In this episode, we examine the events of the Serial Killer Robert Fry. Join The Arkins Hearth as we discuss the complexities of justice, accountability, and public reaction.

Art By the Pixie

References:

Scott, R. (2005). Monster slayer: The true story of a New Mexico serial killer. Pinnacle Books.

New Mexico Supreme Court. (2003). State v. Fry, 2003-NMSC-006. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/nm-supreme-court/1397835.html

New Mexico Supreme Court. (2005). State v. Fry, 2005-NMSC-039. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/nm-supreme-court/1362743.html

Krueger, J. (2008). Death penalty decisions in New Mexico. Albuquerque Journal.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). Serial murder: Multi-disciplinary perspectives for investigators. https://www.fbi.gov

New Mexico Corrections Department. (n.d.). Offender information: Robert Fry. https://cd.nm.gov

Associated Press. (2001–2004). Coverage of Robert Fry trials and convictions.

The Daily Times. (1996–2004). Local coverage of the Eclectic homicides and subsequent investigations.

In the first episode of the Hero Series, we share the remarkable life of John Brenner, a man whose story spans generations and continents. From escaping the horrors of the Blitz as a child to serving in the Korean War to dedicating over fifty years to medicine, John’s life is defined by resilience and service. He brought care to those in hospice, supported communities on the reservation, and did it all with a sharp sense of humor that never left him. This episode is a tribute to a man who didn’t just live through history; he spent his life helping others survive it, too.

Art by the Pixie

References:

Michael Chandler

Shieila Brenner-Willmett

This podcast explores the haunting case of the West Mesa Murders in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the remains of eleven women and one unborn child were uncovered in 2009, revealing a long-hidden tragedy. Through sensitive storytelling, the script traces the victims' discovery, identities, and lives, the ongoing investigation, and the enduring impact on families and the community.

Art by The Pixie

Call for Information

• If you or anyone you know has information:
  • 118th Street Task Force: 1-877-765-8273 or 505-768-2450
  • Crime Stoppers: 505-843-STOP
  • Email Investigator Ida Lopez: ilopez@cabq.gov

References

• City Leaders Open the Women’s Memorial Park with Blessing and Dedication. (2019). City of Albuquerque. https://www.cabq.gov/council/find-your-councilor/district-3/news/city-leaders-open-the-women2019s-memorial-park-with-blessing-and-dedication
• Fjeld, J. (2025, February 3). Families, APD seek answers 16 years after West Mesa murders. KOB.com
• Albuquerque Police Department. West Mesa Homicide Investigation. City of Albuquerque. https://www.cabq.gov/police/contact-the-police/west-mesa-homicide-investigation
• Albuquerque Police Department. APD Honors West Mesa Victims on Anniversary of Discovery. City of Albuquerque News Releases.
• Wikipedia contributors. West Mesa Murders. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
• A&E Television Networks. The West Mesa Murders: Searching for a Killer. AETV.com
• People Magazine. 11 Victims, No Arrests: The West Mesa Murders. People.com

In this episode, we explore one of the most astonishing and little-known UFO events in American history, the 1950 Farmington UFO Armada Incident. Over the course of three days in March 1950, hundreds of residents in Farmington, New Mexico, watched the skies fill with dozens of fast-moving, metallic discs performing impossible maneuvers in broad daylight. Reported by police officers, bank employees, oil workers, and ordinary citizens, the event made front-page headlines as a mysterious “saucer armada” appeared over the town. Decades later, with no clear explanation from the government or science, the Farmington sightings remain one of the largest mass UFO encounters ever recorded in the United States.

Art by The Pixie

References: Farmington Daily Times — “Huge ‘Saucer’ Armada Jolts Farmington,” March 18, 1950. Front-page article documenting the mass UFO sighting witnessed by hundreds of residents over three days.

• The Aztec UFO Incident by Scott Ramsey & Suzanne Ramsey (2015). Investigative book examining the alleged 1948 Aztec crash and related UFO activity in the Four Corners region.
• The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects by Edward J. Ruppelt (1956). Written by the former head of the U.S. Air Force’s Project Blue Book, it includes a discussion of early UFO cases from the late 1940s and early 1950s.
• National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena — The UFO Evidence (1964). One of the earliest large compilations of documented UFO cases, including references to the Farmington sightings.
• UFOs and the National Security State by Richard Dolan (2000). Historical analysis of UFO sightings during the Cold War era, including major early cases in the American Southwest.

Primary Source

• Ramsey, Scott; Ramsey, Suzanne; Thayer, Frank. The Aztec UFO Incident: The Case, Evidence, and the Elaborate Cover-Up of One of the Most Perplexing Crashes in History. New Page Books, 2016.

Supporting Sources

• Scully, Frank. Behind the Flying Saucers. 1950.
• Cahn, J.P. San Francisco Chronicle, investigative series, 1952.
• U.S. Air Force Project Sign, Project Grudge, and early Project Blue Book public summaries (1948–1952).

San Juan County historical archives and Aztec Public Library references as cited in Ramsey’s appendices.

Episode two of The Arkins Hearth, “Roswell Baby,” delves into the legendary 1947 crash near Roswell, where a mysterious object and a swift military cover-up sparked the modern UFO phenomenon. Explore how secrecy, conflicting reports, and Cold War paranoia transformed a simple debris recovery into a global legend. Join us as we unravel the enduring mystery that forever changed how we view our government—and what might be out there.

References

• U.S. Air Force. The Roswell Report: Fact vs. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert. Washington, D.C., 1994.
• U.S. Air Force. The Roswell Report: Case Closed. Washington, D.C., 1997.
• Moore, Charles Z., and Karl Pflock. Roswell in Perspective. Roswell Daily Record Publications, 1994.
• Friedman, Stanton, and Don Berliner. Crash at Corona: The Definitive Study of the Roswell Incident. Paraview Press, 1992.
• Randle, Kevin D., and Donald R. Schmitt. UFO Crash at Roswell. Avon Books, 1991.
• Korff, Kal. The Roswell UFO Crash: What They Don’t Want You to Know. Prometheus Books, 1997.
• National Security Archive. Declassified Documents on Project Mogul. George Washington University.

Randle, Kevin D. Roswell: The 75th Anniversary. Flying Disk Press, 2022.

The Arkins Hearth podcast examines how the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and 90s fueled false accusations and targeted Dungeons & Dragons. Media hysteria and cultural fears led to bans and ruined reputations, but no evidence ever linked the game to occultism or violence. Despite controversy, D&D adapted and grew into a symbol of creativity and community. Expert studies eventually debunked the panic. Today, the game reminds us that imagination can triumph over fear and misunderstanding.

References

1. Lanning, Kenneth V. Investigator’s Guide to Allegations of “Ritual” Child Abuse. FBI Behavioral Science Unit, 1992.
2. Pazder, Lawrence & Michelle Smith. Michelle Remembers. St. Martin’s Press, 1980.
3. Dear, William C. The Dungeon Master: The Disappearance of James Dallas Egbert III. Houghton Mifflin, 1984.
4. Pulling, Patricia. The Devil’s Web: Who Is Stalking Your Children for Satan? Huntington House, 1984.
5. Victor, Jeffrey S. Satanic Panic: The Creation of a Contemporary Legend. Open Court, 1993.
6. American Association of Suicidology. “Role-Playing Games and Suicide: A Report.” Washington, D.C., 1990.
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Suicide and Role-Playing Games Report. Atlanta, 1990.
8. Richardson, James T., Joel Best, and David Bromley. The Satanism Scare. Aldine de Gruyter, 1991.
9. Laycock, Joseph P. Dangerous Games: What the Moral Panic over Role-Playing Games Says About Play, Religion, and Imagined Worlds. University of California Press, 2015.
10. Goodman, David. “The Dungeons & Dragons Moral Panic.” The New York Times Magazine, 2020.