Appalachia’s Deadliest Grandma
As spookier weather rolls over the ridges, Appalachian history takes on a whole new tone. While our hills hold plenty of hauntings and strange phenomena, sometimes the darkest stories aren't supernatural at all, they are true crime tales etched right into the local soil.
To kick off our Spooky Appalachia series on Appalachia Ramblin', we're diving back into the early 1900s to examine one of Western North Carolina’s most infamous historic murder cases: Nance Kerley, widely remembered across regional folklore as "Nance Dude" or "Appalachia's Deadliest Grandma."
A Mystery Close to Home: The Case of Nance Kerley
This case hits close to home for us because it took place right here in Haywood County, not far from Maggie Valley where Dillon's family is from.
The story begins in February 1913. A 60-year-old woman named Nance "Nance Dude" Kerley walked up into the rugged woods of Western North Carolina accompanied by her young granddaughter. Hours later, Nance walked out of the woods alone.
When the child was nowhere to be found, local authorities launched a search that unraveled a grim timeline, leading to Nance's arrest, a high-profile trial, and decades of conflicting accounts.
Digging into the Evidence
To get to the bottom of what really happened in 1913, we pulled from several key historical sources and local accounts:
Our State Magazine (February 1994): On air, Dillon read from a featured article in Our State Magazine titled "Down Home in North Carolina." The piece retells the tragic trial, local courtroom reactions, and regional lore surrounding Nance Kerley. You can explore the North Carolina Periodicals Index entry or view the archived issue via the North Carolina Digital Collections.
The Appalachian Storyteller: We also cross-referencedl details and regional commentary from The Appalachian Storyteller, whose full deep dive into the case is available on YouTube.
Timeline Breakdown & Discrepancies
During the episode, we map out the timeline of events, from the cold February morning in the mountains to the courtroom proceedings. What makes the case of Nance Kerley so fascinating isn't just the initial charge, but how drastically the story shifted depending on who was telling it. From sensationalized newspaper headlines of the 1910s to the local retellings, the details vary wildly on motive, family dynamics, and whether Nance acted alone or was framed.
Did Nance Do It? Dillon’s Theory
So, was Nance Kerley genuinely a cold-blooded killer, or was she a victim of poverty, family desperation, and a swift mountain justice system eager for a conviction?
After piecing together the timeline and comparing archival accounts against modern analysis, Dillon shares his personal theory on who he thinks was really responsible and what might have actually transpired on that cold day in 1913.
Tune In & Watch the Full Episode!
Want to hear Dillon read the full Our State feature and hear our complete breakdown of the timeline, variations in the trial records, and Dillon's verdict on the case?
Listen: Catch the full audio episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Watch: Stream the full video episode on YouTube to follow along with our research!
Got a creepy local history story or mountain legend from your neck of the woods? Send your story to appalachiaramblin@gmail.com!
