S5 Ep207: Buried Truth: Russell Tillis and "The House of Horrors"

Once Upon A Crime | True Crime

Esther Ludlow

True Crime, Crime, Truecrime, Criminology, History, Criminals

4.6 • 5K Ratings

🗓️ 14 June 2021

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this month’s series “Buried Truth” I share cases where a person goes missing never to be seen again. Just when it seemed their fate would remain a mystery, the truth would be uncovered. This time, a neighborhood menace harbors dark secrets in his own backyard. This is the case of Russell Tillis and The House of Horrors.

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Links:
www.truecrimepodcast.com

Resources:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/womans-body-found-under-booby-trapped-mobile-home

http://www.cncpunishment.com/forums/showthread.php?11401-Death-Penalty-Trial-Tentatively-Set-for-November-5-2018-for-Russell-David-Tillis-in-May-2015-FL-Murder-of-Joni-Lynn-Gunter&p=101924&viewfull=1

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/features/5-things-you-need-to-know-house-of-horrors-death-penalty-trial-starts-april-5-crime/77-611a8a49-232b-4d4e-b31f-fd367cf2b587

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/04/08/russell-tillis-expected-to-testify-in-own-defense-at-murder-trial/

Transcript

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0:00.0	This podcast details true crime cases.
0:03.6	It contains adult themes and may contain descriptions of violence.
0:07.4	It is not intended for children.
0:09.4	Listener discretion is advised.
0:11.4	Thank you for joining me for today's episode of Once Upon a Crime.
0:24.4	We're starting off season 6 with a new series.
0:27.6	In each episode this month, I'll share a case of a person who goes missing, never to be seen again.
0:33.8	Just when it seems that the secret of their fate would remain buried, the truth would be uncovered.
0:39.8	This is chapter 1 of the series, Bury Truth, Russell Tillis and The House of Horrors.
0:46.8	Russell David Tillis was a menace.
0:59.0	His behavior was so problematic that neighbors living on Bowdoin Circle East, located in Southside Jacksonville, Florida, called him the neighbor from hell.
1:09.0	By 2016, they had been living with constant harassment, verbal abuse, and even threats of physical violence from Tillis and had reached their limit.
1:19.4	Russell Tillis had moved back into the family home his parents had owned since the 1970s.
1:24.8	After his mother died, Tillis took over the deed and lived alone in the 1000 square foot residence that sat on a large lot in the middle of the block.
1:34.2	The yard and home became cluttered and fell into disrepair after Tillis took it over.
1:40.2	He also built an 8 foot tall privacy fence that caused that section of the block to resemble an armed camp.
1:47.5	This perhaps they could have lived with if it wasn't for all the late night noise and odd and scary behavior by their 55 year old neighbor.
1:56.6	While everyone had a different tale to tell about their scary run-ins with Russell Tillis, they all agreed that the problems began soon after his mother Margie died in 2012.
2:07.6	Margie, estranged from Russell's father, had become ill with terminal cancer.
2:13.0	A few months before her death, she deeded the home at 3551 Bowdoin Circle East to her son Russell.
2:20.5	Russell grew up in the home and lived there off and on as a teen and young adult.
2:24.9	He'd come back to live with his mother during her final days, but didn't start harassing his neighbors until after her death.
	...

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