Overview of My Favorite Murder Minisode 509
This minisode is a collection of listener-submitted stories that lean into the show’s usual mix of darkly funny mishaps, family chaos, and absurd real-life adventures. Karen and Georgia react to everything from a Brazilian true-crime manhunt to a toddler running an office-building scam, with side conversations about parenting, old-school childhood freedom, and the kind of messes kids — and adults — leave behind.
Stories Covered
The “Brazilian Boogeyman”
- A listener from Brasília, Brazil recounts the 2021 manhunt for Lázaro Barbosa, who was accused of killing four family members and then evaded more than 270 officers for about 20 days.
- He disappeared into the Cerrado wilderness, crossed rivers, stole cars, and reportedly kept slipping away despite helicopters, drones, dogs, and roadblocks.
- As the search dragged on, rumors spread that he had supernatural powers or had made a deal with the devil, turning him into a folkloric “boogeyman.”
- The hunt ended when police located him near Brasília; he exchanged gunfire with police and died.
- Karen and Georgia compare the myth-making around Lázaro to the media obsession around Richard Ramirez / the Night Stalker.
The Finnish Rowboat Ordeal
- A Finnish firefighter named Jari (described as embodying Finnish sisu — grit and determination) rowed solo across the Atlantic in 2023.
- He later attempted another major ocean crossing in 2025, from Cape Horn to Cape Town.
- During a storm, his boat capsized, the electrical system caught fire, and he was left freezing, drifting, and nearly out of satellite-phone battery.
- A South African rescue boat eventually reached him; he was pulled to safety after nearly 48 hours awake and surviving multiple emergencies.
- His only post-rescue request: a glass of whiskey.
The Cat Buried Twice
- A listener tells the story of her family’s cat, Sparky aka “Little Shit,” in Scotland.
- After Sparky appeared to have died, her father buried him in the garden.
- Shortly afterward, Sparky was found alive and sleeping on the bed — while a different, identical black-and-white cat was still in the grave.
- The real owners eventually came by looking for their missing cat, and the family had to dig up the mistaken burial and return the cat.
- The story ends with the delightful absurdity that Sparky survived the whole ordeal completely unfazed.
The Orange Crush Ceiling Disaster
- A teenager in Southern California accidentally knocked over a sealed liter bottle of Orange Crush, which cracked in just the wrong way.
- The soda blasted out in a spinning spray, coating the kitchen ceiling, walls, appliances, and the storyteller.
- Her mom was already on a ladder cleaning the ceiling by the time she got home.
- Years later, the listener says she’s more sympathetic when her own kids make messes — including one child flooding the upstairs bathroom by leaving the tub running.
Jackie Robinson and “Jackie by Jackie”
- A listener shares a touching family story about her grandmother, also named Jackie, who saw Jackie Robinson play in Chicago in 1952.
- Her friend’s father helped them get there by train, and Jackie Robinson smiled and posed for her photo.
- After the grandmother passed away, the family had the photo professionally restored and created a display titled “Jackie by Jackie.”
- Karen and Georgia love the sweet historical connection and the sentimental family keepsake.
The Toddler Con Woman
- One listener tells a hilarious story about being a toddler who wandered freely around her parents’ law office in a wheeled baby walker.
- She learned to move between offices, soliciting candy, snacks, and especially Coke from coworkers and clients.
- She would ride elevators alone, tap the vending machine, and make people buy her sodas by looking pitiful until a sign had to be posted: “Don’t buy the baby a Coke.”
- The listener reflects that this was very much a product of the 1990s “free-range” parenting era, and now her own child is a favorite passenger who asks to listen to “the ladies” in the car.
Notable Themes
- Childhood chaos and parental regret: Several stories center on accidental disasters that children caused — and the adult perspective on how those moments become family lore.
- Absurdity in everyday life: Whether it’s a cat mix-up, a soda explosion, or a toddler grifting Coca-Cola, the minisode thrives on ridiculous but true stories.
- Respect for resilience: The Brazilian manhunt and the ocean-rowing story both highlight survival, endurance, and the strange legend that can grow around extreme situations.
- Nostalgia for old-school parenting: Karen and Georgia repeatedly comment on how freely kids used to roam compared with modern parenting standards.
Overall Takeaway
This minisode is a classic My Favorite Murder listener-story episode: funny, strange, and lightly unsettling in the best way. The standout stories range from true crime folklore and ocean survival to family pet confusion and toddler scheming, all tied together by the hosts’ reactions, banter, and appreciation for the weirdness of real life.