The Alabama Axe Murders: Viola Hyatt

Tea Time Crimes

In the summer of 1959, a torso was discovered off Route 11 near Gadsden, Alabama. As investigators attempt to uncover the identity of the victim, they stumble upon one gruesome discovery after another. Ultimately, they are led to the Hyatt farm, where Martin Hyatt lives with his 30-year-old daughter, Viola. Join us as we dissect this curious and grisly case to understand if Viola Hyatt was to blame, or if there is more to the story than she is willing to tell.

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Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• Podcast mentioned: Southern Fried True Crime https://youtu.be/iCqX0EVZ3EU?si=FSKfFU8kHzKw9S0r
• https://www.al.com/news/2016/02/after_57_years_reporter_return.html
• https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/lib_ac_findaid/22/
• https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=lib_ac_alhist
• https://www.alabamaheritage.com/alabama-heritage-blog/al-women-who-kill-the-torso-slayer
• Viola - Short Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Pd4k6YztU
• The Birmingham News - 29 Jun 1959, Mon · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/574945304/
• The Birmingham News - 30 Jun 1959, Tue · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/574945393/
• The Birmingham News - 01 Jul 1959, Wed · Page 24 https://www.newspapers.com/image/574619270/
• The Montgomery Advertiser - 02 Jul 1959, Thu · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/257361929/
• The Birmingham News - 03 Jul 1959, Fri · Page 5 https://www.newspapers.com/image/574619568/
• The Montgomery Advertiser - 04 Jul 1959, Sat · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/257362060/
• The Birmingham News - 04 Jul 1959, Sat · Page 11 https://www.newspapers.com/image/574619669/
• Birmingham Post-Herald - 04 Jul 1959, Sat · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/793860676/
• The Birmingham News - 08 Jul 1959, Wed · Page 30 https://www.newspapers.com/image/574620344/
• The Decatur Daily - 09 Jul 1959, Thu · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/535519120/
• The Huntsville Times - 09 Jul 1959, Thu · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/555292654/
• The Birmingham News - 12 Jul 1959, Sun · Page 20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/574620814/
• The Birmingham News - 17 Jul 1959, Fri · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/978588526/
• Alabama Journal - 18 Jul 1959, Sat · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/458667542/
• The Andalusia Star-News - 23 Jul 1959, Thu · Page 12 https://www.newspapers.com/image/538061482/
• The Montgomery Advertiser - 01 Aug 1959, Sat · Page 8 https://www.newspapers.com/image/257561170/
• Birmingham Post-Herald - 14 Aug 1959, Fri · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/793848877/
• The Anniston Star - 15 Aug 1959, Sat · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/115790923/
• The Montgomery Advertiser - 13 Sep 1959, Sun · Page 6 https://www.newspapers.com/image/257297559/
• The Decatur Daily - 20 Sep 1959, Sun · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/535529672/
• Alabama Journal - 10 Feb 1960, Wed · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/458679190/
• The Troy Messenger - 14 Mar 1960, Mon · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/555280454/
• The Birmingham News - 15 Mar 1960, Tue · Page 24 https://www.newspapers.com/image/574724888/
• Birmingham Post-Herald - 15 Mar 1960, Tue · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/793670693/
• The Anniston Star - 28 Jun 1960, Tue · Page 3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/109624163/
• The Anniston Star - 18 Jul 1960, Mon · Page 6 https://www.newspapers.com/image/109618737/
• Alabama Journal - 03 May 1961, Wed · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/458766900/
• The Anniston Star - 14 Jan 2001, Sun · Page 29 https://www.newspapers.com/image/106696531/
• The Anniston Star - 18 Oct 2015, Sun · Page 29 https://www.newspapers.com/image/141775688/