Ledger Above the Brine: How a Dry Book Exposed Two Murders

Ledger Above the Brine: How a Dry Book Exposed Two Murders A ledger sitting bone-dry on a bar counter above a floor soaked with brine pointed to a staged scene that took twelve days to explain - and eventually linked two deaths. How did a former bookkeeper turned deputy and a buried weapon turn one strange clue into a double case? In this episode, we follow the discovery at Mile Marker Marker and the steps that unfolded from that single observation, tracing who arrived, what was found, and the question that kept investigators digging: why was the daybook dry while the floor beneath it was saturated? Person: Karen Patterson Date: June 14, 1927 Location: Mile Marker Marker roadhouse, east of Tulliver Creek, Harmon County Person: David Erickson Person: Amy Anderson - Karen Patterson was found dead three feet from the bar counter with arms folded, age 47. - The ledger on the counter was leather-bound and completely dry despite the floor beneath it soaked with brine concentrate. - Amanda Owens, age 15, discovered the body and called the sheriff at 6:58 a.m. after entering the unlocked roadhouse around 6:40 a.m. - A fifty-gallon drum of brine concentrate had been delivered to Mile Marker Marker fourteen months earlier for "foundation drainage repair." - Deputy Amy Anderson noted on June 14, 1927 that the dry ledger meant the book had been placed after the brine was on the floor, prompting the investigation that connected to Erickson. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].