Betty Fran Gladden-Smith and John Smith

About this episode

When Betty Fran Smith vanished in 1991, her family was desperate for answers. Recovering from a broken hip, it seemed unlikely she could have left home to travel as her new husband claimed. Determined to find the truth, Betty Fran’s sister and daughter began digging into John David Smith III—and uncovered disturbing secrets from his past. What followed was a search for justice that would stretch across decades and state lines.<br /><br />Today's snack: <a href="https://www.recipetineats.com/peanut-butter-stuffed-brownies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peanut butter stuffed brownies</a><br /><br /><a href="https://patreon.com/lovemarrykill" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Support us on Patreon</a><br /><br />Sources:<br /><ul><li>Fleeman, Michael. The Stranger in My Bed: The True Story of Marriage, Murder, and the Body in the Box (St. Martin's True Crime Library). 2003. Kindle Edition. </li><li>Hilland, Robert. Edward, John. Chasing Evil. (St. Martin’s Essentials). 2025. Kindle Edition. </li><li><a href="https://archive.org/details/mysisterismissin0000glad/page/26/mode/2up" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/mysisterismissin0000glad/page/26/mode/2up</a> Sherrie Gladden-Davis book</li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhbnIQp5tJ4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhbnIQp5tJ4</a> Dateline episode</li><li><a href="https://people.com/chasing-evil-john-edward-robert-hilland-excerpt-exclusive-11798903" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://people.com/chasing-evil-john-edward-robert-hilland-excerpt-exclusive-11798903</a> People magazine article about John Edward and Robert Hilland</li><li><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fran-smith-husband-murder-charges-dark-secrets-dateline-exclusive-rcna149097" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fran-smith-husband-murder-charges-dark-secrets-dateline-exclusive-rcna149097</a></li><li><a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/153553431/?match=1&amp;terms=Fran%20Smith" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.newspapers.com/image/153553431/?match=1&amp;terms=Fran%20Smith</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=forensic+files+deadly+matrimony" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=forensic+files+deadly+matrimony</a></li><li><a href="https://people.com/john-edward-robert-hilland-chasing-evil-interview-exclusive-11798647" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://people.com/john-edward-robert-hilland-chasing-evil-interview-exclusive-11798647</a></li><li><a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/151547651/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.newspapers.com/image/151547651/</a></li><li><a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ohnd-5_04-cv-02353/pdf/USCOURTS-ohnd-5_04-cv-02353-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ohnd-5_04-cv-02353/pdf/USCOURTS-ohnd-5_04-cv-02353-1.pdf</a></li><li><a href="https://people.com/john-edward-robert-hilland-chasing-evil-interview-exclusive-11798647" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://people.com/john-edward-robert-hilland-chasing-evil-interview-exclusive-11798647</a></li></ul>