Today is Friday, October 30th, 2020. On this day in 1831, Nat Turner was apprehended

in Southampton County, Virginia, weeks after leading the bloodiest slave uprising in

US history.

Welcome to Today in True Crime, a Spotify original from podcast. Due to the graphic nature of

today's crimes, listener discretion is advised. Extreme caution is advised for listeners under

13. Today recovering the capture of Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher who led an uprising that

resulted in the deaths of over 50 Virginians. The revolt sparked retaliatory violence from

the white establishment, who then killed scores of black men and women in the aftermath.

Let's go back to October 30th, 1831, to a quiet farm in Southampton County, Virginia.

31-year-old Nat Turner had been on the run for over nine weeks, moving across the county

in total secrecy. All he could focus on was staying a step ahead of the authorities

and militia, hunting him. His final hiding place was a makeshift cave he appeared to

have dug with his sword. The top of a fallen tree concealed the opening, affording the

wanted man some measure of cover, but it wouldn't last for long. The particular surrounding

Turner's capture are contested, so will offer both versions. In the more prominent story,

a man named Benjamin Phipps was wandering through the woods on a farm when he noticed

the branches of a fallen tree moving slightly. It wasn't a windy day, so Phipps was sure

someone was hidden behind the brush. He raced his rifle, cocked it, and ordered whoever

was inside to come out.

Moments later, Nat Turner pushed his way through the branches, looking wretched. He was

emaciated, dirty, and his clothes were ragged, understandable given his time on the lamb. Turner

held up his hands in surrender. When Phipps ordered him to lay down his weapon, Turner threw

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