Overview of Sword and Scale Episode 364
This episode recounts the murder of Sue Malden, a 65-year-old British expat widow in Fleming Island, Florida, whose disappearance in October 2019 initially looked like a missing-person case. The investigation quickly shifted toward her contractor, Corey Binderham, after friends revealed a long-running dispute over a bathroom remodel, missing money, and a growing list of suspicious excuses. What followed was a disturbing case of deception, drug abuse, and cover-up that ended with one of the first major FBI-assisted landfill searches for human remains.
What Happened
- Sue Malden lived alone, kept a small social circle through her “British Club,” and was known as a trusting, capable woman who liked gardening and quilts.
- She had hired Corey Binderham, a contractor she already knew, to remodel two bathrooms.
- Corey took a large amount of money up front—around $12,000—but kept stalling the job with excuses.
- Sue became increasingly frustrated and eventually told him she wanted her money back and was done dealing with him.
- After that conflict, Sue disappeared. Her house was clean and quiet, but investigators later found signs of a cleanup.
Key Evidence and Investigation
Initial clues
- Sue’s friends were the first to raise the alarm when they couldn’t reach her.
- Corey was identified early because he was the last known person to see her.
- He claimed he had gone to her house only to settle the dispute and refund part of the money.
What police found
- A tiny blood spot in the living room led to a much larger discovery after luminol revealed cleaned-up blood in multiple rooms.
- Detectives confirmed Corey’s truck had been at Sue’s house at the relevant time.
- A search of Corey’s storage unit resulted in a canine alert for decomposition near his tool bag.
- Security and purchase records showed Corey bought bags of concrete shortly after visiting Sue.
- Life360 data from Corey’s wife placed him near the Rosemary Landfill during a critical window.
- After Corey fled, investigators traced landfill loads to a second site in Georgia and launched a massive excavation.
Landfill recovery
- The search involved roughly 90 workers, FBI assistance, and days of digging through thousands of tons of waste.
- Investigators eventually found human remains, clothing, fingernails, and a tarp.
- Dental confirmation identified the remains as Sue Malden.
- The concrete bag serial numbers matched Corey’s receipts, tying the disposal effort directly to him.
Corey Binderham’s Background
The episode makes clear that Corey’s life was already unstable:
- He was a contractor, husband, and father who appeared friendly and easygoing.
- He had a history of violent crime as a teenager, when he was convicted for an armed attack on soldiers.
- He also had a prior cocaine addiction, had gone to rehab, and had apparently relapsed.
- As his drug use worsened, he became more erratic, short-tempered, and financially desperate.
Leanne’s Role
A major part of the episode comes from Leanne Locklear, Corey’s friend, coworker, and bartender acquaintance:
- She described Corey as likable, social, and someone people trusted easily.
- She worked jobs with him, saw him often, and noticed changes in his behavior around the time Sue vanished.
- Police used her to confront Corey indirectly about the concrete purchase.
- She later struggled with the realization that she had been riding in his truck shortly after he had likely dumped Sue’s body.
How Sue Was Killed
According to the investigation and autopsy:
- Corey attacked Sue in her home.
- He struck her in the back of the head with a tool, likely from his bag.
- He then strangled her to death.
- Afterward, he attempted a cleanup and staged the disposal of her body using concrete and landfill dumping.
Outcome
- Corey fled town after stealing a check from another client.
- He was eventually arrested in January 2020.
- At trial, the prosecution argued the murder was planned, motivated by money, and followed by a deliberate cover-up.
- Corey was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
- The episode notes that the case became notable as the first successful FBI-assisted landfill excavation to recover human remains in a murder investigation.
Main Takeaways
- Corey exploited Sue’s trust and treated her like a financial obstacle rather than a human being.
- The case shows how ordinary-looking people can hide serious violence behind charm and normalcy.
- Sue’s friends—especially the women in the British Club—were essential to the investigation because they preserved her concerns and kept pressure on police.
- The landfill recovery was a rare and landmark forensic effort, underscoring how determined investigators can still recover evidence even when a body is hidden in trash.
Notable Theme
The episode repeatedly returns to the idea that Corey’s problem was not just desperation, but character: when pressure mounted, he chose lies, drugs, theft, and murder over accountability. Sue, by contrast, is portrayed as trusting, persistent, and ultimately betrayed by someone she thought she knew.