School of Humans. Helen Got Murder Line actively investigates cold case murders in an effort to raise public awareness invite witnesses to come forward and present evidence that could potentially be further investigated by law enforcement. While we value insights from family and community members, their statements should not be considered evidence and point to the challenges of verifying facts
inherent in cold cases. We remind listeners that everyone has presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing in the podcast is intended to state or imply that anyone who has not been convicted of a crime is guilty of any wrongdoing. Thanks for listening.
In October of nineteen ninety five, something strange was going on inside the Flick home at three h two McNabb Street in Rector, Arkansas. The family was made up of thirty six year old David Flick, his wife, four year old Barbara, their daughter, eleven year old Andrea Flick, and Barbara's son from a previous relationship, seventeen year old Aaron Michael Hodge. Aaron was never officially adopted by David Flick, but at the time he used his last name, so
he went by Aaron flick. Barbara was a nurse, her husband, David had a transmission shop. Friends and family said that they were a happy couple. Andrea played basketball and did beauty pageants. Aaron was well liked by his friends as well. Both Andrea and Aaron were popular at school. Aarin would later say. Andrea, Barbara, and David were planning on going to Florida to visit relatives, leaving seventeen year old Aaron at home, and, like many teens at home alone, Aaron
decided to throw a party. This seems perfectly normal, except that David, Barbara, and Andrea never arrived in Florida. Their relatives were concerned, and after a week a friend of Barbara's called the police. She said the family never showed up at their relative's house and that no one had seen them in several days.
So police did some checking.
They found that no one in Florida had seen David, Barbara or Andrea, nor had anyone in Rector, Arkansas. But there was one member of the family who had been spotted around town, Aaron Hodge.
People had seen.
Aaron driving his stepfather's pickup truck around Paragold. That weekend was a big weekend to be out and about in that area. It was homecoming weekend, which is a big deal everywhere and especially in small towns. Everyone was at the Friday night football game. On October thirteenth, nineteen ninety five, Aaron drove to the homecoming game and parties in David's truck and was hanging out with friends there. He was picked up by police at the homecoming festivity and taken
to the Paragold Police station. Paragold police officer Audrey Emberton came to the station and interviewed Aarin. Officer Emberton and another officer, Terry Prewitt, then went to the Flick family home in the early morning hours at around one am on Saturday, October fourteenth. Aaron lived in a converted garage.
It was in the main.
Part of the house, but it was his own kind of separate area, away from the rest of the family. When the police asked Aaron about his family, he said they were fine. He said he had heard from them a couple of days earlier and they were supposed to be back later that day, meaning later on Saturday. Police did not buy that story. At three am, Officer Prewitt went back to the home to talk to erin again.
This time Officer Prewett asked if he could get access to the main part of the house where the rest of the family lived. Aaron told police that the doors were locked, so Officer Prewitt looked around. He looked in a window of the main house and saw some sheets on the floor. When he asked Aaron about the sheets, Aaron said the family had been doing some remodeling. Later that morning, Aaron was at the police station answering questions,
and police went back to the Flick house. Officer Prewitt got closer to the front door and he smelled something horrible. The stench of decomposition was so overpowering that police later noted they could smell it when they were one hundred and fifty feet away from the house. Officer Prewitt entered the home, the smell got worse as he went further in. He found David, Andrea, and Barbara all dead, and forensic testing later showed they had been dead for about a week.
This episode is going to be a little bit different from other cases we cover because this case isn't open.
It's already been solved.
But I thought that it was important to cover because this is a very divisive case. There is a man in prison for these murders, someone who claims that he was wrongfully convicted. So was there a misunderstanding, could someone else have been involved? Or is the right person behind bars for killing this family in cold blood? On the surface, this appeared to be a perfect family, but detectives quickly discovered things behind closed doors were far from what they seemed.
What happened to turn this seemingly perfect family into a house of horrors?
I'm Catherine Townsend.
Over the past five years of making my true crime podcast, Helling Gone, I've learned that there's no such thing as a small town where murder never happens. I've received hundreds of messages from people all around the country asking for help with an unsolved murder that's affected them, their families, and their communities.
If you have a.
Case you'd like me and my team to look into, you can reach out to us at our Hell and Gone Murder Line at six seven eight seven four four six' one four five at six seven eight seven four four six one four, five or you can send us a message On instagram At Helen. Gonepod this Is Helen Gone Murder. Line police In. Arkansas we're interviewing seventeen year Old Aaron hodge about a possible involvement the triple homicide of his entire. Family aaron was. Crying he said he had no idea what. Happened,
meanwhile police were processing the crime. Scene inside the, house the doorway To andrea's room was. Locked police busted it down and found her lying in her. Bed andrea had been shot in the. Head her torso was on the bed and her feet were dangling off. It she was wearing only her underwear and had been covered up with her. Comforter andrea's white shorts AND t shirt were on the floor near the. Bed her head was leaning against a wall and her arm was up in what may have
been a defensive. Position detectives said they felt like she had struggled with her, killer and that her killer had used a pillow to muffle the noise from the. Gun aaron lived in a converted bedroom right off the. Garage his room was neat with no trace of. Blood police did fine shells from a thirty eight caliber weapon In aaron's. Room they later said that the murder weapon had been a thirty eight caliber gun like the one owned By David. Flick police followed the trail of blood down the hall
To barber's. Bedroom they found her lying on her bed in her, nightgown with layers of bedding covering her. Body because she was wearing her nightgown and because of the position of her, body they felt That barbara had been sleeping when she was. Attacked they Found david's body there, too face, down at the foot Of barbara's water. Bed he was wearing blue pants and a WHITE t. Shirt police noted they found no signs of a struggle in this.
Bedroom police thought That david had not been shot and killed In barbara's, bedroom but that he had been dragged there from the living.
Room there were pulls of.
Blood on the living room sofa and a blood trail down the hallway of the house that had been covered up with. Pillows officers believed the killer had used the pillows to muffle the sound of the, gun but there was a lot that police didn't know because the bodies Of, David andrea And barbara were too decomposed to know exactly what happened to them or how long they had been. There all three victims were bloated and covered in large blisters that were filled with. Fluid all of them had
been shot in the head at close. Range barbara And andrea had each been shot. Once david had been shot three. Times SO i want to back up and look at how long the police had been asking questions about the family and how Long aaron had been stalling with giving them any. Information On october, fourteenth after Officers pruitt And imbriden talked To aaron at three am and he said his family was, fine police went To David flick's transmission shop to see if they could find any. Clues police
Asked david's employee if he had noticed. Anything he said that a toolbox Of david's had been broken, into there was some, money and a gun that belonged To david. Missing police suspected that something was, wrong so by now the police Had aaron in. Custody when they got to the interview, Room Officer, leach the officer who was Interrogating,
aaron Asked aarin to tell him what he. Knew aaron said that his family were in the, home and Then Officer leach asked what condition they were in if they were. Okay aaron, said they're. Dead so Then aaron told his version of the. Story, first he said he wasn't sure what happened to his. Family, later he completely denied having anything to do with their. Deaths he basically said that he had gotten into a big fight With david and
That david had killed his. Family one week After David, Flick Barbara, flick And Andrea flick were supposed to arrive In, florida police were Interviewing aaron at the deaths of his family, members But erin claimed that he didn't kill his. Family he said that his, Stepfather David, flick had Killed andrea And barbara in a fit of rage and then turned the gun on. Himself but it was obvious that someone
had covered up the bodies in the. Home there were, sheets, blankets, pillows and rugs spread out all over the living, room So aaron's version of the story on the, surface seemed to make zero. Sense If david had killed his wife and daughter and then shot, himself how could he have shot himself three.
Times in the.
Head this would mean That aaron had found the bodies and then moved. Them after finding the, bodies police Reinterviewed Arin Arin now said That david had been cheating On barbara and that they had been sleeping. Separately aaron claimed that he told his mother about the infidelity and that she had made a plan to Leave. David aaron claimed That andrea And barbara were planning on going To florida without him And. David he said that He, aaron was
supposed to go To florida to meet them. Later aaron said he was supposed to stay with his grandmother until he made the trip To. Florida then he was going to be reunited with his mother and. Sister aarin admitted that he did break Into david's. Store he stole his stepfather's gun in, cash but he said he did that Because david owed him. Money aaron said he and a friend of his Named David gun had broken in To david's. Shop after that he went. Home he had the gun
and the money with. Him he wanted to Avoid, david so he said he went to his bedroom and locked the. Door while in the, bedroom he claimed he was counting the money and messing around with the, gun putting bullets in it and pulling them. Out he Said david came into his room and found him with the gun and the. Money he said that he and his stepfather got into an. Argument at some, point the argument spilled out into the living. Room aaron said he Told david That barbara hated him
and that they were going to leave. Him aaron said he told his stepfather he wished that he was. Dead, Then aaron claimed that his stepfather was trying to Get aaron to fight. Him aaron said he refused to do that and he left the. House aaron claimed that when he came back to the, house he heard something a, gurgling snoring kind of noise coming From. David david was on the. Couch he noticed there was blood pouring off
of the. Couch he claimed That david was already. Dead aaron said that he was horrified to find his mother and sister dead as. Well he said he believed That david had killed both of them and then turned the gun on. Himself aaron said that when he realized What david had, done he shot his stepfather's body two more times because he was so angry at. Him police Asked daron why he hadn't called the authorities to report that his parents and sister were. Dead he, said, basically he was.
Scared he said that he was afraid that police would blame him for the, killings so he just shut the door to the. House he went out to his own separate area and left them, there and then he threw a party in his part of the, house one that didn't end for several.
Days could this be?
Possible Could aaron have found the bodies, and in some kind of disassociated state of, shock just Moved david into the bedroom and then stayed away gone out with his. Friends after the, interview detectives had to figure out If aaron's version of events was even.
Possible was this just.
A terrified teen who was disassociated from reality after abuse at home or a cold blooded. Killer in the days between his family's deaths and police discovering the, Bodies aaron lived. Large he drove David it's black nineteen eighty NINE gmc pickup truck around. Town he spent the money that he had stolen from the. Shop he also Used david's credit. Cards witnesses told police That aaron spent money on clothes AT. J. C, penny on gas and other, items and That aaron was
Signing david's name for these. Purchases one Of aaron's friends told police he saw receipts for big amounts six hundred to seven hundred, dollars and when friends and family members would Ask arin where his parents, were he told everyone that they were on vacation In. Florida after police Told aaron they found the, bodies he insisted That david had murdered.
Them police talked To david And barbara's. Friends many of them Said david And barbara had a lot of problems With, aaron and one friend Of barbara's confessed something even more. Suspicious she said Both barbara And david had been afraid Of. Erin they said That aaron had issues at, school that he had recently been suspended for a day for making an obscene gesture while the class picture was being, taken.
But things were more serious than just school.
PRANKS a friend Of david's who worked with him at the transmission shop told police That david had Bought aaron A mustang for his sixteenth, birthday but that one condition of buying the car was That aaron had to maintain good, grades But aarin, Didn't his grades slipped and the car was taken. Away Then arin got stopped at THE asu. Campus he gave his name As Aaron flick and apparently used a fake social security.
Number.
Anne david also confided in his friend That arin had choked his Sister andrea because she wouldn't give him. Money david told his friend that he was ready to Leave barbara because he couldn't Discipline aaron the way he wanted, to but he said he wouldn't leave because of his.
Love for his.
Daughter so tensions were rising inside that. House but what could have happened that led to the triple. Homicide friends Of aaron said that he drank and took. Drugs his, grandmother the grandmother he said he was supposed to stay, with was the only one WHO i can find in police interviews who actually had some nice things to say About. Aaron she apparently described him as being a mild mannered.
Person in, fact things had gotten so bad Between aaron and his parents they were planning on sending him to a juvenile facility The Arkansas Baptist Boys ranch In, harrison and the relationship Between aaron and his, Stepfather david was particularly. Tumultuous police talked To aaron's, Friend David. Gunn this friend later testified That aaron asked him if he would drive erin to his stepfather's transmission shop at eleven pm On,
Sunday october, eighth nineteen ninety. Five when they got, There aaron tried his keys in the, door but the keys didn't, work So david said that Anir aaron broke into the shop and then broke open a. Toolbox all there was in there was fifty, dollars Which aaron. Stole the friend testified this seemed to be kind of a surprise To, aaron Because aaron said he expected to find more. Money aaron's friends said That aaron also stole a pistol a holster in shells from the. Toolbox he said That aaron
loaded five shells into that. Pistol after, That David gunn said that he And aaron took a ride and drove to a. Cemetery aaron got out of the car and said.
He needed to.
Think then he came back to the. Car they drove To aaron's. House aaron walked in carrying that stolen. Pistol the next time he Saw aaron was when he was at school the next day driving his stepfather's. Truck police were trying to establish a timeline because of the fact
That aaron was driving the. Truck police believed the family were killed on the night Of october, eighth nineteen ninety, five which means they would have been lying there for five days until the thirteenth or the early morning hours of the, fourteenth when they were. Found more than one person told police it was very unusual For aaron to be driving his stepfather's. Vehicle they knew he did not
normally have permission to drive that. TRUCK a lot of people told Police aaron and his stepfather did not get, along And aaron didn't just drive the truck to school that one. Day he drove his stepfather's truck for several. Days he took his friends to the, Movies he drove Around rector And paragold And jonesboro in the, truck and he threw parties at. Home police talked to a lot of teenagers who said they were drinking and smoking pot
in that apartment all. Week police also talked to a young woman who testified she had sex With aaron in his bedroom off the. Garage some people at the parties said they noticed a bad smell even though the bodies were in the main part of the. House they Said aaron had excus. Uses he told them the sewer was backing. Up he told others it was cat.
Litter he.
Said there was work and remodeling and stuff going on in the main part of the, house so everyone just stayed away from. It it wasn't until much later that these teens realized with horror they had been partying next to three dead. Bodies his friend said during that week That aarin seemed calm and happy and, normal that he told more than one person it was the best week of his.
Life he had.
Plenty of money to spend on purchases and a nice truck to. Drive police found bloody clothing In david's, truck along with a pillow that appeared to have a gunshot hole in. It that was the one they believed the killer used as a. Silencer this didn't seem to make, sense because If aaron's version of the story was, true Then david would have to have killed his wife and, daughter then put that bloody pillow case into the, truck then gone, back lay down on the sofa and shot
himself in the. Head this was something That aaron never really explained in his version of the. Story aaron told police he did not kill his, family but he did tell several different versions of the. Story at, first he said he had no idea what happened to. Them, later according to court, documents he said he didn't remember exactly what, happened but that he could have done. It he admitted to police he hated his. Stepfather he said he felt like he was out of. Control Was aaron being abused at?
Home was this just a fight that got out of, control or was this something much more. Premeditated one friend Of barbara's Named Darlene, bolin Testified david told her specifically that he was afraid Of erin and afraid of quote what was going to. Happen aaron's, Friend David, gunn also Testified aaron had been thinking about killing his. Stepfather he said That aaron told him six months before the murders that he planned to Kill David flick by hitting him
on the head with a wrench and later burying the. Body, Then aaron's friend Said aaron planned to say that his stepfather was. Missing police didn't Believe aaron's, story but there was gunshot residue On David flick's.
Hands an employee of.
The State Crime laboratory Testified David flick's left hand tested positive for gunshot, residue his right hand tested. Negative the problem was most of the gunshot residue was on the wrong, hand Because David flick was right.
Handed when the state crime.
Expert was asked about this in, court she Said david could have had that residue on his hands because he had fired a weapon, recently but it also could have been there for other. Reasons for, example it could have rubbed off On david if his body was dragged away by some person who had gunshot residue on their own. Hands police were not Buying aaron's. Story aaron was charged with triple capital murder for the killings Of, David, barbara And.
Andrea at, Trial aaron's defense attorneys said his, Father David, flick was the, killer that he Killed barbara And andrea and then shot. Himself they claimed That david shot his wife and daughter using his left hand so his non dominant hand to, fire and that he used the pillowcases
as homemade silencers to muffle the. Sounds aaron's lawyers set in court that he was so distraught after coming home and finding his mother and sister's bodies And david lying on the sofa already, dead that he Shot david twice more in the, head and that after trying to cover up the bodies and, blood he basically disassociated with.
Reality at, trial.
The state and the defense painted two very different versions of what was really going on behind closed doors inside The flick. House there was no question there were major
problems in that. Home had hated his, stepfather and at least one Of barbara's close friends testified That aaron's parents were afraid of, him and there were some things that police found that would seem, to at least on the, surface back up some of the things That aaron was saying about infidelity In barbara And david's, relationship because when police searched the transmission, shop they found what was described
as sex paraphernalia in. There according to police, reports there were photographs in that, shop and one of those, photographs according to court, documents seemed to back up the fact That barbara was engaged in some kind of sexual activity and that there were images of, Her but it's really not clear whether that was evidence of her having an affair with someone else or whether the pictures just Showed barbara And, honestly it's confusing because these pictures were in her,
Husband david's, Toolbox so it does beg the, question if it was Showing barbara engaging in, infidelity Why david would keep those pictures in his own. Toolbox that is still a little bit of a. Mystery aaron's attorneys seemed to be making the point that those photographs could have Caused david to fly into a rage and could have led to a volatle argument on the evening Of october, eighth but those photographs were not allowed in. Court even if there was a huge fight in the, home what would
Motivate aarin to kill his? Mother the prosecutors believe that it was the prospect Of david's mother siding with his stepfather and planning to Send erin away to a juvenile.
Home but what about his Sister.
Andrea even If aaron flew into a rage and killed his, stepfather who he admitted to people he, hated and his, mother how could he kill his eleven year old, sister who even those who didn't Like aaron admit.
He seemed to truly.
Love but it turned out That aaron's relationship with his Sister andrea was not straightforward As aaron may have told. People remember that friend Of, david's the one who told police, that according To, David aaron choked his sister because she wouldn't give him. Money that same friend said That david did not want erin in the house because he Said aaron had threatened to Kill andrea if she Told david
About aaron hurting her or stealing her. Money things had gotten so bad that in the three to five months before the, Killings david was so worried he would not Leave andrea alone When aarin was, there And andrea was so scared of her brother that she would lock herself in her. Room the state Claimed aaron did it because he wanted to. Party they introduced evidence of his behavior during the week after the murders to speak to his
state of. Mind they said he drank, smoke, pot had sex and three, parties that he spent his stepfather's money and stole his credit. Cards they claimed that he had no rem and that one Of aaron's motives in killing his victims was his desire to engage in a hedonistic, lifestyle one that presumably he could not have engaged in unless there were no adult. Witnesses Aaron hodge was found. Guilty when asked by the judge if he had anything to, Say.
Aaron, Replied i'm not.
Guilty at the, time The Circuit court was required to Sentence aron to the mandatory sentence life without the possibility of, parole so in nineteen ninety, Six Aaron hodge was sent to serve his time in maximum security at The East Arkansas Regional unit In, marianna where he has been for the last twenty nine. Years Aaron hodge is still in, prison but he has a, Girlfriend. Jennifer jennifer Met aaron as a. Child they reac connected much later when she
was going through a divorce in her. Forties jennifer said she believes In aaron's.
INNOCENCE i think we were probably about nine ten years, old and he lived right around the corner from my, grandma SO i saw him all the time with his, sister and our friends were kind of all the, same AND i mean it was just an odd, Thing LIKE i remember. SEVENTEEN i didn't talk to him from when
he was seventeen until about about three and a half years. Ago, NOW i guess every year that he, went you, know he'd have to come over here To, johnsboro And i'm not even really sure for, what but he would have to come over here And i'd see him on THE ki two would slash that picture and it just break my heart because he just looks but that's not even what he looks. Like for, One i'll send you a picture, too that's not even any of the pictures you see
of me looks so scary and he's. Not he does not even look like.
That jennifer.
Said she And aaron started writing letters to each, other which led to video, visits and then, eventually she said that he opened up about what he claimed happened during that fateful week In october in nineteen ninety.
Seven she had cheated And aaron was going out in his face Because aaron had gotten them and he was a punk, kid and he'll tell you, that he, Said but that doesn't MEAN i killed my, mom you. Know and they were into. It she was into it with. Him aaron left to go to his friend's, house was gone not long at. All when he came, back he, said he walked, in he's heard something gurgling or, whatever all the exact, words but his mom and sister were dead and his stepdad had shot himself and he put
three more rounds. In it might believe it's his, words but again that needs to come from. Him but it's always been the. Same it's never changed, ever not. Once eight months in is when he started opening up about. It and Then i'd had a teenager go through adolescents who we just, had you, know just buck wild and
went through. Stuff and SO i think that's WHY i was put in the situation to be able to understand and hear it WHEN i, did and oh my, GOSH i, MEAN i JUST i remember when he told this story to me the first, time all the way, through my knee. BUCKLED i, mean they just boockled BECAUSE i, KNEW i knew in my heart that he was killing the.
Truth in twenty, twelve there was another strange twist in this case because THE Us Supreme court decided that mandatory life without the possibility of parole sentences for miners were. Unconstitutional so that meant people under the age of eighteen who were given a sentence of life without parole could be eligible for. Resentencing this Included Aaron, hodge so this paved the way For aaron to get another sentencing, hearing which happened On december, sixth twenty twenty, two once again
information was presented to a jury in Craig Head. County that jury Gave aaron a sentence of thirty, years which meant that with time, Served Aaron hodge could be free in as little as three, years which.
Would be the year twenty twenty.
Five he was eligible for parole before and went before the parole board in twenty twenty, three but the information THAT i could find said that the parole hearing that happened in twenty twenty three was. Deferred so as of, Today Aaron hodge is still behind, bars but he could be free very. Soon jennifer said that her family had expressed concerns about her relationship With, aaron but she says some of them now believe That aaron is a changed.
MAN i was, like, look just go back down telling you and he was this completely different. Person he Found, god he you, know and everything he's saying out That he's, LIKE i just want to have a house on the end of the road with a dog and be able to see a, sunset AND i see.
It aaron continues to maintain his innocence as he has for the past thirty, years and his girlfriend says she believes that he should be.
Released he talks about the sunset and goes over and, over and he, said the first TIME i get out of him and take a picture of the, sunset where WERE I Whatever i'm, doing And i'm going to post it on My facebook with my, name And i'm not gonna, hide because you know, what everybody want to delve their, life and they, did and they'll answer To god for. That but this is my, turn And i'm going to be exactly Who i'm going to, be And i'm going to Thank god for it and realize how LUCKY i am every.
Day of, course not everyone agreed with. This family members and people close to the victims believed the rightful killer was and is behind, bars and that releasing him will be dangerous to the. Community aaron has had several disciplinary
violations while incarcerated at The East Arkansas REGIONAL. MAX a petition on change dot org that has been circulated by supporters of the victims' families claimed that the rescenencing hearing was biased Because aaron was able to, quote introduce new, evidence and spew wise and hatred on the stand all the while us the victims were told to either stick with what was said in the original try or have
our victim impact statements heavily edited end quote this. Petition justice for The flicks said they believe that quote the people Of, Rector arkansas on, us the victims who were called to retestify and or to read victim's impact statements are all potentially in danger of his wrath once he is.
Released end.
Quote they have asked that people reading the petition contact the local government representatives to voice their opinions about the danger of Releasing. Aron so, far this petition has gotten one, thousand two hundred.
And sixty seven.
Signatures considering that there are only one eight hundred and twenty three people In, Rector, arkansas two hundred and sixty seven people signing a petition is a huge. Number many of the people who attended parties At aaron's house during the week That aaron was there with his family's bodies have commented on social media that they they are afraid that When aaron gets, out that he'll remember that they
talk to the. Police does the fact that he continues to deny the killings mean that he has disassociated himself from, them.
Or that he has no.
Remorse as the clock ticks down to his, release the community continues to be. Divided I'm Katherine. Townsend this Is Helen Gone Murder. Line Helen Gone murderline is a production Of school Of humans And iHeart. Podcasts it's written and narrated by Me Catherine townsend and produced By Gabby. Watts special thanks To Amy tubbs for her research assistance and For James wheaton for legal. Review noah camer mixed and scored this. Episode our theme song is By Ben. Sale
executive producers Are Virginia, Prescott Brandon, barr and. L. C. Crowley listen To Helen gone ad free by subscribing to The iHeart True Crime plus channel On Apple. Podcasts if you were interested in seeing documents and materials from the, case you can follow the show On instagram At helen. Gonpod if you have a case you'd like me and my team to look, into you can reach out to us at Our Helen Gone Murder line at six seven
eight seven four four six one four or. Five that's six, seven eight seven four four six one four or.
Five school Of humans