Overview of Rewind with Karen & Georgia — “111: Figure It Out, Kevin”
This rewind episode revisits a 2018 My Favorite Murder installment with fresh context, updated case developments, and the hosts’ trademark off-topic banter. The conversation opens with major updates on the Golden State Killer/Michelle McNamara story, then dives into two memorable true crime cases: the Van Nuys Courthouse shooting and Mexico City’s “Old Lady Killer,” Juana Barraza. The episode also includes listener shoutouts, pop culture tangents, and a “good things” segment highlighting community-driven fundraising and a cooking series recommendation.
Major Discussion Points
Golden State Killer and Michelle McNamara Updates
Karen and Georgia spend a large portion of the episode discussing:
- HBO/ID-style coverage of the Golden State Killer case
- Michelle McNamara’s book, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark
- Her influence in naming and popularizing the case
- The emotional impact of her posthumous success, including:
- the book hitting #1 on the nonfiction bestseller list
- her role in pushing attention toward victims and investigators
- The work of “citizen sleuths,” who helped analyze records and connect details across jurisdictions
Key takeaway: The case’s eventual resolution felt both historic and bittersweet, because McNamara did not live to see the arrest, but her work became foundational to public understanding of the case.
Van Nuys Courthouse Shooting
Karen tells a detailed story about the 2003 shooting at the Van Nuys courthouse:
- The attack happened on Halloween, October 30, 2003
- The courthouse was already full of news cameras because of a separate Robert Blake pretrial hearing
- Shooter William Stryer confronted attorney Gerald Curry, who represented a trustee in a dispute over a special needs trust
- Stryer asked Curry if he was Gerald Curry, then shot him multiple times
- Off-duty deputy David Katz ran back into the courtyard, tackled the shooter, and helped end the attack
- Stryer was later convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison plus 25 years
Notable details:
- The shooting was caught on video, which made the event especially shocking
- Stryer had a history of violence and appeared to believe he was entitled to the money he wanted
- Curry survived but suffered lasting trauma and a bullet lodged in his neck
Key takeaway: It’s a frightening example of how quickly a public place can become a crime scene, and how a bystander’s instinct can stop further harm.
Juana Barraza / “La Mataviejitas” — The Old Lady Killer
Georgia covers the case of Juana Barraza, one of Mexico’s most infamous serial killers:
- She targeted elderly women in Mexico City during the late 1990s and early 2000s
- Her victims were typically:
- women in their 60s or older
- living alone
- found in their homes after being strangled, bludgeoned, or stabbed
- Barraza used disguises such as:
- a social worker
- a nurse
- a woman offering benefits or a checkup
- She gained victims’ trust and then attacked them, usually using a stethoscope or cloth
Background and Motive
- Barraza had a horrific childhood involving abuse and neglect
- Her mother allegedly traded her as a child to an older man for alcohol
- She later became a mother herself and was described as a decent parent, which made her crimes even more disturbing
- Her stated motive was anger, and investigators believed her violence may have been rooted in resentment toward her abusive mother
Capture and Sentence
- She was caught after fleeing a victim’s home in 2006
- Police found a “trophy room” with victim-related items and news clippings
- She was convicted of multiple murders and sentenced to 759 years in prison
Key takeaway: The case is especially chilling because it involved deliberate predation on a deeply vulnerable population, combined with a disguise-based method that exploited trust.
Additional Themes and Banter
Humor, Pop Culture, and Side Conversations
As usual, the episode is filled with long comedic tangents, including:
- hacker stereotypes
- old commercials and childhood media references
- travel talk about European tour life
- food and restaurant recommendations
- jokes about pumpkins, websites, and random listener emails
“Good Things” Segment
The hosts close with positive updates:
- A Murderino-run virtual 5K raised over $3,000 for the Joyful Heart Foundation, which works to reduce the backlog of untested rape kits
- Karen recommends The Mind of a Chef, featuring David Chang and narrated by Anthony Bourdain
Follow-Up / Corrections Mentioned
In the rewind framing, the hosts note:
- The Golden State Killer has since been arrested and convicted, which makes the original episode feel even more historic
- A later episode includes a correction that Georgia used the term “transvestite” and clarifies that she should have used “transgender”
Why This Episode Stands Out
- It blends true crime history with real-world updates years later
- It highlights the emotional toll of unresolved cases on victims and families
- It shows how public fascination, investigative work, and media coverage can intersect
- It also demonstrates the show’s signature tone: serious crime discussion balanced with humor, friendship, and tangents that make the cases more human and memorable