FILE 158 / 13 February 2020 / 151 MIN / full

A Hollow Full Of Murder

Tiline, KentuckyListen

The town

N ↑Public placeTown centre (approximate places)
Static locations; no street basemap. Places and details. OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap.

We're going to Tellene, Kentucky... It's TILINE... Talline, Kentucky... this is western Kentucky, straight up panhandle of Kentucky about 0:06:12

History, in brief

Town note

Livingston County is named after Livingston of New York City, who studied law at King's College, sat in the New York Provisional Congress and the Continental Congress, and helped draft the Declaration of Independence but went home to New York before signing it.

about 0:10:17

1811

Livingston met the steamboat builder Fulton, and their steamboat New Orleans made an inaugural trip from Pittsburgh to New Orleans in 1811.

about 0:12:28

Town note

Smithland, two minutes from Tilene, was described in its early days as a lusty, bawling river town full of unsavoury characters.

about 0:13:41

Town note

The taverns of Smithland are reputed to have had tunnels used in the Underground Railroad.

about 0:14:56
All 12 history facts

Town note

Livingston County is named after Livingston of New York City, who studied law at King's College, sat in the New York Provisional Congress and the Continental Congress, and helped draft the Declaration of Independence but went home to New York before signing it.

about 0:10:17

1811

Livingston met the steamboat builder Fulton, and their steamboat New Orleans made an inaugural trip from Pittsburgh to New Orleans in 1811.

about 0:12:28

Town note

Smithland, two minutes from Tilene, was described in its early days as a lusty, bawling river town full of unsavoury characters.

about 0:13:41

Town note

The taverns of Smithland are reputed to have had tunnels used in the Underground Railroad.

about 0:14:56

1800

Around 1800 a road was built between Smithland and Eddyville, then the county seat.

about 0:15:06

1811

In mid-December 1811 a major earthquake shook the area; residents thought it was the end of the world, chimneys fell and tremors went on for months.

about 0:15:17

Town note

The night before the earthquake, Lilburne Lewis, a nephew of Thomas Jefferson, murdered his slave George with an axe in front of his other slaves after George broke a pitcher belonging to Lewis's dead mother, at Rocky Hill.

about 0:18:37

Town note

By the 1830s the area had a sawmill, a boatyard, a brickyard, a blacksmith shop and dry goods stores.

about 0:19:12

1840

By 1840 the population was growing; huge floods hit in 1884 and again in 1937.

about 0:19:38

1961

In 1961 Smithland temporarily changed its name to Albany, New York for the filming of part of How the West Was Won, starring Jimmy Stewart and Debbie Reynolds.

about 0:19:59

Town note

Andrew Jackson Smith, a runaway slave who became a Union Army soldier, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Honey Hill.

about 0:20:34

1775

James Ford, a respected civic leader and businessman who lived from 1775 to 1833, was later found to be the secret leader of a gang of Ohio River pirates.

about 0:20:55

The figures, as told

Religious

58.7%

Biggest faith: Baptists, 46%

about 0:24:38

Who lives here

White 100%

Ethnicity can overlap race.

Crime / national average

Property crime
▼ about one third

about 0:32:00

Violent crime
▼ one quarter

about 0:32:00

Money

Median home value$136,000
Two-bedroom rent$618
Median household income$51,652
Cost of living82

For sale

$59,900

Three-bedroom, two-bath trailer, 1,232 square feet

about 0:28:00

For sale

$279,000

Three-bedroom, three-bath stone house, 2,987 square feet

about 0:28:09
All figures and comparisons, as told in 2020

Population

"223"

Comparison: "one of the smallest towns the show has covered". No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:22:57

Population change

"down 24% since 1990"

Direction: below.

As told in 2020 about 0:23:03

Female residents

"55%"

No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:23:12

Average age

"47 and a half"

Direction: below.

As told in 2020 about 0:23:17

Residents aged 85 and older

"three times the usual share, about eight extra people"

Direction: above.

As told in 2020 about 0:23:21

Married residents

"93.6%"

Comparison: "usually 50-50". No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:23:27

Single with no children

"0.0%"

No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:23:41

White residents

"100%"

No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:23:50

Religious residents

"58.7%"

Comparison: "a lot higher than normal". Direction: above.

As told in 2020 about 0:24:38

Jewish residents

"0.0%"

No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:25:47

Muslim residents

"0.0%"

No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:25:50

County voters, Democrat

"19%"

No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:25:52

County voters, Republican

"77%"

No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:25:52

Unemployment rate

"5.9%"

Comparison: "way higher than the rest of the country". Direction: above.

As told in 2020 about 0:26:03

Median household income

"$51,652"

Comparison: "national $57,652". No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:26:15

Cost of living index

"82"

Comparison: "100 average". Direction: below.

As told in 2020 about 0:26:51

Median home cost

"$136,000"

No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:26:53

Average two-bedroom rent

"$618"

Comparison: "about half the national average". Direction: below.

As told in 2020 about 0:27:24

Four-acre lot in Ledbetter

"$29,900"

Comparison: "about $7,000 an acre". No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:27:33

Three-bedroom, two-bath trailer, 1,232 square feet

"$59,900"

No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:28:00

Three-bedroom, three-bath stone house, 2,987 square feet

"$279,000"

Comparison: "the nicest house in town". No direction stated.

As told in 2020 about 0:28:09

Property crime

"about one third"

Comparison: "national average". Direction: below.

As told in 2020 about 0:32:00

Violent crime

"one quarter"

Comparison: "national average". Direction: below.

As told in 2020 about 0:32:00

The reviews

No rated reviews

two stars

“Living in Ledbetter is convenient for such a small town, with the dollar store two minutes up the road and the reviewer's best friend next door, but break-ins and drug deals make it feel unsafe and the neighbourhoods need more security.”
about 0:22:01

“It is great only because there are so few people, so there is not much to bring the quality down.”
about 0:22:30

In Kentucky

Closest episodes

  1. Naked Aggression & Vicious ViolencePaducah, Kentucky · 7 October 202337 km / 23 miShow on map
  2. Taking In The StraysBenton, Kentucky · 17 August 202438 km / 24 miShow on map
  3. Murder SoupCadiz, Kentucky · 4 July 202551 km / 32 miShow on map
  4. Murder Of The QueenMadisonville, Kentucky · 11 December 202568 km / 42 miShow on map
  5. Two Deaths, One Unexpected MurdererEldorado, Illinois · 24 May 201773 km / 45 miShow on map

The story

Sharon Ray was 38 and originally from Ledbetter, a few miles from Tiline in Livingston County, western Kentucky. The relationship was long and stormy, and Sharon had left him several times. In September 2003 there was a domestic disturbance at the house and police found a gun.

By late March 2004 Sharon was trying to change her life. She went to her hairdresser of long standing, Larry Wilson, and asked for help getting a job as a dental assistant at White and White dentistry in Lone Oak. She had worked in a dental office before. Wilson arranged an interview, she was offered the job, and she was due to start on Monday April 5, 2004.

Sharon was fitting her for dentures.

She put on some sort of hearing device, took a .22 pistol from a car on the property, found it was unloaded, loaded it and went outside. She then moved Sue into a tent about 50 yards from the house and came back in without the gun. He took a torch outside and found Sharon on the ground with a gunshot wound and Sue standing over her saying she did not mean to do it and did not know it was her. Sue, he said, wrapped Sharon in a tarp, insisted they had to get rid of the body, and drove them to a well he knew of off Oste Loop in Low Gap Hollow. He carried the body to the well but could not bring himself to drop it in, so Sue pushed it over the edge. Sue stayed at the house until Sunday, then left a note: "Sharon, it's Sunday, had to go pay some bills. When you get back, give me a call. Thanks for all your help. Love Sue." She wrote it on the Sunday, apparently to suggest that Sharon was alive when she left.

Without asking questions, Large Fry went to the well and poured in two 50-pound bags of lime. He told his nephew Derek "Cheeseburger" McDonald where he was going in case he went missing. Cheeseburger told his girlfriend Phyllis Woodruff, a friend of Sharon's from Lake City, and Phyllis had already heard a rumour that Sharon's body was at the bottom of a well.

Sharon did not turn up for her first day of work on April 5, and did not appear for a court date on April 7. Her public defender contacted her mother, Peggy McKinney, who did not call the police because she thought her daughter might be avoiding a warrant. On April 24 her parents reported her missing. Police searched the hollows with dogs and found nothing.

Phyllis Woodruff decided to look for the well herself before calling police. She and Cheeseburger went out to Oste Loop and found fresh-cut brush and a discarded dishwasher on top of a well. She moved the debris and called the sheriff's department. The next day officers went down the 12-foot well and found Sharon's body, shot in the head and wrapped in a tarp or drop cloth. Four hours of digging around the well turned up the remnants of a methamphetamine lab and Large Fry's glove.

He admitted the meth business and gave his account blaming Sue. He also admitted fighting with Sharon that night but said he could not remember what about. On July 31, 2004 they found the .22 pistol under a log in a field on his property; he had first claimed it had been thrown in the river.

The defence objected that this was hearsay. The judge consulted a professor overnight, then allowed the evidence, and Wilson testified. Sue Harness denied fighting with Sharon and said she had only gone for a walk. He showed no emotion. His mother broke down, his ex-wife was there supporting him, and his 11-year-old son sat in court.

In 2008, aged 16, he called a 14-year-old friend around midnight and asked to come over. She said no but he came anyway and she let him in. In her bedroom he forced her to have intercourse twice and then left. She told a friend, the friend told her aunt, the aunt told her parents and they called police. She had cuts and bruises, his clothing and wallet were left behind, and DNA matched him. He admitted sex but said it was consensual.

The case

Murder of Sharon Ray

Victims

Sharon Ray (38). girlfriend, originally from Ledbetter; had worked in a dental office and was about to start a job at White and White dentistry

Accused and outcomes

As told in the episode, on 13 February 2020.

Accused

Outcome

Other people

Sue Harness. Sharon's friend and niece, staying at the house after having 18 teeth pulled; blamed her for the shooting and she denied fighting with Sharon
Phyllis Woodruff. Sharon's friend from Lake City who searched for the well and reported it to the sheriff
Larry Wilson. Sharon's hairdresser, who arranged her dental office interview and testified about her fear of
Peggy McKinney. Sharon's mother

The timeline

  1. before 2004 Sharon Ray, 38 and originally from Ledbetter, lives with her boyfriend on his farm in Tiline ( house)about 0:34:09
  2. late March 2004 Sharon Ray tells her hairdresser Larry Wilson she is afraid of , must testify against him, and asks for help getting a dental assistant job so she can leaveabout 0:37:05
  3. March 30, 2004 Ray has a two-hour colour and cut appointment with Wilson, the last time he sees herabout 1:43:47
  4. early April 2004 Ray interviews at White and White dentistry in Lone Oak and is offered the job, due to start on Monday April 5 (White and White dentistry)about 0:42:32
  5. April 2, 2004 Ray is at the house with , his son and Sue Harness after three weeks awake on meth; that night, says, she sees a light, takes a .22 pistol from a car, loads it and goes outside ( house)about 1:04:21
  6. April 2, 2004 says he hears a shot and finds Sue Harness standing over Ray, who has a gunshot wound to the head ( house)about 1:20:13

Rape case against

Victims

unnamed 14-year-old girl (14). a friend of Jr.

Accused and outcomes

As told in the episode, on 13 February 2020.

Accused

Outcome

The timeline

  1. 2008 Jr., 16, calls a 14-year-old friend around midnight and asks to come over; she says no but he comes anyway and she lets him inabout 2:02:59
  2. 2008 In her bedroom he forces her to have intercourse twice and then leavesabout 2:03:18
  3. 2008 She tells a friend, the friend tells her aunt, the aunt tells her parents and they call the policeabout 2:03:29
  4. 2008 A medical examination finds cuts and bruises; his clothing and wallet are left behind and DNA matches himabout 2:04:04
  5. 2008 He admits having sex but says it was consensual; police take marijuana and pipes from his homeabout 2:04:37

Places and phrases

N ↑Public placeTown centre (approximate places)
Static locations; no street basemap. Places and details. OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap.

Places in the story

Public places are marked on the map.

Heard in this episode