There are no witnesses, no fingerprints, and no confession to the 1992 deaths of Tommy Griffin and his sister, Connie Branam in East Tennessee.
There are, however, four alleged and un-investigated alternate suspects, six alibi witnesses, a disgraced medical examiner, a nearly impossible timeline, a bad search warrant, and a man named Gary Sutton sitting on Death Row. Did the state damn the wrong man to die?
Host Beth Braden examines the Sevier County trial's third part, dissecting witness testimony about Gary's Camaro and its impact on the defense's credibility.
11 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
15. No Evidence: The Sevier County Trial Part 2
Host Beth Braden interviews forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Bass about the Sevier County trial and the evidence surrounding Connie Branam's death.
28 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT
14. I Didn't Say That: The Sevier County Trial Part 1
Host Beth Braden interviews legal experts about the Sevier County Trial, uncovering shifting witness testimonies and the complex background of Dr. Mark Fowler, the physician overseeing executions.
17 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT
13. Pulled Rugs and Last Minute Revisions
Host Beth Braden explores the complex legal battles surrounding death row inmates Gary Wayne Sutton and James Dellinger, revealing crucial details about past events and ongoing appeals.
30 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
12. (Alleged) Alt Suspects and Rabbit Holes Part 3
Host Beth Braden interviews Bill Cogdill about alleged alternate suspect details and a former execution team member's letter to Governor Bill Lee.
17 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
11. (Alleged) Alternate Suspects and Rabbit Holes Part 2
Host Beth Braden interviews listeners about alleged alternate suspects and rabbit holes surrounding Connie Branam and Tommy Griffin's deaths, uncovering new details about their witness status.
3 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
10. (Alleged) Alternate Suspects and Rabbit Holes - Part 1
Host Beth Braden investigates overlooked alternate suspects in Gary Sutton's homicide trials, exploring potential rabbit holes and offering updates on related legal and political developments.
19 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT
9. The Race Was On
Host Beth Braden explores Christa Pike's Supreme Court plea and Governor Mike DeWine's call to abolish the death penalty, revealing the complex legal and emotional landscape surrounding capital punishment.
5 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT
8. No Turning Back
Host Beth Braden investigates the arrest of Gary and James Dellinger for Connie Branam's death after her car is found near Wears Valley.
29 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
7. The Space Between
Chief Detective Dale Gourley discusses Tommy Griffin's death and Connie Branam's disappearance while Gary Sutton faces mounting suspicion in this interview episode.
22 May 2026
6. The Discovery
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay in Gary Sutton's intellectual disability hearing, and Governor Bill Lee has granted Tony Caruthers a temporary reprieve from execution following a failed execution attempt on 5/21/26. Then, we go back in time to some very interesting details about what Tommy Griffin didn't have with him when he was found in Walland on February 24, 1992. ACLU Files Lawsuit Bill Lee Tuesday Statement Riverbend Maximum Security Institution Bill Lee / Tennessee Department of Corrections Thursday Statement Witnesses Speak after Failed Execution Tennessean report on the failed execution Commercial Appeal report on the failed execution Buy Beth a Coffee Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform. Beth Braden: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Time of Death Podcast: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Find us at www.timeofdeathpod.com
14 May 2026
5. Another Saturday Night
Connie Branam sat up nearly all night after her brother's trailer burned to the ground on February 21, 1992. On February 22, she began looking for him, and she ended up back at Howie's Hideaway in Maryville with Gary Sutton and James Dellinger. Episode Links ☕Buy Beth a Coffee 📰 WBIR - James Dellinger Dies in Prison 🧑⚖️ Tennessee Supreme Court Order for Gary Sutton's Execution 💉 Tennessee's Lethal Injection Protocol Manual ⏳ Timeline of Events at the Time of Death Podcast Website Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform. Beth Braden: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Time of Death Podcast: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Find us at www.timeofdeathpod.com
8 May 2026
4. Diverging Timelines
Alcoa, Tennessee, police officers find Tommy Griffin shirtless and beaten on the night of February 21, 1992, and arrest him for public intoxication. The state's theory of the case diverges as it maintains that it was Gary and James who beat Tommy that night while Gary and James say they were already back home in the holler. Episode Links 🎧 True Crimecast Episode on Gary Sutton 📰 WSMV Article about Tony Caruthers 🖋️ Petition for Tennessee's Governor Bill Lee to review Gary Sutton's case ⏳ Timeline of Events at the Time of Death Podcast Website 🌍 Google Map of Places of Note - Including the changes to Alcoa Highway 🎥 Beth, Carolyn, and Amy go to Bluff Heights Road (https://youtu.be/ObkAW9cokCU) ☕Buy Beth a Coffee Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform. Beth Braden: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Time of Death Podcast: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Find us at www.timeofdeathpod.com
1 May 2026
3. Finally Friday
With seven criminal charges dismissed, Gary Sutton's weekend was looking up, and he had a full day to hang around with his best friend, Tommy Griffin, and his Uncle James Dellinger. Before midnight, Tommy would be in jail and his trailer would be a smoldering heap. Episode Links ❓Beth questions trailer fire investigation 🔎 Wondering what it takes to investigate a decades old case? ☕Buy Beth a Coffee Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform. Beth Braden: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Time of Death Podcast: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Find us at www.timeofdeathpod.com
1 May 2026
2. The Bells that Tolled Before
Things were tense in the holler on Bluff Heights in the months leading up to the death of Tommy Griffin and Connie Branum, but Gary Sutton finally got some good news. 📱 Text or call 988 if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts - 988lifeline.org 📸 Beth pays her respects at Martin Justus Cemetery 📃 Atkins v. Virginia overview & opinions - Justia 🗞️ "Nashville DA says death row inmate should not face execution due to intellectual disability" - The Tennessean, March 11, 2022 ☕Buy Beth a Coffee Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform. Beth Braden: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Time of Death Podcast: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Find us at www.timeofdeathpod.com
30 Apr 2026
1. One Weekend in February
Gary Wayne Sutton has been in prison for 34 years. He's spent 30 of them on death row. The State of Tennessee is scheduled to execute him on December 3, 2026….but was his guilt proven beyond a reasonable doubt? Episode Links 📸 Photo of Carolyn & Gary from 1993 🗞️ "4 Tennessee death row inmates scheduled for execution in 2026" - WJHL, Jan 16, 2026 📸 One of Beth's many visits to Sevier County's archives 🎤 Dolly Parton's America Podcast ☕Buy Beth a Coffee (https://buymeacoffee.com/gg1prc3lsl) Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform. Beth Braden: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Time of Death Podcast: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok Find us at www.timeofdeathpod.com
Inside a recent episode
16. One Headlight: The Sevier County Trial Part 3
Published 18 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Prosecution versus defense, law enforcement versus civilian, and testimony about Tommy's death, Connie's death, or both deaths. Check the link in the description. I made y'all a chart so you could see the breakdown in case it gets hard to track which witness testified for what. I also think it's important to visualize just how much of the trial focused specifically on Tommy's death and the burning of his trailer versus Connie's death. The prosecution called five law enforcement witnesses to testify regarding Connie. They were Larry McMahon from the Sevier County Sheriff's Office, David Davenport from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, David Carman, also from TBI, Gary Clabo, the state arson investigator, and Sevier County Sheriff's Deputy John Brown. […]
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