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Buried Memories

The Bloody Crimes and Execution of the Texas Black Widow

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Buried Memories

Written by: Irene Pence
Narrated by: George Newbern
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About this listen

1985, Gun Barrel City, Texas: Police searching for missing Fire Department captain Jimmy Don Beets dug inside a wishing well in the neatly tended garden of Beets's wife, 48-year-old Betty Lou Beets. Not only did they find his body, but they also found the body of Betty Lou's fourth husband, Doyle Wayne Barker. It wasn't long before investigators unearthed the terrible truth. As Betty Lou's sordid past emerged, so did her chilling trail of marital violence. She shot her second husband, Billy York Lane, in the back. She tried to run over her third husband, Ronnie Threlkeld, with a car. Both survived to tell their horrific stories. But Barker and Beets, spouses four and five, weren't so lucky. After a sensational trial, Betty Lou Beets was sentenced to die by lethal injection. Fifteen years later, on February 24, 2000, she again drew national attention by becoming the second woman to be executed in Texas since the Civil War.

©2001 Irene Pence (P)2014 Tantor True Crime Marriage Texas
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What the critics say

"One of the most infamous murderers in modern Texas history." ( Dallas Morning News)

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Profile Image for Langer MD

Capably Dramatized Case

The individuals described in this True Life narrative are almost stereotypical "rednecks". If you feel superior in contemplating sketchy human beings, this tale is for you. It follows the murders of multiple good-ol-boy husbands for peanuts & petty revenge by a woman with 6 kids by 6 different men (casually abusing drugs, getting in drunken bar fights, working as a honky-tonk waitress, trying out to be a stripper in her 40s, etc.). Author Irene Pence offers the salacious case of Betty Lou Beets: a Texas Black Widow who was executed in 2000.
The writing style is somewhat disappointedly aimed more at entertaining than edifying (don't expect a documentary exposé), but it's also undeniably "can't-look-away" captivating.. drawing your attention like an accident that you drive by. You just have to look.

As to presentation: Reader George Newbern is unspectacular. His diction, timbre, voice-acting, and tone are creditable - backed up by commendable technical support from Tantor Audio sound engineers - but his reading cadence is marred by occasional injudicious deep breaths and wet mouth sounds (is he sucking on lozenges?)

Altogether, I rate 'Buried Memories' worthy of 7.5 stars out of 10. Set your expectations appropriately and avoid earbuds, but investing the time is reasonable if you can get it off of the 'Plus' menu. If they ask for a Credit, spend it elsewhere.

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