On August 16, 1987 Northwest Airlines Flight 255, traveling from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Phoenix Arizona crashed 14 seconds after take off.
At the time of the accident, it was the second deadliest crash in US aviation history. Here is the story of the flight, her passengers and why this tragedy was avoidable.
aftermathFour year old Cecilia Cichan would survive the crash, but her parents and brother were not as fortunate.
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.
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.
Bernice Gray was last seen on December 26, 1991 in St. Clair Shores, Michigan.
It would take a decade for the man responsible for her disappearance and murder to be brought to justice.
On a warm August night in 2010, 15 year old Carlee Jade Morse of Westland stepped out of her apartment to speak with a friend. She would never be seen alive again.
Justin Yoshikawa and Nick Cottrell are currently in prison for her murder, but no sign of the missing teenager has ever been found.
Carlee Morse, just weeks before she vanished.
Special thanks to Westland Police for their assistance in creating this episode. If you have information as to the whereabouts of Carlee Morse’s body, please contact them at 734-722-9600
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.
yearbook photo of Hoffmeister
The 1968 plea deal that allowed Hoffmeister to be out on the streets by 1971
Labor Day weekend of 1979, the body of Monica Hockey is discovered by the side of the road in Clarkston, Michigan. She’s been beaten, stabbed and her killers attempted to break both of her legs.
A murder so disturbing, so violent, that prosecutors lobby for the return of the death penalty.
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.
Ricky and Gail in 1987
It will take 25 years for their killer to be brought to justice.
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.
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.
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.
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.
30 year old Chelsea Small left behind two children.
On June 8, 2012 Lisa Marie Knight met up with her former husband, Lloyd Frey, they had plans to visit their youngest child.
The visit never happened. Lisa made a 10:30p phone call to a friend, and then she vanished.
Lisa Knight, 2012 – note the chest tattoo.
Det/Sgt Harshberger of the Michigan State Police is in charge of Lisa’s case and he’s determined to locate Lisa and bring those responsible for her disappearance to justice.
If you have any information on Lisa’s disappearance you’re asked to call Michigan State Police Alpena Post at 989-354-4101.
In 1971 Ralph Dean Templeton, known as “Dean” decided to leave his life in Flint, Michigan behind. He set out on a cross country journey in his unsuccessful bid to become the 38th president of the United States.
The candidate in 1972
In January of 1975 Templeton was murdered, shot and left on the side of the road in rural Washington.
Templeton’s grave marker is all that remains from his efforts.
In this bonus “mini-sode” we discuss the dig for the bodies of up to seven women happening in northern Macomb County. The life and crimes of convicted murderer Arthur Ream, touch on the Oakland County Child Killer and review the cases of missing women from the metro area that could be uncovered in the search.
