, what you got for us today?

1:25.5

This is a haven't used this word for a while. Um, Dinger. This is something else. Like, this is, I don't even know. It's definitely a lifetime movie, I think.

1:34.5

Like, it's so out there and just like, is it literally a lifetime movie?

1:39.5

Do you think it could be?

1:40.5

It should have been. It could have been.

1:42.5

Could be still.

...

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