Mom didn't kill herself. It was murder. That's what one daughter is out to prove. Burden is a podcast about the suspicious death of Billie Jean Letterman near Texarkana, Arkansas in 1991.

The story covers Billie’s tragic death, an investigation that went terribly wrong, and a family left with many hard questions.

Burden is based on extensive interviews with police, forensic experts, paramedics, Billie Jean’s family and friends, and others close to the case. The podcast is co-hosted by attorney Stephanie Harris and journalist Karen Tricot Steward.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Billie Jean Letterman died of a gunshot wound to the head at her home in Texarkana, Arkansas in 1991. Her husband Michael said she shot herself.

When paramedics arrive at the scene, Michael is behaving suspiciously. At the hospital, medical staff also notice some concerning behavior. 

Police interview Michael to try to understand what happened to Billie Jean but are quick to appease him when he becomes nervous and can’t get his story straight.

Bonus content available on Patreon.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Billie Jean Letterman’s daughter Ashly was in the house the night her mother was shot in the head. Ashly is Michael Letterman's step daughter. She was only six years old when her mom died. What she saw that night has been haunting her ever since. 

Ashly’s father Topper Letterman, who is also Michael Letterman’s older brother, talks about his relationship with Michael and what he thinks happened the night Billie Jean was shot.

Bonus content available on Patreon.

Visit BurdenPod.com for more information on this show. Say hello on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Police officers report what they saw at the scene the night Billie Jean was shot. Lead investigator Sgt. Don Nix talks about the case many years later and says he believes it was a homicide. He has trouble remembering some of the details, though, and contradicts himself numerous times.

Ashly speaks publicly about her mom’s case and is told what she is saying only proves that Michael is telling the truth.

Bonus content available on Patreon.

Visit BurdenPod.com for more information on this show. Say hello on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael’s first wife tells police about the horrible things Michael did to her when they were married. Hospital records reveal the final moments of Billie’s life. The crime lab sends its findings to lead investigator Sgt. Don Nix. And, five years after she died, the investigation into Billie’s death is reopened.

Correction: A previous version of this episode stated that Sheriff H.L. Phillips received a ballistics report from the crime lab after he requested one in 1996. We don't know that to be true.

Bonus content available on Patreon.

Visit BurdenPod.com for more information on this show. Say hello on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, stories of growing up in the Letterman household. We also hear from Billie's family and friends about times they were afraid of Michael Letterman and efforts to call police.

Ashly’s cousin David Wayne comes forward to say he has information about the night Billie Jean died that he’s never revealed.

And, a reflection on the violent past of a man elected prosecuting attorney in Miller County around the time that Billie died, Brent Haltom. He went on to be elected as a judge.

Bonus content available on Patreon.

Visit BurdenPod.com for more information on this show. Say hello on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Billie Jean died, Michael Letterman married for a third time to a young woman named Ginna. This is Ginna’s story about her 15-year marriage to Michael, the man she calls a monster. We hear how she eventually got away from him and the lingering questions she has about the death of his second wife. 

Bonus content available on Patreon.

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With all the physical evidence lost and little investigation into Billie’s case, we look to Billie’s body for clues about what happened the night she was shot.

The 1991 autopsy of Billie Jean Letterman was performed by a controversial medical examiner named Dr. Fahmy Malak, who resigned amid accusations that he botched several autopsies. We took the autopsy results to Dr. Charles Kokes, the new chief medical examiner for the state of Arkansas after Malak. Would he stand by the conclusions drawn by his controversial predecessor?

We also spoke with Jen Bucholtz to get her insight on Billie’s case. She’s a professor of forensics and a private investigator.

Bonus content available on Patreon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.