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Defrosting Cold Cases

Research website by Alice de Sturler

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You are here: Home / 2020 / Archives for October 2020

Archives for October 2020

Melissa Millan: update

October 20, 2020 By Alice

Melissa Millan

There is an update in the 2014 Melissa Millan case. Today, William Winters Leverett appeared before Superior Court Judge Shelia M. Prats through a livefeed from from the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield. Due to Covid19, several cases have been pushed back and defendants appear on video screen. The deal from Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney […]

Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: Connecticut, Elizabeth Bramon, guest bloggers, Knife Attack, Melissa Millan

Missing: Deanna Michelle Merryfield

October 19, 2020 By Alice

Deanne Michelle Merryfield Grid AdS 500

Deanna Michelle Merryfield has been missing since July 22, 1990. In the grid, you can see an age progression from a young Deanna to an estimate made in 2011 (upper right) and 2015. There are no new updates on NamUs, where I found her case. That file was created on Feb 22, 2010. Identification Deanna […]

Filed Under: Missing Persons Tagged With: Deanna Michelle Merryfield, Killeen, Missing Person, Texas

Ma Duncan by Jim Barrett

October 17, 2020 By Alice

Ma Duncan by Jim Barrett

She was known as Ma Duncan. Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Duncan became the last woman to be executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin, California. I was at San Quentin many years ago. I can still smell it. Everything is eerie there. The silence and the noise, the odors overpowering the disinfectant, the space and the […]

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Reviews, Elizabeth Ann Duncan, Olga Nettie Kupczyk Duncan

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 7

October 16, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Today in the trial in the Nicky Verstappen case, we will hear from the Verstappen Family, the prosecution, the defense, and the last word is for the defendant himself. So let’s go over it. WARNING: this post contains graphic elements. First, I heard from readers who thought that if the defendant remained silent during the […]

Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: DNA, Nicky Verstappen, suffocation, the Netherlands

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 6

October 12, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Today, the defense presented their answer to the prosecution’s charges and evidence as presented in court related to the Nicky Verstappen trial. WARNING: this post contains graphic details! The loss of a child as young as Nicky, is horrifying. However, demanding a harsher sentence than the law from that time period allowed for, is unlawful. […]

Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: DNA, Nicky Verstappen, suffocation, the Netherlands

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 5

October 8, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Day 5 in the court room in the case of Nicky Verstappen. Defendant Jos Brech is present. WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS. Today, the prosecution presents its case in full. They will follow the case’s time line, presents all forensic evidence again, detail the steps that the police took in the investigation over the […]

Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: DNA, Nicky Verstappen, suffocation, the Netherlands

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 4

October 7, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Today is day 4 in the trial against Jos Brech in the case of Nicky Verstappen. We heard victim impact statements from Nicky’s direct family members: his mother Berthie Verstappen spoke also on behalve of father Peter, Nicky’s younger sister Femke, and Peter’s sister Jacqueline. Earlier today, the family had asked the court whether they […]

Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: DNA, Nicky Verstappen, suffocation, the Netherlands

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 3

October 5, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Day 3 in the Nicky Verstappen trial against Jos Brech brought forward some interesting details but not the breakthrough to solidify this case. We heard from a forensic expert, we got details about the psychiatric observations at the Pieter Baan Centrum where Brech has been for evaluation, and we got a more detailed look at […]

Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: abduction, DNA, Nicky Verstappen, suffocation, the Netherlands

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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.

Defrosting Cold Cases is NOT an organization. It is my brainchild.

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.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler

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If you use my work, please add a link back. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. Thank you!

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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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