Case update at the top of the episode! New episodes beginning on January 7th!

Emma Compton, a small business owner from Halifax County, Virginia, was found murdered in 2017 after disappearing under mysterious circumstances and after years of domestic violence at the hands of her husband. Seven years later, her family continues to seek justice, as no arrests have been made in the case, and they remain committed to raising awareness and finding answers for her unresolved murder.

Research assistance by Anna Luria and Whitney St. Andre. 

And thank you to Brandie from Evaporate the Missing, who put us in touch with Emma’s sister Shawna. 

If you have any information in Emma’s case, please call the Halifax County crime line at 434-476-8445. 

Shawna is thankful for everyone who is listening to this episode. It means the world to her to know that people now know about Emma, and the incredible, incredible human being she was. Shawna said she hopes that “Maybe Emma can save a life or more or can give at least one person a reason to not to go back…to leave & NEVER EVER LOOK BACK.” 

Listen and subscribe to Melissa’s other podcast, Criminality!! It’s the podcast for those who love reality TV, true crime, and want to hear all the juicy stories where the two genres intersect. Subscribe and listen here: www.pod.link/criminality 

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Sources: 

Sources:

1. https://www.timesvirginian.com/news/article_1686a486-580b-11e7-822b-0f6070bab2df.html

2. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/missing-in-america/emma-compton-layne-still-missing-four-months-after-disappearing-n815781

3. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/missing-in-america/four-years-dateline-s-missing-america-90-still-missing-n826516

4. https://www.facebook.com/TomRodgers197/posts/missing-woman-in-halifax-county-vaemma-layne-age-52-was-last-seen-on-saturday-ev/260060507734080/

5. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/missing-in-america/remains-found-very-shallow-grave-identified-missing-virginia-woman-emma-n837286

6. https://www.chathamstartribune.com/news/article_f342c0f2-d52f-11e7-b4bc-cb5cabdfc22a.html

7. https://www.yourgv.com/news/local_news/medical-examiner-neck-injury-caused-death-in-2017-homicide/article_2b07667a-9396-11e9-b9b5-37dda535c91f.html

8. https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/New-billboard-in-Halifax-Co-to-help-solve-Emma-Compton-Layne-murder-561157591.html

9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgqWAZ1cQdY&ab_channel=WSLS10

10. https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Vigil-to-be-held-for-Halifax-County-murder-victim-Emma-Compton-Layne-568552601.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0RPQ3cLtTwBFHE3aAISaGC2hhFOku8wH6jBQTdgJRygpxfes7UJDocxJo_aem_dDfHz6nR1coB6kCl-KWbOg

11. https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Three-years-later-Who-murdered-Emma-Compton-Layne-571298181.html

12. https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/11/22/emma-compton-layne-murder-still-unsolved-six-years-after-her-body-was-found/

13. https://www.wdbj7.com/2023/11/24/family-emma-compton-layne-still-seeking-justice-six-years-after-her-murder/ 

14. https://www.yourgv.com/news/local_news/justice-for-emma-rally-hosted-in-unsolved-death-of-nathalie-woman/article_f7b56cd2-2c0a-11ef-a6d6-bbbd81dc549b.html

15. https://www.change.org/p/5-years-no-justice-for-emma-compton-layne

16. https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Emma-Laynes-family-wants-justice-for-her-murder-469039723.html

17. https://wset.com/news/local/one-year-later-emma-laynes-sister-still-seeking-justice

18. https://www.yourgv.com/news/local_news/reward-offered-in-search-of-missing--year-old-cody/article_31787f4a-59e0-11e7-a45e-7f5dc8ffffb9.html 

19. https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Halifax-County-missing-woman-search-continues-two-weeks-later-431832353.html 

20. https://www.wsls.com/news/2017/08/03/vigil-being-held-for-missing-halifax-county-woman/ 

21. https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Human-remains-found-in-Halifax-Co-foul-play-expected-459605953.html 

22. https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Family-believes-human-remains-found-in-Halifax-County-belong-to-Emma-Layne-460626173.html 

23. https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/SHARE-Police-search-for-missing-woman-from-Halifax-county-429921923.html 

24. https://www.evaporatethemissing.com/post/with-butterfly-kisses 

25. https://www.facebook.com/HelpFindEmmaComptonLayne 

26. https://www.yourgv.com/news/lightmare-says-siste