Southern Mysteries Classics The Cult of the Unknown Tongues

This Southern Mysteries Classic revisits a chilling historical true crime case from the Kentucky mountains. In February 1933, a church service ended with the death of 72-year-old Lucinda Mills. Nine of her relatives were jailed and accused of murder, while the national press labeled the case a human sacrifice. Decades later, the question remains: what really happened inside that cabin?

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Episode Sources

• Laben T. Mills Obituary. Big Sandy News. July 31,1914
• Lucinda Ward Mills. Find A Grave. [Lucinda’s age listed as 65 here but based off of census records she was believed to have been 72] 
• Burning of Body on Altar Halted by Inez Police. The Owensboro Inquirer. February 9, 1933 
• Cult Victim Held Willing Sacrifice. The Courier-Journal. February 10, 1933
• Insanity Plea Planned in Cult Slaying Case. The Courier-Journal. February 11, 1933
• Bare Details of ‘Sacrifice’ Death Scene. Indianpolis Times. February 11, 1933
• Mills Held Without Bond for Slaying Mother in Cult ‘Sacrifice’. The Lexington Herald. February 12, 1933
• Nine Relatives of Cult Victim Are Indicted. The Owensboro Messenger. April 5, 1933
• Insanity Held Slaying Cause. The Courier-Journal. April 7, 1933
• Two Relative Freed In Cult Slaying Trial. The Lexington Leader. April 9, 1933
• Prosecutor Contends Slayers of Mrs Mills Cold Blooded Murderers. The Courier-Journal. April 10, 1933
• Mills Kneeling on Mother’s Body Fought Deputies. The Owensboro Inquirer. April 11, 1933
• Cult Case Goes to Jury. The Courier Journal. April 12, 1933
• Cult Leader Is Given Life Term for Matricide. The Courier-Journal. April 12, 1933
• Blaine McGinnis is Given Pardon. Lexington Herald-Leader. November 3, 1933
• Odd Fellows Have Skeletons in Their Closets--and Their Walls and Attics. Los Angeles Times. April 2001.

Episode Music

Out of the Mines, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina.