Legally Brunette: The Only Woman on Tennessee’s Death Row

Two Ts In A Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge

This episode of Legally Brunette explores the case of Krista Pike, the only woman on Tennessee's death row, while also discussing the myster

Key takeaways

• The family of Jenny Lupton rejects the possibility of suicide, citing inconsistencies in the timeline and calling for a formal investigation.

Main topics

• The death of flight attendant Jenny Lupton in Waikiki

Notable quotes

"I still, you know, you're talking about, she's 50 years old... She went out dancing. She probably had a couple of drinks."

Conclusion

The episode underscores the complexity of true crime investigations, especially

Transcript preview

Speaker 8 (0:00) This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. I survived nine months in captivity, and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart, and these are The Survivor Files. Every week, I'm with survivors who lived through the unthinkable, abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced. These are stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If Speaker 2 (0:36) your bookshelf and your For You page are equally important to your personality, welcome home. Pro Society is a weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for anyone who thinks Pride and Prejudice and Love Island deserve the same level of discourse. Each week, we're connecting the dots between books, the internet, and pop culture with your favorite writers, book talk creators, and plenty of overthought opinions. Yeah, I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. Listen to Pro Society on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 7 (1:06) I'm Hoda Kotb, host of the podcast Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb. You know, I'm always searching for inspiration and useful tools to maximize joy. Like when my friend Henry Winkler offered advice to aspiring actors and really anybody hoping to stand out. You're not hired just to fill time and space. You're hired to fill the space with you. Listen to Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 7 (1:37) Our hometown is not a test tube. 90 Speaker 6 (1:40) miles northeast of Nashville, a battle for the future of America plays out in one small town. Speaker 7 (1:45) Developers with right-wing ties have purchased hundreds of acres of land. We need cities on a shining hill. This is Our Town, a podcast about what happens when a small town becomes the site of a social experiment and fights back. Guess you didn't move in on a bunch of dumb hillbillies now, did you? Listen to Our Town on the iHeartRadio app. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 1 (2:13) Hi, guys. Welcome to an episode of Legally Brunette. I'll be your host today, Emily Simpson with... Speaker 3 (2:18) Shane. Speaker 1 (2:19) Shane. Okay, first of all, before we get into... We're going to talk about Krista Pike. That's going to be Speaker 4 (2:24) the Speaker 1 (2:25) main focus of this episode. But before we get there, I just wanted to do... Well, there's something new that came up in the news that I wanted to talk about that looks to be like it will potentially be a true crime issue. And then... Wait. Speaker 3 (2:38) A couple of crime hasn't been committed yet. No, not yet. But I was going to be a homicide soon. I Speaker 1 (2:43) feel it coming. I think it's. Yeah. So this is I just started seeing this yesterday. I saw it once and then you know how you look at it on Instagram and then all of a sudden I just I was seeing it everywhere. It's when you Speaker 3 (2:55) say everywhere you mean on every time you look at Instagram every yes Speaker 1 (2:58) every time I open Instagram it was there. So this is Jenny Lupton. I don't know if you've heard of this yet but she is an Oklahoma resident who spent nearly 29 years as a flight attendant with Southwest. She was found dead at a Waikiki hotel. On Thursday, August 20th, she was also a mother. According to family members, the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner notified them that Lupton appeared to have fallen from a balcony on the 24th floor of the hotel. First of all, let's just talk about this before I get on with more of the facts. Wait, Speaker 3 (3:31) is that all Speaker 1 (3:31) that Speaker 3 (3:31) we know now or is there a suspect or anything? Speaker 4 (3:33) No, there's well, there's no suspect. Well, they haven't determined whether it was foul play or not. Speaker 1 (3:37) I'm just saying all we know Speaker 3 (3:38) right now is she's falling off the balcony. A Speaker 1 (3:40) hotel employee discovered her body near a dumpster. I also read her body was found in the dumpster. So I don't know if she was found in the dumpster or near the dumpster. But Jenny Lupton had traveled to Hawaii for work, but had planned to remain on the island for a few days before heading home. Also, this I believe this hotel that. that she stayed at is where like Speaker 4 (4:00) all the pilots and flight attendants Speaker 1 (4:02) stay. Speaker 4 (4:03) And I'm, I, I'm sure she's probably, if she's been a flight attendant for 30 years and she does the route to Hawaii, she's probably stayed in this hotel. I would assume I'm guessing, but I would assume numerous times. Speaker 1 (4:15) Her sister, Tressa noted that she had received a text message from Jenny and the hours right before her death saying. that her sister had told her, this is Jenny, had told her sister that she had gone out dancing with a fellow flight attendant and had even gotten a tattoo that evening. And the tattoo that she got was a large Speaker 4 (4:34) hibiscus. I guess it was in honor of her late... Speaker 3 (4:37) It's like a flower, like a Speaker 4 (4:39) hibiscus flower. But it was a big tattoo. And Speaker 3 (4:41) she got it in Hawaii? Speaker 4 (4:42) In Hawaii. It was in honor of her late father. And I believe she was telling her sister that... I think she only had it done just maybe the outline, just the black. Right. Like Speaker 3 (4:53) the Speaker 4 (4:53) first Speaker 3 (4:53) stage. Speaker 4 (4:54) Right. That was stage one. But she also needed, she was telling her sister that she would Speaker 1 (4:57) need to obviously finish it and complete it. Southwest Airlines confirmed that Jenny Lupton's death occurred during a layover, saying in a statement, the Southwest Airlines family is deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague. We have offered our condolences and support to the employees, family and coworkers and are engaged with local authorities as they investigate. The family has rejected the possibility of this being a suicide and is pushing for a formal investigation, citing what they describe as a confusing timeline. The timeline doesn't make sense and we are afraid that maybe there was foul play. This is what her sister said. The family is also making plans to travel to Hawaii to bring Jenny home. You know, I would, I, you have to Speaker 4 (5:39) travel to Hawaii if you want to figure out what happened. I mean, you have to be on, you have to be at the Speaker 3 (5:44) scene because Speaker 4 (5:45) first of all, this is what I was thinking. This is a touristy area. This is a touristy hotel. This is Hawaii. I feel as if the. The police department or the investigation probably wants to keep things. I'm just speculating. But probably on the down low because you don't want anything to look like there's nefarious things going on. Like Speaker 3 (6:03) on Speaker 4 (6:03) Jaws. Speaker 3 (6:04) They didn't want to announce that there was a shark because it was a 4th of July weekend. Right. Speaker 4 (6:09) And they Speaker 3 (6:09) were going to scare a lot of tourists. Speaker 4 (6:10) Right. So Speaker 3 (6:11) they kept it under wraps. Right. Until. Jaws killed some people. Okay, Speaker 4 (6:15) when I was reading this story, Jaws did not come up in my mind, but that's a good analogy. I agree with you. The point is we're talking about Hawaii. We're talking about Waikiki. We're talking about where tourists come and spend lots of money. So the last thing that the local law enforcement wants to do is put out something that this is a dangerous area. Speaker 1 (6:32) So the Honolulu Police Department has opened and... unattended death investigation, but has not released further details. But then Speaker 3 (6:40) the only explanation, if it wasn't a crime, then it was suicide. Well, I guess it could have been accidental. Well, Speaker 1 (6:45) it could have been accidental. We don't have a toxicology Speaker 4 (6:47) report, but I don't know. Speaker 1 (6:49) I Speaker 4 (6:49) still, you know, you're talking about, she's 50 years old, same age as me. She went out dancing. She probably had a couple of drinks. I don't know that for sure, but maybe she did. She got a tattoo. She came home. She was texting her. Speaker 3 (6:59) She's living her best life. I don't know. Yeah. She seems Speaker 4 (7:01) to be living her best life as a flight attendant. And, you know. She has a child back Speaker 3 (7:05) home. Speaker 4 (7:05) And I saw a photo of the balcony and the railing. I mean, it looks like a standard railing. I don't know for you to accidentally fall. I mean, you would have to. Do Speaker 3 (7:16) something stupid. Yeah. You would have to be Speaker 4 (7:17) standing on a table drunk and, you know, stumble off of it and over the edge. So accidental falls off of balconies don't make sense to me. You'd Speaker 3 (7:26) think Speaker 4 (7:26) there'd Speaker 3 (7:26) be enough technology. Like, obviously not in her room, but cameras in the hallway, cameras everywhere to know, to narrow down what happened. Who came in and out of her room? You know, maybe there's cameras outside by the dumpster. Well, Speaker 1 (7:41) I'm Speaker 3 (7:41) sure Speaker 1 (7:41) there are. Well, I'm sure there are. There's just none of that information has been released. But I would, if I was her family member, and I didn't think for one second that this was suicide, because Speaker 4 (7:50) obviously the... fact that she's texting her sister talking about even though this isn't indicative of not committing suicide but when you talk about future plans it's just insight into the mens rea right yeah Speaker 3 (8:02) leans more towards not suicidal right Speaker 4 (8:04) because a lot of times when people you know we've talked about cases where you know someone claims it was suicide and then but they use evidence of text or plans or calendars to present that someone couldn't have committed suicide because they were making plans for that evening. I had to Speaker 1 (8:22) look up, well, the Hawaii Police Department, they called it an unattended death investigation. So I had to look that up because I'd never actually heard that term, unattended death. That means she died without Speaker 3 (8:35) anyone present? Yes. Speaker 1 (8:36) So it means a death. where a person has passed away without a medical professional or any witnesses present to see or confirm the event so it's an unattended death here's Speaker 4 (8:47) my my speculating into the future i believe if they investigate this fully and they start pulling video Speaker 8 (8:55) surveillance Speaker 4 (8:56) video because obviously this is a hotel with lots of floors and a lot of people i'm sure there's surveillance cameras everywhere and you know those key cards those electronic key cards that go in and out There has to be a record of like her coming home. So there should be, because we talked about this, even with the cruise ship, about how the electronic door, you know, when we talk about the cruise ship case, Anna Kepner, they had, you know, they had an exact log of entering and exiting and whose key card was used and all those types of things. So it will be interesting to see if someone else came to the room, if there's surveillance video. When Speaker 3 (9:32) did this occur? Speaker 4 (9:34) August 20th. So just a few days ago. Speaker 3 (9:37) So Speaker 4 (9:37) there, that's that. Let's continue to follow that. It's 24 Speaker 3 (9:41) floors. Speaker 4 (9:42) 24 floors. Can you imagine? No. Do you think you, this is what I think about. What do Speaker 3 (9:47) you think about on the way down? Speaker 4 (9:49) Yeah. What do you think about on the way down? And two, do you, do you die before you hit? Speaker 3 (9:55) No, there's, there's, you know, there's a lot of people that unfortunately jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. Speaker 4 (10:00) Yeah. Speaker 3 (10:01) And. you know, majority of them obviously die, but there are people that have survived a handful, only a few, but nonetheless, some people have survived. And each one of those people that I've watched documentaries on, each one of those people on the way down, they regret it. Speaker 4 (10:19) Oh, yeah. Speaker 3 (10:20) They think, oh, crap. Speaker 4 (10:21) Like, I regret this. So then Speaker 3 (10:23) when they come out of it and they're obviously recovered, then they tell their story that, you know, that's what they felt on the way down. Speaker 4 (10:30) But then they hit and they didn't die. Right. I know, but I'm just saying I would hope that. I don't know. I just like... Well, it's Speaker 3 (10:38) tragedy nonetheless. I Speaker 4 (10:40) know it's tragedy. I would like to tell myself that if I'm ever in a position where you and I are hiking in Hawaii, because you asked me for our anniversary to go on a hike close to the Speaker 1 (10:51) edge. Speaker 4 (10:51) Angel's Landing. Angel's Landing. I don't know. I just die before I hit. I don't know. All I Speaker 3 (10:58) know is if we ever travel anywhere and go hiking, I'm going to have a lot of alibis and a lot of recording. Yeah. A lot of documentary. You Speaker 4 (11:05) need to have drone footage. of everything up above. Because I could just slip and fall. I am clumsy. Yeah, Speaker 3 (11:11) well, we need to make sure it's an attended death. Speaker 4 (11:13) An attended death. Exactly. Not an unattended death. Speaker 4 (11:21) When I was 14 Speaker 8 (11:22) years old, I was kidnapped and held captive for nine months. I survived, and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart, and these are The Survivor Files. I just remember this low, taunting voice next to my ear saying, shut up, don't say anything. Every week, I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable. I knew if he woke up, without a doubt, he was going to hurt me. I started feeling that there was someone at the end of my bed, and I just started screaming. They are abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced. But these aren't stories about what's taken from them. They're stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If Speaker 2 (12:21) your bookshelf and your For You page are equally important to your personality, welcome home. This is Prose Society, the weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for thought daughters, pop culture obsessives, and anyone who thinks Pride and Prejudice and Love Island deserve the same level of discourse. I'm Eli Rallo, and every week we're connecting the dots between books, the internet, and the conversations everyone can't stop having. I'm going to have to look up this story. I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. From bestselling authors and your favorite book talk creators to the latest pop culture moments, nothing is off the table. It's like if you can hide some real messages inside compelling characters, then that is a Trojan horse. Whether you're looking for literary deep dives, smart pop culture conversations, or a community of readers who love to think a little too much, you're in the right place. Listen to Pro Society on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you between the pages. Speaker 5 (13:21) Hey, this is Hayes Davenport. And Sean Clements. We host the podcast Hollywood Handbook on the Big Money Players Network. Our show is extremely accessible to first-time listeners. Each week, we talk to someone in show business, a.k.a. the biz, and try to help them with their careers and see what they have to offer us. Everyone has a good time and no one gets mad at their publicist for letting them do our show. We've had a lot of great guests like Sarah Sherman. Not that great. Speaker 7 (13:45) Actually, can you help me? Can you help me shape this? How about we flip it on its head? How about we flip the script? What if the surprise woman who actually you think is the straight man is actually the one who's acting weird? Speaker 5 (13:59) Adam Scott. This entire time, you've been expecting. Adam Sandler to come to visit the show. I would never expect. I would never set expectations for something like that to happen. If the universe allows for something like that to happen, I'm open to it. I'm always going to accept. Danny McBride, fine. Yeah, it's all this fragile masculinity exuding. I could smell it walking down the hallway, to be honest with you. I was like, is that weed? Nope. It's fragile masculinity. Ben Stiller, no. Because a lot of times, out of context, people don't get it or even know what a circle is. You know what I mean? They're so stupid. Speaker 3 (14:44) Everyone's so dumb except for you. And fake. Speaker 5 (14:47) Right, fake and also not interested or just like, oh, I've got my life. I don't care about your life. And a lot of other big shots that wouldn't be where they are without. Oh, and by the way, Will Ferrell told us personally he loves the show and he wants to be a guest on every episode, but he's just so busy. Listen to Hollywood Handbook on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 6 (15:08) On the new podcast, Solita, we share the messy reality of traveling alone as a woman. I can wait four hours for the next bus or this random dude is offering me a ride on his motorcycle. I chose option B. I'm Julie Pinheiro, and I travel by myself because it's a rare space where I can say yes without asking anyone else first. I'm on a mission to reclaim the word solita, trading the pity for possibility. Every time I tried to be alone, I kept meeting people, and they were like, you smiled at us. Not a lot of people smile around here. It's when you're alone that you're most receptive to the world as it is and not the lies you're sold about it. It can be a time where you push your limits, change your mind, or wake up to a new version of yourself. So whether you're a solo travel veteran or you're too nervous to book your first trip, I hope you listen to Solita on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,