Town file
Coldwater, Michigan
Coldwater, Michigan (Branch County, Michigan) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 614, "Jeepers Creepers Murder" (18 July 2025). Marilyn Lee McLenahan was born in Detroit on 24 January 1941, the daughter of Dallas Arnold McLenahan and his wife Betty.
- Town
- Coldwater
- County
- Branch County
- State
- Michigan
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 614
- Approximate location
- 41.946, -84.999
Episode 614 / 18 July 2025 / 74 min / express
Jeepers Creepers Murder
"We are going to Michigan this week ... this is in Coldwater, Michigan, one word ... this is in Branch County" about 0:02:15
The case: Murder of Marilyn DePue (April 15th, 1990). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2025
- Population
- 13,764
- Median household income
- $45,021
- Median home value
- $178,700
History, in brief
- Branch County was laid out in 1829; in 1830 towns including Coldwater, Bronson and Quincy began springing up. about 0:04:00
- Masonville was the first county seat; Coldwater competed for it and won it in 1842. about 0:04:25
The reviews read out
5 stars
"Such a great town, family friendly, proud to have grown up here; you can walk a couple of blocks to a friend's house and it feels like home even when home is far away."about 0:04:55
5 stars
"Small town, great for raising a family, country living with a lot of nature, low crime rates and a sense of security."about 0:05:36
1 star
"Coldwater is trash: city officials are incompetent, the town is going to be the weed hub of the state, the money is squandered, and old man Clemens has taken control and ruined the town."about 0:05:54
1 star
"Almost by far the worst county in Michigan, almost as bad as Hillsdale County; Michigan cops are corrupt and so are the courts."about 0:06:35
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Jackson, Michigan37 miles
- Kalamazoo Township, Michigan38 miles
- Auburn, Indiana40 miles
- Nashville, Michigan46 miles
- Hastings, Michigan51 miles
- Delta, Ohio56 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.