Historical True Crime Storyteller
Creator of Sweet Tea Murders

Discover the stories the South almost forgot.

Step into another time, meet people whose secrets outlived them, and follow the evidence behind remarkable Southern crimes. Along the way, discover what happened—and understand the human choices that made it happen.

Welcome to Sweet Tea Murders, where carefully researched history meets the warmth of Southern storytelling. Pull up a chair for an evening of mystery over supper, bring an absorbing presentation to your organization, walk the streets where history unfolded, or settle in with a book that keeps you turning pages.

Your guide is Michael Earl Simmons, Historical True Crime Storyteller and creator of Sweet Tea Murders. Drawing on three decades in policing, including homicide investigations, Michael helps you notice the revealing details, question easy explanations, and see familiar places through fresh eyes. Every story is told with respect for the people who lived it.

Come for the mystery. Leave knowing the story.

Step Inside the Story

Retired Pensacola Police homicide investigator and author Michael Earl Simmons brings forgotten Southern history, courtroom lore, and unsolved mysteries to life across four distinct experiences:

Historic Tours: Step beneath the live oaks and historic brick pavers of downtown Pensacola—where Michael spent more than thirty years walking the beat. You will trace the exact perimeter where five historic crimes unfolded and hear unforgettable accounts standing right where the history took place.

Supper Stories: Pull up a chair for an unhurried evening of slow-smoked Southern barbecue and cold sweet tea in Mason jars. Each dinner features an intimate, parlor-style deep dive into an authentic regional case almost forgotten by time.

The Bookshelf: Explore Michael’s published shelf of documented Southern crime, law enforcement heritage, and forgotten Gulf Coast case files. Written with an investigator’s discipline and front-porch warmth, these are stories you will not want to put down.

Guest Speaking: Bring authentic historical crime and investigative storytelling directly to your gathering. Michael travels across the region to speak to civic clubs, historic societies, colleges, and private events—sharing both local and customized out-of-town cases with an unhurried, front-porch cadence.

The Difference – The “Case File Experience“

We Leave the Projector Behind. You Open the File.

Most speakers rely on slide decks and bullet points. Michael Earl Simmons puts history directly into your hands. Every attendee receives an individual, confidential evidence dossier—complete with archival photographs, original crime scene maps, and primary source documents. Alongside a 30-year veteran investigator, your room examines the records, pieces together the clues, and steps directly into the investigation.