This four-part series explores one of Asheville, North Carolina’s oldest and most perplexing cold cases: the 1927 death of Mary Cooper, a wealthy widow whose body was discovered just steps from her home
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Episode 1: Death of Mary Cooper
May 12, 2025
In May 1927, the quiet Asheville, North Carolina neighborhood of Montford was rocked by a shocking discovery. Mary Cooper—a respected widow known for her kindness and community spirit—was found dead in a vacant lot near her home. Investigators made a quick determination, but not everyone agreed with their conclusion. In this first episode of Mystery on Montford Avenue, we explore the life of Mary Cooper, the atmosphere of 1920s Asheville, and the troubling details that began to surface after her death. What really happened on Montford Avenue that spring night?
Music: “Out of the Mines” and “Devouring the Whole”, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina
Episode 2: Rising Suspicions
May 12, 2025
Hours after Mary Cooper was buried in Riverside Cemetery, her case took a shocking turn. As investigators reexamine their theory, suspicion turns toward the people who lived inside Mary’s home. Listen as the investigation deepens and a quiet Asheville neighborhood is pulled into the mystery.
Music: “Out of the Mines” and “Devouring the Whole”, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina
Episode 3: Persecuted, Not Prosecuted
May 12, 2025
In the summer of 1927, Anna Montague stood trial for the death of Mary Cooper. As testimony unfolds, shocking evidence and conflicting accounts raise new questions. Was the case against Anna Montague as solid as it seemed?
Music: “Out of the Mines” and “Devouring the Whole”, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina
Episode 4: Verdict and Aftermath
May 12, 2025
In the final episode of Mystery on Montford Avenue, we explore the fallout from the case and how this mystery faded into the shadows of Asheville’s past.
Music: “Out of the Mines” and “Devouring the Whole”, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina
Faces behind the mystery
Places behind the mystery
Sources
This podcast series was researched using dozens of archival sources, newspaper accounts, and legal documents from 1927–1961. The complete list of referenced materials used in all four chapters of Southern Mysteries Serial: Mystery on Montford Avenue is available here.
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