Latest / Murder Files Unsealed / The Murder of Realtor Karen Liner
Transcript
- 0:00Speaker 1: Welcome back, everyone, Ready for another deep dive always This
- 0:04one's well, it's a tough one. It's the story of
- 0:07Karen Liiner, a realtor from Tennessee. She was found dead
- 0:11last week.
- 0:11Speaker 2: Yeah, I've been following this case. It's tragic, and the
- 0:15fact that her ex husband, Craig Liner, is the prime
- 0:18suspect just makes it even more disturbing, you.
- 0:20Speaker 1: Know, exactly. It's like something out of a movie, you
- 0:22know what I mean. You see this woman, successful realtor,
- 0:25dedicated to her community, and it all gets shattered.
- 0:28Speaker 2: It really makes you wonder what could lead to something
- 0:31like this, what goes on behind closed doors?
- 0:33Speaker 1: And that's why we're here, right to dig into the details,
- 0:36trying to make sense of it.
- 0:37Speaker 2: All exactly, to piece together the puzzle.
- 0:39Speaker 1: So for this deep dive, I've been pouring over everything
- 0:42I could find, news reports, court documents, even Karen's online bio.
- 0:47I mean, I had to try and understand who she was.
- 0:49Speaker 2: It's important to get a full picture, right, not just
- 0:51focus on the crime itself.
- 0:53Speaker 1: Right, And what's striking is the contrast, I mean her bio.
- 0:57It paints this picture of someone so full of life
- 1:00in her community. Twenty years as a registered nurse. Then
- 1:03she jumps into real estate, serving on all these local boards,
- 1:06volunteering her time.
- 1:08Speaker 2: A nursing background. That's interesting, speaks to a certain kind
- 1:11of personality, doesn't it. Caring, compassionate, someone who wants to
- 1:15help others.
- 1:15Speaker 1: Yeah, and it sounds like she carried that over into
- 1:17her work as a real heer too, helping families find
- 1:20their dream homes. It's just it makes this whole thing
- 1:24even more heartbreaking.
- 1:25Speaker 2: You know, you can just imagine the impact her losses
- 1:28having on everyone who knew her. It's got to be devastating.
- 1:32Speaker 1: Absolutely. And then you add in the divorce Karen and
- 1:34Craig they were married for twenty three years, divorce just
- 1:37a few months before all this happened September twenty twenty four.
- 1:40Speaker 2: Yeah, I saw that in the reports. Makes you wonder
- 1:42if was there something something more going on there?
- 1:45Speaker 1: That's what I was trying to figure out. The initial
- 1:46divorce filings they mentioned Craig accusing Karen of get this,
- 1:51inappropriate marital conduct.
- 1:53Speaker 2: Inappropriate marital conduct, that's a loaded term.
- 1:56Speaker 1: Right, But then the final decree it just says irreconciled
- 2:00differences like they were trying to sweep something under the rug.
- 2:03Speaker 2: Could be or maybe they were trying to make things
- 2:05more amicable, you know, for appearances, or maybe even for
- 2:09their own peace of mind.
- 2:10Speaker 1: Yeah, maybe, But whatever happened between them, it obviously didn't
- 2:14end there. We have that nine to one to one call,
- 2:17Karen pleading with Craig to stop. Then gunshots.
- 2:20Speaker 2: Chilling, absolutely chilling. That call is going to be key
- 2:23evidence for the prosecution for sure.
- 2:25Speaker 1: And there's this one detail that really stuck with me.
- 2:28The report mentions another gun shot like a minute after
- 2:31Karen goes silent.
- 2:32Speaker 2: Oh wow, I didn't catch that.
- 2:34Speaker 1: Yeah, it's buried in there. What do you make of that?
- 2:36Speaker 2: Well, it's hard to say for sure without more context.
- 2:41Could be a lot of things, a final act of
- 2:43aggression maybe, or maybe even you know, something else entirely
- 2:47a desperate act. We might never know for sure, but
- 2:50the investigators are definitely looking into it.
- 2:52Speaker 1: Yeah, It's one of those details that just hangs there.
- 2:54And then things get even weirder. After the shooting, Craig
- 2:57shows up at some random house.
- 2:58Speaker 2: On Bluff Drive. What was he doing there?
- 3:01Speaker 1: He confesses to the homeowner, says, it's done. I killed her.
- 3:07Even points out the murder weapon, a point forty caliber pistol.
- 3:10Speaker 2: Wow, just straight up confesses. What was the homeowner's reaction?
- 3:14Speaker 1: Can you believe this? The guy actually takes the gun
- 3:16out of his house puts it outside. I guess he
- 3:19was just freaked out, you know.
- 3:20Speaker 2: Yeah, I can't imagine being in that situation. Someone shows
- 3:24up at your door and confesses to murder. Your first
- 3:26thought wouldn't be let's keep this murder weapon nice and safe.
- 3:29Speaker 1: Inside, right, But it actually might have helped the police.
- 3:33They used footage from a neighbor's security camera to track
- 3:36Craig down and they arrested him at his place in
- 3:39Bentley Park.
- 3:40Speaker 2: So they got him pretty quickly then.
- 3:41Speaker 1: Yeah, and now he's facing charges of first degree murder
- 3:44and felony murder. They're holding him without bond.
- 3:47Speaker 2: Without bond that's not a good sign for him. Shows
- 3:50the judge thinks he's a flight risk or a danger
- 3:52to the community. They're not taking any chances.
- 3:55Speaker 1: And on top of all that, there's this other layer
- 3:57to the story, something from Craig's pass In twenty sixteen,
- 4:01his parents were found dead in their home.
- 4:03Speaker 2: Oh yeah, I remember reading about that. Wasn't it a
- 4:05murder suicide.
- 4:06Speaker 1: That's what the police initially thought. Yeah, they both had
- 4:08health problems, but the details are kind.
- 4:10Speaker 2: Of murky, and Craig was the one who found them.
- 4:12Speaker 1: Yeah, imagine going through something like that, finding your own parents.
- 4:16It's got to leave a mark, you.
- 4:18Speaker 2: Know, Absolutely, trauma like that it can have a lasting impact.
- 4:22Who knows how it might have shaped him his actions
- 4:26years later.
- 4:27Speaker 1: It's a lot to unpack, right, and we're just getting started.
- 4:29Speaker 2: Yeah, this is a deep dive, all right. A lot
- 4:31of layers to this story.
- 4:33Speaker 1: You know, it's easy to get lost on all these
- 4:34twists and turns, but we can't forget the human side
- 4:37of this story.
- 4:38Speaker 2: Right. There's a community grieving here, Karen's friends, family, colleagues.
- 4:43It's a real loss for.
- 4:44Speaker 1: Them, and this whole thing it just brings up so
- 4:46many questions, you know, about domestic violence, about mental health,
- 4:51what could have been done differently?
- 4:53Speaker 2: You're right. It really forces us to confront these uncomfortable
- 4:56truths about our society, and it makes you wonder, what
- 4:59are the WORL learning signs? What can we do to
- 5:02prevent tragedies like this?
- 5:04Speaker 1: Yeah? Exactly, Like, what should people be looking out for?
- 5:07What are the red flats?
- 5:08Speaker 2: Well, when it comes to domestic violence, the signs aren't
- 5:12always obvious. I mean, it could be something subtle, like
- 5:15a change in someone's personality. Maybe they've become withdrawn, anxious.
- 5:20Speaker 1: Or maybe they have unexplained injuries, or they're always getting
- 5:23into arguments exactly.
- 5:25Speaker 2: Those are definitely things to watch out for, And of
- 5:27course there are the more classic signs jealousy, controlling behavior,
- 5:32isolating someone from their friends and family.
- 5:34Speaker 1: So let's say you notice these signs in someone you know,
- 5:38what do you do?
- 5:39Speaker 2: Well? The first thing is to just reach out, let
- 5:41that person know you're there for them. Sometimes just having
- 5:43someone to talk to you can make a huge difference.
- 5:45Speaker 1: But what if they're not ready to talk, or what
- 5:48if the situation seems dangerous.
- 5:50Speaker 2: That's a tough one. You have to remember that you're
- 5:53not a therapist. You can't try to fix the situation yourself,
- 5:57especially if it could put you or the other person
- 5:59at risk.
- 6:00Speaker 1: It's the best course of action.
- 6:01Speaker 2: Encourage them to seek professional help, therapy, counseling, maybe even
- 6:06contact a domestic violence hotline.
- 6:08Speaker 1: That's a good point. Are there any specific resources you
- 6:11could share for people who might be experiencing abuse or
- 6:14who are worried about someone else.
- 6:16Speaker 2: Definitely, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is a great resource.
- 6:20They offer confidential support twenty four to seven. They can
- 6:23connect people with local shelters, counseling services, legal advocacy.
- 6:27Speaker 1: I'm writing this down. This is important information.
- 6:29Speaker 2: Yep. It's one eight hundred seven ninety nine AFE and
- 6:34their website is the Hotline dot org. They have a
- 6:37ton of information online and they even offer confidential chat support.
- 6:41Speaker 1: That's good to know. It's so important to make sure
- 6:43people know they're not alone. There is help out there.
- 6:45But let's circle back to the case. What are some
- 6:47of the key questions investigators will be focusing on as
- 6:50they build their case.
- 6:51Speaker 2: Well, I'm sure they're trying to figure out if there
- 6:53were any clear warning signs. Did anyone notice any changes
- 6:56in Craig's behavior, Were there any previous incidents of domestic
- 7:00violence things like that.
- 7:02Speaker 1: Yeah, I was thinking about that too, Like did anyone
- 7:04try to intervene? Was there something more that could have
- 7:06been done?
- 7:06Speaker 2: It's hard to say without knowing all the details, but
- 7:09it's definitely something the investigators will be looking into. They'll
- 7:12also be digging into the circumstances of the divorce, What
- 7:16exactly were those inappropriate marital conduct accusations about? And was
- 7:22there any ongoing conflict between Karen and Craig.
- 7:24Speaker 1: And of course there's a whole issue with Craig's parents' death.
- 7:28Will they ever be able to say for sure if
- 7:30it was a murder suicide? And if so, could that
- 7:33have influenced Craig's actions years later?
- 7:36Speaker 2: Those are the million dollar questions, right The impact of trauma,
- 7:39it's not always straightforward. It can manifest in so many
- 7:41different ways, but it's definitely something they'll be exploring.
- 7:44Speaker 1: It's just it's mind moggeling to think about, you know,
- 7:47the lasting effects of something so traumatic.
- 7:49Speaker 2: Absolutely, trauma can change a person sometimes in ways we
- 7:52can't even imagine, and they can stay with them for years,
- 7:55even decades.
- 7:56Speaker 1: It makes you wonder about the bigger picture here, like
- 7:59are we doing enough to address mental health issues in
- 8:01our society? Are we providing enough support for people who
- 8:04are struggling?
- 8:05Speaker 2: You know, that's a conversation we need to be having
- 8:08more open, more honest, because mental health is just as
- 8:11important as physical health.
- 8:13Speaker 1: I completely agree, it's not something to be ashamed of.
- 8:15Speaker 2: Right, We need to create a culture where it's okay
- 8:19to ask for help, where people feel safe talking about
- 8:21their struggles, and.
- 8:22Speaker 1: Where they can get the help they need before something
- 8:24like this happens. Because this isn't just a story about
- 8:27a crime. It's a story about people, about relationships, about
- 8:31the choices we make, and it's a reminder that we
- 8:34all need to be more aware, more compassionate, more willing
- 8:38to lend a hand.
- 8:39Speaker 2: Well said, this case, it's a tragedy on so many levels,
- 8:44and it really highlights the interconnectedness of everything, the ripple effects,
- 8:48how one event, one choice can have such far reaching consequences.
- 8:53Speaker 1: It's hard to shake that feeling. You know, all the
- 8:55what ifs, I know what you mean, What if someone
- 8:58had seen the signs? What if Craig had gotten help?
- 9:00Speaker 2: Yeah, what if things that had been different during the divorce.
- 9:03It's easy to get caught up in those thoughts.
- 9:05Speaker 1: It's like you want to go back and change things,
- 9:07but you can't.
- 9:08Speaker 2: We can't change the past, but we can learn from it. Right.
- 9:12This whole case, it just underscores how important it is
- 9:15to pay attention to the people around us, to the
- 9:18subtle cues to.
- 9:19Speaker 1: Reach out, even when it's uncomfortable.
- 9:21Speaker 2: Exactly, and to create a culture where it's okay to
- 9:24not be okay, you know, where people feel supported, where
- 9:28they feel like they can ask for help without judgment.
- 9:31Speaker 1: Yeah, And I keep thinking about Karen's family, her friends.
- 9:34They're the ones going through this unimaginable loss on top
- 9:37of everything else.
- 9:39Speaker 2: It's true, they're the ones who have to pick up
- 9:41the pieces. And it's not just them either. This ripples
- 9:44out to colleagues, neighbors, the whole community.
- 9:48Speaker 1: It's a lot to process, it is, And as we
- 9:50wrap up, I guess I just keep coming back to
- 9:52the fact that there are still so many unanswered questions, right, and.
- 9:55Speaker 2: Some of them we may never get answers to.
- 9:58Speaker 1: The legal process is just starting. But the truth of
- 10:01what happened between Karen and Craig, well we may never
- 10:04fully know that's true.
- 10:06Speaker 2: But even without all the answers, we can still use
- 10:09this case as a starting point, right, a way to
- 10:12spark these conversations, to raise awareness about domestic violence, about mental.
- 10:16Speaker 1: Health, to try and prevent this from happening again.
- 10:18Speaker 2: Exactly, because even when life's saved, that's a victory.
- 10:23Speaker 1: Okay. So on a personal level, where do we even begin.
- 10:27What can each of us actually do to make a difference.
- 10:30Speaker 2: Well, it starts with small steps, educating ourselves, learning the
- 10:34signs of domestic violence, understanding mental health issues.
- 10:37Speaker 1: Being more present, more aware of what's going on around us.
- 10:40Speaker 2: Yeah, being a supportive listener, challenging harmful stereotypes, promoting healthy relationships,
- 10:46and speaking up when something doesn't feel right.
- 10:48Speaker 1: It's about building a more compassionate community, really.
- 10:51Speaker 2: Exactly, a community where people feel safe, where they feel supported.
- 10:54Speaker 1: Well, this has been a tough deep dive for sharing,
- 10:58but an important one. I think it's it's a good
- 11:00reminder that we all need to be more aware, more understanding,
- 11:03more willing to reach out and help.
- 11:06Speaker 2: I agree, because at the end of the day, we're
- 11:08all connected, right, Yeah, what affects one of us affects
- 11:11us all.
- 11:11Speaker 1: And for anyone out there who might be struggling with
- 11:13domestic violence or knows someone who is, remember there is
- 11:17help available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is one eight
- 11:21hundred seventy nine to nine safe or visit the hotline
- 11:25dot org. You are not alone.
- 11:28Speaker 2: Let's honor Karen's memory by taking action by building a
- 11:31world where violence and tragedy are less frequent and where
- 11:34compassion and support are the norm.
- 11:36Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us for this deep dive. Let's
- 11:38keep these conversations going and let's all try to make
- 11:40a difference, even in small ways.
- 11:42Speaker 2: Absolutely every little bit helps