In 1996, Sally Snowden McKay and her nephew, blues musician Lee Baker, were murdered at the historic Snowden estate on Horseshoe Lake. A teenager named Travis Santay Lewis was charged and convicted of the murders. Despite the unimaginable loss, Sally’s daughter, Martha, chose forgiveness, and when Lewis was released from prison 23 years later, Martha gave him a second chance. But that decision would lead to another devastating tragedy.
This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Minnie Williams.
Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thursdays, so until next time… look alive guys, it’s crazy out there!
Where to find us:
Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod and our discussion group is Fruitloopspod Discussion on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitloopspod/
We are also on BlueSky and Instagram @fruitloopspod
Find us on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/@fruitloopspod
Please send any questions or comments to fruitloopspod@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at 602-935-6294. We just might read your email or play your voicemail on the show!
Want to Support the show?
You can support the show by rating and reviewing Fruitloops on iTunes, or anywhere else that you get your podcasts from. We would love it if you gave us 5 stars!
You can make a donation on the Cash App
https://cash.me/$fruitloopspod
Or become a monthly Patron through Patreon
patreon.com/user?u=11415202
Footnotes:
Articles/Websites
Luperon, Alberto. (03/26/2020). Paroled Murderer Implicated in Death of Woman 23 Years After Killing Her Mom: Sheriff. Law & Crime. Retrieved 05/22/2026 from https://lawandcrime.com/crazy/paroled-murderer-implicated-in-death-of-woman-23-years-after-killing-her-mom-sheriff/
Baker, KC. (05/08/2020). Ark. Woman Befriended Mom’s Killer Out of ‘Spiritual Obligation’ — and then He Murdered Her. People. Retrieved 05/22/2026 from https://people.com/crime/ark-woman-befriended-moms-killer-out-of-spiritual-obligation-and-then-he-murdered-her/
Finger, Michael. (12/03/2012). Lady of the Lake. Memphis Magazine. Retrieved 05/23/2026 from https://memphismagazine.com/habitats/lady-of-the-lake/
Baker, KC. (11/28/2026). A B&B Owner Was Found Murdered at Her Lakefront Property — By the Same Man Who Murdered Her Mother 23 Years Earlier. People. Retrieved 05/23/2026 from https://people.com/woman-murdered-by-same-man-who-killed-mom-cousin-23-years-earlier-11849933
Baker, KC. (05/17/2021). People Magazine Investigates: Inside the Mother-Daughter Murders at Horseshoe Lake – 24 Years Apart. People. Retrieved 05/24/2026 from https://people.com/crime/people-magazine-investigates-mother-daughter-murders-horseshoe-lake/
Jones, Janie. (06/03/2021). Murder Mystery: Murder at Horseshoe Lake, Part 1. About You. Retrieved 05/24/2026 from https://aymag.com/murder-mystery-murder-at-horseshoe-lake-part-1/
Jones, Janie. (06/29/2021). Murder Mystery: Murder at Horseshoe Lake, Conclusion. About You. Retrieved 05/24/2026 from https://aymag.com/murder-mystery-murder-at-horseshoe-lake-conclusion/
Swafford, Isabell. (09/03/2025). Native Northwest Arkansas. Native American Student Services. Retrieved 05/25/2026 from https://nass.uark.edu/2025/09/03/native-northwest-arkansas/
The Log Cabin Democrat. (11/06/1996). Teen Arrested in Murders. Retrieved 05/25/2026 from https://www.newspapers.com/image/1219428987
Paragould Daily Press. (11/07/1996). Teen Charged in Double Murder. Retrieved 05/26/2026 from https://www.newspapers.com/image/1103462298
The Encyclopedia of Arkansas. (n.d.). Horseshoe Lake (Crittenden County). Retrieved 06/02/2026 from https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/horseshoe-lake-crittenden-county-7164/
Griscom, David. (12/08/2023). When Black and White tenant farmers joined together to take on the plantation south. The Real News Network. Retrieved 06/02/2026 from https://therealnews.com/when-black-and-white-tenant-farmers-joined-together-to-take-on-the-plantation-south
King, Ashley. What Does ‘Antebellum’ Mean? A Closer Look at the Controversial Word. Digital Music News. Retrieved 06/03/2026 from https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2020/06/12/what-does-antebellum-mean/
Paragould Daily Press. (04/09/1998). Teen Pleads Guilty to Arson, Murder. Retrieved 06/03/2026 from https://www.newspapers.com/image/1104019401/
Batesville Guard. (04/09/1998). Boy sentenced for two Horseshoe Lake Murders. Retrieved 06/03/2026 from https://www.newspapers.com/image/1101564936/
Garlington, Lela. (11/08/1996). Boy’s Arrest in Killings Shocks Lake Community. The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 06/03/2026 from https://www.newspapers.com/image/774690263/
Podcasts
Woolsoncroft, Daphne; Merryman, Heath. (Hosts). Going West: True Crime. (02/24/2023). Murders of Horseshoe Lake // 282 [Audio podcast].
Heather; Elena; Melanie. (Hosts). Crime Estate. (10/20/2023). 21 – The Snowden House Murders [Audio podcast].
Video
People Magazine Investigates. (05/17/2021). S5E9: A Crimson End.
Music
“Abyss” by Alasen: ●https://soundcloud.com/alasen●https://twitter.com/icemantrap ●https://instagram.com/icemanbass/●https://soundcloud.com/therealfrozenguy●
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
“40s & Shorties” by Marlene Miller. Used with permission. Find her Facebook and Instagram under SEMNCHY or marlenemiller138@gmail.com
“Drugs” by Arulo. Mixkit Stock Music Free License. https://mixkit.co/free-stock-music/trap/
“Fake Friends” by Yung Kartz. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Yung_Kartz. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
“Furious Freak” by Kevin MacLeod
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/full_list.php
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Connect with us on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fruitloopspod
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/fruitloopspod.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fruitloopspod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fruitloopspod and https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitloopspod
Fruitloops 
Leave a comment