Bitter Blood
Jerry Bledsoe
A book-length account for readers who want more detail.
1984–1985 · North Carolina & Kentucky
The Lynch–Newsom family case
The story behind Bitter Blood
A series of killings struck the extended Lynch and Newsom families in Kentucky and North Carolina in 1984 and 1985. The investigation centered on Susie Lynch and her cousin Fred Klenner amid family conflict and a custody dispute. The violence ended during a police pursuit with an explosion that also killed Lynch’s two children.
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The Story
When1984–1985
WhereNorth Carolina & Kentucky
In this collection25 resources
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In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness (1994) — miniseries information
en.wikipedia.org
A dramatized interpretation; compare it with the reporting.
Susie Newsom Lynch & Fritz Klenner | 85
People are the Worst
An audio option for exploring this case while listening.
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Blogs & Essays
Read our articles here and explore outside perspectives, credited to their writers and publications. See this case in the Journal →
From the journal
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Blogs & essays
1 itemsAbout these sources
Outside essays and reading guides reflect their authors’ perspectives. Compare claims with reported and primary sources.
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The Bizarre “Bitter Blood” Murders
A state-history blog recounts the Bitter Blood case and identifies Jerry Bledsoe’s book about it.
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Books
CONTINUE YOUR READING
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Books
1 itemsJerry Bledsoe
Bitter Blood
A nonfiction account of this case. See the linked edition for publication details and available formats.
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Movies & TV
Movies
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TV & documentaries
2 itemsAbout these sources
Episodes, documentaries and title listings. Season and episode numbers follow the linked catalog and can differ by service. Air dates are separate from crime dates. Playback availability varies by service and region.
en.wikipedia.org
In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness (1994) — miniseries information
Dramatized television miniseries. The link identifies the adaptation; scenes and dialogue may differ from the record.
Fiction / DramatizationTitle Details · Not Playback
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Search Amazon · paid linkViewing options & episode details
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IMDb · TV episode
Snapped: Killer Couples — Susie Newsom and Fritz Klenner (2015)
IMDb episode reference connected to the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Listed release: 2015. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
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Audiobooks
Listen to a book connected to this story. Each edition below is matched to its author and audiobook source.
Audiobook
Bitter Blood: A True Story of Southern Family Pride, Madness, and Multiple Murder
Unabridged
Audio edition verified at the linked source. The Amazon button is a title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed.
Edition checked 2026-10-12
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Fiction Work
Fiction Work
Browse all →Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
en.wikipedia.org
In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness (1994) — miniseries information
Dramatized television miniseries. The link identifies the adaptation; scenes and dialogue may differ from the record.
Fiction / DramatizationTitle Details · Not Playback
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Search Amazon · paid linkViewing options & episode details
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
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Podcasts
Podcasts
12 itemsAbout these sources
Audio episodes and oral histories. Personal recollections are attributed perspectives; some services require sign-in.
People are the Worst
Susie Newsom Lynch & Fritz Klenner | 85
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released February 1, 2024. About 64 minutes.
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Southern Fried True Crime
40: The Bitter Blood Murders: Susie Newsom Lynch & Fritz Klenner
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released February 16, 2019. About 64 minutes.
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Our True Crime Podcast
230. Killing Cousins: Susie Newsom Lynch & Fritz Klenner
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released September 20, 2023. About 59 minutes.
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Tell No One
Susie Newsom and Fritz Klenner: Step Away From Your Cousin
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released July 24, 2022. About 37 minutes.
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girl talks crime
evil runs in the family pt. i : susie newsom lynch and fritz klenner
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released March 28, 2020. About 32 minutes.
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True Crimecast
Lies on Lies - Frizt Klenner and Susie Newsom Lynch
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released March 21, 2023. About 36 minutes.
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Show 6 more podcasts
Missing in the Carolinas
Episode 65-Made-for-TV Movies Based On N.C. Crimes
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released September 22, 2023. About 39 minutes. This episode covers more than one subject.
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Strange State: A True Crime Podcast
Susie Q and Fritzy Too!
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released February 17, 2020. About 27 minutes.
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Creepy Kentucky
It’s National Take Your Detective Son to the Crime Scene Day: The Bitter Blood Murders, Part 5
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released October 5, 2021. About 49 minutes.
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Storyteller Podcast
The Bitter Blood Murders- Part 4
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released January 19, 2026. About 67 minutes.
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The Archivist: A True Crime Podcast
39: COUSIN LOVERS Part 2
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released September 12, 2023. About 154 minutes.
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Sips Of Crime: A True Crime Podcast
Episode 31- Fritz & Susie Q
Podcast coverage of the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Released March 13, 2023. About 63 minutes.
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Social Media
BRING YOUR PERSPECTIVE
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Talk about sources and storytelling with care for the people affected. A documentary, a book and a court record serve different purposes.
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News & Reading
More Reading & Audio
4 sourcesExplore book records, previews, library audiobooks and selected documents. Access labels distinguish free material from library loans and paid subscriptions.
OverDrive · Library Access
Bitter Blood — Ebook
Jerry Bledsoe. Related reading for The Lynch–Newsom family case. This library catalog lists the edition. Borrowing depends on membership in that library and current availability.
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Open Library · Catalog / Availability
Deadly Kin by Robert W., III Newsom
Bibliographic record for related reading. Check the edition page for previews, lending and other access options; full text has not been confirmed.
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Google Books · Catalog / Availability
Bitter Blood
Jerry Bledsoe. Related reading for The Lynch–Newsom family case. Book information and any pages made available by Google Books; this is not a promise of full-text access.
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Everand · Subscription Access
Bitter Blood — Jerry Bledsoe (Ebook)
Bledsoe traces the interconnected Lynch, Newsom and related family killings. A preview may be offered; full access requires an eligible subscription. Check availability and terms.
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Reading Access Notes
Search reviewed 2026-09-16. Sources searched: Google Books, Internet Archive, Open Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atavist Magazine, Everand, Google Books (case/title search), Scribd, Everand, OverDrive and hoopla (combined title search). Search indexing is incomplete; this is not an exhaustive list of the web. Access can change by edition, country and library membership. Library loans may require sign-in or a wait. Everand titles may need a paid subscription; a trial is not permanent free access. Scribd documents are third-party uploads, with uploader details noted where checked. We link to source pages and write our own descriptions rather than reproducing copyrighted books.
A separate Texas Monthly search was blocked by the publisher’s automated-access rules and could not be verified.
News & reporting
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Newspaper clippings
1 itemsFeatured newspaper clipping
Read our original summary below. The archive link opens the newspaper’s own clipping viewer.
The Charlotte Observer · 1985-06-05 · Page 8
Investigators trace the related murders
Reporting connects the investigations after the fatal explosion involving Fritz Klenner and Susie Newsom Lynch.
A continuation article written while important questions remained unresolved.
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Read the original at Newspapers.com. Access and subscription requirements are set by the archive.
Open full clipping at Newspapers.comKeep following the newspaper trail.
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Internet Archive
1 itemsAbout these sources
Library records and preserved media. A catalog listing does not guarantee full reading or playback.
Internet Archive · Library record · 1988
Bitter blood : a true story of southern family pride, madness, and multiple murder
Bledsoe, Jerry. A library catalog record for a book connected with The Lynch–Newsom family case. The record may offer a preview or borrowing options; full reading access is not guaranteed.
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Court & Files
Court records & documents
1 itemsAbout these sources
Documents are labeled by type and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. This collection is not the complete case file.
Related civil caseArchive copy
Lynch v. Newsom — family estates litigation
A related civil decision concerning claims between estates after the deaths in the Lynch–Newsom family case. This is not a criminal conviction appeal.
- Court / agency
- North Carolina Court of Appeals
- Document date
- October 17, 1989
- Case / citation
- 8818SC516
- Hosted by
- Justia
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Positive Outcome
Positive Outcome
0 itemsAbout these sources
Documented laws, advocacy and reforms. Listing a change does not claim it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific reform has been verified for this collection yet.
Social Media
6 itemsAbout these sources
Case-specific posts, videos and communities. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting. Platforms may require sign-in.
People are the Worst Podcast
The Bitter Blood Murders: Susie Newsome Lynch & Fritz Klenner
Video from People are the Worst Podcast covering the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Length: 59:32.
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Our True Crime Podcast
230. Killing Cousins: Susie Newsom Lynch & Fritz Klenner
Video from Our True Crime Podcast covering the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Length: 58:57.
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Southern Fried True Crime
Episode 40: The Bitter Blood Murders
Video from Southern Fried True Crime covering the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Length: 1:02:16.
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Greensboro News & Record
*Graphic Content: Bitter Blood video series with Allen Gentry Part 2 of 7
Video from Greensboro News & Record covering the The Lynch–Newsom family case case. Length: 2:20.
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Facebook · Creator channel
Southern Fried True Crime — Facebook page
Linked by this creator in the episode notes for “40: The Bitter Blood Murders: Susie Newsom Lynch & Fritz Klenner.” This creator channel covers multiple cases. The matching case episode is linked below. The platform may ask you to sign in.
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Facebook · Creator channel
Sips Of Crime: A True Crime Podcast — Facebook page
Linked by this creator in the episode notes for “Episode 31- Fritz & Susie Q.” This creator channel covers multiple cases. The matching case episode is linked below. The platform may ask you to sign in.
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