LEXINGTON, KY — Pastor David Holbrook, 51, of Ridgewood Baptist Church, inadvertently broadcast approximately thirty seconds of the true crime podcast “Murder in the Hollow” through the sanctuary’s PA system Sunday morning after his phone’s Bluetooth automatically connected to the worship speakers as he walked from the parking lot to his office.

The incident occurred at 9:47 a.m., during the pre-service instrumental prelude, when the soft piano arrangement of “Be Thou My Vision” was abruptly replaced by a narrator describing the disappearance of a woman from rural Kentucky in 1987. The 280 congregants already seated heard the words “the blood evidence was inconsistent with” before sound technician Drew Paulson, 23, located the correct fader and cut the feed.

“I thought it was a sermon illustration at first,” said longtime member Barb Hostetler, 68. “A dark one, but I was willing to see where it went.”

“I listen to true crime to unwind. That is a sentence I now have to say to my entire congregation, and I understand how it sounds.”

Holbrook, visibly flushed, addressed the incident from the pulpit before his sermon, explaining that he “has a long commute” and that the podcast “is very well-researched.” He added that his other regular listens include a church leadership podcast and a show about woodworking, “in case anyone was wondering.”

Several congregants told reporters the incident had actually increased their trust in the pastor. “It’s nice to know he’s a real person,” said Carl Bridges, 45. “Also, I listen to the same podcast. It’s excellent.”

At press time, Paulson had taped a handwritten sign to the sound booth reading “BLUETOOTH: OFF. ALWAYS. NO EXCEPTIONS.” and Holbrook had switched to wired earbuds.