Murder has a way of revealing secrets, and the investigation into Margarette Eby's brutal killing peels back layers of deception surrounding the prime suspect, Jeffrey Gorton.

Detective Dave King follows the old Flint police adage: "If you got a case on the come, you gotta write it till it's done." His investigation begins with Eby's list of lovers and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death—no forced entry until the bedroom, suggesting she knew her killer. As King dives deeper into Eby's life, he uncovers a complex woman: strong-willed, brilliant, and unconventional, who had previously reported an intruder in her bedroom just weeks before her murder.

Meanwhile, we meet Jeffrey Gorton through the eyes of Brenda Fleming, who encounters him at a local bowling alley. Their relationship blossoms into what appears to be a perfect marriage. Jeff is generous, surprising Brenda with thoughtful gifts, such as an expensive bedroom suite, on their honeymoon. He becomes the ideal family man, coaching his children's teams, participating enthusiastically in family gatherings, and organizing spectacular Fourth of July fireworks displays. His only quirk seems to be his constant nervous movements—rocking and nail-biting that never stops.

Yet beneath this carefully constructed façade lies a troubled past. Through his high school friend, Joe Contreras, and his first girlfriend, Dawn Theerback, we discover a different Jeff—one who desperately tried to escape responsibility when Dawn became pregnant at 16, even joining the Navy to get away. Dawn's heartbreaking diary entries reveal her desperate pursuit of Jeff and his eventual reluctant acceptance of fatherhood and marriage.

The FBI's behavioral science unit, including famed profiler John Douglas (the inspiration for characters in "Silence of the Lambs"), provides a chilling psychological portrait of Eby's killer that begins to align with aspects of Gorton's personality and background. When Detective King receives a crucial tip connecting Gorton to Eby through a mutual acquaintance, the parallel narratives converge into a shocking revelation about the man behind the façade of the perfect husband.

Listen now to discover how this meticulous investigation unravels the complex web of secrets surrounding Jeffrey Gorton and the murder of Margarette Eby.

Send us a text

Support the show