The Powell Family Tragedy: Will There Ever Be Answers?

February 07, 2012

[ By Dr. Kenneth J. Ryan, a criminologist at California State University. Here's his take on the recent horrific crime making headline news this week. Read his Bio >> ] 

A little past noon on Sunday, February 5, 2012, Joshua Powell murdered his children, Braden, 5, and Charlie, 7,and took his own life in a deliberately set gas explosion.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, the explosion that destroyed Powell’s Puyallup, Washington home was the result of a murder-suicide.  Moments before the explosion took the lives of Powell and his children he sent emails to his attorney, family and friends saying, “I’m sorry, goodbye.”  In voicemails left to relatives Powell said, I am not able to live without my sons.”

Autopsy results of the children later revealed that they perished of smoke inhalation; however, both boys had been attacked with a hatchet.  Charles suffered a hatchet wound to the neck and younger brother Braden had been struck in the neck and head by Powell.  According to autopsies, hatchet wounds were not the cause of death of either child.  It is speculated by authorities that after failing to kill the children with his hatchet, Powell ignited a five gallon can of gasoline at their feet and the explosion that followed caused their deaths.

 

Powell lost custody of his children following the disappearance of his wife Susan in December 2009 when the investigation led to the discovery of child pornography in the family home.  Powell’s father Steven was charged in the crime and was in custody at the time of the blast.

A custody battle raged between Powell and his missing wife’s parents Charles and Judith Cox who were given custody of the children following the grandfather’s arrest.  A petition to regain custody filed in a Washington State Superior Court was dismissed and Powell was ordered to be examined for psycho-sexual disorders. 

Early Sunday afternoon a contract worker for the state delivered the two little boys to the Powell home for a scheduled, supervised visit.  Apparently the children ran ahead of the case worker and Powell, who had been waiting outside, brought the boys into the house and locked the door behind them.  The case worker knocked on the door and smelled gas, but Powell never answered.  Apparently Powell attacked the children with his hatchet as soon as they entered the residence.  As the case worker was notifying her supervisor that Powell was alone with the children, the house exploded in a fireball, killing everyone inside.  The bodies of the children were found in a central room with their father.

 

According to CBS News, the children recently had begun to relate additional details regarding the disappearance of their mother Susan, 28.  Powell always maintained that his wife had walked away from the marriage when he and the children went on an impromptu camping excursion on a snowy, frozen Utah night in late 2009.  However, in published reports the boys told investigators that on the night of their mother’s disappearance, she had accompanied them “in the trunk” and later she walked into the desert with Powell.  When he returned alone, he is alleged to have told the children that “mommy got lost.”

With these revelations and presuming their veracity, it is easy to speculate that the single-most important witnesses in the disappearance of Susan Powell have been silenced.  The murders of these children are inexplicable, except that perhaps their father did not want them to testify against him in a criminal court.  Consider that Powell has been described as a narcissist and recently had been ordered to undergo a court-ordered psycho-sexual evaluation.  Given the recent revelations of the children, Powell surely was threatened with being charged as a murder suspect.  He may have seen no other way out than to murder the children and himself.  The witnesses against him are now forever silenced and he will never be tried for killing his wife as the children’s statements clearly infer.

West Valley, Utah police have issued a statement that they are not yet sure how these developments will impact the investigation into the disappearance of Susan Powell.  Josh Powell had always been a point of interest in the disappearance of his wife and all roads lead directly to him, according to investigators.  And now, but to find Susan Powell, there is little left to do but bury the children.

 

 Share Your Thoughts About This Case On Our Facebook Page

 

 

 

Powell explosion credit:
Pierce County Sheriff's deputies and Graham Firefighters work around the smoldering remains of a house near Fredrickson, Wash., Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, where, according to a sheriff's spokesman, three bodies were were found. The bodies are believed to be Josh Powell and his two sons. The explosion occurred moments after a Child Protective Services worker brought the two boys to the home for a supervised visit. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Susan Powell credit:
A flier seeking information on the whereabouts of Susan Powell, who was reported missing Dec. 7, 2009, in Utah, is shown, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009, at a press conference in Puyallup, Wash. Powell's family said Thursday they are saddened but not surprised that her husband Josh Powell has been named a person of interest in the investigation. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Josh Powell credit:
In this Aug. 23, 2011 file photo, Josh Powell, husband of missing Utah woman Susan Cox Powell, walks to a court hearing in Tacoma, Wash. An explosion at a Washington state home has killed Josh Powell and the couple's two young sons, officials said Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Just Another Day at the Office: Child Murderer Brunn Commits Suicide

January 23, 2012

[ By Dr. Kenneth J. Ryan, a criminologist at California State University.  Read his Bio >> ] 

Justice was swift indeed.  It was just before Christmas, on December 2, 2011, that Ryan Brunn lured
7 year-old Jorelys Rivera into a vacant apartment in Canton, Georgia where he raped, tortured and murdered her.  Thereafter, Brunn placed Rivera’s body in a garbage bag and then discarded her remains in a nearby trash compactor.  When police responded to the report of a missing child they were told how little Jorelys left for home a few hours earlier to get sodas for her friends.  She never returned. 

According to published reports, Canton Police and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office have come under fire for mishandling the case.  In retrospect, at the time, why would the police take the disappearance of a 7 year-old girl seriously?  Jorelys’ mother Joselinne routinely let the children go unsupervised and the girl was probably just hiding at a friend’s house.  Besides, other little girls have gone missing from this apartment complex and they reappeared.  It was just another day at the office and surely nothing happened to Jorelys. It’s just a waiting game in which the child surely will reappear and life will go on.

Police Chief Jeff Lance took a morning off during the search, which in my experience isn’t necessarily a bad thing during a murder investigation.  Chiefs who “take over” murder investigations are more often in the way, than not; however, Chief Lance was considered too laid back in his handling of the incident and ultimately lost his job.  Still, murder investigations should be handled by murder investigators, not executive policymakers; even in towns with as few as 50 police employees and a handful of detectives.  Common sense dictates as much in any case.  Whether the chief was there or not, little Jorelys lie dead in a dumpster of the apartment complex where she had lived and where her murderer worked as a laborer.  Nothing Lance might do could change that.

In time, little Jorelys was found.  Days had passed since she was murdered.  By then Brunn had surfaced as the prime suspect.  He was arrested and soon thereafter confessed, to the surprise of friends and relatives who publicly had maintained his innocence.  Brunn later testified before the judge who sentenced him that he lured the little girl into an apartment, raped her and then cut her.  When she didn’t die fast enough, Brunn beat her to death.  And then he discarded her small body in a trash compactor. 

However, Brunn had failed to consider how long it would be before the trash would be collected.  It was just another day at the office for the apartment complex laborer and he had not given a thought to trash pick-up schedules.  For investigators, this would be a break.  Little Jorelys lay in the apartment trash for 3 days as police searched all around her. 

In the end, Brunn pled guilty to Murder and was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.  He was transferred to the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson where he was evaluated and found not to be a suicide risk.  Brunn was then placed in a cell by himself and no precautions were taken to safeguard him from harm.  After all, it was just another day at the office at the Georgia State Prison and no precautions should be necessary.  Brunn’s body was found hanging in his cell, dead of a suicide less than 50 days after he murdered Jorelys Rivera.

 And meanwhile an angry Georgia public, outraged over the death of a child, blames local police for inaction.  According to the autopsy, little Jorelys was already dead by the time Canton Police were notified that she was missing.  And nothing that the police might have done will change that, except one thing.  There will never be just another day at the office in Canton, Georgia ever again.

Have thoughts on this post? Give us your comments

 

Related Links:
>>Video: Kidnapping Jaycee Dugard
>>Video: The Adam Walsh Story
>>On TV: Disappeared

Casey Anthony Lawyer to Judge: ‘Exclude All Costs’ of Investigation

September 23, 2011

Detectives ‘knew within 24 hours’ that Anthony was lying

[This article is by contributing writer Ivy Bigbee. She is a Washington, D.C.-based writer.]

 

ORLANDO, FLA – Casey Anthony doesn’t want to bear any costs of investigating her “missing” child, her lawyer, Lisabeth Fryer relates, nor does the publicly-despised liar want to reimburse the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for “ . . . costs incurred in investigating and prosecuting the four misdemeanor convictions for which the defendant was convicted.” 

On September 21, Fryer filed a response to the state’s “Revised Investigative Costs Expense Reports of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.”  After ruling that district attorney Linda Drane Burdick clarify her initial accounting, Judge Belvin Perry decided that Anthony must pay more than $97,000 of $500,000 expenses incurred during the investigation and prosecution of the 25-year-old morally bankrupt woman.

Fryer:  State failed to establish costs

In the defendant’s response to the state’s revised bill, Fryer notes, “It is not possible to ascertain . . . how many investigatory hours and which efforts were related solely to the four misdemeanor convictions with because the costs have not been established . . . the details of the work done is vague, or the hours . . . are questionable. 

Citing United Stages v Fowler (1986), Casey’s attorney put forth a tenuous, oblique argument, saying, “ . . .  the [state’s] affidavits . . . failed to establish the relationship of the efforts to the convictions by a preponderance of the evidence.”

Arguing that because the Sheriff’s Department knew within twenty-four hours that the statements made by Ms Anthony were untruthful, Fryer holds that the costs were related to the more serious charges, and are therefore not allowable, because a defendant who has not been proven guilty of that crime—in Anthony’s case, the more serious charges, of which she was acquitted—does not have to pay for costs associated with that prosecution.

We think we’ve got that.

Citing United Stages v Fowler (1986), Casey’s attorney put forth a tenuous, oblique argument, saying, “ . . .  the [state’s] affidavits . . . failed to establish the relationship of the efforts to the convictions by a preponderance of the evidence.”

 It is noteworthy, and not surprising, that Frye’s strategy and reasoning reflect Jose Baez’s closing remarks at trial, during which the lead defense attorney argued before the jury that the state had failed to produce evidence that Anthony killed her toddler daughter, Caylee.

Given the embittered aftermath of the murder trial watched worldwide, Anthony and her lawyers may be in for rough treatment and fewer rulings that go their way, a phenomenon that appears to be shaping the Conrad Murray/Michael Jackson manslaughter trial set to begin in California on September 28.

Casey Anthony, cash cow:  Moo-ve on down the road

Her earning potential characterized by six-figure licensing fees, book and movie deals, etc., Casey Anthony eventually may consider $97,000 to be a nominal expense for walking. 

Her lawyers already may be considering the district attorney’s bill as another one of their investments in Casey Anthony, Cash Cow:  Wherein the legal team decides to moo-ve on down the road.  With greener pastures in sight, their newly-acquitted client contentedly will serve out her year of supervised probation, as lucrative offers continue to appear.

The Susan Powell Disappearance: A Murder Motive Surfaces

August 29, 2011

 [ By Dr. Kenneth J. Ryan, a criminologist at California State University.  Read his Bio >> ]

Josh Powell of West Valley, Utah, has told police that one night in early December 2009, in the middle of a blinding snowstorm, he went camping in the desert with his two toddler sons.  When he returned from his tent in the frozen wilderness, he learned that his wife Susan had vanished.  The reason she disappeared, it is alleged, is that she was pretty and flirty, promiscuous and unstable.  Doubtless she had run away with someone else.  Indeed, it makes perfect sense that the wife of a man who disappeared in the middle of the night, in the middle of a blizzard, to go to the middle of nowhere with her small children, may consider leaving her husband.  But would she leave without her kids, without ever contacting anyone in her circle of friends, without ever again contacting her own family?  It stretches the imagination.

However, it is not outside the grasp of reality that Powell is telling the truth, so far at least.  Consider that the couple had an argument, she was acting irrationally or perhaps even dangerously; there would be no resolution to the fight on that December night.  And so, Powell abandoned ship and took his little ones to a safer and quieter place, meaning to a tent in a blizzard in the middle of the desert.  It was a domestic spat and nothing more; perhaps not the first.  When the family returned, mom was gone.  It makes some sense, right up until Steve Powell, Josh’s father, kicked in with a motive for murder.  The senior Powell, described by Susan to her friends as “creepy,” recently announced to the press that he had enjoyed a protracted sexual affair with his son’s wife.  And, that could be a motive for murder.

In a general sense, once a motive for murder is established, homicide investigators often have a clear path to a suspect’s identity.  Greed, jealousy, insanity, rage -- all are frequent motives for murder.  Until recently, police had little evidence of a motive for Susan Powell’s murder or even strong evidence that she was murdered at all.  Whether it’s true or not, Steve Powell’s fascinating revelation has provided police with a tidy motive.  Consider for a moment that it is true.  Would Josh Powell be jealous enough to murder his wife?  Or, consider that it is not true.  But, Steve Powell told his son that he had sexual relations with Susan nevertheless.  The scenarios are virtually endless and there seems to be a motive for murder at any turn.  Now it is up to the police to sort this neurotic mess: the husband who camps in the snow in the middle of the night; the father-in-law who claims that he had sex with his son’s wife; and the pretty, flirty mom who never came home.  Thanks, Dad.

Photo Credit: Image Source/Corbis

 

More on InvestigationDiscovery.com

Crimes of the Century
Fearbook: Most Gruesome Killers
Crime Countdown: Top 10 Lists
Quizzes: Test Your Knowledge of the Notorious

Meet the Bleep: Divorce Drives Man into a “Dirty DUI” Set Up

August 15, 2011

Stories of downright dirty deception, exposed

 

credit: Tom Mareschal/Getty Images

 

Meet the Bleep: Court is still out on the biggest bleep, but there’s definitely one somewhere in this story…

 

The Betrayal:
When Dave Dutcher’s Match.com date flashed him her breasts in a bar on their second romantic evening out, and then extended him an invitation to join her and another woman in hot tub paradise, Dave had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

Perhaps Dave should have also tried to recite his ABCs backwards and walk a straight line before following the women out of the bar and getting into his pickup truck. Shortly after he watched the women speed away in a car in front of him, Dave was pulled over by an officer and slapped with a DUI charge.

The Break:
Two years later, in the midst of a police corruption investigation focused on a private investigator, Dave was offered the chance to wipe the DUI charge off his record. Apparently, Dave’s blond vixen was too good to be true. The woman was working as part of a sting operation run by Christopher Butler, a private investigator who had received money from Dave Dutcher’s ex-wife to study Dave’s drinking habits. It was Butler who tipped off the cop who pulled over Dave on his date night from hell.

Dave Dutcher accuses his ex-wife of concocting this elaborate plan to dirty his reputation shortly before their divorce settlement, and keep him away from his kids. Susan Dutcher acknowledges that she did pay Butler to snoop out the habits of her ex-husband, but believes Dave can blame no one but himself for his decision to drink and drive.

 

Expose the Full Story

 

Related Links:
Read About Other Bleeps
Who Did The (Bleep!) Did I Marry?

 

Arizona Investigators Renew Search for Paige Birgfeld

May 05, 2011

Police in Colorado have resumed the search for Paige Birgfeld, a 34-year-old mother of three from Grand Junction, who was reported missing nearly four years ago.

According to the Mesa County Sheriff's Department, the renewed search is a result of new developments in the case but they have declined to elaborate further.

Birgfeld's father, Frank Birgfeld, told The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel that he is "encouraged" by the latest developments.

"While we've heard this is an active investigation, this is the first tangible activity we’ve seen," Birgfeld told the Sentinel. "They're getting out of the office, which is something unique for this case."

Paige Birgfeld disappeared on June 30, 2007, following a meeting with her ex-husband, Ron Biegler.

According to statements Biegler made to police, he and Paige had several contacts over the previous month to discuss the possibility of rekindling their relationship. Biegler said that on the night of Paige's disappearance, the couple had a brief rendezvous, and at 9 p.m., he spoke with her on her cell phone as she drove through the north suburbs of Grand Junction en route to her house.

On the night of July 1, firefighters were dispatched to a motor vehicle fire in the parking lot of Walker Products SMS, at 727 23 Road. After extinguishing the blaze, investigators with the sheriff's department ran the vehicle's license tag through their computer and identified it as Birgfeld's 2005 Ford Focus. The burned-out vehicle revealed few clues, and police were unable to locate any sign of Paige.

In the days that followed, a group of searchers walking along U.S. 50, south of Grand Junction, found over two dozen items belonging to Paige scattered along the median. Among them were her checkbook and a Blockbuster movie-rental card. An unloaded Ruger 9mm handgun was later found in the same area, but police have yet to comment on whether the gun is related to the case.

"Nothing during the course of our investigation has led us to believe that Paige walked away from her family or that she left of her own free will," Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey said in a written statement to the media. "Unfortunately, we do suspect foul play in her disappearance and the subsequent arson of her vehicle."

To her close friends and family members Paige was a successful businesswoman who lived in a million-dollar home outside of town. Everyone believed she paid for her luxurious lifestyle through her business, Grand River Acupuncture, and her part-time job as a sales consultant for the Pampered Chef, a company that markets food products, cookbooks and kitchen utensils. However, as the case evolved, investigators discovered Paige did not hold a license to perform acupuncture and that the bulk of her income came from her career as an online escort.

In her now defunct profile at NaughtyNightlife.com, Paige went by the alias "Carrie" and described herself as a Grand Junction escort with 34D-24-35 measurements. She offered in-call and out-call services, which she described as "escort, erotic massage, private dancer, groups and parties," to men, women and couples alike.

"Beautiful body and face, nice hair and teeth," the profile read. "Sensual mannerisms with a fun attitude. Tired of chopped meat showing up when you ordered Filet Mignon? Affluent clients are lavishing in delightful sessions."

The revelations of Paige's secret double life came as a shock to those who knew her.

Born to Frank and Suzanne Birgfeld on April 27, 1973, Paige was active in extracurricular activities all throughout high school and later attended the University of Florida, where she studied nursing. In 1995, Paige moved back to Colorado, and that same year, she married Biegler. During this time, Paige began to supplement the couple's income working as an exotic dancer at a local club.

In 1997, Paige and Biegler divorced, and within a year, she began dating Rob Dixon, a wealthy patron of the strip club. The couple soon married, and together, they purchased a home in Grand Junction. Despite having three children together, the marriage soon fell on hard times, and according to court records from 2005, Dixon was charged with assault and child abuse but later pled the charges down to harassment. The following year, the couple divorced, and Paige was granted custody of their children. Not long thereafter, Paige and Biegler began discussing the possibility of rekindling their relationship.

After discovering Paige's secret life, investigators focused their investigation on 56-year-old Lester Ralph Jones, a man who was allegedly a client of Paige’s escort service. Jones lives approximately 12 miles from Paige's estate, and he is employed as a repairman at an RV repair shop across the street from where Paige's burned-out car was discovered on July 1.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Jones has a previous criminal record that includes a five-year prison sentence for a conviction on charges of first-degree assault and second-degree attempted kidnapping.

Mesa County Sheriff's investigators have conducted at least two searches of Jones' home; however the warrants remain sealed, and what, if anything, was found remains unknown.

The case all but slipped off the radar in recent years.

According to the Sentinel, Wednesday's search was conducted by about a dozen investigators, search-and-rescue volunteers and representatives of the Mesa County Coroner's office. The group searched two fields, not far from the area where Birgfeld's burned out vehicle was found. Authorities are not yet commenting on whether they found anything of interest.

Paige Birgfeld is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, 110 pounds, with hazel eyes and sandy blond hair. She was last seen in a blue tube top and blue jeans. Anyone with information about her disappearance is asked to call the Mesa County Sheriff's Office at 970-244-3500.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credit: Police file photo

Did New York Serial Killer Prey on New Jersey Hookers?

April 11, 2011

The investigation into a series of unsolved serial killings in Long Island, N.Y., has raised speculation that the same killer could be responsible for a similar series of unsolved killings that occurred in New Jersey more than four years ago.

"The prosecutor has been in contact with Suffolk County Police since they found the [first four] bodies," Madelaine Vitale, a spokeswoman for the Atlantic County Prosecutor's office told Investigation Discovery.

The New Jersey cases came to light on November 20, 2006, when two women walking behind the Golden Key Motel in Egg Harbor Township, a few hundred yards from the Atlantic City limits, discovered the body of a woman in a ditch. When officers responded to the scene, they discovered the bodies of three more women within a few hundred feet of each other.

The victims were later identified as Molly Jean Dilts, 20; Tracy Ann Roberts, 23; Kim Raffo, 35; and Barbara V. Breidor, 42. Dilts was the only one of the four who did not have a criminal record for prostitution, but friends later told police they knew she was working the streets.

The similarities in the cases were inescapable.

The victims' bodies were all found facedown in a drainage ditch, in several inches of water. Their heads were turned east and they were wearing clothes but were barefoot.

Due to the varying decomposition of the bodies, authorities suspect the women were killed anywhere from two days to up to a month before they were discovered. At least one of the victims died of strangulation. Authorities suspect another died by asphyxia, but the condition of the bodies made an exact cause of death difficult to determine.

Despite an intensive investigative effort by local, state and federal authorities, the case went unsolved. Aside from media articles that would pop up on the one-year anniversary of the discovery of the victims' remains, they were all but forgotten about until late last year, when police in nearby Long Island began stumbling upon bodies.

The first was found on December 11 between Cedar Beach and Gilgo Beach. Two days later, investigators discovered the remains of three more women whose bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition.

All four of the victims were found wrapped in burlap sacks. Police say they were not "clustered together" and appear to have been dumped individually. Investigators say there are substantial similarities in how the women died, although they declined to elaborate.

All the victims are allegedly prostitutes who advertised their services on Craigslist, police said. They have since been identified as Megan Waterman, 22; Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25; Melissa Barthelemy, 24; and Amber Lynn Costello, 27.

Brainard-Barnes had been missing the longest, and was last seen alive on July 9, 2007, about seven months after the women in Egg Harbor Township were found in the drainage ditch. The most recent victim to go missing was Costello, who vanished in September 2010, police said.

Since that initial discovery in Long Island, the remains of four additional unidentified people were found in the same area between Oak Beach and Gilgo Beach. Police have yet to identify any of them and have not revealed if the bodies had been wrapped in burlap or if they have been linked the deaths of the first four victims.

Authorities are also awaiting the results of tests on two sets of bones believed to be human that were found on the beach earlier today. No word has been given yet on how long it will take experts to draw a conclusion.

As the search for additional bodies continues today, many are wondering if the Long Island serial killer is responsible for the four unsolved homicides in New Jersey. Has an unknown serial killer been preying on women since 2006?

Contacted by Investigation Discovery, a spokeswoman for the Suffolk County Police Department would only say the case is "still under investigation."

Vitale also declined to elaborate on a possible like between the New York and New Jersey cases. "We are not commenting," she said.

For now, there are more questions than answers. Perhaps some of them will become clearer tomorrow, when a well-known expert on serial killers weighs in. So, be sure to come back to read his thoughts on it and feel free to share your own in the comment section below!

Check Out: Body Count Continues to Climb in Long Island Serial Killer Case

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Most Infamous Murderers
Investigation Discovery: Quiz Central: Serial Killers

Photo Credits: Police File Photos

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Police Find Several Items of Interest during Alivia Kail Searches

April 07, 2011

Shell casings and a white sheet with a possible bloodstain are among the discoveries police made in a pickup parked inside the garage of the boyfriend of missing teenager Alivia Kail, according to court documents.

Kail, 19, of Mount Washington, Penn., has been missing for more than a month, and her boyfriend, Alexander Lorenzi, 22, has been uncooperative with investigators, police said.

The teenager was reported missing by her family on March 19 when she did not return calls to her cellphone and it was shut off for nonpayment. Kail was supposed to be vacationing in Florida with Lorenzi, but he returned to the Pittsburgh area without her, police said.

Kail had returned from one vacation to Florida with Lorenzi early last month. Then, on March 4, she told her brother she was going back to Florida with Lorenzi. Police say that is the last time anyone saw Kali. Whether or not she went to Florida a second time remains unclear.

"The boyfriend was approached by the family members and friends about the whereabouts of Alivia, and he gave some conflicting stories as to where she was located," Allegheny County Police Lt. Jeff Korczyk said during a recent news conference.

According to Korczyk, Lorenzi allegedly told one person that Kali was still in Florida and another that he had dropped her off in town.

Police have since executed at least three search warrants related to Kail's disappearance. During the execution of one of those warrants, investigators allegedly found cocaine, marijuana, and a stolen handgun. As a result, Lorenzi was taken into custody on drug and stolen-property charges.

Download one of the Search Warrants

During a subsequent search of Lorenzi's house and garage, where police located a pickup that reportedly belongs to his father's excavating company, police cataloged several other items, including a .22-caliber shell casing they allegedly found near the vehicle and two 9 mm casings inside a Shop-Vac.

The search also allegedly turned up a jewelry box containing earrings, a Feb. 27 plane ticket to Fort Myers, Fla., clothing and a tote bag belonging to Kail, as well as fishnet stockings and a white sheet with a possible bloodstain.

Lorenzi has not been named a suspect or person of interest in Kail's disappearance, and investigators have yet to comment on whether any of the items seized are relevant to the case.

During a Tuesday court hearing, prosecutors attempted to have Lorenzi's bond raised, saying they were afraid he might flee. During the hearing, Lorenzi's prior criminal history was brought into question.

According to court documents, Lorenzi was arrested for simple assault and harassment in 2008 when his then-girlfriend told police he got violent during an argument and banged her head into the dashboard of a car multiple times. Prosecutors later withdrew the charges.

Download Lorenzi Court Documents 1

In 2009, Lorenzi was charged with terroristic threats, harassment, false imprisonment and other crimes after a man told police Lorenzi had used a vehicle to trap him inside a car wash. The man also told police Lorenzi had previously threatened to break both of his legs. Charges stemming from the alleged incident were later withdrawn.

Lorenzi's record also includes a multitude of other charges, including more than 36 traffic cases.

Download Lorenzi Court Documents 2

A bail agency official testified Tuesday that while Lorenzi has been arrested multiple times and has, in the past, failed to appear for court proceedings.

Lorenzi's attorney, Douglas Sughrue argued that his client's bond should be lowered and denied allegations that Lorenzi is uncooperative.

In the end, neither the bail agent's testimony nor the urging of Assistant District Attorney R. Bruce Linsenmayer swayed Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Manning, who ordered that Lorenzi's bail remain at $100,000.

None of the parties involved in the case, including Kail's mother, Christine Didiano, responded to a request for comment from Investigation Discovery.

Kail is described as a white female, 5 feet 1 inches tall and weighing 110 pounds. She has sandy colored hair, green eyes and a blue flower tattooed on her hip. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Allegheny County Police at 412-473-1251.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credit: Allegheny County Police

Suspect Arrested in James Willman Murder Case

March 30, 2011

Authorities in Missouri have made an arrest in the death of James "JJ" Willman III, a 19-year-old man from Woodson Terrace whose body was recently found after an almost four-month disappearance.

Woodson Terrace Police Chief Bob Dowling has identified the suspect in the case as 19-year-old Keith Meiners of Overland. Meiners had been involved in a relationship with a girl Willman had been dating prior to his disappearance, Dowling said.

"They left a party together, and what we're hearing is that it was over a girl, which is silly, itself," Dowling said.

The party is believed to have taken place the day after Thanksgiving, at a St. Louis county home. The party was the subject of multiple Facebook posts by people in the community – posts which police say assisted them in the investigation.

"There were a lot of rumors flying around on Facebook and in anonymous phone tips, and in [conversations of] kids . . . in the schools," Dowling said. "Detectives would get leads and act on them. A lot of them we knew were silly, but you still have to follow those leads.  And when you keep hearing rumors and they all keep saying the same name, you start looking in that direction."

Dowling added: "Anything that helps us solve any kind of case, I don't care if it's this or whatever case it is, it . . . [puts] a lot of strain on manpower, because you have to follow these leads, but some of them pan out."

Willman's body was found March 12, in a conservation area not far from where the post-Thanksgiving party was held. Authorities say Willman had been beaten to death. His body was found approximately two miles from where his car was found abandoned after his disappearance, police said.

The teenager was last seen by his father during the early morning hours of Nov. 27, 2010. He was supposed to show up for his job at McDonald's in Earth City around 4:30 a.m. that day, but he never made it, police said.

In a December interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, James' father, Jim Willman, said his son's phone kept ringing in the hours before he went missing and that he seemed anxious.

"He was annoyed because he wanted to go to sleep and he had to get up early the next day for work," Willman told the newspaper. "I wish I'd asked him more questions."

Meiners has been charged with first degree murder in the case.  He's being held without bond at the St. Louis County jail. His arrest comes roughly two weeks after Willman's aunt, Jan Willman, told Investigation Discovery that the family would not rest until the person or persons responsible was caught.

"You will get caught and justice will be swift and just for the evil that took such a sweet and innocent life," Willman said. "Don't think that your friends will be able to live with what they know for much longer. They will talk and you will be taken out of society … so no one else gets hurt."

According to Dowling, the case is still open and under investigation.

"We made one arrest. I'm not saying we will or we won't make another arrest, but it still is an active investigation," he said, adding, "We're confident this person is responsible for JJ's murder, but it's still an open case."

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credit: Contributed

Missing Man's Mom Allegedly Told She Will 'End up Dead' if She Keeps Searching

March 29, 2011

According to a relative, the family of Jerry Rowe Jr., a missing Kentucky man, has allegedly received death threats from people who want them to drop their search efforts.

"Jerry's mom has received death threats via telephone saying that they follow her and, if she don't stop the search, she will end up dead," Rowe's aunt, Margaret Carver, told Investigation Discovery.

Despite these alleged death threats, the family is hoping that increased media attention, along with a several thousand dollar reward, will result in new leads that will lead to Rowe's whereabouts.

"There is a history of people missing there and never being found," Carver said. "The terrain is very rugged. If someone doesn't come forward we will never find him."

Rowe, 26, was last seen in Magoffin County, Kentucky on the afternoon of January 29 at a trailer he shared with a roommate. According to the roommate, they saw flashlights in the driveway, became frightened, and ran. The roommate said he went one way and Rowe went another.

Rowe's family later found put he failed to return and they reported him missing.

"I have gotten the search and rescue teams involved," Carver said, adding the family has done a lot of other footwork, including starting a Facebook group, posting flyers and holding benefits for an award fund, which is currently at $8,600.

Several searches for Rowe have been conducted in the wooded areas near where he went missing. According to Carver, volunteers have gone through miles of woods, hill and forests. They have also used underwater cameras and other tools to search local waterways.

At one point, search dogs indicated they had picked up Rowe's scent by an abandoned strip mine near the Magoffin-Breathitt County line. The dogs led their handlers down a hill and to a burned-out campfire, but the trail ended there.

Carver said she had initially expected the large award that the family is offering to result in new leads, but now believes that people who may have information might be afraid to talk. She said there is nothing to fear, and the family just wants answers.

"If we don't find him, I don't know what his parents will do," she said. I [have] tears in my eyes and prayers in my heart. Please, if you don't help us we will never find Jerry."

Jerry Rowe Jr. is described as a white male, 6'1, 160 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He has a scar on his right arm from a chain saw accident. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and brown work boots. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Kentucky State Police at 606-433-7006.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credit: Contributed

James Willman's Family to Killer: 'You Will Get Caught'

March 17, 2011

The family of James "JJ" Willman III, a 19-year-old man whose unexplained disappearance was profiled here last month, is preparing for his funeral this week following the weekend discovery of his body. While authorities search for the individual or individuals responsible, family members want it to be known that they will not rest until they are caught.

"You will get caught and justice will be swift and just for the evil that took such a sweet and innocent life," James' aunt, Jan Willman, told Investigation Discovery. "Don't think that your friends will be able to live with what they know for much longer. They will talk and you will be taken out of society … so no one else gets hurt."

James' body was found Saturday in a conservation area near Columbia Bottoms Road in Woodson Terrace, Missouri. Authorities have confirmed James was murdered but won't comment on a cause or manner of death. His body was found approximately two miles from where his car was found abandoned after his disappearance, police said.

The teenager was last seen by his father during the early morning hours of Nov. 27, 2010. He was supposed to show up for his job at McDonald's in Earth City around 4:30 a.m. that day, but he never made it, police said.

In a December interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, James' father, Jim Willman, said his son's phone kept ringing in the hours before he went missing and that he seemed anxious.

"He was annoyed because he wanted to go to sleep and he had to get up early the next day for work," Willman told the newspaper. "I wish I'd asked him more questions."

According to James' grandfather, Terry Chaney, the teen's 1995 Buick Regal was found abandoned three days later, near Interstate 270 and Riverview Drive, at the St. Louis city border. Both license plates on the vehicle, front and rear, had been removed.

"The interior and exterior of the car [had been] wiped down, leaving … no evidence," Chaney told Investigation Discovery in February.

The only clue police have confirmed that they have in James' case is surveillance video from a convenience store near where James' car was found that shows an unidentified young man entering the business. Another individual is visible outside the store, but police say it is not clear whether that person is Willman.

James' funeral will be held this weekend in Maryland Heights, Mo. The "J.J. Willman fund" has been established to help cover funeral arrangements and associated burial costs. For more information, please visit the memorial Facebook page.

"JJ was a beautiful boy with a beautiful soul that touched the lives of everyone he met," Jan Willman said. "He was kind, caring, giving, trusting, smart, witty, smiled constantly, and wasn't happy unless he was making other people around him happy. He was always the jokester and entertainer everywhere he went and loved to make people laugh."

Willman added: "This was a horrible, brutal, senseless crime that never should have happened."

Anyone with information about James' homicide is asked to contact the Woodson Terrace Police Department at 314-427-5858.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credit: Contributed

Colorado Police: Boy Missing Six Days May Have Been Kidnapped

March 16, 2011

The FBI and local law enforcement in Colorado Springs, Colo. are searching for Marcus Herrero, a 12-year-old boy who went missing from his adoptive family's home late last week. Authorities initially suspected the child was a runaway, but they now say there is a possibility he could have been abducted.

"The Crimes Against Children Unit is proceeding with a runaway investigation at this point but the case may turn out to be a kidnapping investigation as further facts are obtained," said Sgt. Steve Noblitt of the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Marcus' adoptive parents reported him missing Friday, at about 5:45 p.m. The boy was last seen about three hours earlier, boarding a bus from South Murray Boulevard to the Boys and Girls Club on South Chelton Road. Witnesses saw Marcus on the bus, but he never checked in at the Boys and Girls Club, police said.

Marcus has run away from his adoptive parents' Allison Drive home on two other occasions in late 2010 and early 2011, but each time he was located in the neighborhood within 24 hours, police said.

"At this point in the investigation, investigators are asking for the public's help in locating Marcus," Noblitt said. "It is unknown if he is in jeopardy or not. ... An Amber alert will not be issued at this time as this specific case does not meet the Amber Alert initiation guidelines."

**Top 10 Missing Children Cases**

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, all missing children 13 years old and younger, regardless of the circumstance, are considered endangered.

Marcus is described as a Hispanic male, five feet tall, ninety pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a navy polo shirt with an Atlas Preparatory School logo on the left front chest, khaki pants and black dress shoes. He was carrying a black Nike backpack and may be wearing glasses and a navy sweatshirt.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Colorado Springs police at 719-444-7000. People wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 719-634-STOP (7867) or can simply text tips to 847411.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credit: Colorado Springs Police Department

Joran Van Der Sloot's Lawyer Seeks Short Prison Sentence

March 08, 2011

Joran van der Sloot, the Dutchman accused of killing a young Peruvian woman and suspected in the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway, is hoping to win a reduced sentence, according to a new court motion.

Van der Sloot's attorney, Maximo Altez, has reportedly filed a new court motion in which he claims his client did not intend to kill Stephany Flores and that he was overcome with "violent emotion."

Flores, a 21-year-old business student, was found dead in Lima, Peru on June 2, 2010 in a hotel room reserved in Van der Sloot's name. He was found in Chile on June 3, arrested, and deported to Peru. He admitted to killing Flores Ramirez when he found her looking at information on his laptop. On June 11, 2010, Van der Sloot was charged with first-degree murder and robbery in Lima Superior Court.

Authorities believe Flores was murdered on the five-year anniversary of Holloway's disappearance.

Holloway, along with more than a hundred other students from her high school in Mountain Brook, Alabama, was on a graduation trip to Aruba in May 2005, when she disappeared.

Natalee was last seen leaving a popular restaurant and nightclub with van der Sloot in the early morning hours of May 30. A massive search of the island was conducted, but no trace of the missing teen was found.

Van der Sloot has allegedly made several confessions regarding his involvement in Holloway's disappearance, but each time the details have differed, and Aruban authorities have deemed them a mixture of "lies and fantasy."

If van der Sloot's "violent emotion" defense is accepted, he could potentially receive a sentence of three to five years, which is significantly less than the 25 years he is currently facing.

Officials in Peru have yet to comment on the motion.

Meanwhile, van der Sloot remains jailed in the maximum security prison Miguel Castro Castro in the San Juan de Lurigancho district.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credit: Police File Photo

Investigation Discovery's "Disappeared" helps find Missing Fugitive

February 02, 2011

The Investigation Discovery television show "Disappeared" has helped authorities locate a missing Pennsylvania fugitive who disappeared more than two years ago.

"On the third anniversary of our launch, we're very pleased that Investigation Discovery is making a difference in people's lives and, in this case, helping authorities bring someone to justice," said Henry Schleiff, president and general manager of Investigation Discovery. 

Michelle McMullen, 30, was arrested on Jan. 18, in Oakland, Calif., after police received a tip from a viewer who had seen McMullen on an episode of "Disappeared."

"We're excited and we're thanking God that's she's been found alive," McMullen's mother, the Rev. Lillie McMullen, told The Patriot-News after hearing that her daughter had been found.

Police in Pennsylvania had been looking for McMullen since September 2008. The single mother, who was also a full-time college student, was having difficulty juggling the responsibilities of school and her 6-year-old son, Jayden. In an effort to make her life easier, she dropped her son off with a friend and asked her to take him to McMullen's family in Harrisburg later that week. She then set out on the 18-hour drive to her college in Ruston, La.

A few hours after she departed, McMullen called to check on her son and told her friend she would call back in a few hours. That was the last anyone heard of her.

The following day, McMullen's friend dropped the boy off with his grandparents. McMullen's father, Michael, made several attempts to call his daughter, but each time, his calls went to voicemail. The following day, Sept. 30, 2008, McMullen's family filed a missing person report with police.

On Oct. 7, 2008, police in Hagerstown, Md., located McMullen's Honda Accord abandoned in the parking lot of a truck manufacturing plant. Security guards estimated the vehicle had been there for about 10 days. The vehicle was unlocked, and officers found McMullen's cell phone, purse and photo identification inside the car.

The day after McMullen's vehicle was found, Susquehanna Township Police issued a felony arrest warrant for McMullen, charging her with theft of over $2,000 from a Susquehanna Township church where she once worked as an administrator.

Unbeknownst to her family or the police, McMullen was allegedly hiding out in California, where people knew her as Danielle, a woman who had moved to the area from Chicago, the Oakland Tribune reported.

McMullen may have remained on the lam had not a tipster tuned into watch the episode of Investigation Discovery's "Disappeared." According to police, the viewer, who has not been identified, contacted them after seeing McMullen profiled on the episode, "The Long Drive Home," and informed them she was working at an Oakland beauty supply store.

McMullen is currently incarcerated at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania to face charges of theft and forgery.

"The irony here is, if she just would have answered for this in October 2008, the punishment would've been long over," Chief Robert Martin of the Susquehanna Township Police told WHP-TV.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credit: DCL

Family Wants Answers in Missouri Teen’s Disappearance

February 01, 2011

More than two months have passed since the mysterious disappearance of James Robert Willman III, a 19-year-old man from Woodson Terrace, Missouri. Despite the passage in time, Willman's family is not ready to give up on finding the young man.

"I am simply looking for [answers] in this case," Willman's grandfather, Terry Chaney, told Investigation Discovery. "[There are] just so many unanswered questions."

Willman was last seen by his father during the early morning hours of Nov. 27, 2010. He was supposed to show up for his job at McDonalds in Earth City around 4:30 a.m. that day, but he never made it, police said.

In a December interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Willman's father, Jim Willman, said his son's phone kept ringing in the hours before he went missing and that he seemed anxious.

"He was annoyed because he wanted to go to sleep and he had to get up early the next day for work," Willman told the newspaper. "I wish I'd asked him more questions."

According to Chaney, Willman's 1995 Buick Regal was found abandoned three days later, near Interstate 270 and Riverview Drive, at the St. Louis city border. Both license plates on the vehicle, front and rear, had been removed.

"The interior and exterior of the car [had been] wiped down, leaving … no evidence," Chaney said.

Authorities have been unable to determine what happened; the only clue they discovered is surveillance video from a nearby convenience store that shows an unidentified young man entering the business. Another individual is visible outside the store, but police say it not clear whether that person is Willman.

"Many leads have come in … yet the local police department handling the case tell us they are all dead ends," Chaney said.

Willman's family has been active in the search. They posted missing person flyers, had a digital billboard display his photo and vital information, and organized at least two vigils. Most recently, they have established a $5,000 cash reward for information that leads to his whereabouts.

"Something is wrong here. He would never just leave or disappear," Chaney said. "There are too many unanswered questions concerning this whole case."

James Robert Willman III is described as a white male, 5'11" tall and weighing 130 pounds, with dirty blond hair and blue eyes. He wears a ring on his lower right lip and his right ear is gauged once; his left, twice.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Woodson Terrace Police Department at 314-427-5858.

For more information, go to click here.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credit: Contributed

Where is Stephen Michael Lankester-Cox?

October 31, 2010

Six years ago this month, 38-year-old Stephen Michael Lankester-Cox disappeared without a trace. Foul play is suspected, and more than one person has been a suspect, but to date Stephen’s fate and whereabouts remain a mystery.

"This is my child that I gave up my life to have and to raise. He mattered," said Stephen's mother, Sherron Lankester.

Stephen was last seen leaving his Acworth, Ga., home on the night of Nov. 18, 2004. He was picked up by an unknown person and said he would be home later. He has not been seen or heard from since.

According to the FBI, there is information indicating that Stephen was allegedly planning to commit a robbery on the evening of his disappearance. Authorities believe Stephen was killed during the robbery attempt or shortly afterward.

"There are several people involved, but police said all they knew was hearsay, which I do not believe," Sherron said. "Through my own investigations and the help of volunteer investigators, the same names would come up time after time."

One of the few breaks in the case came on Jan. 1, 2005, when, according to Sherron, Stephen's Harley Davidson boots were found in a wooded area near his home. The boots are now being held in an evidence locker at the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department. Information about what, if any, evidence they hold has not yet been released.

For the past six years, Sherron has been holding vigils, spreading awareness and helping organize searches for her son. She will not stop, she says, until she has the answers that she desperately seeks.

"There are people out there that know where my son is, but for some reason they are afraid to tell," Sherron said. "Maybe my son was not the greatest man in the world -- we don't have a lot of money, he was not a pretty blond girl with blue eyes -- [but] he was my son!"

Stephen Michael Lankester-Cox is described as a white male, 6'1" tall and weighing 170 pounds, with brown wavy hair and blue eyes. He has a tattoo of a rose on the left side of his chest and a scar on his left elbow where he had metal screws inserted during reconstructive surgery. He also has a chipped front tooth that was capped. He was last seen wearing black jeans and a blue button-up shirt.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at 678-493-8606 or the FBI at 800-634-4097.

For more information, go to www.charleyproject.org.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

When People Go Missing, Devastated Families are Left Behind

July 27, 2010

But an upcoming weekend in Omaha will bring them a long way toward healing

When a child or adult goes missing, we may see media coverage in the day or so following, but when the searches stop and the TV cameras have departed, there is a family left in the wake of the disappearance.

Families of missing persons suddenly find themselves living in a new normal that can last for days, weeks, months, sometimes (and too often) years. They live it in fear, or determination, in heartbreak, numbness, or longing, and often, all of the above. They learn way more about laws as they pertain to missing persons than they ever cared to know. What they often do not do is learn to take care of themselves.

An upcoming weekend gathering, The Project Jason 2010 Keys to Healing Retreat, will offer a number of classes to teach families of the missing ways to take care of themselves emotionally and physically. They will come to understand how feelings of guilt, fear, and anger are normal, and how trauma impacts the body and brain, and how to counteract it.

“Until now, there were no opportunities for family members of both missing children and adults to focus on the emotional and physical trauma that understandably accompanies such an ordeal,” says Kelly Jolkowski, president and founder of Project Jason and host of the event.

After Jolkowski’s son, Jason, disappeared in 2001 at age 19, she started the organization to assist other families of the missing, and has since served hundreds with case assessment and tactical and emotional support. She knew such a retreat would be life changing for many of the attendees.

“We want the families who attend Keys to Healing to walk away with better coping skills, self-understanding and renewed hope,” she says.

One of the trainers is Duane Bowers the foremost expert on the psychology of having an adult or child go missing.

“He understands the missing component,” said one of last year’s attendees, a woman whose husband was missing. “You can’t find that anywhere, I’ve researched, and you can’t find a counselor that knows what the families of the missing go through.

Other sessions focus on tactical and emotional resources available year-round, personal care tips, and eating healthy and exercising to sustain high, positive energy.

A significant aspect of the retreat is the opportunity to spend three days with others who, like them, have someone missing. In many cases, this is the first time they’ve been able to speak face-to-face with others who truly understand what they are going through.

Having someone missing can be a socially awkward situation. Some friends and family say nothing, and some even avoid those with missing loved ones. Some say the wrong thing, and some eventually can’t handle seeing someone in what they assume is a stuck position in their life following the disappearance. Those with missing loved ones do not open up to people they’ve just met because they fear what their reactions may be. So, having a missing loved one is sometimes a silent anguish.

At the retreat, however, attendees openly share their stories with each other in a safe environment.

“In the five years since my daughter went missing, this is the first time I’ve had anyone to talk to,” says a woman with a missing adult daughter and one of last year’s attendees.

At the end of the 2009 Keys to Healing Retreat, nearly all attendees walked away with notable progress toward healing, some remarking that it’s good to laugh again, some relieved of pent-up tension, and all feeling a strong bond with each other. As Jolkowski says, “It is possible to live a life full of joy while continuing our searches.”

“Life is short and it’s full of sadness, so every little bit of happiness you can gain from life you should take it,” says another attendee from last year who has a missing young adult son, “because you know, they don’t want us living a life of sadness.”

The 2010 Keys to Healing Retreat will be at The Swanson Retreat Center in nearby Ashland, Nebraska, August 13-15, 2010. Project Jason subsidizes a portion of the cost of the weekend, so it is offered at a discount, and anyone with an open police case for their missing loved one is eligible to attend.

For more information, go to www.projectjason.org.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Remembering Natalee Holloway's Case as Joran Van Der Sloot's Story Unravels

What started as a fairy tale graduation trip ended in tragedy for Natalee Holloway, whose disappearance sparked an international media frenzy and five years of ongoing investigation by U.S., Aruban, and Dutch officials. Holloway's parents have never given up hope that answers will be found.

Natalee Holloway graduated on May 24, 2005, from Mountain Brook High School in Mountain Brook, Ala. She joined 124 of her classmates and seven chaperones on an unofficial graduation trip to Aruba. Witnesses say members of the group were drinking and partying during most of the trip.

Natalee was last seen leaving a popular restaurant and nightclub, Carlos' n Charlie's, with three young men who lived on the island. She did not show up for her flight on May 30. Shortly after the missed flight, the investigation into her disappearance began. A massive search of the island and surrounding waters continued for almost a month. Volunteers from the island and the United States searched the coastline. The Dutch Marines and three F-16s from the Royal Netherlands Air Force equipped with infrared technology continued the search. A pond near the hotel where she stayed was partially drained to search for her remains. All of these efforts turned up nothing.

Ten suspects were arrested during the investigation, and three of them were arrested several times. Each was released when it was determined there was insufficient evidence to hold them. Three of the suspects - Joran Van der Sloot, Deepak Kalpoe, and Satish Kalpoe - remained at the top of the list throughout the investigation and were arrested and released several times. These three were the young men seen leaving the night club with Holloway. They presented a unified front at first, all telling the same story. However, as time passed, the stories changed and the focus shifted to Van der Sloot. Some of the other seven suspects, including Van der Sloot's father, were implicated by these three during different stages of the investigation.

Prosecutor Hans Mos declared the case closed with no charges filed on Dec. 18, 2007, because there was a lack of evidence. The Kalpoes and Van der Sloot were still people of interest in the case, but they were no longer legally suspects. That should have been the end of the story.

On the Road to Remember Tour 2010

July 11, 2010

One of the most well-known missing person organizations - the Cue Center for Missing Persons – is beginning preparations for the 2010 “On the Road to Remember Tour.”

The national road tour is an awareness campaign that focuses on missing persons cases that have gone cold or have not received appropriate media coverage on the local level – much less the national level. The tour, which travels through many states annually, is intended to provide that attention.

According to the CUE Center, the inspiration for the tour came in 2004, from the case of North Carolina college student Leah Roberts. Leah went missing during a cross-country trip of self-exploration. Her wrecked and abandoned vehicle was found, but Leah is still missing. Leah's case went cold and interest faded until CUE volunteers set out on a grueling 14-day trip to retrace her route and inform the media of all those who were missing in the path of the tour. In the years to follow, the Cue Center decided to keep hope alive after families across the country voiced the need for more help and supported the tour idea.

"In all cases of missing people, it is vital to inform the public of the missing person’s circumstances quickly and to disseminate that information to the media and the public," reads a news release on the CUE Center's website. "In most cases where details are released immediately to the public through an organized campaign, the public brings forth information that aids in the investigation and or the location of the victim. The media plays a significant role in getting the word out on the behalf of the missing person and should be recognized as a vital resource to any investigation."

In previous tours the media has learned about local cases they were unaware of, case investigations have been renewed, and searches have been conducted. New information has also resulted in new leads in some cases and in 2008, solved a cold case of 28 years.

The tour this year will depart from North Carolina on Aug. 18 and will return August 28. The list of participating locations is still being tallied, but those far stops are planned for several states, including: Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, South Carolina and West Virginia. 

Some of the rally stops will include candlelight vigils, balloon releases, guest speakers, tribute performances, and safety activities.

Each year a "tour honoree" is selected. This year the chosen honoree is Patricia Viola. Click here to learn more about her case.

For further information on the tour and a full list of planned stops, please visit the CUE Center web site at: www.ncmissingpersons.org.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

The Mysterious Disappearance of Pam Biggers

June 27, 2010

Today we revisit the case of 52-year-old Pam Biggers, an endangered and missing adult from Hueytown, Alabama, who was last seen in Panama City, Florida, on January 27, 2008.

"On the day of her disappearance my wife and a coworker, Brenda, drove to Panama City for a business meeting," Pam's husband, Don Biggers, said. "Later that evening, around 5:30 p.m., I called Pam to make sure she had a safe trip. We spoke briefly and she said that they were about to go eat."

After talking with Don, Pam and Brenda changed their plans and decided to go to Wal-Mart to pick up some items to bring back to the hotel. Upon their return, at approximately 7:00 p.m., both women were anxious to settle down and relax, so they retired to their individual rooms for the night.

"Pam has always been a prompt person, always on time," Don said. "Well, the next morning she did not show up to meet Brenda or the rest of the group in the lobby. They became concerned and went up to her room and knocked on the door, but there was no answer. After trying unsuccessfully to reach her on her cell phone and room phone, Brenda went and got the hotel manager, who had security open the door. When they stepped inside, Pam was nowhere to be found."

Despite Pam's absence, there was no sign of foul play and nothing in the room was out of place. Her bed was made - as if she had not slept in it - her clothes were hanging in the closet, her purse and money was sitting on the bed and her reading glasses were on the end table next to the bed.

"Unfortunately, the hotel did not have any type of security cameras, so we don't know what time of night she disappeared," Don said, adding, "the only cameras outside are at a military base across the street, but they only film a portion of the hotel every 40 minutes, whenever the camera changes positions."

The Bay County Sheriff's Department immediately took action and utilized every method at their disposal. They used search dogs in an attempt pick up on Pam's scent and conducted both ground and aerial searches. Unfortunately, they were unable to locate Pam or any evidence to suggest what might have happened to her.

Pam's sudden and mysterious disappearance came as a shock to her family; however, according to Don, she had recently been suffering from mental health issues, which he believes may have played a significant role in the case.

"It came on over a period of time and just prior to her trip it began to get worse," Don said. "She started hearing voices and became paranoid, thinking people were after her and the family. We took her to a medical doctor and he felt she had bipolar tendencies and multiple symptoms of schizophrenia. Pam agreed to see a psychiatrist, but when it came time she broke the appointment with him."

Don thinks the illness became worse while she was in Florida and he pointed to two key incidents, which appear to support his theory.

"When Pam and Brenda were on their way to Florida they stopped at a rest area to take a quick break," Don said. "Pam paused for a moment before getting out of the car and made an unusual comment to Brenda, saying that she did not recall giving birth to Zackary, our oldest son. Brenda also said that when they got out of the car Pam was walking at such a fast pace that Brenda had to practically run to keep up with her."

The second incident was revealed when investigators obtained video footage from Wal-Mart that was taken on the night that Pam and Brenda had shopped there.

"She was acting very strange in the video," Don said. "Her movements were not normal and she was walking in a zigzag pattern. She would often stop, turn, and look up suddenly."

Both Don and the detectives in the case have spoken with several psychiatrists, who have speculated that Pam may have taken a nap, woke up in an unfamiliar place and left without thinking about where she was going.

"They said that if people who are suffering from these problems don't get on medication and stay on it, the problem only gets worse," Don said. "It can be a paranoia so bad that the person does not even want to be around people and that is how Pam was acting."

In an effort to help out in the search, Don began sending out flyers to every homeless shelter, soup kitchen, mental health facility and law enforcement agency on the east coast. He also spent days at a time exploring every street and back alley of Panama City, in hopes of finding someone who had seen his wife.

"We asked Texas Equusearch to come down to Panama City," Don said. "They used sonar equipment to search all nearby bodies of water. They did a thorough job and came back with nothing. We did this because the psychiatrists said that when people are in that state of mind, they are attracted to water. It gives them a relaxing effect and they don't realize what is happening. They said they have seen cases where people with that type of illness enter the water and bad things happen. Luckily, that was not the case here, at least not to the best of our knowledge."

Over the past year, Don has followed up on leads from Florida, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama, but to date he has yet to find any solid proof that his wife was in any of those areas. He is now planning on extending his search further west, in the off chance that his wife may have headed in that direction.

In addition to the disappearance of his wife, Don has also had to cope with other personal issues. After she went missing his father passed away and, on the 6 month anniversary of Pam's disappearance, her father died.

"Her dad started going downhill right after she disappeared," Don said. "On the day he died I went to the hospital to see him. He was in and out of it and when he managed to come around again he looked at me and the first thing he said to me was 'did you find my daughter? Did you find Pam?' Not having the answer he wanted was a very difficult thing for me to endure."

When asked what he would like to say to his wife, Don responded:

"I want her to know that I miss her and that I love her. Every time I go home alone it is difficult for me. Everything there reminds me of her. It took me a long time before I could even take the stuff out of her suitcase. I don't like to open her closet doors or anything because it brings it all back. Even the little things haunt me. We have a little dog that she loved to death and she always waits at the door for Pam to come home. When something like this happens it changes your whole world. You just live day by day. That's all you can do."

Pam Biggers is described as a white female, 5'8" tall, 135 lbs., with gray hair and green eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the Bay County Sherriff's Office at 850-747-4700.

For more information or to help, please visit: www.findpambiggers.com

Photos courtesy of Pam's sister, Paula Thomas

Can Age Progression Help Find Jason Jolkowski?

June 13, 2010

Today marks nine years since the disappearance of an Omaha, Nebraska teen and his family hopes an age progression photo and revamped poster will help lead to his whereabouts.

Jason Jolkowski was 19 years old when he vanished during an eight-block walk from his home to Benson High School on the morning of June 13, 2001. His credit cards, bank account, and cell phone were left untouched, his car was in the repair shop and his last paycheck was still at his place of work.

It is unlikely Jason ran away, as he was excited about a new job and was close to his family. Unfortunately, there are still no clues as to what happened.

One in six missing persons is found as a result of a visual, so there is hope that an age progression created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children will help in Jason's case.

"We are sure that someone, somewhere, knows something that could bring our family the answers we desperately need," said Kelly Jolkowski, Jason's mother and the founder of the nonprofit group, Project Jason, which has since helped thousands of other families with missing loved ones.

"Enough time has now passed that perhaps someone will remember something, or someone will decide to do the right thing," Jolkowski continued. "It can be an anonymous call to the tip line – we don't care how the information comes in. Just please help us by coming forward with what you know."

Kelly Jolkowski was recently the recipient of the U.S. Justice Department's 2010 Volunteer for Victims Award for her work helping other families of the missing

There is a reward offered for information that leads to finding Jason. If you have any information, no matter how small you think it is, call the Omaha Police Department at (402) 444-5818/ You can also place an anonymously call to Omaha CrimeStoppers at 402-444-STOP or to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678), 24-hours a day.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credits: Contributed

The Mysterious Disappearance of Bryan Braumberger

June 06, 2010

Tuesday marked the three-year anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of Bryan Jeffrey Braumberger, an 18-year-old resident of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, who went missing in May 2007.

"We don't know where to look now, what to do, what direction....We just keep hoping that one day, somebody is going to phone and they're going to give us that piece of information that we need," Brian's mother, Janice, told news1130.com on Tuesday.

The events surrounding Bryan's disappearance began on May 31, 2007, when he went to a friend's house in New Westminster, to watch TV and play video games. There was nowhere for Bryan to park his vehicle when he got there, so he parked it next door at a church lot on 8th Avenue.

"When they finished playing games, they walked to the church and Brian got into his car," Brian's father, Ron, told Investigation Discovery. "It was about 12:15 a.m. He told his friend he was going home because he had to get up for work the next morning."

The drive from New Westminster to Burnaby would have taken Bryan about eight minutes; however, there is no evidence suggesting he made it home.

Later that day, police found Bryan's vehicle abandoned in the 7500 block of Cumberland Street. The location is roughly a two-minute drive from his house.

When Bryan's parent's arrived home from a vacation later that day, there was a message on their answering machine from the police, notifying them that their son's vehicle had been towed. Concerned, Bryan's parent's contacted his employer, at which time they learned that he had never made it to work that day. His parents contacted all his friends and when that failed to provide them with any new information, they contacted the police and reported their son missing.

"We don't understand why his car was found parked at the George Derby Center," Ron said. "That is an old age home where my father lives. Bryan would not have been there visiting my father at that time of night. Not after 9:00 p.m."

When forensic investigators searched Bryan's car, they did not find any indication of a struggle. There wasn't any blood inside the vehicle, and there was no strange fingerprints found in the interior or on the exterior of the car. Bryan's identification was found inside; however, his keys were missing.

Police questioned Bryan's friends but ruled them out as having any involvement in the case. When investigators checked Bryan's bank account, they learned that there had been no recent activity. Authorities had little to go on and zero leads to follow.

According to Bryan's father, his son did not have any enemies and had no reason to take off of his own accord.

"He was more of a homebody. He never ventured off on weekends or stuff like that," Ron said. "He lived at home in the basement and his stuff [was] set up there. He had just started a job at a local warehouse and he enjoyed it. I know there is no way he would have just up and left. Everything was going fine. It would be different if there were problems in his life, if he was involved in drugs and the police, but that just wasn't the case."

Despite several widespread searches, police have been unable to locate Bryan or any evidence related to the case.

On Tuesday, Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team told globaltvbc.com that investigators suspect Brian met with foul play.

"The fact that Brian has met with some foul play has become a thought of reality in our minds," Carr said. "To have not heard from Brian for three years simply suggests that foul play is indeed involved."

Despite the lack of progress in the case, Carr said the case remains open.

Similarly to the police, Bryan's family has also come up empty-handed in their own search efforts. Nevertheless, they continue to hang onto the belief that someone out there holds the key to unlocking the mystery.

"Anyone with any information, please come forward and help us deal with this," Ron said. "It's gone on too long and we know somebody out there knows something. A person doesn't just drive up in his car and then disappear. I don't know what the circumstances are but something has definitely happened. Somebody knows something. We just want to know where he is."

Bryan Jeffrey Braumberger is described as a white male, 6' tall, 185 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, shorts and white Adidas runners with no laces.

A $30,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Brian's whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to call the Missing Children's Society of Canada at 1-800-661-6160 (tips@mcsc.ca), Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477, IHIT at 604-543-4836 or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at 604-294-7922. Click here to download Bryan's missing person poster. For more information or to help, please click here.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credits: Contributed

Missing in Maui: Where is Laura Vogel?

Three months ago, Laura Vogel disappeared while camping in Maui, Hawaii. Since that time, few leads have developed in the case and her disappearance remains a mystery.

On the weekend of Feb. 19, Laura, a 43-year-old former schoolteacher from New Mexico, went camping on Maui's North Shore. Her last communication was a text message to a friend, indicating she was "camped down the way from birthing pools and meeting all the locals." Laura's friend texted her back but did not get a response.

Laura's van was found on Feb. 22 near a homeless camp by friends who went looking for her when she failed to show up for a tutoring job.  The driver's side door was unlocked and the key was in the ignition, but Laura was nowhere to be found.

When investigators checked Laura's cell phone records, they discovered she had made two calls after sending the text message to her friend. Those calls were successfully traced back to the owner of the number; however, police are not saying what, if anything, was learned when they spoke with the individual.

Family, friends and volunteers have conducted massive searches of the Pauwela Lighthouse area, where Laura was last known to be. Trained divers and tracking dogs were also brought in, but no sign of her was found.

According to a report by mauiweekly.com, Laura's family members suspect foul play, but investigators are hesitant to call her disappearance suspicious.

"Right now, there's nothing that we have come across that would indicate something suspicious," said MPD Criminal Investigation Division Lt. Jakubczak, in a statement obtained by the website. "By no means is the case closed. But the active search in that area has been suspended until any new developments come up."

Laura is described as approximately 5-foot, 8-inches tall and 140 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing dark gray sweatpants and a blue T-shirt. Her family is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads police to her discovery. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Maui Police at 808-244-6400 (case #10-14126) or Maui Crime Stoppers at 808-242-6966.

For more information, please visit www.findlauravogel.blogspot.com.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons

Photo Credits: Contributed

Hope Meek's Family Demands Answers in Loved One's Disappearance

May 16, 2010

It has been eight years since 25-year-old Hope Danelle Meek went missing from her home in Valliant, Oklahoma. Despite the passage of time, her family is not yet ready to give up hope and is desperately hoping that someone will come forward with information that could help solve the mystery.

"I believe somebody, somewhere, in McCurtain County knows something," said Hope's only sister, MaryJane Chain. "I just want to find what happened to my sister; get closure for the family."

Hope was last seen by Jerry Meek, her husband of four years, on the afternoon of Feb. 21, 2002, when he left their Section Line Road home in Valliant to go camping with the children. Meek later told police the couple was in the midst of a separation and that he left $500 for her when he left for the camping trip.

Later that day, Meek said he returned home because he decided it was too cold to camp outdoors. He said that Hope, along with the $500, was missing, but she had left her 1995 Chevrolet pickup truck, along with all of her belongings, including her cell phone.

Meek waited five days to report his wife missing.

Authorities have stated it is uncharacteristic of Meek, who worked as a jailer with the McCurtain County Sheriff's Department, to leave without notifying her employer or loved ones. She also failed to pick up her last paycheck from the sheriff's department.

Less than a month after Hope's disappearance, Meek filed for divorce from his missing wife and was granted full custody of their children, aged 10 months, 3 and 6.

According to kten.com, an NBC-affiliated television station for southeastern Oklahoma and north Texas, Meek refused to take a polygraph test following his wife's disappearance.

In the wake of Hope's disappearance, law enforcement agencies conducted a search of a landfill in southeast Oklahoma using a cadaver dog, but found nothing. A community search was also spearheaded, but again, nothing was found.

Today, McCurtain County authorities say the investigation into Hope's sudden and unexplained disappearance is active, but they still have no leads the case.

"She does not deserve to be out there somewhere and my mother should have closure, along with Hope's children," MaryJane said.

Hope Danelle Meek would be 33 years old today. At the time of her disappearance, she was 5' tall and weighed 98 lbs., with dark blonde/mahogany hair and blue eyes. She had a pierced belly button and a scar on the side of her right thigh. She was last seen wearing gray sweats and tennis shoes.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Valliant Police Department at 580-933-4555 or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at 800-522-8017.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Project Jason: Hope Meek Merryfield
Hope Meek Family Website

Photo Credits: Contributed

The Mysterious Disappearance of Deanna Merryfield

May 09, 2010

The Killeen Texas Police Department is continuing the investigation into the unsolved disappearance of Deanna Michelle Merryfield, a 14-year-old girl who went missing nearly 20 years ago.

Deanna, who was living with her grandmother, snuck out of her house in the early morning hours of July 27, 1990 (some reports say July 22) to visit her fraternal twin sister, who lived in a nearby trailer park, in the 500 block of Dimple Street.

According to Deanna’s twin, Deanna knocked on the bedroom window, waking her up at about 3:30 a.m. The two had a brief conversation and then Deanna got into a vehicle with two white or Hispanic males. What happened to her after that remains a mystery.

When Deanna's family reported her missing, she was initially considered a runaway; however she had not taken any of her belongings with her. The case was later updated to a "missing person" case and in 2007, became a "cold case."

Someone from Horse Cave, Kentucky, thought to be Deanna, attempted to contact family members in 1992. A possible sighting of Deanna occurred in Hurst, Texas, in 1995.

At the time of her disappearance, Deanna was 5'2" tall, 108 lbs., with blonde hair and hazel/blue-green eyes. She had a small scar on her upper lip. Today, Deanna would be 33 years old. She is believed to have several tattoos, including her last name, "Merryfield," with an unknown date on her neck, a yellow rose and the words "Texas Born" on her back, and a cross with lines on her ankle. Authorities say they have her fingerprints and DNA.

Age Progression

Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST) or the Killeen Police Department at 254-501-8830.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Project Jason: Deanna Michelle Merryfield
Websleuths: Deanna Michelle Merryfield

Photo Credits: Contributed

National Child Safety Campaign Marks National Missing Children's Day

May 08, 2010

The fourth annual, national Take 25 child safety campaign is currently taking place in hundreds of communities across the country.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) launched the campaign in 2007 to encourage families to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about safety and abduction prevention. A website for the campaign lists 25 safety tips that can help save a child’s life.  The campaign begins May 1 and continues through National Missing Children’s Day on May 25.

More than 1600 events are scheduled in nearly 500 communities in all 50 states and Canada.

Every year in America, an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing, more than 2,000 children each day. Of that number, 200,000 are abducted by family members and 58,000 are abducted by non-family members whose primary motive is sexual.

Each year, 115 children are the victims of the most serious abductions; they are taken by non-family members and either murdered, ransomed or taken with the intent to keep. An analysis of attempted abduction cases by NCMEC found that in 83% of the cases, children escaped would-be abductors through their own actions. Thirty-two percent actively resisted (yelling, kicking, pulling away, running away or attracting attention) while 51% realized that something was not right and responded by walking or running away. 

May 25 has been observed as National Missing Children's Day since it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. The Take 25 campaign will help parents and others teach children to be alert to potential threats and provide simple preventative steps that children can take to stay safe.   

"We know teaching children about safety works. Children’s actions enable them to escape attempted abductions more than half of the time. It is important that parents and others take the time to talk to their children about these issues," said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. "The campaign is designed to provide information to make it easy for parents, grandparents and others to teach their children about safety and prevention. There is no better way to mark National Missing Children's Day than with an initiative designed to empower children and help keep them safe."

The Take 25 campaign is proudly sponsored by Lifetouch, the largest employee-owned photography company in the world. Lifetouch provides professional portraits for preschools and schools, houses of worship and the retail market in all 50 states and Canada. National partners include Old Navy, a brand of Gap, Inc., a leading global specialty retailer; the National PTA, the United States Secret Service, Masonichip International, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), and several Minor League Baseball teams.  In addition, nearly 500 other local and national organizations have partnered with NCMEC on this campaign.

A list of cities where events will be held can be found at www.take25.org or on the Spanish language site, www.toma25.org.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To learn more about the organization, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit its web site at www.missingkids.com.

Over 20 Years and No Answers in Case of Missing PA Teen

April 18, 2010

It has been nearly 21 years since 17-year-old Tracy Marie Kroh disappeared from Millersburg, Pennsylvania. What happened to Tracey? Where is she today? Those questions and more persist.

Tracy was reported missing on the afternoon of August 6, 1989. She was last seen the previous day when she went to visit her sister, Tammy, at Alex Acres Trailer Park, off Route 147. Tammy was at a carnival at the time, so she never saw her sister that day, but later found items—coupons and a BBQ grill—that her sister had left for her.

For unknown reasons, Tracy never made it back to her Millersburg home.

On the evening she was reported missing, Tracy's car, a 1971 Mercury Comet, was found abandoned at the town square in Millersburg. Her purse and other personal belongings were not inside the vehicle.

With no clues or evidence to follow, the case quickly went cold. It was not until December 1993 that police got a break in the case when they found items from Tracy's wallet—a photo and a driver's license update card—near Wiconisco Creek in Washington Township. The location is roughly nine miles from Millersburg.

A search was conducted in the area where Tracy's belongings were found; however, no other pieces of evidence were found at the scene. As quickly as the case had heated up, it again went cold.

The following year, an anonymous person called a missing children hotline and said Tracy was being held against her will, along with two other missing women—Tiffany Sessions and Elizabeth Miller. The caller stated that they were being forced to work as prostitutes in Austin, Texas.

Tiffany had been missing from Florida since 1989, and Miller had disappeared from Colorado in 1983. Neither case has been solved.

Authorities in Colorado, Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas all investigated the tip, but nothing further ever came of it.

Another tip received in 2006 caused authorities to conduct a search using a cadaver dog in Washington Township, but again, nothing was turned up.

In December 2008, Dauphin County DA's office and Dauphin County Crime Stoppers erected a billboard with Tracy's photo on Route 225, near Halifax. According to police, it sparked new community interest in the case and resulted in several new leads.

"Since the billboard was unveiled and the press conference was conducted, we have received several new pieces of information from the public," Trooper Karl Schmidhamer told pennlive.com. "We believe that the coverage given to this case has rekindled an interest in the case."

In another December 2008 interview with whtm.com, prosecutor Fran Chardo said authorities have a suspect in Tracy's case and are working on theories about what could have happened to her.

"I believe this disappearance can be solved and there's somebody out there...with information that can provide that missing piece to bring closure to this case and to this family," Chardo said.

Over a year has passed since Chardo made those statements, and no further information on the case or the "suspect" has been released.

Tracy Kroh is described as 4'10" and 82 lbs., with brown hair and green eyes. She has pierced ears and a small mole on her chin. She was last seen wearing a blue and white, floral print, capped sleeve and cropped t shirt, light blue shorts, white canvas tie sneakers and white ankle cut socks. She was carrying a small purse with thin straps that had an image of a horse or unicorn imprinted on the side. She was also wearing a white gold class ring with a diamond stone and a silver timex watch. Her key ring featured an image of the cartoon character Roger Rabbit.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at 717-362-9544 or Dauphin County Crimestoppers at 1-800-262-3080.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Project Jason: Tracy Kroh
The Charlie Project: Tracy Maria Kroh

Photo Credits: Contributed

Forensic Drawings Raise Hope in Jessica Foster Case

March 29, 2010

Four years ago today, Jessica Edith Louise Foster, a 21-year-old woman from Canada, vanished from the streets of Las Vegas, Nevada. Her family suspects foul play and believes she is a human trafficking victim.

In an effort to spur new leads in the case, Jessie's family has released two age-progressed portraits, by forensic artist Diana Trepkov, depicting how Jessie might appear today. The drawings depict her in both a natural and unnatural physical condition.

The natural and healthy depiction of Jessie shows normal changes in her facial features. Around the eyes, mouth and cheeks, the age lines are slightly more pronounced and visible. There is less youthful fullness in her facial features and she has a thinner appearance overall.

The unnatural depiction of Jessie shows age progression, along with physical effects that would be expected of someone being held as a sex slave.

"Jessie is depicted in the first drawing as a victim who has not been treated as badly as she is in the second drawing," reads a press release issued by Jessie's mother, Glendene Grant. "The reason of course, is because we do not know the way Jessie is being treated and we had to ensure both scenarios were seen."

Background

"Jessie was born in Calgary on May 27, 1984. She was the second daughter for Dwight Foster and myself," Glendene told Investigation Discovery. "On June 27, 1987, I moved back to Kamloops, where I grew up and my parents still lived."

According to Glendene, Jessie stayed with her in Kamloops until she reached the age of 16, when she moved back to Calgary to live with her father.  

"It was very sad for me but the Internet was something that made me feel that she was no farther away than the other room," Glendene said. "Jessie was in chats with her sisters and me practically daily."

Jessie did well in school and in June 2002, her mother and siblings drove to Calgary for her high school graduation ceremony. After receiving her diploma, Jessie got her own apartment and began working two jobs. She continued doing that until the spring of 2005, when she moved back to Kamloops.

"About three weeks later, Jessie started getting calls from a man named Donald - someone she knew from when she was a teenager," Glendene said. "During one of her conversations with him, Donald asked Jessie if she wanted to go on a short trip with him to Florida to visit his mother. She told us he was paying for the trip and wanted company for the vacation. We did not feel that this was wrong, but we did ask Jessie if this guy wanted anything in return. She assured us he did not [and] went away, coming home a few days later with pictures of the trip."

According to Glendene, Donald called Jessie again a few weeks later and asked her to go with him to New York and New Jersey.

"She was to go to these places and fly back home, but for some reason her trip got changed and she ended up going to Las Vegas. She arrived there on May 13, 2005. She called us and said she had decided to visit a friend she knew there. That friend was dating a man who introduced Jessie to another man, named Peter."

Peter and Jessie allegedly got engaged and lived together in a 3.4 million dollar home in Las Vegas. Over the course of the next year Jessie racked up several arrests for prostitution and at one point was beaten so severely that she had to be hospitalized.

In 2006, Jessie stopped calling home and her family began to fear something had happened to her. They contacted Peter for answers and he allegedly told them that Jessie had left him in April 2006.  Concerned, Glendene reported her daughter missing to police. Unfortunately, there were few clues to follow and the case went cold.

With the passing of four years, Jessie's mother is even more determined to find out what happened to her daughter. She has been actively involved in the case from the beginning and currently maintains a website devoted to the case. According to the site, a $50,000 dollar reward is being offered for information in the case.

"I have worked tirelessly in my search for my missing daughter and I will never stop until I find her," Glendene said. "If Jessie is alive, we need to find her and if Jessie is not alive, we need to find her so her soul can rest in peace. Either way, I will find my daughter."

Jessie is described as 5'7" and 120 lbs., with blonde hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call Las Vegas Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Photo Credits: Contributed

Mandy Stokes' Mother Desperate for Answers in Daughter's Disappearance

March 19, 2010

Deborah Murray is a heartbroken mother. Her daughter, 35-year-old Alicia Amanda "Mandy" Stokes, went missing in November 2007 and has not been seen since. Deborah said her daughter's sudden and unexplained disappearance has damaged her heart and her soul.

"Not knowing is the worst," Deborah said in an interview with Investigation Discovery. "You have that little bit of hope that maybe she is still out there, but at the same time you can't help but think the worst."

Mandy was last seen at an apartment she shared with her 28-year-old brother, Aaron Stokes, in Oakland, California, on the afternoon of Nov. 25, 2007. Neighbors overheard the siblings having an argument that lasted for several hours. Aaron later described it as a small tiff. He said he was in the shower when his sister left to run some errands and that she said she would be right back

"I yelled from the shower 'I love you ...' She just tapped on the door and said goodbye," Aaron said in an interview with insidebayarea.com.

Mandy reportedly walked out the door of their Merritt Avenue apartment and drove off in her 2001 Honda Accord. Where she went or who she saw after that remains a mystery. She never returned.

According to Deborah, Mandy's boyfriend later said that he spoke with her while she was in the car driving, but the call was cut short because she either lost service or the cell phone was turned off.

Two days later, Mandy's vehicle was found abandoned by a ravine near Leimert Blvd.

"Her car was found locked, with her cell phone and wallet in the glove compartment," Deborah said.

Mandy was declared a missing person and an investigation was launched by the Oakland Police Department.

"No one has heard from or seen her since," Deborah said. "There has been no activity on her cell phone or bank account. Up until she disappeared, we never went a day without talking unless she was camping or otherwise unavailable. It is not like her not to communicate with someone in the family, especially me, but not one person has seen or heard from her since the morning she went missing."

The investigation into Mandy's disappearance continued over the course of the next several weeks and in December 2007, investigators announced that forensic technicians had collected potential evidence from her apartment. As a result, the case was transferred to the homicide division.

"We move cases from missing persons to the homicide section when think there's some elements of foul play," Sgt. Derwin Longmire from the Oakland Police told abclocal.go.com.

Longmire would not disclose what the "potential evidence" was.

According to Aaron, Oakland Police subjected him to a nine-hour interrogation about his sister's disappearance.

"I tried to talk to them, but they kept railroading and accusing me," Aaron told the Oakland Tribune.

In an interview with the same media outlet, Sgt. Longmire said Aaron was interviewed because he was "one of the last people to speak with Amanda Stokes."

When asked whether they had a suspect or person of interest in the case, Longmire said police are "not looking at anyone in particular."

Despite Longmire's statement, Deborah feels like suspicion has been cast on her son.

"I want to clear his name of the suspicion," she said. "I know he didn't kill her. I know he loves his sister."

Today, the status of the case remains cold. Investigators have said there is little they can do until new evidence or leads surface. Despite this, Deborah is determined to uncover the truth. She has networked online about the case, physically searched and posted countless missing person flyers.

"Perhaps someone may hear or see this story of a beautiful young woman," Deborah said. "Maybe they saw her, maybe someone may remember that Thanksgiving weekend or someone may decide to come forward that knows something. Our family and friends need to know, we need to find Mandy, we need to know [and] we need closure."

Alicia Amanda "Mandy" Stokes is described as a white female, 5'4" tall, 120 lbs., with blondish-brown hair and green eyes. She has a tattoo on one of her wrists, a belly button piercing, two piercings in each of her ears and a small birthmark on one of her thighs. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department at 510-238-3641.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Project Jason: Alicia Amanda Stokes

Photo Credits: Contributed

Mother of Recently Found Missing Woman Prepares to Say Goodbye

March 17, 2010

Last month, authorities in Maryland announced that human remains found in Snow Hill, had been positively identified as Christine Marie Sheddy. Now Christine's mother, Lynn Dodenhoff, is preparing to say goodbye to her daughter at a funeral scheduled for this weekend.

Christine was 26 years old in November 2007, when she mysteriously vanished from a farm in Pocomoke City. Authorities conducted a search for Christine but were unable to turn up evidence of foul play.

The case remained open until last month, when police received a tip leading them to a location in Snow Hill, roughly 10 miles from where Christine went missing.

A cause of death has not yet been announced.

Earlier this month, police arrested Justin Hadel, 19, of College Station, Texas and charged him with first and second-degree murder and first and second-degree assault in connection with Christine's death. Hadel was one of the last people to have seen Christine before she disappeared.

Today, Dodenhoff announced that a public funeral service has been scheduled in honor of her daughter.

An obituary distributed to the media reads in part:

"Christine was born in Dover, Delaware on December 22, 1980 and was brought home to be with the Lord on November 13, 2007. Christine enjoyed helping with the family business. She loved music, relaxing with her friends and spending time on the computer. Christine was a free spirit, with a desire to help anyone in need. As a kind and caring soul, her family and friends meant the world to her, just as she has for them. 

"Christine leaves behind three beautiful children: a daughter Haylie Lynch, and two sons, Isaac and Ezekiel Hall, Clair Sheddy, her father, Lynn and Steven Dodenhoff her mother and step father. Also left behind include her sister and brother-in-law, Jennifer and Paul Knapp, her brother Jeremy Hunt, maternal grandparents Richard and Margaret Keesser, paternal grandmother Ingeborg A. Sheddy.  Christine also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews both in England and the United States. Christine is preceded in death by her brother Michael Keesser, George and Lillian Abel of England, along with her paternal grandfather James R. Sheddy."

Services for Christine will be held at the Milford First Baptist Church on Old Shawnee Road, Milford, Delaware, on March 20, 2010. Visitation will be from noon until 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at Barratt’s Chapel in Frederica, Delaware.  

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Christine Sheddy Memorial Fund, through The First National Bank of Wyoming, 7 Commerce Street, Harrington, DE  19952.

Have You Seen David Douglas Potts II?

March 14, 2010

David Douglas Potts II was 21 years old when he went missing from Florissant, Mo., in 2006. His disappearance has affected everyone around him, including his mother, Robin Potts.

"A parent should never feel the fear and pain of not knowing where her child is," Robin told Investigation Discovery. "There is a hole in my life and my heart, a void if you will, a steady, agonizing, debilitating pain that simply refuses to go away."

Robin last saw her son at about 9:17 p.m., on Oct. 28, 2006, before he and some friends went out for a night on the town. Several hours later, at about 1:30 a.m., a St. Ann police officer and a ride-along passenger spotted a gray Ford Contour weaving on Highway 70. Friends later told police that Potts was driving the vehicle because the owner was too intoxicated to drive. When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, a high-speed pursuit ensued.

"The officer in pursuit stated that he was nearing 130 mph, and the Grey Ford Contour was pulling away from him," Robin said. "Upon crossing the Earth City Expressway interchange, a Missouri State Highway Patrolman joined the pursuit."

Not long thereafter, the vehicle crashed on the Blanchette Bridge. Potts then allegedly exited the vehicle and took off on foot. An officer chased him along the bridge, and Potts reportedly jumped over the railing. It remains unclear whether he fled along a catwalk or fell into the water below.

On Oct. 30, Potts' employer notified his parents that he did not show up for work. They were unaware of the accident and did not find out about it until they started calling their son's friends and, ultimately, the police department.

"In my first call to St. Ann Police, [I] spoke with a dispatch officer and was told that David was considered wanted (because he had eluded police) and not a missing person," Robin said.

On Nov. 1, Robin again spoke with police and was told to file a missing person report. Robin then met with a St. Louis County police officer, and the case was officially logged, but authorities allegedly refused to organize a search.

"On Nov. 5, with the help of the Sean Hornbeck Foundation, we organized a search on both water and land," Robin said. "The Missouri Water Patrol searched the Missouri River and even dragged the river from the Blanchette Bridge to the Blanchette Landing, [but] nothing was found. There was no clothing, footprints or anything else that was found or discovered."

There has been no sign of David since the night of the police chase. None of his bank accounts have been touched, and no one has had any contact with him.

Some believe David is still alive and has started a new life. Prior to his disappearance, he allegedly told family members that he wanted to change his life and would do "whatever it takes." Others believe he fell into the waters below the bridge and was swept away by the current. Robin says she is desperate to find out what happened.

"I need closure to move on with my life," Robin said. "My son has missed so much - the birth of his beautiful niece, the death of his grandfather, and the death of a cousin. I miss him more than anyone can understand. I need him to come home one way or the other. I need closure for the pain to subside and for my life to move forward."

David Douglas Potts II is described as a white male, 6' 3" tall, 160-170 pounds, with brown hair and blue/hazel eyes. He has multiple tattoos, including, a Confederate flag on the back of his neck with the words "Rise Again," Chinese symbols on his right forearm that mean "Drink" in English, and a skull and cross bones with green eyes on the small of his back. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 314-889-2341.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Project Jason: David Douglas Potts II

Do You Hold the Key to Finding Elizabeth Campbell?

March 05, 2010

It has been nearly 22 years since Elizabeth Ann Campbell, a student at Central Texas College in Killeen, Texas, vanished without a trace. Elizabeth's family has had to endure over two decades of waiting, wondering and hoping for answers.

At the time of her disappearance, Elizabeth was a 20-year-old student working at a local convenience store and living at home with her parents, Tom and Sam-Soon Campbell.

"Elizabeth is a sweet, kind person. She trusted everyone and wouldn't hurt anyone," Sam-Soon said in an interview with Investigation Discovery. "Every morning, she would give me a hug and kiss. Sometimes, if I was upset with her for something, she would give me many hugs and kisses until I would laugh and forget whatever I was upset about. If she was to go out with friends, Elizabeth would take me along. She wanted me to hang out with the girls and have fun. I still can remember her sweet smell and her gentle kisses and hugs."

On April 24, 1988, Elizabeth went to work at the 7-11 store on Rancier Avenue in Killeen. After completing her shift, she went to her boyfriend's house to study for final exams.

"While at the house of her boyfriend, the two of them got into an argument, and she told him she wanted to go home," Tom said. "For some reason, he didn't want to take her home at that time, and she told him she was leaving. Her boyfriend allowed her to step out in the dark streets at around 11 o'clock that Monday night about 30 miles from her home."

Elizabeth started to walk home, and roughly an hour later, after accepting a ride from another college student, she arrived at the 7-11 in Copperas Cove, roughly 17 miles from her home. Employees there recognized Elizabeth from the Killeen store and allowed her to use the phone. According to Tom, she called her boyfriend and asked him to come pick her up, but the call resulted in another argument, so she decided to call her brother. Not wanting to make a long-distance call on the convenience store phone, Elizabeth went outside to use a pay phone. A witness later reported seeing her on the phone around midnight, but what happened to her after that remains a mystery.

"The morning of April 25, 1988, I got up early and asked my granddaughter, who at the time was two years old, if Elizabeth was upstairs asleep. She said no," Sam-Soon said. "When my daughter Barbara woke up, I had her call Elizabeth's boyfriend. He said that Elizabeth had gone to her sister's house at the Central Texas College housing complex. Barbara asked how she got there, and he said she got a ride. Since my other daughter didn't have a phone, I had Barbara drive there. It is about 30 miles away. That's when we found out Elizabeth was missing."

Concerned for their daughter's welfare, Tom and Sam-Soon attempted to file a missing person report with police, but they were turned away.

"We were told, 'She isn't missing; you just don't know where she is,'" Tom said. "This same policewoman then remarked to another policewoman, 'We don't have time for hysterical parents.'"

Tom said that since Elizabeth was an adult, the police told them that they had to wait 72 hours to file a missing person report. Unwilling to wait for answers, Elizabeth's parents went to the 7-11 in Copperas Cove and spoke with the clerks there. One of them remembered seeing Elizabeth and told them that she had been dropped off at the store by a man driving a light green Gremlin.

"We spent the rest of the day looking for the light green Gremlin and found it in a parking lot on the Central Texas College campus," Tom said. "We watched it until the owner came out to it. We asked him about Elizabeth and were told that after working late in a computer lab on the campus, he had seen Elizabeth walking down the service road at the college exit and recognized her as a student at the college. He turned back and offered her a ride as far as he was going. He lived in Corpus Cove and let her out at the 7-11 convenience store in Copperas Cove. It was shortly after that that she was seen by the clerk at the pay phone outside the store."

Uncertain what to do next, Elizabeth's parents returned to the police station and eventually convinced them to accept the missing person report. Unfortunately, the case had already gone cold, and police were unable to determine what had happed to Elizabeth.

Desperate for answers, Elizabeth's parents sent a letter to John Walsh, which resulted in a short piece on "America's Most Wanted" in September 1989. A number of people called the show with leads, but nothing panned out. Continued efforts by her parents to keep the case alive resulted in Elizabeth's case appearing on the television show "Unsolved Mysteries." More tips came in, but, again, they led nowhere.

It would be another four years before a clue to her disappearance was found – some 250 miles away.

"Four years later, Elizabeth's purse was found in Ozona, Texas. It is off Interstate 10 in west Texas south of San Angelo," Sam-Soon said.

Unfortunately, the Crockett County Sheriff's Office was unable to say when or by whom the purse had been dropped off. No paperwork had been filed with it. The sheriff at the time, who is now deceased, estimated that it had been turned in sometime between April 1988 and January 1989.

Despite the passage of time, Elizabeth's family has never given up searching for her. They've written hundreds of letters to law enforcement agencies throughout Texas and have attempted to get coverage for her case whenever they can. Unfortunately, that is not always an easy task.

"For many years, I have begged the media to [tell] my daughter's story," Sam-Soon said. "They always tell me since I have no new leads and it is very old, they cannot do anything with it. To me, it feels like Elizabeth's life is not important to anyone. If they would just listen, maybe someone will hear about it and finally give us answers."

In addition to the difficulty in getting coverage for the case, Sam-Soon said she remains haunted by a dream she had ten years after her daughter went missing.

"I had a dream that Elizabeth was home," Sam-Soon said. "I kept telling Elizabeth I was dreaming and 'You aren't really here.'" She continued, "I asked, 'Where have you been?' Elizabeth couldn't remember who she was. She said she saw the flyers everywhere but didn't know that the picture on the flyer was she. Elizabeth told me when she was abducted a man shoved her into a car and she hit her head hard. That's when she lost her memories of who she was and everyone in her life. When I woke up, Elizabeth wasn't truly home as I had hoped. For weeks I cried, and I am still, all the years later, very upset about that dream."

Elizabeth's parent's are in their 70s today. Their health is failing, and they do not believe they will live much longer. As a result, they are desperate to know the truth before they pass on.

"I'm 75-years-old. I do not have much time to live," Sam-Soon said. "Tom has had three heart attacks, a tumor in his top left chamber of his heart, and a pacemaker put in. Now he has failing kidneys. The doctors informed us that one of his kidneys has a tumor. Please help us. I fear my husband may not have more time to live before he finds an answer to his question. Where is my child? Where is Elizabeth? Is she still alive somewhere and needs our help in escaping her captives? I truly hope this is not. Is she dead? If they killed Elizabeth, where is her body so we can put her into a proper resting place?

"Elizabeth would buy gifts for the family and hide them. She would buy them months in advance. We still have some, which we have never opened. We are waiting for Elizabeth to come home and give them to us to open."

Elizabeth Ann Campbell is described as an Asian female, 5' 2" tall, 100 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Copperas Cove Police Department at 254-547-4273.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Project Jason: Elizabeth Ann Campbell

Photo Credit: Contributed

What Happened to Michael Jefferson Adams?

February 27, 2010

Kind, witty, funny, generous and smart are all words that have been used to describe Michael Jefferson Adams. Unfortunately, the word "missing" is also synonymous with his name.

On the night of June 8, 1987, Michael, then 18, finished his shift at M-System Food Store on 12th and Mockingbird Street in Abilene, Texas, and drove to his home on Peach St. When Michael arrived home, at about 11:30 p.m., his sister, Beverly Adams, awoke and looked out the window. She saw Michael leaning into a car that was parked idling on the street, having a discussion with the occupant(s). Thinking nothing of the incident, Beverly went back to sleep.

The following morning, Michael's parents noticed that his car was parked in the driveway, blocking the family car. It was Michael's usual custom to switch the vehicles around, but, for reasons unknown, he had not done so. When Michael's parents went into his room, they discovered that his wallet and other personal items were in their usual spots, but Michael was nowhere to be found.

"Michael had everything going for him. He was a talented artist, and dreamed of being an architect. He wanted nothing more than to move on from Abilene, and take his first steps into the world as his own man. He was just three weeks away from leaving for college," Michael's friend, Danny Johns, told Investigation Discovery. "Michael knew exactly where he was going and how important his education was in getting him there. He was well liked, funny and charming. He had a big, bright smile that was contagious, and [he] was incredibly easy going."

 When all attempts to locate Michael failed, his parents filed a missing person report with police. The only clue as to his unexplained disappearance was the sighting of the vehicle that his sister had observed him leaning into the previous night. Beverly described the vehicle as a dark, two door model – possibly a 1973-1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo or Oldsmobile Cutlass or Toronado. 

According to Johns, two of Michael's known associates owned vehicles that matched the descriptions given by Beverly, so authorities questioned them about his whereabouts and gave them lie-detector tests. One of his associates reportedly passed the test, whereas results for the other were inconclusive. As a result, the case quickly went cold.

In the years that followed, authorities received numerous tips suggesting Michael had been assaulted and murdered. One particular tipster indicated that his body had been dumped in the Fort Phantom Hill Dam area, a location roughly 30 miles from Michael’s home, but authorities have been unable to substantiate that claim.

With no new information or leads on which to follow up, in 1994, Michael's family petitioned the court and had him declared legally dead. Despite this action, his family and friends still want answers to the question of his sudden and unexplained disappearance.

"No one deserves to have their life taken from them in this way, but especially [not] someone like Michael," Johns said. "He would have never seen this coming, nor would he have been aware that this element existed around him. He was truly a victim, 100%. Michael needed someone to stand up for him, and that’s what we’re trying to do now. We’re working very hard to try to get Michael some well-deserved justice and for some closure for his father, who is now nearing 80 years old and is worried he will never get the answers about what happened to his young son."

Michael Jefferson Adams is described as a white male, 6’ tall, 150 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a white, long sleeved oxford, black pants and black shoes. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Abilene Police Department, at 800-868-8477 or 325-676-6643.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Find Michael Jefferson Adams

Photo Credits: Contributed

NY Family Wants Answers in Loved Ones Disappearance

February 24, 2010

Bruce MacDonald Whitford, 49, was last seen in Grand Island, New York, in 2006.

According to Bruce's sister, Holly Whitford Best, Bruce was a beloved father of two, who worked as a product manager for a local company. He excelled at his position and prior to his disappearance, represented his company in China, Australia, and New Zealand. Bruce had no known enemy's or conflicts in his life – facts that make his sudden and unexplained disappearance all the more puzzling.

"Bruce spoke with his son at about 7:15 p.m. on Oct. 19, 2006," Holly told Investigation Discovery. "He told his son they would see a movie that Saturday night, but Bruce never called his son back and no one has seen him since."

On October 21, Bruce's GMC Envoy was found parked on Vanderbilt Avenue in Niagara Falls, NY, across from Devil's Hole Gorge. 

"Bruce often visited Devil's Hole Gorge to fish, or watch the fish running, and perhaps photograph them," Holly said. 

Niagarafrontier.com describes Devil's Hole Gorge as a "deep, bowl shaped basin of the Bloody Run tributary from Glacial Lake Tonawanda." The name Bloody Run, the Website states, "recalls the massacre of British soldiers by the Seneca Indians in 1763."

Fearing Bruce might have fallen into the water, search teams consisting of the state parks police, Erie County sheriff's deputies, Coast Guard and NY State Police conducted a search of the gorge. Unfortunately, nothing was found indicating what might have happened to Bruce.

Holly said the only possible clue was a notation found in Bruce's personal planner that listed a "PM meeting" scheduled for the following Thursday. It was unusual, Holly said, for her brother to be so vague when listing a meeting in his planner.

In an attempt to get answers, Bruce's family and friends spent countless hours searching the gorge for clues. Nevertheless, their searches - as with those of the police - proved futile.

Despite the fact that Bruce has never been found, his family decided to hold a memorial service for him on April 21, 2007, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church and School in North Tonawanda. The obituary listing the memorial reads in part:

"Bruce MacDonald Whitford, of West River Rd., Grand Island, was lost to us suddenly and tragically on Thursday, October 19, 2006. We love you, and miss you so much Bruce -- you would always do anything you could for anyone, and you mean the world to us."

While the memorial gave family and close friends a chance to say their farewells, Holly said she still wants to know what happened to her brother.

"Bruce's body has not been found," she said. "There is no information about what happened to him.  If there is a possibility that he is alive somewhere, I want to find out."

Bruce MacDonald Whitford is described as a white male. When he was last seen, he was 6' 1" tall, 180 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the New York State Park Police, at 716-773-4461 or the Erie County Sheriff's Department, at 716-759-6000.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
North American Missing Persons Network

Photo Credits: Contributed

Have You Seen Thomas Joel Zinza?

February 17, 2010

Exactly two years ago today, 43-year-old Thomas Joel Zinza, a U.S. Marine and disabled vet from Alaska, disappeared from a motel in Emlenton, PA. Since that time, Tom's older brother, John Zinza, has been on a desperate search for answers in the case.

According to John, his brother suffered from mental health issues and there were signs that something terrible was going on in his brother's life in the days leading up to his disappearance.

"On February 14, 2008, I got a stressful call from my father, who said that Tom believed someone was trying to kill him and Tom was concerned about his safety," John told Investigation Discovery. "My father filled me in on what was going on and intended to update me as soon as he knew more."

Later that same day, Tom placed a similar call to his brother.

"I asked Tom if he was having problems with his medication and he expressed frustration at me for asking," John said. "He expressed thoughts about leaving Alaska as soon as possible to see some former Marines and his ex-wife.  I requested that he see his mental health care providers. Tom ended the conversation, saying that he would do so. This is the last I heard from Tom."

On Feb. 16, Tom purchased a plane ticket and flew from Fairbanks to Seattle, WA.  While in Seattle, he purchased additional plane tickets from Seattle to Cleveland, OH, and from Cleveland to Boston, MA. The flight to Boston was not scheduled to depart until Feb. 19, so Tom checked into a hotel room near the Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport for several hours, before driving away in a rental car. The rental car agreement Tom signed indicated that he would return the car in two days.

"On February 17, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office recovered Tom's luggage along a highway, east of Wooster, Ohio," John said. "The luggage was described as not typical. One contained his laptop computer and another bag contained his writing journals and his Palm Pilot."

Later that day, credit card statements show that Tom made purchases at a gas station in East Liverpool, OH and at a market in New Galilee, PA. He then drove to Emlenton, PA, where he checked into the Emlenton Motor Inn. The hotel owner later told police he remembered checking Tom in at about 11:00 pm.

"The next morning the cleaning lady discovered the room was unused," John said. "The day after that she notified the Pennsylvania State Police that he had still not used his room and the rental car was still in the parking lot."

Pennsylvania State Police notified authorities throughout the state about Tom's disappearance. Searches of the Alleghany River and an island on the river were later conducted, but nothing was found. The following month, an aerial search was conducted in the area around the motel, but again nothing was found.

"In the spring of 2009, a search and recovery group conducted another search at my request," John said. "A pair of boots was found in a wooded area near the motel, but it is inconclusive if they were Tom's."

Since that time, the search for Tom has gone cold. It remains unclear if Tom went missing of his own accord or if he met with foul play. Regardless of the circumstances, John and his family would like to know what happened to their missing loved one.

"Not knowing is utterly tortuous," John said. "If he is alive, I want to help him. If he is deceased, I would like to see my parents get closure. Tom would give his shirt off his back to help someone. People loved him and still do."

Thomas Joel Zinza is described as a white male. When he was last seen, he was 5' 10" tall, 200 pounds, with balding brownish-gray hair and hazel eyes. He had a small trout tattoo on his upper torso. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at 814-676-6596 or the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 330-287-5758

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Project Jason: Thomas Joel Zinza

Photo Credit: Contributed

$10K Reward Offered in Business Owner's Disappearance

February 12, 2010

Anthony Holland's brother, Kevin Holland, announced Thursday that he is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person[s] responsible for Anthony's disappearance.

As was previously reported, Anthony was last seen on June 21, 2009, when he left his Cordell, Okla., home to repossess some items he had sold on credit. The following day, Anthony's wife filed a missing person report with police. Not long thereafter, a search plane located Anthony's green pick-up truck in a wooded area of his 80-acre farm. The doors were closed, and the keys were inside. Three days later, Anthony's cell phone was found in an area not far from where the truck was parked.

Searches were conducted by the Washita County Sheriff's Office and Texas EquuSearch; however neither group was able to locate Anthony.

No suspects or persons of interest have been named by police.

Anthony Holland is described as a white male, 6 feet 1 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, with gray hair and green/hazel eyes. Anthony has a scar on his abdomen from a surgery. He was last seen wearing a salmon-colored shirt, jeans and boots. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Agent Joe Ferrero with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at 800-522-8017 or Sheriff Larry Burrows at 580-832-2334.

Have You Seen Anthony Holland?

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Project Jason: Anthony Holland

Photo Credit: Contributed

California Family Seeks Help in 33-Year-Old Missing Person Case

February 11, 2010

For over three decades, the family of Frederick Donald Leach, aka William Donald Leach, has been agonizing over his disappearance. What happened to Fredrick and where is he today? Those questions still remain, but as far as his daughter is concerned, the search is far from over.

"I would like people to know this story. Maybe they know something. Maybe they can help keep some other family from going through all of the pain we have had to endure," Fredrick's daughter, Kathy Leach-Warmington, said in an interview with Investigation Discovery.

According to Fredrick's daughter, he was a mechanic by trade and enjoyed tinkering with his vast collection of vehicles and motorcycles. Fredrick's property in Laytonville, California was nearly paid off and, at 49 years old, he was looking forward to enjoying his eventual retirement. Unfortunately, that was not to be, as some tragic event appears to have stolen that dream from him.

"My dad was last seen by my brother David on March 17, 1976," Kathy said. "Later that day, my dad's best friend called my sister and said that dad's house was vandalized, lots of stuff was stolen and he was missing. Things just didn't look right."

Kathy said that among the items missing were several vehicles – a 1960s Ford Falcon, two Willy's PU jeeps and two motorcycles – a Harley Davidson and a Suzuki.

"I was later told that two big trucks were seen loading everything up," she said.

According to the best friend, the last time he saw Frederick, he was limping. When he inquired as to the reason, Frederick allegedly told him he had been beaten up.

"Dad was involved in a dispute with some people," Kathy said. "My dad would not sell them some things they wanted, and one of the guys was furious."

Authorities have found no evidence suggesting the alleged dispute was related to Frederick's disappearance; however, Kathy says they did find evidence that something tragic had occurred on her father's property.

"There was blood splatters on the wall and in a bus parked on the property we found a big overstuffed chair with white sheet draped on it which was totally saturated with blood. It hadn't been there long. It was fresh blood."

Kathy said she was also troubled by an item they found inside a second house that sat on her father's property.

"There was a satanic picture on the wall," she said. "It was a picture of a goat’s head with a cross on a grave and words with dad's name."

It remains unclear whether the picture is in anyway related to Frederick's disappearance.

According to Kathy, in the years following her father's disappearance she was contacted by police and informed that they had received a possible lead in the case from a person who was incarcerated in prison.

"We were never given a name," Kathy said. "Apparently, he had called the authorities and offered to tell them some things he allegedly knew about dad's disappearance. It was a weekend, so the detective decided to wait until Monday. Unfortunately, the guy died of a morphine overdose before the detective could get there."

With the alleged informant's death, any information he may have had went to the grave with him. As a result, he left behind more questions than answers.

"We just want to know what happened," Kathy said. "We need help to give our father a proper burial."

Calls to Eric Riboli, the lead detective on the case, were directed to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office public information officer. Calls to the information officer were not immediately returned.

Frederick Donald Leach is described as a white male. When he was last seen, he was 5’ 8” tall, 165 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes. He had a scar on the right side of his face from an animal bite. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office at 707-463-4086.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Project Jason: Frederick Donald Leach

Photo Credit: Contributed

Have You Seen Anthony Holland?

February 05, 2010

Anthony Holland spent the majority of his life living in Cordell, Okla. He is a married father of two and a successful businessman who owns a Snap-On franchise and numerous other properties and businesses. In his spare time, Anthony likes to hunt and attend gun shows. All in all, Anthony had a pretty good life. Unfortunately, that life took a drastic turn on Father's Day 2009 when he vanished without a trace.

"Anthony returned home from a gun show held in Elk City around 4:30 p.m. on June 21, 2009," Anthony's cousin, Teresa Goughan, said in an interview with Investigation Discovery. "His wife says he left about an hour later, stating he was going to repossess some items he had sold on credit. He left without his wallet or checkbook and never returned home."

The following day, Anthony's wife filed a missing person report with police. Not long thereafter, a search plane located Anthony's green pick-up truck in a wooded area of his 80-acre farm. The doors were closed, and the keys were inside. Three days later, Anthony's cell phone was found in an area not far from where the truck was parked.

"Authorities conducted searches with tracking dogs, cadaver dogs, scuba divers, and spelunkers, but nothing was found," Teresa said. "The dogs did not even get a scent around the exterior of his pick-up. The police were only made aware of two of the seven farms that Anthony owns, so unfortunately the others were not searched."

Washita County Sheriff Larry Burrows has yet to find any clues in the case, making it difficult to speculate about what could have happened to Anthony.

"I really don't think there is foul play," Burrows said in a November 2009 interview with newsok.com. "But we are not going to rule that out."

In an effort to locate Anthony, his siblings and cousins have taken an active role in the search.

"Flyers have been distributed, and numerous community searches, including one with the help of Texas EquuSearch, have been conducted," Teresa said. "The family was actively searching until his wife would not allow us on his land due to deer season. We did search other surrounding land during deer season as the land owners understood how desperate we are."

Despite everyone's best efforts, nothing has been found indicating what might have happened to Anthony. Nonetheless, his family continues to hold out hope that they will one day find him.

"I worry about Anthony's safety," Teresa said. "We are all so desperate to either find Anthony alive and well or to at least gain some closure. If he was a victim of foul play, we want justice. Anthony was a very generous person and a friend to all. So many of us love and miss him, and we all deserve to know what happened.  He is in our thoughts and prayers every day."

No suspects or persons of interest have been named by police.  

Anthony Holland is described as a white male, 6 feet 1 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, with gray hair and green/hazel eyes. Anthony has a scar on his abdomen from a surgery. He was last seen wearing a salmon-colored shirt, jeans and boots. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Agent Joe Ferrero with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at 800-522-8017 or Sheriff Larry Burrows at 580-832-2334.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Project Jason: Anthony Holland

Photo Credits: Contributed

Help Find Adam Christopher Kellner

February 03, 2010

It is no secret that families of the missing have a difficult time getting public attention for their loved one's case. As difficult as that job is, it is that much harder when the person missing suffers from a mental illness. Such is the case of Adam Christopher Kellner, a 36-year-old man who was reported missing from Stevenson Ranch, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2007.

"Adam was last seen the previous night when he asked my husband, who was recovering from knee replacement surgery, if he needed help up the stairs to bed," said Adam's mother, Sherrill W. Britton, in an interview with Investigation Discovery. "I was away overnight on a business trip, and Adam was doing exactly what I needed him to do. Since Adam often slept late, my husband didn't realize he hadn't seen him until about 3:00 the next afternoon. He looked for him in the garage where he smoked and upstairs in his bedroom, but Adam was nowhere to be found. My cell phone rang as I was coming back to Los Angeles, and I heard the words I will never forget: 'I can't find Adam.'"

According to Sherrill, Adam suffers from schizophrenia but was stable at the time of his disappearance. He took his medications regularly and is believed to have taken them on the morning of his disappearance.

"There was no incident that would have provoked his disappearance—no arguments or disagreements," Sherrill said. "He didn't take any clothes or ID; he had no transportation and only a few dollars. He didn't even take his cigarettes, and he smoked a pack and a half a day. He always wore a hat, both indoors and out, because he was embarrassed about the bald spot on the back of his head. All his hats were left behind. He didn't have a driver's license or cell phone. His psychiatrist does not believe he was suicidal and was shocked to hear the news. Adam simply vanished, so far, without a trace."

Sherrill says people often misunderstand her son's illness and mistakenly believe that people should be afraid of individuals who suffer from schizophrenia. She believes this is part of the reason that people are not taking notice of her son's case.

"Adam is not a paranoid schizophrenic; he is not violent or aggressive," she said. "He simply hears voices and, thankfully, they give him comfort. He is extremely isolated—in fact, he hadn't left the house for months prior to his disappearance except to take a bus to doctors' appointments. He was not able to hold down a job and spent his time smoking in the garage or listening to music in his room."

Prior to his illness, Adam was a happy and social man who grew up in a loving family in Miami, Fla. He had a lot of friends and was a good athlete who excelled at soccer and tennis. It was not until after his high school graduation that Adam began to exhibit problems.

 "He went off to college at Stetson. Like many people who come down with a mental illness, he began experiencing problems as a young adult," Sherrill said. "He flunked out after his freshman year and began experimenting with drugs. Little did we know that he was self-medicating, trying to justify the voices in his head."

Sherrill says it took several years to finally figure out what was happening to Adam. By this time, she had remarried and moved to Los Angeles. In 1994, Adam came to live her and her husband, at which time they began the process of getting him off drugs and obtaining a diagnosis.

"Living with someone with schizophrenia is difficult and stressful, but you do learn to manage and to identify psychotic behavior," Sherrill said. "Adam was not experiencing a psychotic episode when he disappeared; he was stable and coherent."

Following Adam's disappearance, Sherrill filed a missing person report with the LA County Sheriff's Department. Unfortunately, they had few resources to offer her.

"They told me this is a hard case to solve since he didn't have friends, didn't frequent places and couldn't be traced through a cell phone, credit cards or a car," she said. "They don't think a crime has been committed, so limited resources were applied to his case—taking a report, issuing press releases and monitoring databases."

Despite the lack of assistance in Adam's case, his family has kept the search active by distributing fliers throughout the local area, contacting bus drivers and shelters throughout the state and searching areas they suspect he might have gone. They have also enlisted the help of a private investigator and filed a report with the National Center for Missing Adults, Project Jason, and the California Dept. of Justice Missing and Unidentified Missing Person's Unit. Unfortunately, none of those steps have resulted in discovering what happened to Adam, but his mother is adamant that she will continue search until he is found.

"At first, when Adam disappeared, I was sure he would walk back in the house or call home. I can't imagine how this heartbreak can continue indefinitely," Sherrill said. "As time goes on, I begin to think I may never find him or know what happened. As long as I am doing something—anything—to search for him, I am able to keep hope alive."

Adam Kellner is described as a white male, 5' 7" tall, 165 to 175 pounds, with brown hair (with a bald spot near the back of his head) and brown eyes. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective T. Abraham, at 323-890-5500 or via email, at TLAbraha@lasd.org.

Photo Credit: Sherrill W. Britton

Missing NY Mom's Family Desperate for Answers

January 29, 2010

Bethanie Dougherty, 40, was last seen inside her Killowog, New York home on the evening of April, 1 2008. Whatever happened to her after that remains a mystery.

"Bethanie's oldest son said good night to her at about 10:30 p.m., and went to sleep on the couch," Bethanie's father, Terry Curtis, said in an interview with Investigation Discovery. "When her son woke up in the morning, Bethanie was not there. Her purse, wallet, cell phone, car keys, cigarettes, lighter were on the dining room table and her car was in the driveway."

Assuming his mother was visiting a neighbor, Bethanie's son went to school, expecting to see her when he got home later that day. However, when he returned, his mother was still missing and everything in the house was as he had left it that morning.

"Shortly after her son returned from school, Bethanie's cell phone rang," Terry said. "Her son answered it, and it was Bethanie's brother. Her son explained that he didn't know where his mother was, so his uncle told him to hang up and make some phone calls to try and find her. When her brother called back again later, he found out her son was still unable to locate her, so he told him to call the police and report her missing."

When investigators looked into the case, they learned that a New York State Police patrol unit had been dispatched to Bethanie's neighborhood at about 3:30 a.m. in response to two callers who reported hearing "loud, terrified" screams.

"They spoke with people next door to the callers and did a quick look around, but found nothing, and left the area," said Terry, adding, "They did not go to Bethanie's house. Her son was asleep on the couch; he heard nothing."

Were the screams related to Bethanie's disappearance? No one knows, and by the time she was reported missing, roughly 14 hours had passed since her neighbors had reported hearing them. Investigators found no sign of a struggle in or near Bethanie's residence. The only possible clue was the sighting of a mid-to-late 1990s Chevy S-10 style pick-up truck that was reported seen in the area at the time she went missing.

"A community search involving numerous agencies and hundreds of volunteers was conducted during the first two days, but it was scaled back when no evidence was found indicating of which direction to go with the search," Terry Said. "Since that time, we have held several vigils, and the CUE Center for Missing Persons helped us hold an awareness day. The New York State Police, The FBI, Project Jason and others have also helped get the word out. Fliers were widely distributed, not just locally, but around the state and the country. We also created a Web site, www.findbethaniedougherty.com. In addition, Bethanie was included in a program that distributes playing cards to jail inmates with pictures and information about unsolved cases on the cards."

Authorities have yet to name a person of interest in the case; however Terry says that several people are on their radar.

"They tell me that no one has been eliminated as a suspect," he said.

As the investigation continues, Terry says he will continue to hold out hope that, some day, he will find out what happened to his daughter.

"I want to find my daughter, no matter her circumstances," he said. "One of the worst emotions I have experienced since this began is a feeling of helplessness. I have been trying to do whatever I can, whenever I can, and it seems that trying to get more publicity for my daughter's situation is one of the few things available to me. The hope is that the right person will see this story and come forward with information leading to a resolution. "

Bethanie L. Dougherty is described as a white female, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with light brown hair (dyed red at the time of her disappearance) and blue eyes. Bethanie has three piercings in her right ear and five piercings in her left ear. She also has three tattoos:  a "vine" with flowers on her left ankle, a purple butterfly over tribal markings on her lower back and three Chinese scroll-type symbols on her upper back between her shoulder blades. She was last seen wearing a solid purple pajama top and purple pajama bottoms with designs on them. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Broome County Sheriff's Office's at 607-778-2446 or Detective Sergeant Jason Ellis, at 607-778-1189.

Related Links:
Disappeared

Photo Credits: Contributed

Where is Alexander Erb-Sanchez?

January 18, 2010

The Missing – A Weekly Exposé of Lost Souls – Issue #39

In this edition of "The Missing," we revisit the case of Alexander Matthew Erb-Sanchez, a two-year-old boy from Ellenton, Florida, who was allegedly abducted in 2008.

According to Alex's father, Bradley Erb, Alex was taken by his non-custodial, 26-year-old Micaele Sanchez-Vasquez, sometime between November 4 and 7, 2008.

"She fled with Alex and all their belongings," Bradley said. "The police would not take a missing person until Nov. 7, the date of my next visitation. Micaela's neighbors and friends lied to police in regard to her whereabouts, we believe, in order to give her time to escape."

Roughly one week after Bradley filed the missing person report with police, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office issued a felony kidnapping warrant for Micaela. Unfortunately, authorities have not yet been able to locate her or Alex.

"I've posted flyers, involved several missing children advocacy groups – the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Polly Klaas Foundation and the American Association for Lost Children – but we have yet to get any substantial leads in the case," Bradley said. At one point, I even traveled to Juxtlahuaca, Mexico to search for Alex because we believe that is Micaela's hometown. Again, nothing."

One of the most difficult problems that Bradley has been facing is obtaining media attention in reference to his son's case.

"I believe the more the story is in front of people, the more likely someone is to recognize them and report their whereabouts, but it is very difficult trying to get the media interested," Bradley said.

Bradley is not alone in his plight. Parental abductions seldom garner the type of attention seen in cases of stranger abduction. According to an ABC News article, The Most Dangerous Kidnappers: Parents, there is a misconception among the public and law enforcement that children who are kidnapped by their parents are not endangered.

"I think there's a perception with people that, 'Oh, since they're with a parent, no harm will come to the child,'" Nancy Hammer, director of the International Division of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said in an interview with ABC News. "And also since it involves two parents and family, it seems to be a messy situation. It doesn't seem as black and white as if a child was abducted by a stranger. It's taken a while, but progress has been made in making these abductions crimes, felonies. But they can lack the sense of urgency in the public and law enforcement reserved for other cases."

Regardless of the lack of attention that Alex's case is receiving, his father is far from ready to give up hope.

"I love my son to death and I want him back," Bradley said. "It is extremely hard not knowing, especially when there are people out there who know where Micaela and Alex are. Please help me find him. I need my son back."

Alexander Matthew Erb-Sanchez is described as a white/Hispanic, male, 2'10" tall, 30 pounds, with light brown hair and blue-green eyes.

Micaele Sanchez-Vasquez is described as a Hispanic female, 5'3" tall, 135 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Download the Missing Person Flyer

Anyone with information is asked to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST) or the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, at 941-747-3011.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Bonnie Schultz

January 12, 2010

The Missing – A Weekly Exposé of Lost Souls – Issue #38

In this edition of "The Missing," we revisit the disappearance of Bonnie L. Schultz, a 47-year-old mother of two who went missing from Indianapolis, Indiana in 1997.

It was approximately 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 4, 1997, when Richard Schultz contacted the Marion County Sheriff's Department and reported his wife missing. According to Richard, Bonnie had gone out with coworkers the previous evening and never returned home. He said he initially thought she might have had too much to drink and stayed with a co-worker, but when she failed to return home by the following afternoon he felt something was wrong.

"At the time, Bonnie and Richard had been married for over 20 years and had 2 children, Gretchen and Joshua, ages 10 and 15," said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Missing Persons' Detective Dan Kistner. "Richard was employed as a bank executive with National City Bank and Bonnie was a part-time inventory clerk who had recently re-entered the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom."

Richard provided police with a description of his wife and her personal effects. He also described the car she had been driving as a blue, 1990 four-door Mercury Sable station wagon with Indiana license plate number 99G9645.

Upon further inquiry, Richard also told investigators that his relationship with his wife was rocky and that they had recently had "discussions" regarding divorce.

"On July 7, 1997, Richard reiterated his initial statement and provided a more detailed clothing/personal property description to the lead detective via telephone," Det. Kistner said. "Afterwards, the detective spoke with Bonnie's co-worker and best friend, both of whom were with her on the evening of July 3, 1997."

According to her friends, Bonnie was last seen leaving the Time Out Lounge at 62nd Street and Allisonville Road on July 4, 1997, at approximately 4:00 a.m. Bonnie was purportedly heading home at the time.

"During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Bonnie had been having an affair with a male co-worker who was also with her that evening," Det. Kistner said. "A female friend stated that when Bonnie arrived at the gathering on July 3, she was crying and emotionally upset. Bonnie informed her friend that she and Richard had had a huge fight, that Richard refused to give her a divorce, and she did not know what he might do. Bonnie had also advised the man she was having an affair with of the same circumstances that evening before she departed for home."

Bonnie's boyfriend cooperated with police and submitted to a polygraph examination, in which no evidence of deception was indicated. Police then questioned Richard about the alleged argument. He denied an argument had occurred and stated they had had a "discussion."

"Richard later submitted to a polygraph, in which deception was indicated," Det. Kistner said.

Roughly one week after Bonnie went missing, authorities went to the residence where Bonnie and Richard resided to ask some follow-up questions.

"Richard was at work but the children were home," Det. Kistner said. "After a short discussion, Gretchen mentioned items that her mother had with her when she left the residence on July 3. One of those items was a gift that Gretchen and Joshua had given to her – a gift she was always known to have in her possession."

Det. Kistner won't reveal what the "gift" was but he did say that Gretchen was able to confirm it was still inside the residence.

"The information received from the children conflicted with Richard's own statement to police, in which he had listed the gift as property his wife had in her possession at the time she went missing," Det. Kistner said. "This led us to further question Richard’s account that Bonnie had never returned home."

When asked about the item in question, Richard told police that he must have been confused about it. Further attempts to verify whether Bonnie had it with her were also unsuccessful. As a result, what initially felt like a break in the case, turned into a he said-she said between father and daughter.

"Attempts to locate Bonnie and her vehicle over the years have also been unsuccessful," Det. Kistner said. "There was an initial belief that Bonnie had left of her own accord. Too much time passed before detectives realized that things were indicating otherwise and charges were never filed. Close friends and Bonnie’s family all state Bonnie would have never left her children and believe she met with foul play."

In 2000, Richard and his children moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. On the ten-year anniversary of Bonnie's disappearance, Richard spoke with WTHR.com about the case.

"The husband is the first person who comes to mind when a spouse is missing," Richard Schultz said. "I had nothing to do with causing any of her physical harm … If she left us and is happy, as difficult as that is for us, that's better for her. If something else has happened, obviously it's a bad thing for everybody."

In 2008, Detective Kistner traveled to Kalamazoo in an attempt to get new leads in the case.

"I wanted to speak with Richard and Bonnie's children, who are now grown," Det. Kistner said. "Richard maintained that he knew nothing. He has made no attempts to locate his wife since her reported disappearance. Joshua still lives with Richard, who provides complete monetary support for his children. They have very limited association with any other family members. Both children refused to talk to me regarding their mother's disappearance. Gretchen stated that it would not change anything."

Unfortunately, Detective Kistner's trip to Michigan has yet to yield all of the information or results needed in the case and, as of today, neither Bonnie nor her blue station wagon have ever been located. Nevertheless, Kistner’s investigation is far from over.

"It is a very frustrating cold case," Det. Kistner said. "I have taken it very personally and have endured many sleepless nights thinking about it. It is my belief that Joshua and Gretchen would want to do anything and everything possible to locate their missing mother. I believe their failure to cooperate is because they know their mother is deceased and, quite possibly, who is responsible. Regardless, the perpetrator of this crime can rest assured that we will not give up."

Bonnie Schultz is described as a white female, 5' 7" tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Dan Kistner at 317-327-6539 or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS. Click here to download her missing person flyer.

Related Link:
The Shift

Photo Credits: IMPD

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Jennifer Kesse's family offers $1 million reward for her safe return

January 07, 2010

It has been nearly four years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared from her Orlando, Florida home. Despite the passage in time, her parents are not yet ready to give up hope and are now offering a $1 million reward for information leading to her safe return. According to Jennifer's father, Drew Kesse, the reward will be offered until Feb. 24, 2010.

"We know that someone in this world knows what has happened to Jennifer. If there is the miracle that she is still alive, we have great hope that this new reward will finally convince someone who knows where Jennifer is to come forward," reads a news release issued by Jennifer's parents.

The release also included a message intended for the person(s) responsible for Jennifer's disappearance.

"The person(s) responsible for this heinous crime must look inside themselves to, in some way, let Jennifer's whereabouts or fate be known and NOW is the time, for Jennifer's sake and no one else's. 

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Kesse family Tipline at 407-722-2162.

For more information, please visit www.findjenniferkesse.com.

Susan Powell Case Continues to Baffle Police

January 06, 2010

It has been nearly a month since Susan Powell, a 28-year-old stockbroker and mother of two from West Valley City, Utah went missing. The mystery of her disappearance has since deepened, and authorities are now treating the case as a criminal investigation. Despite the most recent developments, one question remains…where is Susan Powell?

According to West Valley City Police, concerned family members contacted them on December 7, 2009, to report that they had not heard from the Powell family. Further investigation showed that Susan had failed to show up for her job at Wells Fargo Financial and her husband, Joshua Powell, 34, was reported absent from his job at a local trucking and warehousing company. The couple's two children, ages 2 and 4, were also unaccounted for by their daycare provider. Concerned that the family could have succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning, police, accompanied by a family member, entered the Powell family home. No one was found inside; however, police did find Susan's purse and cell phone.

In a later interview with deseretnews.com, Susan's father, Chuck Cox, said that the family member who had accompanied police into the home noticed two fans, positioned on the living room floor, blowing on a wet spot. At this time, it remains unclear if the "wet spot" is connected to the case, as police are refusing to comment.

As the investigation continued, Joshua Powell showed up at his home on the evening of the 7th, along with the couple's two children. Powell said he had last seen his wife around midnight, when he left home with their two boys to go camping in Utah's western desert. It remains unclear why Powell chose that specific day to go camping, considering the high temperature that day was reported as 24 degrees – below freezing – by AccuWeather.com. Investigators attempted to verify the story by visiting the area in question; however, recent snowfall made it impossible to determine whether anyone had been there.

Joshua's explanation of his whereabouts has raised many eyebrows among Susan's friends and family members. During a press conference, family spokesperson Shelby Gifford said, "Susan ... would not have tolerated her children being taken out of the home after midnight to go camping in dangerously cold conditions."

Two days after Susan was reported missing, police confiscated the family’s van to search for evidence. During this time, police say Joshua went to the Salt Lake Airport and rented a car – a move that caught them by surprise.

"We were unaware that he had gotten a rental car and was on the move," West Valley City Police Captain Tom McLachlan said in an interview with wjbf.com.

Joshua reportedly drove the vehicle over 200 miles; however, police say the vehicle was not equipped with a GPS tracking device, and they are uncertain of his exact movements during that time period.

Police have served three search warrants in the case, including one to draw biological samples from Joshua Powell. The contents of the warrants are currently sealed by the court; however, The Salt Lake Tribune has filed a motion to have them opened. At this time, it remains unclear if that will happen.

In addition to the warrants, police have named Joshua Powell a "person of interest" in the case.

"As we investigate this missing person's case, we're interested in what Josh has to say. We believe he has information and details about Susan that no other person could have to help us locate her," West Valley City Assistant Police Chief Craig Black told KSL.com.

Increasing police pressure and media tension caused Joshua Powell's father, Steven Powell, to break his silence and speak out about the case. During a brief interview with The Salt Lake Tribune, the elder Powell said his son was being "vilified."

"The whole thing has just turned into a vilification of Josh and it will turn into a vilification of me, my ex-wife and my other kids," Powell said.

Further prompting from reporters caused Powell to clam up again, and he asked to be left alone.

"I don't need to explain anything," Powell said. "There is nothing to explain."

Josh Powell is now reportedly planning on leaving Utah and moving to his hometown of Puyallup, Washington, where he has been residing since Christmas. Authorities say they have no reason to prevent the move and that he is free to come and go as he pleases.

Meanwhile, Susan's friends and family members continue to raise awareness of her disappearance and have taken the search to the Internet – setting up pages on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

"We're hoping today that by giving everybody so many different options to become involved online that we can actually make this go viral and people can see Susan's face and hear about her situation in every corner of the world," Gifford said in an interview Monday with Fox News.

According to McLachlan, the social networking media blitz has brought in several new leads; however, he has declined to comment on whether they are any closer to solving the case.

Susan Powell is described as a white female, 5'4", 130 lbs., with long brown hair and blue eyes. An $11,000 dollar reward is being offered for information that helps locate her. Anyone with information is asked to contact West Valley police at 801-840-4000.

Photo Credits: Associated Press

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Kelly Currin Morris Case Update

November 18, 2009

Yesterday, authorities in North Carolina recovered human skeletal remains that they believed belonged to Kelly Currin Morris, a 28-year-old mother of two, who vanished on Sept 3, 2008. A press conference that took place this afternoon was expected to provide more details regarding the discovery; however it ultimately proved to raise more questions than answers.

According to Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins, his department received information on Monday that led police to the wooded area where the remains were recovered but he refused to comment further.

"We're doing the best we can,” Wilkins said. “I don't want to mess up anything we're doing by things getting out."

While Wilkins provided very little information on the remains, Kelly's family has stated that the remains were positively identified using dental records.

Meanwhile, new details have surfaced regarding the arrest of Kelly's husband, 35-year-old William "Scott" Morris. According to the arrest warrant, Morris has been charged with first-degree murder. He also faces a charge of fraudulently burning a dwelling. Morris is being held at the Granville County Detention Center without bond. His first court appearance has been scheduled for Dec. 2.

In related news, Chief District Court Judge Daniel Finch has signed an emergency order, granting Kelly's father and stepmother – Pat and Juanita Currin – custody of Scott and Kelly's 6-year-old daughter. A formal custody hearing is set to take place Friday.

Discuss The Kelly Morris Case

Related Links:
Full Coverage: Kelly Currin Morris Case

Photo Credit: Getty

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Authorities Believe They Have Found Kelly Currin Morris

November 17, 2009

Details remain sketchy; however authorities in North Carolina have reportedly found human skeletal remains that they believe belong to Kelly Currin Morris, a 28-year-old mother of two, who vanished on Sept 3, 2008.

According to a source close to the investigation, the remains were found earlier today at a fox hunting club on Sam Moss Hayes Road in Creedmoor. No further details are available at this time.

Meanwhile, Kelly's husband, 35-year-old William "Scott" Morris, was taken into police custody late tonight and booked at the Oxford magistrate's office. Officials refuse to comment on the reason for his arrest.

Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins said that more details will be released during a press conference scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Discuss The Kelly Morris Case

Related Links:
Full Coverage: Kelly Currin Morris Case

Photo Credit: Scott and Kelly Morris: Currin Family

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Leigh Marine Occhi Revisited

November 16, 2009

I spent a week in Tupelo, Mississippi, this past summer looking into the mysterious disappearance of 13-year-old Leigh Marine Occhi. The resulting in-depth story proved to be one of the most popular series on this site. Since that time, there has been a renewed interest in the case. Earlier today, CNN chose to feature Leigh's case on their site, along with an article written by Alexis Weed, a producer for the Nancy Grace show. Perhaps now, with all of the publicity that Leigh's case is getting, the person(s) responsible will be more forthcoming.

Click here to read Alexis Weed's story on Leigh at CNN.com

Click here to read David Lohr's in-depth series on this site

Photo Credit: Donald Occhi

Body of Missing Ohio Woman Found in Rural Pennsylvania Field

November 09, 2009

The body of a missing Ohio woman that had been dumped in a Pennsylvania field was found this past weekend, sparking a nationwide manhunt for the woman's alleged killer.

According to officials with the Pennsylvania State Police, the body was found Saturday afternoon near Platz and Sterrettania roads in Erie County, Pa. Police say a local resident made the discovery when he went to inspect debris that someone had dumped the day before in a field near his house. Upon further inspection, the man discovered the body wrapped up inside a rug.

Jack Daneri, district attorney for Erie County, told the Erie Times News that the victim had a "number of wounds" that appeared to have been caused by a "sharp force instrument." As a result, the cause of death was listed as "suspicious."

State police, with assistance from the Erie County Sheriff's office, worked over the weekend to identify the victim as Carla Westhofen, 58, of Sandusky, Ohio. Carla was last seen by friends on the night of Nov. 5. Family members reported her missing the following day when she failed to show up for a scheduled appointment. A check of Carla's house found that her vehicle was missing, and calls to her cell phone went unanswered.

Authorities are now searching for Carla's former boyfriend, David L. "Jody" Kromer, 56, of Margaretta Township, Ohio.

"After they broke up, it didn't go well," Carla's son, Todd Dahnke, told morningjournal.com. "She felt at risk, so she got the protection order. There had been issues previously while they were dating. I thought he could be aggressive, based on things I had seen."

According to Erie County Sheriff's Capt. Paul Sigsworth, Kromer was recently released from jail after bonding out on charges that he had violated the protection order by sending Carla a letter.

Authorities are not commenting on what, if any, evidence they have connecting Kromer to Carla's death; however, they have issued warrants for his arrest on charges of murder and kidnapping.

The Erie County Coroner's Office is conducting an autopsy on Carla's body today to determine exactly how she died. Meanwhile, authorities in several states, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are actively seeking Kromer, whom they describe as armed and dangerous.

David Kromer is described as 6' 1" tall, weighing 210 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. He is possibly driving a blue 2000 Jeep Cherokee with Ohio license plate DQW 3569 or Carla Westhofen's tan 2002 GMC Envoy with Ohio license plate AXS 6883.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Erie County Sheriff's office at 419-625-7951.

Photo Credits: Crime Scene: Carla Lohr; Carla Westhofen: Police file photo; David Kromer: Police file photo

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Corrie Anderson's Family Remembers Missing Mom on Anniversary of Disappearance

October 28, 2009

Think of the person who means the most to you in your life. Now, think of what your life would be like if he or she suddenly vanished without a trace. That pain – the type of heart wrenching pain you can't truly know unless you have been in a similar situation - is all too real for the family of Corrie Anderson, a mother of three from Chautauqua County, NY, who went missing exactly one year ago today.

"It's been a very difficult year," Corrie's mother, Vickie Acquisto, said in an interview with Investigation Discovery. "We're a close knit family, and we really miss her every day.

Corrie was last seen at about 1:00 p.m. on October 28, 2008, when she visited her boyfriend at the Lake County Dodge dealership in Jamestown. Family members reported her missing at about 3:45 p.m. that day, when she failed to show up at her son's school for a meeting. Items found at Corrie's house suggest that she made it home some time prior to her disappearance; however, whatever happened to her after that remains a mystery.

Two days later, on October 30, 2008, a hunter discovered Corrie's minivan abandoned at a gas well off Kortwright Road in the town of Busti. The location is approximately two miles from Corrie's house.

"There's a hole in our lives and in our hearts," Corrie's cousin, Laurie Keefe, said. "Not knowing where she is or what happened to her is horrible. We cannot move forward with our lives, and yet life continues to move on around us."

The pain of not knowing has had not only a negative effect on Corrie's family, but also on the traditions that they once shared together.

"We can't do any more family gatherings in the dining room because it's too difficult without her," Vickie said.

While local authorities have conducted several searches for Corrie, her family has also taken it upon themselves to do everything in their power to locate her. In addition to hiring a private investigator in the weeks following her disappearance, they also enlisted the help of Texas EquuSearch, a nonprofit search and recovery organization headquartered in Dickinson, Texas. The group initially promised to lead a community search for Corrie in April 2009; however, just three days before the search was set to take place, they pulled out, leaving the family scrambling to find a replacement group to lead the hundreds of volunteers who had preregistered for the search. Luckily, 3 View Search Services, a new search and recovery group from Indiana, was able to step in and take over. Ultimately, they found no sign of Corrie, but it was certainly not for lack of effort.

"Corrie's case was the first one we worked together as a team after forming our organization," said Mandy Albritton, co-founder of 3 View. "We were disappointed when, despite the efforts of over 400 community volunteers, the search effort failed to turn up any sign of Corrie, but we remain committed to Corrie and her family."

According to Albritton, her organization is already planning a second search for Corrie, scheduled to take place in the spring.

"Corrie's children need to know where their mother is and that she would never have left them on her own," Albritton said.

Local and state officials have released very few details in Corrie's case and have declined to comment on the status of the investigation, other than to say that it remains a top priority. Despite the lack of comments from police, Corrie's family has no illusions as to the reason she is missing.

"It is a criminal investigation," Laurie said, adding, "We seek justice toward the person(s) responsible for taking her away from her family."

In the meantime, Corrie's family must continue to move on with their lives. They must also ensure that her children are cared for and that her youngest son, 7-year-old Zachery, never forgets his mother.

"Zachary saw her picture in the local paper this morning," Vickie said. "He looked up and said, "I remember that day -- we played in the leaves."

The investigation continues…

Corrie Anderson is 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, with green eyes and blonde hair. She was last seen wearing black corduroy pants, a black leather jacket, and small wire-rimmed glasses. Corrie's family is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to Corrie's whereabouts. For more information, please visit: www.findcorrie.com.

Anyone with information regarding Corrie's disappearance or whereabouts is asked to call the New York State Police at (716) 665-3113.

Click here to read an article on the one year anniversary that was written by my friend and collegue, Robert Rizzuto.

Related Link:
Investigation Discovery: Full Coverage: Corrie Anderson

Photo Credits: Contributed

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Human Bones Found in Edinburg, New York

October 27, 2009

According to officials with the New York State Police, fragments of a human skull have been discovered in a wooded area near Fox Hill road in Edinburg, New York. The state police forensic identification unit is in possession of the bone fragments and tests are underway to determine how old the skull is and how long it has been in the woods. State and local authorities are also conducting a full-scale search of the area for other human remains

Local residents suspect the remains could belong to Jaliek Rainwalker, a 12-year-old boy who went missing under mysterious circumstances in November 2007. If not Jaliek, there are several other unsolved cases in the area, including that of Kellisue Ackernecht, a 35-year-old woman from nearby Johnstown, who went missing in September 2008.

"We do have a number of missing person cases in the area," Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy said in an interview with poststar.com. "It's still too early to say. There are lots of questions. It's going to take some significant time."

No further details have been released.

UPDATE:
Authorities are now saying that a large portion of the skull was found and that it is possibly that of a child.

Related Link:
Unsolved: The Missing and Murdered Women of Chautauqua County

Photo Credit: Investigation Discovery 

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.