Behind Gray Walls

Behind Gray Walls

“Behind Gray Walls” is a podcast featuring stories from the men and women who lived and worked at the Old Idaho State Penitentiary. Each week, Anthony, Samuel, and Skye explore prisoners whose crimes led them to serve time at the "Old Pen." Their history is explored in depth and compared to corrections topics faced in communities today. To support this podcast, visit: https://history.idaho.gov/donate/donation-payment/

Author

Behind Gray Walls

Category

True Crime

Podcast website

soundcloud.com

Latest episode

Jun 6, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

Stool Pigeon Saturday - John Dinger on Unlawful Cohabitation 30.05.2020

Skye and Anthony sit down with Ada County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Historian, and Author John Dinger to discuss the crime of Unlawful Cohabitation that targeted members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints during the late 1800s.

EP 30 - Wilmbusse And Proud 26.05.2020

In the last episode of Season 3, Anthony and Skye talk about a man whose journey into hypnotism literally made him crazy #852 Henry Wilmbusse (Murder in the Second Degree) and a woman whose sister compared her to Jesus Christ (uhhh....okay....) #8760 Lena Pink Proud (Procurement for Abortion). Trigger Warnings include Gun violence, Suicide, and Abortion.

EP 29 - Arthur Mary Allen 19.05.2020

In this season’s couple’s episode, Anthony and Skye pick up where Anthony left off last week, finishing the story of Reuben Gardner’s accomplices and whole ham stealers #1186 Arthur Allen and #1187 Mary Allen (Burglary in the First Degree).

EP 28 - Gardner And Van Ostrand 12.05.2020

Skye and Anthony detail former Ohio prisoner turned Boise thief and dog abuser #1158 Reuben Gardner (Burglary) and bookkeeper juggling the accounts "to make ends meet," #7954 Norma Van Ostrand (Embezzlement). Order your copy of Numbered: Inside Idaho's Prison for Women, 1887-1968: https://store.history.idaho.gov/GeneralAdmission.aspx

Stool Pigeon Saturday - Jack Hourcade on William Dreyer 09.05.2020

Anthony sits down with Old Pen Tour Guide Extraordinaire Jack Hourcade who tells the story of William Dreyer who just couldn't stop himself from forging checks. Special thanks to Hidden Shelf Publishing for giving us permission to share quotes from Jerry Clapp's upcoming memoir! (https://hiddenshelfpublishinghouse.com/)

EP 27 - Pugmire And Samaniego 05.05.2020

Skye and Anthony detail a persistent parolee violator with a surprise crime spree #9216 & #10587 Virginia Lorene Pugmire (Forgery) and a truly nasty inmate who perhaps deserved what he got #8215 Roberto Samaneigo (Voluntary Manslaughter). Trigger Warning includes gun violence and violent murder.

Ep 26 - McLennan And Skinner 28.04.2020

Anthony and Skye explore the details of a pegged-leg Scotchman #3455 Kenneth McLennan (Murder in the 2nd Degree) and a forger who just couldn’t stay away from troubled men #8446 June Lavon Skinner (Forgery). Trigger Warning includes gun violence.

Stool Pigeon Saturday - Said Bowen On Ernesto Blanco 25.04.2020

In this episode of Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony sits down with Old Pen tour guide Said Bowen who tells one of his favorite stories from the prison cemetery.

EP 25 - Crawford And Penn 21.04.2020

Skye and Anthony parse out the details of a Frenchwomen missing a few teeth #636 Phedora Crawford (Assault with a Deadly Weapon) and a trumpet player with a rhyming name #1934 Ben(jamin) Penn (Assault with a Deadly Weapon); picture in place of Crawford’s mugshot is a photo of “The Remington Ferry docked on the Salmon River below White Bird, about 20 miles from Grangeville.” Found in the J.A. Hanso...

Stool Pigeon Saturday - Curtis Nixon 18.04.2020

In this episode of Stool Pigeon Saturday, Skye and Anthony interview Curtis Nixon, the grandson of this weeks feature #3498 Nathaniel Gardner. Curtis compares his own personal experience serving time in Idaho's prison system with his grandfather, who served time at the Old Idaho State Penitentiary.

EP 24 - Gardner And Fort 14.04.2020

Anthony and Skye dig into the stories of notorious saddle stealer #3498 Nathaniel Gardner (Grand Larceny) and the ex-wife who just wanted her money back #8407 Josephine Fort (Voluntary Manslaughter).

Stool Pigeon Saturday - Max Black On Diamondfield Jack 11.04.2020

In this episode of Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony sits down with former member of the Idaho House of Representatives and author Max Black, who dedicated years researching and writing his book Diamondfield: Finding the Real Jack Davis. Max reveals how he uncovered the story and all of the coincidences that dotted the way.

EP 23 - Mink And "Diamondfield" Jack Davis 07.04.2020

Skye and Anthony examine a tragedy survivor who crimed while high #11630 Phyllis Mae Mink (No Account Check) and one of the most infamous Idaho miners of all time #672 and #820 John “Diamondfield Jack” Davis (Murder in the First degree)

EP 22 - Poynter And Roach 31.03.2020

Anthony and Skye talk about a bootlegger who just can’t abide by the rules of Prohibition #3126 Henry Poynter and a Madame who lost the Burley Mayoral race #11861 Sarah Sue Roach

Stool Pigeon Saturday - Hayley Noble On Kenneth Hastings and the 7th Infantry Division 28.03.2020

In this week's Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony sits down with Hayley Noble to discuss Kenneth Hastings' role as a Staff Sergeant in the 7th Infantry Division of the United States Army during WWII, and what role it may have played in his post-war criminal career.

EP 21 - Phillips And Hastings 24.03.2020

On the first episode of season 3 (woo!), Skye and Anthony discuss the teenager who did “something about the old man” #6325 Flossie Phillips and an inmate haunted by the ghost of his past #8330 Kenneth Raymond Hastings

Season 3 Teaser 21.03.2020

We have something to mark on your open calendars! Season 3 starts TUESDAY March 24th! Let's get through our Covid-19 quarantine's together because as William Owen states - "Without friends, the world doesn't turn very fast for you."

Season 2 Interim 19.02.2020

Thank you all for listening to season 2! Mark your calendars, season 3 will drop on March 24, 2020! We will be doing our first LIVE recording during Treefort Music Festival at the Storyfort stage on March 26, 2020 at 9:00pm! Did we mention that it's FREE! Come say hello! Oral history with former correctional officer Chet Stinnett, July 20, 1992 (Idaho State Archives).

EP 20 - Van Vlack And Laherty 07.01.2020

In the Season 2 Finale, Anthony and Skye discuss the Triple Murderer who refused to hang #5264 Douglas Van Vlack (Murder in the 1st Degree), and the Youngest Horse-Thief #901 Ida Laherty (Grand Larceny). Trigger Warnings include murder, gun violence.

EP 19 - J. M. And Rebecca Chacon 31.12.2019

On the couples episode of the season, Anthony and Skye discuss some Pocatello partiers who got a bit out of control #3043 and #3044 J. M. and Rebecca Chacon (Murder in the 1st Degree and Murder in the 2nd Degree). Trigger Warnings include gun violence.

Stool Pigeon Saturday - Suzanne Squires On James Whitaker 28.12.2019

On today's Stool Pigeon Saturday, we bring our Education Specialist Suzanne Squires back to the studio to discuss our second youngest inmate, #1949 James Whitaker (Murder in the 2nd Degree), to round out our last episode with Bernard "Barney" O'Neil. Please, just help your mom with laundry when she asks you to. Trigger warnings include gun violence.

EP 18 - Bryson And O'Neil 24.12.2019

Skye and Anthony cover The Ultimate Shopper #7121 Barbara Bryson (Grand Larceny) and a man whose life may have been a comic book villain origin story #2064 Bernard "Barney" O'Neil (Making a False Report). Special thank you to Anthony's wife Rebecca and the Old Pen Staff for singing a 1910 political rally song!

Stool Pigeon Saturday - Investigator Matt Gambill 21.12.2019

Anthony interviews Matt Gambill who has worked as a correctional officer, a probation officer and an investigator with the special investigations unit at the Idaho Department of Corrections. Take a look at IDOC's Most Wanted (https://www.idoc.idaho.gov/content/probation_and_parole/fugitive_recovery/most_wanted)

EP 17 - Watson And Stanfield 17.12.2019

Anthony and Skye dig into the stories of Canadian Drunk Burglar Turned Enthusiastic Traveling Evangelist #3018 Ray Watson (Robbery) and the first Woman to Spend Time in Prison for Cheating on Her Husband in Idaho #1482 Cora Stanfield (Adultery)

EP 16 - Gordon And Erard 10.12.2019

Skye and Anthony discuss Bad Mother and Forger who can't remember her own husband's name #4321 June Gordon and our very favorite Chapel Jesus Painter #7018 James "Blue Eagle" Erard

Listen to the Behind Gray Walls podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.