In the summer of 1992, 15 year old Akita Ervin lived in a mobile home in White Lake Township, Michigan with her mother and her mother’s live in boyfriend. While Akita had a history of running away, there was more to the story, and that became terrifyingly clear when her decomposed remains were discovered in late June.
If you have information on her death, please contact White Lake Township Police
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Tag Archives: #murder
120 William Bradford Bishop
This is a special LIVE episode recorded at the True Crime Podcast Festival in Chicago Illinois on Saturday July 13, 2019
Already Gone and Trace Evidence podcasts bring you the horrifying story of William Bradford Bishop
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117 Carmen van huss
In March of 1993 Carmen Van Huss invites an unknown male back to her studio apartment in Indianapolis, the two have a beer, share a meal and Carmen pays for this dinner with her life.
Her case is being actively investigated by Lt. Will Carter of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Carmen was 19 years old at the time of her murder.
Additional reading:
Indy Star
Justice for Carmen Van Huss (Facebook)
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115 The murder of Terry Sutter
Labor day weekend, 1973. Fifteen year old Terry Sutter sets out for a party, he’s last seen entering the woods near Frankfort, Michigan with a six pack of beer.
The next morning, his brutally beaten and partially dressed body will be found at the bottom of a bluff on the edge of Lake Michigan.
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113 The stuart Family Murders
On Valentine’s Day 2018 45 year old Lauren Stuart of Keego Harbor, Michigan set in motion a plan that would lead to the violent destruction of her entire family.
If you need help or support, please contact
http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or your local crisis center.
111 The Murder of Ally Brueger
On a Sunny day in July 2016, 31 year old Alexandra “Ally” Brueger was out for a 10 mile run in the community near the home she shared with her parents in Rose Township, Michigan. The quiet afternoon was shattered by four blasts from a shotgun, the last shot reaching it’s mark, striking Ally Brueger and ending her life. Her case remains unsolved. #Murder #Michigan #Unsolved #Shotgun
Come see me at the True Crime Podcast Festival in Chicago, 7-13-19
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108 The murder of Cynthia Miller
August, 1981 27-year-old Cynthia Jane Miller of Beckley West Virginia is shot to death in her home just hours before her wedding. Who murdered her? Why has the case gone unsolved for so long?
Her slaying wasn’t the only violent death in Beckley that year.
Raleigh County Magistrate Nancy Sparks McMillan was murdered in her home, just one block away from where Miller resided, in December, 1981.
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Nancy Starks McMillan was murdered in December 1981
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Additional Music provided by Argofox: DOCTOR VOX – Frontier https://youtu.be/lkY3Ek9VPtg
104 The Murder of Becky Stowe
In July of 1993 15 year old Becky Stowe disappeared from her friends house near Niles, Michigan. While law enforcement, her family and the community searched for her, a teenage boy, a “friend” of Becky’s, knew the truth.
103 Missing in Michigan – Bernice Gray
On the morning of December 26, 1991 Bernice Gray dropped her toddler daughter off at day care and headed for work. Gray didn’t arrive at work, and wouldn’t be seen again. Days later her bloodstained car was found abandoned in Detroit.
It would take a decade for the man responsible for her disappearance and murder to be brought to justice.
Additional reading:
99 The Many Crimes of Byron Hoffmeister
Much of my childhood was spent in and around the little town of Berkley, Michigan. My uncle was Berkley High School, class of ’65. One of his classmates was Byron Hoffmeister. I’d heard him mention Hoffmeister over the years, what a “bad guy” he was, but until I dug into this episode, I had no idea.
Join us as we explore the life and many crimes of Berkley’s own Byron Hoffmeister.
97 The murder of Gail and Ricky Brink
On Monday November 23, 1987 the bodies of Gail and Ricky Brink are discovered in their Holland Township (Michigan) home. Twenty two year old Gail and 29 year old Ricky were each shot multiple times, likely in the small hours of Sunday November 22.
It will take 25 years for their killer to be brought to justice.
This week’s promo from Pretend Radio
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Research and additional reading:
“A brutal execution” – MLive story
Witnesses describe Gail and Rick’s last day alive – Holland Sentinel
“We finally got him” says sister of Ryan Wyngarden – MLive story
96 The Death of Officer Martin Chivas
In April of 1974 two prisoners walked away from the Magnum Prison Farm near Marquette Michigan. They embarked on a 55 hour crime spree that involved kidnapping, robbery and murder. The spree culminated in the deaths of three people, including Troy Michigan Police Officer Martin “Marty” Chivas.
Episode includes an interview with Troy Mayor Dane Slater, who worked with Martin Chivas in 1974.
Troy Police Twitter Post with photo
Memorial Day story, Troy Remembers
Promos: Targeted Podcast, Crimesphere Podcast
95 The Paulson Family Murder
In March, 1982 someone entered the Paulson family home in a rural part of Allendale Township, Michigan. Using a .22 caliber weapon he shot and killed all five members of the family, then set the house on fire.
The killer, Maris Karklins, would not be captured until July 1982 when he fatally shot his mother in the Karlklins family home.
Andris Karklins, the younger brother of Maris was a talented guitarist who was on tour at the time of the slayings.
If you have questions about mental illness, or need support please contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Additional reading:
Allendale Murder suspect arraigned
Wright Township Slayings touch off memory of 1982 murders…
This week’s promo is from the Murder Road Trip Podcast.
Don’t talk to Strangers
Don’t talk to Strangers – The Oakland County Child Murders is a limited run podcast focused on eight child murders that took place in and around south Oakland County between January 1, 1976 and March 16, 1977. Four of these murders appear to be the work of an as yet unidentified serial killer known as the Oakland County Child Killer.
visit our website
94 Chelsea Small
On November 12, 2013 Chelsea Small was working at the Advance America store in Taylor, Michigan. During a robbery she was shot twice and her killer made off with $200 in cash. Despite video and images of the killer, he remains at large.
If you have information please contact Detective Jones at the Taylor Police Department 734-287-6550 or Crimestoppers at 1-800- SPEAK UP
Advance America is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of her killer.
This week’s promo from the 36 Times Podcast.
90 – Osco #404
On a sunny, summer Saturday in 1990 all hell broke lose inside the Osco Store in South Bend Indiana. The store was robbed, leaving three dead and a mystery that lasted more than a decade before former employee, Charles Allen, was put on trial.
Was Allen responsible for the horrific robbery/murder? Or did South Bend police develop tunnel vision? Families would wait more than 10 years for an arrest and trial.
Additional reading/Sources:
88 Barbara Blackstone
Content warning – murder, sexual assault, harm to animals.
In 1987 Barbara Blackstone was 30 years old, happily married and enjoying a successful career as a high school teacher. Someone snatched her from her home, murdered her and dumped her body in the woods. Also that summer, two other young women were murdered and left in the woods, 18 year old Angela Hackl and 29 year old Linda Nachreiner.
While arrests were made in Hackl and Nachreiner’s cases, no charges were ever brought forward in Blackstone’s case.
Enjoy a preview from the Yours in Murder podcast.
Special thanks to the Juneau Messenger.
Additional reading/research on the case
30 years later and the case is unsolved
Beyond the Mystery: Barbara Blackstone
The Unsolved murder of Barbara Blackstone – this link contains several photos
Kim S Brown – murderpedia
84 Rachel Timmerman
In 1847 Michigan became the first English speaking territory in the world to abolish the death penalty.
In 2002 Marvin Gabrion was sentenced to death for the murder of Rachel Timmerman in Newaygo County, Michigan.
This story starts in the early part of the 1800’s, visits Michigan’s last execution in 1938 and asks the heartbreaking question, where is Rachel Timmerman’s 11 month old daughter?
83 Eddie Hollman
The morning of May 3, 1992 Ted and Gina Hollman left their 21 year old son, Eddie Hollman, at the house while they attended Sunday services at Sacred Heart Church in Dearborn.
When they return, Gina discovers the body of her son on the floor in the basement. Who murdered Eddie Hollman and why? He had no enemies and no legal troubles.
If you have information about the murder of Eddie Hollman, please contact Detective Sergeant Pawlus of the Dearborn Heights Police Department at 313 277 6770
Special thanks to Roseanne of Killafornia Dreaming and Erica of Southern Fried True Crime.
79 Women’s True Crime Broadcast – Author Karen Dybis
As the year winds down we perk things up with a True Crime Broad Cast, interviewing Michigan author Karen Dybis about her new book: The Witch of Delray: Rose Veres & Detroit’s Infamous 1930s Murder Mystery.
We also talk history, landmarks and Detroit. I hope you’ll join us.
78 The murder of Renee Sweeney
Arrest made in the case!!
January 1998, Sudbury Ontario. 23 year old Renee Sweeney is working by herself at the Adults Only Video Store on Walford Road.
Around 11:15 a.m. a man enters the store and attacks Renee, stabbing her repeatedly. He flees the store and is never seen again.
In late 2016 Sudbury police submit his DNA to the Parabon Nanolabs so a “snapshot” of him can be created.
Join the Justice for Renee Sweeney group on Facebook.
77 The Pesce Family Murder
In December of 2002 Marco Pesce was a father of three children and the owner of Italia Jewelers in Livonia Michigan.
The night of December 21 two men attacked and robbed the family, leaving five dead and a community in terror.
76 The murder of Kelly Nolan
22 year old Kelly Nolan would disappear after a night out with friends in Madison, Wisconsin. Her remains would be discovered July 9 in a remote wooded area south of town.
Includes an interview with Joel DeSpain of the Madison Police department.
73 The murder of Carson McDowell
In 1977 Carson McDowell was a 43 year old married father of two. An executive at General Motors. A family man, friend and neighbor.
So why did he end up tortured and murdered by the side of the railroad tracks in Ferndale? Why was his case so hard to solve?
Twitter: @Alreadygonepod
71 Murder at Tody Lake
May, 1975, two cousins, Scott Hardy and Mark Mellendorf walk from Mellendorf’s home in Lapeer County Michigan to Tody Lake for some fishing.
When the boys don’t return home, their parents raise the alarm and searchers scour the woods for hours trying to find the young boys. The next morning, a tracking dog makes a horrific discovery on the southern end of the lake. Both boys are dead and there is a killer on the loose in this idyllic community.
Days later a second boy, Willie Walters, takes his fishing gear to Kearsley Creek, he too doesn’t return. His battered body is discovered the next morning.
These horrific crimes happened just a few miles north of the hunting grounds favored by the Oakland County Child Killer in 1976-1977.
69 The murder of Hillary Norskog
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.
Special thanks to Lanie of the True Crime Fan Club Podcast for her assistance with this episode. https://truecrimefanclub.com/
66 Murder at Eastern – The Death of Julia Niswender
In 2012, 23 year old Julia Niswender was chasing her dreams. A student at Eastern Michigan University, her goal was to work as a broadcast journalist.
One December evening, someone entered her off campus apartment and murdered her. Her death devastated her mother and twin sister, and the investigation into her murder would tear the family apart.
65 Murder at Yale – The death of Annie Le
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.
64 The death of Colleen Ritzer
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?
62 The Luigi’s Restaurant Rampage
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.
60 Vincent Chin revisited
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.
additional reading:
NY Times Opinion
58 The Penn State Shooting
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.
20 years later, HUB shooting still looms
Music courtesy of Luke Superior.
57 Colorado Hammer Murders
8-7-18 UPDATE – Aurora Police believe they have a suspect in this case! Denver Channel News
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
55 The murder of Oakey “Al” Kite
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.
The Michigan Murders
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
47 Keyes and Radtke
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
46 Women’s True Crime Broad Cast
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
Episode 45 The murder of Pauline Campbell
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.
A fascinating vintage crime in a college town.
Link to photo of Walter DeDula
Girls crowded the courthouse to see William R. Morey III at his trial.
42 The Good Hart Murders
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.
41 Lawrence DeLisle
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.