Covid19 has pushed back a lot of trials and court dates in several cases that I am following. I am happy to confirm that a jury has been sworn in to judge the evidence in the 1980 murder of Suzanne Arlene “Suzie” Bombardier. As soon as I have more details I will add them here […]
Cold Case News
Sophie Sergie Verdict: Guilty
Despite several setbacks and delays due to Covid19, the trial in the 1993 rape-murder of Sophie Sergie finally took place in the beginning of this year. I did not post daily updates but here is the verdict and my summary: Steven Downs faced first degree murder and first degree sexual assault. The jury found him guilty. […]
Nicky Verstappen: on Appeal
The Court of Appeals in the city of Den Bosch, the Netherlands, released its verdict after the prosecution had filed an appeal in the case of Nicky Verstappen’s death. The lower court had sentenced Josh Brech to 12.5 years after finding him guilty of kidnapping resulting in death and the sexual abuse of Nicky Verstappen […]
Overturned: Timothy “Timmy” William Wiltsey
A reader alerted me to this New Jersey paper that held a report by Ted Sherman. The “New Jersey Supreme Court [on] Tuesday overturned the conviction against Michelle Lodzinski.” Michelle Lodzinski is the mother of Timothy “Timmy” William Wiltsey (August 6, 1985 – date missing May 25, 1991) who disappeared May 25, 1991. I read […]
Possible delays: Suzie Bombardier
My dear friend Jennifer Kathleen Gibbons alerted me yesterday that the trial we thought would take place on January 3, 2022 might be postponed. On that date, Mitchell Lynn Bacom would face the court for the murder of Suzanne Bombardier. In the Contra Costa dated December 27, 2021 we read: “The presiding judge of Contra […]
Update Sophie Sergie Case
The Sun Journal notes that defendant Steven H. Downs will be allowed to present three alternative suspects in the 1993 rape-murder of Sophie Sergie. In previous posts, I have mentioned other suspects and what I saw as problematic for the defense. Fairbanks Superior Court Judge Thomas Temple’s order allows these three men to be brought […]
Patricia Smith: Trial March 25, 2022
In October, in the 1984 Patricia Smith rape-murder trial, a mistrial was declared as the defense questined Alexander Christopher Ewing’s sanity to stand trial. Yesterday, a judge declared Ewing competent to stand trial. Jury selection is scheduled for March 25, 2022. The Case Patricia Louise Smith (50) was born on Sept 19, 1933. She was […]
Found: David Virgil Neily
In 2011, Sue Carney wrote a guest blog post about the disappearance of David Virgil Neily. Now, he had been found. On May 7, 2020, a private nature reserve employee called the Mendocino County Sheriff. He had found what he believed to be human remains. The remains were in a forest near Branscomb and just […]
Patricia Smith: mistrial
Today, a mistrial was declared in the rape-murder case of Patricia Smith. The defense team for Alexander Christopher Ewing filed a motion early this morning. They argued that Ewing “was not competent to stand trial.” That motions will remain sealed until further notice. This does mean that the content is not public and therefore, we […]
Patricia Smith Trial Day 1
Today, the long-awaited trial against Alexander Christopher Ewing started for the rape-murder of Patricia Louise Smith. Ewing is represented by Katherine Powers Spengler. The State left no doubt about it: it will show all the similarities between the Bennett Family Murders and the rape-murder of Patricia Smith. In Aug 2021, Ewing was found guilty and […]
Barbara Blatnik: suspect dead
The suspect in the 1987 rape-murder of Barbara Blatnik has passed away of natural causes on Aug 24, 2021. James Zastawnik (69) was going to trial on October 22, 2021. He was free on $35,000 bond and per court conditions, lived with family. Cause of death: cancer. Due to Covid19, many trials have been rescheduled. […]
Bennett Family Murders: three life sentences
Yesterday, Aug 17, District Judge Darren Vahle sentenced Alexander Christopher Ewing to three life sentences, one for each member of the Bennett Family. Ewing was found guilty on Aug 6, 2021 in the 1984 Bennett family Murders in Aurora, Colorado. Ewing didn’t speak during his sentencing hearing. The life sentences will be served consecutively. As […]
Arrested: Michael Scott Glazebrook
A reader alerted me that the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office had posted that Michael Scott Glazebrook had been arrested August 15, 2021. He is held on 1 mio bond. This has to be in connection to the 1981 murder of Sonia Carmen Herok Stone. However, as there is nothing else in the media we will […]
Bennett Family Murders: Jury Impasse
UPDATE: the jury found Alexander Christopher Ewing guilty on all six counts ( three counts of first-degree murder after deliberation and three counts of first-degree felony murder) on Friday August 6, 2021. Ewing faces life imprisonment however, he will be sentenced under the law as it was at the time of the crime. In 1984, […]
Bennett Family Murders: the prosecution rests
The case against Alexander Christopher Ewing (60) comes down to forensic evidence. The state pointed to DNA found at the crime scene. The crime scene is the Bennett Family home where 3 out of 4 family members were murdered in January 1984. All four family members were assaulted, only one survived. In the papers, the […]
Elodie Kulik: Barton sentence upheld
On July 1, 2021 the North Assize Court of Appeal in Douai, France, confirmed the 2019 verdict of the lower court that sentenced Willy Bardon to 30 years in prison. Bardon was accused, convicted, and sentenced for the 2002 kidnapping, confinement, rape, and murder of Elodie Kulik. One of the conflicting points was that the […]
Karen Kaye Knippers identified
We called her the Pulaski County Jane Doe as for 40 years, we didn’t know her name. Now we do: Karen Kaye Knippers. From KCRG: “Three Sheriffs, J.B. King, Ronald Long, and current Sheriff Jimmy Bench continued searching for answers through the years, along with Coroner Mikel Hartness, who got a court order in 2015 […]
Zeigler, at long last: DNA testing
A motion was filed today by the William Thomas Zeigler defense team with the approval of the Orange County State Attorney’s office for DNA testing. It still needs a judge’s approval however, these joint motions are seldom denied. But, as we have been asking for DNA testing since 1994, I will not be able to […]
Sophie Sergie: cyber attacks
The pretrial evidence hearings in the 1993 murder of Sophie Sergie are delayed till further notice. Why? The Alaska court system’s cybersecurity has been breached. Nobody is safe from cyber attacks. About two weeks ago, the Alaska court system was forced offline. Without internet connection, no Zoom. Steven H. Downs, charged with Sophie Sergie’s murder, […]
Update Thomas Chan
The Case of the Month that closed the year 2016, was dedicated to Thomas Chan. I wrote I wished that I could post a headshot from Thomas, instead of one of my generic grieving angels. Now I can, thanks to Molly Ann. She was Tommy’s fiancé. Molly Ann generously shared case information, personal details, and […]