The Deck

In the spring of 2000, a 24-year-old woman was found floating in a Citrus County, Florida canal. Though answers have eluded authorities for more than two decades, a present-day sergeant is hoping that putting her story in the spotlight may help reveal the truth.

When Twana Smith’s body was discovered behind an abandoned building in Hartford in October 1997, she joined a growing list of the city’s vulnerable locals who fell victim to violent predators. And for decades, her case sat unsolved, gathering dust… even as detectives found the keys to unlock mysteries from the same era. But after years of dead ends, investigators now believe they're on the brink of a breakthrough… they just need a final push over the finish line.

A college campus in broad daylight in a town literally called “Niceville” might be one of the last places you’d expect a young collegiate to disappear from, but in March 1973, that’s exactly what happened. Debra Espey’s case spans more than 50 years, includes a primary suspect from the beginning, and has long been thought to have connection to other unsolved cases in the Florida panhandle. But for all the twists and misdirections, detectives are hopeful they can close this case soon.

28-year-old Lola, AKA Kathy, Kat, or Lolabee, as her family lovingly called her, was excited for a fresh start just before the holidays in 1993. She’d just left her job at an Indianapolis nightclub and was wrapping up the process of moving two hours northeast of Fort Wayne to live with her older sister. Kathy was planning to take her life down a new road and go back to school, maybe start a family. But before she could ever make good on those plans… something happened. Though, the specifics of what exactly that something was is still something we are trying to piece together today.

In 1997, 17-year-old Kemberly Ramer had big goals of getting out of her small town. She made great grades, was a star athlete, and was well-liked by her peers. Heading into her senior year, she already had plans to go to college to become a physical therapist, and there was no question, she had the brains and the talent to do just that. It would take a thief, a monster in the middle of the night, to take that away from her. But that’s exactly what happened one August evening, and her mother thinks she knows the true identity of this so-far untraceable culprit.

When 23-year-old Rose Gayhart left Dansville, New York with her boyfriend for Cape Coral, Florida in December of 1984, she was looking for a fresh start. But as Rose hugged her sister goodbye on that cold December day, neither of them could have imagined that it would be the last hug they’d ever share… or that within 3 short months, Rose would be gone.

Dubbed “the most famous missing man in Nevada” by local press, Roy Frisch was a bright light during an otherwise dark, lawless time in 1930s Reno. Yes, you read that right…1930s. This is the oldest case we’ve covered so far on this show. Roy disappeared almost 90 years ago, so while it’s not possible to punish those responsible for his death, thanks to newfound permission from a property owner, there is now serious potential his remains could be recovered, and just maybe, Roy can finally rest in peace.

When three women are ambushed by a gunman in the early morning hours of a cold November Indiana night, investigators are left to sort through the complicated relationships of one, asking themselves who would want to hurt these women, and why.

Charles and Jennifer Chia could see their apartment complex from their school bus stop – that’s how close to their building it was. Such a small distance for something to go so terribly wrong. But a couple hundred feet is all it took for someone to stop the Chia siblings from making it home safely. That person has gone undetected for more than 34 years. But present-day detectives say their days are now numbered, as new technology could soon expose this nameless predator.

Revisiting a place that holds bad memories isn’t for the faint of heart. Just pulling up to a specific location can bring on anxiety about the past trauma that once took place there. Even decades later, that sinking feeling doesn’t go away. Until recently, Ashyea Durham Pugh hadn’t been back to the scene since that mostly blocked-out memory was her cruel reality. That night she and her mom returned home to their apartment to find that her little sister had vanished without a trace. And as the anniversary of that fateful February passes, her uneasiness grows. Because February 1st, 2024 has come and gone. No one has seen Andrea Durham in 34 years. And whoever took her could still be out there.

Last week we walked through the initial investigation into the nearly 5-decade-old missing person case of 17-year-old Belinda VanLith. Despite her disappearance essentially being considered a runaway case by police initially, they had quickly come around to the possibility that perhaps Belinda had been met with foul play – and there were some people close to the cabin she was last known to be at that were looking like promising suspects, but police never had enough evidence to move forward, and her case went cold for almost 3 decades. Where we left off, investigators were 28 years into their investigation with little to show for it, when suddenly, in 2002, a relative came forward to police with a story they hadn’t heard before. And that’s where we’re picking up…

Belinda’s story has held a special place in our hearts for a very long time. Back in August of 2022, her family reached out to the team here at audiochuck requesting we cover her case. We told Belinda’s family we’d try, and for months we did try – we reached out to the investigating agency on multiple occasions, but we’ve still never heard back about an interview. Thankfully, through a records request, we were eventually able to obtain hundreds and hundreds of pages of reports spanning the nearly 50 years since Belinda’s disappearance. Hopefully, by bringing her story to you, we can bring her some justice that she very much deserves.

Deshawna was a bright, recent high-school graduate who was so excited for her future in nursing. She loved helping others, and she wanted to make it her career. But late one night in October 2001, someone saw to it that Deshawna would never have a chance to help anyone ever again.

Lo que comenzó como una búsqueda del sueño americano terminó siendo una tragedia. Manuel trabajaba en trabajos de construcción en Atlanta, GA, y Freeport, FL, hasta que fue encontrado tirado a lo largo de un camino de tierra en Freeport el 16 de agosto del 2004. Después de 20 años de preguntas sin respuestas, los detectives finalmente han conseguido la pista que estaban esperando. Este nuevo descubrimiento más los últimos avances en la tecnología de ADN, les dan seguridad a los investigadores de que finalmente están muy cerca de resolver este caso, y más que nada, poder dar a la esposa y a los hijos de Manuel la justicia que han estado buscando.

What began as a pursuit of the American dream ended in tragedy on August 16th, 2004. Manuel was working construction jobs in Atlanta, GA, and Freeport, FL – until he was murdered and dumped along a dirt road in Freeport. After 20 years of only questions and no answers… detectives finally got the tip they’d been waiting on. Add that to the latest advancements in DNA technology, and detectives feel confident they’re close to finally solving this case and giving Manuel’s wife and children the justice they’ve been seeking.

Dark Downeast digs into the decades-old and modern day cases that prickle the history of Vacationland and beyond – the unsolved homicides, undetermined deaths, unexplained disappearances and other dark stories of New England. Investigative journalist and storyteller Kylie Low gets straight to the story with a mix of narrated episodes and documentary style production featuring interviews with surviving family and friends and insight on the investigations from detectives and sources who know these cases best. This is heart-centered, ethical true crime, bringing light to stories you’re not hearing on other podcasts. It is Dark Downeast's mission to honor the legacy of the humans at the heart of each story and bring new attention to the cases still awaiting justice.

In 1999, 76-year-old Georgia had plans to spend the Fourth of July with her family at her lakeside cabin over in Wisconsin. But a few days before they were all set to leave, Georgia said she needed to go there early… on her own. When her family eventually showed up to celebrate, they quickly realized this holiday wouldn’t be anything like they had planned.

Jacqueline Brown and her coworkers went out on July 12th, 1985 to cash their paychecks and celebrate payday with some drinks. Instead, the night ended in tragedy when residents in another part of town were awoken to find Jacqueline shot and begging for help. And while first responders may not have been able to save her, detectives are dedicated to finding her killer... who may have been someone she knew.

October 9th, 2015, was supposed to be a normal, routine Friday for 80-year-old Stanley. But what unfolded in his home that night was anything but ordinary – and it set in motion a chilling mystery that still stumps detectives all these years later.

When 50-year-old Ruth Carter was found murdered in her home in Dayton, Ohio, suspicions immediately turned to her former roommate. But no physical evidence could tie him to the scene, and years started to tick by without any leads to point investigators to her killer, until 2005, when a young man came forward with information that took detectives to the people who may have been responsible.

One fall day in 1991, 14-year-old Clarissa vanished into thin air after a night of hanging out with friends. Years later, the mystery of where she disappeared to would be solved, but that discovery would open up a whole new world of unknowns.

The afternoon of July 1st, 1985, was supposed to be a mundane Monday for Tira Snyder. The 19-year-old wife and mother was going to run some errands and make dinner before her husband got home from work. Nothing that day went as planned. And Dave Snyder would never get another mundane day with his wife again.

Jennifer “Moonbeam” Hammond and Christina White, both young women, disappeared from trailer parks in the quiet town of Milton, New York. Both were ultimately found in nearby remote woodlands. And even though they didn’t know each other, police believe that both likely crossed paths with the same someone… who led them to the same cruel fate. And that potential connection might be the key to unraveling the mysteries that have surrounded these cases for way too long.

This is a case I’d bet money you haven’t heard of… Because when you google her name, only her cold case card pops up. Nothing else. The story of 62-year-old Your Honorable Honor, better known as Honor, has more than been forgotten… it’s never been told. Until now.

31-year-old Eden and her boyfriend were new to the North Star state. They had only lived there about three months, when, in September 1992, Eden was seen riding away in a mysterious blue van never to be seen again. Now, more than three decades later, present-day detectives are traveling down some winding roads previous investigators never explored in hopes it will lead them to the truth.

One September day in 1973, 13-year-old Sharon left her home to run a quick errand, an errand she’s run dozens of times before. But that day would be different. And for the last 50 years her family and investigators have put all their hope and energy into trying to determine what happened in just a 90 second window after she walked out the door.

Kathy was a 22-year-old newlywed living in Salt Lake City in 1976, forging her own path in a town that often seemed to value conformity over individuality. By all accounts Kathy had a reputation for being tough – definitely no shrinking violet. So no one was particularly worried about her fending for herself when her husband Dave left town on his rig for his most recent long-haul trek through the rugged Mountain West. And besides, Kathy had a solid group of friends to look out for her, including her roommate Vickie. But Vickie couldn’t stay with Kathy 24/7 – and on the evening of March 2nd, when Kathy was left alone, something was set into motion that remains a mystery to this day.

None of Brenda’s friends or family could’ve guessed that Thanksgiving 1990 would be the last time they’d see the sweet 33-year-old mother of three. For weeks, it seemed like Brenda had vanished into thin air… but eventually finding her just lead to more questions that are still unanswered to this day.

When 18-year-old Valaine left her Salt Lake City apartment and walked to class one spring morning in 1977, her carefully planned future was full of promise. And though she was in a time of transition and had recently ended an engagement, Valaine knew even this temporary disappointment just brought her closer to the life she dreamed of…a life full of family and rooted in faith…a life her ex-fiancé couldn’t give her.

May 29th, 2010 was supposed to be a normal Saturday for 34-year-old, single dad Corey and his 11-year-old twins, but a brazen masked gunman had other plans. Authorities in Dayton, Ohio, have spent the last 13 years trying to figure out who was behind that mask.

Twenty-seven-year-old Susan, better known as Su, was the kind of woman most people would describe as a breath of fresh air or a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. But late one night in 1992, Su’s brightness was suddenly and brutally put out. For the past three decades, law enforcement has spent countless hours unraveling the tangled web of mysteries and dark secrets that laid behind Su’s warm smile.

The night was still young when 20-year-old Darlene left her friends at a local Daytona Beach bar to go get some shut-eye before work the following morning… but little did they know, as she walked out into the darkness of the night, that’d be the last time they’d ever see her. Today, detectives are still as baffled as they were back in 1983.

In 1996, 34-year-old Diane was preparing to welcome her fourth child when one spring day she was ambushed and brutally murdered in the privacy of her own home. The investigation into her slaying was quick to go cold, but a recent breakthrough in the case has police more confident than ever that they’re hot on the killer’s trail.

In 1978, Corazon was just 26 and a widow after losing her husband from cancer five years earlier. And Corazon was still mourning the loss of her husband when she herself became a victim of a horrifically brutal attack in the parking lot of her seemingly safe apartment complex.

One August day in 1999, Nyesha was spending her Saturday afternoon like so many other 19-year-olds: playing video games. But when her gaming was interrupted by a knock on the apartment door, a sinister plan was set into motion that ended her game and her future.

In May 2013, 40-year-old Booda was gunned down in his quiet South Carolina neighborhood. For years, investigators have tried to bring his killer to justice, but rumors surrounding his life have muddied the waters.

In 2001, 50-year-old Rachel was going about her nightly routine, closing the small-town liquor store, when she suddenly vanished without a trace, leaving behind no clues. A gruesome discovery 6 weeks later would answer some of the questions she left behind, but not the most pressing: who did it and why?

Craig Frear seemed to have everything a teenage boy could want — a loving family, lots of friends and girlfriends, and skills on the soccer field. But after he vanished in broad daylight from a small village in upstate New York in 2004, police learned that he had been keeping secrets. And like Craig... this story is filled with contradictions.

In 1995, 24-year-old Gina Cyphers was found dead in the trailer she shared with her boyfriend and young son, just a couple of hours after dropping him off at daycare one winter morning. The viciousness of the crime shocked the Salina, Kansas, community. And after nearly three decades of grief, her family is still searching for the answers to who killed Gina, and why?

In part 1 of the Reker case, four agencies were two years into the homicide investigation with little to show for it. Little did they know, the twists and turns in their investigation were just beginning.

On Labor Day of 1974, less than 24 hours before 15-year-old Mary was to start her sophomore year of high school, she told her parents she needed to make a quick shopping trip to pick up some last-minute school supplies and a winter coat. Her younger sister, 12-year-old Susanne, tagged along and they waved goodbye to their father, who was painting the exterior of the house when they left. On a day so ordinary, it never crossed his mind that that would be the last time he’d see his two daughters alive.

In 1988, 21-year-old Christine was found murdered in Hartford, Connecticut. Almost immediately, rumors started swirling about who could be responsible for her death. But most rumors always have a source — and if you look hard enough, sometimes, you can find a thread of truth. Follow that thread, and you might find the killer.

When Renee was 22 years old, her main goal was to provide a good life for her son Caleb. But in September 1992, Renee was attacked in her Jacksonville, Florida, home after hosting Caleb’s 3rd birthday party. While Renee’s killer spared Caleb’s life, their actions took away the person who loved him most and shattered his sense of safety and belonging for years to come. Today, a cold case detective is renewing the push for answers in Renee’s murder, hoping to finally repair some of the damage that was done over 30 years ago.

In the summer of 1994, Elizabeth’s body was found outside of an abandoned building in an area rife with crime. As the years went by, investigators never uncovered any solid leads… until a pattern of brutal murders began to emerge in the area, leading them to suspect there’s more to her story than meets the eye.

Late one night in September 2001, Amber Hoopes walked out to her grandparents’ auto body shop in Idaho Falls, Idaho to use the computer. After sending an email and logging off the computer around 1am, Amber vanished. Police have evidence that shows she was abducted and killed, and while they have two viable suspects, Amber’s body has never been found.

In the early morning hours of December 12, 1981, 81-year-old Myrtle Cole was fast asleep in her securely locked, small-town Minnesota home when someone broke in and brutally murdered her. For more than 40 years, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office has dedicated countless man hours to finding out who killed her, and the answer may no longer be far out of reach.

It was a normal, warm Virginia day in April 2021 for a group of friends mingling outside a convenience store when out of the blue they were shot up by someone driving by, and 18-year-old James was killed. Over the past two years, Richmond police have uncovered evidence they think points toward the killer — but they’re still waiting for the missing piece to prove it.

What began as a normal April day in 2021 ended in heartache for the family of 20-year-old Cody Woodson when the college student was gunned down in the streets just outside of his apartment in an attack that police now believe was not meant for him.

Tonya Teske was a free-spirited 18-year-old who chose to live her life on the open road by hitchhiking around the mountain west. On August 13, 1997, she was last seen in Montana at a truck stop before her body was discovered two days later on the side of a highway in Idaho.

When 16-year-old Gregory vanished from a bus stop in September 2005, his family immediately knew something wasn’t right. A few days later, a terrifying discovery would prove that their worst fears were right and send police on a desperate search for answers that now, even 18 years later, has yet to end.

It was a warm Saturday evening in 1984 when 39-year-old Barbara disappeared from the streets of Washington, D.C. Almost 40 years later, the blatant missteps in the early days of the investigation still haunt her case… and may be what stands in the way of it being solved.

Sheree Allen was last seen alive at the (former) Colonial Motel in downtown Salt Lake City on January 23, 2005. The next night, her body was found in a dumpster in West Valley City, Utah wrapped in trash bags. There have been several viable leads in the case, but none have ever resulted in charges or arrests.

Ivory was just 17 years old when she vanished while on her way home in Utica, New York. Despite a slow start to the investigation, investigators have tried to make up for lost time, spending years putting together the pieces that point toward the people responsible — people who refuse to talk, even 19 years later.

Sylvia Baker, 28, went downstairs on July 17th, 1982 to take out the trash. Sylvia never returned to her apartment, where her two young kids were watching TV. When she was found the next day, nude and bound with pieces of her own clothing, her family remained in a state of shock as police worked to track down her killers. Over 40 years later, no one’s been held accountable for Sylvia’s murder, but a DNA match and other clues have investigators closer than ever to the truth.

One Friday afternoon in 1994, 35-year-old Lawrence O’Connell seemingly vanished into thin air after leaving his workplace, and a disturbing discovery the following day left everyone with more questions than answers.

Aaron Lamont Smalls, also known as Peanut, was only 25 years old when his body was found in York County, Virginia, in 2001. In the search for his killer, investigators uncovered several key pieces of evidence and received a mountain of tips. But despite their efforts, the case slowly turned cold.

Keyru was a kindhearted, family-oriented 24-year-old who was visiting relatives in Denver, Colorado, when he was brutally gunned down for seemingly no reason. For more than a decade, Keyru’s friends and family have waited in agony for the monster who snuffed out his bright light to be brought to justice.

When James Walker III is shot to death at a house party in 2017, investigators kicked off a search for the people responsible. But despite a large number of witnesses, no one would talk and with a lack of physical evidence the case quickly hit a dead end.

After Sherry Black’s vicious murder, police had her killer’s DNA, but no suspects or motive. It would take nearly a decade – and a dogged investigator – to crack this unsolved case.

In November of 2010, the community of South Salt Lake was shocked by the vicious murder of Sherry Black, a beloved great-grandmother. Investigators chased leads and interviewed suspects, utilizing every resource at their disposal to learn who could have committed such a brutal crime – and why. But those answers...and justice...would remain elusive for nearly a decade.

In 1982, Deana Patnode, a vibrant 23-year-old, disappeared from a Minnesota bar without a trace. Decades later, a deck of cold case playing cards would ultimately lead to some closure in her case — but leave everyone with far more questions than answers.

Joseph Pellicci was a father of three and a successful restaurateur when he was abducted and shot to death in 1973. Everyone in Stamford, Connecticut seems to know who’s responsible. The real mystery is...why hasn’t anyone ever been charged with his murder?

In December 1998, 20-year-old Cassandra disappeared from Wichita, Kansas, only for her body to be found months later on the side of a dirt road in rural Sedgwick County. For more than 20 years, investigators have struggled to make movement in the case, as the one person they think has the answers refuses to cooperate.

In 1984, 18-year-old Desiree Michaud was violently killed in a motel room in southeastern Connecticut. For nearly 40 years, her murder has haunted the community and stumped investigators as they’ve chased down every promising lead that’s come knocking on their door but have yet to find the answers they need to crack the case.

In 2013, 25-year-old Kyle Byrtus was found murdered on the side of the road. For the past nearly ten years, his mother has spent her days fighting for justice — and recently, she learned that justice may not be as far out of reach as once thought.

In the 18 years since Oakey “Al” Kite was found brutally murdered in his home, investigators have tried to track down a mystery man who they believed was responsible. But they were left stumped at every turn. Now with new technology available, investigators are hopeful they might finally find this cold-blooded killer.

When Oakey “Al” Kite is brutally murdered in his own home in the spring of 2004, investigators rushed to find his killer. But when they finally identified a suspect, he seemed to vanish without a trace.

In 2002, 29-year-old Jennifer vanished without a trace after getting into a heated argument with her live-in girlfriend. For nearly two decades, Jennifer’s disappearance has puzzled investigators, because even though they think they know who’s responsible, they’ve struggled to come up with answers to the two remaining questions in her case: what happened, and where is Jennifer?

When 19-year-old Timothy Blair’s body was found on the side of road in 2005, investigators launched into action to find his killer, but their investigation quickly turned cold despite the discovery of DNA evidence and the cooperation of his family. Seventeen years later, Timothy’s mother persists in her search for justice despite the investigation being put on hold and overshadowed by a whirlwind of rumors that have only led to dead ends.

One winter evening in 2017, 53-year-old Willie Troy Price Sr. was minding his own business inside his South Carolina home when suddenly a group of cowards shot into the house then fled without a trace. Willie’s senseless death has puzzled investigators for years as they’ve struggled to find anyone who might’ve had it out for him, leaving them with one nagging question: was Willie the intended target?

In 2006, central Phoenix was shaken after a beloved member of the community was killed while he was minding his own business, hanging out with his friends. For 16 years, Phoenix police have attempted to hunt down the killers, only to hit dead ends at every turn. But they have far from given up hope because they know there are people in the community who hold the answers to the questions that have haunted the city since 2006: who killed Jermaine and why?

In 2017, 17-year-old Maggie Long went missing in rural Park County, Colorado, only to be found hours later as the victim of the most brutal murder the area had ever seen. For the past five years, Maggie’s horrific murder has weighed on law enforcement in the small community as they’ve struggled to get any answers to the nagging questions surrounding her case.

In June 1974, 17-year-old Catherine Sjoberg was enjoying all the festivities of prom night when a heated argument with her boyfriend at the post-prom dance sent her storming off into the cool summer night, never to be seen or heard from again. For nearly 50 years, law enforcement in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, have been haunted by Cathy’s disappearance as they’ve tried to find answers to the nagging question still weighing on the community today: how does someone vanish into thin air?

On a snowy December night in 1990, 25-year-old Donna Ingersoll stormed outside and disappeared into the night after a heated argument with her boyfriend, leaving behind several important belongings and a twisted web of mysteries investigators have spent decades trying to untangle.For more than 30 years, Donna’s disappearance has weighed on the small town of Wabasha, Minnesota, as the passage of time has produced more questions than answers. But some recent developments have present-day investigators questioning everything they thought they knew about the case — and believing they’re closer than ever to cracking it.

In the spring of 1999, 42-year-old Dale Williams seemed to vanish into thin air inspiring an investigation that would span four law enforcement agencies and more than 20 years. To this day, there’s been no sign of the devoted father and husband, who left behind a legacy of kindness in his tight-knit small town in Colorado, and who investigators are determined to track down as new theories emerge from decades of rumors and dead ends.

Fourteen-year-old Kellie Poppleton was brutally assaulted and murdered on December 2, 1983, and for almost 40 years, calls for justice have gone unanswered. But now, with advancements in DNA forensics, detectives are more hopeful than ever that they might be able to find their killer. They hope that the renewed interest in this case will give them the final piece of the puzzle and to bring the family the justice that is so long overdue.

In the early morning hours of February 7, 1992, a 79-year-old woman was brutally murdered in the Charlotte, North Carolina, apartment where she’d lived for two decades. Viola Pendergrass — who neighbors called “ma” and was revered as the matriarch of her own sprawling family — was found stabbed to death in her bedroom. Her murder divided a once close-knit family and has stumped police for 30 years.

Rachel Hurley, a whip-smart eighth grader on the verge of young-adulthood, spent the afternoon of St. Patrick’s Day 1990 out on a boat with friends. She was last seen headed down the beach on her way to meet her mother at a pick-up spot ... but she never made it. That evening, following a frantic search, her body was found in a nearby wooded area. The specter of the 14-year-old’s inexplicable murder has lingered over the coastal South Florida beach town of Jupiter for more than three decades.

Joyce “Tina” Gallegos is believed to have been murdered sometime around August 11, 1982. Ten days after being reported missing on August 11, a fisherman spotted her body on a sandbar in Utah’s Ogden River. A month after Tina’s body was found, a construction worker just outside of Ogden discovered another body —this one wrapped in plastic and left in a ditch. Law enforcement have long suspected Tina and Gabby’s cases are linked, and a recent discovery has solidified that suspicion for good.

On September 13, 2020, 17-year-old high school basketball star Valincio Hill was gunned down while standing on his own front porch in Wichita, Kansas, while hanging out with his family. For the past two years, Valincio’s murder has haunted the community of Wichita as police try to get answers from one of the only people who may have the answers they need: the man believed to be the intended target.

One July morning in 2007, 19-year-old Brian Sullivan made some calls to a friend, grabbed a hot breakfast from a local fast-food joint, then vanished, never to be seen or heard from again. For 15 years, Brian’s disappearance has haunted the greater Rochester, New York, area — and although investigators know beyond a reasonable doubt who was responsible, they haven’t been able to answer the one question left looming over their heads: where is Brian?

When 20-year-old Dana Ramm’s body was found on the shoulder of Andrade Road, the Bay Area mourned her passing and wondered if a killer was lurking in the shadows. Dana disappeared forever while waiting for two friends, Tracy and Cody, at a Bay Area gas station one night in December 1986. Even though Dana’s body was identified the day after she disappeared, it’s been almost 36 years since she was slain, and police still haven’t thawed her cold case. The clock is ticking, but investigators are hopeful that they’ll one day give closure to Dana’s friends and family.

In April 1999, U.S. Army veteran Roberta Johnson was joyfully anticipating some major milestones for her family, including the imminent birth of her son who was due any day as well as watching her then-17-year-old daughter, Arkeisha, collect her high school diploma at graduation in coming weeks. But on April 26th, Roberta’s body was found in a shallow grave off a dirt road. Investigators think one man may hold the answers to her murder ... except he hasn’t been willing to talk for over two decades.

James Winston III, a 35-year-old father of six, was waiting for a friend to come over in the wee morning hours of February 16, 2020, when two unknown individuals barged into his apartment and shot him to death. There are many questions still swirling around James’ homicide that leave detectives stumped, but there’s one thing those closest to the case are confident about: James knew his killers.

James Rowe, 60, and his roommates, married couple John and Nancy Spivey, 33 and 37 respectively, spent their last night alive, January 9th, 1991, hosting friends for drinks and card games at their apartment in St. Petersburg, Florida. The three were found bludgeoned to death the following morning. After 31 years, their killer — or killers — continues to elude investigators, with just a handful of tips having come in over years.

When a Jewish activist and philanthropist didn’t show up for dinner, his friends and girlfriend didn’t know what to expect. In a matter of minutes, their lives would change forever. Strangled to death in his Phoenix real-estate practice’s office in September 2008, Irving Shuman’s family, co-workers and religious community were baffled. It’s been almost 15 years since Irving’s death, and investigators are still hoping for the tip that’ll break this case wide open.

In November 1980, 13-year-old Frankie Harvey was shot and left to die in a gravel pit in Wrentham, Massachusetts. The Rhode Island girl had vanished on Thanksgiving and while her family was waiting for her to show back up, police in Massachusetts were trying to figure out who she was. Ballistics testing later showed that her murder was connected to the murder of Frank Cannon in Pawtucket, Rhode Island … but no real investigation involving both cases has been done until now.

After days of searching for 14-year-old Jenny Lin’s killer, detectives received some promising tips that left everyone hopeful they’d solve one of the most disturbing murders Alameda County had ever seen.

In 1994, the brutal murder of a 14-year-old inside her parents' safe suburban house left a community shaken to its core, because not only had a bright and talented life been suddenly snuffed out, but police struggled to find a motive. And the more clues they uncovered, the more investigators realized the nightmare they were dealing with: Jenny Lin’s murder was more than a crime of opportunity —it had been carefully planned. For nearly 30 years, Jenny’s murder has weighed on Alameda County and terrorized detectives as they’ve pondered the same question over and over since 1994: why Jenny?

On the morning of June 24, 1975, Marjorie Fithian and her 18-month-old son were supposed to be taking a bus from Denver to Greeley, Colorado. However, just hours after Marjorie was seen waiting for the bus in Denver, she was found with her son alongside a dirt road in rural Colorado — she had been shot in the head. For nearly 50 years, detectives in Colorado have been trying to solve her murder. Theories surrounding her gruesome and mysterious death range from a possible serial killer to drug conspiracies, but no leads have ever panned out. This case is one that has haunted everyone who has worked on it over the years, and investigators are desperate to solve it.

Donna Tattersall was 24 when she disappeared from the Pawtucket, Rhode Island’s Firehouse Lounge in the early hours of April 22, 1979. That morning, her body was in a nearby parking lot just a few hours after a witness saw a man carry her out of the bar. While many believed police had captured Donna’s killer when their main suspect was tried for her murder, his acquittal prompted Pawtucket residents to believe a killer was still lurking in their midst.

When Elaine Runyan called her three children in for lunch on August 26, 1982, only two came running. Her youngest, 3-year-old Rachael was missing. One month later, in a discovery that shook the Sunset, UT community to its core, little Rachael Runyan’s body was found. Despite witnesses, an extensive investigation, and relentless efforts by the family, the case went cold and has stayed that way for over 40 years. That is, until recently.

On the afternoon of December 3rd, 2010, police in Phoenix, Arizona found the bodies of friends Melissa Mason and Nicole Glass, both 27, in the home they shared. Both women, who were killed in different parts of the house, had been strangled. What’s more, Melissa was eight weeks pregnant. Investigators quickly exhausted forensic leads and have yet to arrive at a motive for the triple homicide more than a decade later.

On a quiet summer night in 1999, a 48-year-old man disappeared after what appeared to be a normal night out with friends in the sleepy town of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Darwin Vest, known to many as “spiderman” thanks to his unparalleled knowledge of spiders, left a local bar around 1 a.m. on June 3, 1999 — then seemingly vanished into thin air. For more than two decades, his case has haunted the residents of Idaho Falls as theories surrounding his case range from a tragic fall into the nearby river to something far more sinister.

In November 1978, 25-year-old Anthony “Tony” Adams was found viciously murdered in his Salt Lake City apartment. For more than 40 years, Tony’s case has remained unsolved, but not for lack of theories about what might have led up to his slaying. Was Tony targeted for his political beliefs, his sexuality, or his race? Was he the victim of a random robbery? Was this a bar pick-up gone horribly wrong? These are the questions police and community members have pondered over the past four decades that have never been answered.

In the spring of 1992, 16-year-old Shannon Aumock had run away from her group home just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. A chronic runaway and member of the foster system since she was 3 years old, Shannon wasn’t reported missing and eventually was legally relinquished from Child Protective Services’ care. One month after her disappearance, on May 27, 1992, the search for another missing local girl would uncover a body that wouldn’t be identified for nearly 20 years. For more than two decades, Shannon’s case has kept police on their toes as they navigated her tragic life and a cluster of similar cases in the area to continue to try and uncover the person and reasoning behind her even more tragic end.

Nicole "Nikki" Silvers was last seen on April 9th, 2014 around 3 a.m. walking into a house in Longmont, Colorado where she had been temporarily living. The 16-year-old has not been seen or heard from since. If you know anything about Nikki’s whereabouts, or what happened to her, please call the Weld County, Colorado, Sheriff’s Office at 970-400-2827.

In February 1978, a 26-year-old mother of two disappeared from her rural Indiana home the day she was scheduled to move to Iowa with her new husband. Months later, she was found strangled to death in the trunk of her own car in Ohio. For more than forty years, Mary Beth “Pixie” Grismore’s case has haunted law enforcement as they sift through the unanswered questions surrounding her disappearance and murder. Although the case has been ice cold for years, police are hopeful that the tip they need to bring new life to the investigation is right around the corner.

On August 21, 2004, 54-year-old Dorothy Kajpust was staying at a friend’s mobile home in eastern Idaho as a temporary living arrangement when, suddenly, in the early morning hours of that Saturday, an unknown individual entered the home and brutally assaulted Dorothy, leaving her for dead. Five days later, Dorothy passed away in the hospital without regaining consciousness. For nearly two decades, Dorothy’s case has remained unsolved, and the mystery surrounding her death is still just as puzzling for detectives today as it was in 2004.