The Devil of Pope County: America's Worst Family Massacre
In December 1987, Ronald Gene Simmons murdered 16 people – including his entire family – and wounded four more in Russellville, Ark. In this six-part series that includes interviews with those who survived the violent rampage, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Tony Holt looks back on Arkansas' largest mass murder and its aftermath.
Episodes
The state of Arkansas executes its most notorious serial killer, but how notorious is he really? Nightmares linger for those familiar with the case.
Visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.
Ronald Gene Simmons stands trial twice, gets convicted twice. He beckons the state to execute him as quickly as possible.
Visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.
Ronald Gene Simmons retires after a decorated military career. He and his family abandon New Mexico before authorities can move in to arrest him for sex crimes.
Visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.
One day after Christmas, the rest of the Simmons family visits Mockingbird Hill and are executed. Detectives find all the carnage. Simmons invites a local news anchor to visit him in jail.
Visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.
Ronald Gene Simmons methodically murders his wife and younger children. A large hole on the property becomes a massive grave.
Visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.
Two people are killed and four are injured during a shooting spree the morning of Dec. 28, 1987 across Russellville. Law enforcement becomes fearful of a gruesome discovery at a house near Dover.
Visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.
Join Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Tony Holt as he looks back on the story of Ronald Gene Simmons and the largest massacre in the history of Arkansas.
Visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.