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Defrosting Cold Cases

Research website by Alice de Sturler

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You are here: Home / 2018 / Archives for December 2018

Archives for December 2018

Michelle Martinko: background information

December 21, 2018 By Alice

Michelle Martinko

Jerry Lynn Burns is facing first-degree murder charges for the Dec 20, 1979 murder of Michelle Martinko. He is held at the Linn County Jail (Iowa). Burns Burns has his own company Advanced Coating Concepts in Delaware County, Iowa. It is a powder-coating shop but they are also a Hustler turf equipment dealer. Burns was […]

Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics, Unsolved Tagged With: DNA, Iowa, Michelle Martinko, phenotyping

Happy Holidays

December 20, 2018 By Alice

Happy Holidays

The end of 2018 is approaching fast. As always, I am grateful for my readers’ continued support. You share so many cases online, it really helps to get the victims’ stories out. I also wish to thank everyone who emailed me with newspaper clippings, images, memories, missed details, typos, book recommendations, cases suggestions so the […]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Happy Holidays

Arrest in 1979 murder of Michelle Martinko

December 19, 2018 By Alice

Michelle Martinko, courtesy Robert J. Riley

Michelle Martinko was found dead on Dec. 20, 1979. She was repeatedly stabbed most notably in her face and chest. Police discovered her body in the family Buick in the parking lot of the Westdale Mall, Cedar rapids, Iowa. Police said there was no sign of a sexual assault, but she had wounds that indicated […]

Filed Under: Case of the Month, Unsolved Tagged With: Cedar Rapids, DNA, Iowa, Michelle Martinko

Vickie Lynn Harrell, more information

December 19, 2018 By Alice

Vickie Lynn Harrell/Indiana State Police

On August 12, 1972 Vickie Lynn Harrell stepped into her 4-door dark blue 1965 Plymouth Valiant. She was in the K-Mart parking lot on the east side of Bloomington, Indiana. This is the last time she was seen alive. On August 13, 1972 when Vickie does not return home, her roommate reports her missing to […]

Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: Indiana, Strangulation, Vickie Lynn Harrell

Update 1982 murder of Barbara Mendez

December 15, 2018 By Alice

Barbara Mendez

On April 28, 1982, Barbara Mendez (Feb 21, 1949 – April 28, 1982) was found bludgeoned to death inside the Park City Credit Union (Minocqua, Wisconsin). Barbara’s case went cold but in 2018, husband Robin D. Mendez, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The couple have two daughters, Dawn Mendez Shape and Christy Mendez Wadas. […]

Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: Barbara Mendez, Blunt force trauma, Wisconsin

Update Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr.

December 12, 2018 By Alice

Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr Grid AdS

DeAngelo, Jr. appeared in court on Dec 6, 2018. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Sweet decided he will keep his court appointed attorney Diane Howard as he is not deemed to have enough financial means to do otherwise. “Prosecutors from Contra Costa, Tulare, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Orange counties have agreed to a joint trial […]

Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: California, DNA, EARONS, East Area Rapist (EAR), familial DNA, Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo

Update Nicky Verstappen

December 12, 2018 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

On Dec 12, 2018 Jos Brech appeared in court. He denied having abused, kidnapped, and killed Nicky Verstappen (11) in 1998. The prosecution explained where Brech’s DNA was found: most (18 spots) was on all four sides of Nicky’s underwear, one spot on his PJ bottoms, and one spot on his body. They also found […]

Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: DNA, familial DNA, Nicky Verstappen, the Netherlands

The Coroner’s Daughter by Andrew Hughes

December 10, 2018 By Alice

The Coroner's Daughter by Andrew Hughes

I read about the book ‘The Coroner’s Daughter’ by Andrew Hughes in the BBC History Magazine. As my readers know I like to read historical fiction especially if it takes place at the onset of forensic sciences. Well, Hughes opens the story with a severed hand and floating baby lungs in a glass bowl with […]

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Andrew Hughes, Book Reviews

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Author Notes

On this website, I write about old, unsolved cases. Most are from the pre-DNA era and are in need of renewed media attention. I only do research and leave the active investigation of these cases to the professionals.

My posts are about homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to these cases.

On book reviews: I only review select works of true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction/mysteries. The stories have to fit my website's theme and research. It remains my prerogative to not review a book.

My database has over 300 cases listed by the victim’s last name. You will find a brief description there as well. The database will always be free to the public to use. You cannot buy ad space on my website, ever.

All writing suggestions that come in by email are added to my to-do list in the order in which they were received. Please be patient. My to-do list is very long but no case gets dropped and I will get back in touch.

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If you have any questions about my website please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, the about page, and the tabs in both menu bars. If you still cannot find the answer there, please contact me.

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Alice de Sturler

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William Thomas Zeigler

Category: ALL POSTS

On March 31, 2016, an evidentiary hearing was held to request touch DNA testing. On July 18, 2016, Judge Whitehead denied that request.

On November 23, 2016, an appeal was filed with the Florida Supreme Court. On April 21, 2017, the Florida Supreme Court denied the request for touch DNA analysis.

On May 8, 2017 a motion for a rehearing with the US Supreme Court was filed. It was denied November 13, 2017.

In the summer of 2019, the appeal for DNA testing to the Florida Conviction Integrity Unit was denied.

Richard Lapointe

Category: ALL POSTS

In March 2015, the Connecticut State Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Richard lapointe. On Oct 2, 2015, International Wrongful Conviction Day, Richard was set free. The judge ruled that he cannot be retried for the 1987 rape-murder of Mrs. Bernice Martin. Richard Lapointe died on Aug 4, 2020 of Covid19 complications.

In 1987, someone killed Bernice Martin. I hope that she will not become a forgotten file.
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Copyright: Please add a link back if you use my work. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. If you need help with this, just contact me. Thank you, Alice de Sturler

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