Unresolved Murder Exposes Deception in Community - Episode Hero Image

Unresolved Murder Exposes Deception in Community

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Original Title:

TL;DR

  • The professional cleaning of Byron Griffy's murder scene, evidenced by minimal blood spatter and lack of forensic evidence, strongly implicates individuals with prior crime scene cleanup experience.
  • Charles and Anthony's financial struggles and sudden acquisition of new assets like boats and firearms following Byron's death suggest a potential motive tied to the theft or sale of Byron's valuable collection.
  • The inconsistent timelines and contradictory statements provided by Charles and Anthony regarding their movements and vehicle use on the day of the murder raise significant doubts about their alibis.
  • Charles's repeated boasts about using a .22 caliber handgun for murder, matching the exact method and weapon used in Byron's death, serve as powerful circumstantial evidence against him.
  • Anthony's plea deal for conspiracy to commit murder with no jail time, despite the gravity of the crime and the victim's standing in the community, suggests a strategic decision by the prosecution to secure any conviction rather than risk an acquittal.
  • The discovery of Byron's coins in Charles's hidden compartment, despite Anthony's claims of the collection being sold elsewhere, directly links Charles and Anthony to Byron's missing assets and implicates them in the crime.

Deep Dive

The murder of Colorado mortician Byron Griffy, while officially a mistrial for one suspect, remains an unresolved case that exposes deep-seated deception and potentially unpunished crimes within a small community. The investigation's trajectory reveals a complex web of relationships, financial motives, and staged crime scenes, suggesting that the truth behind Griffy's death may be obscured by the complicity and evasiveness of those closest to him, leaving a legacy of doubt and a lack of justice for the victim and his family.

The initial investigation into Byron Griffy's murder was hampered by a meticulously cleaned crime scene, suggesting a perpetrator with knowledge of forensic countermeasures. Griffy, a respected mortician and collector of considerable wealth, was found shot execution-style in his empty farmhouse. While his daughter Lynette and her mother Gina immediately suspected Corey Higgs, Gina's son and Griffy's stepson, his alibi was unconfirmed, and his potential motive seemed lessened by a prior legal victory against Griffy. Simultaneously, investigators focused on Charles Geebler and Anthony Wright, fellow morticians and business partners who had been tasked with storing Griffy's valuable coin collection. Their alibi for the day of the murder was inconsistent, particularly regarding the vehicle they claimed to have used, and their history as crime scene cleanup professionals raised significant suspicion. Further complicating matters, their business practices, including the establishment of a church for tax benefits and the suspicious acquisition of wealth from an elderly client, painted them as potentially unscrupulous operators.

The case took several dramatic turns, including the death of Charles Geebler from a heart attack amidst mounting pressure and the subsequent discovery of Griffy's stolen coins in his home. Anthony Wright was eventually arrested and faced a mistrial, with his defense successfully creating enough doubt to prevent a unanimous verdict. The prosecution's case relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, including the inconsistent alibis, the crime scene cleanup expertise, and the discovery of Griffy's coins in Charles's possession. However, the lack of definitive forensic evidence and the possibility of other suspects, such as Tommy Tomlin, who had a complex relationship with Griffy and failed a polygraph test, prevented a clear conviction. The ultimate resolution of Anthony Wright's case, a plea deal for conspiracy to commit murder with no jail time, highlights the limitations of the justice system when faced with insufficient evidence and the potential for political considerations in small-town legal proceedings. The lingering questions surrounding Griffy's death and the questionable dealings of Geebler and Wright suggest that the full extent of their involvement, and potentially others, may never be definitively known.

Action Items

  • Audit Charles and Anthony's financial records for discrepancies related to Irene Witty's estate and Byron Griffy's collectibles.
  • Analyze Charles and Anthony's business operations for tax evasion schemes, specifically related to their church and collectible assets.
  • Investigate the provenance and chain of custody for Byron Griffy's coin collection, verifying its current location and ownership.
  • Review Charles and Anthony's history as crime scene cleanup crew members for relevant skills and potential evidence disposal methods.
  • Examine Charles's documented statements regarding murder methods and compare them against the specifics of Byron Griffy's death.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"For morticians that are serving small rural areas like Fowler and nearby Florence, they hold considerable power over their customers. Aside from knowing a lot about them due to their nature of living in a small community, there are fewer morticians around for them to go to for fairer prices. So they kind of set the price of the market. Therefore, they can use their job for malicious purposes, essentially scamming people and giving them substantial amounts of money when they are at their most vulnerable."

The hosts explain that morticians in small towns can wield significant influence due to limited competition. This power dynamic, they suggest, can be exploited for financial gain by preying on vulnerable individuals. The hosts highlight that this case involves individuals who saw a business opportunity rather than entering the profession for the right reasons.

"However, Byron was always known as a great guy and an upstanding member of the community and was regarded as a trusted cornerstone, having worked in the mortuary sciences field for over 56 years. He was known to be kind and generous, even helping new morticians get started in the area."

The hosts contrast the potential for exploitation with the reputation of Byron Griffy. They describe him as a respected and generous figure in his community, who dedicated over 56 years to mortuary science. Griffy's kindness extended to supporting new professionals in the field.

"Charles and Anthony were welcomed into the little community of Florence and everyone, uh, you know, liked these guys and they, you know, we don't really have a way, uh, to, you know, for us sort of third party members looking at this to really know what Charles was like, but we know what Anthony's like based on, uh, his appearance in this documentary about this case. And he seems like a very likable person. It kind of, or like seem friendly. There's something about him. I don't know if he's like, it seems like a likable, oh, I guess, yeah, yeah, harmless is kind of maybe like what I think he's like, he's just seems like a, he's very believable."

The hosts discuss Charles and Anthony, noting their initial positive reception in Florence. They suggest that while Charles's true nature is less clear from the documentary, Anthony appears likable and harmless, though they question if this is a genuine demeanor or a facade. This highlights the difficulty in assessing their true characters.

"Charles often boasted about his wife and children, saying that his son was in the Air Force and his daughter was a scientist. And it's interesting because people are like, okay, sounds plausible at first. And then they're like, how come Charles's kids never come and visit him? You know, especially as he's becoming a significant figure in town, he's pastoring the church. People are kind of asking more about his personal life and he's saying he has this like family and these children, but even has pictures of them up."

The hosts point out the discrepancy between Charles's claims of having a wife and children and the lack of any actual visits or interactions with them. They note that despite Charles's prominent role in the community, his supposed family remained absent, raising questions about the veracity of his statements.

"The entrance wound had trace amounts of gunshot residue, which meant that the shooter was standing directly behind Byron when they fired the weapon, literally at point blank range. So basically almost execution style when they pulled the trigger. And more than that, the exit wound, which came out just below the chin on Byron's neck, would have created a much more substantial blood spatter as opposed to the small little blood spatter pattern they found at the scene."

The hosts detail the forensic findings at the crime scene, emphasizing the close-range gunshot wound to the back of Byron's head. They explain that the nature of the wound and the minimal blood spatter suggested the scene was staged and cleaned, indicating a deliberate effort to conceal evidence.

"However, the next day, CBI used his death to get a warrant to search his home. Not only were guns all over the place, but they also found a hidden compartment inside of Charles's room. Inside, they found several boxes of coins and one had Byron's name on it."

The hosts explain how Charles's death provided investigators with an opportunity to search his home. This search revealed a hidden compartment containing coins, one of which was identified as belonging to Byron, suggesting a connection to the murder and the missing valuables.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "Bernie" - Mentioned in relation to a story about a mortician that is sad but makes one think about people's motivations for entering the business.

People

  • Byron Griffy - Mortician who was murdered.
  • Lynette - Daughter of Byron Griffy.
  • Linda Lynn - Daughter of Byron Griffy.
  • Gina Higgs - Partner of Lynette, mother of Corey Higgs.
  • Corey Higgs - Son of Gina Higgs, accused Byron Griffy of sexual assault.
  • Harry Tomlin - Brother of Tommy Tomlin, did odd jobs for Byron Griffy.
  • Tommy Tomlin - Brother of Harry Tomlin, drug addict, known to be violent, rumored to have admitted to killing Byron Griffy.
  • Charles Geebler - Fellow mortician, business partner of Anthony Wright.
  • Anthony Wright - Fellow mortician, business partner of Charles Geebler.
  • Angela De Santi - Resident who relied on Charles and Anthony for arrangements for her cat.
  • Laura Anderson - Mother of Eric and Paul Hatfield, friend of Anthony Wright.
  • Eric Hatfield - Son of Laura Anderson, worked for Charles and Anthony.
  • Paul Hatfield - Son of Laura Anderson.
  • Mandy - Friend of Laura Anderson.
  • Bill Holt - Ran the Holt Family Funeral Home.
  • Irene Witty - Elderly woman whose finances were taken over by Charles and Anthony.
  • Troy Zuck - Defense investigator hired by Anthony.

Organizations & Institutions

  • Progressive Insurance - Sponsor of the podcast.
  • Heineken 0.0 - Sponsor of the podcast.
  • Otero Junior College - Institution Byron Griffy attended.
  • Dallas Institute for Mortuary Science - Institution Byron Griffy attended.
  • Otero County Sheriff's Office - Investigated Corey Higgs's accusations.
  • Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) - Investigated Byron Griffy's murder.
  • Department of Revenue - State agency considering closing down Charles and Anthony's businesses due to late taxes.
  • State Taxes - Taxes owed by Charles and Anthony's businesses.
  • New York - Location of a young man Charles Geebler was catfishing.

Websites & Online Resources

  • progressive.com - Website for Progressive Insurance.
  • heineken.com - Website for Heineken 0.0.
  • hungryroot.com/milehigher - Website for Hungryroot, with a special offer for listeners.
  • stitchfix.com/milehigher - Website for Stitch Fix, with a special offer for listeners.
  • armra.com/milehigher - Website for Armra Colostrum, with a special offer for listeners.
  • ivmhealth.com - Website for IVM Health.
  • lifelock.com/ihart - Website for Lifelock.
  • cvs.com - Website for CVS.
  • rocketmoney.com/milehigher - Website for Rocket Money.

Other Resources

  • True Crime - Genre of episodes the podcast typically covers.
  • Live Changes - Changes happening at the podcast, including a move and a new child.
  • Pregnancy - Mentioned as a significant life change for one of the hosts.
  • New Year - Mentioned as a time for reflection and new beginnings.
  • 2026 - Year mentioned in relation to future podcast content.
  • Mortician - Profession central to the case discussed.
  • Funeral Home Directors - Profession central to the case discussed.
  • Small Town Morticians - Mentioned as having considerable power over customers.
  • Scamming People - A potential malicious use of power by morticians.
  • Business Opportunity - How some individuals viewed the mortician business.
  • Farm - Location where Byron Griffy lived with Lynette's family.
  • Foster Care System - Where Corey Higgs was sent.
  • Sexual Assault - Accusation made by Corey Higgs against Byron Griffy.
  • Currency Collection - A type of collectible amassed by Byron Griffy.
  • Stamps Collection - A type of collectible amassed by Byron Griffy.
  • Antiques Collection - A type of collectible amassed by Byron Griffy.
  • Gold Bars Collection - A type of collectible amassed by Byron Griffy.
  • Safes - Targeted during break-ins at Byron Griffy's farm.
  • Noose - Found in Byron Griffy's barn as a threat.
  • Food Companies - Mentioned in comparison to Hungryroot.
  • Chef-Crafted Recipes - Offered by Hungryroot.
  • Additives - Screened out by Hungryroot.
  • High Fructose Corn Syrup - An additive screened out by Hungryroot.
  • Artificial Sweeteners - Additives screened out by Hungryroot.
  • Preservatives - Additives screened out by Hungryroot.
  • High-Quality Meats and Seafood - Sourced by Hungryroot.
  • Hormones - Absent in meats and seafood sourced by Hungryroot.
  • Antibiotics - Absent in meats and seafood sourced by Hungryroot.
  • Organic Produce - Offered by Hungryroot.
  • Non-GMO Options - Offered by Hungryroot.
  • Trusted Brands - Carried by Hungryroot.
  • Oatly - A brand carried by Hungryroot.
  • Vital Farms - A brand carried by Hungryroot.
  • Ithica Hummus - A brand carried by Hungryroot.
  • Harmless Harvest - A brand carried by Hungryroot.
  • Style Quiz - Used by Stitch Fix to match users with stylists.
  • Personalized Pieces - Sent by Stitch Fix stylists.
  • Fit - A key aspect of Stitch Fix clothing.
  • Free Try On - Offered by Stitch Fix for the first fix.
  • Colostrum - A key ingredient in Armra Colostrum.
  • Immune System - Strengthened by Armra Colostrum.
  • Gut Health - Fortified by Armra Colostrum.
  • Fitness Recovery - Supported by Armra Colostrum.
  • Bioactive Nutrients - Abundant in Armra Colostrum.
  • Physician Founded - Describes Armra Colostrum.
  • Supplement - How Armra Colostrum is described.
  • Superfood - How Armra Colostrum is described.
  • Bioactive Whole Food - How Armra Colostrum is described.
  • Medical Weight Loss Program - Described by IVM Health.
  • Virtual Integrative Medicine - An approach used by IVM Health.
  • Individualized Plan - Offered by IVM Health.
  • Subscription - Required for IVM Health.
  • Medication, Labs, and Supplements - Not included in IVM Health's base program.
  • Individual Results - Vary for IVM Health patients.
  • Prescription Medications - May carry risks.
  • Identity Theft - A risk addressed by Lifelock.
  • Restoration Specialists - Employed by Lifelock.
  • Money Back Guarantee - Offered by Lifelock.
  • Community - A focus for CVS.
  • Prescriptions - Filled by CVS.
  • Healthy Snacks - Available at CVS.
  • Subscriptions - Managed by Rocket Money.
  • Utility Bill Increases - Rocket Money can notify users of these.
  • Personal Finances - Managed by Rocket Money.
  • Budgeting - A feature of Rocket Money.
  • Bill Alerts - Provided by Rocket Money.
  • Negotiate Lower Rates - Rocket Money can assist with this for bills.
  • Financial Goals - Helped by Rocket Money.
  • Crime Scene Cleanup - Previous work experience of Charles and Anthony.
  • Small Town Businesses - Discussed in relation to thriving businesses.
  • Music Store - Discussed in relation to profitability in small towns.
  • Guitar Store - Discussed in relation to profitability in small towns.
  • Music Lessons - A way for music stores to generate revenue.
  • LLCs - Mentioned in relation to tax savings.
  • Tax Savings - Achieved through various business strategies.
  • Collectibles - Taxed differently than other assets.
  • Capital Gains Tax - Applicable to collectibles.
  • Weapons - A collection of firearms owned by Charles and Anthony.
  • Firearms - A collection owned by Charles and Anthony.
  • Secret Basement Room - Where Charles and Anthony stored their weapons.
  • Guns, Pistols, Fully Automatic Weapons, Antique Guns - Types of weapons in their collection.
  • Armory - Described the appearance of their gun collection.
  • Gun Shop - Described the appearance of their gun collection.
  • Wife and Children - Charles Geebler claimed to have these.
  • Air Force - Where Charles Geebler's son was supposedly serving.
  • Scientist - Charles Geebler's daughter's supposed profession.
  • Mayor - Charles Geebler's elected position.
  • Chamber of Commerce - Where Charles Geebler started his political involvement.
  • Boisterous Personality - Used by Charles Geebler to forge relationships.
  • Reserved and Quiet - Described Anthony Wright's demeanor.
  • Coin Collection - Byron Griffy's collection, kept safe by Charles and Anthony.
  • Boxes of Keys - Used by Charles and Anthony to select cars to drive.
  • Tax Exempt - A reason Charles Geebler claimed to start a church.
  • Tax Breaks - Mentioned in relation to starting a church.
  • Catfishing - Charles Geebler accused of this.
  • Narcissism - Attributed to Charles Geebler.
  • God - Charles Geebler claimed to have God on his side.
  • 22 Caliber Handgun - Mentioned as a potential murder weapon.
  • Execution Style - How Byron Griffy was murdered.
  • Contact Wound - Had trace amounts of gunshot residue.
  • Soot - Found on the contact wound.
  • Exit Wound - Came out below Byron Griffy's chin.
  • Blood Spatter Pattern - Found on the wall near Byron Griffy's body.
  • Forensic Evidence - Very little found at the crime scene.
  • Murder Weapon - Not found at the scene.
  • Alibi - Provided by Charles and Anthony.
  • Suicide Theory - Investigated but dismissed.
  • Medical Examiner - Performed the autopsy on Byron Griffy.
  • Autopsy - Confirmed Byron Griffy died from a gunshot wound.
  • Motive - A key element investigators were seeking.
  • Polygraph Test - Taken by Corey Higgs and Tommy Tomlin.
  • Deception - Shown by Tommy Tomlin during his polygraph test.
  • DNA Sample - Collected from Tommy Tomlin.
  • Timeline - Reconstructed by investigators.

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