True Crime Time For November 7, 2026 | The Unsolved Hendricks Family Murders, Louisiana Murder Cases & New Developments in the Jeff Davis 8 Investigation

Woody Overton returns with an episode of True Crime Time examining one of Illinois' most controversial unsolved family murders, several Louisiana homicide cases, and renewed investigative efforts in the decades-old Jeff Davis 8 case. The episode begins with the 1983 murders of Susan Hendricks and her three children in Bloomington, Illinois. Susan's husband, David Hendricks, was convicted of the killings, but his conviction was overturned, and he was acquitted at a retrial in 1991. Woody examines the circumstantial evidence, disputed forensic conclusions, and questions that continue to surround the unsolved murders. Woody then turns to Louisiana, revisiting the murders of Jonathan Pizzotto and William Mitchell in Jefferson Parish, a brutal Baton Rouge homicide, a deadly home invasion in Norco, and developments in a St. Martin Parish murder investigation. The episode's central discussion focuses on the Jeff Davis 8, also known as the Jennings 8—eight women whose deaths have remained the subject of investigations and public scrutiny for nearly two decades. After sharing a news interview about the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's Office's renewed investigative efforts, Woody examines the importance of evidence preservation, reviewing cold cases with fresh eyes, and investigating each victim's case individually before determining whether the murders are connected. Drawing on his experience as a homicide detective, Woody offers his perspective on the investigation, discusses possible explanations for why the killings stopped, and emphasizes the importance of continuing to pursue leads. He also addresses the challenges facing investigators and the families who have waited years for answers. Show Notes This Day in History — The Hendricks Family Murders In November 1983, Susan Hendricks and her three children, Rebecca, Grace, and Benjamin, were found murdered in Bloomington, Illinois. David Hendricks was convicted in 1984 and sentenced to four consecutive life terms. The original prosecution relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, including estimates of the victims' time of death based on stomach contents. The Illinois Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 1990. Hendricks was acquitted at his 1991 retrial. Woody examines the disputed evidence, the possibility of alternative suspects, and why the murders remain unsolved. Louisiana Crime Cases Revisited Jefferson Parish: Cody LaBranche's conviction for the murders of Jonathan Pizzotto and William Mitchell in Metairie. Baton Rouge: A brutal 2016 homicide involving Oscar Perez and the killing and dismemberment of his former partner. Norco: The 2013 murder of Mary Arico during a home invasion involving teenage suspects. St. Martin Parish: A 2022 murder investigation involving victim Monkey Jones and an arrest warrant for Troy Borda. Featured Discussion — The Jeff Davis 8 / Jennings 8 Investigation The Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's Office provides an update on its renewed investigation into the deaths of eight women. Investigators describe thousands of hours spent reviewing case files and evidence. A detailed inventory identifies evidence stored in unexpected locations. Investigators work to preserve and digitize older recordings and other materials. The Louisiana Attorney General's Office and additional investigative resources assist with the review. Each woman's case is being examined individually, with potential connections evaluated through the evidence. The sheriff discusses his commitment to the victims' families and the difficulty of investigating cases nearly two decades old. Woody's Analysis — Cold Cases, Evidence and Investigative Bias Why reviewing original evidence with fresh eyes can reveal overlooked information. The importance of evidence organization, preservation, and chain of custody. The dangers of tunnel vision and confirmation bias in homicide investigations. Why investigators should not assume all eight murders were committed by the same person without supporting evidence. Woody shares his personal theory that the killings may have stopped because a possible perpetrator was incarcerated or died. This is his interpretation, not an established investigative finding. The challenges of pursuing a prosecution when witnesses, evidence, and memories have been affected by the passage of time. Why new tips and continued public attention remain important. A Message About Unsolved Cases Woody encourages listeners to continue sharing information about unsolved murders and emphasizes that even a seemingly minor detail may help investigators develop a lead. Content Warning: This episode discusses the murders of children, domestic violence, sexual violence, dismemberment, and unsolved homicides. Listener discretion is advised. Host: Woody Overton Podcast: Real Life Real Crime — True Crime Time #RealLifeRealCrime #TrueCrimeTime #WoodyOverton #JeffDavis8 #Jennings8 #DavidHendricks #ColdCases #LouisianaTrueCrime Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com * Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com * Check out Stio and use my code stio.com/RLRC for a great deal: https://www.stio.com * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code RLRC for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy