Digest

This episode delves into the horrific murders of two young girls, Melissa Thomas and Rosie Davenport, in Akron, Ohio. The podcast begins with the disappearance of Melissa Thomas, a 13-year-old girl who vanished after promising her mother she'd be home before dark. Despite extensive searches, Melissa's body was found days later in an abandoned house, revealing signs of a brutal struggle and a desperate attempt to escape. The investigation stalled, leaving a child killer at large. Years later, another young girl, 12-year-old Rosie Davenport, disappeared under similar circumstances. Her body was also found in an abandoned house, this time with evidence of sexual assault and strangulation. The investigation focused on Dundee Craig, who had offered Rosie a ride home but denied knowing her. Despite suspicions and a criminal history that mirrored the cases, police lacked enough evidence to charge him. Six years later, a cold case detective reopened Rosie's case and found a DNA match between Dundee Craig and evidence from the rape kit. This breakthrough led to his arrest and conviction for Rosie's murder. Further investigation revealed a previous case where Dundee Craig was arrested for raping a 17-year-old girl, Lavalle Calhoun, whose case mirrored Rosie's. Dundee Craig was convicted of Rosie's murder and sentenced to death. However, a jailhouse informant revealed a possible connection between Dundee Craig and Melissa Thomas' murder. DNA evidence confirmed this link, leading to his second conviction and death sentence. The podcast concludes with the families of the victims finding closure knowing that Dundee Craig would never harm another child.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Murders of Melissa Thomas and Rosie Davenport

This episode explores the chilling murders of two young girls, Melissa Thomas and Rosie Davenport, in Akron, Ohio. The podcast details the circumstances surrounding their disappearances, the discovery of their bodies, and the subsequent investigations that led to the identification and conviction of their killer, Dundee Craig.

00:00:48

The Disappearance and Murder of Melissa Thomas

The episode begins with the disappearance of 13-year-old Melissa Thomas, who vanished after promising her mother she'd be home before dark. Despite extensive searches, Melissa's body was found days later in an abandoned house, revealing signs of a brutal struggle and a desperate attempt to escape. The investigation stalled, leaving a child killer at large.

00:04:43

The Disappearance, Murder, and Investigation of Rosie Davenport

The episode then shifts to the disappearance of 12-year-old Rosie Davenport, who also vanished after promising her stepmother she'd be home by six. Her body was found in an abandoned house, with evidence of sexual assault and strangulation. The investigation focused on Dundee Craig, who had offered Rosie a ride home but denied knowing her. Despite suspicions and a criminal history that mirrored the cases, police lacked enough evidence to charge him.

00:14:15

Solving the Cold Cases and Dundee Craig's Conviction

The episode details the reopening of Rosie's case six years later, leading to the discovery of DNA evidence that linked Dundee Craig to the crime. This breakthrough led to his arrest and conviction for Rosie's murder. Further investigation revealed a previous case where Dundee Craig was arrested for raping a 17-year-old girl, Lavalle Calhoun, whose case mirrored Rosie's. Dundee Craig was convicted of Rosie's murder and sentenced to death. A jailhouse informant revealed a possible connection between Dundee Craig and Melissa Thomas' murder, leading to his second conviction and death sentence. The episode concludes with the families of the victims finding closure knowing that Dundee Craig would never harm another child.

Keywords

Q&A

• What were the circumstances surrounding the disappearances of Melissa Thomas and Rosie Davenport?

  Both girls went missing after promising their mothers they would be home before dark. Extensive searches were conducted, but neither girl was found for days.

• How did DNA evidence play a crucial role in solving these cold cases?

  DNA evidence from the rape kits of both victims was tested years later, revealing a match to Dundee Craig. This evidence was instrumental in his arrest and conviction for both murders.

• What impact did these murders have on the community of Akron, Ohio?

  The murders of Melissa Thomas and Rosie Davenport shocked the community and left a lasting impact. The families of the victims were devastated, and the community was left grappling with the fear of a child killer at large.

• What was the significance of Lavalle Calhoun's testimony in Dundee Craig's trial?

  Lavalle Calhoun, a previous victim of Dundee Craig, provided crucial testimony about his modus operandi, which mirrored the attacks on Melissa Thomas and Rosie Davenport. Her testimony helped to strengthen the case against him.

• How did the families of the victims find closure after Dundee Craig's conviction?

  The families found some measure of closure knowing that Dundee Craig would never be able to harm another child. They were grateful for the detectives who worked tirelessly to bring their cases to justice.

Show Notes