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You are here: Home / Archives for M-Vac Systems

M-Vac Systems

Lakota Rae Renville (1983 – 2005)

April 1, 2021 By Alice

Lakota Rae Renville Grid AdS

Lakota Rae Renville (July 6, 1983 – Oct 16, 2005) was only 22 years old when her body was found on Oct 16, 2005. Her remains were in an open gravel lot near Pitcher Road, Independence, Missouri. Lakota,  a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux tribe of South Dakota, was the daughter of Julie Keeble Watts […]

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Filed Under: Case of the Month, Unsolved Tagged With: Case of the Month, Lakota Rae Renville, M-Vac Systems, Missouri, stabbing death

Helen Ruth Conwright Young (1936–1976)

March 19, 2021 By Alice

Helen Ruth Conwright Young colour picture

Helen Ruth Conwright Young (Aug 31, 1936 – July 31, 1976) was born in Ore City, Texas, to the Rev. Freddie D. Conwright and Mrs. Luella Jane Walker Conwright. She left behind husband Roy Young , eight sons, and one daughter. She had five brothers and nine sisters. Her case is unsolved. The Case Helen […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: DNA, Helen Ruth Conwright Young, M-Vac Systems, suffocation, Texas

Sophie Sergie: Hearing Day 5

March 11, 2021 By Alice

Sophie Sergie tiled background

Jennifer Foster, an Alaska Crime Lab supervisor, testified March 10, 2021 by video during the pretrial hearings in the case of Sophie Sergie who was raped-murdered on April 25, 1993. Steven H. Downs is charged in her sexual assault and murder and appeared in the Alaska Superior Court, Fairbanks. He is represented by defense attorney […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: Alaska, DNA, M-Vac Systems, Sophie Sergie

The Peterson Murders

February 15, 2021 By Alice

The Peterson Murders

Henry W. and Ann M. Peterson were found murdered in their two-bedroom apartment around 10am on April 3, 1978. They worked as on-site residential managers of the 36-unit Canterbury Apartment complex on 875 Liberty St, SE in Salem, Oregon. Henry Peterson had retired from the US Army Corps of Engineers. They were ‘avid bowlers, square […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: Ann M. Peterson, arson, Henry W. Peterson, Knife Attack, M-Vac Systems, Oregon, salem, the Petersons, touch DNA

John David Watson Jr (1959 – 1974)

February 12, 2021 By Alice

John David Watson Jr.

John David Watson Jr (Oct 18, 1959 – May 2, 1974) was fourteen years old when he left his home in Wheeler, Pennsylvania, around 9pm on May 2, 1974. He never came back home. He was found murdered on May 3, 1974. His murder was never solved. While reading up on his case, I found […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: gun powder residu, gunshots, John David Watson, M-Vac Systems, Pennsylvania, touch DNA

Sophie Sergie: Hearing Day 4

February 6, 2021 By Alice

Sophie Sergie tiled background

On Friday, Feb 5, the evidence hearings in the 1993 murder of Sophie Sergie continued. Gun Steven H. Downs’ former girlfriend Katherine deSchweinitz Lee testified through videoconference in court: according to her Steve did not own a gun during the years they dated at Alaska State University (ASU) and they dated for about 4 years. […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: Alaska, DNA, M-Vac Systems, Sophie Sergie, touch DNA

M-Vac, a cold case murder, and a true crime show

May 22, 2020 By Alice

JB and M-Vac in BYU Mag

Please welcome back to DCC, guest blogger Jared Bradley. As you know, Jared is the President and CEO of M-Vac Systems, Inc. What you may not know is that he served 14 years with the US Army and Army Reserves, achieving the rank of Captain.  Since leading M-Vac Systems into the forensic market, Jared had […]

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Filed Under: Guest Bloggers Tagged With: DNA, Jared Bradley, Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch, M-Vac Systems, Utah

Teresa Sue Hilt’s 45th anniversary

August 4, 2018 By Alice

Teresa Sue Hilt uniform

August 4th, 2018, marks the 45th anniversary of Teresa Sue Hilt’s murder. Working on her case has been a roller coaster. Mildred, Teresa’s mom, was very grateful for what we did to keep her only child’s case in the media. She passed away in March 2016. I spoke with her about Tess. She told me about […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: Bardole DNA Collection Method, DNA, M-Vac Systems, Missouri, Missouri State University, monilethrix, stabbing death, Strangulation, Teresa Sue Hilt

Cold cases and the M-Vac

February 26, 2018 By Alice

JB and M-Vac in BYU Mag

Please welcome back guest blogger Jared Bradley. Jared will give us an overview of exciting developments in the field of cold cases and the M-Vac. _________________________________ Guest blogging is always full of pressure, but writing for Alice’s Defrosting Cold Cases takes it to a whole new level. Like all of you, I thoroughly enjoy reading […]

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Filed Under: Forensics Tagged With: DNA, Jared Bradley, M-Vac Systems, touch DNA

OPP still needs help in Karen Caughlin case

December 14, 2017 By Alice

Karen Caughlin

In the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) latest press conference they told the public that Karen Caughlin was most likely unintentionally killed by a motorist in 1974. The papers called it “shedding a new light on the case” but I disagree. We already knew she was struck by a car. The question is was it unintentional or not. […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: Canada, hit-and-run, Karen Caughlin, M-Vac Systems, OPP, Sarnia

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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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