Digest

This episode of The Mr. Ballin Podcast tells the true story of Eric Samoa, a successful car salesman who was found murdered in his apartment. Detective Rubin initially believed it was a suicide, but quickly realized it was a homicide. He investigated Eric's girlfriend, Denise, but she claimed they had broken up. However, a neighbor revealed that Eric was actually seeing another woman, Katrina. Rubin investigated Katrina, who admitted to being at Eric's apartment the night before his death. She claimed a drug dealer had rushed her out of the apartment, but Rubin tracked down the dealer, William Woodfork, who denied any involvement. Rubin's investigation led him to a discarded gun found near Eric's apartment, which he traced back to a pawn shop in Katrina's hometown. He obtained records from the ATF, confirming that Katrina had purchased the murder weapon. Katrina was arrested and convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years. The episode highlights Detective Rubin's persistence and determination in solving the case, bringing justice for Eric's family.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the podcast and its content, focusing on strange, dark, and mysterious stories. It also promotes a new podcast, Mr. Ballin's Medical Mysteries, which explores medical mysteries and is available on Amazon Music.

00:00:10

Eric Samoa's Murder

This Chapter details the discovery of Eric Samoa's body in his apartment. Police initially believed it was a suicide, but Detective Rubin quickly realized it was a homicide. He begins investigating Eric's life and relationships, focusing on his girlfriend, Denise.

00:15:17

Investigating Denise

This Chapter focuses on Detective Rubin's investigation of Denise, Eric's girlfriend. He interviews her, but she claims they had broken up. Rubin is skeptical, but doesn't have enough evidence to pursue her further.

00:18:40

Introducing Katrina

This Chapter introduces Katrina, another woman Eric was seeing. A neighbor reveals that Katrina lived in the same apartment building as Eric and had been seen with him. Rubin begins to suspect Katrina as a possible suspect.

00:20:36

Commercial Break

This Chapter is a commercial break promoting Mr. Ballin's Medical Mysteries podcast.

00:22:12

Interviewing Katrina

This Chapter details Detective Rubin's interview with Katrina. She initially denies any involvement in Eric's death, but then reveals a strange encounter with the drug dealer who sold Eric marijuana the night before his death. She claims the dealer rushed her out of the apartment, but Rubin is suspicious of her story.

00:26:56

Investigating William Woodfork

This Chapter focuses on Detective Rubin's investigation of William Woodfork, the drug dealer. He interviews William, who initially denies knowing Eric, but later admits to selling him marijuana. Rubin searches William's apartment and finds a gun, but it is not the murder weapon.

00:30:40

The Missing Gun

This Chapter details Detective Rubin's search for the murder weapon. He tracks down a discarded gun found near Eric's apartment and traces its history, eventually finding the person who sold it to a pawn shop in Katrina's hometown.

00:33:22

The ATF Records

This Chapter details Detective Rubin's visit to the pawn shop in Mississippi. He learns that the pawn shop owner had given the sales records to the ATF due to rat damage. Rubin contacts the ATF and they provide him with the records, which reveal that Katrina had purchased the murder weapon.

00:38:36

Katrina's Motive

This Chapter reveals Katrina's motive for killing Eric. She was angry that he was not ready to commit to a relationship with her and felt like he was using her for sex. She had brought the gun to Eric's apartment the night of the murder and used his drug deal as a cover for her crime.

Keywords

Q&A

• How did Detective Rubin initially believe Eric Samoa died?

  Detective Rubin initially believed Eric Samoa died by suicide because the door to his apartment was locked, there was no sign of forced entry, and expensive items like his computer and TV were left untouched. He also saw a single bullet wound in Eric's head, which is another sign of a possible suicide.

• What was the motive behind Katrina Ben's murder of Eric Samoa?

  Katrina Ben was angry that Eric Samoa was not ready to commit to a relationship with her and felt like he was using her for sex. She was also upset that he had blown her off on a night they were supposed to hook up. She decided to kill him in a fit of rage.

• How did Detective Rubin find the murder weapon?

  Detective Rubin tracked down a discarded gun found near Eric's apartment and traced its history, eventually finding the person who sold it to a pawn shop in Katrina's hometown. He then obtained records from the ATF, which revealed that Katrina had purchased the murder weapon.

• What role did the ATF play in the investigation?

  The ATF played a crucial role in the investigation because the pawn shop owner had given the sales records to the ATF due to rat damage. The ATF provided Detective Rubin with the records, which confirmed that Katrina had purchased the murder weapon.

• What was the outcome of the case?

  Katrina Ben was arrested and convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years with no chance for parole.

• What was the significance of the drug dealer, William Woodfork, in the case?

  William Woodfork was initially a suspect in Eric Samoa's murder because he was the last person seen with Eric before his death. However, he was eventually cleared of any involvement in the crime. He was a red herring in the investigation, but he did provide Detective Rubin with a potential cover for Katrina's crime.

• What was the role of Eric Samoa's family in the investigation?

  Eric Samoa's family was very supportive of Detective Rubin's investigation and they provided him with information about Eric's life and relationships. They were also very grateful for Rubin's persistence and determination in solving the case.

• What was the significance of the missing gun in the case?

  The missing gun was a key piece of evidence in the case because it was the murder weapon. Detective Rubin's search for the gun led him to the pawn shop in Mississippi, where he was able to obtain the sales records that confirmed Katrina's involvement in the crime.

• What was the significance of the ATF records in the case?

  The ATF records were crucial to the case because they provided Detective Rubin with the evidence he needed to confirm that Katrina Ben had purchased the murder weapon. The records were obtained from the pawn shop owner, who had given them to the ATF due to rat damage.

• What was the overall message of the episode?

  The episode highlights the importance of persistence and determination in solving crimes. It also shows how even seemingly casual relationships can be fraught with danger and how even the most seemingly innocent people can be capable of committing terrible acts.

Show Notes