The Deck

Our card this week is Aaron "Peanut" Lamont Smalls, the Ace of Spades from Virginia.  Aaron Lamont Smalls, also known as Peanut, was only 25 years old when his body was found in York County, Virginia, in 2001. In the search for his killer, investigators uncovered several key pieces of evidence and received a mountain of tips. But despite their efforts, the case slowly turned cold.    Now, 20 years...

Our card this week is Keryu Lolo, the Queen of Hearts from Colorado.  Keyru was a kindhearted, family-oriented 24-year-old who was visiting relatives in Denver, Colorado, when he was brutally gunned down for seemingly no reason. For more than a decade, Keyru’s friends and family have waited in agony for the monster who snuffed out his bright light to be brought to justice.   If you have informatio...

Our card this week is James Walker III, the King of Clubs from Kansas.  When James Walker III is shot to death at a house party in 2017, investigators kicked off a search for the people responsible. But despite a large number of witnesses, no one would talk and with a lack of physical evidence the case quickly hit a dead end.    If you have any information about the murder of James Walker III, ple...

Our card this week is Sherry Black, the 9 of Hearts from Utah. After Sherry Black’s vicious murder, police had her killer’s DNA, but no suspects or motive. It would take nearly a decade – and a dogged investigator – to crack this unsolved case. GEDmatch DNA Upload Instructions To learn more about the Sherry Black Foundation, visit  sherryblackfoundation.org   To learn more about The Deck, visit ww...

Our card this week is Sherry Black, the 9 of Hearts from Utah.  In November of 2010, the community of South Salt Lake was shocked by the vicious murder of Sherry Black, a beloved great-grandmother. Investigators chased leads and interviewed suspects, utilizing every resource at their disposal to learn who could have committed such a brutal crime – and why. But those answers...and justice...would r...

Our card this week is Deana Patnode, the 4 of Diamonds from Minnesota.  In 1982, Deana Patnode, a vibrant 23-year-old, disappeared from a Minnesota bar without a trace. Decades later, a deck of cold case playing cards would ultimately lead to some closure in her case — but leave everyone with far more questions than answers.  If you know anything about the murder of Deana Patnode, or if you rememb...

Our card this week is Joseph Pellicci, the Jack of Hearts from Connecticut.  Joseph Pellicci was a father of three and a successful restaurateur when he was abducted and shot to death in 1973. Everyone in Stamford, Connecticut seems to know who’s responsible. The real mystery is...why hasn’t anyone ever been charged with his murder?  Anyone with information about Joseph Pellicci’s murder is encour...

Our card this week is Cassandra Jones, the Queen of Clubs from Kansas.  In December 1998, 20-year-old Cassandra disappeared from Wichita, Kansas, only for her body to be found months later on the side of a dirt road in rural Sedgwick County. For more than 20 years, investigators have struggled to make movement in the case, as the one person they think has the answers refuses to cooperate.  If you...

Our card this week is Desiree Michaud, the Queen of Clubs from Connecticut.  In 1984, 18-year-old Desiree Michaud was violently killed in a motel room in southeastern Connecticut. For nearly 40 years, her murder has haunted the community and stumped investigators as they’ve chased down every promising lead that’s come knocking on their door but have yet to find the answers they need to crack the c...

Our card this week is Kyle Byrtus, the 8 of Hearts from Florida.  In 2013, 25-year-old Kyle Byrtus was found murdered on the side of the road. For the past nearly ten years, his mother has spent her days fighting for justice — and recently, she learned that justice may not be as far out of reach as once thought.  If you know anything about the murder of Kyle Byrtus in 2013, please reach out to Sou...

In the 18 years since Oakey “Al” Kite was found brutally murdered in his home, investigators have tried to track down a mystery man who they believed was responsible. But they were left stumped at every turn. Now with new technology available, investigators are hopeful they might finally find this cold-blooded killer. If you know any information about the murder if Oakey “Al” Kite please contact D...

Our card this week is Oakey “Al” Kite, the 9 of Hearts from Colorado. When Oakey “Al” Kite is brutally murdered in his own home in the spring of 2004, investigators rushed to find his killer. But when they finally identified a suspect, he seemed to vanish without a trace. If you know any information about the murder if Oakey “Al” Kite please contact Detective McDonald at the Aurora Police Departme...

Our card this week is Jennifer Wilson, the 9 of Diamonds from Kansas.  In 2002, 29-year-old Jennifer vanished without a trace after getting into a heated argument with her live-in girlfriend. For nearly two decades, Jennifer’s disappearance has puzzled investigators, because even though they think they know who’s responsible, they’ve struggled to come up with answers to the two remaining questions...

Our card this week is Timothy Blair, the 5 of Clubs from Kentucky. When 19-year-old Timothy Blair’s body was found on the side of road in 2005, investigators launched into action to find his killer, but their investigation quickly turned cold despite the discovery of DNA evidence and the cooperation of his family. Seventeen years later, Timothy’s mother persists in her search for justice despite t...

Our card this week is Willie Troy Price Sr., the King of Diamonds from South Carolina.  One winter evening in 2017, 53-year-old Willie Troy Price Sr. was minding his own business inside his South Carolina home when suddenly a group of cowards shot into the house then fled without a trace. Willie’s senseless death has puzzled investigators for years as they’ve struggled to find anyone who might’ve...

Our card this week is Jermaine Johnson, the 2 of Spades from Arizona.  In 2006, central Phoenix was shaken after a beloved member of the community was killed while he was minding his own business, hanging out with his friends. For 16 years, Phoenix police have attempted to hunt down the killers, only to hit dead ends at every turn. But they have far from given up hope because they know there are p...

Our card this week is Maggie Long, the 4 of Spades from Colorado.  In 2017, 17-year-old Maggie Long went missing in rural Park County, Colorado, only to be found hours later as the victim of the most brutal murder the area had ever seen. For the past five years, Maggie’s horrific murder has weighed on law enforcement in the small community as they’ve struggled to get any answers to the nagging que...

Our card this week is Catherine Sjoberg, the 8 of Hearts from Wisconsin.  In June 1974, 17-year-old Catherine Sjoberg was enjoying all the festivities of prom night when a heated argument with her boyfriend at the post-prom dance sent her storming off into the cool summer night, never to be seen or heard from again. For nearly 50 years, law enforcement in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, have been hau...

Our card this week is Donna Ingersoll, the 10 of Clubs from Minnesota.  On a snowy December night in 1990, 25-year-old Donna Ingersoll stormed outside and disappeared into the night after a heated argument with her boyfriend, leaving behind several important belongings and a twisted web of mysteries investigators have spent decades trying to untangle. For more than 30 years, Donna’s disappearance...

Our card this week is Dale Williams, the Jack of Hearts from Colorado. In the spring of 1999, 42-year-old Dale Williams seemed to vanish into thin air inspiring an investigation that would span four law enforcement agencies and more than 20 years. To this day, there’s been no sign of the devoted father and husband, who left behind a legacy of kindness in his tight-knit small town in Colorado, and...

Our card this week is Kellie Poppleton, the 9 of Hearts from California.  Fourteen-year-old Kellie Poppleton was brutally assaulted and murdered on December 2, 1983, and for almost 40 years, calls for justice have gone unanswered. But now, with advancements in DNA forensics, detectives are more hopeful than ever that they might be able to find their killer. They hope that the renewed interest in t...

Our card this week is Viola Pendergrass, a Wild Card from North Carolina.  In the early morning hours of February 7, 1992, a 79-year-old woman was brutally murdered in the Charlotte, North Carolina, apartment where she’d lived for two decades. Viola Pendergrass — who neighbors called “ma” and was revered as the matriarch of her own sprawling family — was found stabbed to death in her bedroom. Her...

Our card this week is Rachel Hurley, the 9 of Hearts from Florida.  Rachel Hurley, a whip-smart eighth grader on the verge of young-adulthood, spent the afternoon of St. Patrick’s Day 1990 out on a boat with friends. She was last seen headed down the beach on her way to meet her mother at a pick-up spot ... but she never made it. That evening, following a frantic search, her body was found in a ne...

Our card this week is Joyce "Tine" Gallegos, the 7 of Spades from Utah and Gabrielle DiStefano, the 4 of Spades fom Utah.  Joyce “Tina” Gallegos is believed to have been murdered sometime around August 11, 1982. Ten days after being reported missing on August 11, a fisherman spotted her body on a sandbar in Utah’s Ogden River. A month after Tina’s body was found, a construction worker just outside...

Our card this week is Valincio Hill, the Ace of Hearts from Kansas.   On September 13, 2020, 17-year-old high school basketball star Valincio Hill was gunned down while standing on his own front porch in Wichita, Kansas, while hanging out with his family. For the past two years, Valincio’s murder has haunted the community of Wichita as police try to get answers from one of the only people who may...