The Tragic ”Bitter Blood” Murders

This episode of Scandal Water contains adult themes and descriptions of violence. It is not intended for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised. 

“This remains the most bizarre criminal case in American history. There is nothing to match this anywhere. You have all the elements: good families, money, bombs, shoot-outs.”

These are the words of Jerry Bledsoe, author of the book “Bitter Blood: A True Story of Southern Family Pride, Madness, and Multiple Murder,”  which then led to a 1994 made-for-TV miniseries called “In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride, and Madness”  starring Kelly McGillis, Harry Hamlin, and Keith Carradine. 

The first tragedy occurred on Tuesday, July 24, 1984, when a friend discovered 68-year-old Delores Lynch lying on the driveway outside the door to her home. Upon arrival, the police also discovered Delores’s 39-year-old daughter Janie inside. Both women had died from gunshot wounds, and while the murder scene was staged to look like a burglary, it looked more like a professional hit. 

Before it was all said and done, 7 more would be dead and two families nearly destroyed.

Join us for this tragic, but fascinating true crime story that feels especially personal to Candy due to a theater connection.

*A special thank you to Bill Baker for contributing insights via audio clips.

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