The Disappearance and Murder of Keisha Roman

 

Keisha Roman vanished at the age of 29 on March 22nd, 2009. The young woman was last seen at her residence in Binghamton, New York. Months later, on September 21st, 2009, Keisha's remains were found in a rural area in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Her death was ruled a homicide.

According to a memorial page for Keisha on FindaGrave.com, she faced legal challenges in the years leading up to her death. In 1996, she was sentenced to eight years in prison for manslaughter but was released in 2000 after serving just four. Following her release, Keisha briefly pursued acting, landing a role in the 2003 indie film Summers of Tomorrow. However, her legal troubles resurfaced a few years later, and she was arrested again in 2007 on various charges.

The events leading up to Keisha's disappearance are unknown. The Binghamton Police note that Keisha was "reported missing from her Oak Street residence in the City of Binghamton." After Keisha was reported missing, her case seemingly went cold until her remains were found several months later.

Keisha's remains were discovered in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles from Binghamton, near the New York state border. Because her body was found in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Police took over as the lead agency in the investigation. Just days after the discovery, police confirmed that Keisha had been a victim of homicide.

Years later, her murder remains unsolved. There is scarce information about Keisha's life before she disappeared. According to her memorial page, she was married at the time of her disappearance and is survived by a son. Beyond that, there has been minimal coverage on Keisha's case.

If you have any information that may help solve Keisha's homicide, please contact the Pennsylvania State Police - Gibson at (570) 465-3154 or submit a tip with the Binghamton Police.

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Sources:

Binghamton Police Department
Find A Grave: Keisha Roman

Keisha's IMDB page
Press & Sun-Bulletin
Scranton Times-Tribune

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.

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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.

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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. 

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