Menu
Sign In Search Podcasts Charts People & Topics Add Podcast API Blog Pricing
Podcast Image

The Binge Crimes: Fatal Fantasy

Fatal Fantasy | 4. The Springtime War

23 Mar 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the premise of the Underworld game in Fatal Fantasy?

0.031 - 16.814 Unknown

Hi, Binge Crew. When you're finished listening to this true crime story, go see Hunting Matthew Nichols in theaters. This film has all the elements of the true crime stories we love. A sprawling mystery, intrepid investigators, powerful people who know more than they let on.

0

17.935 - 40.986 Unknown

Two decades after her brother mysteriously disappeared on Vancouver Island, a documentary filmmaker sets out to solve his missing persons case. But when a disturbing piece of evidence is revealed, she comes to believe her brother might still be alive. The film is in select theaters now, but you can immerse yourself in the story by going to huntingmatthewnichols.com right now.

0

41.507 - 46.795 Unknown

That's huntingmatthewnichols.com. And welcome to The Hunt.

0

48.327 - 75.178 M. William Phelps

Listen to all episodes of Fatal Fantasy ad-free right now by subscribing to The Binge. Visit The Binge channel on Apple Podcasts and hit subscribe at the top of the page or visit getthebinge.com to get access wherever you listen. The Binge. Feed your true crime obsession.

0

79.563 - 96.88 Kyle Yulbert

Hello, this is a prepaid call from... I am the Kyle. An inmate at Virginia Department of Corrections, Buckingham Correctional. To accept this call, press 0. To refuse this call, hang up or press...

97.13 - 125.905 M. William Phelps

Once he was locked up, Kyle Uelbert began calling and talking me through his version of what happened. It's more or less what he also confessed to Loudoun County investigators. Incidentally, Kyle's signature way of introducing himself, as you heard, I am the Kyle, is his rather narcissistic way of saying there is only one Kyle in this world and that he is that person.

127.218 - 155.132 M. William Phelps

By December 12th, 2001, Kyle, his best friend, Mike Fole, and Mike's girlfriend, Katie Inglis, were in custody. Kyle was the last of the three to be picked up by investigators and hadn't revealed a whole lot about what happened that night. Then, as I mentioned in the last episode, Katie decided to fully cooperate and cut a deal, which kind of pissed Kyle off.

157.272 - 170.053 Kyle Yulbert

Because of the way she talked and the way she made out like she and Michael knew everything. And this is one of the things I wanted to get clear on the record. This is one of the things I really want you to make sure that you air for people. First thing she did when she found out she was in trouble, she made a deal with people.

170.253 - 176.563 Kyle Yulbert

So she's got the incentive to come up with whatever bullshit that sounds convincing to them to secure their case so that she doesn't get any fucking time.

Chapter 2: How does Kyle Uelbert's mental state affect his actions?

527.435 - 545.984 M. William Phelps

So with his sword secured safely in its scabbard on his hip, Kyle took off running toward the Schwartz residence. The knight on the move to rescue the princess, with Saba and Nicodemus following close behind. So you, you know, you show up at the door. I mean, what does he say?

0

546.766 - 565.512 Kyle Yulbert

Uh, first thing, first thing, what? And looking at it now, it's like, yeah, I just got woke up at seven o'clock in the morning after a week of working from this straight fucking creepy fucker at my door. Yeah, I'm not going to be in the best happy, happy, joy, joy mood.

0

565.532 - 581.885 Kyle Yulbert

Like, I guess he saw me and was like, clearly you're one of her friends, you know, kind of ideally, but like, you know, it's just, It was more the look than anything. I was like, hey, I'm here to, you know, my usual, you know, I'm the Kyle, you know, cheerful self. You know, I'm here to pick up Clara, you know? And it's like, she's still asleep. And then I was like, oh, okay.

0

581.905 - 583.347 Kyle Yulbert

I guess I'll come back later.

0

584.368 - 597.004 M. William Phelps

Dr. Schwartz stared into Kyle's eyes. A steely gaze. This intense squint. And posed a question. That sword on your hip. What in the hell is that all about?

597.355 - 602.881 Kyle Yulbert

I told him I carried it with me everywhere. It's not like it's hidden. It's right there on my hip where it can be seen.

603.541 - 611.95 M. William Phelps

Saba and Nicodemus are there at the door with Kyle as well. They are telling him to turn around. Leave. Don't do it.

612.791 - 618.757 Kyle Yulbert

Yeah, they're not feeling good about this. There's a lot of danger here. There's a lot of factors that we can't control.

619.177 - 653.772 M. William Phelps

Dr. Schwartz couldn't see Saba or Nicodemus, however, because, well, after all... They are not real. Both are voices inside Kyle's head, which he had listened to, along with many others, since he was six years old. Kyle sometimes gets the help he needs as a diagnosed schizophrenic, like medication, but at this point in his life, he has refused to take his meds.

Chapter 3: What role does Clara Schwartz play in the narrative of the Springtime War?

1844.859 - 1858.16 M. William Phelps

By December 6, 2001, just two days before the murder, Clara amped up the urgency to get it done. She called Kyle. You need to take care of this, she said. Now.

0

1859.823 - 1872.365 Kyle Yulbert

And she tells me, I just had a fight with my dad, the OG, that's how she said it. He told me that when we go to the Virgin Islands for Christmas vacation, he was going to make sure I didn't come back.

0

1872.385 - 1882.92 M. William Phelps

The investigators would be able to confirm that Dr. Schwartz had reservations for all of his kids and himself to spend Christmas in the Virgin Islands.

0

1884.742 - 1900.992 Kyle Yulbert

She's distraught, and this is just As you imagine, hitting all the right buttons for me is, you know, oh, my God, I have to protect her. And she tells me I have to protect her. I can't let him hurt her. Remember those being her words. You know, you have to protect me, Kyle. You can't let him hurt me.

0

1902.334 - 1926.616 Kyle Yulbert

When she hangs up, I put on the phone and I'm sitting there trying to figure out, OK, this is just escalated from abuse to threats of actual bodily harm. I'm not sure what to do. Part of me wants to go over there right then and have it out with him. Michael and I and Katie planned to get together that weekend, so I figured, well, at the very least I can go there.

1926.776 - 1936.531 Kyle Yulbert

And if he's actually this kind of bully, if I go there and I intimidate him and I threaten him to leave her alone, that somebody knows what's going on, then he'll leave her alone.

1939.034 - 1952.408 M. William Phelps

A turning point comes. Kyle explains to Clara that he needs money. Okay, she says, how much? $60? Clara herself admitted this early in the investigation.

1953.569 - 1977.259 Kyle Yulbert

Clara told me about the $60 check that she had overnighted to Kyle Halbert, and I inquired what the check was for, and she said a phone card, but On further elaboration, it came out that it was also for gloves and a do-rag.

1977.279 - 2008.244 M. William Phelps

Clara overnighted a check written out to Kyle along with a note. Handwritten, in all caps, what's needed and expected. Kyle was firm about saying he never asked Clara for money to kill her father. After all, $60 is not exactly a murder for hire number. He claimed he told Clara the money was a payment for a porn site he liked. I've been involved in true crime for over 26 years.

Comments

There are no comments yet.

Please log in to write the first comment.