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You are here: Home / Archives for Unsolved

Unsolved

Neosho Grace Doe is Shawna Beth Garber

April 5, 2021 By Alice

Shawna Beth Garber facial reconstruction

Now officially identified as Shawna Beth Garber (born March 1, 1968) she was known as the ‘McDonald County Grace Doe’ and on my website as Neosho Grace Doe. Why did I give her that name? After her remains were recovered, Detective Lorie Howard sent them to Freeman Hospital in Neosho and the scans were sent […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics, Unsolved Tagged With: Forensic Genealogy, Missouri, Neosho Grace Doe, Shawna Beth Garber, Unidentified

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 6

March 12, 2021 By Alice

Sophie Sergie black and white version

Central Maine reports that on Thursday, the hearings in the 1993 rape-murder of Sophie Sergie continued by video conference. Steven H. Downs attended. He is charged in this case. We heard from CeCe Moore, the chief genetic genealogist with Parabon NanoLabs. She matched part of the DNA found in semen to a profile in GEDmatch. […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: Alaska, DNA, phenotyping, Sophie Sergie

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

Rita Hester (Nov 30, 1963 – Nov 28, 1998)

February 28, 2021 By Alice

Rita Hester

The murder of Rita Hester launched the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). It is an annual vigil that takes place on Nov 20 for transgender homicide victims and their loved ones. That day, we honour the memory of the transgender people we lost due to senseless acts of anti-transgender violence. Maybe the mainstream media is […]

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Filed Under: Case of the Month, Unsolved Tagged With: Boston, Case of the Month, Gay/Trans Panic Defense, Knife Attack, Massachusetts, Rita Hester, Transgender Violence

Gun Violence

February 21, 2021 By Alice

Every year, too many people die of gun violence. Too many of those cases do not get solved. I want to highlight two cases here. Searching in newspaper archives, I have found little that can solve either. So, this is a post with two cases as works-in-progress. I could have kept them as drafts however, that […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: gun violence, Jesus Daniel Corona-Paredes, Kansas, Kansas City, Kentucky, Louisville, Thomas Dwayne Everett

Emily Johanne Carmela Starkloff

February 19, 2021 By Alice

Emily Starkloff

Emily Johanne Carmela Starkloff (Feb 23, 1989- May 5, 2008) was just nineteen years old when she died. That is way too soon for a person to leave earth. Cause of death: a hit-and-run killing. The driver never stopped, never came forward, and was never found. How you can live with yourself knowing that you […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: Emily Johanne Carmela Starkloff, hit-and-run, Missouri, Saint Louis

Donald Ray Watson (1953 – 1978)

February 18, 2021 By Alice

Donald Ray Watson

Donald Ray Watson (nickname Buddy) was 25 years old when he was killed. Buddy (March 13, 1953 – April 20, 1978) was on his way home from work. He was a husband to Brenda Faye Watson and a father to three young children. He worked in the Southeastern Kentucky coal mines. Buddy was ambushed and […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: Donald Ray Watson, Gun Fire, Kentucky

DeAngelo moves to Corcoran State Prison

February 18, 2021 By Alice

Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr Grid AdS

Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. aka the Golden State Killer (now 75 years old) has found his forever home at Corcoran State Prison. The Sun Gazette reports that Mr. DeAngelo will remain in the Protective Housing Unit. It is a section for prisoners who cannot be housed in the general population because they need ‘special protection.’ […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: EARONS, Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo Jr.

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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.

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Alice de Sturler
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