Digest

This podcast delves into the perplexing case of Tiffany Valliante, a young woman found dead on a train track in New Jersey. The episode begins by introducing Tiffany, a talented athlete with a bright future, and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance after an argument with her mother. The initial investigation, however, was rushed and labeled her death as suicide, despite a lack of evidence and a disregard for standard investigative procedures. The family, unconvinced by the suicide ruling, found inconsistencies in the evidence and discovered mishandled evidence, including a missing keychain and axe. They also found Tiffany's shoes and headband near the tracks, contradicting the suicide narrative. The family's fight for justice led them to file a lawsuit against the medical examiner's office and other agencies, claiming Tiffany was abducted and murdered. The lawsuit aimed to reopen the case and compel a thorough investigation. A medical investigator reviewed the evidence and concluded that the cause of death should be changed to undetermined. The case highlights the importance of thorough investigations and the devastating consequences of mishandled evidence. The family's search for answers continues, with the hope that someone will come forward with information.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Mysterious Death of Tiffany Valliante

This episode explores the mysterious death of Tiffany Valliante, a young woman found dead on a train track. The episode will explore the circumstances surrounding her death, the conflicting evidence, and the family's fight for justice.

00:05:00

Tiffany Valliante's Life and Disappearance

Tiffany Valliante was a talented athlete who earned a volleyball scholarship to Mercy College. On July 12, 2015, she attended a graduation party and later disappeared from her home after an argument with her mother.

00:12:13

The Train Accident and Initial Investigation

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a train, but the victim was unrecognizable due to the impact. The incident was initially treated as a suicide, and crucial evidence was mishandled or lost.

00:18:23

The Family's Search and the Identification of the Remains

Tiffany's family searched for her for hours, finding her cell phone near their home. The remains found at the train accident were identified as Tiffany's, shocking the family.

00:20:16

The Press Reports and the Family's Disbelief

The press reported Tiffany's death as a suicide, despite the family's insistence that she would never have taken her own life. The authorities labeled her death a suicide without proper investigation.

00:21:40

Tiffany's Friends and Family Speak Out

Tiffany's friends and family were shocked by the suicide ruling, as they had never seen any indication of depression or self-harm. They described her as a happy and outgoing young woman with a bright future.

00:30:53

The Family's Doubts and the Discovery of New Evidence

The family found it impossible to believe Tiffany would have walked alone through the woods in the dark, especially considering her fear of the dark. Diane later found Tiffany's shoes, headband, and other items near the tracks, contradicting the suicide narrative.

00:35:27

The Family's Fight for Justice

The family, frustrated by the lack of investigation, decided to take legal action to compel the medical examiner's office to change the cause of death from suicide to undetermined.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the main theories surrounding Tiffany Valliante's death?

  The main theories are suicide and murder. The suicide theory is based on the initial investigation and the fact that Tiffany was found on a train track. However, the murder theory is supported by the family's belief that Tiffany would never have taken her own life, the discovery of new evidence, and the inconsistencies in the student engineer's statements.

• What evidence contradicts the suicide theory?

  The evidence that contradicts the suicide theory includes Tiffany's fear of the dark, the discovery of her shoes and other items near the tracks, the mishandled evidence, the inconsistencies in the student engineer's statements, and the fact that a call was answered from her phone after she disappeared.

• Why did the Valliante family file a lawsuit?

  The Valliante family filed a lawsuit to compel the medical examiner's office to change the cause of death from suicide to undetermined. This would allow the case to be reopened and a full investigation to be conducted.

• What are the implications of the mishandled evidence?

  The mishandled evidence raises serious concerns about the integrity of the initial investigation. It suggests that crucial evidence may have been lost or destroyed, potentially hindering the ability to determine the true cause of Tiffany's death.

• What were the key shortcomings of the initial investigation into Tiffany Valliante's death?

  The initial investigation was rushed, disregarded standard procedures like a psychological autopsy, and relied on unreliable statements from individuals in shock. The medical examiner prematurely labeled the death as suicide without ruling out other possibilities.

• What evidence suggests that Tiffany Valliante's death may have been foul play?

  The fact that Tiffany was found in only her underwear, her clothes scattered over a wide area, and the presence of an axe near the scene raise suspicions of foul play. Additionally, a Wawa employee reported hearing a group of teenage boys talking about Tiffany being kidnapped and humiliated.

• Why was the physical evidence in Tiffany Valliante's case deemed unusable?

  The evidence, including a bloodstained towel and t-shirt, was improperly stored in plastic containers, leading to bacterial contamination and rendering it of no scientific value. This highlights the importance of proper evidence handling in investigations.

• What is the current status of Tiffany Valliante's case?

  The case remains unsolved, with the family continuing to seek answers. The Netflix episode of Unsolved Mysteries brought renewed attention to the case, but no new information has emerged. The family's attorney remains hopeful that a breakthrough will occur.

Show Notes