n 2003, Florence Unger was a wife and mother, with two beautiful sons living in a nice part of suburban Detroit. If you looked a little closer you could see cracks in the foundation of the family, her husband’s addiction issues, her struggle to provide for the boys and keep the family together.
Just weeks after she filed for divorce, Florence was dead, her body floating in the water, yards from the up north cottage she was staying in with her husband and children.
#Michigan #Murder #Benzie #UpNorth
This episode written by Brittany Martinez. Audio editing by Gray Multimedia.
E’twan Wilson survived his encounter with Abuelazam, but has many scars to show for it.
19 year old Davon Rawls survived an attack by Abuelazam,
In the summer of 2010 the community of Flint, Michigan was stalked by a knife wielding man who focused his murderous rage primarily on Black men in the community. When he was taken in to custody, he left more than a dozen gravely injured men and five deaths in his wake.
This episode explores the life and many crimes of serial killer Elias Abuelazam.
Abuelazam in a mugshot from Virginia, August 2010.
In 1981 23 year old Gretchen was a senior at Arizona State University. White, originally from Livonia MI loved the warmth and sunshine of Tempe.
On a March evening, someone broke into her garden level apartment and led her away. Her remains were found in the parking lot of a local high school. It would take decades to bring her killer to justice. LISTEN NOW
One of the many MDOC images of Leslie Allen Willams.
In the early 1990’s a monster was hunting the women and girls of Oakland County. That monster was serial killer Leslie Allen Williams. This is his story – LISTEN NOW
February 2010, newlyweds John and Carolyn Tarwacki don’t show up to work, no calls, nothing. When John’s dad stops by their home in Niles, Michigan to check on them, he comes across a bloody and chaotic scene. Who would want them dead? What motive was there to kill the music loving pair?
at their “lucky day” wedding 07-07-07
The case took years to solve, but the work of a dedicated investigator and a prosecutor who didn’t give up finally brought their killer to justice.
#Michigan #Niles #ColdCase
Please check out our sponsor – Better Help. Visit Betterhelp.com/gone and use code GONE at check out for a special discount on your first month.
On November 10, 1975 one of the best known maritime tragedies in modern history occurred on Lake Superior when the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a strong storm. Because I (Nina) have such an emotional reaction to this story, this week’s episode was written by Gemma Harris, audio editing by Chaesare Gray.
This incident was immortalized in song, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald was written, composed and performed by Gordon Lightfoot, who is out on tour again this year.
The wreck is also taught in some grade school Michigan history classes.
LISTEN NOW
While the podcast gives a history of the ship and details of her last days, there is far more to the lives and stories of these fathers, sons, brothers, husbands and their families. If you’d like to know more, I encourage you to explore the individual stories of the Fitzgerald’s crew as follows:
37 year old Michael Armagost,
the third mate from Iron River, Wisconsin
56 year old Frederick Beetcher,
a porter from Superior, Wisconsin
23 year old Thomas Bentsen, an
oiler from St Joseph, Michigan
47 year old Edward Bindon, a
first assistant engineer from Fairport Harbour, Ohio
40 year old Thomas Borgeson, a
maintenance worker from Duluth, Minnesota
41 year old Oliver Champeau, a
third assistant engineer from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
55 year old Nolan Church, a
porter from Silver Bay, Minnesota
53 year old Ransom Cundy, a
watchman from Superior, Wisconsin
50 year old Thomas Edwards, a
second assistant engineer from Oregon, Ohio
40 year old Russell Haskell, a
second assistant engineer from Millbury, Ohio
60 year old George Holl, a
chief engineer from Cabot, Pennsylvania
22 year old Bruce Hudson, a
deck hand from North Olmsted, Ohio
43 year old Allen Kalmon, a
cook from Washburn, Wisconsin
30 year old Gordon MacLellan, a
wiper from Clearwater, Florida
59 year old Joseph Mazes, a
maintenance worker from Ashland, Wisconsin
62 year old John ‘Jack’
McCarthy, the first mate from Bay Village, Ohio
63 year old captain Ernest
McSorley, from Toledo, Ohio
50 year old Eugene O’Brien, a
wheelsman from Toledo, Ohio
20 year old Karl Peckol, a
watchman from Ashtabula, Ohio
59 year old John Poviach, a
wheelsman from Bradenton, Florida
44 year old James Pratt, the
second mate from Lakewood, Ohio
62 year old Robert Rafferty, a
steward and cook from Toledo, Ohio
22 year old Paul Riippa, a deck
hand from Ashtabula, Ohio
62 year old John Simmons, a
wheelsman from Ashland, Wisconsin
59 year old William Spengler, a
watchman from Toledo, Ohio
21 year old Mark Thomas, a deck
hand from Richmond Heights, Ohio
58 year old Ralph Walton, an
oiler from Fremont, Ohio
22 year old David Weiss, a
cadet from Agoura, California
52 year old Blaine Wilhem, an
oiler from Moquah, Wisconsin
Resource list –
ARTICLES
Hultquist, T., Dutter, M. & Schweb, D. (2006). Re-examination of the 9-10 November 1975 ‘Edmund Fitzgerald’ Storm Using Today’s Technology. American Meteorological Society.
Rice, D. 10 Nov 2015. ‘40 years ago, the ‘Witch of November’ sank the Edmund Fitzgerald’. USA Today.
McLeod, J. ‘Beware of the “November Witch!” Farmers Almanac.
BOOKS
Brissette, J. & Newton-Matza, M. (2014). Disasters & Tragic Events, by M. Newton-Matza, (ed). ABC-CLIO.
In January of 2012, Grosse Pointe Park resident Jane Bashara was found dead in her Mercedes SUV, the vehicle abandoned in a Detroit alley miles from her home.
The first week of October, 1981, Aida Marie Calfee was traveling with her boyfriend and coworker, James Pruitt. Pruitt would tell authorities that they argued and she left his car, announcing she would “hitch a ride” back to her home.
Calfee would never be seen again. Oddly enough, her disappearance happened days before she was set to testify against Pruitt for a July 12, 1981 assault against her.
Terrifying and prolific are two words used to describe American Serial Killer Coral Eugene Watts. Join us as we explore his life and many crimes.
This week’s episode sponsored by Better Help. Visit Betterhelp.com/gone and use code GONE at check out for a discount on your first month.
If you are looking to expand your podcast queue, check out True Crime Island. Grab a beer, pull up a deck chair and listen to True Crime Island on your favorite podcatcher.
This episode looks at the 1982 murder of Cathleen Schlosser Krauseneck, a Mt Clemens native (and graduate of Mt Clemens HS, class of 1970) in Brighton, NY. In November of 2019, her husband, James Krauseneck Jr was arrested and charged in her death.
We also explore the as yet unsolved February 1991 murder of Jill Holzbach in the parking lot of the Jackson Ohio police department.
Both of these women were 29 years old at the time of their deaths. Each had one child, a daughter, and in each case, the husband was the prime suspect, although, in the murder of Jill Holzbach, there is more to consider.
August 1994, Piqua Ohio. 18 year old Shaylene Farrell invites her siblings to come to the store with her for a quick errand. They decline so she heads out on her own, a trip from which she will never return. While there are a pair of suspects in her disappearance and presumed murder, no one was ever named publicly. In 25 years of searching and investigation, police have yet to make an arrest in her case.
Shaylene Farrell, forever 18 years old.
If you have information on the disappearance of Shaylene Farrell, please contact Piqua police. 937-778-2027
Also mentioned this episode, the unresolved disappearance of 26 year old George Gall. The unexplained death of Paul Barrett.
In this week’s episode we feature the work of Private Investigations for the Missing. An organization founded by Bruce Maitland, his daughter, Brianna, vanished in 2004.
34 year old Tonia Stiles (also known as Renee Whitehill) was last seen in Grass Lake Michigan (near Jackson) on November 10, 2010.
Tonia had struggled with alcohol addiction in the past, but in late 2010, she was sober and getting her life in order. Tonia was a mother of two young children from her first marriage
At the time of her disappearance, Tonia was sharing a home with her boyfriend, Scott S Cassidy and a roommate.
The room mate told police that Scott and Tonia were arguing about finances the day she went missing.
On November 24, 2010, police arrested Scott Cassidy for auto theft. Because he had a record, including drug offenses and home invasion, he was jailed. On December 3, 2010, Cassidy died by suicide.
At the time of her disappearance, Tonia was about 5’5 with long brown hair, blue eyes and an average build.
This is another Missing in Michigan episode, covering two cases that need more attention, but lack information to make them appropriate for a stand alone episode.
This young woman introduced herself as “Bill” less than 24 hours before she died in a Highland Park home.
Tammy Sue Clements is missing, details in her case are hard to find.
We’re talking about the unidentified person known only as “Bill” who was found in Highland Park in March of 1976, and the unresolved disappearance of Tammy Sue Clements who vanished from….Michigan, or maybe Nebraska, or possibly California in 1980. Or was it 1981? 1982? We simply don’t know, but we’d like to find out! #MISSING #DOE #UNRESOLVED #DETROIT #MICHIGAN #NEBRASKA #UNIDENTIFIED #DNA
