Corpsewood: A True Story of Eccentricity, Prejudice, and Murder

In 1976, Dr. Charles Lee Scudder, a brilliant professor and eccentric harpist, walked away from academia to build a castle in the Georgia wilderness with his partner, Joseph Odom.

Brick by brick, they created Corpsewood Manor: a secluded homestead decorated with satanic imagery, stained glass windows, and a three-story chicken coop complete with a pleasure chamber known as the "Pink Room."

But in the deeply conservative town of Trion, Georgia, during the height of the satanic panic, two gay men living in a castle adorned with pentagrams became targets of fear, suspicion, and ultimately, violence.

On December 12, 1982, greed and hatred collided on a remote mountain ridge. What began as a robbery turned into a brutal double homicide that exposed the dark underbelly of prejudice in rural America.

This is the story of Corpsewood Manor, a tale of two men who sought freedom and solitude, only to become victims of the very world they tried to escape. It's a story about eccentricity, sexuality, religion, and the deadly consequences of intolerance.

Join us as we explore one of Georgia's most bizarre and tragic murder cases, and remember the lives of Charles Scudder and Joseph Odom, two innocent men who deserved so much better.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of murder, violence, homophobia, and adult themes. Listener discretion is advised.

Show Sources:

https://abandonedgeorgia.com/corpsewood-manor/

https://www.atlantamagazine.com/great-reads/the-corpsewood-murders-40-years-later/

Quick note before we wrap up: I tried getting sponsors for better equipment but didn't have any luck. If you'd like to support the show and help me produce season two, I'd be incredibly grateful.

You can send contributions to my Cash App at $themaggiemayallday

Every bit helps, and I truly appreciate you listening.