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Defrosting Cold Cases

Est. 2009

  • Cold Case Database: Index and Summaries
    • Index
      • Cases Index A-G
      • Cases Index H-N
      • Cases Index O-Z
    • Summaries
      • Case Summaries A-G
      • Case Summaries H-N
      • Case Summaries O-Z
  • Two Research Methods
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  • Case of the Month (2014 – 2024)
  • Book Reviews

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

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 2

September 29, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Day two covering the trial in the Netherlands in the 1998 unsolved case of Nicky Verstappen (11) who went missing from summer camp. Nicky was found dead 40 hours later. His body was a kilometer away from camp in an area where Christmas trees are grown for wholesale. All posts about Verstappen can be found […]

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

Nicky Verstappen, case on trial

September 28, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Today the trial started in the Netherlands in the unsolved case of Nicky Verstappen. Appearing in court: Jos Brech. Brech is charged with abduction, possession of child pornography, and qualified manslaughter. Now, in court, Brech revealed that he didn’t kill Verstappen. When he found him, he was already dead. My translation from articles in the […]

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

Small Towns by Mitzi Szereto

September 22, 2020 By Alice

The Best New True Crime Stories Small Towns Mitzi Szereto

‘Small Towns” is the next book in the series ‘The Best New True Crime Stories‘ which is of course, the anthology series edited by Mitzi Szereto. You have seen a review of the first book ‘Serial Killers’ here as well. Serial Killers was quite an opening act for a series and that raises the bar for […]

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Reviews, Mitzi Szereto

John William Pennington, an update

September 16, 2020 By Alice

John William Pennington/Ohio AG Office

Thanks to a reader, we have a little more information in the 1985 unsolved case of John William Pennington. It comes from the insurance claims and appeals that John’s wife Peggy filed to seek recovery of reasonable costs as a results of John William Pennington‘s accidental and tragic death. The case is here. From the […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: John William Pennington, Knife Attack, Ohio

Mary Emma Bisenthal Hammond: update

September 7, 2020 By Alice

Mary Emma Hammond Grid AdS

Thanks to one of my readers we get this update in the case of Mary Emma Bisenthal Hammond. Brantford Police is asking for your help. Can you identify and/or locate any of the four unknown persons in the pictures below? These are previously unreleased photographs.  Investigators would like to speak with the unidentified persons regarding […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Missing Persons Tagged With: Canada, Mary Emma Bisenthal Hammond, Missing Person, Ontario

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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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