Small Town Mysteries

During a first date, 24-year-old Erin Marie Gilbert vanishes without a trace. Almost 20 years later, and there are still no answers. Could her date have anything to do with her disappearance? Or was another ill-intentioned player involved?Sources:1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Erin_Marie_Gilbert2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girdwood,_Anchorage,_Alaska3) https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2023/07/09/cold-case-forest-fair-28th-anniversary-erin-marie-gilberts-disappearance/ 4) https://dps.alaska.gov/getmedia/6dc56c2a-03e1-46c8-8953-7568ad92974d/Gilbert 5) https://uncovered.com/cases/erin-gilbert6) https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/sister-seeks-answers-24-years-after-erin-marie-gilbert-vanished-n1106786Support the show

In this week's episode, Rachael talks about the decades-long mystery of the Lyon sisters, who disappeared  from a local mall in Wheaton, Maryland in March of 1975. The case went cold for a whopping 38 years. Eventually, a man who was only 18-years-old at the time of the crime and who had involved himself in the investigation was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering the Lyon sisters.Support the show

Tune in to learn about the heartbreaking and harrowing murder of Warren Barnes by 19-year-old Brian Cohee, and about the treasured life of Warren Barnes--victimized for being homeless, because his life "didn't matter." The way the community has honored Barnes is truly moving.Sources:1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Junction,_Colorado2) https://www.unilad.com/news/brian-cohee-jr-documentary-police-bodycam-footage-548532-202403273) https://www.mesacounty.us/news/district-attorney/cohee-found-guilty4) https://www.kkco11news.com/2023/01/30/brian-cohee-events-leading-murder/5) https://www.westernslopenow.com/news/the-people-v-brian-cohee-sentencing-hearing/6) https://www.gjsentinel.com/a-look-back-cohee-trial-top-crime-story-of-2023/article_0874ef32-9937-11ee-8995-a3539ebe6dc3.htmlSupport the show

This week we dive into the bizarre disappearance of Ashley Loring Heavyrunner from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. Just 20 years old, investigators looked into some questionable relationships she may have had, substance abuse issues, and one particularly odd interaction with her father just before she disappeared. An overworked and under-funded police force leads to some devastating missteps within this case, and several untrustworthy characters make it difficult to know who is really telling the truth.Sources:1) https://uncovered.com/cases/ashley-loring-heavy-runner 2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning,_Montana 3) https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/ashley-loring-heavyrunner4) https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/ashley-loring5) https://www.krtv.com/news/crime-and-courts/suspect-arrested-by-fbi-in-great-falls-has-been-identifiedSupport the show

This week, Rachael covers the shocking murder of Tracy Mondabough, which occurred as a result of a love-triangle gone wrong. Because the murder happened right around the start of Covid, the defense had some pretty interesting arguments for why the perpetrator might have committed the crime...Sources:1) https://www.chillingcrimes.com/blogs/news/tracy-mondabough2) https://www.rfh-ia.com/obituaries/Tracy-ThrogmartinMondabough?obId=141254263) https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/appeal-denied-for-iowa-woman-convicted-of stabbing-ottumwa-woman4) https://www.thedailybeast.com/michelle-boat-testifies-she-snapped-and-killed-tracy-mondabough-after-she-hit-her5) https://doc-search.iowa.gov/offender/detail?offenderNumber=62676526) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pella,_Iowa7) https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/men-ipvsvandstalking.html8) https://www.thehotline.org/stakeholders/domestic-violence-statistics/Support the show

This is one of those cases that is solved, but justice was unfortunately never served. Today on Small Town Mysteries, hear about the murder of Cathy Sposito, which was solved 36 years (!!!) after it occurred. Support the show

Despite there being a good amount of circumstantial evidence in the murder of Jan Kruse, a mom of two who is known in town for being extremely kind and friendly, this is sadly a case that is not solved. Though many people believe they know who committed the crime - is it really that simple?Sources:1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewster,_Minnesota 2) https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/nbcs-dateline-features-southwestern-minnesota-murder-case/89-135ae613-2a94-496d-baec-579ceac5fdec 3) Far From Spider Lake, Dateline NBC4) https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/nbcs-dateline-features-southwestern-minnesota-murder-case/89-135ae613-2a94-496d-baec-579ceac5fdec5) https://www.bensonfh.com/obituaries/Jan-Krista-Pigman-Kruse?obId=882872Support the show

This week, Rachael dives into two shocking murder cases - both technically still unsolved! George Carroll Sources:1) https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/12/13/he-was-told-his-father-walked-out-then-he-started-digging-up-basement/2) https://www.fresherslive.com/latest/articles/george-carroll-disappearance-1961-what-happened-to-george-carroll-was-george-carroll-found-15552248393) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195154157/george_gaffney-carroll4) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169642123/dorothy_ethel_darress5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Grove,_New_YorkJackalin Thompson Sources:1) https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/detectives-searching-for-clues-in-homicide/article_8613d6a0-74ac-5be6-b692-398655005f86.html2) https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/remains-identified-as-missing-woman/article_e1293d33-8c89-590f-9f67-9b2072ba5aff.html3) https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missing87975/topic/3745/Families-Looking-For-Closure4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culver,_OregonSupport the show

When a woman is found in tarp off the side of the highway in 1968, she remains unidentified for over 30 years. This was a case that took decades to get to the bottom of - and even now, there are still so many questions remaining. Sources:1) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-barbara-ann-hackman-taylo/24013583/ 2) https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1696&dat=19980423&id=9PEaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6796,28755833) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Ann_Hackmann_Taylor4) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-story-of-tent-girl/ 5) https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-body-in-kentucky-the-30_b_11389174 Support the show

Thirteen year old Jayme Closs witnesses her mother and father being murdered, and is then abducted by their killer, who had been carefully planning her abduction for a long time. Jayme is held in captivity for 88 days before she bravely escapes. Listen to Rachael cover this heartbreaking story this week on Small Town Mysteries.Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon,_Douglas_County,_Wisconsin2) https://www.foxnews.com/us/jayme-closs-jake-patterson-new-documents.amp3) https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jayme-closs-wisconsin-teen-who-escaped-captor-2019-doing-good-n12539384) https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jayme-closs-wisconsin-teen-who-escaped-captor-2019-doing-good-n12539385) https://www.fox9.com/news/missing-barron-wisconsin-teen-jayme-closs-found-alive-in-town-of-gordon6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping_of_Jayme_Closs7) https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/missing-wisconsin-girls-family-faces-painful-holiday-season/8) https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/14/us/jayme-closs-suspect-court/index.html9) https://www.kare11.com/article/news/jayme-closs-jake-patterson-can-never-take-away-my-courage/89-31197bea-36bd-41ac-8934-5858e266b93510) https://www.wbay.com/2024/01/11/this-week-marks-five-years-since-jayme-closs-was-found-alive-after-kidnapping/11) https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/accused-closs-kidnapper-jake-patterson-calls-wccos-jennifer-mayerle/ Support the show

Natalee Holloway is a name that many people within the true crime circle have heard of and are familiar with - but just how much do you know about Natalee and what happened surrounding her disappearance? This is sadly a case that is still not resolved, despite law enforcement and the general public having a very good idea who likely committed the crime.Sources:1)https://www.newsweek.com/cracking-holloway-case-938812)https://web.archive.org/web/20100609034708/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,594062,00.html3)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Natalee_Holloway4)https://people.com/timeline-natalee-holloway-case-vanishing-aruba-suspects-admission-83627565)https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/18/us/joran-van-der-sloot-natalee-holloway-plea-wednesday/index.html6)https://www.npr.org/2023/10/18/1206824624/natalee-holloway-joran-van-der-sloot-guilty-extortion-death-arubaSupport the show

This week, Christine highlights the devastating story of Relisha Rudd, an 8-year-old girl who disappeared from a Washington, D.C. homeless shelter in 2014. What did her family know? Why didn't anyone report her missing for 18  DAYS? And most importantly, why was no one taking care of this vulnerable child?Sources:1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Relisha_Rudd2) https://charleyproject.org/case/relisha-tenau-rudd3) https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/relisha-tenau-rudd Support the show

A group of three young men befriend and then brutally torture 19-year-old Chester Poage, with the only motive seeming to be to rob him. This is just one of those cases that make you wonder - how do these horrible people find each other?!Sources:1) https://medium.com/@Charlie_OBrien/the-horrifying-kidnap-and-murder-of-chester-poage-d131d77cb1f12) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Chester_Poage3) https://www.kotatv.com/2021/03/02/murder-victims-mother-shares-thoughts-on-potential-bill/4) https://www.mprnews.org/story/2007/07/11/sdexecution5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearfish,_South_Dakota6) https://www.yankton.net/news/article_6b2876a2-a622-511e-92b4-5900d1a26c3a.htmlSupport the show

In this case, what was thought to be a case of religious fanaticism gone wrong might have actually just been a crime of passion. Hear about the brutal murder of Brenda Lafferty and her infant daughter on this episode of Small Town Mysteries. This case inspired the recent series: Under the Banner of Heaven. Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints#:~:text=The%20Church%20of%20Jesus%20Christ%20of%20Latter%2Dday%20Saints%2C%20informally,the%20Latter%20Day%20Saint%20movement.2) https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/4/29/23043175/under-the-banner-of-heaven-series-hulu-lafferty-brothers-ron-dan-murders-what-happened-timeline3) https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/lafferty-murders4) https://www.newsweek.com/what-happened-ron-dan-lafferty-where-are-they-now-under-banner-heaven-fx-hulu-17059095) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_the_Banner_of_Heaven_(miniseries)6) https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/5/11/23064288/under-banner-of-heaven-brenda-ron-dan-lafferty-murder-lds-church-real-fiction-sharon-weeks-sisterSupport the show

This week, Christine talks about a horrifying case in which 2-year old DeOrr Cruz vanishes from a campground. Little information on this case exists, but what information does exist causes people to be skeptical of those who were on the camping trip with DeOrr.Sources:1) ​https://www.eastidahonews.com/2020/07/deorr-kunz-vanished-5-years-ago-today-heres-where-the-investigation-stands/ 2) https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/regional/8-years-since-deorr-kunz-jr-disappeared-at-timber-creek-campground/277-f87192e1-2291-458e-a61b-f83d51c1e1d7 3) https://www.reddit.com/r/deorrkunzjr/comments/17w6nwj/openminded/ 4) https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/article232504452.html  Support the show

The murder of 6-year-old Eli Hart by the hands of his mother was tragic and entirely preventable. There were many missteps taken by social workers assigned to the case - it's safe to say that the foster care system failed Eli Hart.Sources: 1) https://www.kare11.com/article/news/investigations/kare-11-investigates-eli-hart-child-red-protection-failures/89-a0878e1a-f655-48bc-96ce-b25114aef1ac#:~:text=Sometime%20on%20the%20morning%20of,pizza%20as%20police%20interrogated%20her.\2) https://www.fox9.com/news/eli-hart-killing-mom-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-murdering-her-son3) https://elihartplayground.com/4) https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/live-updates/julissa-thaler-sentenced-murder-6-year-old-son-eli-hart/5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnetrista,_Minnesota6) https://www.fox9.com/news/eli-hart-killing-boys-dad-testifies-at-julissa-thalers-trial7) https://medlineplus.gov/download/genetics/condition/townes-brocks-syndrome.pdfSupport the show

Micki Kanesaki and Lonnie Kocontes were seemingly working on re-igniting their former marriage, which had previously ended in divorce. As such, they booked a beautiful Mediterranean cruise for May of 2006. However, what Micki was not aware of was the fact that Lonnie had booked that particular cruise, as well as the particular room they stayed in, for a very nefarious reason.Can you get away with murder in international waters? Is there legal grey area with cases like these? Tune in to find out!Sources:1) https://www.oxygen.com/dateline-unforgettable/crime-news/lonie-kocontes-convicted-of-killing-wife-micki-kanesaki-on-cruise2) https://www.the-sun.com/news/8118838/what-happened-to-micki-kanesaki/3) https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/5-shocking-details-micki-kanesaki-s-murder4) https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/irvine-lonnie-kocontes-micki-kanesaki-cruise-murder-life-prison/2430425/5) https://allthatsinteresting.com/cruise-ship-disappearances/6Support the show

Susan Powell believes that she found the perfect opposite to her outgoing personality - Joshua Powell. They marry quickly and have children. But as their marriage progresses, Susan learns that Joshua is far from the man she thought he was.This case involves a dangerous obsession, a couple of different heart-wrenching tragedies, and a family who seemingly lies (and potentially kills) for each other. Sources: 1)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Susan_Powell#:~:text=Susan%20Marie%20Powell%202) https://www.susancoxpowellfoundation.net/about-susan/#:~:text=Susan%20is%20an%20outgoing%2C%20optimistic,belief%20that%203) families%20are%20forever. 4) https://uncovered.com/cases/susan-cox-powell 5) https://ksltv.com/541768/susan-powells-father-relieved-by-courts-98m-decision/ 6) https://abcnews.go.com/US/susan-powell-disappearance-young-sons-horrific-death-haunts/story?id=73983127 Support the show

On March 15, 1989, Tracey, only 17 at the time, was found at her job laying in a pool of her own blood. It was the first time that Tracey had closed the store on her own. After decades of leads that have never fully panned out, the case is still unsolved to this day. Who murdered Tracey Kirkpatrick? Sources:1) https://www.intothesilentland.com/2) https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Tracey_Kirkpatrick3) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9588951/tracy-lynn-kirkpatrick4) https://thecinemaholic.com/tracy-kirkpatrick-murder-how-did-she-die-who-killed-her/5) https://medium.com/@jennbaxter_69070/the-brutal-murder-of-tracey-kirkpatrick-923fec1bc4dc6) https://medium.com/@jennbaxter_69070/the-brutal-murder-of-tracey-kirkpatrick-923fec1bc4dc7) https://www.biggestuscities.com/city/frederick-maryland8) https://storiesoftheunsolved.com/2020/04/17/the-murder-of-tracy-lynn-kirkpatrick/#:~:text=EARLY%20LIFE%3A,to%20Point%20of%20Rocks%2C%20Maryland.9) https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/crime_and_justice/family-members-gather-on-30th-anniversary-of-one-of-citys-oldest-unsolved-homicides/article_fb21adab-c039-5240-a2c3-e1c87343e134.html10) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHfDKN6nzXo Support the show

This week, Kate talks about the case of Ellen Rae Greenberg, which was ruled a suicide early on in the investigation. However, the physical evidence points toward homicide...Sources:1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Rae_Greenberg2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manayunk,_Philadelphia3) https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/ellen-rae-greenberg-death-court-ruling/4) https://gavinfish.com/cases/ellen-greenberg/ (all primary documents)5) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philadelphia-teacher-death-suicide-ellen-greenberg-parents-say-murder-48-hours/Support the show