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Defrosting Cold Cases

Est. 2009

  • Cold Case Database: Index and Summaries
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You are here: Home / Archives for Cold Case News

Cold Case News

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 […]

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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. […]

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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 […]

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

Willeke Dost: new excavation planned

November 10, 2018 By Alice

Willeke Dost

UPDATE NOV 12, 2018: nothing was found. ____ Dutch police made the following announcement: “The Drenthe police are launching a new search for Willeke Dost, a then 15-year-old girl who disappeared from her foster parents’ farm in Koekange in 1992. The police will dig in an area near the farm where witnesses say they saw […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Missing Persons Tagged With: missing child, Netherlands, Willeke Dost

Arrest in 1998 Nicky Verstappen case

August 27, 2018 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Judges from the Madrid High Court in Spain decided this morning (Aug 27, 2018) that Jos Brech (55) shall be extradited to the Netherlands. Brech is the prime suspect in the 1998 murder of Nicky Verstappen (11). Brech was interviewed by video conference by the judges. He agreed to an accelerated procedure for extradition according […]

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

Unidentified: Conroe Lake John Doe

May 21, 2018 By Alice

Conroe Lake John Doe

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office need help in the case of an unidentified man I called the Conroe Lake John Doe. UPDATE: In December 2023, the victim was identified as Clarence Wilson. He was born on February 18, 1952. The authorities ask if you have any information, no matter how small the detail, to call […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics, Unidentified Tagged With: Clarence Wilson, Conroe, Conroe Lake John Doe, Texas, Unidentified

Arrest in 1986 Bastian case

May 11, 2018 By Alice

Jennifer Marie Bastian

Police have arrested the man who might be responsible for the murder of Jennifer Marie Bastian in 1986. His name is Robert D. Washburn (60) of Eureka, Illinois. Police declined to talk about the suspect, other than to say he lived out-of-state and was taken into custody. Washburn will be taken to Pierce County to […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: DNA, Jennifer Marie Bastian, phenotyping, Strangulation, Tacoma, Washington

New excavation: the Beaumont Children

January 22, 2018 By Alice

Gone for 50 years: The Beaumont Children

Update: authorities only found animal bones, no signs of human remains. The Australian papers just printed exciting news in the case of the three missing Beaumont Children. “Police have confirmed a new dig site in the search for the bodies of the missing Beaumont children.” Jane Nartare (9), Arnna Kathleen (7), and Grant Ellis (4), known […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Missing Persons Tagged With: Australia, Beaumont Children, missing children

Theresa Corley: DNA found

December 3, 2017 By Alice

The cold case of Theresa M. Corley/Massachusetts Gov.

In April 2016, I wrote that Theresa M. Corley‘s case needed a review with modern technology. It has been done. In May 2017, the authorities exhumed Theresa’s body. They collected nine and a half fingernails. The goal of course, looking for DNA. Theresa was only 19 years old on Dec. 6, 1978 when she was […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: DNA, Massachusetts, Theresa M. Corley

Suspect composite in case of Michelle Martinko

May 17, 2017 By Alice

Michelle Martinko, courtesy Robert J. Riley

The Cedar Rapids Police Department can now show the public the suspect composite in the cold case of Michelle Martinko (18) who was murdered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Dec. 19, 1979. Michelle Martinko was found dead around 4am on Dec. 20, 1979. She was repeatedly stabbed most notably in her face and chest. Police […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics Tagged With: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Michelle Martinko, phenotyping

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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.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler

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