The Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office reports that Robert Dwane Washburn’s attorney asked for an appointment to change his client’s plea. “The expectation would be that Washburn changes his plea to guilty on January 25 at 1:30 pm.” No details about a plea agreement are known but Washburn will not face the death penalty if he is […]
The Girls are Gone by M. Brodkorb & A. Mann
The Girls are Gone by Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann tells the story of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, two teenage sisters, who vanished on April 19, 2013 while their parents Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki battled each other in court over custody and other elements of their divorce. I announced the release of the book […]
The Last days of Night by Graham Moore
I just watched an episode of the Big Bang Theory where Leonard, Howard, and Sheldon take a closer look at themselves to see who amongst them is Edison and who resembles Tesla. With that discussion in mind, I wondered through my local book store and saw Moore’s book. Westinghouse, Edison, Tesla. I flipped to the […]
Hope for William Thomas Zeigler
The Tampa bay Times announced Jan 3, 2019 that the Florida State Attorney’s office is “taking a fresh look” at the 1975 case of William Thomas Zeigler. Whether that fresh look is indeed an official review does not become clear in the article. However, we finally have a Florida state representative who “wants to introduce […]
Sandra Kay Ross (Feb 6, 1952 – missing Jan 8, 1984)
On January 8, 1984 Sandra Kay Ross disappeared from Apex, Wake County, North Carolina. She was 31 years old and the mother of a young daughter. Her case was entered into the NamUs database on July 15, 2009 (#MP2482 link below). There is very little information online about Sandra’s case except for some repeated content. […]
Michelle Martinko: background information
Jerry Lynn Burns is facing first-degree murder charges for the Dec 20, 1979 murder of Michelle Martinko. He is held at the Linn County Jail (Iowa). Burns Burns has his own company Advanced Coating Concepts in Delaware County, Iowa. It is a powder-coating shop but they are also a Hustler turf equipment dealer. Burns was […]
Happy Holidays
The end of 2018 is approaching fast. As always, I am grateful for my readers’ continued support. You share so many cases online, it really helps to get the victims’ stories out. I also wish to thank everyone who emailed me with newspaper clippings, images, memories, missed details, typos, book recommendations, cases suggestions so the […]
Arrest in 1979 murder of Michelle Martinko
Michelle Martinko was found dead on Dec. 20, 1979. She was repeatedly stabbed most notably in her face and chest. Police discovered her body in the family Buick in the parking lot of the Westdale Mall, Cedar rapids, Iowa. Police said there was no sign of a sexual assault, but she had wounds that indicated […]
Vickie Lynn Harrell, more information
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 […]
Update 1982 murder of 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. […]