Bitter Blood: The Shocking True Crime Story of the Lynch and Newsom Families

Introduction
On June 3, 1985, a Chevy Blazer exploded on a quiet country road in Summerfield, North Carolina. Inside were Dr. Frederick “Fritz” Klenner, his lover and first cousin Susie Newsom Lynch, and her two young sons. All four perished in the fiery blast, bringing to a grisly end one of the strangest and most disturbing sagas in North Carolina’s true crime history. The events that led to this moment involved lies, incest, a bitter custody battle, multiple murders across two states, and the unraveling of two once-respected Southern families. The case became known as the ‘Bitter Blood’ murders, immortalized in Jerry Bledsoe’s bestselling book and later dramatized in film and television.

Two Families, a Custody Battle, and Cousin Lovers
The roots of the tragedy lay in the lives of Susie Sharp Newsom Lynch and Dr. Fritz Klenner. Susie was born into the Winston-Salem aristocracy, niece of Susie Sharp, the first female chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. She married Tom Lynch, but the marriage soured, and by 1983 they were locked in a bitter custody battle over their two sons, John and James. During this period, Susie began an affair with her first cousin, Fritz Klenner. Though Fritz styled himself as a successful physician and CIA operative, in reality he was a fantasist, a medical school dropout who lived in a world of lies and paranoia. He admired Adolf Hitler, stockpiled weapons, and convinced himself and others that he was engaged in clandestine operations.

The Kentucky Murders (1984)
On May 18, 1984, Susie’s former mother-in-law, Delores Lynch, and her daughter Janie were brutally murdered in Oldham County, Kentucky. Both were shot execution-style in what investigators initially thought might be a mafia-style hit. This killing was meant to frame Tom Lynch, Susie’s ex-husband, painting him as involved in organized crime. The murders shocked Kentucky and puzzled law enforcement, but connections to North Carolina would soon become clear.

The North Carolina Murders (1985)
In May 1985, tragedy struck again. Susie’s parents, Robert and Hattie Newsom, and her grandmother Florence were found shot dead in Winston-Salem. The murders bore hallmarks of a professional hit, but suspicion quickly fell on Fritz Klenner and Susie. Klenner had drawn a young friend, Ian Perkins, into his schemes, convincing him that they were part of a CIA operation. Perkins was manipulated into driving and assisting without fully realizing the bloody reality of what was unfolding.

The Summerfield Blast
On June 3, 1985, law enforcement moved in on Klenner and Susie. They fled in Fritz’s Chevy Blazer with Susie’s sons in the backseat. The vehicle was packed with weapons, grenades, and explosives. A low-speed chase ensued. Fritz opened fire on officers before detonating the explosives, killing himself, Susie, and the boys instantly. Forensic reports later confirmed that the boys had been poisoned with cyanide and shot before the final explosion, a chilling detail underscoring the desperation of Fritz and Susie’s final act.

Klenner’s Delusions and Double Life
Fritz Klenner lived a life built on deception. He claimed to be a practicing doctor in Durham, a CIA agent, and a patriot on secret missions. In reality, he had dropped out of medical school and fabricated his entire professional life. He admired Hitler, kept a massive arsenal of weapons and explosives, and spun elaborate tales that drew in otherwise unsuspecting people. Even his family accepted his lies, allowing him to continue unchecked until his fantasies turned lethal.

The Fallout
After the explosion, investigators discovered an arsenal that included thousands of rounds of ammunition, dynamite, grenades, and poison. Ian Perkins, who had served as an unwitting accomplice, received a light sentence because of his manipulated involvement. The incestuous relationship between Susie and Fritz, combined with the annihilation of nearly two entire families, shocked the public. The story highlighted the dangers of unchecked delusion, pride, and secrecy within prominent families.

Media and Cultural Legacy
The case received widespread media coverage. Jerry Bledsoe’s 1988 book ‘Bitter Blood’ became a #1 New York Times bestseller, providing a detailed narrative of the murders and their aftermath. In 1994, CBS aired the miniseries ‘In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness,’ bringing the story to a national television audience. More recently, podcasts like ‘Southern Fried True Crime,’ ‘Southern Mysteries,’ and ‘Hometown Tragedy’ have revisited the case, ensuring its place in the annals of true crime lore. The combination of incest, cyanide, explosives, and social prominence makes the Bitter Blood murders one of the most disturbing true crime stories in the South.

Themes and Analysis
The Bitter Blood murders resonate because they represent a collision of family pride, secrecy, and unchecked delusion. Susie’s privileged upbringing and Fritz’s fantasy world combined in a toxic relationship that left devastation in its wake. The case underscores how domestic disputes, when mixed with instability and obsession, can escalate into violence. It also shows how family members, friends, and even institutions failed to question Fritz’s lies until it was too late.

Conclusion
Nearly four decades later, the Bitter Blood murders remain one of North Carolina’s darkest true crime stories. They continue to fascinate because of their shocking blend of taboo romance, deception, and cold-blooded violence. The murders serve as a grim reminder of how secrets and lies, left unchecked, can destroy even the most respected families.

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