Stormy, Deadly Night - Selma, North Carolina

In this episode of Small Town Murder, hosts James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman delve into the case of Leland and Ruby Grice, a retired couple living in Selma, North Carolina. The couple's home was invaded on May 1, 1989, resulting in Leland being shot in the back of the head during a robbery, while Ruby was visiting their daughter at another trailer nearby. The episode details the investigation by law enforcement after Ruby finds Leland's body upon returning home, including eyewitness accounts and evidence pointing towards the involvement of local tire shop employees, Franklin Howell and Gordon Marlowe.

The hosts recount Howell and Marlowe's drug-fueled antics leading up to the crime, including their use of lacquer thinner and their bizarre plan to rob the Grices while under its influence. The police eventually arrest them after gathering evidence from Howell's truck, including the murder weapon and stolen property. Although both men negotiate plea deals, they are ultimately found guilty of first-degree murder and robbery. The episode narrates the court proceedings, highlighting the struggles of the Grice family and subsequent sentences of life in prison for the perpetrators.