Daniel Williams was 21 years old when he was sentenced to one year in prison for non-violent drug charges. He was bounced around to multiple facilities during this year, and was set to finish out the last few weeks of his sentence at Staton Correctional Center in Elmore, Alabama. Little did Daniel know that he would die in that prison, both at the …

On the morning of September 16th, 2010, Greg Fleniken's body is found in his hotel room. Police are puzzled - they cannot find any motive for his murder and no explanation for his strange internal injuries. Greg’s wife, Susie turns to a private investigator in order to crack the case...and he does, revealing a series of truly stupifying events. Sou…

Who was Julie Doe? And how did investigators identify her decades after she had been murdered, despite several roadblocks? Find out on this weeks episode of Small Town Mysteries! Sources: 1)https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/1j840cn/dna_doe_project_identifies_transgender_julie_doe/ 2) https://dnadoeproject.org/case/transgender-ju…

This week, Rachael talks about the tragic murder of 15-year-old Trish Autry. Sources: 1) https://casetext.com/case/state-v-nielsen-40 2) https://www.nelsonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/trisha-autry 3)https://web.archive.org/web/20070812080555/http://www.unsolved.com:80/0109-TrishaAutry.html 4) https://www.deseret.com/2001/5/16/19586566/missing-teen-is…

This week, Christine dives into the murder of Helen Jewett. Helen was a sex worker in New York City in the 1830s. Was the murderer her most recent client? You can decide... Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Jewett 2) https://darkdowneast.com/helenjewett/ 3) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-long-island-star-murder-and-arson-t/102…

Tune in this week to hear Kate cover one of the most badass survival stories we've covered: the unbelievable survival of 15-year-old Mary Vincent. Sources: 1) https://people.com/archive/a-victims-life-sentence-vol-29-no-16/ 2) https://archive.vcstar.com/news/crime-survivor-speaks-ep-371969784-350886431.html/ 3) https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-x…

When three people are wrongly convicted as a result of police manipulation tactics, you have to wonder: who was actually responsible? Miscarriages of justice are rampant in this case, but most important is to remember that Lynette White's life was taken from her, and she cannot ever get that back. Sources: 1) https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-02-…

This week, Christine covers the puzzling death of Alexander Stevens. This case was never cut and dry from the beginning, but only gets more puzzling as more details emerge. Sources: 1) https://www.courts.state.md.us/sites/default/files/unreported-opinions/0993s18.pdf 2) https://www.wvnews.com/garrettrepublican/news/megan-shaffer-sentenced-to-30-yea…

This week, Kate dives into an unsolved mystery, and a rather perplexing one, at that. This one is a great example/reminder of why colonialism is bad. When Michael Rockefeller (yes, of THE Rockefeller Family) disappeared during an expedition in the Asmat region of southwestern Dutch New Guinea (now South Papua), no one knew what had happened to him.…

This week, Rachael covers the murder of Gregory "Sky" Erickson, who was just 15 years old. And buckle up, because the cast of characters involved in this case is EXTENSIVE--there were TEN people charged in connection with his murder! Sources: 1) https://law.justia.com/cases/minnesota/court-of-appeals/2012/a11-1379.html 2) https://www.facebook.com/p…

Around 4:00 AM on August 23, 1987 in the tiny city of Alexander, Arkansas, a locomotive engineer noticed that there were people laying down on the train tracks. The engineer engaged the train’s brakes and sounded the horn, but the train was unable to stop in time. When 16-year-old Don Henry and 17-year-old Kevin Ives were hit by this freight train,…

Despite there being security camera footage of Missy Bever's killer, there have been frustratingly few major leads over the last 9 years. Sources: 1) https://people.com/crime/missy-bevers-murder-mother-in-law-asks-will-we-feel-like-celebrating-arrest/ 2) https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/internet-sleuths-muddy-waters-and-wreck-lives-in-missy-beve…

Katarzyna Zowada was murdered in a truly horrific way. After police didn't file a police report for Katarzyna initially when she went missing, it took almost 20 years for investigators to find out who her killer was, with the help of DNA technology. Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Katarzyna_Zowada 2) The Most Bizarre True Crime …

Michele Anne Harris, born on September 29th, 1965, left the restaurant she was working at at the end of her shift, and had a couple drinks with coworkers in the parking lot. She went to see a boyfriend in Smithsboro, New York, leaving shortly after 11pm. This is the last time she was seen. The day that Michele disappeared was unique. It was not a d…

Journalist, radio personality, and socialite Dorothy Kilgallen was found dead in her apartment in New York City on November 8, 1965. She was found sitting up in bed, fully dressed and made up. Her official cause of death was an overdose of barbiturates combined with alcohol. But alcohol and barbiturates cannot explain why Dorothy’s notes on the sin…

This episode has so many twists and turns that if it was a novel, someone on Goodreads would complain about it being "unrealistic". A whole family was murdered one night in the 1870s. The motive was clear, but the perpetrator was (and still is) a mystery. Though a trial ensues, the town decides to take matters into their own hands. Otherwise known …

Today, Christine covers the heartbreaking murders of Jack and Paul, two young boys who were killed by their father. Despite evidence and testimony from the boys' mother that their father was a dangerous man capable of killing his own sons, the judge awarded him 5 hours of unsupervised contact each week. This decision would sadly prove to be fatal f…

This case if not covered enough. Have you heard of Paul Revere's Midnight Ride? Probably. But there is a horrific detail of that midnight ride that most do not know about. Learn about it here on Small Town Mysteries, then tell all your friends to listen...because this one is important. Sources: 1) https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/sal…

The tragic murder of 5-year-old Farah Khan is discussed in this week's podcast. Sources: 1) https://globalnews.ca/news/6276192/farah-khan-murder-toronto/ 2) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/father-stepmother-convicted-of-murdering-5-year-old-farah-khan-1.496891 3) https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA112724200&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&use…

What killed Kathy Wangler is known. Kathy, a wife and mother of two, was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in her upstairs bedroom on September 4, 2006. What is not so clear is how this happened. Some believe it was a tragic accident set off by a faulty water heater inside the home. Others believe it was something more sinister and calculat…

Rachael talks about our last three cryptids of this spooky season: the Black Annis, the Jersey Devil, and The Dover Demon. Which one will become Small Town Mysteries' Cryptid Congeniality? Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Annis 2) https://monster.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Annis 3) https://astonishinglegends.com/astonishing-legends/2023/1…

A Halloween party turned sour. What happened to Arpana Jinaga? And why did the cops immediately zero in on one suspect, when several people at the party exhibited suspicious behaviors? Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redmond,_Washington 2) https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/emanuel-fair-trial-lawsuit-dna-murder-charge-1…

Tonight, Christine transports us all to prom. But there are no humans to be found at this prom. Oh no. This is a prom for the Cryptids. The theme? Under the Sea. And it is up to us and YOU to decide who is crowned our Cryptid King! Get out your writing utensils or note app on your phone and decide which of our contenders deserves the esteemed title…

Sometime between late October 30th and early Oct 31, 2010, William “B.J.” Liske murdered his father, stepmother, and his stepbrother. The family was murdered in their own home located in Martin, Ohio. Sources: 1) https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2011/09/15/Liske-gets-life-for-deaths-of-3/stories/201109150097 2) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/…

This week on Cryptid Chaos, Kate talks about Chupacabra and Mothman! Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chupacabra 2) https://www.britannica.com/topic/chupacabra 3) https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/land/modern-myths 4) https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/ology-cards/281-chupacabra 5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Bridg…

In this heartbreaking case, Kennedy Ife's family attempted to exorcise what they believed to be a "demon" out of him, but unfortunately ended up killing their own relative. Sources: 1) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/exorcism-possession-uk-london-death-kennedy-ife-parents-family-brothers-restrained-a8763026.html 2) https://vocal.media/c…

In September of 1999, Ronald Cohen had just finalized the sale of his home in Jericho, New York, where he had lived for the previous nine years. In cleaning out his home for the new owners, he came across something startling in his basement–left behind from the previous owner of the house and weighing about 300 pounds. Its discovery would reopen a …

On March 25, 2003, Shonda Dee Walter murdered her elderly neighbor, James E. Sementelli, in order to rob him and gain gang initiation in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. She stole money from him and his car, and proceeded to return to the crime scene with other people, in order to show them James’ body. Sources: 1) https://murderpedia.org/female.W/w/walte…

This case created a lot of room for discussion. It is not a morally black or white case - there's a lot to unpack here! The clip on social media that made me dig into this can be summed up as: a 15-year-old kid shot dead his parents and 17-year-old sister, citing his dislike for his mother’s loud chewing and his sister’s “annoying” accent, as well …

No spoilers for this one - the synopsis itself is horrible. Find out why this case is known as "The Windshield Murder" during this episode of Small Town Mysteries! Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9-1-1_(TV_series) 2) https://people.com/crime/chante-mallard-2017-movie-about-homeless-man-murder-windshield/ 3) https://medium.com/p/6ea6a62172…

Between September 1st and 4th, in 2006 Christian Charles Neilsen went on a killing spree at the Black Bear Inn located Newry, ME, which resulted in the death of 4 people: James, “Jimmy” Whitehurst (age 50), Julie Attebury Newby Bullard (age 65), Selby Bullard (age 30), and Cindy Ellen Cabral Beatson (age 43). What could his motive have been? Source…

This case highlights what some men in immense positions of power will do to try and cover their tracks. Anne Marie Fahey was only 27 when she was murdered by Thomas Capano, a prominent lawyer and political consultant who was well-known in Delaware, and who came from a family of rich real-estate developers. Although their relationship was not exclus…

The senseless, and potentially racially-motivated, crime that killed eight-year-old Noah Bush will have you seething. Sources: -https://home.army.mil/stewart/about/Garrison/DPW/environmental/prevention-and-compliance/borrow-pits#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20Borrow%20Pit,for%20fill%20at%20another%20location. -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesup,_Georgia …

In this episode, Rachael talks about Linda Lee Couch, who murdered her husband, Walter Couch Jr., in their home In Cincinnati, Ohio. The two of them were married for 14 years. As their history is unraveled, the question of self-defense is brought into the mix. Sources: 1) https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/Search/Details/W017943 2) I Am…

Dubbed by the media as “The Tube Sock Killings,” these four unsolved murders occurred in 1985 in the remote areas of Lewis and Pierce County, Washington, near the unincorporated community of Mineral, Washington. Tube socks were tied around the necks of the women. Was it the same killer? You might think so, but it's not so cut and dry! Let's talk ab…

Kate talks about a case that was only recently solved using DNA evidence. The Grim Sleeper was identified after having committed at least 10 murders (that he was convicted of) and at least 4 others he was suspected of carrying out. His crimes spanned decades, and he targeted sex workers who were black women. Would he have been found out sooner if h…

Bison Dele, an ex-NBA player who walked away from it all at the prime of his career, his girlfriend, and the captain of his catamaran are all missing when Bison's brother docks their boat. What does his brother know about what happened to them all? Sources: 1)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bison_Dele#:~:text=Dele%20won%20a%20championship%20with,have…

Rachael talks about the brutal, horrific murder of 12-year-old Shanda Sharer in Madison, Indiana, which involved several other young girls. This will leave you shaking your head and wondering how individuals this young can commit such horrible acts of violence. Sources: 1) https://allthatsinteresting.com/shanda-sharer 2) https://www.talesfromtheund…

The decades-old case of the multi-homicide of the Short Family is ongoing and with few reliable leads. Twenty-two years later, the Short family is still searching for justice - but an inadequate initial investigation might make that impossible. Sources: 1) https://unresolved.me/the-short-family (very detailed!) 2) https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/local-…

Julie Ann Gonzalez was only 21-years-old when she went missing, leaving her young daughter, Layla, and a large group of family and friends who cared for her. They immediately knew that something was wrong - Julie would never disappear of her own volition. Find out how there was a murder conviction with no body found. Sources: 1) https://www.oxygen.…

Gerald Bloom is found buried underneath a trailer in 2010. The story that unfolds when police talk to Bloom's neighbors and roommates is terrifying and sad. Sources: 1) https://law.justia.com/cases/wyoming/supreme-court/2012/s-11-0281.html 2) https://www.championfh.com/obituaries/gerald-bloom 3)https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/billingsg…

The Axeman of New Orleans terrorized the city in the 1910s, while the world was in the midst of both war and pandemic. Hear about several theories regarding who the Axeman was - are any of them convincing? Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918 2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axeman_of_New_Orleans 3) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/…

The Moore family was an affluent family located in the town of Villisca, Iowa. They were well-known and well-liked in town. So when all 6 of them, along with 2 young guests, were found bludgeoned in their own home one morning in 1912, people had no idea who would have committed such a crime. Was this heinous crime committed for some financial motiv…

In this episode, Rachael covers a 1800s case in which a woman by the name of Cordelia Botkin is jealous of her lover's wife, Mary, causing her to go to great lengths to have Mary killed. Sources: 1) https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/death-by-chocolate-ab1f379e705c 2) https://billypenn.com/2023/09/17/botkin-dunning-case-murder-by-chocolate-del…

At first, when Stacey Castor's husband unexpectedly passes away, no one thinks anything of it, and his death is ruled a suicide. But when police dig deeper and search the Castor's home, what they find shocks them. And as they delve into Stacey's past with her previous husband, they begin to uncover a sinister web of lies... Sources: 1) https://en.w…

Marlene Warren answered the door to her home and was fatally shot by a mysterious clown, who then calmly walked away to their getaway car. Although there were eyewitnesses, circumstantial evidence, and a prime suspect, it would take over three decades for her killer to face any kind of justice. Sources: 1) https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/killer-cl…

On December 7, 2017, the body of Telma Boinville was discovered inside a North Shore vacation home in Pupukea, Hawaii by a pair of Australian tourists. In addition to the discovery of Telma’s remains, Makana, Telma’s 8-year-old daughter, was also found inside the home, with both her hands and feet bound. Throughout this episode, Rachael covers Telm…

This week, we take a brief break from covering cases and reflect on our favorite moments from the podcast over the last 100 episodes. We also hear from listeners and play a fun game at the end! Support the showBy Kate, Christine, and Rachael

During a first date, 24-year-old Erin Marie Gilbert vanishes without a trace. Almost 20 years later, and there are still no answers. Could her date have anything to do with her disappearance? Or was another ill-intentioned player involved? Sources: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Erin_Marie_Gilbert 2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki…

In this week's episode, Rachael talks about the decades-long mystery of the Lyon sisters, who disappeared from a local mall in Wheaton, Maryland in March of 1975. The case went cold for a whopping 38 years. Eventually, a man who was only 18-years-old at the time of the crime and who had involved himself in the investigation was found guilty of kidn…