Murder Files Unsealed

The article reports on the homicide investigation of 14-year-old Emily Pike, whose remains were discovered in Arizona after she was reported missing from a Mesa group home. Authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding her death, which involved severe trauma and the dismemberment of her body. Pike's mother remembers her as a kind and artistic person and is seeking answers abou...

Serenity Dennard, a 9-year-old with emotional and behavioral issues, disappeared from the Black Hills Children's Home in South Dakota in February 2019. She had a history of running away and was placed at the home for treatment. Following a disturbance, Serenity escaped, prompting a large-scale search that yielded no results.  The facility faced criticism for delays in contacting law enforcement an...

Evelyn Boswell, a 15-month-old, disappeared in late 2019, sparking a frantic search and investigation. Her young mother, Megan Boswell, gave conflicting accounts to authorities and the media, leading to suspicion and eventual charges. The child's remains were discovered on family property in March 2020, confirming the tragic outcome. Megan Boswell's trial began in February 2025, with key evidence...

Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie embarked on a cross-country van trip in 2021, documenting their journey on social media. The trip took a tragic turn when Petito disappeared, sparking a nationwide search. Petito's body was eventually found in Grand Teton National Park, and her death was ruled a homicide by strangulation. The documentary series, American Murder: Gabby Petito, explores the events lea...

Detectives obtained phone records of the victims and learned that their phones stopped transmitting or receiving data on 6-9-20 at approximately 1908 hrs (7:08 pm). One of the last calls from the victim’s phone was to DUDLEY at 1901 hrs and that call pinged off a cell tower within a mile of 16466 Ambaum Blvd. Detectives learned from witnesses that DUDLEY had been renting a room to the victims but...

Ashley Jones and her mother, Marsha Allen, are implicated in the death of Marsha's husband, Harold Allen. The investigation into Harold's death revealed a series of poisoning attempts using various substances, including pong pong seeds and water hemlock, planned and executed by Ashley and Marsha. Marsha later died by suicide, and Ashley was subsequently arrested and charged with murder and related...

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office revealed new details on how they found the body of Tshey Bennett, the missing woman found dead in a Birdville pond, and were able to identify her suspected killer. Authorities said they found the body of Bennett in a retention pond in Birdville on Wednesday, Dec 18, and arrested Willie Ellington, an active duty marine at NAS Pensacola, in Opelika later that eve...

Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in New York City on December 4, 2024. The assailant, later identified as Luigi Mangione, had a history of chronic pain and was apprehended in Pennsylvania with evidence linking him to the crime. Mangione's background includes a privileged upbringing and an engineering education, contrasting with the alleged motive connected to corporate...

Karen Liner, a Tennessee realtor, was murdered by her ex-husband, Charlton Craig Liner. The article recounts Karen's background as a compassionate nurse turned real estate agent, highlighting her community involvement. The events leading to her death include a 911 call where she pleaded with Craig to stop, followed by gunshots. He was later apprehended after a neighbor provided evidence and confes...

Cayley Mandadi's 2017 death was initially ruled a homicide, with her boyfriend, Mark Howerton, charged with murder and aggravated sexual assault. A first trial resulted in a mistrial due to a jury unable to reach a unanimous verdict, largely impacted by conflicting expert testimony regarding the cause of Mandadi's injuries. Subsequent investigation by Mandadi's parents yielded crucial evidence, le...

Six-year-old Chance Smith's unsolved 2003 murder in Locust, North Carolina is the focus of this report. The article details the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death, including his discovery in a field with a head injury. Despite the ruling of homicide, key questions remain unanswered, such as the identity of the perpetrator and the exact location of the crime. The investigation, t...

Two young women, Leslie Mazzara and Adriane Insogna, were murdered in their Napa Valley home on Halloween night, 2004. A surviving roommate's testimony, along with forensic evidence like cigarette butts and blood, led to a lengthy investigation. The case eventually culminated in the arrest and conviction of Eric Copple, a friend of one of the victims, who pleaded guilty to the murders and received...

The episode details the abduction and murder of 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe in 2003, focusing on the extensive police investigation and subsequent trial of Brett Peter Cowan. Cowan's confession, obtained through a "Mr. Big" operation, led to his conviction. The case highlights the devastating impact on the Morcombe family and their subsequent advocacy for child safety through the Daniel Morcombe F...

Joan Risch's 1961 disappearance from her Massachusetts home remains a mystery. Evidence suggests a staged crime scene, including blood smeared around the house and a missing phone, yet her body was never found. Numerous conflicting witness accounts and the discovery of Joan's extensive true-crime reading list further complicate the case. Theories range from a planned escape mirroring a book she'd...

Netflix's The Breakthrough is a dramatized miniseries based on the true story of a 2004 double murder in Sweden. The series follows the sixteen-year investigation, highlighting the crucial role of forensic genealogy in finally identifying the killer, Daniel Nyqvist. While inspired by real events, the show fictionalizes some aspects of the case, including character names and certain plot details, f...

Margaret Kay-Alana Turner, a musician with a history of mental health issues, disappeared on March 10, 2023, after a series of erratic events stemming from a recent medication change. Her unusual behavior, including driving aimlessly and knocking on strangers' doors, led to a police chase and felony charges, initially hindering the search efforts. Despite these charges, she remains missing, and he...

Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, two Dutch women, vanished in Panama in 2014 during a hiking trip. Their belongings, including a backpack with their cameras and phones, were discovered weeks later, revealing unusual photographic evidence taken in the dark and a series of failed emergency calls. The subsequent discovery of skeletal remains confirmed their deaths, but the exact circumstances surround...

Ivan Milat, Australia's notorious serial killer, died at age 74. His conviction in 1996 for the murders of seven backpackers in Belanglo State Forest, a case that captivated international attention, is highlighted. However, his death leaves several other unsolved disappearances and potential crimes unresolved, including suspicions of involvement in the disappearance of three women near Newcastle....

Christa Gilley a successful physical therapist and mother of two, was murdered in October 2024. Her husband, Lee Gilley, is charged with capital murder, with the prosecution alleging strangulation. Lee's online activity revealed a concerning fixation on traditional gender roles and distrust of women in the workplace, preceding the murder. The investigation determined Christa's death was a homicide...

This episode recounts the timeline of events surrounding the disappearance and death of Michael Shaver. The narrative details his troubled marriage to Laurie Shaver, marked by domestic violence accusations and a contentious separation. It follows the progression of the investigation into Michael's disappearance, beginning with a missing person report and culminating in the discovery of his remains...

Mike Williams 2000 disappearance in Florida was initially believed to be an accidental drowning during a duck hunting trip. His remains weren't discovered until 2017, leading to the arrest and conviction of his wife, Denise Williams, for his murder. The investigation was initially hampered by a lack of evidence and conflicting accounts, including the possibility of an alligator attack. However, a...

John Poulos, a 35-year-old American man, is the prime suspect in the murder of his Colombian girlfriend, Valentina Trespalacios. Evidence suggests a history of domestic violence and jealousy leading up to the murder, including Poulos hiring a private investigator to follow Trespalacios. Poulos was apprehended in Panama attempting to flee to Turkey, and Trespalacios's body was found in a suitcase....

Karen Read is accused of manslaughter in the death of her boyfriend, John O'Keefe. The prosecution's case relies on a timeline showing Read's heavy drinking and erratic behavior the night O'Keefe died, along with physical evidence linking her car to the scene. However, the defense argues that new evidence, including a Google search on a witness's phone suggesting foul play by others, points to a d...

Missy Bevers, a fitness instructor, was murdered in 2016 at a church in Midlothian, Texas, before her early morning boot camp class. Surveillance footage shows a suspect in tactical gear entering the church. The investigation, involving local, state, and federal agencies, explored various leads, including those related to Missy's personal life and the alibis of those close to her. Despite a substa...

Brian Cohee II, a 19-year-old Colorado man with a history of mental health issues, was found guilty of the first-degree murder and dismemberment of 69-year-old homeless man Warren Barnes. The trial explored Cohee's mental state, with conflicting expert testimony on whether he could distinguish right from wrong. Despite his defense's arguments of insanity, the jury found him guilty. Cohee's motive...