Thumbing Through the Archives

As Sharee Miller's case headed to trial in 2000, the internet evidence slated to be used against her was also on trial as the prosecution and defense fought it out. When the case began in December 2000, Sharee had found a lawyer who was ready to try and keep up with her story to keep her out of jail, and another lawyer willing to keep up with the story to try and put her away. Still, it would take...

(This episode contains description and discussion of suicide. Listener discretion is advised.) While the Genesee County Sheriff's Office investigated a seemingly stronger suspect following Bruce Miller's murder on November 8, 1999 , cracks began to show between the two lovers turned co-conspirators as Sharee Miller began to pull away and Jerry Cassaday began to question Sharee's many claims and th...

Jerry Lee Cassaday was at an odd time of his life when he struck up a conversation with Sharee Miller in the spring of 1999, and he had no idea his life was going to take a turn for the dangerous as the Flint woman told him lies and cast a spell. That spell would culminate in a November tragedy, and no one except for them would know the truth behind the tragedy until months later. (Part Two of Fou...

The story of Sharee Miller and her crime has been told many times before, most notably through a TV movie based on the book written about the case, but the reason why it’s so oft-told is because it has a few distinctions-- it made history for all of the wrong reasons, and it only truly finished up about ten years ago now. This week on Thumbing Through the Archives, we take a look at the background...

It's late November 1925, and the bank in St. Clair County's village of Jeddo just shut it doors for good as its only bank clerk, Squire Langs,  disappears with the bank's cash in hand. Where did the respectable man go, and why did he take the bank down with him when he left?

This week, we're diving back into the story of Sarah Haviland, getting into her trial, punishment, and other finer details of the case.  While we left off our last episode with a coroner’s jury heading to Sarah’s door on Saturday, December 16, 1865, let us rewind a bit, to the start of that week, and review the actions a mother took in 1865 that turned this story into a tragedy.

When this case took place, the American Civil War had only ended some seven months earlier, and many were trying to make sense of their lives and losses. However, this tragedy happened in a Michigan home seemingly untouched by the war between the states, with the main perpetrator bringing about an event that seemingly made some sense at the time, but makes little sense now. This is the story of sp...

A little more than two months before Timothy McVeigh and former Decker resident Terry Nichols committed the Oklahoma City Bombing of 1995, there was another bombing that rocked the thumb area. It wasn’t of any government building— in fact, it didn’t target a building, or a group of people, but just one person. That person was Charlene Dell, and as she stepped out of her office that February aftern...

At 9:30 p.m. on January 22, 1984, Jerry Western was found with a single gunshot wound to the back in Colfax Township. As the first murder to have occurred in over six years in Huron County, it sent ripples through the community--especially since the contents of his pockets had been left in tact. In fact, the only thing that was stolen was his wedding ring. Who could have killed such a beloved memb...

The death of Douglas Hendricks in 1973 remains unthinkable. He was 19 at the time and a resident of Lexington, having been found dead just outside of the Cadillac House. It was a little over 24 years later that his stepfather, Douglas Bowers, would disappear from Worth Township. The last time we visited this case, it was still under active investigation, and while it does still remain unsolved, we...

On February 4, 1976, the body of Carol Wudarcki was found in Worth Township. She had been struck by a snow plow mere minutes before being discovered by Mark Ernst, making it near impossible for investigators to determine her cause of death. What was curious, however, were the marks found on her ankles and wrists. Just what does Ernst have to do in all of this, and is it possible that he may (or ma...

With Esther McPhee deceased, the trial for her husband began on the afternoon of October 17, with Prosecutor RJ West calling her older brother, George, to the stand. He was joined by at least 25 other residents of Melvin, with much of his account detailing the gritty details surrounding the McPhees’ relationship, the fire, and “character indications of the defendant which he claims he will establi...

A small village in Sanilac County's Speaker Township, Melvin boasts a hearty population of 148 residents, with it not being much bigger over 100 years ago. What began as a lone saloon built in 1862 quickly sparked the construction of a drug store, the Port Huron & Northwestern Railroad, and a church as the years drew on, but we're not here to talk that type of history. Today's episode centers arou...

Prohibition officially hit the United States in 1919 when the 18th Amendment was ratified. While it may have intended to veer people away from excessive drinking, within weeks, an underground market had sprung up across the country. This volatile period would last well into 1933, but until then, people had their own tricks to avoid detection. Just what did this time look like for those in the Thum...

The dog, the myth, the legend--it's about time Dogman got his own episode! That's right, we're diving head first into cryptozoology and exploring one of Michigan's most mysterious cryptids. While perhaps not as well-known as others like Bigfoot or Mothman, Dogman remains in the hearts (and minds) of many--especially those in Wexford County, where he is rumored to have made his first appearance. Wi...

Daniel Lewis Hazard made his way to Croswell on July 21, 1998, unaware that it would be his last day alive. Over 26 years later and there remains a question as to who murdered him. Was it a friendship gone awry or perhaps something more sinister? While currently inactive, this case remains curious in the minds of many--especially with it being so close to home.

On this special edition of Thumbing Through the Archives, we’re returning to our roots by taking some time to revisit the Sparlings and their confusing history. The topic might be the same, but the conversation sure isn’t! With almost 40 episodes under our belt, it’s time for some perspective.

This might be our final gambit regarding the drug trade in St. Clair County, but we're going out with a bang! One man has more history with the St. Clair County drug trade than any other: Dave Dean. Some of our listeners may be familiar with him while others may not. Either way, come listen in (or continue along with us) as we analyze Dean’s involvement.

The St. Clair County Drug Task Force officially began its operations on January 2, 1985, with its tip-line being installed the same month. Despite such a strong start, authorities had yet to discover what their residents were truly getting up to--both at home and across the world. In this episode, we're continuing our exploration into the turbulent history of St. Clair County's drug trade, so if y...

Located within the region of the Thumb, St. Clair County has a complicated history as part of the drug trade. It’s one that spans several years across several nearby communities, including the likes of Canada. With cocaine at its core, just how deep does the rabbit hole go?

On April 10, 1974, President Nixon campaigned his way across the Thumb, visiting Saginaw, Bad Axe, Cass City, and Sandusky. Despite being in the midst of the Watergate scandal, hundreds were drawn in by his presence alone. Some were hoping to see him in person, while others were eager to protest his visit altogether. We've combed through the archives and are going to be jumping right into the page...

From Blue Moon to Superman to Moose Tracks, we’re scooping up another origin story on this week’s episode! Join us as we discuss some of Michigan’s iconic ice cream flavors. Where did they come from, what do they taste like, and just who is Tracks the Moose?

There is murder within today's case, but it's not the main focus of the story. This is a tale of a judge and his son, his friends and colleagues, and the many missteps made in St. Clair County. Many of which would see a man undergo three separate trials in two decades for one crime. There isn't a question as to whether a crime was committed or not but rather questions about possible motives (and m...

The story of January 9, 1993, might never have a conclusion. This day involves the death of a man in the kitchen he once called home, with those at its center being wealthy 39-year-old William “Bill” Paasche and his wife, 35-year-old Joann “Jodi” Paasche–two individuals with curious motives.

On a chilly November day in 1985, the boom from a single shotgun blast cut through the air of the student parking lot at St. Clair County Community College (SC4). A few minutes later, 20-year-old Scott Macklem was found dead next to his car. The son of Croswell’s mayor, his murder would spark a statewide manhunt that remains unsolved.