The Shocking Murder of Terry King (Part 1)

Dec 29, 2025

A shocking murder unfolds as firefighters discover Terry King's body in his burned house, initially thought to be a fire casualty. As investigators dig deeper, they uncover severe head trauma and the chilling disappearance of his two sons, Derek and Alex. Convoluted family dynamics and a troubling relationship with Ricky emerge, casting doubts on the boys' innocence. The case intertwines heartbreak with sinister implications, raising questions about abuse and possible motives. Tension builds as the hosts leave listeners eager for the next part of this gripping story.

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ANECDOTE

Body Found In Staged House Fire

Firefighters found Terry King seated in an armchair with a coffee cup, appearing peaceful despite the blaze.
A fist-sized hole in his forehead and dried blood revealed he was murdered before the fire was set.

INSIGHT

Friend Becomes Primary Person Of Interest

Ricky Chavis repeatedly appears in early reports and pushes the narrative that Terry abused his sons.
His odd behavior and premature knowledge of scene details immediately raise Detective Sanderson's suspicions.

ANECDOTE

Grandfather Reports Suspicious Call

Jimmy Walker, the boys' step-grandfather, said Ricky called him and claimed to have been at the scene and even seen the body.
Detective Sanderson recognized that claim as a lie and flagged Ricky's account in the report.

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When firefighters discovered the body of forty-year-old Terry King inside the charred remains of his Cantonment, Florida home in November 2001, they assumed the man had been asleep when the fire broke out and died as a result. Upon further inspection, investigators found that King hadn’t died as a result of the fire, but from severe blunt force trauma to his head. And even more alarming than that was the fact that King’s two boys, thirteen-year-old Derek and twelve-year-old Alex, were missing.

Having occurred immediately in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Terry King’s murder could have easily been one of many tragedies lost in the fog of national trauma and grief; however, when King’s killers were arrested and identified in the days that followed, the story was so shocking, and the motive so heartbreaking, that it managed to break through the wall-to-wall coverage of the attacks.

References

Associated Press. 2002. "Convicted molester denies urging boys to kill dad." Miami Herald , February 1: 33.

—. 2002. "Convicted child molester accused of writing love letter to boy in jail." Miami Herald, April 4: 363.

—. 2001. "Grandmother: Boys couldn't have killed dad." Miami Herald, November 29: 438.

Canedy, Dana. 2002. "Judge throws out brothers' murder conviction." New York Times, October 18.

—. 2002. "Reject sympathy, jury is told in boys' trial." New York Times, September 6.

CBS News. 2002. Man gets 30 years in killer boys case. November 7. Accessed December 9, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-gets-30-years-in-killer-boys-case/.

Clark, Lesley. 2001. "Boys accused of bluedgeoning father, setting home on fire." Miami Herald, December 4: 1.

Gomez, Alan. 2002. "Boys take stand against friend." Pensacola News Journal, August 28: 1.

—. 2002. "Chavis judge denies request for acquittal." Pensacola News Journal, August 29: 1.

Graybiel, Ginny. 2002. "Slaying suspect vows he could hurt no one." Pensacola News Journal, August 4: 1.

Kaczor, Bill. 2002. "Sons change story, still to be tried for murder." Miami Herald, August 25: 970.

Keith Morrison. 2009. Second chances. September 7. Accessed December 6, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32664652.

2003. American Justice: Blood Brothers. Performed by Bill Kurtis.

Midico, Kathryn, and Mollye Barrows. 2004. A Perversion of Justice: A Southern Tragedy of Murder, Lies, and Innocence Betrayed. New York, NY: Avon .

New York Times. 2002. "Boy, 13, testifies he and brother didn't kill their father." New York Times, September 5.

Scandlen, Monica. 2002. "Testimonies quiet, simple." Pensacola News Journal, August 28: 1.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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