Pelley Family Murders - Part 1

About this episode

In April 1989, four members of the Pelley family were brutally murdered inside their Indiana church parsonage just hours before prom. Investigators quickly focused on 17-year-old Jeff Pelley, but the case against him was entirely circumstantial and filled with lingering questions. Over the decades, the murders have sparked debate, allegations of tunnel vision, alternate theories, and claims of wrongful conviction.<br /><br />In this two-part episode, we examine the complicated dynamics inside the blended Pelley family, the timeline prosecutors built their case around, the evidence both for and against Jeff, and the questions that still surround the murders more than 35 years later.<br /><br /><a href="https://patreon.com/lovemarrykill" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Listen to part 2 now</a><br /><br />Today's snacks: BBQ chips from <a href="https://www.lays.com/products/lays-bbq-flavored-potato-chips" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lay's</a>, <a href="https://bettermade.com/product/better-made-bbq-potato-chips/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Better Made</a> and <a href="https://www.buschs.com/shop/baked_goods/single_serve_snacks/busch_s_kettle_chips_bbq/p/1564405684713456645" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Busch's</a><br /><br />Sources:<br /><ul><li>Smith, Carlton. The Prom Night Murders: A Devoted American Family, TheirTroubled Son, and a Ghastly Crime. (2009) St Martin Press Paperbacks. </li><li>Collins, Jamie. I Am Jessica: A Survivor’s Powerful Story of Healing and Hope. (2018) Bold Whisper Books. </li><li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4BocUsSQBEla6rhVv4Qvuy?si=cd29e60111884bd1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4BocUsSQBEla6rhVv4Qvuy?si=cd29e60111884bd1</a> CounterClock Podcast</li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcwS2KefKcA&amp;t=2s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcwS2KefKcA&amp;t=2s</a> 48 Hours episode</li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/48hours/posts/police-in-lakeville-indiana-say-jeff-pelley-17-killed-his-family-to-make-his-198/1093956515937125/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.facebook.com/48hours/posts/police-in-lakeville-indiana-say-jeff-pelley-17-killed-his-family-to-make-his-198/1093956515937125/</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/evidence-photos-pelley-family-quadruple-murder/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/evidence-photos-pelley-family-quadruple-murder/</a></li><li><a href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/in-supreme-court/1230713.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/in-supreme-court/1230713.html</a></li><li><a href="https://public.courts.in.gov/Decisions/api/Document/Opinion?Id=x0jKlMAx-gZmv4EhhqVqWX9OhIA35sjGaSBly2Eo9dLNxzy8pEeP9kliFiCH-l1o0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://public.courts.in.gov/Decisions/api/Document/Opinion?Id=x0jKlMAx-gZmv4EhhqVqWX9OhIA35sjGaSBly2Eo9dLNxzy8pEeP9kliFiCH-l1o0</a></li><li><a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131577054/ava_joyce-pelley?utm_source=chatgpt.com#view-photo=229819654" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131577054/ava_joyce-pelley?utm_source=chatgpt.com#view-photo=229819654</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Cherished-life-7019590.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Cherished-life-7019590.php</a> Jessi </li><li><a href="https://nypost.com/2021/05/01/prom-night-murders-new-intel-points-to-dads-shady-past/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://nypost.com/2021/05/01/prom-night-murders-new-intel-points-to-dads-shady-past/</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.justiceforjeff.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.justiceforjeff.org/</a></li><li><a href="https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/local/2022/01/03/prom-night-murders-counterclock-podcast-questions-jeff-pelleys-guilt/8975090002/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/local/2022/01/03/prom-night-murders-counterclock-podcast-questions-jeff-pelleys-guilt/8975090002/</a></li><li><a href="https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/2022/03/16/jeff-pelley-indiana-prom-night-murders/7048236001/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/2022/03/16/jeff-pelley-indiana-prom-night-murders/7048236001/</a></li><li><a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/522511070/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Robert%20Jeffrey%20Pelley%22" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.newspapers.com/image/522511070/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Robert%20Jeffrey%20Pelley%22</a></li><li><a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/516443144/?article=691a885a-1f57-4eb2-9df2-ecb8bb3fd66e&amp;terms=%22Jeff%20Pelley%22" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.newspapers.com/image/516443144/?article=691a885a-1f57-4eb2-9df2-ecb8bb3fd66e&amp;terms=%22Jeff%20Pelley%22</a></li><li><a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/522510658/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Jeff%20Pelley%22" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.newspapers.com/image/522510658/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Jeff%20Pelley%22</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wndu.com/2024/04/29/jeff-pelley-convicted-nearly-20-years-ago-prom-night-killer-denied-retrial/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.wndu.com/2024/04/29/jeff-pelley-convicted-nearly-20-years-ago-prom-night-killer-denied-retrial/</a></li></ul>