Murder In The Rain

Murder in the Rain is packing their bags and heading over the pond for CrimeCon UK in September! In preparation of our big trip, we had a lovely chat with Caprice from The Unseen Podcast. We talk about it all; what got us interested in true crime, why we started a podcast, cases that made an imprint on our heart, and the struggles and wins thereafter. We're very excited to meet Caprice from The Unseen Podcast in person! If you want to join us in all the true crime podcast glory, get your tickets now! We'll be there September 25th - 26th 2021 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London. Get your tickets for CrimeCon UK for a discount by using code 'RAIN' for a great discount.Our Sponsors:* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Many deaths are shrouded in mystery with loved ones going entire lifetimes without ever knowing the truth. A woman in Alabama is working diligently with her family to ensure that her sister’s mysterious death doesn’t remain uninvestigated. When Breana Noojin Nix, a 32-year-old nurse, was found unresponsive in her bathroom by her husband of 9 years, a secret life that no one expected was uncovered. After paramedics couldn’t revive her, her death was quickly ruled accidental, but many people believe that is not the case and that a murder was being covered up. What really happened in the last 4 hours of Breana’s life? Facebook - Justice for Breana Noojin Nix | Change.org - Make Breana Nix’s Autopsy Report Public | GoFundMe - Justice for Breana Noojin Nix | Reddit - True Crime Discussion | Gardendale Heritage Funeral Home - Breana Leigh Noojin Nix | Left Undone - Justice for Breana Noojin Nix (Interview with Brittany) | Our Sponsors: * Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Little Part 2: “She Rode Alone” Last week, I told you the story of the Cowden Family and how Richard, Belinda, David, and Melissa seemed to have vanished while camping near Carberry Creek Road over the Labor Day weekend of 1974. Over 7 months later, their skeletal remains were discovered- Belinda and the children in a cave- Richard, tied to a tree. With very little to go on, police began looking into local men who would have, not only known the area well but could have been capable of such a monstrous act. It was when they read Dwain Lee Little’s name on the list of recently paroled prisoners the hair on their neck stood up and they felt they might have found the first person of interest. Today, I’ll be telling you about the crimes Dwain committed that landed him in prison, how he came to be released so early, and the harm he was able to commit as a free man. Was he the killer of the Cowden family? Only Dwain and the Cowdens know. For photos and sources for today’s episode, check out the Murder in the Rain Episode Blog. Episode Host: Alisha Holland If you’d like more episodes of Murder in the Rain, Patreon members at the $5/mo+ level, gain access to exclusive episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow us on: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/murderintherain/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mintherain/ Twitter https://twitter.com/murderintherain TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@em_murderintherain Website https://www.murderintherain.com/ Email [email protected] Our Sponsors: * Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

A few weeks ago, we had a booth at Troutdale’s First Friday. I love being a booth bitch, Josh loves….helping me. While we’ve always had a good time at the bigger events, like CrimeCon, it was SO much fun speaking with our neighbors, talking about true crime. What was surprising, but shouldn’t have been, was how many people mentioned cases I had never heard of! Names and stories were coming at us left and right. It was during one of these conversations, with new friend of the show, Jill, we learned about a disturbing case I was shocked had never been on my radar. She asked if we knew about the young girl who had been thrown off a cliff into the Clackamas River. We hadn’t, and it piqued my interest. When I was first researching the case, I wasn’t sure there would be enough for an entire episode. Then, I kept pulling the thread and it led me down an unexpected path. What I thought would be a case about a young woman’s murder, led me to her heartbreaking background: which included another murder and a devastated mother left houseless. This is the story of the Spicer family. Photos and links to interviews and the GoFundMe are on our blog. Join Patreon for just $1 for bonus content not available anywhere else! The Oregonian Oct 9 1989- Stabbing, fall killed woman - Elderly and evicted: One Gresham woman's struggle - Elderly and evicted: Donna still looking for new home -Evicted elderly woman finds new apartment - Deborah Sue Spicer (1962-1989) - Find a Grave Memorial - State v. Bockorny :: 1993 :: Oregon Court of Appeals Decisions - State v. Bockorny - The Oregonian April 10 1991 - Tearful defendant says husband forced her to assault woman - The Oregonian- Feb. 21 1991 County Jury Rejects Death Sentence - Green Bay Press Gazette- Oct. 27 1989Oregon murder suspects arrested here - The Evening Telegram October 28 1989- Couple held in Oregon slaying - The Oregonian Feb. 12 1991- Bockorny found guilty in death - The Oregonian April 13 1991- Debra Bockrony guilty of murdering woman - The Oregonian April 3 1991- Woman told to stab, lawyer says - The Oregonian Oct. 27 1989- Man, Wife arrested in cliff death - The Oregonian June 6 1990- Legal issues delay couple's trial in killing of Gresham woman - The Oregonian- July 11 1990 Judge okays separate death trials - Debbie Spicer's last double - Wausau Daily Herald June 13 1973- Marathon County Court - Wausau Daily Herald June 15 1973 Serviceman is charged - Wausau Daily Herald June 18 1973 Bound over for trial - Wausau Daily Herald July 2 1973- Two plead innocent - Daily Citizen Feb. 11 1978- 10 Inmates Arraigned - The Bulletin Oct. 17 1989 Coule sought in woman's death - Daily Citizen April 7 - 1979 Fines given, hearings set in county court - The Oshkosh Northwestern Nov. 25 1980- Institute escape reported - The Oregonian Oct. 17 1989- Police hunt couple in killing of woman - Gresham High School 1978 - Baker City Herald Oct. 9 1989 Fishermen watch as body is dumped in river - The Bulletin Oct. 9 1989 Woman stabbed before cliff plunge - East Oregonian Oct. 9 1989 woman's body hurled off cliff - The Oregonian Oct. 10 1989- Police hunt 2 in woman's cliffside killing - The Sunday Oregonian Aug 9 1998- Prortland man shot in front of house of ex-girlfriend - STATE v. McCORMICK (2002) - Oregon - Green Bay Press Gazette Nov. 21 1989- Man fights extradition to Oregon - The Register Guard Dec 30 1989- Innocent Plea Entered in Slaying - Newspapers.com The Oregonian Aug. 15 1998 - The Oregonian - Aug. 13 2017- Change the trajectory of our youth's lives - Fundraiser for Rhonda Banks by Danetta Banks : Lamar Horsley- Hospital-Expenses - Pair get prison in shooting of Gresham boy, 9, and his mother - oregonlive.com - Brutal gang shooting costs 9-year-old his eye, haunts investigators: Tom Hallman - oregonlive.com - Boy, mother hurt in targeted Gresham shooting - Oregon Offender Search - Newspapers.com The Oregonian April 18 1991- Brockorny gets life without parole - Oregon Metro- Donna Spicer - The Oregonian May 20 1999 - STATE v. McCORMICK (2002) - Oregon Our Sponsors: * Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

The word Vendetta originated in Italy and was related to clan-based feuds. The meaning expanded to acts committed in a feud before eventually meaning a prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts. Going back further, Vendetta traces back to the Latin verb “vindicta,” meaning vindication or revenge. So it comes as little surprise to learn the antagonist in today’s case was named Donald Vandetta. He didn’t care that his victim, Susan Reed, was with someone else or had told him she wanted to end things. He couldn’t see past his own wants and desires. Leading to a catastrophic outcome. A few months back, we received an email from listener Sarah. I’ll skip the compliments; while they are appreciated, anyone who knows me knows that’s not my love language. What she told me was that her great-aunt Phillis’ daughter Susan had been murdered in 1987 near a rail yard. Phyllis eventually passed, taking the information she knew about the case with her. Phyllis had attended the parole hearings for her daughter’s killer to make sure he stayed behind bars. Since Sarah wasn’t privy to case details, she wanted to carry the torch for Susan, but she didn’t have enough information to do so. I’ve since received the police reports about this case. While at first this appeared to be a lover scorned in an “if I can’t have you no one will” type of jealous rage, the investigation revealed much more. Susan sought help from friends and authorities. She tried to protect herself by asking for support. She told Donald no over and over again. Still, nothing could stop this man on his green-with-envy path of destruction.  Full Police Report PDF - Classmates - Vandetta Yearbook - Classmates- Susan Yearbook - Sunday Oregonian Obituaries- Nov. 8 1987 - East Oregonian Nov. 6 1987- Portland records another homicide - The Oregonian March 16 1988 - Vancouver man convicted of murder in death of ex-girlfriend Our Sponsors: * Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands