Episode 172 The Chillingworth Murders

Southern Mysteries Podcast

Shannon Ballard

True Crime, Society & Culture, History

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 15 September 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In June 1955, Judge Curtis Chillingworth and his wife Marjorie vanished from their Manalapan, Florida, beach cottage. There were haunting clues, but no bodies were ever found. Their disappearance exposed corruption in Florida’s courts and led to the downfall of a fellow judge. Curtis was known for integrity, Marjorie for her quiet strength — together, they became the heart of one of Florida’s most infamous true crime cases. Their story, and its unexpected ties to the legend of Trapper Nelson, remains one of Florida’s most haunting mysteries. 💌 Join the Community on Patreon: Want more Southern Mysteries? You can hear the Southern Mysteries show archive of 60+ episodes along with Patron exclusive podcast, Audacious: Tales of American Crime and more when you become a patron of the show. You can immediately access exclusive content now at patreon.com/southernmysteries 🎧 Explore More Southern Mysteries Visit SouthernMysteries.com for more episodes and source lists. 📱 Follow on Social Media: Facebook: Southern Mysteries PodcastTikTok @southernmysteries Instagram: @southernmysteriesEmail: southernmysteriespodcast@gmail.com Episode Sources Palm Beach Bar Association. Memorial Resolution for Judge Curtis E. Chillingworth. (1965) palmbeachbar.org Florida Memory. Justice Curtis E. Chillingworth Temporary Appointment Bio. floridamemory.com The Charley Project. Curtis Eugene Chillingworth Case File. charleyproject.org The Charley Project. Marjorie McKinley Chillingworth Case File. charleyproject.org Crime + Investigation UK. Judge Joe Peel and the Chillingworth Murders. crimeandinvestigation.co.uk The Coastal Star. Manalapan 60 Years On: Chillingworth Murders Still Shocking. thecoastalstar.com Mental Floss. What Happened to Judge Curtis Chillingworth? mentalfloss.com Town of Manalapan. History of Incorporation and Harold S. Vanderbilt. manalapan.org Wikipedia. Curtis Chillingworth. wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Chillingworth Unlikely Friends — A municipal publication from Jupiter, FL, describing the unlikely friendship between Judge Curtis Chillingworth and Vincent “Trapper” Nelson.https://www.jupiter.fl.us/DocumentCenter/View/301/Judge-Chillingworth-Murder Episode Music Out of the Mines, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, if you're a fan of artists like Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, Joan Jett, and Rob Thomas,
0:06.5	you should know that these artists and dozens more have stepped up to help Western North
0:11.5	Carolina's ongoing recovery. And you could own a piece of music memorabilia from them to help
0:17.9	a great cause, my friends at Marshall Relief Alliance.
0:21.7	Hey, I'm Shannon Ballard, the host of Southern Mysteries, and if you've listened to this
0:25.8	show for a while, you know I live and work here in Asheville, North Carolina.
0:31.1	Almost a year ago, when Hurricane Helene tore through the mountains, this area was devastated.
0:37.7	Communities like the town of Marshall were hit especially hard.
0:42.2	The entire downtown was underwater, families lost their homes, and businesses that had stood for generations were destroyed.
0:50.8	Some have reopened, which is great news, but there are folks who are still struggling to rebuild their lives.
0:59.2	Out of that heartbreak, the Marshall Relief Alliance was formed to lead that long-term recovery.
1:05.7	Through my work with Asheville Media Group, I've seen their impact firsthand.
1:10.5	And now I hope you'll support them by bidding on some amazing music memorabilia.
1:16.1	It's called the Year of Revival Auction, and it's filled with once-in-a-lifetime items,
1:21.3	sign guitars, rare vinyl, and more donated items by those incredible artists I mentioned earlier,
1:28.9	and so many more.
1:33.9	Every winning bid goes straight to the Marshall Relief Alliance to help rebuild homes,
1:38.4	restore businesses, and keep hope alive here in the mountains.
1:46.6	The auction opens Thursday, September 18th, and runs through Thursday, September 25th at 5 p.m. Eastern.
1:52.5	It's important to know if you win your bid, you'll pick up your items at my office in Asheville, North Carolina. The good news is we'll hold that item for up to a year,
1:57.1	so it's a great reason to make a trip to Asheville and explore Western North Carolina,
2:01.2	and it would give us the chance to meet in person too. You can view all of the auction items,
	...

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