Morning Cup of Murder

December 5th: Katelin Akens Goes Missing (2015) When someone disappears without a trace, it’s hard to know what the circumstances are. Did they run off, did an accident happen, or were they killed? On December 5th 2015 a young woman went missing in case that, because the circumstances are unknown, remains a mystery. https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/katelin-michelle-akens, https://www.investigatio...

December 4th: John "Bruce" Childs Convicted (1979) Getting on the wrong side of a dangerous man can end up costing someone their lives. On December 4th 1979 a man was convicted for crimes he claimed responsibility for. A man who, years later, would take down 2 others along with him and make more shocking confessions that brought the whole case into question. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chil...

December 3rd: Jessica Gutierrez Born (1981) Persistence can make or break a cold case. On December 3rd 1981 a young girl was born who would only get a few short years on the planet before someone snatched her out of bed. A case that remained unsolved until her mother’s persistence led to an arrest. https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Jessica_Gutierrez, https://www.wistv.com/2022/03/31/jessic...

December 2nd: Sarah Stern Went Missing (2016) Sometimes the most obvious choice isn’t the right one. On December 2nd 2016 a young girl disappeared in a case that, as it turned out, was not what it seemed. https://theblast.com/123658/the-murder-of-sarah-stern/, https://abcnews.go.com/US/liam-mcatasney-sentenced-life-parole-murdering-friend-sarah/story?id=63869375, https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2022/0...

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December 1st: LaSalle Street Murders (1971) What happens when a case has too many suspects? On December 1st 1971 three men met their bloody end in a case that saw far too many individuals who might have wanted them dead. https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2021/12/01/lasalle-street-murders-indianapolis-indiana-impd-crime-homicide/6338186001/, https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2013/12/03/indiana-...

November 30th: Daniel James Holdom Sentenced(2018) Some crimes are so gruesome, the details are enough to make you sick. On November 30th 2018 a man was sentenced for crimes that, when made public, shocked everyone who read the horrific details. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Karlie_Pearce-Stevenson_and_Khandalyce_Pearce, https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7376939/daniel-holdom-karlie-khandal...

November 29th: Jason Derek Brown Kills (2004) How much are you willing to do to get your hands on money? For some, like the subject of today’s story, the answer is a lot more deadly than most. On November 29th 2004 a man shot and killed a stranger in order to grab a large sum of money. A man who has never been captured and remains missing even today. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Derek_Brown...

November 28th: Betsy Aardsma Killed (1969) College is a time of growth, independence, and change. It’s meant to be a beautiful time with memories that last forever and not one that leaves behind a body and fear. On November 28th 1968 a young woman with a wonderful life ahead of her was brutally killed on her college campus. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Betsy_Aardsma, https://www.nbcnews...

"This episode is a correction from a post on Oct 27th where Nov 27th and Oct 27 were mixed up." October 27th: Shauna Howe Killed (1992) There was a time where children felt safe walking on their own in their neighborhoods. It’s cases like the one we are talking about today that completely shattered that illusion. On October 27th 1992 a young girl was born who would be snatched off the sidewalk jus...

November 26th: Yara Gambirasio Killed (2010) Some cases twist and turn like a rollercoaster. Today’s story is one of those crazy rides. On November 26th 2010 a young girl disappeared in a case that saw a determined magistrate who was willing to go down any rabbit hole to find her killer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Yara_Gambirasio, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/08/-sp-the-...

November 25th: Kevin Madden and Timothy Ferriman Kill (2003) For some, their sibling is their hero. On November 25th 2003 a young boy who idolized his big brother was brutally attacked by the one person he thought the world of. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Johnathon_Robert_Madden, https://morbidology.com/killed-by-my-brother-johnathon-madden/, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nation...

November 24th: Glen Sabre Valance Dies (1964) Sometimes anger is the only motivation someone needs to take a human life. On November 24th 1964 an angry young man set out to get his revenge on the man who, he believed, was ruining his life. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Sabre_Valance, https://murderpedia.org/male. V/v/valance-glen-sabre.htm, https://www.executedtoday.com/2014/11/24/1964-glen-s...

November 23rd: John Eric Armstrong Born (1973) Unassuming doesn’t always mean safe. On November 23rd 1975 a man was born who would spend his life described as unassuming and forgettable. A man who used that to his advantage and may have taken the lives of as many as 30 young women. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Eric_Armstrong, https://murderpedia.org/male. A/a/armstrong-john.htm, http://maamo...

November 22nd: Stephanie Bruner Killed (2010) Marriages can be tricky and, in some cases, even deadly. On November 22nd 2010 a woman went missing in a case that saw both her husband, and her lover, as a potential suspect. https://www.oxygen.com/killer-affair/crime-time/stephanie-roller-bruner-affair-murder-icy-lake-ronald-holtaus, https://www.summitdaily.com/news/attorney-claims-dale-bruner-confes...

November 21st: Al Bummy Davis killed (1945) We often tell stories of carefully crafted crimes or serial killings that take up years. But some crimes, like the one we are talking about today, are quick and brutal but still just as senseless. On November 21st 1945 a man was killed in a random act of violence in a place he was getting ready to leave forever. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Davis_(bo...

November 20th: Sage Smith Last Seen (2012) Missing persons cases always leave us with more questions than answers. On November 20th 2012 a young girl whose life was heading in the right direction went out for a date and never returned. Her case, with differing information and lack of media posts, seems to have far more questions than answers. https://www.cbs19news.com/story/45250569/police-still-l...

November 19th: John Straffen Dies (2007) Understanding how mental deficiencies affect crime and, more importantly, punishment, can be difficult even for experts.  On November 19th 2007 the oldest serving prisoner in British history, at that time, died behind bars in a case that saw many, many people arguing his mental capacity to understand right from wrong. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stra...

November 18th: Elfriede Blauensteiner Dies (2003) For some, money is more important than a human life. On November 18th 2003 a woman passed away while in prison serving time for a crime that saw money as her main motive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elfriede_Blauensteiner, https://murderpedia.org/female. B/b/blauensteiner.htm, https://hellhorror.com/serial-killers/elfriede-blauensteiner-serial-ki...

November 17th: Last of the Paraquat Murders (1985) Random acts of violence can be more difficult cases to solve. On November 17th 1985 the last of what would be 11 victims took a deadly drink in a series of random poisonings that remains unsolved to this day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraquat_murders, https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/10/world/japanese-puzzle-the-vending-machine-murders.html, h...

November 16th: Leonard J. Young's First Victim (1999) Sometimes it takes a lot of work to connect seemingly unrelated crimes. On November 16th 1999 a man took his first victim in a crime spree that spanned multiple states and involved multiple jurisdictions. https://murderpedia.org/male. Y/y/young-leonard.htm, https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/crime/death-sentence-changed-to-life-in-prison...

November 15th: Sarah MacDiarmid Born (1966) It seems impossible for a person to vanish without a trace but we hear about it more often than we’d like to admit. On November 15th 1966 a young woman was born who would simply disappear and leave nothing behind but a bloodstain and a lighter. A woman whose case, unfortunately, remains unsolved. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Sarah_MacDi...

November 14th: Tara Grinstead Born(1974) Can an entire case hinge on a confession? On November 14th 1974 a woman was born who would disappear in a case that took decades to get answers. A case that hinged on a confession that the alleged killer claimed was no longer true. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Grinstead_murder_case, https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/ryan-duke-sentenced-maximum-conceali...

November 13th: Hubert Geralds Jr. Born (1964) Sometimes science can get things wrong and have devastating consequences. Other times, the new discovery does little to minimize the gruesome deeds of a cold blooded killer. On November 13th 1964 a man was born who would go on to take the lives of local sex workers in his neighborhood. A man who, according to science, may have killed one less victim bu...

November 12th: Christine Sheddy Killed (2007) Sometimes a crime gets solved in an unlikely manner. On November 12th 2007 a young woman, later thought to have run off and abandoned her children, was killed. Her case, one that took years to solve, was finally brought to an end by one of the guilty. https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2015/03/13/sheddy-suspect-guilty/70268776/, http...