Overview of My Favorite Murder, Episode 558: “Eat the Wrapper”
Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark discuss self-expression, the Chicks’ return to the stage, and a true-crime podcast recommendation before Karen tells two stories: the unresolved 1987 murder of Sherry Orofino and the grueling 1928 cross-country Bunion Derby. The episode looks at how authority and poor oversight shaped the investigation into Orofino’s death, then turns to the dangers and spectacle of an endurance race that pushed its runners across the country.
Sherry Orofino’s Unresolved Murder
In 1987, 24-year-old Sherry Orofino had recently moved with her husband, Paul, from Manhattan to Millbrook, New York. On February 28, she left friends in Queens to drive home. Her locked, undamaged car was found near the Taconic State Parkway the next day, about an hour south of Millbrook. Her body was discovered six months later down an embankment near the Croton Reservoir; investigators ruled her death a homicide.
Witnesses said they had seen a blonde woman pulled over by a police officer in the area. Investigators later focused on Ronald Langer, a local officer who had no authority to patrol the Taconic. Several women reported that he had stopped and harassed them. One, Jennifer Hummel, said he had taken her to a secluded area and forcibly kissed her the night before Orofino disappeared.
Langer was convicted in 1990 of violating women’s civil rights after eight women testified and served two years in prison. Orofino’s family pushed for a grand jury investigation into her murder, but Langer was never charged in the case. Paul was investigated and ruled out as a suspect. The case remains open.
The 1928 Bunion Derby
In 1928, sports agent C.C. Pyle organized a foot race from Los Angeles to New York City, covering more than 3,400 miles. Nearly 200 men started, hoping to win a share of the substantial prize money. Pyle promised daily stops and support, but the runners faced long distances, harsh weather, poor food and sleeping conditions, and dangerous roads shared with cars.
As costs mounted, Pyle cut food rations, dropped daily prizes, and changed routes to attract paying towns. The runners endured severe injuries and illness; some were struck by cars, and Black participants faced racist harassment. By the finish, only 55 runners remained. Andy Payne, a 20-year-old Cherokee runner from Oklahoma, won after completing the race in 573 hours.
Pyle eventually paid the 1928 winners, but a second race the following year ended with him bankrupt and its winners unpaid. The hosts frame the derby as both an extraordinary feat of endurance and a spectacle shaped by Pyle’s appetite for money and publicity.
Other Topics and Recommendations
Georgia and Karen talk about experimenting with bold makeup and recall seeing the Chicks perform, including songs from Taking the Long Way. They reflect on the backlash the band faced after Natalie Maines criticized President George W. Bush.
Karen recommends Cold, Season 5, titled Blamed on Bundy, about the disappearance of Nancy Perry Baird. She connects it to news that Ted Bundy’s DNA had been matched to the 1974 murder of Melissa Ann Smith in Utah.