The Disappearance and Murder of Heather Szekeres

 

Heather Szekeres disappeared in Shawano, Wisconsin during the early morning hours of June 22nd, 2013. The then-32-year-old was last seen by family and friends at a local bar called Final Lap. Heather lived just yards away from the bar, in a downtown apartment that she shared with her husband, Rob Szekeres, and their infant daughter. 

Heather's mother, Laurie Waddell, lived with the couple as well.

Laurie was at Final Lap with Heather on the evening of June 21st but left the bar around 1:00 AM. Heather decided to stay behind. Reports state she was later seen leaving the bar around 2:00 AM - but she unfortunately never made it home. Heather's husband Rob reported her missing two days later. 

The investigation into Heather's disappearance had a slow start. Initially, the Shawano Police made it clear that they believed Heather was voluntarily missing. They cited that it was not unusual for Heather to leave home for periods of time -which is reportedly why her husband waited two days to report her missing. 

Police reiterated this belief at the six-month mark of Heather's disappearance, despite the fact that there had been absolutely no sign of Heather. After that, the case went cold. Police gave very few updates, and news about Heather's case was scarce. 

In May of 2014, human remains were found in a wooded area behind Peach Road. The remains were located in an area 2.5 miles away from Final Lap, where Heather was last seen. Due to this, many speculated that the remains belonged to her. It took nearly a year for a positive identification, but in April 2015, it was confirmed that the remains did, in fact, belong to Heather Szekeres. An autopsy was unable to determine her exact cause of death, but her manner of death was labeled a homicide.

Heather's loved ones were shocked and inevitably devastated by the news of her death. Many began to criticize the Shawano Police Department for not organizing search parties after Heather was reported missing. Many also began to speculate about who might have been responsible for Heather's death. A closer look into Heather's life around the time of her disappearance reveals a couple different theories.

-

Looking into the spouse.

In 99.9% of missing persons and murder cases, investigators look into the spouse/significant other of the victim. Heather's case was no exception, even though Shawano Police initially thought that she was voluntarily missing. Just a few weeks after Heather's disappearance, Rob Szekeres posted on Facebook that he had been questioned and had cooperated with police. He also wrote that he, too, believed that Heather had left him. 

Rob Szekeres

Rob also seemingly responded to criticisms that he was not actually looking for his wife. He wrote, "I love my wife dearly and wish she would just come home. I have a very demanding job that I have to keep doing in order to support my daughter. If I could, I'd be home everyday helping everyone with locating my wife but I can't."

Rob remained adamant that he was not a suspect in Heather's case. However, the couple had faced some serious marital struggles in the months leading up to Heather's disappearance. In 2012, the couple separated amidst a pile of financial troubles. In October 2012, Heather sued Rob for child support. Court documents state that they had been separated for months by that point--but by December 2012, they were seemingly back together. 

On December 5th, 2012, Heather called 911 to report Rob for domestic violence. When an officer arrived at their apartment, Heather said that she and Rob were arguing when he grabbed a pillow and struck her in the face with the zipper on the pillowcase. Heather's injuries were minor, but she still decided to press charges. She stated that Rob had been physical with her in the past and she wanted to put an end to it. In January 2013, Rob was given a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence battery and was fined $506. 

By June 2013, it appeared that Rob and Heather's relationship was in a better place. In fact, Heather posted a picture of her and Rob to her Facebook page just hours before she vanished.

Although Rob insisted that he had nothing to do with Heather's disappearance, some still speculated that he might know more than he is letting on. Some also felt he did not seem to care that his wife was gone. By the time Heather's body was found in 2014, Rob had relocated to Indiana. 

In April 2015 - the same month that Heather's remains were identified - Rob posted on Facebook that he and his new girlfriend had moved to Michigan. Many found it odd that Rob had moved and seemingly moved on with his life during the time that his wife was believed to be missing. Despite all of this, investigators stated in 2015 that Rob is not a suspect in the case.

Rob with their daughter at Final Lap

Another person of interest.

Before Heather's disappearance, she and Rob were regular patrons at Final Lap. The bar was managed by a man named Darwin Davis. Heather was acquainted with Davis and saw him frequently while at the bar. In December 2012, Davis was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in the basement of Final Lap. He later pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges.

Darwin Davis

Heather Szekeres was on the list of potential witnesses who could have been called to testify against Davis during his trial. With this in mind, it's clear that Davis could have seen this as a motive to harm Heather. Various reports state that Davis was out on bond at the time of Heather's disappearance, which gives him opportunity as well. 

When Davis finally did go to trial, both Rob Szekeres and Heather's mother Laurie ending up testifying against him. Both stated that Davis admitted to sexually assaulting the teenager. Davis was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. 

Information from Darwin Davis's ex-wife.

Many have speculated that Davis could be involved in Heather's murder. Davis's ex-wife, Sheila, is among those who believe he is responsible. In 2023, Sheila commented on this write-up and provided more insight. 

According to Sheila's comments, Heather and Davis were having an affair prior to Heather's disappearance. As such, Sheila says, Heather actually originally planned to lie on the stand when she was due to testify against Davis. Heather later changed her mind shortly before her disappearance. 

This inevitably leads to even more suspicions against Darwin Davis. However, at this time he has not been charged with anything related to Heather's case. Still, investigators have also not publicly ruled him out.

Where the case stands today.

Investigators have told reporters that they have a suspect, but they have not revealed the suspect's identity. It's possible that Davis is, in fact, their suspect--but this remains unclear. Years passed without any media updates on Heather's case. 

In 2024, it was announced that Shawano County sheriff's officials and the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation returned to the site near Highway MMM where Heather's body was found. The search was reportedly sparked by new leads, and investigators reportedly found new evidence. At this time, there is no further information about the search.

If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Shawano Police Department at (715) 524-4545.

-

Sources:

Green Bay Press Gazette

Antigo Buzz

New Media Inc

NBC 26

The Murder of Ashley Smylie

 

On March 19th, 2024, 40-year-old Ashley Smylie was tragically shot and killed in her home in Brandon, Mississippi. Her death has left the Rankin County community in shock and mourning, as Ashley was a beloved teacher at Northwest Rankin High School. The shock deepened when it was revealed that the person responsible for her death was her own teenage daughter, Carly Madison Gregg.

Carly, only 14 years old at the time of the incident, shot her mother in her bedroom. Later that evening, as her stepfather, Heath Smylie, entered their house, Carly shot him as well, striking him in the shoulder. Despite his injury, Heath managed to wrestle the gun away from her. Carly then fled the scene. 

Shortly thereafter, Heath found Ashley's body on the floor of Carly's bedroom. He then called 9-1-1 to report the shootings. Police later found Carly near the home and took her into custody. 

Source: WJTV

Carly was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and tampering with evidence. According to reports at the time of her arrest, she had killed her mother, attempted to kill her stepfather, and hidden the home's security cameras in an effort to conceal the crime. It was further announced that Carly would be tried as an adult on all charges.

Ashley's death has been a devastating loss for her family, friends, and students. Many were left with questions, such as: why did Carly kill her own mother? And how could such a young girl commit such horrific crime? Months later, these questions and more were addressed as Carly's trial began in Rankin County.

An insanity defense.

Source: Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

In the opening statements, Carly’s defense team didn’t dispute that she had killed her mother and wounded her stepfather. However, they argued that Carly was battling an improperly treated mental illness at the time, which clouded her judgment and actions. According to the defense, Carly never harbored any true intent to harm either her mother or stepfather.

"This is not a who-dun-it case. We know who took action on March 19 to bring about the death of Ashley Smylie and the injuries to Heath Smylie," defense attorney Bridget Todd told the courtroom. "This is a why case."

The events leading up to the murder.

The prosecution, on the other hand, presented a very different story. Prior to Todd's opening statements, Mississippi state prosecutor Kathryn White Newman told the jury that Carly was leading a "secret life" that she wanted to keep hidden from her mother and stepfather. She reportedly had begun both smoking and vaping marijuana in the weeks leading up to the murder. Carly reportedly also was using "burner phones" and texting apps that she kept hidden from her parents. 

Prosecutor Newman also noted that Carly's new behaviors had raised alarms among her friends. One friend became so concerned that he contacted Carly’s mother to share his worries. That conversation occurred on the very same day as the murder.

Further testimony revealed that Ashley and Carly returned home that afternoon at 3:54 PM, as was typical during the week. By this time, it is believed that Ashley had already confronted Carly about her suspected marijuana use. Shortly after they arrived, Ashley went into Carly’s bedroom to search for evidence and reportedly discovered vape pens hidden in the room.

Shooting heard on camera.

A security camera in the family's kitchen captured the harrowing events that followed. While Ashley was still in Carly's room, the footage, which was shown during trial, showed Carly "walking from her parent's room with a hand behind her back, towards her bedroom. Seconds later a shot is heard, followed by screams, and then two additional shots." (Source: Vicksburg News).

Carly walking past kitchen, presumably with gun behind back. Source: WAPT

Moments later, Carly is seen walking back into the kitchen with her hands behind her back. She then places the concealed item on the counter and sits down on a bar stool. Seconds later, Carly picks up a phone from the counter and begins calmly typing a message.

According to testimony from Carly's stepfather, Heath, she was using her mother’s phone in this footage. She was reportedly sending text messages to Heath, pretending to be Ashley, asking when he would be home. Heath noted that the messages appeared to match Ashley's usual texting tone, and he did not suspect anything was wrong at the time he received the messages.

Carly texting from her mother's phone moments after the murder. (Law & Crime TV)

The friend witness and the attempted murder of Heath.

Heath testified that he received the text messages from who he believed was his wife around 4:14 PM. However, he didn’t return home until shortly after 5:00 PM. During that approximate 45-minute window, Carly sent messages from her own phone to two different friends, claiming she had an emergency and needed help.

One of the friends was dropped off at Carly’s house shortly after. Upon her arrival, Carly asked if she had ever seen a dead body and if she was "squeamish" around them. Carly then led her friend into her bedroom, where her mother’s lifeless body lay on the floor. She confessed to her friend, saying, "I put three in my mom, and I got three more waiting for my stepdad."

Surveillance footage from the home's garage shows that Heath arrived back at the residence around 5:03 PM. Heath testified about the moment Carly shot him, telling the jury, "When I opened the door to the kitchen, the gun went off in my face before the door was three or four inches wide open." He then explained that the gun went off two more times, but he was able to wrestle it away from Carly after the first shot - which grazed him in the shoulder.

Carly fled the scene shortly thereafter. Heath then discovered his body of his wife on Carly's bedroom floor. He subsequently called 9-1-1.

Carly's arrest and charges.

Police located Carly approximately half a mile from her home, where she was taken into custody without incident. Following her arrest, authorities announced that Carly would be charged as an adult with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and tampering with evidence.

Carly Gregg in court. (Source: WAPT)

The news of Ashley's murder and the subsequent arrest of her teenage daughter quickly garnered nationwide attention. Many were shocked by the idea that a young girl could commit such horrific crimes against her own mother and stepfather. While it’s not uncommon for teenagers to argue with their parents, it rarely escalates to the point of a child committing murder.

Both those close to Ashley and Carly, as well as strangers, were stunned by the tragedy. Many were also surprised that Carly, only 14 years old at the time, was being charged as an adult. During the trial, Carly's attorneys argued that her age, along with her improperly treated mental illness, played a significant role in her actions.

Professional testimony from both defense and prosecution.

Carly's defense called Psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Clark to testify about Carly's "mental state at the time of the offense and her resulting level of criminal culpability under Mississippi law." Dr. Clark stated that Carly was suffering from a mental health crisis at the time of the shootings and has "no memory whatsoever" of shooting her mother and stepfather. 

Testimony during the state's rebuttal contradicts Dr. Clark's assessment of Carly's mental state. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jason C. Pickett testified that he disagreed that Carly was legally insane at the time she shot her mother and stepfather. Carly's therapist also testified that Carly appeared emotional stable and their final session, which occurred just one day before the shootings. 

A guilty verdict and an adult sentence.

After a five-day trial, the jury found Carly guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and tampering with evidence. She was sentenced to life in prison for both the murder and attempted murder charges, with an additional 10 years for tampering with evidence.

Carly’s life sentence at the age of 15 has sparked widespread debate. Some believe that she deserves to spend the rest of her life in prison, while others argue that she can be rehabilitated and should receive a lesser sentence. This debate continues to unfold on various online forums.

An appeal.

In October 2024, it was reported that Carly’s defense team filed an appeal, requesting a new trial. The defense motion cites over a dozen reasons why Carly should receive another trial, including the claim that "witnesses necessary to establish Carly’s defense were improperly excluded from testifying at the trial" and that "witnesses were improperly restricted in the testimony they could provide in Carly’s defense." This suggests that the defense still aims to prove Carly was not legally sane at the time the crimes were committed.

Carly’s biological father, Kevin Gregg, spoke out after the trial. While he continues to support Carly, he denies that she was legally insane. He told reporters, "That girl knew right from wrong. That girl is not insane. That was a very dumb defense if you asked me, but I wasn’t involved. Nobody ever called me."

Where is Carly now?

Carly is currently being housed in the Youthful Offender Unit at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. Her appeal case is currently pending. 

-
Sources:
Court TV, (2)
Mississippi Clarion Ledger
NBC 15 News
Super Talk FM
Vicksburg News
WAPT 15
WDAM-TV

The Disappearance of Michael McClain

Michael McClain has been missing since April 21st, 2019. 

The then-29-year-old lived in Manchester, New Hampshire at the time of his disappearance, but he was last seen at a nightclub in nearby Nashua. Michael was at the club with friends when a fight broke out between two women. He reportedly knew one of the women, and he attempted to break up the fight when it escalated outside of the building. 

Police arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, which led the crowd of people to disperse in different directions. At that point, Michael's friends became separated from him. Michael's last known contact occurred shortly after the crowd dispersed. He called his boss shortly before 2:00 AM and stated, "They're after me. More than one." When his boss tried to call him back, there was no answer. 

Michael also sent three texts to a friend, stating "HELP LOL OUR”, “what stood aloof”, and “Eldridge bro”. The last text seemingly referenced Eldrige Street, which is located near the nightclub. Michael's friends reportedly attempted to find him and/or get in touch with him for the next 45 minutes to no avail. 

Michael's friends went home afterwards, hoping that Michael would eventually return to his friend's house to retrieve his car. He never did, nor did he ever return to his own home. Michael's loved ones have never seen or heard from him again.

After Michael was reported missing, it was determined that he was sighted one last time around 3:30 AM. At that time, surveillance cameras at the Riverfront Landing Apartment complex captured him entering and exiting the parking garage. This is the last confirmed sighting of Michael; his whereabouts after exiting the parking garage remain unknown to this day.

Michael's loved ones do not believe he is missing on his own accord. Both his bank and social media accounts have been inactive since his disappearance. Investigators have theorized that Michael might have drowned in the nearby Merrimack River. His family does not believe this to be true as they stated Michael was a strong swimmer. A search of the area has not turned up Michael's body.

Michael remains missing today. His case is being investigated by the Nashua Police Department. If you have any information that could lead to Michael's whereabouts, please contact authorities at (603) 594-3583.

-
Sources:
Charley Project
Help Find Missing - Michael McClain
NamUs
NBC News
True Crime New England

The Disappearance & Presumed Murder of Aranda Briones

Aranda Briones vanished on January 13th, 2019. The then-16-year-old teen left her Moreno Valley, California home that day after telling her family that she was going to spend the day with a male friend from school. Aranda never returned home and was never seen or heard from again.

The male friend - later identified as then-18-year-old Owen Skylar Shover - stated that he dropped Aranda off at Moreno Valley Community Park between 6:00 and 6:30 PM. However, investigators looked at footage of the park, and Aranda was not seen at any point that day. Additionally, Owen said that he saw Aranda get into a four-door grey sedan. Aranda’s family reportedly does not know anybody with a car of that description, and said car was not seen on the park’s surveillance footage either.

According to Aranda’s brother, her Snapchat map feature placed her phone at a completely different location on the evening of January 13th. A female friend reportedly told Aranda’s family that she noticed Aranda’s Snapchat was showing her in Rubidoux that evening. When the friend texted Aranda to ask what she was doing there, Aranda’s phone was abruptly shut off. The phone was never turned on again.

The investigation into Aranda’s disappearance picked up quickly. Moreno Valley police began investigating a day after she was last seen. Shortly thereafter, the FBI joined the search. The investigation led detectives back to the person Aranda was last seen with: Owen Shover.

A few weeks later, Owen Shover and his older brother Gary Shover, (then 21) were arrested and charged with Aranda’s murder. At the time of their arrests, investigators did not reveal many details in the case. They also did not reveal the extent of Gary's involvement. Additionally, it was noted that the search for Aranda was still ongoing.

It was initially reported that both Owen and Gary planned to plead not guilty. After that, news about the case went stagnant. Years passed without any updates in the case. Aranda remained missing and still remains missing today.

Over five years later, the case finally began to have some movement. In 2024, news about the events leading up to Aranda's disappearance - and a possible motive for her murder - was finally revealed. 

-

The November 2017 incident.

Source: Facebook

A 2024 report cites an incident that occurred all the way back in November 2017 that might have been a motivating factor in Aranda's murder. As previously noted, Aranda and Owen were friends who met in high school. In 2017, the two teens attended Moreno Valley High School together.

On November 7th, 2017, Aranda and Owen were amongst a group of teens who decided to skip school and go to Community Park instead. Owen had a small-caliber handgun in his possession during this outing. At some point, a school resource officer looking for truants spotted the group.

As the officer approached them, the teens began fleeing in different directions. In the midst of this, Owen tossed his handgun to Aranda and told her to hide it. Frightened, Aranda tossed the gun into a drainage canal. The officer saw this, and Aranda was subsequently detained.

The expulsion.

Aranda was later questioned by both officers and school administrators. She then explained that the gun belonged to Owen; he is the one who brought it to the park that day. As a result, both Aranda and Owen faced disciplinary action.

In February 2018, the school board voted to expel both teens from Moreno Valley High School. Owen was reportedly furious over the expulsion from Moreno Valley. According to the trial brief, he was angry in particular about "what he evidently perceived as Aranda’s betrayal of trust." 

After the expulsion, Aranda enrolled in a local continuation school. Owen moved in with his father and enrolled in a continuation school in Hesperia. It appears that the friendship between the two teens deteriorated as a result. 

In fact, a report on Aranda's disappearance from February 2019 alludes to this lapse in her friendship with Owen. Aranda's uncle is quoted in the article, saying "He used to go to Moreno Valley High School, and they stopped hanging out for, like, a year. She never talked about him and then, all of a sudden, they started hanging out and out of the blue air she disappeared." 

Evidence of premeditation.

It's clear that Aranda and Owen had reconnected by January 2019. According to the prosecution, there is evidence that shows Aranda's murder was premeditated before even they got back in touch. The prosecution stated Owen planned to feign interest in rekindling a friendship with Aranda so he could lure her to her death. 

Let's back up to November 2018 - just two months before Aranda's disappearance. During this time, according to detectives, Owen began using social media and text messages to try and purchase a gun. Detectives reportedly found "a series of Snapchat, Facebook and other conversations initiated by the defendant" in which he expressed interest in buying a firearm. 

Those messages reportedly occurred between November 2018 and January 2019. By January 2019, Owen finally obtained a gun. Shortly thereafter, he contacted Aranda.

January 12th - 13th, 2019: Aranda and Owen make plans.

On January 12th, 2019, Owen reportedly sent Aranda a text message, "inviting her to join him the following day while he made drug deliveries and 'robs drug dealers.'” Aranda accepted the invite. The two agreed to meet up at Bayside Park the next day.

Aranda arrived at the park shortly before 5:00 PM on January 13th, 2019. She was accompanied by friends before she left the park with Owen. The two friends watched as she got into Owen's Nissan Ventra. According to reports, the two then "headed north toward Box Springs Mountain."

By all accounts, Aranda appeared happy to be spending time with Owen. The trial brief states that she "posted several pictures to social media accounts within an hour, showing her and Shover in his car, expressing elation to be with her “homie,” who was letting her do some of the driving."

At some point, though, Aranda went silent. She abruptly stopped posting on social media and responding to her messages from friends and family. Owen's phone activity, however, remained active for the next few hours.

January 13th, 2019: 6:00 PM - 10:15 PM.

Cell phone pings indicate that Owen's vehicle started heading towards San Bernadino around 6:00 PM. While in route towards that area, Owen reportedly sent his older brother, Gary, a message that read, "Be ready for tonight. Get shovels and lighter fluid ready."

At some point afterwards, Owen picked Gary up from a mobile home park. Phone pings tracked the two brothers traveling "north into the San Bernardino Mountains via state Routes 138 and 18." Then, between the hours of 8:33 PM and 10:14 PM, Owen's phone was reportedly shut off. By time it was turned back on, Owen and Gary were back at their father's residence. 

Aranda, on the other hand, had not returned home. She was reported missing shortly thereafter.

Investigating Aranda's disappearance.

Police identified Owen Shover as the last person Aranda was seen with very early into the investigation. Owen denied knowledge of Aranda's whereabouts. He acknowledged spending time with her on the day she vanished, but he said he dropped her off between 6:00 and 6:30 PM and never saw her again. As previously noted, he also said he saw Aranda getting into a different vehicle. 

Police were unable to corroborate Owen's story, which inevitably made him look suspicious. As the investigation continued, more and more evidence pointed to Owen's guilt. Owen's car was searched, during which Luminol was used. The spray reported showed "the possible presence of a significant amount of blood that had pooled toward the bottom of the trunk, underneath the carpeting."

Investigators had learned about Aranda and Owen's friendship rift after they were both expelled in 2018. This pointed to evidence of motive. Additionally, the evidence from Owen's cell phone data implicated not only him, but his older brother Gary, as well. 

February 11th, 2019: The arrests.

Owen Shover and Gary Shover were arrested at their father's residence in Hesperia on February 11th, 2019. Reports state that both homicide and SWAT investigators went to the home to detain the two men. 

The Shover brothers. (ABC News)

At first, police remained quiet about the evidence they had against the two young men. Eventually, it was revealed that Owen Shover was charged with both conspiring to commit murder and first-degree murder. Gary Shover was charged with first-degree murder and a special-circumstance allegation of lying in wait.

The slow road to justice.

Both Owen and Gary pleaded not guilty to their respective charges. After that, news about Aranda's case grew scarce. The case was inevitably slowed down by the onset of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. However, it continued to be hit with delays, even after the world began to function regularly again after quarantine. 

After a preliminary hearing in 2022, a judge dismissed the first-degree murder and lying in wait charges against Gary Shover. Instead, he was to be charged with accessory to murder. Gary still maintained his not guilty plea.

Summer 2024: Gary pleads guilty; Owen is found guilty.

After years of waiting, Aranda's case finally began to move forward in 2024. In June 2024, Gary Shover pleaded guilty to accessory after-the-fact to first-degree murder. He was immediately sentenced to a year in jail, plus another year of probation and he will be required to pay victim restitution. 

Two months later, in August 2024, Owen Shover's trial began. During the trial, the prosecution presented the evidence that supported the theory that Owen wanted revenge on Aranda after getting expelled. After killing her, it was stated that Owen, with the help of Gary, hid Aranda's body in the San Bernardino mountains. The jury deliberated for less than a day before they returned a guilty verdict.

A sentencing hearing is expected to taste place in October 2024. 

Aranda's body has still not been found. 

-
Sources:
ABC 7

CBS News
Charley Project
Court TV
LA Times
My News LA
Patch

The Murder of Courtney Phillips

Courtney Phillips was only 23 years-old when she was murdered on April 5th, 2015. She lived in San Antonio, Texas prior to her untimely death. Courtney's body was found on the afternoon of April 5th, lying face down on the floor of a house in the 200 block of Edge Avenue. She had suffered stab wounds to the neck. Police were immediately able to determine that Courtney's wounds were not self-inflicted. Her death was quickly classified as a murder.

Throughout the investigation, detectives learned that Courtney went to the house on Edge Avenue that day to meet up with 19-year-old Isaac Estrada. Initial reports stated that investigators did not know why Courtney and Estrada planned to meet up that day. Still, Estrada was immediately named as the prime suspect in the case. However, investigators were unable to locate him. 

Isaac Estrada

It was soon believed that Estrada was hiding from police. He was put on a wanted list, but years passed without any updates in the case. However, in 2022, more details about the case were revealed.

At that time, it reported that Courtney was dropped off at the house on Edge Avenue that afternoon for a date with Estrada. Courtney's text messages revealed that the two had arranged to meet up at the residence - however, Estrada did not live there. In fact, the homeowners were out of town at the time the murder took place.

Once Estrada was identified as a suspect in Courtney's murder, investigators learned that he had been accused of a similar crime just three months earlier. In this instance, Estrada reportedly lured the victim to meet up with him under the pretext of a date, and then ended up robbing the victim.

Finally, in March 2023, Isaac Estrada was captured. After 8 years on the run, Estrada was finally located by authorities in Eagle Pass, Texas. He was arrested and taken into custody on March 4th, 2023. Estrada was charged with evading arrest, first-degree aggravated robbery and first-degree capital murder. 

Estrada initially planned to plead guilty to the charges, but in July 2024, he accepted a plea deal. As part of the plea deal, Estrada was able to plead to the lesser charge of murder rather than capital murder. He was subsequently sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder and an additional 5 years for aggravated robbery.

Estrada will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence. 

-
Sources:
Daily Crime
KENS 5
KSAT
San Antonio Express-Herald

List Series: Southeast Mysteries Vol. II

The following is the second installment of a new posting series: Southeast Mysteries. This list contains an unsolved murder or disappearance from the remaining six states in the Southeast region of the United States: Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Links to more detailed write-ups and tip submissions for each case are provided.

SOUTHEAST MYSTERIES: VOLUME TWO.

GEORGIA:

Name: Blake Chappell

Case type: Disappearance and murder.

Age: 17

Dates: Vanished on October 16th, 2011, remains found in December 2011.

Blake Chappell was only 17 years-old when he vanished during the early morning hours of October 16th, 2011. He was last seen alive in Newnan, Georgia. Blake was at his friend Austin's house on the evening of October 15th, where he planned to spend the night. However, at some point between 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM, he snuck out of Austin's house and walked approximately three miles to his girlfriend's house. 

Blake reportedly snuck in through his girlfriend's bedroom window around 4:30 AM. About half an hour later, one of his girlfriend's relatives caught Blake in the bedroom. Knowing he was not supposed to be there, Blake quickly left the residence and began walking back toward Austin's house. 

During his walk, Blake texted with his girlfriend several times. Around 5:30 AM, he sent her a message saying he was stopped by a police officer who asked where he was going. He sent one final text a few minutes later before ceasing all communication. Blake never arrived back at Austin's house and was never heard from again. His mother reported him missing by 11:00 AM that morning.

Extensive searches for Blake came up empty. Then, over two months later, passersby in Summer Grove spotted human remains in a local creek near East Newnan. Police were called, and the human remains were later identified as that of Blake Chappell. An autopsy revealed that he died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Several years have passed since Blake was found murdered, and the case still remains unsolved. There has been speculation about various potential persons of interest, but at this time, no one has been publicly named as a suspect. In 2024, new search warrants were executed in the case. Said evidence is currently still being analyzed.

If you have any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of Blake's killer(s), please contact investigators at unsolvedhomicide@cityofnewnan.org.

Read more about Blake's case.

FLORIDA:

Name: Tyvon Whitford 

Age: 25

Case type: Murder

Date: June 9th, 2007

Tyvon Whitford was shot to death inside her Hawthorn, Florida home on June 9th, 2007. The 25-year-old woman had moved into the Hawthorn residence just about a month before her life was tragically taken. She was raising a 5-year-old son and was also approximately 6 months pregnant at the time of her death.

On the evening of the murder, Tyvon called 9-1-1 just minutes before she was killed. Unfortunately, the dispatcher was unable to gather any pertinent information before the call was disconnected. A few minutes later, another 9-1-1 call came through - this time from Tyvon's boyfriend. He told dispatchers that he found Tyvon covered in blood. First responders rushed to the scene and found Tyvon suffering from gunshot wounds. Both her and her unborn child would eventually succumb to their injuries. 

Tyvon's boyfriend told police that he went to her residence that evening to bring her Tylenol. He has inevitably been looked into as a suspect, but at this time, he has never been called a suspect. In fact, investigators specifically stated that they were unable to put Tyvon's boyfriend "unable to put him or anybody else at the house at the time of the shooting." The only other person at the residence was Tyvon's 5-year-old son, who was asleep when the shooting occurred.

Tyvon's case is considered to be a cold case. Her family is still fighting for answers. 

If you have any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of Tyvon's killer(s), please contact the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office at 386-329-0801.

Read more about Tyvon's case. 

MISSISSIPPI:

Name: Sarah Rozniewski (Cooper)

Case type: Missing person

Age at disappearance: 31

Dates: Last seen May 31st, 2021; reported missing March 21st, 2022. 

Sarah Rozniewski has been missing since May of 2021. The then-31-year-old was living in St. Martin, Mississippi at the time of her disappearance. Sarah was not reported missing until March 21st, 2022 - after a friend reported to Biloxi Police that she had not seen or heard from Sarah in several months. In fact, none of Sarah's loved ones had heard from her since the previous spring. Family members had already attempted to report her missing months earlier; police reportedly brushed off their concerns, citing that Sarah is an adult and is free to come and go. 

Once investigators finally did begin to investigate Sarah's disappearance, it was determined that her last bank activity occurred on May 10th, 2021 - nearly ten months before she was reported missing. According to MissingSippi.org, the last known sighting of Sarah occurred weeks later, on May 31st, 2021, at her apartment in St. Martin. Details about that last sighting have not been disclosed. Sarah has never been seen or heard from again.

Years have passed since Sarah's disappearance, and no trace of her has been found. It's unclear if police have any suspects or persons of interest. Details about the investigation have been kept under wraps, but the case remains open.

If you have any information that could lead to the whereabouts of Sarah Rozniewski, please contact the Jackson County Sheriff's Police Department at (228)769-3024 or submit a tip online.

Read more about Sarah's case. 

-

ALABAMA:

Name: Sherri Smith

Case type: Murder

Age: 32

Date: November 21st, 2011

During the early morning hours of November 21st, 2011, police in Fairfield, Alabama responded to a local residence after a burglar alarm was triggered. When police arrived on the scene, they found a young woman - eventually identified as Sherri Terese Smith - deceased in the master bedroom. She had been shot and stabbed to death. Her death was immediately classified as a murder.

Although officers responded to Sherri's home after a burglar alarm went off, police were otherwise unable to find any signs of forced entry. Additionally, no other items were missing from the home. As such, investigators ruled out a robbery as a motive. 

In fact, police believe that Sherri's murder was personal, and that she knew her killer(s). Investigators reportedly have found DNA on the scene that could lead to the case being solved. However, years have passed, and no persons of interest or suspects have ever been publicly announced. 

If you have any information that could lead to the arrest/conviction of Sherri's killer(s), please call the Alabama Attorney General’s Office Cold Case Tip Line at (866) 419-1236, or email coldcasetips@ago.state.al.us. 

Read more about Sherri's case.

LOUISIANA:

Name: Shamia Little

Case type: Kidnapping and murder

Age: 17

Dates: Kidnapped on July 6th, 2021, remains found July 12th, 2021.

Shamia Little was only 17 years-old when her life was tragically taken in July 2021. She was, reportedly kidnapped from Douglas William Park in Shreveport, Louisiana on July 6th. Shamia went to the park that evening with a male friend. 

According to said friend, an unknown man approached him and Shamia around 11:00 PM. The man reportedly pointed a gun at them, took their cell phones, and then led them into a nearby wooded area. At some point, Shamia's friend was able to run away. He then flagged down a police officer parked nearby on Greenwood Road. By this point, Shamia and the gunman were nowhere to be found. 

Six days later, Shamia's body was found behind a business in the 4100 block of Curtis Lane. She had been shot to death. Investigators are still searching for Shamia's killer, and the FBI is involved in the case. The friend who was with Shamia the night she was reportedly abducted was questioned at length and has not been identified as a suspect.

Shortly after the news about Shamia's murder broke, investigators announced that they had a suspect. Still, years have passed, and an arrest has yet to be made. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for anyone with information that could lead to Shamia's killer(s). 

If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Shamia Little, please submit a tip. 

Read more about Shamia's case.

ARKANSAS:

 

Name: Tracy Jones

Case type: Disappearance and murder

Age: 19

Dates: Missing on November 15th, 2006, remains found November 26th.

Tracy Jones disappeared in Little Rock, Arkansas on November 15th, 2006. The 19-year-old woman went missing after being dropped off at a local truck stop where she intended to sell magazine subscriptions to truckers. Tracy was seen talking to several different people at the truck stop throughout the day, but at one point, she seemingly vanished without a trace.

Tracy was reported missing on November 17th, 2006, by Robert Blair, her employer and boyfriend. Days later, on November 26th, Tracy's body was found lying in a ditch in a semi-wooded area off of Highway 61 in Memphis, Tennessee. Her body was partially nude and had been bound with duct tape. An autopsy confirmed Tracy had been sexually assaulted, stabbed, and beaten. She ultimately died from blunt force trauma to the head. 

Investigators later revealed that they do not believe Tracy was killed in the location she was found. However, the coroner was unable to determine a time of death. In fact, certain reports state that Tracy was likely killed closer to November 26th than November 15th. This means Tracy was possibly held against her will for days before she was murdered. 

The FBI has been involved in the investigation for several years, but Tracy's murder remains unsolved. DNA evidence has been collected, but unfortunately, her killer's identity is still unknown. There is a monetary reward available for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of Tracy's killer(s).

If you have any information that could help solve Tracy's case, please submit a tip.

Read more about Tracy's case.

-

Other installments of this list:

• Southeast Mysteries Vol. I

Other area-based mysteries:

• Mideast Mysteries
• Midwest Mysteries Vol. I
• Midwest Mysteries Vol. II
• New England Mysteries
• Rocky Mountain Mysteries

The Murder of Blaze Bernstein

Blaze Bernstein (19) was a pre-medical student at University of Pennsylvania when he disappeared in Lake Forest, California on January 2nd, 2018.

At the time of his disappearance, Blaze was on winter break and was in his hometown in Orange County, California. On the evening of his disappearance, Blaze was picked up from his parents’ house by Samuel Woodward (then 20), an acquaintance Blaze knew from high school. He never returned home that night, and his parents reported him missing after he failed to show up for a dental appointment the following day.

When investigators questioned Woodward, he told them that after he picked up Blaze, he drove the two of them to a nearby Hobby Lobby parking lot to “catch up.” Later, the two of them drove to Borrego Park. Woodward told police that Blaze got out of the car at the park and never returned. He said he waited for Blaze for an hour before driving to his girlfriend’s house. 

Police immediately noticed several inconsistencies in Woodward’s story. When questioned about his girlfriend, Woodward apparently could not remember her last name or where she lived—despite the fact that he told police that he went to her house after Blaze’s disappearance. Additionally, Woodward had abrasions on his arms, which he blamed on being in a fight club.

On January 9th, 2018, Blaze’s body was found in Borrego Park. He had been stabbed to death. Just a few days later, Woodward was arrested for Blaze’s murder. The arrest came after investigators found DNA evidence that linked him to the crime scene. In fact, certain evidence they found made investigators believe that Woodward had returned to the crime scene days after the murder as well. 

While investigating the nature of Blaze and Woodward’s relationship, it was revealed that the two were not close friends in high school. They weren’t reportedly enemies either; they just simply didn’t run in the same social circles. However, police found text messages that Blaze sent to two different female friends in June of 2017 that indicated that Woodward had hit on him. Blaze, who was openly gay, seemed happy about this interaction. 

If Woodward had actually hit on Blaze, investigators found this interesting—because Woodward told had previously investigators that Blaze had kissed him on the lips as they sat in the car on the evening of January 2nd, 2018, and that the kiss was unwanted. Woodward told investigators that he pushed him away and called him derogatory names after that.

After investigating Woodward’s background, police found that he was a member of a Neo-Nazi group called the Attomwaffen Division. The group is described as “relatively small, but incredibly anti-Semitic and hateful.” Noting that Blaze was both gay and Jewish, Woodward was charged with a hate crime as well.

The Santa Ana District’s Attorney announced the enhancement in Woodward's charges after finding evidence on his cell phone, laptop, and social media accounts that revealed his hateful intentions. The DA also explained that the evidence included “a large number of texts and images that spew hate at every protected group.”  The content was described as very homophobic, misogynistic and antisemitic.

Woodward pleaded not guilty to the charges. Then, several years passed without any movement in the case. Woodward finally went to trial in 2024, during which evidence of his hateful actions and struggles with his own sexuality were revealed. 

-
The prosecution's case.

During opening statements, District Attorney Jennifer Walker told the jury that the state would present evidence that Samuel Woodward murdered Blaze Bernstein because Blaze was gay. The investigation into Blaze's murder revealed evidence that suggested Woodward's actions were premeditated and motivated by hate. Such evidence was found in Woodward's car, phone, and computer - including text messages between Blaze and Woodward prior to the murder. 

The prosecution stated that Woodward had a "shovel-like device", his father's folding knife, and a sleeping bag in his vehicle when he picked Blaze up on the evening of January 2nd, 2018. The folding knife is believed to be the murder weapon. The sleeping bag was later found to have been stained with Blaze's blood. 

Text messages between Blaze and Woodward revealed that the two had matched on Tinder in June 2017. Woodward alleged that he was "pranking" when they matched. He later told Blaze that he was still straight, but "I might make an exception for you."

Further evidence from Woodward's phone revealed that Woodward had a habit of reaching out to gay men online and then abruptly cutting off communication. Evidence also showed Woodward's affiliation with homophobic and antisemitic hate groups.

Woodward's defense.

Source: Orange County Register

Samuel Woodward's defense attorneys did not deny that Woodward was responsible for Blaze's death. However, they argued that the murder was not premeditated, nor was it the result of the hate crime. Woodward's attorney stated that he "was conflicted by his own sexuality and acted in a fit of rage." 

Woodward himself took the stand during the trial. He admitted to matching with Blaze on a dating app and meeting up on the evening of January 2nd, 2018. Woodward said that he and Blaze were laying in Borrego Park together when Blaze "began to touch him in a sexual manner."

Woodward explained that, at some point, he saw a light on Blaze's phone and was afraid he was sending pictures or videos to others. Woodward said he "felt an anger like he’d never felt in his whole life," and subsequently stabbed Blaze to death.

Woodward's defense attorneys also cited that Woodward had undiagnosed autism which left him "vulnerable to recruitment" of the hate group in which he was affiliated. The defense argued that he joined such a group for a sense of belonging and eventually grew "disillusioned" with their ideals.

The jury.

Due to the fact that Woodward admitted on the stand to stabbing Blaze, the jury was not tasked with determining whether or not he was responsible for Blaze's death. Instead, they were asked to determine whether he was guilty of first-degree murder and a hate crime, as the prosecution suggested; or, if he was guilty of voluntary manslaughter, as his defense suggested.

The jury deliberated for a day before finding Samuel Woodward guilty of first-degree murder and a hate crime in the killing of Blaze Bernstein. The verdict was a relief to Blaze's loved ones and members of the community alike. Blaze's mother spoke to reporters after the verdict, stating, "This is a great relief that justice was served and this despicable human who murdered our son will no longer be a threat to the public."

Woodward is due to be sentenced on October 25th, 2024. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

-
Sources:
The Daily Pennsylvanian
KTLA
NBC Los Angeles
The Orange County Register
Patch