Deadly Small-Town Secrets: The Reporter Who Risked Everything for the Jeff Davis 8

Truer Crime

Celisia Stanton

True Crime

4.8 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 13 March 2025

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What happens when a journalist discovers a supposed "serial killer" case might actually be a web of police corruption, informant murders, and small-town cover-ups? In this riveting follow-up to our Jeff Davis 8 episode, I go one-on-one with investigative reporter Ethan Brown, who spent years untangling the deaths of eight women in rural Louisiana. Brown reveals shocking new details - from his strange friendship with the prime suspect to death threats he received while investigating. He explains why local law enforcement might have wanted these women silenced, the horrifying connection between all eight victims, and why the case remains unsolved nearly two decades later. This isn't just another cold case - it's a frightening glimpse into what happens when those meant to protect become the ones to fear. The truth behind the Jeff Davis 8 is darker and more disturbing than any serial killer theory. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to a Tenderfoot TV podcast.
0:09.0	Hi, friends. I'm so excited to share this new season two episode of True or crime with you.
0:13.7	If you want an ad-free listening experience, subscribe to Tenderfoot Plus at Tenderfootplus.com or on Apple Podcasts.
0:24.3	Hey, friends. at tenderfootplus.com or on Apple Podcasts. Hey friends, I am super excited to share something special with you today.
0:28.6	A conversation with Ethan Brown, the investigative reporter whose work on the Jeff
0:32.9	Davis-8 case really blew my mind and formed the backbone of our last episode.
0:39.5	I still remember when I first came across Ethan's 2014 medium article about the Jeff Davis 8. I was totally hooked. The way he
0:46.1	dug into this case and challenged the whole lone serial killer story that everyone had been pushing,
0:50.6	that really got me thinking. In our chat today, Ethan reveals some shocking details
0:55.4	about local corruption in Jefferson Davis Parish, including a human trafficking ring operating
1:00.1	out of the jail and connections to a Louisiana congressman that I never saw coming.
1:05.6	Ethan's journey with this case is pretty fascinating. Back in 2009, he was working as an
1:10.6	investigator for a law office in
1:12.3	New Orleans, and during trips to a neighboring parish, he'd drive past these billboards on
1:16.9	I-10 with the faces of all eight women. Those haunting images, plus a compelling piece in the New York
1:22.7	Times, sparked his curiosity. What's fascinating, though, is how his relationship with Frankie
1:27.9	Ui Shah, the man at the center of many of these murders, developed in such an unexpected way.
1:34.3	Wait till you hear about their phone calls and Frankie's unusual requests.
1:39.0	Before we jump into our chat, I should mention that Ethan's written four books on crime and
1:43.2	criminal justice. He's
1:44.5	contributed to places like Rolling Stone and The Guardian and spent about a decade working
1:48.4	with attorneys who represented people facing the death penalty in the deep south. His work
	...

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