Does Netflix have one other Tiger King sensation on its fingers with The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga? We’ll discover out quickly sufficient when the three-part docuseries arrives on the streamer on Wednesday (December 11), however from every little thing we’ve seen thus far, it’s definitely one other wild, wild addition to the “fact is stranger than fiction” collective.
The logline for the sequence teases, “A small-town feud, an web conspiracy, and an assassination try on the president. Welcome to Mississippi the place this jaw-dropping story spirals from native drama to a nationwide scandal. Buckle up for a wild trip. This isn’t fiction — it’s Tupelo.”
So who’re the most important gamers concerned on this scandal? Right here’s a take a look at what we all know concerning the folks concerned.
James Everett Dutschke
Nicknamed “Douchebag” by at the very least one interviewee featured within the present’s trailer, Tupelo native James Everett Dutschke was sentenced to 25 years in jail after sending a ricin-laced letter to then-President Barack Obama — together with Senator Roger Wicker and Decide Sadie Holland — in 2013. The letters had been mailed from Memphis, Tennessee. After one other suspect was freed for lack of proof, Dutschke’s residence in Tupelo, Mississippi, was searched within the investigation, which finally led to his indictment and conviction.
In 2013, shortly after his arrest, CNN printed a profile of the suspect from interviews along with his neighbors, which revealed that he was accused of sexually abusing younger women at his martial arts studio and “terrorizing” his neighborhood. Dutschke additionally labored for an insurance coverage firm owned by Jack Curtis (whose brother he’d later body for the crime) and ran for state home — dropping to a person whose mom was the decide he’d later ship ricin to. He was described by neighbors as sensible and reportedly carried round a Mensa membership card to indicate off to folks.
After pleading responsible to the federal expenses in opposition to him, he recanted his plea at sentencing and argued that Paul Kevin Curtis was the actual perpetrator, providing to sprinkle the contents of the ricin letters on a peanut butter sandwich and eat it to show his innocence. Nonetheless, his conviction stood — which additionally resolved his separate indictment for hiring somebody to ship ricin to Wicker from jail to cowl his tracks — and he was despatched to jail. He was later sentenced to twenty years for the molestation expenses and needed to register as a intercourse offender.
Paul Kevin Curtis
Earlier than Dutschke was arrested for the ricin-poisoned letters, he allegedly tried to border Paul Kevin Curtis from Corinth, Mississippi. Curtis was an Elvis impersonator since 1982 who was initially arrested for the letters however was launched after searches of his residence and car revealed no hint of the poison. He then advised press, “I believed they mentioned rice and I mentioned I don’t even eat rice. I respect President Obama. I really like my nation and would by no means do something to pose a risk to him or another U.S. official.”
Nonetheless, Curtis had his personal set of eccentricities to talk of. He was acquainted to Senator Wicker, whom he’d despatched a few of his written claims that he’d seen black-market physique components in a hospital freezer and even wrote a e book about it. A Clarion-Ledger reporter who spoke with the native sheriff after his arrest reported that Curtis had a legal historical past of assault, phone harassment, and stalking. He was additionally identified for sharing conspiracy theories on social media with the sign-off, “That is Kevin Curtis & I approve this message,” which was later emulated within the ricin letters, which concluded with, “I’m KC and I approve this message.” The letters additionally referenced ‘Lacking Items,’ which was the identify of Curtis’ conspiracy idea e book.
He and Dutschke had a falling out and weren’t on talking phrases since 2010. When he claimed he was framed and gave police a listing of people that may need achieved it, it included Dutschke. In an interview with Katie Couric, Curtis revealed that Dutschke previously labored at his brother’s insurance coverage firm, and his ex-wife was his supervisor. Curtis revealed that Dutschke requested his ex-wife curious questions on him and known as his efficiency shoppers to encourage them to cancel their longstanding contracts with him. When requested why Dutschke would possibly’ve had a grudge in opposition to him, although, Curtis mentioned merely, “To this present day, I don’t know.”
Jack Curtis
Along with proudly owning an insurance coverage enterprise, Jack Curtis, the brother of Paul Kevin Curtis, would typically carry out alongside him, portraying the Las Vegas-era Elvis whereas Kevin did the youthful model, in keeping with The New York Instances.
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Laura Curtis
Paul Kevin Curtis’ ex-wife Laura spoke concerning the historical past between her husband and Dutschke, whom she labored with at Jack Curtis’ insurance coverage firm. She advised NYT, “I’ve advised Kevin, ‘You two are a lot alike, you need to be mates.’ It’s very ironic these two males are on this state of affairs. They’re principally good males. It’s a nightmare.”
Senator Roger Wicker
Senator Wicker was the meant recipient of the primary ricin letter on April 15, 2013, the identical date because the Boston Marathon Bombing. His letter was intercepted earlier than it reached the congressional constructing, and he was given further safety particulars because of the incident.
Decide Sadie Holland
Along with being the mom of the person who beat Dutschke in his home race, this decide additionally had a historical past with Curtis, having sentenced him to jail for six months in 2004 after an altercation. Curtis advised Katie Couric, “The final time I noticed that decide, we smiled, and we had no conflicts. She simply did her job because the decide… The truth is, I used to be her first case ever.”
The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga, Wednesday, December 11, Netflix