Arrest Made in 1990s Murder Case Featured in True Crime Podcast Burden

After more than three decades, an arrest has been made in the 1991 killing of Billie Jean Letterman, a case that was the focus of the true crime podcast Burden.

The suspect, Michael Wayne Letterman, Billie Jean’s husband at the time of her death, was arrested yesterday (Wednesday, October 15) and charged in connection to her murder. The case, which occurred in Texarkana, Arkansas, has long haunted the community and those who knew Billie Jean.

The Burden podcast, produced by long-time journalist Karen Steward, reexamined the case through in-depth reporting and interviews with family members, law enforcement, legal experts, forensic analysts, and others connected to the story. The series shed light on unanswered questions and brought renewed attention to the case. It included interviews with Billie Jean’s daughter, Ashly, who was six years old and in the house the night her mother died.

“Billie Jean’s daughter has carried this fight for decades. Her persistence, courage, and love for her mother made this moment possible,” said Steward. “Podcasting has become one of the most powerful tools in modern storytelling — not just to entertain, but to seek truth. When journalists and ordinary citizens take the time to reexamine forgotten cases, it can lead to real-world accountability. In Billie Jean’s case, it shows what can happen when people refuse to stop asking questions.”

Since its release, Burden has been praised for its compassionate storytelling and its focus on victims and accountability rather than sensationalism. The podcast explored how one man’s violence — left unchecked — continued to affect countless lives over the years.

Burden is produced by the Arkansas-based podcast production company Power of Pod and co-hosted by Steward and attorney Stephanie Harris.