This Missouri Mayhem episode covers the disturbing case of Bertha Gifford, one of the earliest women in the United States to be labeled a serial killer. It follows how a trusted caregiver in rural Missouri built a reputation for compassion, then became the center of a decades-long poisoning investigation.We discuss the small-town setting of Morse Mill and Catawissa, the pattern of sudden illnesses and deaths under Bertha’s care, and how arsenic, exhumations, and a public trial eventually brought the case into focus.

Dedicated True Crime Books

• Missouri's Murderous Matrons: Emma Heppermann and Bertha Gifford: Written by Victoria Cosner and Lorelei Shannon, this book offers a complete history of Gifford’s time in Catawissa and compares her actions to those of money-driven black widow killers. It can be purchased online through retailers such as Walmart and Barnes & Noble.
• Tainted Legacy: The Story of Alleged Serial Killer Bertha Gifford: Written by S. Kay Murphy, Gifford's great-grandmother, this deeply personal account explores family perspectives and wrestles with whether Gifford was a well-meaning caregiver or a calculating monster.

Primary Sources & Archives

• The Bertha Gifford Case Study Site: A specialized research database containing deep-dive timelines of the Catawissa community during the 1920s. It features digitized copies of the official Missouri Certificates of Death for her alleged victims, including the Shamel boys and Edward Brinley.
• St. Louis Public Library Research Guide: A structured historical directory curated by the St. Louis County Library that aggregates localized archival links to Newspapers.com and the historical St. Louis Post-Dispatch database to track live reporting from her 1928 trial.
• Jefferson County Library Local History Articles: A collection of preserved regional newspaper clippings and historical documents detailing her early life in Morse Mill, Missouri.
• Ancestry Historical Records: Provides a portal to audit public lineage records, primary marriage certificates, and census rolls mapping out her family tree.

This Missouri Mayhem episode tells the story of Davy and Natalie Lloyd and Judes Montis, their work with Missions in Haiti, and the conditions in Haiti that shaped their lives and the events of May 23, 2024. It explains why the couple stayed committed to ministry despite escalating danger, while also tracing the history of Haiti and the long-term impact of colonial debt, instability, and gang violence.We also hear how Davy’s childhood in Haiti, Natalie’s Missouri roots, and their shared calling to service brought them together. The episode closes by reflecting on their legacy through family, faith, memorial programs, and the continuing work connected to their ministry.

Investigative Journalism & Timelines

• BBC News Report: Provides an immediate structural breakdown of the two distinct armed groups that ambushed the compound.
• The Associated Press Feature: Details the geopolitical context of the Lizon community and the initial updates provided by local police unions.
• CNN International Repatriation Coverage: Documents the complex logistical and security operations managed by the U.S. Embassy to recover their remains amid the airport lockdown.

Media Outlets Covering Live Communications

• ABC 7 News Timeline: Tracks the text-by-text updates posted live to social media by Missions in Haiti, Inc. as the compound was being breached.
• Relevant Magazine Deep-Dive: Examines the exact phone call transcripts between Davy and his father during the ransom negotiations.

First-Hand Testimonies & Books

• Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) Radio Interview: Features audio and transcribed testimony from parents David and Alicia Lloyd regarding what compound eyewitnesses overheard during the final moments of the standoff.
• Strong to the End Book Profile: Provides biographical essays and review notes on the official book published by the Lloyd family regarding the couple's ministry history.

This Missouri Mayhem episode follows the 38-year search for answers in the disappearance and presumed murder of Ronna Bremer, a 22-year-old mother who vanished in rural Missouri while seven months pregnant. Megan and Mindy trace the case from the original disappearance in 1988 to the 2026 arrest of Joel Bremer, showing how old evidence, renewed detective work, and modern DNA analysis finally brought the case back to life.We discuss the investigation’s long delay, the discovery and identification of Ronna’s skull, the history of domestic violence tied to the marriage, and the recent indictment for the deaths of Ronna and her unborn child. It is a true-crime episode centered on one family’s decades-long wait for justice.

Primary Sources

• Christian County Sheriff's Office news releases and public statements regarding the investigation and arrest.
• Christian County Circuit Court docket and publicly available court filings related to State of Missouri v. Joel Bremer.
• Greene County Sheriff's Office historical records concerning the 1991 mailing of human remains.
• Missouri Case.net (public court records).

Law Enforcement

• U.S. Marshals Service announcement regarding the July 31, 2026 arrest.
• Missouri State Highway Patrol Missing Persons Unit (historical case information, where applicable).

News Coverage

• KY3 (Springfield, Missouri)
• KOLR10 / OzarksFirst
• Springfield News-Leader
• KSPR 33
• Associated Press (if syndicated coverage is available)
• NBC News or ABC News, if national coverage appears.

Documentary Reference

• Cold Justice (Oxygen) — Coverage of the reopened investigation and law enforcement partnership, where applicable.

Background Reading

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (family resources).
• National Institute of Justice publications on cold-case investigations.
• U.S. Department of Justice resources on advances in forensic DNA analysis.