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Defrosting Cold Cases

Est. 2009

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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. […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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

Missing: Amanda Lee Fravel

October 1, 2020 By Alice

Amanda Lee Fravel Missing Poster

Amanda Lee Fravel went missing on Friday, June 13, 1986 from Las Vegas, Nevada. She was supposed to go home to see her mother in California. Her mother had even sent her an airplane ticket for the trip. She was to board June 14th. However, Amanda never boarded any plane and never arrived in California. […]

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Filed Under: Case of the Month, Missing Persons Tagged With: Amanda Lee Fravel, Case of the Month, Endangered missing, Nevada

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Dina Fort

Author Notes

Since 2009, I write about unsolved cases that need renewed media attention. I only do research and leave active investigations to the authorities.

My posts cover homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to unsolved 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, tone, and research. It is my prerogative to not review a book. Please check the FAQ page for more.

My databases are free to the public. Cases are sorted by the victim’s last name.

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 cannot find the answers there, please contact me.

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Alice de Sturler

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