The Delta Daughter and the Dark Deed: A Look at Matricide in "Deer Creek Drive"

In 1948 in Mississippi, socialite Ruth Dickins is convicted of savagely attacking her mother with gardening shears (150 stab wounds!) but makes an unfounded claim that a Black intruder is to blame. Despite inconsistencies in her story, she's sentenced to life, only to be released after 6 years. Joining us to dissect this case of matricide, race, and privilege is author Beverly Lowry, who explores the crime in her book, Deer Creek Drive: A Reckoning of Memory and Murder in the Mississippi Delta. Unpacking the murky details, we'll delve into the role of white privilege, media portrayals of women, and lingering questions that still haunt the South and our justice system. Be sure to purchase your copy of the book here.

You can listen to The Delta Daughter and the Dark Deed: A Look at Matricide in "Deer Creek Drive" online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

The Delta Daughter and the Dark Deed: A Look at Matricide in "Deer Creek Drive" is an episode from Missing Magnolias by Scarlett Davis.

This episode is 00:25:21 long.

This episode was published on Apr 17, 2024.

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