Joe Metheny

Morbid

06/26/23

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65m

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On December 15, 1996, Baltimore police discovered the body of twenty-three-year-old Kimberly Spicer buried under a trailer on the property of a pallet factory in the city’s southwest side. Later that day, police arrested Joseph Methainy, a man who lived and worked at the factory where Spicer’s body was discovered. It didn’t take long for police to solidly connect Methainy to the murders of two additional Baltimore women as well. In his wild confessions he claimed massive victim numbers and even cannibalism.

Thanks to Dave White for research assistance!

References

Associated Press. 1997. "Man's trial in slaying of 2 women is postponed; change of venue sought." Baltimore Sun, July 8: 4B.

—. 1996. "Accused killer called fun-loving." Daily Times, December 20: 2.

—. 1997. "Mount Airy scientits finds where the bones are buried." Star-Democrat, February 5: 13.

—. 1998. "Officials: Methainy attempted suicide ." Star-Democrat, March 24: 6.

—. 1996. "'Practical joker' held in 3 slayings." The Capital, December 20: 14.

—. 1997. "Suspected serial killer indicted." The Daily Times, January 29: 2.

Hermann, Peter. 1996. "Suspect charged in 2 more slayings." Baltimore Sun, December 19: 25.

—. 1996. "Suspect gives police details of 4 slayings." Baltimore Sun, December 21: 1A.

—. 1996. "Suspect in slaying says he killed 2 others Police searches yield." Baltimore Sun, December 18.

Higham, Scott. 1998. "Methainy found guilty of killing woman." Baltimore Sun, May 15: 8B.

Hopper, Dale. 1997. "Murder suspect convicted of kidnapping, assault." Star-Democrat, November 18: 3.

Investigation Discovery. 2016. Serial killer Joe 'The Cannibal' Methainy, served human burgers at his BBQ stand, dead in cell. December 19. Accessed February 27, 2023. https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/serial-killer/joe-the-cannibal-Methainy-the-serial-killer-with-a-penchant-for-human-flesh-burgers.

Irwin, Richard. 1996. "2 men charged in woman's stabbing death." Baltimore Sun, December 16: 2B.

Jacobson, Joan. 2000. "Court voids death verdict." Baltimore Sun, July 25: 11.

—. 1998. "Killer given death penalty." Baltimore Sun, November 14: 1.

—. 1998. "Methainy sentencing testimony begins." Baltimore Sun, November 10: 27.

James, Michael. 1997. "As police sift claims, families seek solace." Baltimore Sun, January 13: 1.

Methainy v. State of Maryland. 2000. 149 (Court of Appeals of Maryland, July 24).

Pekkanen, Sarah. 1998. "Suspect's confession to killing played in court." Baltimore Sun, May 1: 1B.

Penn, Ivan. 1997. "Slaying suspect on trial in attempted murder." Baltimore Sun, November 6: 11B.

—. 1997. "Woman describes night of attack." Baltimore Sun, November 7: 7B.

Prudente, Tim. 2017. "Convicted murderer dead in his cell." Baltimore Sun, August 8: A2.

Shatzkin, Kate. 1997. "Death penalty to be sought in slayings of 2." Baltimore Sun, March 21.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Previous Episode

The Murder of Mandy Stavik

June 22, 2023

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78m

In late November 1989, college freshman Mandy Stavik returned to her hometown of Acme, Washington to celebrate the holidays with her family. On the afternoon of November 24, the day after Thanksgiving, Mandy told her family she was going for a run. When she still hadn’t returned that evening, her mother became concerned and called around to her friends, but none had heard from her. When she still hadn’t returned the next morning, the panic set in, and the search began.

For three days, the residents of Acme, Washington undertook an increasingly desperate search for Mandy Stavik and were heartbroken when her body was eventually located in the shallow water of the Nooksack River. Local police began an intense investigation, but after months of dead ends and dwindling leads, the case wound down and eventually went cold.

Mandy Stavik’s death would likely have remained unsolved, were it not for a tenacious cold case detective, who in 2009 began running old DNA samples against samples collected from suspects over the last two decades.

Thank you to the fantastical David White for research assistance

References

Associated Press. 1989. "Amanda Stavik's brother also died tragically." Lewiston Tribune, December 1.

Ferm, Carol. 1989. "A flood of memories, a torrent of tears." The Bellingham Herald, December 3: 1.

—. 1989. "Community's sense of peace is shattered." The Bellingham Herald, November 29: 1.

—. 1989. "Family and friends keep a vigil of hope." The Bellingham Herald, November 26: 11.

—. 1989. "Loss angers, saddens classmate." The Bellingham Herald, November 29: 2.

—. 1989. "Reward offered." The Bellingham Herald, November 27: 1.

—. 1989. "Teen presumed kidnapped." The Bellingham Herald, November 26: 1.

Ferm, Carol, and Cathy Logg. 1989. "Search for missing teen continues." The Bellingham Herald, November 27: 1.

—. 1989. "Stavik's body found in Nooksack." The Bellingham Herald, November 28: 1.

Logg, Cathy. 1989. "Clues elusive in Stavki's death." The Bellingham Herald, November 29: 1.

—. 1989. "Investigators get many tips in Stavik case." The Bellingham Herald, December 1: 13.

—. 1989. "Police issue a warning about human predators." The Bellingham Herald, December 20: 11.

—. 1989. "Sheriff seeks pudgy-faced man for questioning in Stavik case." The Bellingham Herald, December 3: 13.

—. 1990. "Stavik case awaits tests." The Bellingham Herald, March 20: 1.

—. 1992. "Stavik 'suspect' files suit." The Bellingham Herald, March 21: 1.

—. 1990. "Garment ID'd tentatively as Mandy's." The Bellingham Press, January 28: 15.

Mittendorf, Robert. 2017. "Arrest in 1989 killing - sheriff credits DNA." The Bellingham Herald, December 14: A1.

Pratt, Denver. 2018. "Defense challenges DNA evidence in '89 slaying." The Bellingham Herald, August 11: A1.

—. 2019. "Defense in murder trial opening: 'No one knows what happened to Ms. Stavik'." The Bellingham Herald, May 11: A1.

—. 2017. "First-degree murder charge filed in 1989 kiling of Stavik." The Bellingham Herald, December 15: A1.

—. 2019. "'I wanted to do the right thing for Mandy,' Bass' co-worker testifies." The Bellingham Herald, May 17: A1.

Sirken, Alec. 2016. How two moms chatting at a water park helped crack a Thanksgiving cold case murder. July 16. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mandy-stavik-case-how-two-moms-chatting-at-a-water-park-helped-crack-thanksgiving-cold-case-murder/.

State of Washington vs. Timothy Bass. 2021. 80156-2-I (The Court of Appeals for the State of Washington, June 1)

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Next Episode

Listener Tales 75

June 29, 2023

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65m

Listener Tales 75!!! This installment features a CRAY-CRAY reincarnation story, a husband turned Scooby-Doo villain and ghost turned grandma! If you have a listener tale you’d like to send in please send it to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.