Hillary Norskog was only 13 years old when she became the first victim of a serial murderer near Chicago Illinois. While his parents attempted to shield Steven Pfiel from his responsibility in her death, they could not stop him from killing again.
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Special thanks to Lanie of the True Crime Fan Club Podcast for her assistance with this episode. https://truecrimefanclub.com/
Tuesday December 9, 1997. 23-year-old Laney Gwinner meets up with friends at a local bowling alley in Fairfield, Ohio.
She shot a few rounds of pool, had a couple of beers and left just after midnight, headed to her boyfriend’s nearby apartment. Laney won’t arrive, in fact, she’ll never be seen alive again.
Facebook group seeking Justice for Laney
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In early June 2010 seven year old Kyron Horman disappeared from Skyline Elementary in Portland, Oregon.
Despite comprehensive searches of the area, no trace of Kyron was ever discovered.
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Check out the Deliberations podcast. Available on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play
In September 2009, just days before her wedding, graduate student Annie Le vanished from the Yale Campus.
Her brutalized body would be found days later, stuffed inside a mechanical panel near the lab where she worked.
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School violence is an ongoing issue of concern to students, parents and staff. In October 2013 Danvers High School was the scene of a violent and brutal murder, when a 14 year old freshman raped and murdered his 24 year old math teacher at school and dumped her body on school grounds.
What drove Philip Chism to violence and why choose Colleen Ritzer as his victim?
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On January 19, 2015 19 year old Brock Turner, a Stanford University Swimmer, was arrested for the sexual assault of a 22 year old woman, “Emily Doe.”
In the months after the assault his story would change and evolve. At the trial, he was found guilty of three felonies and sentenced to six months in jail. He served three months.
In this episode we look at the perpetrator, the victim and the overwhelming response to the outcome of the trial.
Brock Turner’s letter to the judge.
Dan Turner’s letter to the judge.
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I’m taking a week off to refresh, regroup and plan for a Back to School series of cases.
Meanwhile check out my guest appearance on Our Americana. Season 3, episode 11.
or, give a listen to another wonderful Detroit based storyteller – The Conspirators Podcast. Creepy history and strange stories. One of my favorites.
If you really need to hear me talk crime, check out the newest episode of Thinking Sideways, The Villisca Axe murders. You won’t be disappointed.
Finally, you may know that I am a big fan of the In Sight podcast hosted by the lovely and talented Ali and Charlie. They started a spin off show, geared to the YA set In Sight Junior. As an adult, it’s very well done and written with the same flair as In Sight.
Thank you for checking in and please, be safe!
On the night of August 6, 1993 Army Sgt. Kenneth Junior French entered the Luigi’s restaurant in Fayetteville, North Carolina armed with two shotguns and a rifle.
When his rampage was over, four people were dead and eight others wounded.
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In 1983 the battered body of Erik Cross was found in a ditch in front of his house. He’d been beaten, dragged behind a car and finally run over, his body left on the edge of the road.
In the 34 years since his death, the Cross family has waited for an arrest in the case. In the last few years, an army has assembled, hoping to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice.
In 2016 law enforcement named a group of suspects that they believe are involved in Eric’s death. This included Bill Cook, Tim Martin, Amber Thomas and Brent Spaulding:
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On June 19, 1982 Vincent Chin was attacked by two men wielding a baseball bat. He would die four days later, on his mother’s birthday.
The men who attacked him never spent a night in jail, they were given probation and a small fine. The Asian American community rose up and demanded justice for Vincent Chin. This was the birth of the Asian American Civil Rights Movement.
In September of 1996, 19 year old Jillian Robbins opened fire on the Penn State Campus. When the smoke cleared, one student was dead, one seriously injured and Jillian was in need of medical attention.
Music courtesy of Luke Superior.
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During a 12 day period in January of 1984 suburban Denver was rocked by a series of attacks by a hammer wielding home intruder. When his work was done, four were dead, Four more grievously injured and the community was shaken to its core.
Aurora Police have worked this case aggressively, taking advantage of scientific updates to generate leads and find a killer.
Music courtesy Luke Superior
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Sixteen year old Marissa Escareno has a good life, she is a pretty girl, in good health. She lives in a loving home and earns good grades. In mid-February of 2017, there was a shift, Marissa wasn’t acting like herself. By March 3, she was gone, disappearing in the middle of the night, leaving behind her cell phone, clothing, cosmetics and ID.
In the last 90 days her family has been on a whirlwind. Sporadic calls and online appearances by Marissa raise their hopes, only to have them dashed again when she goes silent. It is her family’s belief that Marissa, who turned 17 on Mother’s Day, is somewhere in the Detroit area. Perhaps mixed up with the wrong crowd, or worse.
In this episode I speak with Marissa’s sister, Julia who tells Marissa’s story and shares her family’s experiences in trying to bring their girl home.
WXYZ Detroit did a web story about Marissa’s case.
If you see Marissa, please contact the Detroit Police 313-596-5400
In May of 2004 53 year old Al Kite had a good life. He was in good health, had a nice home and a good job. His relationship with his girlfriend, Linda, was in a good place. He seemed like the last person who would die a violent, gruesome death at the hands of an unknown killer.
But on May 22, 2004 that’s exactly what happened. Days later police discovered his body in the basement of his home. He’d been tied up, endured hours of torture and finally, mercifully, murdered. Why? What reason could anyone have to torture and kill him?
Police are still asking that question and looking for his killer.
I usually post a photo of the victim, but someone, somewhere has to know who this is.
October 25, 2014. 22 year old Chelsea Bruck attends a huge outdoor halloween party/concert in a wooded area outside of Monroe, Michigan. Dressed as Poison Ivy in a long plum colored wig, and leaf trimmed green leotard the tall blonde spends the evening at the party with friends. After getting separated from her friends she is trying to find a ride home after 2:00 a.m.
The person she accepts a ride from is someone from a nightmare. Chelsea is gone, vanished.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s department works the case hard, calling in assistance from dozens of agencies. In spring 2015 pieces of Chelsea’s costume are discovered in Flat Rock Michigan, but no sign of the missing woman. Weeks later her badly decomposed remains are located. In 2016, almost two years after she vanished an arrest is made. 27 year old Daniel Clay, a friend of one of her coworkers, is arrested after his DNA is found on Chelsea’s bloody costume.
Daniel denies murdering Chelsea, despite clear evidence that she received a brutal beating. In May 2017, a jury finds him guilty of murder and concealing her body. He will be sentenced on July 13, 2017
On a bitterly cold January afternoon 13 year old Rachel vanished from the family home in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
No trace of her has ever been found. 
On December 2, 2016 28 year old Danielle Stislicki left her job in Southfield and disappeared. Her family, community and law enforcement are working hard to #FindDani.
Also, coverage of the Missing in Michigan event on May 6, 2017 and we revisit some old/cold cases covered previously on the podcast.
On a snowy March night in 2011, 20 year old Luc Joly Durocher was separated from his friends and disappeared forever.
While Luc left his coat, cell phone and glasses behind, he was wearing dark jeans, black sneakers with green stitching, a gray t shirt and a very distinctive purple belt.
The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, in conjunction with the Ontario Provincial Police, is offering a reward of $50,000 for anyone who comes forward with information concerning the person or persons responsible for Joly-Durocher’s disappearance
Anyone with information is asked to call Near North Crime Stoppers at 705-476-8477 or 1-800-222-8477.
There are 13 missing persons cases in North Bay. The case of Phillipe Guerin is the oldest, dating back to 1966.
From New Years Eve 1976 through the summer of 1977 Donald Eugene Miller terrorized the college community of East Lansing and the surrounding communities. While he was never charged with murder, only manslaughter, he is responsible for the deaths of four women and assaults on two children.
Sue Young, the mother of his first victim wrote a book about her experiences. Lethal Friendship: A mother’s battle to put -and keep- a serial killer behind bars.
Miller’s first victim, his former fiancee Martha Sue Young.
In 1989 Mary Gill and Jeanne Gilbert were overnight employees at Days Inn properties in Indiana. Gill worked at the Merrillville location, and Gilbert near Rensalear. In the early morning hours of Friday March 3, each property was robbed, the women assaulted and murdered.
As DNA technology improved the murders were linked with the 1987 slaying of Super 8 motel employee Vicki Heath and two additional assaults. This serial killer has never been identified.
Please listen to episode 48, part one first.
In 1969 John Norman Collins was arrested and charged with the murder of and 18 year old co-ed Karen Sue Beineman. California governor and future US president Ronald Reagan wanted Collins extradited from Michigan to California to stand trial for the murder of a 17 year old girl in his state.
Meanwhile, Collins, his family and his attorneys are fighting to keep him out of jail, or if they cannot, they want him extradited to Canada, the country of his birth, where he would have the possibility of parole.
Collins trial leads to the resolution of one murder, but there are six other bodies waiting for justice.
Music by Luke Superior
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Contact: host at already gone podcast dot com
The summer of 1967 brought the first victim. A serial killer would terrorize the college community of University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area.
By August of 1969 six women were dead, including a 13 year old girl. This is the story of John Norman Collins.
Contact me: host at already gone podcast dot com
In January of 1971 Kathy Radkte was spending the evening with her boyfriend, Jack Keyes. The teenagers crossed paths with a vicious killer. Their deaths rocked the community.
Contact me: host at already gone podcast dot com
The first broad cast of 2017 features the lovely and talented Amber Hunt of the Cincinnati Enquirer. You may know her as the voice behind Accused: The Unsolved Murder of Elizabeth Andes.
Amber discusses the show, their process and what’s in store for season two. She also answers listener questions and speaks candidly about her time in Michigan.
Contact me: host at already gone podcast dot com
On a warm September night in 1951 the brutal murder of nurse Pauline Campbell stunned the community. The attack was one in an escalating series of assaults on nurses in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The identity of the killers would rock the community to it’s core.
Link to photo of Walter DeDula
Girls crowded the courthouse to see William R. Morey III at his trial.
In 1985 Debbie Wolfe was a 28 year old nurse living just outside of Fayetteville North Carolina. She left work on December 26, and headed home to care for her two dogs. She would not be seen alive again.
On January 1, 1986 her remains were discovered in a pond near her home. Was her death a terrible accident or did someone get away with murder? 
On Thursday November 9, 2007 Kyle joined his mother, sister and best friend at a Dane Cook show in Charlotte, North Carolina. By 4a on Friday November 10, Kyle had vanished and wouldn’t be seen again.
Where is Kyle?
June 25, 1968, the Robison family is 10 days in to a relaxing summer “Up North” at their wood and stone cottage on Lake Michigan.
That night a killer or killers fired on the house, wounding Richard Robison, they then entered the house and executed the entire family. Who would do such a thing? Why would anyone want the family dead? We still look for answers to a brutal mass murder.
Read Mardi Link’s Book When Evil Came to Good Hart for a deeper look at the case.
The evening of August 3, 1989 Lawrence J. DeLisle was out driving around with his wife, Suzanne and their four children: 8-year-old Bryan, 4-year-old Kathryn, 2-year-old Melissa and 8-month-old Emily.
Lawrence lost control of the car and it flew off the road into the Detroit River. The car sank quickly. Lawrence and his wife swam to safety, but all four children drown. What appeared to be a tragic accident evolved into a horrifying story. Had Lawrence done the unthinkable? Had he intentionally driven the car into the murky waters of the Detroit River in an attempt to kill himself and his family?
Thanks to Frank for suggesting this story.
This episode is cohosted and cowritten by Nate Hale of The Conspirators Podcast.
Music courtesy of Luke Superior.
October 25, 1994, 23-year-old Susan Smith ran to a house near John D Long Lake in Union, South Carolina. She pounded on the door, calling for help, crying, nearly hysterical. Her babies, she said, her boys age 3 and 14 months, they’d been taken. A call was placed to 9-1-1 and police mobilized. What law enforcement learned over the next nine days was chilling. Susan Smith would finally confess. She had done the unthinkable.
David Smith wrote a book about his experiences. Find it here.
Linda Russell also wrote a book. My Daughter Susan Smith.
Support Already Gone by shopping Amazon via this link.
In the early morning hours of March 2, 1996 Jody LeCornu was shot while sitting in her parked car. Despite video evidence, eye witness testimony, ballistic evidence and fingerprints, no one has ever been arrested or charged in her death.
Case overview and an interview with Jody’s twin sister, Jenny Carrieri.
If you can assist the family with legal fees please visit their Go Fund Me page.
If you have information about Jody’s murder Crime Stoppers is offering a $32k reward.
Music courtesy Luke Superior
Thank you to @Melodile2015 for suggesting this case.
In 1952 Marquette Michigan was rocked by the murder of a barkeep by an airman from KI Sawyer AFB. In 1988 another murder shocked the community.
Join us as we discuss the murder of Maurice Chenoweth and the stabbing death of Paul Girard.
This is the second episode in a series about the Oakland County Child Killer.
Between 1976 and 1977 four children were abducted and murdered. Mark Stebbins, Jill Robinson, Kristine Mihelich and Timothy King. They were held from 3.5 – 19 days. Their deaths were considered the work of a killer or perhaps a team of killers working together.
Forty years later and law enforcement is no closer to closing the case. We look at the victims, the crimes, the investigators and the families left behind.
If you would like to take a closer look at happenings around the periphery of the case:
North Fox Island – When history turns out to be not so nice
Catherine Broad – A blog run by the sister of Timothy King
A father’s story – Written by Barry King, father of Timothy King
Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper holds a press conference in response to $100M lawsuit.
Music: Luke Superior https://soundcloud.com/lukesuperior
Our sponsor: Blueapron.com/alreadygone
Season 3, episode 1
Oakland County, Michigan. Between 1976 and 1977 four children were abducted and murdered. Mark Stebbins, Jill Robinson, Kristine Mihelich and Timothy King. They were held from 3.5 – 19 days. Their deaths were considered the work of a killer or perhaps a team of killers working together.
Forty years later and law enforcement is no closer to closing the case. We look at the victims, the crimes, the investigators and the families left behind.
The Already Gone Podcast will return on Thursday January 12, 2017.
thank you for listening!
On a January afternoon in 1983 Janette Roberson was the victim of a brutal attack at her workplace in Reed City Michigan. Despite being killed while working at a busy store, her body was undiscovered for hours and her killer was never caught.
In this episode I talk with author and Reed City resident Jeni Decker about the Roberson case, the challenges of investigating older cases, and other unsolved murders in the area. You can read more about unsolved crime in Reed City at Decker’s blog: http://jenidecker.blogspot.com/ You can also find her on Twitter @Jeni_Decker
This is the fourth and final installment in this series. Talking with Journalist Jim Friedman, he’s been researching Holly Branagan and the many strange occurrences around her death for 20 years.
In this episode we talk about strychnine, suspects and the Bethlehem PD. Note that while a grand jury was seated in 2011, no one has ever been charged with her murder. Law enforcement has never named a suspect in the crime.
In this episode we interview journalist Jim Friedman who grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
We talk about the suspicious death of Sean Branagan, as well as other suspicious deaths surrounding this case.
In March 1979 Holly Branagan was brutally murdered in her Bethlehem, Pennsylvania home. In September 1979 her brother was fatally injured in an explosion at his workplace. Are their deaths connected? Why wouldn’t Holly’s classmates cooperate with police? Could organized crime be responsible for Holly’s death?
