Crimepedia

A night out with friends is something we all love. Carefree and with a spring In his step, Stefan Sutherland was doing just that. The 25 year old met with friends for a drink in a local hotel.  Little did his family know that when they said goodbye to him that night, it would be the last time they saw him.  8 years have passed since that night, and the investigations have been exhausting, but we still don’t know what happened.

In the pre-dawn hours of July 6, 2007 a 9-1-1 call is made from Whitewater Township, just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. The caller would tell the operator that a woman had been shot and was believed to be dead. When police arrived at the 20-year-old woman’s apartment, they would find her sitting on her couch, dead from a single gunshot wound. While police initially believed her death to be of an apparent suicide, it would end up ruled undetermined and has remained so for over 14 years.

Imagine back to when you were 14. What were you doing?

Listening to Music in your bedroom, trying new make up, or maybe playing football? In March 2000 14 year old Sarah Benford’s life wasn’t so easy. She was self-harming, running away, taking drugs and having sex.

Sarah’s mum was out of her mind with worry and even more so when Sarah vanished and was never seen again.

In the early morning hours of January 25th 2019, 29-year old Elizabeth Barazza was getting setup for an impromptu yard sale at her home in Tomball, Texas. Within just a few minutes of putting out items for sale, shots would be heard in ringing out in this quiet suburban neighborhood. Elizabeth would be found laying on her driveway bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds.

Valerie and John Earl have a daughter called Jessie. In 1980 Jessie went missing. She was classified as a missing person until 9 years later when her remains were found.

Valerie and John aren’t interested in revenge. They want justice for their Daughter, they want her death to be recorded and a murder and they want to know who was responsible

In 1991, rumors of a serial killer began circulating throughout the streets of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. For a 19 month period between 1991 and 1992, 5 women, 4 of which were known sex workers, disappeared and their bodies were later found dumped around the outskirts of the city. But then the killings suddenly stopped. Was one person responsible for these crimes, had the perpetrator being caught and jailed for another crime, and are these the only unsolved murders that could have been the act of a serial killer?

In August 1985 the bodies of two women, a man and two small children were found at Whitehouse Farm in Tolleshunt D’Arcy in Essex, England. They had all been shot at close range. The Police believed it to be a family tragedy - a murder suicide but the only surviving member of the family, Jeremy Bamber was arrested and convicted of the murders.

In August 1985 the bodies of two women, a man and two small children were found at Whitehouse Farm in Tolleshunt D’Arcy in Essex, England.

They had all been shot at close range. The Police believed it to be a family tragedy - a murder suicide but the only surviving member of the family, Jeremy Bamber was arrested and convicted of the murders.

On a dark morning in January 1998, 5-year-old Brittany Locklear stood alone waiting for the school bus at the end of her driveway on Gainey Road in Hoke County, North Carolina. But when the school bus arrived, the spot that Brittany occupied was empty and the young girl was no where to be found. Within the hour, a massive county-wide search would be launched. When the body of Brittany Locklear was discovered the following day, it became clear something evil lurked in this rural farming community.

Amy Fitzpatrick was 15 years old. She had moved from Dublin in Ireland to Mijas Costa in Malaga in Spain with her Mum, Brother and Mum’s partner.  It was supposed to be a fresh start.

On the 1st January 2008 she had been babysitting with her friend. They had been babysitting the friends younger brother. At 10pm she left her friends house to make the short walk home.  She never made it home. There was never any trace of her found. The police uncovered some disturbing evidence.  Was there more to this than just a disappearance? Was someone hiding something? And why did they wait 2 days to report her missing?

On the fourth of July weekend in 1966, thousands of people flocked to the shores of Lake Michigan. Among the revelers were three young women who were excited to spend the day on the sand and waters of Indiana State Dunes Park. By the end of the day, the three had vanished and would never been seen again.

Tammy Zywicki is looking forward to starting her senior year at Grinnell College in Iowa. Before heading back, she takes a trip to drop off her brother, to visit her parents who were staying with family, and to see to a friend. Tammy says goodbye to her friend and leaves for college. She never makes it back. Her body is found on I-44 wrapped in a blanket. Who killed Tammy Zywicki?

On the evening of July 25, 1991, a call is made to 9-1-1 from a pay phone in Lancaster, Ohio. On the line, was 24 year old Matt Morgan, who calmly stated that shots had been fired at his family home on Briarwood Court. A short time later, Matt would walk into the Lancaster Police Station and tell the officers “I think I’m the guy you’re looking for”.

On August 19th, 1978 13 year old Genette Tate set off on her bicycle from her home Barton Farm Cottage in Aylesbeare in Devon sometime after 2pm to deliver copies of the Express and Echo newspaper. By 4pm that afternoon Genette had disappeared without a trace. Despite a mammoth search and an investigation lasting over 40 years Genette has never been found.

After a long weekend in Austin, Texas for CrimeCon 2021, Morgan returns with some stories of his adventure. Cherry and Morgan then give a sampling of their Crimepedia Extra episodes, when they give a case update about the Breckenridge Murders.

At around 12:30pm, on the 28th of July 1986, estate agent Suzy Lamplugh left her office on Fulham Road in London. She was seen waiting outside am empty property, 37 Shorrolds Road, which had only been on the market for a week. At 1:00pm, she was met by a man listed in the work diary as “Mr. Kipper”. Minutes later they were seen walking away from the house and getting into a car. Suzy was never seen again. This is Suzy’s Story: What Happened to Suzy Lamplugh?

In March 2008, a prominent husband and wife vanished without a trace from Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Within days of the disappearance, investigators begin to focus in on a suspect who seemingly embezzled millions of dollars from business accounts he was managing. But law enforcement would be unable to file charges against their prime suspect. To this day the couple has yet to be found and the case remains the islands biggest unsolved mystery.

You give your ticket to the collector and you sit in a carriage. The ride starts. It's pitch black and cobwebs are skimming your head. The carriage twists and turns, skeletons are popping up, and your heart is beating fast. People are screaming and squealing in delight. Then the screams change.  It's hot, it's dark and you smell smoke. And the screams become screams of terror. This is the Ghost Train Fire.

CrimeCon UK has launched a brand-new podcast in the lead-up to the first-ever UK live event. Each episode sees two favourite podcasts – who will be in London on 25/26 September – uniting to reveal how they got involved in true crime, the cases that have stuck in their minds and what makes a great show. In this episode, we met up with Bethan and Mark from Seeing Red, where we got to know them and their podcast.

Between March and December 1985, a series of murders occurred in remote areas of Grant, Lewis, and Pierce Counties in the State of Washington. The victims were all unmarried couples, who decided to venture out into the rugged wilderness of the State. Two of the murders were seemingly linked by a possible signature left by the murderer. Were these murders the work of a serial killer? Or is it possible that the murders were committed by one of the victims himself?

Boarding a train in the middle of the afternoon isn’t something you’d usually be afraid of. A train journey that takes just over 30 minutes with multiple stops takes next to no time really. And Over 70 people on the train with you, would make you feel much safer.

But for 26 year old Debbie Linsley, this would be the last journey she’d ever take. And the last time anyone saw her alive. Just 34 minutes after being dropped to the station by her brother, her body was found in a train carriage after arriving at it’s final stop at London Victoria Station. She had been brutally murdered.

This is Crimepedia, and this episode is Murder on the 14.16-  The Murder of Debbie Linsley

On December 5, 2018, Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio fired Dr. William Husel after an investigation into his treatment of patients as the late shift physician in the hospital’s intensive care unit. The investigation had started less than two months prior, when the first of three formal reports regarding Husel’s care were submitted to hospital administration. These reports, filed by two hospital pharmacists, raised concerns over Dr. Husel’s use of excessive painkillers in his treatment of patients. In all, the hospital found that at least 35 patients were affected by Dr. Husel’s actions over the course of four years. These patients, most of the gravely ill, had received oversized doses of fentanyl, at two hospitals in the Mount Carmel Health System, Mount Carmel West and Mount Carmel St. Ann’s. In the case of female one patient, the investigations found that she was given about 20 times the upper end of a dose recommended by Food and Drug Administration guidelines. Of these 35 patients, care provided to 29 were determined to be potentially fatal. Five of the patients were found to have had the opportunity for treatment that may have improved their conditions. The Mount Carmel investigation would lead to the firing of at least 23 employees, the resignation of two executives, and Dr. William Husel being arrested and charged with 25 counts of murder. So on today’s episodes, we will be discussing the case against Dr. William Husel and try to decide if what occurred at Mount Carmel was compassion care or was it murder.

In July 1974, a 13 year old girl discovered the body of a Caucasian female in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The body of this unidentified woman would take investigators on a journey through mob connections, a jailhouse break, and even into Hollywood. This is the case on the Lady of the Dunes.

On the night of August 2, 2006, a 9-1-1 call was made from 1509 Swann Street NW in Washington D.C. Inside the guest room of this million dollar Dupont Circle townhouse, 32-year-old Robert Eric Wone was lying mortally wounded on the bed after being stabbed three times. Who killed Robert Eric Wone and why?

In 1991, the body of a 33 year old former soldier was found on a farm track close to his home in Fife, Scotland. There were no marks on his body, but he had been murdered with a jiu-jitsu stranglehold. Who killed Sandy Drummond and why?

24 year old Amy Wroe Bechtel was an Olympic marathon hopeful, amateur photographer, friend, employee, daughter, sister, wife.  When Amy woke up on Thursday, July 24, 1997, in Lander, Wyoming, she created a list of tasks that she wanted to accomplish for the day. Last on that list was to run amongst the tall tress of the Shoshone National Forest. But Amy was to never return home from that run.

On Thursday, November 8th, 2007, 25 year old Kyle Fleischmann attended a comedy show with his mom, sister, and best friend. Afterwards, he drank at a local bar with his friends. His friends close their tabs and left Kyle talking to a girl inside the bar. At around 2:20 am, Kyle is seen leaving the bar. He was never seen by friends and family ever again. What happened to Kyle Fleischmann?

Patti Adkins was a woman in love when she and her boyfriend planned a romantic getaway to the Canadian wilderness in 2001. But when she failed to return from her trip, it quickly became clear that Patti was never coming home again. She was never truly considered a missing person, because despite the lack of a body, Patti was always considered a victim of a homicide.

This bonus episode is our interview with Sue Homan, the ex-wife of Stuart Lubbock, who we discussed on episode 25. 

After a night of partying, Stuart was found dead in the swimming pool of British icon Michael Barrymore on March 31, 2001. He had sustained horrific injuries, which police later found to be the result of a serious sexual attack. 

On the 8th of June, 1996, Melanie Hall and her boyfriend Philip Kurlbaum were on a night out with some friends. Melanie ended up leaving that night out with a complete stranger and was never seen again. Who was this stranger and what happened to Melanie?

The night of December 28th, 1956 was expected to be a typical Friday night in Chicago. On that night, like most Friday and Saturday nights, Archer Avenue was a hot bed of activity. Movies theaters were packed, while teenage boys drove up and down the strip trying to pick up girls huddle on the frigid sidewalks of cities southwest side. But for two girls, what was supposed to be an exciting night watching a double feature of their favorite movie would lead to them laying in the snow off of a secluded rural road in Du Page County.

Eight women disappeared without a trace from Ireland between 1993 and 1998. All disappearance occurred in an area which became known in the media as the Vanishing Triangle. The Triangle is in the eastern part of the island, roughly the boundaries of Leinster. They were all young, all went missing as they went on with their daily lives, and their cases are there in Irish memories because all the disappearance happened over such a short period of time. So far, no bodies have been have been found. Is this the work of a serial killer and are there more people unaccounted for?

In October 2013, a man in a small town in Michigan’s remote Upper Peninsula disappeared without a trace. When the local police chief learned that the man was having an affair with a married women, she thought a love triangle was possibly behind his disappearance. As the case unfolded, it would turn into a game of cat and mouse which spanned across three states, multiple murders, allegations of cannibalism, and the arrest of a possible serial killer. This is the case of “The Black Widow”.

In the early hours of March 31, 2001 emergency services received a call that a body had been found in a swimming pool during a house party in Roydon in Essex. The emergency services operation soon realized that this would be no normal call for help. The address was that of a British icon, a household name, and a much loved superstar Michael Barrymore. The body was that of Stuart Lubbock. He had sustained horrific injuries, which police later found to be the result of a serious sexual attack. How did he come to be at Barrymore's party and what happened to him?

We finish up our Breckenridge Murders series with part 3, which covers some of the known suspects in the murders of Bobbie Jo Oberholtzer and Annette Schnee.

This week we have two cases updates for you, in regards to the Case of the Unidentified Hiker (Episodes 2 & 3) and Killing for a Child (Episode 19).

Claudia Elizabeth Lawrence was born in Malton, North Yorkshire, England the 27th of February, 1974 to parents Peter and Joan Lawrence. She grew up with her parents and sister Ali in Hutton in York. She worked at Goodricke College at the Roger Kirk Centre at the University of York. On the 19th of March, 2009 Claudia failed to turn up to work. Despite efforts to try to contact her by phone, her boss was unable to contact her. She also failed to meet a friend as planned that evening. Claudia was never seen again.

On December 16th, 2004, the body of 23 year old Bobbie Jo Stinnett was found laying in a pool of blood in her home in Skidmore, MO. What makes this case so horrifying is the fact that Bobbi Jo was 8 months pregnant at the time of her murder. After being strangled, her abdomen was cut open and her unborn child was removed from her body.  This is Killing for a Child.

Three murders, three different locations, but was it just one killer? In 1987 on the 28th of March, 66 year old Helen Fleet was murdered while walking her dogs. She was stabbed, beaten and strangled. On the 15th of November 1997, 14 year old Kate Bushell was also murdered; her throat was cut while she was walking her next door neighbor’s dog. And on the 20th of October 1998, 40 year old Lyn Bryant was also murdered while her dog, she was also stabbed. All three women were while walking their dogs and their killer so far have evaded police. Who killed Lyn, Helen, and Kate? Was it one person? And if it was, who was it? This is the case of the dog walker murders.

On November 25, 1997, 16 year old Karen Marie Mitchell was working at a day care center in Eureka, California, over her Thanksgiving holiday vacation from school. After spending some time in the afternoon with her Aunt at her nearby shoe store, Karen set off on foot to return to the daycare center. With the exception of one single eyewitness, no one has ever reported seeing or hearing from Karen Mitchell again.  Investigators have never quite figured out what happened to her; she just walked away from her aunt’s shoe store one afternoon, headed for a job, and that was it. This is the Disappearance of Karen Mitchell.

On the morning of 26th of April 1999, 37 year old popular TV presenter Jill Dando left her fiancé’s house in Cheswick in London. She returned alone by car to the house she owned in Fulham. She has previously lived in the house but was in the process selling it and did not visit it frequently. As she reached her front door, at about 11:32, she was shot once in the head. Her body was discovered about 14 minutes later by her neighbor Helen Doble. The police were called at 11:47 and was taken to the nearby Charing Cross Hospital where she was declared dead on arrival at 13:03. This is the case of Jill Dando.

We have a special announcement regarding CrimeCon UK next summer in London!

Near the Frankfort-Hochst Train Station, in the outskirts of Frankfort, Germany you will find the Liederbach Tunnel. A small walkway and river egress which leads underneath the train tracks above. For many years, the dimly lit tunnel was used by neighborhood kids as a shortcut to schools and playgrounds. But in 1998, the tunnel became the scene of a cruel, gruesome, and inhumane murder and has been gated off ever since. This is the Murder of Tristan Brubach.

On the 28th of November 2004, Alistair Wilson was at home with his wife and kids. At 7pm the doorbell rang and Alistair’s wife Veronica answered the door to a man who only spoke two words to her, Alistair Wilson. She assumes that the man had something to do with Alistair’s work, and while Alistair goes to the door, she then attends to her small children. Alistair returns to the children’s room carrying a blue envelop addressed to Paul. He is bewildered as the envelop is empty and asks Veronica if the man definitely asked for him, which she agreed he did. They talk for a few seconds before Alistair goes back to the front door to see if the man was still there. Moments later, Veronica hears three gun shots. She runs down the stairs to find Alistair on the floor; he has been shot as close range, twice in the head and once in the torso. He is breathing but barely conscience. Veronica sees his killer fleeing the scene. An hour later, Alistair is pronounced dead. Who killed him and why? This is the case of Alistair Wilson.