Podcasts > MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories > Gunshots in the House of God (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

Gunshots in the House of God (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

By Ballen Studios

In this exclusive episode of the MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories, delve into a tale that unravels inside sacred walls, exposing the darkest facets of admiration and jealousy. When Rhonda's burgeoning relationship with Pastor Schrievs turns into a confessional of personal hardship, she receives not just spiritual guidance but also financial support, igniting envy within the congregation. As MrBallen and guest Whit Missildine explore the intricacies of this complex bond, listeners are left pondering the fine line between devotion and obsession.

The episode meticulously uncovers the chilling investigation that follows Rhonda’s shooting, a puzzle pieced together by Detective Stumpo's unyielding determination. With no suspect in sight initially, a mysterious discovery in Lake Nacomixon shifts the narrative, leading to Mary Jane Fonda’s conviction. The podcast navigates through a labyrinth of personal vendettas, culminating in a tragic end for both the victim and the perpetrator. Join the dissection of what begins as a tale of faith and community, and ends in a gripping crime story of jealousy and murder.

Gunshots in the House of God (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

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Gunshots in the House of God (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

1-Page Summary

Rhonda's relationship with Pastor Schrievs

Rhonda's relationship with Pastor Schrievs is complex, involving deep admiration, confidant relationships, and financial assistance. She finds him extremely handsome and feels valued by his attention. Pastor Schrievs is aware of Rhonda's mental health struggles and personal struggles, including her troubles with an abusive ex-partner and a recent breakup. He supports her by checking on her and hiring her to work at the church. This support extends to financial matters, with the Pastor leading a fundraising effort that collects $3,000 for Rhonda. Rhonda believes other women in the congregation envy her close relationship with the Pastor.

The investigation into Rhonda's shooting

Detective Stumpo leads a meticulous investigation following Rhonda's shooting. Judy, the person who discovered Rhonda, did not find or conceal a weapon. However, the break in the case comes when a gun is found in Lake Nacomixon by a man and his son. Mary Jane Fonda emerges as a suspect, noted for odd behaviors including strange phone calls to the church. Her jealousy of Rhonda's relationship with Pastor Schrievs and obsession with him are highlighted, with an underlining of her past involving her father's disappearance being of concern to investigators. Crucially, ballistics tests confirm the murder weapon is a .38 revolver found in the lake and is tied to the murderer via evidence under their car's floor mat.

Mary Jane convicted of murdering Rhonda out of jealousy over Pastor Schrievs

Mary Jane is found guilty of murdering Rhonda in a crime borne of jealousy over the latter's relationship with Pastor Schrievs. She receives a life sentence for her actions, which are motivated by her resentment of Rhonda as a perceived competitor for the Pastor's affections. Mary Jane's life concludes in prison, where she dies 10 years into her sentence.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Rhonda's relationship with Pastor Schrievs is characterized by admiration, trust, and financial support. Pastor Schrievs provides emotional and financial assistance to Rhonda due to her personal struggles, including mental health issues and past abusive relationships. Rhonda values the attention and support she receives from the Pastor, leading to a close bond between them. The dynamic between Rhonda and Pastor Schrievs is perceived as intimate by others in the congregation, causing envy among some women.
  • Mary Jane Fonda's odd behaviors and strange phone calls to the church could indicate her increasing obsession with Pastor Schrievs and jealousy towards Rhonda. These actions may have been attempts to gather information or disrupt Rhonda's relationship with the Pastor. Mary Jane's behavior, such as making unusual inquiries or expressing undue interest, could have raised suspicions among those around her. Her actions might have been driven by a deep-seated emotional turmoil related to her feelings towards Pastor Schrievs and Rhonda.

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Gunshots in the House of God (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

Rhonda's relationship with Pastor Schrievs

Rhonda's connection with Pastor Schrievs is multifaceted and marked by her deep admiration, trusting confidences, financial support through tough times, and her perception of envy from others.

Rhonda's admiration for the pastor

Rhonda regards Pastor Schrievs with great admiration, finding him unbelievably handsome with beautiful pale blue eyes. At 56 years old, he is a fit, tall man with distinguished blonde hair among his grays. His gestures, like smiling and winking at her after she spoke to the congregation, made her feel noticed and special.

Rhonda confiding in Pastor Schrievs about her mental illness and personal struggles

Rhonda faces the challenges of mental illness, which affects her ability to work full time and sometimes leads her to suicidal thoughts. At a time when she was facing eviction, Rhonda shared her personal struggles and history of problematic relationships with Pastor Schrievs, who offered comfort and support. He would call to check up on her, ensuring she was okay and could cover for him at the church during his absence.

Further, Rhonda shared with Pastor Schrievs the difficulties she endured in an abusive past relationship, as well as her recent breakup with a man she had met online. Pastor Schrievs described Rhonda as a very quiet, lonely young woman who had struggled with mental health issues, signifying an awareness of her battles.

Pastor Schrievs helping to raise money for R ...

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Rhonda's relationship with Pastor Schrievs

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Rhonda and Pastor Schrievs share a complex relationship characterized by admiration, emotional support, financial assistance, and a sense of unique closeness. Rhonda confides in the pastor about her mental health struggles and personal hardships, leading to a bond of trust and understanding. Pastor Schrievs actively helps Rhonda by raising funds for her and offering her temporary work, demonstrating a caring and supportive dynamic between them. Rhonda perceives a level of envy from others towards her relationship with the pastor, indicating a perceived special connection that sets them apart.
  • Pastor Schrievs took proactive steps to assist Rhonda with her financial struggles by initiating a fundraising campaign that raised $3,000 to support her. Additionally, he provided her with temporary work at the church office to help alleviate her financial burdens during a challenging time.
  • Rhonda's perception of envy from other women stems from her belief that the a ...

Counterarguments

  • Admiration based on physical appearance may not be a solid foundation for a meaningful relationship, and it could be argued that spiritual leadership should be valued for guidance and wisdom rather than physical attributes.
  • While confiding in a spiritual leader can be therapeutic, it is important to ensure that professional help is also sought for mental health issues, as pastors may not be trained mental health professionals.
  • Financial support from a congregation is a generous act, but it should be transparent and accountable to ensure that it does not lead to any form of favorit ...

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Gunshots in the House of God (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

The investigation into Rhonda's shooting

Detective Stumpo is leading an extensive investigation into the shooting of a woman named Rhonda, with Mary Jane Fonda emerging as a potential suspect due to her eccentric behavior and connections to previous suspicious events.

Detective Stumpo leading the investigation

Judy found an unexpected scene at the church: the side door was unlocked, and inside, Rhonda was discovered lying face down in a pool of blood, severely injured yet still breathing. Judy, fearing for her safety and believing the assailant could still be on the premises, rushed out to call 911. Detective Stumpo arrived on the scene and began his search through the church office, meticulously looking for a gun, but found nothing. Stumpo also questioned Judy about the possibility of a missing gun, which Judy firmly denied moving or removing.

The search for the murder weapon

While the thorough search inside the church yielded no weapon, a crucial breakthrough occurred when a man and his son, fishing in Lake Nacomixon, found a loaded gun in the water and alerted the state police. Detective Stumpo and his team speculated that the weapon's discovery was the result of the killer's anxiety over detective inquiries, prompting them to dispose of the gun in the lake.

Mary Jane Fonda as a suspect

Her eccentric personality and obsessive behavior

Mary Jane Fonda was noted for her eccentric and confusing actions, which included inappropriate calls to the church and wearing her wig backwards. After Rhonda began working at the church reception, Mary Jane made a particularly strange call to wish Rhonda a belated happy birthday on a date that wasn't her birthday, and acted offended for not being invited to a nonexistent birthday party.

Her jealousy of Rhonda's relationship with Pastor Schrievs

Pastor Schrievs observed that Mary Jane's behavior, such as bringing him unsolicited gifts, might stem from jealousy over Rhonda's close relationship with him. Mary Jane incorrectly believed that there was a romantic affair between Rhonda and Pastor Schrievs, an assumption fuelled by her unfounded conviction that she and the pastor were destined to be together, despite his rejections. Her jealousy was also aggravated when Pastor Schrievs helped raise money for Rhonda, especially since Mary Jane felt neglected despite her longer church tenure.

Her previous suspicion in her father's disappearance

Mary Jane’s tr ...

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The investigation into Rhonda's shooting

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Mary Jane Fonda's eccentric behavior, including her inappropriate actions and unfounded beliefs, raised suspicions about her mental state and motivations. Her jealousy towards Rhonda and Pastor Schrievs, combined with her troubled past, created a complex web of potential motives for her involvement in the shooting. These factors, when considered alongside the discovery of the murder weapon and her erratic behavior, led investigators to focus on Mary Jane as a key suspect in the case.
  • Lake Nacomixon is a significant location in the investigation into Rhonda's shooting. It plays a crucial role in the discovery of the murder weapon, a Rossi .38 revolver, which was found by a man and his son while fishing in the lake. The weapon's recovery from the lake becomes a pivotal piece of evidence linking to the crime. The lake's sudden introduction in the text serves to highlight the key moment when the murder weapon is found, advancing the investigation.
  • The gun found in the lake was crucial evidence in the investigation as it matched the type used in the shooting of Rhonda Smith. Ballistics tests confirmed it as the murder weapon, linking it directly to the crime. The discovery of the gun provided a significant breakthrough in the case, strengt ...

Counterarguments

  • Detective Stumpo's focus on Mary Jane Fonda might be too narrow, potentially overlooking other suspects or lines of inquiry.
  • Eccentric behavior and past suspicions do not necessarily indicate guilt in the current case; Mary Jane Fonda's actions might be unrelated to the crime.
  • The unlocked church door could suggest that someone familiar to Rhonda or the church community might be involved, not necessarily Mary Jane Fonda.
  • The absence of the gun in the church office does not rule out the possibility that it was present at the crime scene and removed by someone other than the suspect.
  • The discovery of the gun in Lake Nacomixon could be coincidental and not connected to the case if there is no direct evidence linking it to Mary Jane Fonda.
  • Jealousy, while a possible motive, is not conclusive evidence of Mary Jane Fonda's guilt without corroborating evidence.
  • The previous suspicion in her father's disappearance is not direct evidence of her involvement in Rhonda's shooting and could unfairly bias the investigation.
  • The registration date of the g ...

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Gunshots in the House of God (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

Mary Jane convicted of murdering Rhonda out of jealousy over Pastor Schrievs

Mary Jane has been convicted of murdering Rhonda, driven by jealousy over Rhonda's relationship with Pastor Schrievs. The court handed down a life sentence to Mary Jane for the crime, motivated by her desire to eliminate Rhonda as a rival for the Pastor's affection ...

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Mary Jane convicted of murdering Rhonda out of jealousy over Pastor Schrievs

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