The Murders at Snowden House

In September of 1996, tragedy shattered the peace at the historic Snowden House, a grand estate resting in the heart of the Arkansas Delta. It was there that 75-year-old Sally Snowden McKay and her nephew, 52-year-old Joseph Lee Baker, were brutally murdered—a brutal act of violence that stained a home that had stood for generations. The killer? A teenage burglar, Travis Lewis, who had crept onto the property that day with intentions that turned deadly. He was caught, convicted, and sentenced to life behind bars. Justice, it seemed, had prevailed. But some stories don’t end where we expect them to. And for the Snowden family, the darkness wasn’t finished with them yet.

Fast forward more than 20 years, and the unthinkable happened—the same house, the same family, the same killer but a new victim. This time, 63-year-old Martha McKay. How did a convicted murderer get a second chance to kill? Why did Martha McKay, who believed in forgiveness, allow him back into her life? And how did this twisted story finally end? We’re breaking down every eerie and unbelievable detail in this episode. Trust us, you won’t believe how it all unfolds.

Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe to WILDCIDE on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (merch now available!) Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). 

Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST.

Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff ([e-mail]).

​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. 

References:

Baker, K. C. (2020, May 6). Inside the bizarre case of a killer striking twice 23 years apart, murdering a mother and daughter. PEOPLE. https://people.com/crime/inside-the-bizarre-case-of-a-killer-striking-twice-23-years-apart-murdering-a-mother-and-daughter/

Baker, K. C. (2021, May 17). 'People Magazine Investigates': Inside the mother-daughter murders at Horseshoe Lake – 24 years apart. PEOPLE. https://people.com/crime/people-magazine-investigates-mother-daughter-murders-horseshoe-lake/

Baker, J. (2020, March 25). Martha McKay murdered at Horseshoe Lake home. Memphis Flyer. https://www.memphisflyer.com/martha-mckay-murdered-at-horseshoe-lake-home

 Criminal Matters. (n.d.). Woman killed by same man who killed mother 20 years earlier. Vocal Media. https://vocal.media/criminal/woman-killed-by-same-man-who-killed-mother-20-years-earlier

Finger, M. (2012, December 3). Lady of the lake: Martha McKay's love affair with Arkansas' iconic Horseshoe Plantation. Memphis Magazine. https://memphismagazine.com/habitats/lady-of-the-lake/

Jones, J. (2021, June 29). Murder mystery: Murder at Horseshoe Lake, conclusion. AY Magazine. https://aymag.com/murder-mystery-murder-at-horseshoe-lake-conclusion/

National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Murderers. (n.d.). Joseph Baker, Martha McKay, & Sally McKay. https://teenkillers.org/memorials/arkansas-victims/joseph-baker-martha-mckay-sally-mckay/

Puryear, M. (2020, September 30). Murder mystery: Murder at Horseshoe Lake, Part 1. AY Magazine. https://aymag.com/murder-mystery-murder-at-horseshoe-lake-part-1/

Weintraub, A. (2020, March 26). Arkansas woman killed by same man convicted