The Murder of Nico Saraceni

Nico Saraceni was only 29 years-old when his life was tragically taken on October 10th, 2022.

The young man was killed outside of his New Haven, Connecticut apartment. That evening, Nico was seen smoking a cigarette in front of his building shortly before 9:30 PM. Minutes later, witnesses say that a person described as "a tall Black man wearing a grey sweatsuit" approached Nico and stabbed him to death. To this day, Nico's killer has never been apprehended or even identified.

Prior to his untimely death, Nico was a student majoring in interdisciplinary studies at Southern Connecticut State University. His loved ones described him as a creative type who enjoyed writing poetry. Nico was also known to be a film buff; his family members stated that he had an "encyclopedic knowledge of cinema." A motive for his killing remains unknown.

Days after Nico's murder, New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson addressed the public, stating "At this point in the investigation, it appears as if this was not a random act of violence. I do not believe there is a threat to the public at this time.” However, no other information about the status of the investigation has been provided.

It's worth noting that there have also been contradictory statements about whether or not Nico's murder was, in fact, a targeted attack. On the one-year anniversary of his death, the New Haven Independent reported that "city police and the family of the late 29-year-old Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) student are still looking for answers a who committed such a tragic act of apparently random violence." It's unknown if this discrepancy is just a mistake or slip up on words, or if investigators found new information that implies that his death was completely random. 

Years have passed, and Nico's murder has unfortunately grown into a cold case. There is a $25,000 reward available in exchange for information that could help solve the murder. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the New Haven Cold Case Unit at 1-866-623-8058 or cold.case@ct.gov.

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Sources:
CT Cold Cases
CT Missing People
New Haven Independent
WFSB

The Murder of Brittney Briggs

 

Brittney Briggs was only 24 years-old when her life was tragically taken inside her Las Vegas, Nevada home. The young mother was found murdered inside her residence on February 10th, 2017. To this day, Brittney's killer(s) have still not been brought to justice.

According to the LVMPD, friends of Brittney began to worry on February 10th after they learned she had not shown up to a pre-arranged appointment. The friends went to Brittney's residence on Spindrift Court and called police as well. It was then that police discovered Brittney deceased inside the home. Brittney's daughter, who was only 3 years-old at the time, was found crying, but otherwise physically unharmed in her own bedroom. 

Brittney had been brutally attacked by her killer(s). An autopsy revealed that she died from blunt force trauma and strangulation. Brittney's home also appeared to have been ransacked, as several items were missing from the residence. Despite this, investigators did not find any signs of forced entry at the scene. 

While investigating Brittney's murder, detectives learned she had recently started a new job as a tax preparer shortly before her death. Additionally, detectives also learned that Brittney "often sold items online and unknown person(s) were known to come and go from her residence." Police noted that it's possible that Brittney's assailant was someone who arrived at the home under the guise of buying something.

Although she was only three years old at the time, Brittney's daughter was still able to provide some details about what she saw before her mother was murdered. The young girl told investigators that "someone told her to be quiet and put a blanket over her head." The frightened young girl remained in her bedroom until police later arrived at the home.

Brittney's death has been a devastating loss for her loved ones, especially as her murder remains unsolved. Her family is still hoping to receive answers and closure. If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Brittney Briggs, please contact the LVMPD’s Homicide Section at (702) 828-3521 or submit a tip online.

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Sources:
LVMPD Cold Cases
LVMPD Facebook

News 3 LV

The Disappearance of Melanie Quadros

 

Melanie Ann Quadros vanished at the age of 27 on January 18th, 2010. The young woman resided in Lowell, Massachusetts at the time of her disappearance. She was last seen walking her Pomeranian dog on Bridge Street. Melanie never returned home; both she and her dog have never been seen or heard from again. Melanie was reported missing by her mother on January 25th, 2010. 

Many reports about Melanie's case state that Melanie was "en route to meet someone" when she was seen walking her dog on the evening of her disappearance. However, none of these reports name the person she planned to meet. At this point in the investigation, authorities have not shared whether or not they are aware of this person's identity.

Melanie reportedly had an active arrest warrant for car theft at the time she went missing. Due to this, authorities initially thought she vanished on her own accord. Melanie's loved ones have never believed she would voluntarily stay out of touch with her family. Now that several years have passed without answers regarding Melanie's whereabouts, detectives have classified her case as an endangered missing person investigation. 

Melanie's mother, Maria Tetiva, has shared that Melanie suffered from substance abuse disorder. She reportedly had been to rehabilitation facilities a few times throughout her young adulthood, but unfortunately still struggled with addiction. Despite these struggles, Tetiva shared that she and Melanie still kept in touch often. In fact, Tetitva stated that the two spoke on the phone around 5:30 PM on the day of Melanie's disappearance. During the call, Melanie asked if her mother if she could borrow a heating pad for her back pain. According to Tetiva, nothing seemed unusual during their conversation. 

On February 21st, 2010 - approximately one month after Melanie's disappearance - a woman who reportedly sounded like Melanie called into radio station WJMN 94.5 in Boston to request a song dedication to her boyfriend. The radio station did not have a record of where the call originated, so it was untraceable. Reports indicate that Melanie did have a boyfriend, but he was incarcerated at the time and was unable to provide any information about her disappearance. He reportedly told police he could not think of where she would have gone. 

It appears that leads regarding Melanie's disappearance have been followed over the years, but nothing has ever panned out. She remains missing today, and her case has unfortunately grown cold. Melanie's loved ones are still hoping to one day receive answers.

If you have any information that could solve the disappearance of Melanie Quadros, please contact the Lowell Police Department at (978) 937-3244.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Disappeared Blog
The Doe Network
Lowell Sun
NamUs

The Disappearance of Rebecca Paulk

 

Rebecca Paulk has been missing since September 8th, 2015. The then-26-year-old was last seen by her parents the previous day, at their home in Demopolis, Alabama. Rebecca left her parents' residence to drive to Meridian, Mississippi - an approximate hour-long drive away from Demopolis. Rebecca's family could have never imagined that this would be the last time they'd ever see her - but unfortunately, Rebecca never returned home.

It's confirmed that Rebecca made it to Meridian after leaving her parents' house. Once there, she gathered with friends at the home of John Bentley Poisso Jr. The following day, surveillance cameras captured Poisso and Rebecca together at a gas station in Meridian. This is the last known sighting of Rebecca; she has never been seen or heard from again. 

On September 9th, 2015, Rebecca's car was found abandoned on a logging road in Whynot, Alabama - an area right along the Alabama/Mississippi border. Many of her personal items, including her iPad, computer, and purse were found inside the vehicle. Her phone was found approximately 100 yards away from the car, in front of nearby woods. 

Once police determined that the car belonged to Rebecca Paulk, they contacted her mother to notify them about the discovery of the vehicle. Rebecca's mother told police she had not heard from her daughter and did not know her whereabouts. Rebecca's parents subsequently filed a missing persons' report. 

While investigating Rebecca's disappearance, police obtained the surveillance footage from the Meridian gas station where she was seen with John Poisso Jr. It appears that Poisso was the last known person to have seen Rebecca. As such, Poisso was questioned extensively, and his residence was searched. However, investigators were unable to find any evidence directly linking Poisso to Rebecca's disappearance.

Poisso was later convicted of drug charges unrelated to Rebecca's case. In August 2025 - almost 10 years after Rebecca vanished - Poisso passed away in prison. Although investigators were never able to charge him with anything related to Rebecca's disappearance, it is still believed that he had information that would have been helpful to the case. However, investigators also believe there are several other people "who were associating with her at the time had connections to the area her stuff was found in." Despite this, no other persons of interest have ever been publicly identified. 

Rebecca remains missing today. In September 2025, it was announced that there is a $31,000 reward in exchange for information that could help solve her case. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Marengo County District Attorney’s Office at 334-289-2149 or the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office at 601-482-9806.

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Sources:
Charley Project

Dateline
Meridian Star
NamUs

The Murder of Kristin Alice Schmidt

Source: Oregon State Police

During the early-morning hours of June 26th, 2003, a camper at Hilgard State Park in Oregon awoke to a strange noise at the campsite. The camper looked outside of her tent but did not see anything; likely because it was still dark outside. Her wristwatch stated it was only 3:15 AM. 

A few hours later, around 6:00 AM, the camper exited her tent. She was then able to see over a nearby 50-foot embankment off Interstate 84. At the bottom of that embankment, the camper spotted something unexpected: the body of an adult woman. Police were called, and first responders officially declared that the woman was deceased. 

It took a few days, but investigators eventually identified the deceased woman as Kristin Alice Schmidt - a 22-year-old from San Luis Obispo, California. Kristin had been a victim of both sexual assault and homicidal violence. An autopsy confirmed that her death was caused by strangulation. 

While investigating Kristin's murder, detectives learned that she left San Luis Obispo for Oregon via Amtrak on June 16th, 2003. A report from the early stages of the investigation states that it was "not known whether [Kristin] was traveling alone or if she had a destination in mind." What is known is that she seemingly spent the next several days, up until her death, in Oregon.

In fact, Kristin was reportedly seen hitchhiking at Troutdale on June 25th, 2003 - the evening before she was found deceased. It's believed that Kristin was assaulted and killed elsewhere before her body was dumped at the park. Troutdale is located over 230 miles away from Hilgard State Park - an approximate two and a half hour's drive. This has left investigators with a long trail to follow in order to retrace Kristin's final hours.  

Investigators believe that the strange sound that awoke the camper at Hilgard State Park at 3:15 AM was the sound of Kristin's body and her backpack being thrown over the embankment. However, they still do not know who did this to Kristin, or why. There has been speculation that Kristin fell victim to a serial killer, but an exact suspect or person of interest has never been publicly identified.

Kristin's murder remains unsolved today. Although the case is considered cold, it is still open and being investigated by the Oregon State Police. If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Kristin Schmidt, please contact authorities at OSP.CCU@osp.oregon.gov. 

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Sources:
East Oregonian 
LaGrande Observer, (2)
Oregon State Police

The Murder of Nicole Ganguzza

 

Nicole Ganguzza had many things to look forward to during June 2008. The 26-year-old woman was a graduate student at University of Central Florida and was close to finishing her master's degree in marriage and family therapy. Additionally, Nicole had recently gotten married and was looking forward to starting a family with her new husband. Unfortunately, none of those exciting things ever got to happen, as Nicole's life was tragically taken on June 10th, 2008. 

The day of Nicole's murder began as a typical one. Nicole attended class at the Orlando university, finishing around 5:30 PM. Shortly thereafter, she called her new husband, Brendan Ganguzza, to tell him that she was going jogging at the nearby Jay Blanchard Park. 

Brendan began to worry around 7:00 PM, after he could no longer reach Nicole via phone. He then went to the park himself to search for his wife. Brendan searched unsuccessfully for about 2 hours before calling the police to report Nicole's disappearance.

Authorities searched for Nicole until 1:00 AM without any success. Around 60 people returned the following day to continue the search, during which Nicole's body was discovered around 5:15 PM. It was clear that she had been attacked and dragged off the trail by her assailant. Authorities later confirmed that Nicole died by strangulation. 

Reports note that Blanchard Park was not Nicole's usual jogging spot. However, it is a popular jogging spot amongst Orlando locals. A 2008 report on Nicole's murder states that authorities believe Nicole's killer was a "stranger who had lain in wait on the jogging trail for the appropriate situation to occur." It was noted that two other women had been attacked on the same trail in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Both women escaped their attacker.

Shortly after Nicole's murder, a man named Clemente F. Garcia was arrested in connection to the 2007 attack. The arrest came after the then-20-year-old Garcia's DNA matched DNA found on the victim from 2007. At the time of Garcia's arrest, authorities stated that they hoped to question him in Nicole's case.

In March 2009, it was reported that police executed a search warrant "on the mobile home of a man who is considered a person of interest in the case." However, over 15 years have passed since that reporting, and no arrests have ever been made in Nicole's case. No suspects have ever been publicly identified. 

The murder of Nicole Ganguzza remains unsolved today. The Orange County Sheriff's Department has investigative agency over the case. If you have any information that could help solve Nicole's case, please contact authorities at (407) 254-7000.

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Sources:
CNN 

Fatherhood Channel

NJ Online
Orlando Sentinel

The Disappearance of Rio Boyd

 

Rio Boyd has been missing since October 17th, 2022. The then-21-year-old was last seen in Spanaway, Washington. On the evening of her disappearance, Rio left her home around 6:00 PM - presumably to walk to a friend's house - and seemingly vanished into thin air. She never returned and has never been seen or heard from again.

Later that evening, a man walking his dog approximately two blocks away from Rio's home located a cell phone on the side of the road. It was later determined that the phone belonged to Rio. The phone was brand new, and Rio's loved ones do not believe she would purposely leave it in the spot where it was found. 

Family and friends have never believed that Rio left on her own accord. She left behind many personal items such as her wallet, identification, and house keys. Rio also left behind her pet dog, whom she loved. By all accounts, it appears that Rio intended to return home that evening. Whatever happened that prevented her from doing so remains a mystery to this day. 

During the early stages of the investigation, detectives asked residents in the area to check their surveillance cameras for footage between October 17th and 19th to see if any clues could be provided. It's unclear if any footage was uncovered that was significant to the investigation. Rio's family continues to keep in touch with investigators; her father has praised the lead detective for following up on leads.

Unfortunately, at this time, none of those leads have led to Rio's whereabouts. The young woman remains missing today. She is described as a white woman, approximately 5'6" inches, with brown hair and blue eyes. She also has a tattoo of a car on her left forearm. 

If you have any information that could help solve the disappearance of Rio Boyd, please contact the Pierce County Sheriff's Office at 253-798-7530 or submit a tip online.

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Sources:
Charley Project

King 5 News
KOMO News

MPIA