312 - Binge Button

In this episode of 'Grits With a Side of Murder,' hosts Kirsten and the team dive into two chilling stories from the 'Big Book of Serial Killers.' First, they explore the horrific case of Martha Rendell, a 19th-century Australian woman who murdered four children—three of whom were her lover’s offspring—using hydrochloric acid disguised as medicine. Her crimes, spanning from 1907 to 1908, were initially misdiagnosed as diphtheria, but after exhumations and animal testing confirmed poisoning, she was executed in 1909. The episode then shifts to Adolfo Costanzo, a self-proclaimed sorcerer and cult leader in 1980s Mexico who led a ritualistic murder ring tied to drug cartels. He and his followers sacrificed 16+ victims, including American pre-med student Mark Kilroy, for 'magical' purposes, using human brains in spells. The episode concludes with a comedic deep dive into absurd Florida state laws—ranging from fines for sleeping under a hair dryer to the infamous ban on non-missionary sex—highlighting the bizarre legal history of the Sunshine State. The hosts wrap up with a playful nod to YouTube’s 'binge button' feature, turning the episode’s title into a meta-commentary on streaming culture.