The Disappearance of Renee Yeargain

Source: Torrington Telegram

Renee Yeargain has been missing since August 9th, 2004. The then-24-year-old woman was last seen in Torrington, Wyoming. Renee has never been seen or heard from again.

At the time of her disappearance, Renee was living in Torrington with Josh Minter - her boyfriend and father of her youngest child. Renee was determined to be missing after Minter dropped off her three older children - who aren't biologically his - at their former foster home. The foster parents subsequently contacted the Wyoming Department of Family Services. 

Police had a conversation with Minter on August 10th, 2004, during which he told officers that Renee abandoned him and her four children. Minter explained that she left with a grocery sack full of clothing and refused to say where she was going. Police reportedly took Minter's word and did not do much to corroborate his version of events.

On August 12th, 2004, Renee's car was found parked at a rest stop between Torrington and Cheyenne. The keys were found inside the vehicle, as were several of Renee's personal items - including her wallet, identification, and cell phone. The only things that appeared to be missing were Renee's tattoo kit and the reported bag of clothes that Minter said she had when she left their home. 

It was eventually determined that the car had been at the rest stop since August 10th - two days before it was reported to police. Authorities learned that witnesses had seen the car parked there, but it does not appear that anyone reporting seeing Renee. The vehicle is the last known trace of Renee, yet it is unknown if she drove the car there herself. 

Two decades have passed, and Renee remains missing.  Her loved ones are left with several unanswered questions, namely: What happened to Renee? Additionally, a look into the details of how Renee's case was handled by police leads to another question: Would Renee's case be solved if police had acted sooner?

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Before Renee's disappearance.

Source: News Nation

Various reports indicate that Renee had something of a rough past prior to her disappearance. She reportedly had taken off without warning years before. Renee had struggled with drug addiction, and as result, had lost custody of her children.

However, according to Renee's loved ones, she reportedly worked very hard to get her children back and was in a good place at the time of her 2004 disappearance. Renee had recently gotten a license to operate a tattoo business from home. She also reportedly planned to marry her boyfriend Josh Minter on August 22nd - a little less than two weeks after her disappearance. 

It appears that Renee's life was headed in a positive direction during the summer 2004. Still, according to Renee's brother, there were some concerns about her relationship with Minter. The couple had been together for three years prior to Renee's disappearance, and their relationship was not without drama. In fact, Renee's brother spoke on a podcast in 2018 and stated that Renee said Minter was "beating on her" the day before her disappearance. 

This inevitably made Renee's loved ones extremely concerned when they realized she had gone missing. Police, on the other hand, did not seem to have such concerns.

Slow start to the investigation.

Renee's family believes that her past caused police to not investigate her disappearance thoroughly. Renee's mother told reporters that she was "dismissed by officers who assumed Renee would turn up again at some point." 

Reports indicate that Renee's missing person's case was opened on August 10th, 2004 - the day after she was last seen. Still, it does not appear that there was an urgency to locate her. In fact, it took several months for Renee's disappearance to make local front-page news. A 2022 report on Renee's case states that "It wasn’t until Friday, April 15, 2005 that an article prominently appeared on the front page of the Torrington Telegram headlined, “Torrington woman missing since August.” 

Although police might have initially believed Renee was missing on her own accord, her family and friends have never believed this to be true. Many maintain that she would not have voluntarily abandoned her children; nor would she have gone this long without contacting them.

A woman named Jess Oaks is amongst those who do not believe Renee is missing on her own accord. Oaks is a reporter for a Wyoming newspaper, but prior to that, she worked at a restaurant with Renee. When Oaks learned of Renee's disappearance, she began to do some digging of her own. 

Oaks eventually told reporters that, four years after Renee's disappearance, police had still not made any progress. Oaks explained, "No evidence had been obtained. No evidence had been collected, no evidence had been checked in or checked out regarding Renee’s disappearance."

Even after that, it appears that several more years passed before any other significant movement in Renee's case. That movement happened over a decade later in 2018.

2018: a new search for Renee.

During 2018, co-director of Goshen County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Jerry Numon, became involved in Renee's case. At that time, a private investigator received permission to search property belonging to Josh Minter's mother. The private investigator enlisted Numon and his cadaver dog, Pax, to scour the property.

According to Numon, Pax indicated twice that that he smelled human remains. After that, police obtained a warrant and came to the property with digging equipment. A report from News Nation explained that during their search, "they found water underground. Pax would hit the hole, where water was rushing in, and alert." 

That same report states that, much to Numon's dismay, "Police determined whatever Pax was smelling must be coming from upstream. So they covered the hole and left the property."

Numon said that he was outraged police did not investigate further. It appears that police have dismissed any allegation pointing towards Josh Minter from the beginning of the case. While it seems police seeming accepted Minter's version of events regarding Renee's disappearance, Numon said that one of Renee's daughters told a very different story.

Numon told reporters, "the daughter remembered this guy Josh throwing her stuff in the car and he drove away with it. Somebody else brought him back to the house." If the daughter's recollection is correct, this opens the possibility that it was actually Josh Minter who drove and parked Renee's car at the rest stop.

More unanswered questions.

The information shared by Numon, combined with the results of the 2018 search at the Minter property, has brought about even more questions regarding Renee's disappearance and Josh Minter's potential involvement. If police had investigated Minter's version of events, would they have searched the property sooner? If so, would Renee have been found?

By the time the Minter property was searched in 2018, over 14 years had passed since Renee's disappearance - leaving plenty of time for evidence to deteriorate or be washed away by water.

A cold case.

At this time, Josh Minter has never been charged with anything related to Renee's disappearance - nor has anyone. Renee remains a missing person. Her loved ones have still not given up on the search for answers.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Renee Yeargain, please contact the Torrington Police Department at 307-5322-7001 or Wyoming DCI at 307-777-7181.

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Sources:
Charley Project
News Nation
Torrington Telegram
Uncovered
Unfound Podcast

 

The Murder of May Ann Atilano Siason

Source: Baltimore County Police

May Ann Atilano Siason was only 32 years-old when she was found murdered on February 9th, 2017. The young woman was killed inside her own Nottingham, Maryland home. May Ann's body was found around 5:00 PM after family members returned home and found her unresponsive. Her four-year-old daughter was found unharmed nearby. 

Police were called, and May Ann was declared deceased on the scene. However, her exact cause of death was not immediately obvious. There were no signs that a shooting or stabbing had taken place. The only information that has been revealed is that May Ann had "suffered apparent trauma to her upper body." Her death was subsequently labeled as a homicide.

The area where May Ann lived is described in reports as a "quiet section of Nottingham." Neighbors were shocked to learn of May Ann's murder; many stated that May Ann and her family members normally kept to themselves. Police had never been called to the residence prior to the murder.

Shortly after the news about May Ann's death broke, police announced that they do not believe her murder was a random act of violence. It's believed that May Ann likely knew her killer. Still, several years have passed, and an arrest has yet to be made in the case.

There is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that may help solve May Ann's murder. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Metro Crimestoppers of Maryland at 1-866-7LOCKUP or submit a tip online. 

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Sources:
2 ABC Baltimore
Baltimore County
NottinghamMD.com

The Disappearance and Murder of Shirley Skeek

Source: Juneau Empire

Shirley Skeek was reported missing on January 2nd, 2019. The then-27-year-old was last seen alive in Anchorage, Alaska. Shirley last spoke to her family members in December 2018. Said family members contacted police after days passed without any contact from Shirley.

According to Shirley's sister, Amy Skeek, Shirley had a schizophrenia diagnosis, and she moved to Anchorage from Juneau so she could have access to an assisted living facility. Amy said that she did not want Shirley to go to Anchorage - as it is over 800 miles away - but they were unable to find a place for her at an assisted living facility in Juneau. Shirley often kept in touch with her family members in both Juneau and Kake. As such, her loved ones grew concerned when she abruptly fell out of contact. 

There are very few details available about the exact circumstances surrounding Shirley's disappearance. Justice for Native People states that she was last seen "getting into a black truck outside Bean's Cafe in December of 2018." Other than that, though, very little information has been revealed to the public. 

Months later, on May 27th, 2019, partial human remains were found on the side of Seward Highway near the Hope Cut-Off. It took months, but in December 2019, dental records confirmed that the remains were that of Shirley Skeek. She had been a victim of homicide.

Shirley's murder is one of several tragedies that the Skeek family has faced over several years. In 2016, Shirley's sister-in-law, Linda Skeek, also vanished. Shirley's brother, Thomas, was charged with her murder. Thomas was eventually acquitted by the jury; however, many members of the public still believe he is guilty. Linda still remains missing today.

Amy Skeek explained that, after Linda's disappearance, a string of tragedies in the family continued to occur. Amy told reporters, "After that, not even a month after that, my grandma had passed away.  Then, my mom passed away under a bridge here in Juneau. She had a heart attack. Then, my brother, Arnold, drowned in Auke Bay. Then, my dad passed away. It’s just been really tough for my family."

Shirley's remaining family members are still hoping to find justice for Shirley. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact authorities at (907) 269-5611 or submit a tip online.

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Sources:
Alaska's News Source
Alaska Public Media
Anchorage Daily News
Juneau Empire
Justice for Native People
Uncovered
Washington Times

The Disappearance and Murder of Heaven LaShae Ross

Source: AL.com

Heaven LaShae Ross disappeared in Northport, Alabama on August 19th, 2003. The 11-year-old girl left her family's residence that morning to walk to her school bus stop. The young girl, known by her loved ones as Shae, never made it to her destination. 

It did not take long for Shae's family to notice she had vanished. It began pouring rain a few short minutes after she left the house. According to reports, Shae's stepfather Kevin Thompson subsequently decided to drive Shae and her older sister, Alex - who was already at the bus stop - to school instead. When Kevin drove up to the bus stop, he found Alex there alone. Shae had not shown up and was nowhere in sight.

The bus stop is located approximately 50 yards from the family's residence at the Willowbrook Mobile Home Park off of Hunter's Creek Road. Shae left the home that morning at 6:55 AM to make that short walk. The storm erupted a few minutes later; it was 7:01 AM when Kevin went to pick the girls up from the bus stop. Shae seemingly vanished during a 50-yard walk in a span of just 6 minutes. 

Shae's mother and stepfather contacted police very shortly after discovering she was missing. Police spoke to various residents at the mobile home park and learned that a few neighbors had seen Shae walking by herself towards the bus stop that morning. No one reported seeing her with anyone, nor did anyone report seeing her get into a vehicle. As such, Shae's disappearance did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert to be issued. 

When Shae had not returned by the time school let out that day, the full-scale investigation was finally launched. Over the next several weeks, authorities from both local police and the FBI were involved in the search. Volunteer searches were also conducted. Flyers were passed out and reward money was offered. Unfortunately, none of these efforts led to Shae's whereabouts.

Neighbors, family members, friends, and various persons of interest were interviewed - but nobody was able to account for Shae's whereabouts. As weeks turned into months without any sign of Shae, her case grew cold. Over three years passed without any sign of the young girl. 

Then, on December 19th, 2006, a daunting discovery was made at an abandoned house off Crescent Ridge Road near Holt. A man was collecting cans near the house when his dog ran into the house's crawlspace. The man followed his dog and noticed that, inside the crawlspace, there was a bright pink shirt with the Bratz Doll logo, a pair of leggings, and what appeared to be human skeletal remains.

When police arrived on the scene, they noticed that the clothing in the crawlspace was the same clothing that Shae was wearing when she left her house on the morning of her disappearance. As such, it was immediately suspected that the remains belonged to Shae. Forensic testing confirmed this shortly thereafter.

Shae's remains were badly decomposed, making investigators unable to determine an exact cause of death. However, her manner of death was labeled as a homicide. Shae was found just 8 miles away from the mobile home park where she lived, in a location that is well known for illegal drug activity. The discovery of her body in that area has led to several questions that remain unanswered today - such as: Who killed Shae? How did she end up in that house?

A look into the circumstances surrounding Shae's disappearance has led to a few different theories. 

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The morning of Shae's disappearance.

The morning of Shae's disappearance began as a seemingly normal one. As previously noted, Shae left her family's home around 6:55 AM that morning to make the short walk to the bus stop. 

Shae's older sister, Alex, was already at the bus stop at this time. Reports state it was normal for Alex to leave the house a few minutes ahead of Shae, but Shae always eventually caught up to her at the bus stop. It began to storm shortly before 7:00 AM, which prompted their stepfather, Kevin, to go pick up the girls from the bus stop so they would not have to wait for the bus in the rain. 

Given that the family's residence was approximately just 50 yards away from the bus stop, it's reasonable to assume that Shae would have made it there by time Kevin had arrived to pick the girls up at 7:01 AM. According to Alex, though, Shae still had not shown up. It appeared she was not anywhere in the immediate area or along the route to the bus stop either. 

When Shae's mother, Beth, learned that Shae was missing, she immediately called police. However, as noted above, Shae's disappearance did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert. 

Searching for Shae.

Source: CBS 42

Members of the local community came together in the early stages of Shae's disappearance to assist in the search. A command center was set up where volunteers met up to help with the investigative efforts. Resources were pulled from both the FBI and local investigators. Eventually, money was raised to offer a reward of up to $70,000 in exchange for information leading Shae's whereabouts. 

Over the weeks, the relationship between some members of the command center and Shae's mother, Beth, and stepfather, Kevin, grew sour. At some point Beth accused certain volunteers of stealing $500 that had been donated by a local church. The volunteers adamantly denied any theft had occurred. In fact, the leader of the volunteer group said that all cash donations and checks that they received were handed directly to Beth. 

The volunteers maintained that they wanted to find Shae, while they felt Shae's family members were not actively involved in the search. This led to speculation about Shae's family possibly being involved in her disappearance. Events that followed caused that speculation to grow even stronger.

A suspicious fire.

Approximately five weeks after Shae's disappearance, a fire broke out in her family's home. The fire was contained to Shae's bedroom; investigators concluded it had been an act of arson. According to Navigating Advocacy, "the fire marshal's report said that a small hole in the floor at the foot of the bed and at the foot of a recliner where a cigarette butt and trash was found is where the fire started."

Beth and Kevin told police that they had no idea how they fire was started; nor did they know about the hole in the floor. Kevin reportedly told police that he believed that "whoever took Shae may have felt the pressure looming and attempted to get rid of any potential evidence in her room by crawling under the trailer and setting the fire." However, police have been unable to confirm this theory.

By this point, there was already local speculation about Kevin possibly being involved in Shae's disappearance. This speculation was partially driven by an incident that happened three years earlier in which Kevin was charged with harassment during a domestic dispute. According to reports, Kevin grabbed Shae and threw her to the ground during the dispute.

Kevin and Beth both maintained that this was an isolated incident, and that Kevin and Shae had a great relationship. Still, many continued to believe Kevin was involved and that Beth may be covering for him. Eventually, though, both Kevin and Beth took polygraph exams, and both passed. 

Another potential person of interest.

On September 18th, 2003 - about a month after Shae's disappearance - police questioned a 21-year-old man named Evin Ryland. Evin was a friend of Shae's older brother, Blake. He was no stranger to law enforcement; he had gotten in trouble in the past for harboring runaways.

When police went to Evin's residence to question him about Shae, they found that he was actually harboring two 16-year-old runaways at that time. However, there was no sign of Shae, nor was there any evidence that he had been involved in her disappearance. Evin was eventually cleared as a suspect.

A cold case disappearance.

While the community was very involved in the initial stages of the search for Shae, that involvement began to dwindle as weeks turned into months without any progress. The search efforts by professionals and members of the command center had ended unsuccessfully. By the 10-week mark, with no new leads to follow, the command center disbanded.

The investigation into Shae's disappearance grew cold. Shae's loved ones continued to hold vigils and keep hope alive for her return. Unfortunately, no clues were found until her remains were found by chance in December 2006.

December 19th, 2006: remains are found.

As previously stated, a man and his dog found skeletal remains in the crawlspace of an abandoned house off Crescent Ridge Road on December 19th, 2006. Reports state that the land around the house was overgrown, making the house not easily seen from the road. Locals stated that the house "wasn’t easily found unless you knew where you were going."

When police arrived on the scene, they spotted the Bratz doll t-shirt and a backpack near the skeletal remains. This immediately led to the belief that the remains were likely that of Shae Ross.

Source: patch.com

Once it was confirmed that the remains did, in fact, belong to Shae, the investigation shifted to a homicide case. 

Remaining questions.

The discovery of Shae's body marked the end of a chapter for her loved ones and the community. There was no longer the question of "where is Shae?". Unfortunately, though, everyone was now left with a whole new set of questions, such as: How did Shae end up at that house? Who killed her? How did she die?

It's known that a thunderstorm caused heavy rain after Shae left her house to walk to the bus stop on the morning of her disappearance. Did Shae try to flee from the rain? Did an opportunist predator offer her a ride? No one in the neighborhood reported seeing her get into a vehicle that morning, but it does not appear that there is any sort of footage that confirms that she didn't - so it cannot be completely ruled out.

It's also possible someone - possibly a member of the mobile home park - offered her shelter from the rain inside their residence or other covered property. Did this person also kill Shae and hide her body at the abandoned house?

Source: AL.com

Many reports state that the abandoned house where Shae was found was a known spot amongst drug users in the area; it's often referred to by locals as a "drug house." This inevitably leads to the question of whether or not drugs were involved in Shae's disappearance and death. Did drugs play a role in a way? Or was she placed in that crawlspace to make it appear that the frequenters of that house were the ones responsible instead of the actual killer?

The house was not a part of the investigation into Shae's disappearance until her remains were found in the crawlspace - even though it's only 8 miles away from Shae's home. It appears investigators may not have gotten any tips that led them to the house, or anyone associated with the house, before her body was found. 

 The family.

Kevin, Beth, and Alex in 2018. (Source: The Tuscaloosa News)

As common in many unsolved missing persons/murder cases, there is still speculation about the family - namely, her stepfather Kevin, being responsible for Shae's death. It's easy to see where this speculation comes from, especially since there is a documented incident of Kevin grabbing and throwing Shae to the floor when she was just 8 or 9 years old. 

The fire in Shae's room five weeks after her disappearance also causes speculation about the family. If the fire was set to destroy evidence, that indicates that something happened to Shae inside her bedroom rather than during her walk to the bus stop. However, three neighbors reported seeing Shae walking to the bus stop that morning. 

Kevin has never been charged with anything related to Shae's disappearance or murder, nor has he ever been publicly labeled as a suspect. Investigators have yet to publicly label any individual as a suspect at this time. 

An unsolved case. 

Source: Facebook

Shae's murder remains unsolved. Investigators and loved ones are still fighting for answers. If you have any information about the murder of Heaven LaShae Ross, please call the Northport Police Department at 205-339-6600 or the Violent Crimes Unit at 205-464-8690. 

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Sources:
AL.com
Justice for Heaven LaShae Ross on Facebook
Morbidology
Navigating Advocacy
Patch
Tuscaloosa News
WVUA 23

Pride Month: Unsolved LGBTQ Cases Vol. IV

We've made it to our final week of Pride Month. This week, the 3 featured cases involve 3 members of the LGBTQIA+ community who have gone missing and remain missing today. Please continue to spread awareness about these cases!

The Disappearance of Shaun Spaulding.

Shaun Spaulding has been missing since March 2022. The then-39-year-old lived in Arlington, Virginia at the time of his disappearance. He was last seen at the Homewood Suites Hotel on New York Avenue NE in Washington, DC.

It was initially believed that Shaun was last seen at home by a roommate on March 15th, 2022.  However, it was later determined that the last known sighting of Shaun occurred at the hotel in DC on March 17th. He has never been seen or heard from again.

Shaun was reportedly a regular user on Grindr. His family has expressed concerns that his disappearance may be linked to someone he met from the app. Police have not confirmed or denied this theory; they have declined to comment on the investigation due to its ongoing status. 

The hotel where Shaun was last seen is approximately 7 miles away from his Arlington home. Due to the close proximity, authorities from both Arlington County and DC are involved in the investigation. A monetary reward is being offered in exchange for information that could lead to Shaun's whereabouts.

If you have any information that could lead to Shaun Spaulding's whereabouts, please contact the Arlington County Police tip line at (703) 228-4180 or the DC Police tip line at (202) 727-9099.

Read more about Shaun's case.

The Disappearance of Diana Alejandre.

Diana Alejandre has been missing since the spring of 2020. The then-31-year-old last spoke to her family members on April 29th, 2022. Diana was reported missing on June 30th, 2022, after her loved ones realized nobody had seen or heard from her in approximately two months.

At the time of her disappearance, Diana lived in Winterhaven, California with her girlfriend, Danielle 'Danny' Meeden. Reports state Diana was last seen at their home. Several of her personal items - including her cell phone and wallet - were left at the residence. 

In November of 2021, Diana's family members started a petition to have her case investigated by the FBI. The petition's description states that Meeden was violent and had once tried to murder Diana. Arrest records confirm that Meeden has been arrested for inflicting a corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant on more than one occasion. However, at this time, authorities have never publicly labeled her as a suspect in Diana's case.

The FBI did eventually join the search for Diana, and they are still involved in the investigation today. However, they have declined to comment on the case since it is still ongoing. A monetary reward is being offered for anyone with information that could help solve the case.

If you have any information that could lead to the whereabouts of Diana Alejandre, please submit a tip using this form.

Read more about Diana's case.

The Disappearance of Kit Mora.

Kit Mora was reported missing in Omak, Washington in April 2022. The indigenous and nonbinary teenager was just 16 years-old at the time of their disappearance. Kit vanished under suspicious circumstances; their family and friends report that Kit has not been in touch since November of 2021 - months before they were reported missing. 

Kit spent most of their life in Yakima after being adopted at the age of 4 when their mother, Lori Sue, lost custody due to reports of neglect and abuse. Kit and Lori Sue later reconnected after Kit became a teenager. In June 2021, Kit decided to move to Omak to live with their biological mother and siblings.

Kit's loved ones quickly grew concerned about the way Kit was being treated by Lori Sue. Reports state that Kit, at the age of 16, quickly became a sole caregiver to their younger siblings. Additionally, Kit also had disclosed to friends that Lori Sue was not accepting of their nonbinary gender identity or their sexual orientation.

In November 2021, Kit suddenly fell out-of-touch with their friends and family back in Yakima. They also seemingly went inactive on social media. Kit's family requested a wellness check at Lori Sue's residence, during which Lori Sue told Omak PD officers that Kit was fine and had decided to cut ties with their adoptive family. The officers left the residence without ever actually seeing or speaking to Kit.

Kit's missing persons case was finally opened in April 2022. At that time, Lori Sue reportedly told police that Kit ran off with a significant other. Kit's loved ones do not believe Lori Sue's narrative and believe she knows more about what happened to Kit. At this time, Lori Sue has not been charged with anything related to Kit's disappearance.

If you have any information that could lead to the whereabouts of Kit Mora, please contact the Omak PD at 509-826-0383.

Read more about Kit's case.

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Cases from week three.

Cases from week two.

Cases from week one.

The Disappearance and Murder of Katelyn Markham

 

Katelyn Markham was just days shy of turning 22 years-old when she vanished in August 2011. At the time of her disappearance, Katelyn was a student at The Art Institute of Ohio, and she was passionate about her studies. She was also working two jobs and participating in an internship. By all accounts, she was a responsible person and reliable employee. Katelyn's disappearance left both her inner circle and investigators baffled.

After Katelyn was reported missing, it was determined that she was last seen alive by her fiancé, John Carter. On the evening of August 13th, John went over to Katelyn's condo in Fairfield, Ohio after she had finished her day at work. A friend of Katelyn's also came over to hang out with the couple, but she ended up leaving after she sensed tension between Katelyn and John. The friend noticed that Katelyn seemed quiet, which John said was due to magic mushrooms that the two of them had taken. 

According to John, he left Katelyn's condo between 11:00 PM and midnight to go hang out with some friends who were having a bonfire. The couple reportedly continued to text throughout the night. Katelyn sent her final text shortly before 1:00 AM. She was never seen or heard from again. John returned to his own home around 4:00 AM. He sent a "good morning" text to Katelyn shortly before going to sleep until the late afternoon. When he awoke to go to his job at Papa John's, he noticed Katelyn had not responded to the text. John said he continued to call or text her throughout the afternoon, but he never got a response. Worried, he left his job early to go check on Katelyn at her condo. 

John used his own key to enter the residence. When he got there, nothing seemed out of place - except Katelyn's dog, which was found locked in an upstairs bedroom. This was not the usual spot where Katelyn kept her dog. It also appeared that the dog had not been let out at all that day, which was also unusual. Additionally, Katelyn's car was parked in its normal spot outside the home, but Katelyn herself was nowhere to be found. At this point, the worries for Katelyn continued to build.

Soon, John learned that Katelyn's friends and family members had not heard from her either. He also heard that Katelyn had never shown up from her scheduled shift at David's Bridal. Shortly before 8:00 PM, John called police to report Katelyn as missing. The search began shortly thereafter. Over the next few weeks, volunteers passed out fliers, and search teams scoured the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, nothing was found. 

Over time, Katelyn's case went cold. Police followed tips and conducted interviews, but they seemingly got no closer to locating her. Then, on April 7th, 2013, human remains were found at Big Cedar Creek in Cedar Grove, Indiana - located approximately 30 miles from Katelyn's condo. A couple was searching for scrap metal in the area when they spotted what looked like a human jaw wrapped in a grocery bag. 

Police were called, and a search of the area resulted in the discovery of more remains. Dental records later confirmed that the remains belong to Katelyn Markham. To this day, Katelyn's cause of death has never been determined - but it was clear that somebody had taken her life. 

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Who killed Katelyn?

Katelyn's family members were inevitably devastated when they learned that Katelyn had been a victim of homicide - but they were also not incredibly surprised by the news. When she was first missing, Katelyn's loved ones clung to hope that she would be found safe. As weeks turned into months without any sign of her, their hopes dwindled. Eventually, Katelyn's family came to believe that Katelyn had been murdered. Once those beliefs were confirmed in April 2013, many questions still remained. The one key question being: who killed Katelyn? 

Many theories have emerged over the years, but no arrests have ever been in made in the case. Investigators have uncovered a lot of information about Katelyn's life before she was killed. They have also been able to establish a timeline of the events leading up to her disappearance. Both the information and the timeline have led to a few prominent theories.

Who was Katelyn?

Katelyn's loved ones describe her as a kind person who enjoyed making others happy. Her father Dave Markham describes her as warm, outgoing, positive, and energetic. She was always known as reliable, a good student, and a responsible employee. 

In 2011, Katelyn was living a busy life. As previously stated, she was student at the Art Institute of Ohio. Reports say that she was very dedicated to her craft. Katelyn also worked two jobs, one at David's Bridal and another co-op position at her school's bookstore. 

Katelyn was also engaged to a man named John Carter. The two had been together for about six years at the time of Katelyn's disappearance. They had been engaged for one year. 

The relationship.

Katelyn and John did not yet live together, as John lived with his family and Katelyn had her own place in Fairfield. However, John had a key to her condo and frequently spent time there. According to John, he and Katelyn were looking forward to the future. The couple reportedly wanted to move to Colorado after getting married. 

John and Katelyn would frequently text/call each other when they were not together. John said that when Katelyn did not respond to any of his texts on August 14th, 2011, he knew something was off. It was John who called 9-1-1 when he discovered Katelyn to be missing. Some believe he sounds genuinely concerned in the phone call, while others disagree. Audio of the call can be found here.

For nearly a decade, John was not named as a suspect in Katelyn's disappearance and/or murder. There were inevitably people who have always believed he is, in fact, responsible for her death - but it took years for charges to be brought forward. Initial suspicions on John were likely due to some of his actions/words around the time of Katelyn's disappearance. 

When John called 911 to report her missing, the dispatcher asked if he and Katelyn had been having issues in their relationship - to which he responded, "not at all". However, Katelyn's friend Michelle Feist has contradicted this. In fact, Michelle told Crime Watch Daily that Katelyn and John had a pretty heated argument just two days before her disappearance.

According to the Michelle, John and Katelyn got into an argument on August 12th, 2011, over some financial struggles. Despite this, the couple still attended a festival at a local church that evening. By Michelle's account, the argument between John and Katelyn carried over into the event. Eventually, Katelyn got very upset and ended up leaving the festival early. 

It's completely possible that John and Katelyn resolved their spat before she vanished - but, as previously stated, the couple seemed to have some tension the following night as well. A friend visiting the couple at Katelyn's condo decided to leave after she believed the two wanted to be alone. John said that Katelyn was not acting like herself because the couple had taken magic mushrooms.

Many have questioned John's story about the mushrooms. Katelyn arrived home from work approximately 15 minutes before the friend came over. Even if she had taken the mushrooms as soon as she walked through the door, it's very unlikely that she'd be feeling the effects that quickly. Some have questioned if Katelyn even took the mushrooms at all. She had just returned home from a long day of work, she was tired, and it seems unlikely that she'd want to experience the effects of mushrooms if she just wanted to lounge at home.

Another aspect of John's story that some people found odd was the bonfire. John told investigators that he left Katelyn's condo around 11:00 PM on August 13th to meet up with friends. He brought a bag full of documents belonging to Katelyn to burn in the fire. John explained that Katelyn wanted to shred the documents instead of throwing them away, but she did not have a shredder. Instead, John took the documents with the intention of burning them so she would not have to worry about it. 

Some find this to be an odd explanation as to why he destroyed Katelyn's documents, but it also didn't seem like too much of a stretch at first. He told investigators that he often ran errands for Katelyn - so it's possible that he truly was doing her a favor by removing the papers from her home. Still, some have questioned John's alibi in general. A few of the friends John alleged to be with that night have told a different story. In fact, some claim that there was never even a bonfire that night.

Although there was a lot of speculation about John, it appears that investigators eventually began to focus their attention elsewhere. Over the years, John spoke out publicly several times about Katelyn's case, and he continued to deny any involvement in her death.

A potential new lead.

In 2018, a new potential suspect came on the investigator's radar. A man named Michael Strouse had been charged with murdering 23-year-old Ellie Weik in West Chester, Ohio.

Michael Strouse

West Chester is located only an approximate 45-minute drive away from Fairfield, where Katelyn was killed. There were also some similarities between the two cases. The bodies of both Katelyn and Ellie were found in a field. Ellie's cause of death was asphyxiation, and she was found with a plastic bag over her head. While Katelyn's cause of death was undetermined, her skull was also found in a plastic bag.

The one thing that truly made Strouse seem like a viable suspect? He knew Katelyn. Sources say Strouse and John Carter had mutual friends. Several people sent investigators a picture on social media that includes both Strouse and John. 

However, there were many reasons to doubt that Strouse was involved in Katelyn's murder as well. Ellie Weik and Strouse were involved in a romantic relationship at some point prior to Ellie's murder. He had apparently been stalking her for months beforehand. There is no evidence to suggest that Strouse had ever stalked Katelyn, nor is there any physical evidence that connects him to Katelyn's case. 

An update in 2023.

In February of 2023, police announced that they arrested a man named Jonathan Palmerton (35) on perjury charges in relation to Katelyn's case. 

Palmerton is a resident of Fairfield, and he was arrested on February 17th. The arrest came after a search warrant was issued at his home. 

At the time of his arrest, police announced that Palmerton lied in connection to the investigation into Katelyn's disappearance/murder. 

Another 2023 update.

John Carter was finally arrested and charged with 2 counts of felony murder during 2023. At the time of John's arrest, very little details were revealed, but many had suspected that John was involved from the very beginning of the investigation. Many felt this was finally Katelyn's time to get justice. 

After John Carter was charged, the prosecution ultimately decided to drop the charges against John Palmerton. In May 2023, it was reported that Palmerton's trial could cause a conflict if it took place before John Carter's trial. Prosecutor Mike Gsomer explained, "In short, the prosecution has an irreconcilable conflict procedurally and ethically with respect to forcing a trial to go forward, with respect with respect to Mr. Palmerton and forcing him into an uncompromising situation that I created as a result of the grand jury indictment."

A circumstantial case. 

In June 2024, Det. Joe Nerlinger and Sgt. Rob Whitlock of the Butler County told reporters that the case against John Carter was mostly a circumstantial one. Both investigators stated that they believe that the 9-1-1 call that John made to report Katelyn missing was a complete fabrication. Both also believe that John is a psychopath.

Investigators also reportedly found several writings by John around Katelyn's house. The writings and poems were described as "dark" by investigators. They included sentences such as "Deep down, I love her. You want to kill her. But I love her. She must die," and "I slit your wrist with the key to your heart." 

Detective Nerlinger also told reporters that he believes John acted alone when he killed Katelyn, but "he may have had help dismembering her and getting her out to where she was dumped in Indiana."

John Carter takes a plea deal.

That same June 2024 article that John Carter eventually took a plea deal initiated by his defense team. The plea deal allowed John to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter instead of murder; citing that Katelyn died during a misdemeanor assault. The prosecution reported that they feel satisfied that John Carter admitted to being responsible for Katelyn's death. 

However, the involuntary manslaughter conviction allowed John to receive a short sentence. On July 18th, 2024, he was sentenced to 3 years in prison - the maximum amount allowed for the charges he pleaded guilty to. 

Katelyn's family is upset by the sentence. Her father, Dave Markham, spoke at the sentencing, stating "I do not feel three years is justice, not for Katelyn; not for her sister; not for me, her friends or the entire community that has ached and grieved alongside us."

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Sources:
Crime Online
Fox 19

Front Page Detectives

True Crime Daily

WFMJ
WHIO TV
WLWT, (2)

The Disappearance of Sarah Lindsey Rozniewski

Source: Attempt to Locate on Facebook

Sarah Lindsey Rozniewski (also known as Sarah Cooper) has been missing since the spring of 2021. The then-31-year-old lived in St. Martin, Mississippi at the time of her disappearance. Sarah was reported missing to the Biloxi Police Department by a friend on March 21st, 2022. 

The friend who filed the missing person's report told police that it had been several months since any friends or family had heard from Sarah. Due to this, an exact timeline leading up to her disappearance is unknown. However, the investigation did reveal that Sarah's 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.

Various comments online indicate that Sarah's sister and friends attempted to report her missing many times over the months before the police finally agreed to open her case. 

Source: Facebook

Details about the status of the investigation have been kept under wraps. The Biloxi Police were originally in charged investigating Sarah's disappearance, but it has since been passed to the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. 

Sarah's loved ones are devastated by her disappearance and are still searching for answers. If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please contact the Jackson County Sheriff's Police Department at (228)769-3024 or submit a tip online.

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Sources:
Biloxi PD Facebook post
Magnolia State Live
MissingSippi
Mississippi Coast Crimestoppers

Pride Month: Unsolved LGBTQ Cases Vol. III

This Pride Month, it is important to remember the missing and murdered members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Several cases involving LGBTQIA+ individuals featured on True Case Files remain unsolved today. 

Each week during Pride Month, a set of 3 unsolved cases involving a missing or murdered member of the LGBTQIA+ community will be featured on this page. Let's continue to spread awareness on these cases in hopes that justice will be served.

The Disappearance of Katelin Akens.

Katelin Akens has been missing since December 5th, 2015. Prior to vanishing, the then-19-year-old lived in Lake Havasu City, Arizona with her fiancé, Amber Rios. However, Katelin was visiting family in Spotsylvania County, Virginia at the time of her disappearance. 

Katelin is originally from Virginia, and she took a trip to her hometown in December 2015 to meet her new baby nephew. She stayed with her mother, Lisa, at Lisa's residence during her visit. Katelin was scheduled to take a flight back to Arizona on December 5th, 2015 - the same day she vanished. 

Lisa was unable to take Katelin to the airport that day, so she arranged for her ex-husband/Katelin's ex-stepfather, James Branton, to drive her there instead. Lisa dropped Katelin off at Branton's residence early that morning.

A few hours later, Lisa received a text from her ex-husband stating that he had dropped Katelin off. She also received a text from Katelin’s phone stating that she had arrived at Reagan International Airport. However, Katelin never boarded her flight. Two days later, her luggage was found abandoned in a drainage ditch located over 50 miles away from the airport. 

When police questioned Branton, he said that he that he did not actually drop Katelin off at Reagan International Airport. Instead, he claimed that Katelin requested to be dropped off at Springfield Mall, from where she would walk to the Franconia-Springfield Metro station and take the Metro the rest of the way to the airport. However, is no evidence to support that Katelin was ever at that mall or Metro stop on that day.

There is inevitable speculation that Branton is involved in Katelin's disappearance, but at this time, he has not been charged with anything related to her case. Katelin remains missing today. Her case is considered cold.

If you have any information that could lead to the whereabouts of Katelin Akens, please submit a tip.

Read more about Katelin's case.

The Disappearance of Eztli Cortez-Trujillo.

Eztli Cortez-Trujillo was last seen in North Odgen, Utah on April 23rd, 2020. The then-22-year-old vanished after getting into a minor car accident on North Odgen Divide Road. A passing GrubHub driver spotted Eztli and asked if they wanted a ride. Eztli accepted, and the GrubHub driver agreed to pick Eztli up after completing a nearby delivery. 

When the driver returned a short time later, Eztli was gone. Their car remained abandoned on the side of the road. The GrubHub driver called police to report the abandoned vehicle. Once police determined that the vehicle belonged to Eztli, officers attempted to contact Eztli and notified Eztli's family. This was an immediate red flag to Eztli's inner circle, as it is completely out of character for them to abandon their vehicle. 

Both officers and Eztli's family and friends attempted to contact them to no avail. Eztli was subsequently reported missing on April 25th, 2020. Loved ones have expressed frustration with the Salt Lake City Police Department for not putting more investigative efforts into Eztli's case. Friends and family have never believed that Eztli vanished on their own accord. However, police maintain that there is no evidence of foul play in Eztli's disappearance.

If you have any information that could lead to the whereabouts of Eztli Cortez-Trujillo, please submit a tip.

Read more about Eztli's case.

The Murder of Jenna Franks.

Jenna Franks was found brutally murdered in Jacksonville, North Carolina on February 24th, 2021. The 34-year-old's body was discovered by street division workers in a wooded area near Ellis Boulevard and White Street. Investigators later determined that she had been stabbed to death.

Jenna's death is a devastating loss for both her loved ones and members of the local LGBTQ+ community. Jenna was a transgender woman and had active involvement with the Onslow County LGBTQ+ Community Center. Due to her gender identity, Jenna's murder is being investigated as a possible hate crime. 

The FBI became involved in Jenna's murder case just weeks into the investigation. Detectives from the FBI believe that Jenna willingly met up with her killer(s), unaware that her life was in danger. Other than this information, authorities have overall kept quiet about the status of investigation. 

Both investigators and Jenna's loved ones have made an ongoing appeal to the public in hopes that anyone with information will come forward. A monetary reward is available in exchange for information that will lead the arrest and conviction of Jenna's killer(s).

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

Read more about Jenna's case.

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The next set of unsolved LGBTQ cases will be posted next week. 

Cases from week two.

Cases from week one.