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Gone South

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For years, Gone South has been a podcast about crime in the American South. But in Season 5, we’re widening the lens.Through deeply reported, narrative-driven stories—and conversations with journalists, historians, musicians, and people who’ve lived these stories firsthand—we’re digging into the myths, scandals, and power structures that still shape the South… and, in many ways, the country itself.From re-examining the cultural meaning of the Alamo to tracing the family history of Alex Murdaugh to investigating the federal indictment of New Orleans’s former mayor, each episode stands alone. Together, they paint a picture of what this region really is and how it came to be.Gone South is a show for people who want to understand how history lingers and why it still matters now.Written and hosted by award-winning journalist Jed Lipinski, Gone South is the recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award for Outstanding Achievement in Journalism.Previous serialized seasons include:Season 1: Who Killed Margaret Coon?Season 2: The Dixie MafiaSeason 3: The Sign CutterFollow Gone South to get new episodes every week.

For years, Gone South has been a podcast about crime in the American South. But in Season 5, we’re widening the lens.Through deeply reported, narrative-driven stories—and conversations with journalists, historians, musicians, and people who’ve lived these stories firsthand—we’re digging into the myths, scandals, and power structures that still shape the South… and, in many ways, the country itself.From re-examining the cultural meaning of the Alamo to tracing the family history of Alex Murdaugh to investigating the federal indictment of New Orleans’s former mayor, each episode stands alone. Together, they paint a picture of what this region really is and how it came to be.Gone South is a show for people who want to understand how history lingers and why it still matters now.Written and hosted by award-winning journalist Jed Lipinski, Gone South is the recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award for Outstanding Achievement in Journalism.Previous serialized seasons include:Season 1: Who Killed Margaret Coon?Season 2: The Dixie MafiaSeason 3: The Sign CutterFollow Gone South to get new episodes every week.

Introducing Gone South Season 1: Who Killed Margaret Coon?

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Episodes

Introducing Gone South Season 1: Who Killed Margaret Coon? 30 Oct 2021

In February of 1987, a former prosecutor named Margaret Coon went for a jog in one of the safest and wealthiest neighborhoods in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The next morning, she was found dead on the side of the road. St. Tammany advertises itself as a safe haven from the crime and corruption of New Orleans, attracting thousands of residents over the last several decades. But there is a darker side to the parish, and that darkness ultimately consumed Margaret Coon. Over the course of this documentary podcast series, journalist Jed Lipinski investigates Margaret Coon’s unsolved murder, shedding new light on a bewildering crime that has haunted the region for over 30 years. Gone South is an Audacy Original produced in association with Jed and Tom Lipinski.

S1|E1: Beau Chene 03 Nov 2021

It's a regular day in Beau Chene, an exclusive gated community 35 miles north of New Orleans, Louisiana. At dusk, a prominent ex-prosecutor takes her Afghan hound for a jog on the busiest street in the neighborhood. The next morning, a neighbor discovers her lying in a pool of blood, launching a murder investigation in which everyone is a suspect. If you have tips or information that you’d like to share related to the unsolved murder of Margaret Coon or other relevant topics, you can call us at (650) 746-GONE or email us at GoneSouthPodcast@gmail.com.

S1|E2: Steel Magnolia 03 Nov 2021

Detectives examine the victim's complicated love life and look deeper into her professional history. Margaret defies expectations, becoming a Louisiana trial lawyer in the 1970s. When she’s hired by the DA’s office in St. Tammany, she specializes in sex crimes and crimes against children, prosecuting dozens of violent men who might have left the courtroom with grudge. If you have tips or information that you’d like to share related to the unsolved murder of Margaret Coon or other relevant topics, you can call us at (650) 746-GONE or email us at GoneSouthPodcast@gmail.com.

S1|E3: The Safest Parish 10 Nov 2021

The murder of Margaret Coon conjures memories of St. Tammany's checkered past. As pressure mounts to solve the crime, authorities turn their attention to a disgraced cop and an enigmatic drifter. If you have tips or information that you’d like to share related to the unsolved murder of Margaret Coon or other relevant topics, you can call us at (650) 746-GONE or email us at GoneSouthPodcast@gmail.com.

S1|E4: Concerned Citizens 17 Nov 2021

With the sheriff’s investigation at a standstill, Margaret’s father and a rogue private detective take center stage. As a new profile of the killer emerges, they close in on a compelling suspect. If you have tips or information that you’d like to share related to the unsolved murder of Margaret Coon or other relevant topics, you can call us at (650) 746-GONE or email us at GoneSouthPodcast@gmail.com.

S1|E5: Nine Lives 24 Nov 2021

Nearly a decade after Margaret's murder, the investigation has gone ice cold. But there was a secret side to Margaret’s life that may hold the key to finding her killer. If you have tips or information that you’d like to share related to the unsolved murder of Margaret Coon or other relevant topics, you can call us at (650) 746-GONE or email us at GoneSouthPodcast@gmail.com.

S1|E6: Outside Agent 01 Dec 2021

Margaret's homicide case lands in the lap of a decorated ex-DEA agent, leading him down the same path as previous investigators. But a bizarre incident involving an infamous Beau Chene resident exposes an overlooked suspect.

S1|E7: Death Threat 08 Dec 2021

As investigators dig up information on a new suspect, they uncover a baffling series of events that occurred in a condo across the street from where Margaret’s body was found.

S1|E8: Waning Night 16 Dec 2021

Two women with intimate knowledge of the leading suspect come forward, and Jed receives new information about the night Margaret Coon was killed.

Presenting Gone South Season 2: The Dixie Mafia 18 Oct 2022

Welcome to Season Two of Gone South, the Edward R. Murrow Award-winning documentary podcast. Starting in the sixties, a loose-knit confederation of traveling criminals known as the Dixie Mafia terrorized every state from Georgia to Oklahoma. Its hundreds of members, unofficially headquartered in Biloxi, Mississippi, specialized in scams, heists and murder. Their alleged leader — the estranged son of a prominent Oklahoma politician — was a skilled and charismatic outlaw named Kirksey Nix. When Nix was sentenced to life in prison at Angola for a murder he committed in New Orleans, the Dixie Mafia was thought to be extinct. But fifteen years later, a sitting criminal court judge named Vincent Sherry and his wife Margaret, a mayoral candidate for the city of Biloxi, were assassinated. As the case ran cold, authorities were forced to confront a disturbing reality: the Dixie Mafia was not done yet. Gone South is an Audacy Original produced in association with Jed and Tom Lipinski.

S2|E1: Traveling Criminals 19 Oct 2022

While investigating the death of Margaret Coon for Season One, Jed learns about a notorious gang of criminals that terrorized the South in the 1960s and 70s.

S2|E2: Junior 19 Oct 2022

Kirksey Nix, the supposed leader of the Dixie Mafia, has been described as a psychopathic killer. Jed connects with Kirksey in prison in an effort to set the record straight.

S2|E3: Shady, Questionable Characters 26 Oct 2022

While many believe Margaret Sherry was targeted for political reasons, Biloxi police suspect the killer was one of Vince’s disgruntled clients. But as missteps in the investigation pile up, the Sherry family wonders: Were the cops somehow involved?

S2|E4: Wide Open and Wicked 02 Nov 2022

FBI agent Keith Bell discovers a link between the murders and a Biloxi strip club owner. But a bizarre prison scam conducted by Kirksey Nix may have even bigger implications.

S2|E5: The Real Deal 09 Nov 2022

After trying to solve the case herself, the Sherry's oldest daughter hires a notorious Mississippi private eye named Rex Armistead. His connection to an Angola inmate and Dixie Mafia killer soon breaks the case wide open.

S2|E6: Pig Trail 16 Nov 2022

In the wake of inmate Bobby Joe Fabian’s stunning allegations, Pete Halat and Kirksey Nix strongly deny their involvement in the murders. But a new sheriff’s investigator suspects they know more than they’re letting on.

S2|E7: Career Criminals 23 Nov 2022

To build a case against a Kirksey Nix and his collaborators, Agent Keith Bell and Captain Randy Cook descend into the criminal underworld. A trial results in convictions, but the Sherry murders have yet to be solved.

S2|E8: The Whole Story 01 Dec 2022

After years of denial, Biloxi strip club owner Mike Gillich agrees to help the government solve the Sherry murders. His cooperation reveals the true trigger man and the people responsible for the killings, including former Biloxi Mayor, Pete Halat. But as a new trial unfolds, Pete maintains his complete innocence. A Special Thanks to Celia Tisdale and the Mississippi Department of Archives & History

Introducing Gone South Season 3: The Sign Cutter 17 Oct 2023

A rancher in Laredo, Texas discovers a woman’s body shot execution-style on the side of the road. When authorities identify her as a local sex worker, their investigation takes them into the darkest corners of the city, triggering a manhunt for a serial killer.

S3|E1: Needle in a Haystack 18 Oct 2023

After discovering a woman’s body on a desolate road on the outskirts of Laredo, the police come to a chilling revelation: the killer they’re looking for may be one of the people working on the case. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S3|E2: San Bernardo 25 Oct 2023

The investigation takes to the streets of Laredo, where peers of the victim suggest possible suspects and motives. Binge Gone South Season 3: The Sign Cutter Exclusively on Audacy: https://go.audacy.com/gone-south-season-3 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S3|E3: High Alert 01 Nov 2023

When a second body is found near the first crime scene, Laredoans start to fear the perpetrator could be a serial killer. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S3|E4: David 08 Nov 2023

After escaping a man named David, Erika Peña leads the cops to the man’s house where they find a troubling scene. Troopers attempt to arrest David on the other side of town, but he bolts and a frantic foot chase ensues. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S3|E5: Squared Away 15 Nov 2023

As disconcerting details about Ortiz’s life stack up in the interrogation room, the investigators know they have the right guy. But after he confesses, they quickly learn just how much they didn’t know. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S3|E6: The Motive 22 Nov 2023

Many who knew Ortiz were shocked to hear about his crimes. Had this seemingly kind family man always had a dark side, or did something turn him into a killer? As those involved in the case would discover, the answer isn’t so simple. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

Introducing Gone South, Season 4 01 Oct 2024

Gone South, the Edward R. Murrow award-winning podcast, is back for a fourth season. Unlike previous seasons, writer and host Jed Lipinski brings listeners new episodes every week with no end in sight. Each episode of Gone South Season 4 tells a different story about one of the South's most interesting crimes.

S4|E1: Escape From Angola 02 Oct 2024

When Jimmy Cox arrived at the Lousiana State Penetentiary (AKA "Angola") to serve two life sentences, he had one goal in mind: escape. And that's exactly what he did. But while escaping Angola was impressive, escaping his own past would prove a greater challenge. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E2: Batman and Darryl | Part 1 09 Oct 2024

DEA Agent Steve Peterson, nickname "Batman," hunts down a prolific meth manufacturer in Atlanta. But as he closes in on his prey, Steve is stunned by the meth maker's identity. This is the real life "Breaking Bad." ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E3: Batman and Darryl | Part 2 16 Oct 2024

The point of view switches from Batman to Darryl Smith. Darryl gives us his side of the story and explains how one goes from being a promising young med student to a prolific meth manufacturer. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E4: Interview With A Serial Killer 23 Oct 2024

True-crime author Diane Fanning stumbles upon the case of Julie Rea, convicted of murdering her son. As she uncovers flaws in the prosecution’s argument, Fanning interviews a serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells. With new evidence in hand, she wonders if her discovery could exonerate an innocent woman. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E5: Kidnapped In New Orleans 30 Oct 2024

As Reconstruciton-era politics in New Orleans empowers blacks and angers ex-confederates, an Afro-Creole Detective named Jean-Baptiste Jourdain sets out to solve the kidnapping of a white baby. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E6: The Wolf of Broad Street 06 Nov 2024

A promising math and science student at the University of Georgia has an interesting side gig. He runs a hedge fund for his fraternity brothers which rakes in massive returns. But with the reward comes a massive risk. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E7: The Real Buford Pusser | Part 1 13 Nov 2024

Buford Pusser is an iconic American law enforcement figure. The film series "Walking Tall," most recently starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, is based on Pusser's life as a cop. But recent revelations are turning Pusser's legacy on its head. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E8: The Real Buford Pusser | Part 2 20 Nov 2024

New evidence emerges that casts doubt on the legend of Buford Pusser. The story behind the ambush that killed his wife, Pauline, may not be what it seems. As buried secrets surface, Mike Elam's discoveries may finally force the truth out of the shadows. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E9: Good Friends 04 Dec 2024

A recent New Orleans resident becomes immersed in the city's LBGTQ history. But his commitment rises to a whole new level when he makes inroads on an obscure cold case known as "The Hammer Murders.” ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E10: H 11 Dec 2024

As a Louisiana defense attorney, Pat Fanning thought he'd seen it all. That was until Harold "H" Landry, who shot the husband of a woman he'd been sleeping with, walked into his office claiming he'd done absolutely nothing wrong. H's trial came to a shocking conclusion, but it was really just the beginning. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E11: The Silicon Valley of The South 18 Dec 2024

A promising you tech entrepreneur arrives in Opelika, Alabama, promising to make it, "The Silicon Valley of The South." And that was a hard promise to keep. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E12: Time of Death 02 Jan 2025

Mobile, Alabama’s biggest cold case reopens when Jim Barber, a police officer and adjunct professor, re-examines the 1980 murder of college freshman Katherine Foster. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E13: Concerned Citizens 08 Jan 2025

Concerned citizens in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana follow a trail of corruption that starts small and ends with a shocking revelation. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E14: La Barbie 15 Jan 2025

After dismantling a major drug operation in New Orleans, DEA Agent Skip Sewell turns his attention to an elusive cartel boss whose unconventional background defies expectations. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E15: The Kings of Tupelo 22 Jan 2025

In this special edition episode, Jed interviews brothers Chapman and Maclain Way on their new Netflix documentary series, "The Kings of Tupelo.”

S4|E16: The Legend of Dean Ripa 29 Jan 2025

Dean Ripa painted with Salvador Dali, sung with Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra, and bonded with William Burroughs. But his true passion was collecting, handling, and studying the world's most venemous snakes. Ripa's Seprentarium in Wilmington, North Carolina was the site of captivating presentations and, ultimately, unimaginable tragedy. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E17: Public Access | Part 1 05 Feb 2025

In Part 1 of this three-part story, Baton Rouge PR consultant Rannah Grey receives an anonymous email with shocking details about a local celebrity. Nervous about tipping off the suspect, she teams up with an unconventional investigator and begins building her case. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E18: Public Access | Part 2 12 Feb 2025

Rannah and Mary Jane take their case to a federal prosecutor, enlisting a low-profile investigator and survivors to expose Scott Rogers’s past. As they gather evidence, a shocking discovery raises the stakes. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E19: Public Access | Part 3 19 Feb 2025

The investigation of Scott Rogers comes to a shocking conclusion, leading to a reckoning in the Baton Rouge community, and closure for Rogers's victims. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E20: Breaking Into Prison | Part 1 26 Feb 2025

A new, state of the art prison is nearing completion in downtown Nashville. But just as the prison is about to open, a set of keys goes missing. And they were taken for a reason. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E21: Breaking Into Prison | Part 2 05 Mar 2025

A man is caught sneaking into Nashville’s new $200 million jail and stealing keys. But when investigators search the facility, they uncover something far more disturbing - hidden weapons, secret caches, and a plan no one saw coming. What was really going on inside the jail? ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E22: The Last Leper Colony 12 Mar 2025

When Neil White is convicted on bank fraud charges, he's sent to arguably the most unusual prison in the United States. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E23: Finding Angie Part 1 19 Mar 2025

When a Louisiana woman goes missing, her sister suspects the husband. But her suspicions are more accurate than she ever could have imagined. ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.

S4|E24: Finding Angie Part 2 26 Mar 2025

With the search for Angie at a standstill, the arrival of paralegal Mary Jane Marcantel injects a much-needed boost. As she digs into Joey Smith’s past, she uncovers fraud, fear, and a disturbing pattern of violence, leading to a break the family never expected ***Gone South has been nominated for a Webby Award, but we need your VOTE! It takes 10 seconds, all you have to do is click HERE. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Gone South with Jed Lipinski.