Break the Case

Genetic genealogy allows officers to compare DNA evidence with public genealogy databases, helping investigators build out family trees and identify relatives of potential suspects. When AMU investigator Jennifer Bucholtz learned that the Port Orchard Police Department was potentially using genetic genealogy to help identify Linda Malcom’s killer, she wanted to learn more about this investigative...

Port Orchard Detective Andee Walton updates AMU’s team on how evidence testing and investigative genetic genealogy may help identify Linda Malcom's killer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jen Bucholtz recently returned to Port Orchard, Washington to conduct additional on-the-ground investigation and meet with law enforcement officials.   In this episode, hear her observations about Linda’s house and neighborhood at night. Listeners will also hear from one of Linda’s best friends, Robin, as she recalls memories of her friend and her thoughts on the murder.  Jen and Ge...

Renowned cold case investigator Paul Holes, who is credited with identifying the Golden State Killer, met in-person with Jen to discuss Linda Malcom’s case. During his 30 years of investigative experience, Paul said he has never seen a case where the victim’s body wasn’t the point of origin in a case where a fire was set after the murder.   Paul and Jen discussed how that peculiar detail...

In this episode, hear clips of William Miller’s interview with police in November 2020, 16 years after Rebekah Gould’s murder.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Examining the various wounds Linda suffered in the minutes before her death provides insight about her killer. Hear from Bryan Byrd, medical expert, as he explains the significance of many of Linda’s stab wounds and what those indicate about the crime.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 30, 2023 marked the 15-year anniversary of Linda Malcom’s murder. AMU investigators Jennifer Bucholtz and George Jared traveled to Port Orchard to join four of Linda’s sisters, Cindy, Dianna, Rochell, and Sherry, to commemorate this solemn milestone.   During their trip, Jen and George arranged to meet with Port Orchard Police Department. Upon arrival, they were pleasantly surprise...

When a case goes unsolved for years, law enforcement agencies often reduce the investigative resources dedicated to it.   Even as evidence-testing technology has improved dramatically, the rate of unsolved murders continues to climb to crisis levels. With estimates of 280,000 unsolved homicides across the country, something must change systematically to force renewed investigative attent...

In episode 6, Jen and George consult two experts with backgrounds and experience in firefighting and arson investigation. Hear Jerry Bucholtz and Alan Haskins discuss their thoughts after examining photos of the crime scene. Both believe an accelerant was likely used to help increase the initial intensity of the fire and ultimately destroy as much of the residence as possible. Was the fire set to...

Identifying the style of knife used to stab Linda Malcom can provide clues about both the crime and the killer. Hear from knife expert, Jeff Schafer, about the type of knife he believes was used in this attack and why he thinks Linda likely had a weapon of her own. He also suspects the killer may have had martial arts training and yet was likely injured in this dynamic fight.  (Complete ...

In this episode, Jennifer Bucholtz discusses her on-the-ground investigation into the murder of Linda Malcom. Hear what Jen learned after meeting with the current coroner, detective from the Port Orchard Police Department, Linda’s former landlords, neighbors who witnessed the fire, bartenders at her favorite bars, and friends. (Complete  our survey  to tell us what you think about our ep...

In the third episode, Jen and George talk to two more of Linda’s sisters, Dianna and Rochell. Linda’s older sister, Dianna, shares memories of Linda through the years, including the time they roomed together, shortly before Linda entered the Navy. Dianna also recalls some of her last phone conversations and emails with Linda in the days leading up to the murder.   Listeners also hear from Lin...

The investigation is on. In this episode, learn what was happening in the days leading up to Linda Malcom’s murder including her plans to move the next day, a strange purchase in the hours before her murder, her last known whereabouts, and an out-of-character email she sent to all of her siblings just hours before she was murdered.  (Complete  our survey  to tell us what you think a...

AMU’s Cold Case Investigative Team received dozens of cases to consider for their next investigation. In this episode, hear the team’s initial conversations with the family of Linda Malcom as they consider taking on her unsolved murder. (Complete  our survey  to tell us what you think about our episodes!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 18 years, the family of Rebekah Gould got what many families of cold case victims never get: justice. On October 18, 2022, Break the Case investigators Jennifer Bucholtz and George Jared joined Rebekah’s father, Dr. Larry Gould, at the Izard County prison courthouse to face the man charged in Rebekah’s murder, William Miller. During the hearing, Miller pled guilty to first degree murder in e...

AMU’s Cold Case Team is back for Season 3! This season we’re investigating the murder of Linda Malcom, a Navy veteran who was killed in Port Orchard, WA in 2008. Follow me and my investigative partner, George Jared, and our team as we work to identify the person who stabbed Linda multiple times and then set her house on fire. Current updates are being posted in the Facebook group we created for Li...

Nearly six weeks after his suppression hearing, William Miller was back in court for his pre-trial hearing on October 3. In this episode, hear Jen Bucholtz’s conversation with crowd-sourcing team members, Karen Looney and Dianna Cox, about the one-day pre-trial hearing, which included showing autopsy and crime-scene photos. Learn what new information these never-before-seen photos revealed. ...

After months of delays, William Miller, who is charged with first degree murder in the death of Rebekah Gould, finally made an appearance in court for a suppression hearing which began on August 24 in Melbourne, Arkansas. Learn what was revealed in court including some of Miller's activities surrounding the days of the murder, new and previously undisclosed details about the murder, insight f...

Jen and George recount their most recent trip to Lubbock. Hear how they recreated parts of the homicide scene at the actual house where Debbie was killed and how that exercise changed their theory on how Debbie was killed. Also learn about an unexpected surveillance operation and hear about the team’s plans to start investigating a new cold case to be covered in Season 3.     ...

In November 2020, a man named William Miller was arrested in Oregon and extradited to Arkansas for the murder of Rebekah Gould. Miller is the cousin of Casey McCullough, Rebekah’s boyfriend whose family owned the trailer where she was murdered. While this is a big step towards justice for Rebekah, much remains unknown about the facts of the case and the evidence against her accused killer. In May...

In January 2019, Jennifer Bucholtz first reached out to George Jared to learn more about the unsolved murder of Rebekah Gould. In the seventh episode, hear segments from their very first conversation, which reveals their initial thoughts on the case and clues about the killer. Also hear segments from the first time Jen met with Rebekah’s father, Dr. Larry Gould; reflection from Tracy Jared, who he...

After 16 years as an unsolved cold case, an arrest was finally made in the murder of Rebekah Gould. In this episode, AMU criminal justice professor Jennifer Bucholtz and investigative reporter George Jared talk about the arrest of William Miller, the first cousin of Rebekah’s boyfriend. Hear how William connected with Jennifer and George through their investigative Facebook group and the tips they...

In the fifth episode, Jennifer Bucholtz shares her list of circumstantial evidence that she’s uncovered and who it points to as the most likely suspect. Learn about the establishment of a $25,000 reward fund and other developments–and roadblocks–in this case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What, specifically, caused Rebekah Gould’s death? In the fourth episode, Jennifer Bucholtz analyzes the findings detailed in Rebekah’s autopsy report to better understand the injuries she sustained. Learn how Jen sought the assistance of other professionals to recreate Rebekah’s injuries in order to determine how many times Rebekah was struck with a blunt object, the order in which those blows wer...

In this episode, AMU Criminal Justice professor Jennifer Bucholtz outlines a behavioral analysis profile of Rebekah Gould’s killer. Learn how the killer’s actions such as killing Rebekah while two dogs were likely in the house, cleaning up the murder scene, and removing her body from the primary crime scene, tells investigators about the type of person who committed this crime. Hosted on Acast. Se...