Overview of My Favorite Murder 549 - “Let’s Action!”
This solo episode shifts from light banter and show updates into a powerful 9/11 remembrance story centered on the evacuation of the World Trade Center’s North Tower from the 88th floor. Karen Kilgariff focuses on the courage of a group of Port Authority workers led by Frank DiMartini, who helped save dozens of people before the tower collapsed. The episode is both a tribute to heroism and a reminder of how much ordinary people can do in extraordinary crises.
Opening Banter and Context
The episode begins with the usual MFM-style conversation: jokes about being underfed, commuting in Los Angeles, traffic chaos, and general daily exhaustion. The hosts also:
- Share listener reflections on Dolly Parton’s impact and legacy
- Promote Exactly Right projects, fan cult membership, and animated MFM content
- Preview other network shows and sponsor messages
Then Karen explains that the episode is timed near the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and will focus on one of the many acts of heroism from that day.
The 9/11 Story: The 88th-Floor Evacuation
The people at the center of the story
The main figures in the story are:
- Frank DiMartini – Port Authority construction manager
- Nicole DiMartini – Frank’s wife, also an architect
- Pablo Ortiz
- Mac Hanna
- Carlos DaCosta
- Pete Negron
- Judith Reese
- Elaine Duke
- Mo Lipson
- Thomas Haddad
Frank and Nicole were in Frank’s office on the 88th floor of the North Tower when the first plane hit on the morning of September 11, 2001.
Immediate aftermath of the impact
- The plane struck the North Tower just above their floor.
- Power went out, smoke filled the area, and people gathered in confusion.
- Because of previous emergency training after the 1993 bombing, many initially waited for instructions instead of rushing blindly into the stairwells.
- Communication systems quickly failed, leaving people without clear guidance.
One of the most harrowing early moments is the survival of Elaine Duke, who had been engulfed in flames when jet fuel ignited near the elevator shaft. She survived despite catastrophic burns.
Frank takes charge
Frank DiMartini emerges as a calm, decisive leader:
- He organizes the group
- Hands out flashlights
- Moves the injured to the safest available space
- Coordinates a search for trapped coworkers
- Directs people toward the only usable stairwell
The episode emphasizes how Frank immediately shifted from confusion to action, helping keep panic from spreading.
The decision to go back up
After starting the descent, Frank, Pablo Ortiz, and a few others make a critical choice: they return upward to search for more trapped people.
This becomes the moral center of the story. Even after realizing the building was severely damaged, they chose to keep helping instead of only saving themselves.
What they encountered on the way down
The descent was nearly impossible:
- One stairwell was functional, but heavily damaged
- Smoke, darkness, heat, and debris filled the path
- Firefighters were moving upward at the same time evacuees were moving down
- Bottlenecks and blocked doors slowed everyone
- Some people had to cross office spaces to find alternate exits
Judith Reese, who had asthma, struggled badly with the smoke, and others helped keep her moving. Jeffrey Gertler stayed with her even as firefighters warned him the building could collapse at any moment.
Mac Hanna helped an elderly man, Mo Lipson, down the stairs. When they reached street level, he had to run for his life as the tower came down behind him.
The Collapse and Loss
At 10:28 a.m., the North Tower collapsed.
Karen notes that the men from the 88th floor—especially Frank and Pablo—were last seen on higher floors still trying to rescue others. In total, they are believed to have helped save at least 50 people, and possibly as many as 77.
Those who died in the North Tower collapse in this story include:
- Frank DiMartini
- Pablo Ortiz
- Carlos DaCosta
- Pete Negron
- Judith Reese
Legacy and Aftermath
Mac Hanna’s survival
Mac Hanna survives, and the episode notes that his life was changed profoundly by the experience. He later entered the priesthood, becoming Father Mark Hanna, and dedicated his life to helping others.
Elaine Duke’s survival
Elaine Duke, despite being nearly burned to death, survived after months in the hospital. Her recovery is one of the episode’s most remarkable miracles.
The loved ones left behind
The episode includes emotional reflections from the families of Frank and Pablo:
- Their loved ones grieved the loss while also wrestling with pride in what they did
- They had weeks of uncertainty before learning what happened
- The families emphasize that these men’s sacrifice mattered, even though it came at devastating personal cost
Main Takeaways
- Ordinary leadership saves lives. Frank DiMartini’s calm, practical response prevented chaos and guided people toward safety.
- Heroism often means choosing others first. Frank, Pablo, and others repeatedly put trapped coworkers ahead of themselves.
- 9/11’s trauma extended far beyond that day. The episode highlights the long period of not knowing who survived.
- Community mattered in the stairwell. People helped the injured, shared courage, and supported each other through the descent.
- The story is a reminder to “look for the helpers.” The episode ends with a plea to be brave and kind in daily life.
Notable Emotional Lines and Themes
- “Let’s action!” — the spirit of Frank’s response
- The repeated idea that people should be the brave one
- A recurring message to do good in the world and take care of others
Final Note
This episode is one of the more sobering and moving installments of My Favorite Murder. Rather than focusing on crime, it honors a specific group of 9/11 victims whose actions saved many lives and left behind a lasting example of courage, duty, and selflessness.