93. The Gaffney Strangler: Murder, Mystery and Sweet Potato Pone in South Carolina

 🔊 Narrator: Curtis Hildreth
🎼 Music by: Isaiah Hildreth

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Hard Times & True Crimes, we take you back to Gaffney, South Carolina, a small Southern town known for its peaches, its mill-town roots… and one of the most chilling murder sprees in state history. Between 1967 and 1968, the community was terrorized by a man who became known as The Gaffney Strangler—Lee Roy Martin.

Martin preyed on girls and young women, leaving behind a trail of fear and devastation. But his capture? That’s a Southern story all on its own. And today, we’re not just telling you the story of the man who held an entire town hostage in fear—we’re also diving into a classic Southern dish that’s as much a part of Gaffney’s history as this dark chapter.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🔎 The chilling details of the Gaffney, South Carolina Strangler’s reign of terror
🚨 How a mysterious phone call led police to his victims
⚖️ How Lee Roy Martin was finally caught—and how justice found him in the end
🍠 A classic Southern recipe from Gaffney that ties into the story
💀 How food, culture, and crime intertwine in the South

Featured Southern Recipe:

👨‍🍳 Sweet Potato Pone – A Dish With a Story
We’re pairing this case with Sweet Potato Pone, a recipe with deep roots in Gaffney’s culture. Just like the town itself, this dish carries a mix of comfort and history, with a little bit of mystery cooked right in.

Sweet Potato Pone Recipe

📝 Ingredients:

• 2 cups grated sweet potatoes
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup white sugar
• ½ cup molasses
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup melted butter
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

👨‍🍳 Instructions:
1️⃣ Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a baking dish.
2️⃣ In a large bowl, mix together grated sweet potatoes, brown sugar, white sugar, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
3️⃣ Stir in melted butter, beaten eggs, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix well until fully combined.
4️⃣ Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
5️⃣ Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the edges are golden and the center is set.
6️⃣ Let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm!

Resources & References:

📖 Historical articles from The Gaffney Ledger
📰 Newspaper reports from The Greenville News
🔍 FBI & Law Enforcement Case Records
🎙 Listener stories & local legends
📰 Newspapers.com
🪦 FindAGrave.com
🎧 World Wide True Crime Podcast
🎧 Crackhouse Chronicles Podcast
📚 Palmetto Predators book
🩸 SerialKillerCalendar.com
📖 Historical articles from The Gaffney Ledger
📰 Newspaper reports from The Greenville News
🔍 FBI & Law Enforcement Case Records
🎙 Listener stories & local legends

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