The Disappearance of William Chapman (aka Vanity Vuitton)

 

William Ray Chapman vanished in Wichita, Kansas on December 8th, 2008. 

Prior to his disappearance, the then-24-year-old reportedly had a very active social life. William enjoyed going to gay nightclubs - especially one particular club called Fantasy in Wichita. He occasionally wore wigs and used the drag name Vanity Vuitton. William was also pursuing both music and video blogging. 

In 2008, social media was still in its early stages. YouTube had only been introduced to the internet three years prior; the term "video blogger", or it's shortened version, "vlogger" was not anywhere near as widespread as it is today. William had the potential to become one of the first established vloggers - but he unfortunately vanished before he ever had the chance. 

Many reports state that William's family and friends do not believe he vanished on his own accord. Other than that, though, there are very few details available about the events leading up to his disappearance. It's known that he was last seen in Wichita. Some reports note that William "may be" driving a 2002 black Ford - but the model of said vehicle appears to be unknown. Further details about William's disappearance have not been publicly shared. 

Several years have passed without any updates in William's case. His disappearance has been labeled as a cold case by the Wichita Police and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. If you have any information that could lead to William's whereabouts, please contact authorities at 316-268-4387 or submit a tip online.

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Sources:
ABC KAKE
Annette Lawless
Charley Project
The Doe Network
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Missing Persons in America
NamUs

The Disappearance of LaKisha Taylor

 

LaKisha Taylor has been missing since June 13th, 2008. The then-27-year-old woman was last seen at the residence she shared with her cousin Sandy Stevenson in Lake Charles, Louisiana. On the morning of LaKisha's disappearance, Sandy went out for breakfast, while LaKisha stayed behind. When Sandy returned, LaKisha was gone. She has never been seen or heard from again.

There are many suspicious circumstances surrounding LaKisha's disappearance. There were no signs of forced entry or a struggle at the home. Additionally, it appeared as if LaKisha vanished while in the midst of getting ready for her day. Her freshly ironed clothes were found lying on her bed; the clothes iron was still on and hot. LaKisha's bathtub was also full of water, as if she planned to take a bath. Her personal items - including her wallet, identification, cell phone, and cash were all left behind. 

Foul play has been suspected in LaKisha's disappearance since the onset of the investigation. At one point, her estranged husband was labeled a person of interest, but he has never been arrested or charged with anything related to her disappearance. Years have passed without any real updates in LaKisha's case.

LaKisha remains missing today. Cold case detectives are investigating her case. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Lake Charles Police Department at 337-491-1311.

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Sources:
7 KPLC, (2)
Charley Project

The Disappearance of Marianne Waters

Source: Hawaii News Now

Marianne Waters has been missing since August 2008. The then-22-year-old was last seen in the Waikiki area of Honolulu, Hawaii. Marianne was due to travel to Oregon to visit her mother on August 23rd, 2008, but she never arrived. She has never been seen or heard from again.

Marianne was living in Hawaii at the time of her disappearance. Her family lived in Oregon and other parts of the mainland United States. Marianne spoke to her family members on the phone regularly prior to her disappearance, but it appears that she fell out of touch sometime between mid-to-late July and early August of 2008. 

Marianne's NamUs page states that she last spoke to her mother on July 18th, 2008. It was later determined that Marianne was last seen in Waikiki on August 3rd, 2008. Her family members reported her missing weeks later, after she did not show up for her planned trip to Oregon. 

Very little information is available about Marianne's case. Local Hawaiian news sources have reported about her disappearance, but details have been minimal. In April 2014, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that Marianne's husband filed for divorce - but further details about the husband and their relationship prior to Marianne's disappearance are unknown. 

Despite the lack of information, it's clear that Marianne's absence was immediately worrisome to her loved ones. Reports state that relatives living as far away as Japan came to Hawaii to search for Marianne. According to Charley Project, Marianne's family believes that foul play is responsible for her disappearance.

In late 2016, an obituary for Marianne was posted on Legacy.com. The obituary lists her date of death as August 4th, 2008. However, it appears that Marianne's remains have never been found. She is still classified as a missing person to this day.

Honolulu Crime Stoppers is offering a monetary reward for anyone with information that could solve Marianne's disappearance. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please submit a tip. 

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Sources:
Charley Project
Hawaii News Now
Honolulu Crime Stoppers
Legacy.com
NamUs
Newspapers.com
Websleuths

The Murder of Heidi Cunningham

Source: Virginia State Police

Heidi Cunningham was found murdered inside her home in Chesterfield County, Virginia on May 5th, 2008. The 38-year-old woman's death was discovered after her parents called police to request a welfare check on their daughter. When officers arrived at Heidi's residence at the Bristol Village complex, they found her deceased inside her apartment. An autopsy later confirmed that Heidi had been strangled to death.

Bristol Village apartment complex. Source: YouTube

Heidi had moved into the Bristol Village apartment complex after separating from her husband. The couple had three children together; all three of them lived with their faither at the time of Heidi's death. Early into the investigation, police told reporters that they didn't have any reason to believe that Heidi's murder was "domestic-related." 

Neighbors of Heidi were interviewed by CBS 6 shortly after the murder. One of the interviewees later posted a video with clips of the interview to YouTube. In the video, it's mentioned that Heidi's husband told reporters "off-camera" that his wife "had a drinking problem and he wasn't satisfied with her rehab results." As a result, Heidi's husband asked her to move out of the family home; subsequently leading to their separation. 

Although there might have been tension between Heidi and her husband at the time of her murder, it does not appear that the husband is a suspect. In fact, several years have passed without any suspects in the case. There have been very few reports about Heidi's murder, and details about the investigation are unknown. The events leading up to Heidi's death, including the individuals she might have interacted with before her murder, are unknown as well. 

The Virginia State Police have classified this murder as a cold case. It remains unsolved today. If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Heidi Cunningham, please contact investigators at 804-717-6024 or submit a tip online. 

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Sources:
Richmond Times-Dispatch, (2)
Virginia State Police
YouTube

The Murder of Brianna Denison

Brianna Denison vanished under suspicious circumstances on January 20th, 2008. Her body was later found hidden under some tree limbs in a roadside ditch in Reno, Nevada. The 19-year-old college student had been raped and strangled to death.

The night before she vanished, Brianna and a friend attended a party together at a local Sands Regency. Brianna and her friend later returned to her friend’s home near the University of Nevada Reno. The two girls went to bed upon their return, however when Brianna’s friend awoke the following morning, she realized that Brianna was missing. She also noticed that there was a bloodstain on the pillow that Brianna had slept on the night before. The police were called, and a massive search for Brianna was launched in the Reno area.

Weeks later, on February 15th, 2008, a man returning to work from his lunch break spotted Brianna’s body under some tree limbs in south Reno. An autopsy confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted and asphyxiated to death. 

Brianna’s disappearance and murder occurred after a string of sexual assaults were reported at the University of Nevada Reno. DNA found on the bloodstained pillow confirmed that the sexual assault cases were, in fact, linked to Brianna's case. At that point, investigators were tasked with finding this serial offender before there was another victim. 

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The late 2007 assault cases.

Three months before Brianna’s disappearance, in October 2007, a female UNR student was reportedly raped inside a parking garage near campus. Nearly two months later, in December 2007, another female UNR student was abducted from her apartment and sexually assaulted. 

The victim of the December 2007 abduction and assault said that the perpetrator reportedly attempted to strangle her, and when that did not work, he put his hand over her nose and mouth until she passed out. He then covered her face with a hooded sweatshirt and drove her to a secluded area. Before sexually assaulting her, the perpetrator said, "If you see my face, if you tell the police, I will kill you."

After the assault, the perpetrator then drove the young woman back to her apartment. He reportedly kept the underwear she was wearing and told her he might return. 

The young woman later contacted police to report the incident. She described her assailant to the best of her ability. She was swabbed for DNA, and investigators were able to determine that she had been assaulted by a white adult male. 

Link to Brianna's case. 

After Brianna disappeared, investigators conducted forensic testing on the pillow found with a bloodstain. DNA from both Brianna and an unidentified male who had been linked to the December 2007 assault were found on said pillow.  At that point, it was clear that whoever was responsible for the December 2007 assault was also responsible for Brianna’s disappearance. 

Brianna's body was found about two weeks later. At that point, investigators believed they had the perpetrator’s DNA; however, they still were unable to identify him. A public appeal was made for anyone with information about this person to come forward. 

An anonymous tip.

Finally, in November 2008, an anonymous person told police that a man named James Biela had behaved in a way that matched the behavior of the reported suspect in Brianna’s case. 

James Biela. (source:rgj.com)

DNA from Biela's son and an arrest.

Biela was interviewed, but reportedly refused to provide a DNA sample to police. However, police later spoke to Biela’s girlfriend, who provided them with a DNA sample from her and Biela’s son. Investigators were then able to positively match the DNA from both the 2007 assault and Brianna’s murder to Biela. 

He was arrested shortly thereafter and charged with raping and killing Brianna, kidnapping and sexually assaulting another student, and raping a third student. 

A conviction.

Biela pleaded not guilty to all charges. However, a jury ultimately convicted him in May 2010. On June 2nd, 2010, Biela was sentenced to death. He currently remains on death row. 

Tragedy struck the Denison family once again nearly 10 years later, when Brianna’s relative Caitlin Denison (19) vanished on January 15th, 2018. The young woman remains missing today. A write-up on her case can be found here.

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Sources:
Biela vs. State
Crime Library

CBS News

The Murder of Margaret Sweet

image source

Margaret Sweet had a lot going on in her life during December of 2008. The 38-year-old woman was staying with her father and stepmother in Colorado Springs, Colorado while her stepmother recovered from surgery. Margaret was also in the midst of leaving an abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend. Despite all of this, Margaret was still looking forward to celebrating the holidays with her loved ones. Unfortunately, she never got the chance. On the night of Christmas Eve, Margaret was brutally murdered outside her father's home. 

Before her murder, Margaret and her father, James Egger, were taking turns visiting Margaret's stepmother at the hospital. On the evening of December 24th, James was at the hospital while Margaret remained at home. When James returned home on Christmas morning, he found his daughter in the front yard. She had been shot to death.

Throughout the investigation, detectives learned that neighbors heard sounds of a man and woman yelling on the evening of Margaret's murder. The yelling continued until a gunshot was heard. Despite this, 9-1-1 was not called and Margaret's body was not discovered until later. The investigation also revealed many other details about Margaret's death that lead to a few different theories. Still, the prominent question remains: Who killed Margaret Sweet?

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Who was Margaret?

image source: uncovered.com

Margaret 'Mae' Sweet was known as an adventurous and kind person. Some people knew her as Mae, while others knew her as Shelby Jamison. According to family members, Margaret loved outdoor activities such as white water rafting and hiking. She also was an animal lover, and she enjoyed rescuing stray animals. 

Margaret's loved ones also described her as a reliable and caring young woman. Many remain baffled by her murder. There are a few prominent theories about her killer(s), but so far, no arrests have been made.

The relationship.

As previously stated, Margaret was in the midst of leaving an abusive boyfriend before she was killed. Before moving back to Colorado Springs, Margaret lived in Nashville, Tennessee - where she met Jere Dale Batts. The two began a relationship that many described as tumultuous. Batts denies ever physically harming her, but Margaret's family members stated that they saw several bruises and injuries on her body while she was dating him. 

On May 13th, 2008 - just months before her murder - Margaret filed an order of protection against Batts. The order was filed after Batts followed her across the country to Colorado Springs. This inevitably raised suspicions about Batts when Margaret ended up murdered - but he denies involvement. In fact, Batts told police that he was on a date with another woman at the time of Margaret's death. 

While many are still suspicious of Batts, he has not been charged with anything related to Margaret's murder. As detectives continued to investigate the case, they learned other information that could also potentially lead to a suspect.

The gun.

After conducting a ballistics report, investigators learned that the gun used to kill Margaret had been using during another shooting that occurred during 2007. During said incident, the gun was used to injure a man during a drug deal. The victim survived and arrest was never made.

Due to this finding, investigators had to determine whether or not Margaret's death was also related to drugs. A toxicology report determined that Margaret was sober at the time of her death. Investigators were unable to find any further evidence that she was involved with drugs and/or drug dealers.

It still seems like an odd coincidence that the same gun was used in both the 2007 drug deal incident and Margaret's murder - but investigators have been unable to identify the owner of the gun.

Convenience store incident.

In 2018, a detective working Margaret's case told reporters that Margaret got into a verbal argument with a group of people just days before her murder. The detective stated that they still had not identified the people in this group, but they were hoping to speak with them. It's unclear if these people are considered suspects or if the incident itself is related to Margaret's murder - but they have yet to be ruled out.

Very little other information about this incident is available. It appears detectives are still hoping to identify the individuals involved.

The investigation today.

The murder of Margaret Sweet remains unsolved today. Her loved ones have not given up on finding justice. If you have any information that could help solve the case, please contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000 or email cspdcoldcase@springsgov.com with tips.

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Sources:
Colorado Cold Case Files
Fox 21 News
Uncovered

The Murder of Brittany Zimmermann

Brittany Zimmermann

Brittany Zimmerman was only 21 years-old when she was brutally murdered inside the home she shared with her fiancé on April 2nd, 2008. The University of Wisconsin-Madison student was murdered in the middle of the day, just blocks away from the Madison Police Department. When Brittany’s fiancé returned home to their apartment that afternoon, he found Brittany slain on the floor. She had been brutally stabbed and strangled to death. 

The Madison, Wisconsin home where Brittany was murdered.

It was later revealed that Brittany actually called 911 minutes before she was murdered. The dispatchers hung up on her, claiming they did not hear any sounds of a struggle in the phone call. Once Brittany’s body was found, it became clear that she was, in fact, in danger when she called the police. Brittany’s fiancé was questioned and ruled out as a suspect, and after that, it appeared that police had very few leads about the identity of her killer. 

Finally, in 2016, investigators told Brittany’s parents that they found DNA evidence belonging to David Kahl - a man who was already behind bars for his 7th DWI charge. Police apparently confronted Kahl with this information, and he said that he was with Brittany on the day she was killed, but he denied being the killer. 

The police department advised Brittany’s family members to not publicly talk about this information, however Brittany’s mother stated that she could no longer sit back knowing that her daughter’s killer has not been apprehended. 

Later that year, police became familiar with a man named Andrew Scoles, who had previously been in prison with Kahl. Scoles stated that Kahl broke down to him and confessed to being Brittany’s killer. Scoles offered to tell the police this information in exchange for his two previous felony convictions being expunged from his record.

 

Brittany’s mother contacted Scoles via e-mail and begged him to come forward, but unfortunately nothing ever came of that. In August 2017, Scoles was killed in a motorcycle accident. Any potential information he had about Brittany’s murder died with him.

It took years, but finally, in March 2020, David Kahl was arrested and charged with Brittany's murder. The arrest came nearly four years after investigators reportedly matched Kahl's DNA to DNA evidence that was found at the crime scene. 

David Kahl mugshot

At that time, it was also revealed that Kahl was one of the people police interviewed just days after Brittany was found dead. During that 2008 interview, Kahl reportedly told investigators that he was in Brittany's neighborhood on the day of her death, going door-to-door asking residents for money so he could buy drugs. 

Despite this admission, police did not consider Kahl to be a suspect at the time. He did not resurface in the investigation until 2016, when police were finally able to identify the DNA found at the crime scene. Kahl was charged in Dane County Circuit Court with first-degree intentional homicide.

In October of 2022, he pleaded guilty to the charges. He admitted that he saw Brittany as she returned home from classes on the day of her murder. David said that he was on drugs when he forced himself into her apartment and committed the murder. 

Kahl is expected to spend his life behind bars.

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Sources:
Fox 47
Isthmus
Law and Crime
Wisconsin State Journal

The Murder of Danick Adams

 

Danick Adams had a lot to look forward to during the summer of 2008. At just 18-years-old, the young girl had two jobs and was also raising a two-year-old daughter. Danick was also working to obtain her G.E.D. According to her loved ones, she hoped to eventually become a teacher or a psychologist. Danick was ready to build her future not only for herself, but for her daughter as well. Unfortunately, all of that was robbed from Danick on August 15th, 2008, when she was tragically shot to death. 

Danick was killed while leaving an Ultimate Fitness in her hometown of Jacksonville, Arkansas. She was quite familiar with the fitness center, as it was owned by her grandfather, and she also worked part-time in the center's daycare. It was shortly after midnight on August 15th when Danick went to the Ultimate Fitness with her friend Princess. As the girls walked out of the building a short time later, they were approached by a masked gunman. The man reportedly demanded that they give him their cell phones and money. 

According to Princess, Danick refused to follow his orders. The gunman then took off his mask, revealing his face, before shooting Danick multiple times. Princess ran to a nearby home to call authorities, while the gunman stole Danick's car keys and fled in her vehicle. 

Authorities immediately began their search for Danick's killer. Just hours after the shooting occurred, a man driving Danick's car returned to the crime scene and drove past. Police began to pursue the vehicle, but when the driver pulled over, he exited the car and was able to escape on foot. A female passenger reportedly remained in the car. She told police that she did not know the man, and he had picked her up just moments earlier. 

Danick's killer has never been found. Many years have passed, and her loved ones are still left with more questions than answers. There are several moving pieces in this case, all of which could play a role in finding Danick's killer.

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Before the shooting. 

As police began to investigate Danick's murder, they pieced together a timeline of events leading up to the moment she got shot. It was soon learned that August 14th, 2008, began as a seemingly normal day. Danick dropped her daughter off with her ex-boyfriend/the child's father. Then, she met up with a friend for lunch at Taco Bell.

Danick later spoke with her mother on the phone around 10:30 PM. During their phone call, Danick told her mother she was now with a different friend - Princess. The two girls planned to go to the Ultimate Fitness - which was open 24/7 - so they could use the tanning beds and put on make-up. 

It's known that Danick and Princess made it to the fitness center as planned. Unfortunately, Danick would not leave the fitness center alive. 

Princess' version of events.

There are inevitable questions about Princess' recollection of events. Both investigators and Danick's mother have stated that they found it odd that the gunman revealed his face to Danick and Princess before firing his gun. In 2020, a detective was quoted telling Dateline, "It’s just strange, because I think if you had just shown your face to someone you’re about to kill, I wouldn’t think you’d want to leave a witness."

Many have also found it odd that Princess said that the gunman was wearing a ski mask. It was incredibly hot and humid during this time of year in Arkansas, and detectives think it is unlikely that a shooter would conceal their face with such an item. 

Investigators have never stated that they have any evidence to disprove Princess' version of events. However, it appears that Princess implied that Danick was killed because she refused to give her cell phone and money to the gunman. Investigators do not believe the motive of Danick's death was robbery. In fact, they believe that Danick was targeted and that it's possible more than one person is involved in her death. 

Danick's car and phone.

As previously stated, the gunman fled the scene of the crime in Danick's vehicle. Hours later, though, the same vehicle was driven past the scene of the crime yet again. Police were never able to capture the driver of the car, nor have they ever confirmed that they believe the driver is the killer. While it is entirely possible, investigators have also acknowledged that the killer could've traded the car or abandoned it after fleeing the scene. 

Police questioned the female passenger who was also in the vehicle, but she maintained that she had only just met the driver who fled. According to detectives, the female passenger has been cooperative with the investigation. While her potential involvement has not yet been ruled out, it does not appear that she is a current person of interest. 

Investigators also later found Danick's phone in the possession of a man. He said that another man had sold him the phone for five dollars. It appears that the killer dumped the phone on someone else very shortly after the murder. 

Potential motives.

With the available information, a motive for Danick's motive remains unclear. Though investigators believe she was targeted, they have not revealed why. Danick's ex-boyfriend has a solid alibi, as he was with their daughter at the time of the shooting. Princess told police that Danick was shot during a robbery, but investigators are unsure. 

According to Danick's mother, Princess and Danick had only recently begun hanging out before Danick was killed. The two reportedly met years earlier and had recently reconnected. Though Princess' version of events has brought on a few questions, she has never been charged with anything related to Danick's murder, nor has she ever been publicly labeled as a suspect. 

Still searching for answers.

As of today, Danick's murder remains unsolved. There is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that could lead to an arrest. If you have any important information, please contact authorities at 501-533-6477.
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Sources:
AY Mag
NBC News
THV 11
Uncovered

The Disappearance of Nadia Kersh

image source

Nadia Kersh has been missing since November 2008. The then-21-year-old lived in Homewood, Alabama at the time of her disappearance. Nadia is originally from Russia, and she spent the first few years of her life in an Russian orphanage. Despite this rough start, Nadia grew into a well-rounded young woman. She is described by her loved ones as reliable and independent. However, Nadia's loved ones also said that she could be too trusting of others. It's possible that this trusting nature led to Nadia's disappearance on November 3rd, 2008.

Nadia was last seen shortly after 1:00 PM as she left her job at the local Tria Market. She planned to go pick her one-year-old son up from daycare, but she never arrived. Nadia has never been seen or heard from again. 

Surveillance footage of Nadia leaving her workplace. (source: WVTM News)

The day after Nadia was last seen, her vehicle was found abandoned in an alley in west Birmingham - located approximately 5 miles away from Homewood. A few days later, Nadia's purse was found about 100 yards away from the car's location, under an overpass on the railroad tracks. These findings seemed significant, but they did not provide any information about the whereabouts of Nadia herself.

Police identified a man named Joacques Haywood as a person-of-interest early into the investigation. According to reports, Nadia dated Joacques at some point before her disappearance. In May 2010, nearly two years after Nadia vanished, Joacques Haywood was charged with capital murder in her case. Police were finally able to move forward with these charges after a witness testified that she saw a man in a black SUV parking in front of Nadia's apartment building and then walking inside. A short time later, the witness said she heard the sound of a crash and someone crying. 

Joacques Haywood. Source: CBSNews.com

Prosecutors subsequently announced that they believed Joacques had killed Nadia during a botched robbery. However, the charges did not stick. During the summer of 2011, a judge dropped the charges against Joacques. The judge stated that the prosecution had failed to test two pieces of evidence for DNA, and they also did not give Joacques his constitutional right to a speedy trial. The charges were dropped without prejudice, which gives the prosecution the option to recharge Joacques with murder if more evidence is discovered.

Unfortunately, it appears that no such evidence has been found. Nadia remains missing and there have been very few updates in her case since the charges against Joacques were dropped. There is a monetary reward with anyone with information that could move Nadia's case forward. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Homewood Police Department at 205-332-6262.

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Sources:

AL.com

CBS News
Charley Project
WVTM 13
Uncovered

The Murders of Amina & Sarah Said

Amina and Sarah Said (left), Yaser Said (right)

Teenage sisters Amina Said (18) and Sarah Said (17) were murdered by their father Yaser Said on January 1st, 2008. The Saids are an Egyptian family, but Amina and Sarah grew up in Irving, Texas. It is believed that Yaser murdered his daughters because he felt they had dishonored their family by refusing to adhere to the traditional standards of their Egyptian culture.

The Said Family.

An abusive household.

Yaser was reportedly abusive towards both of his daughters and his wife Patricia “Tissie” Said for many years. Amina and Sarah had both confided in their friends about the abuse. At one point, Sarah told her friend “He treats me like a whore.” Additionally, both girls would often show up to school with several bruises. On one occasion, Amina came to school with a split lip. She informed her friends that her father had caused her injuries, and her mother refused to let her seek medical attention. 

Yaser also often spied on his daughters–he would video or audio tape them without their knowledge. The girls were afraid to use public telephones because they feared that Yaser would somehow be listening in on their conversation. When Sarah got a job at a local convenience store, Yaser would videotape her at work and then punish her for smiling too much at the customers. There are also allegations of Yaser behaving inappropriately with both of his daughters, despite their obvious discomfort. 

Controlling relationships.

When Amina was 16, Yaser took her to Egypt and attempted to arrange a marriage between her and a much older friend of his. Amina rejected the marriage. Though Yaser was not happy about this, they returned to the United States where Yaser continued to look for other potential men to marry his daughters.

Amina began to date Joseph Moreno- a boy her age who she met in Tae Kwon Do classes. However, she was very scared that Yaser would find out about the relationship. She would send Joseph code words to let him know to stop texting/calling her in case Yaser was going to look through her phone. When Yaser asked, Amina denied having a boyfriend, but Yaser still continued to try and uncover the relationship.

When that failed, Yaser decided to move his family 60 miles away to Lewisville, Texas. This prompted Amina and Sarah to start planning an escape.

A brief escape.

Joseph's family actually offered to help not only Amina, but Sarah and their mother Tissie as well. Around Christmas 2007, Amina, Sarah and Tissie all ran away to Tulsa, Oklahoma to stay with Joseph's relatives. However, it is believed that Tissie stayed in contact with Yaser the entire time. On December 31st, 2007, Tissie told Amina and Sarah that it was the anniversary of her mother’s death, and she wanted to bring the girls to East Texas to put flowers on her grave. 

The fateful return.

Sarah reluctantly agreed to go with her mother, while Amina refused. Eventually, though, Tissie told Amina that her father had forgiven her and wanted both her and Sarah to come home. Amina eventually gave in and went with her mother and sister.

The following day, Yaser took Amina and Sarah to the cab he drove and told them he wanted to take them out to eat. Yaser told Tissie to stay at home because he wanted to talk to his daughters alone. He then drove the girls back to Irving, Texas, where he shot them both inside the car. Amina died instantly, while Sarah managed to call 911. She was heard on the line saying, “Help, my dad shot me! I’m dying!” Unfortunately, Sarah died before the paramedics could arrive.

Fleeing the scene.

Yaser fled the scene after shooting his daughters. He evaded authorities for 12 years before he was finally captured in August 2020.

Authorities worked tirelessly to locate him over the years. There were no records of him flying out of the country. At one point, the FBI believed that Yaser was working as a cab driver in New York City. In 2014, Yaser was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. A $100,000 reward was put in place for any information that would lead to his arrest.

Capture and conviction.

On August 26th, 2020, authorities tracked down Yaser Said in Justin, Texas. He was arrested and charged with capital murder for the deaths of his daughters. Amina and Sarah's brother was charged with aiding a fugitive. He was sentenced to 10 years for those charges.

In August 2022, Yaser went to trial. He testified in his own defense, saying that he was a victim of a smear campaign by the media. Jurors deliberated for about 3 hours before finding him guilty.

Yaser’s ex-wife/the girl’s mother gave a victim impact statement, calling Yaser the devil who killed their daughters. She also accused him of manipulating their son, who is currently serving a 10-year sentence for helping Yaser hide for over a decade. Yaser was visibly angry as his ex-wife spoke, and the judge had to tell his attorneys to keep him quiet.

Yaser was given an automatic life sentence. 

The Disappearance of Yasmin Acree

 

Yasmin Acree has been missing since January 15th, 2008. The young girl was only 15 years-old at the time of her disappearance. Despite her young age, Yasmin had already been through very many hardships in her life. She spent several of her childhood years in Kentucky's foster system, during which she faced both physical and sexual abuse. In 2001, Yasmin and her older brother Damarcus went to live with Rose Mae Starnes - an aunt through marriage - in Chicago, Illinois. Rose officially adopted them both in 2006.

According to relatives, both Yasmin and Damarcus struggled with behavioral issues due to their years of traumatic experiences. However, Yasmin was still an honor roll student and received good grades up until she finished middle school. In 2007, she began her freshman year of high school, and her grades began to slip. Around the same time, Rose kicked Damarcus out of the home - leaving Yasmin as the only child in the residence during the months leading up to her disappearance.

The day Yasmin was last seen was a seemingly normal day. Rose was out of town at the time, but her boyfriend Charles Burt was at the home. According to reports, Yasmin went to school that day and then went to the local YMCA. She returned home that evening and did a load of laundry before going to bed. The following morning, Charles was taking out the trash when he noticed the door to the basement - where Yasmin slept - was opened. Upon closer look, he noticed that the door jamb was broken, and the padlock had been cut - indicating that someone had broken in. Yasmin was not in the basement, but Charles thought she had gone to school early, and that the break-in had happened after she left.

Rose returned home later that day. When Yasmin never returned home that evening, Rose called police to file a missing persons' report. Police came to the residence, but they did not collect evidence from the break-in scene - despite the fact that the break-in occurred through Yasmin's bedroom door. After interviewing a few of Yasmin's friends, police deemed her a runaway. This is likely due to the fact some of Yasmin's classmates told police that Yasmin left on her own accord, and that they had since heard from her via phone. Cell phone records would later confirm that this was false, and two girls would later admit to misleading police. 

As time continued to pass without any sign of Yasmin, many began to criticize the Chicago police's handling of the case. Not only did they not collect crucial evidence from the home, but police also failed to identify and/or question other tenants who had lived in the same residence as Yasmin. It would take a year-and-half before police would learn that a violent offender had lived in the home prior to Yasmin's disappearance. This information, along with information discovered by reporters from the Chicago Tribune, finally led to some viable theories in Yasmin's case. 

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An offender in the home.

In 2009, a man named Jimmie Terrell Smith was arrested on charges of raping five females, two of whom were 14-year-old girls he also allegedly kidnapped. Yasmin's adoptive mother Rose saw a news broadcast about Smith's arrest and was prompted to contact detectives. She subsequently told them that Smith and Yasmin knew each other. 

During 2005, Smith lived in a second-floor room in Rose's building. Prior to moving in, Smith had served ten years in prison due to an attempted murder conviction. Smith was already on public record as a convicted felon, yet police were unaware that he lived in the same home as a missing child until a year-and-a-half after said child's disappearance.

Jimmie Terrell Smith

Yasmin's relationship with Smith & her diary.

Smith was in his 30s at the time he was Rose's tenant. He reportedly took a liking to Yasmin, who was only 12 or 13 at the time. At one gathering, family members witnessed Smith giving Yasmin a beer and stroking her hair. At another gathering, Smith was heard complimenting Yasmin's looks. Smith and Yasmin reportedly kept in touch even after Smith moved out. In fact, the two saw each other at a family gathering that occurred approximately two weeks before Yasmin's disappearance.

In 2011, an article from the Chicago Tribune stated that their reporters uncovered Yasmin's diary - an item that police did not yet know existed. Yasmin reportedly wrote affectionately about Smith a few times in the diary, referring to him as "Tyrell". She scribbled things such as "I miss Tyrell..." and "I miss him and his sexy ass".

Interviews with Smith.

Once detectives were finally made aware of this information, they went to interview Smith. It's unclear what, exactly, Smith told detectives, but afterwards they had a warrant to search a home he had previously lived in. It is also unclear what was found during said searches. 

In 2011, Smith also spoke to reporters from the Tribune. During this interview, he said he knew what happened to Yasmin, but he was not going to speak up about it. Smith still did not admit direct involvement in her disappearance at that time.

Around two years later, in 2013, Rose went to meet with Smith at Cook County Jail. According to a timeline on uncovered.com, Smith admitted to involvement in Yasmin's disappearance during this meeting. The timeline states, "he tells her family that [Yasmin] had committed suicide. He claims that he had taken her to a house in the 2200 block of South Spaulding, but that he had burned her body in a garbage can to dispose of her body."

Police have not found any evidence to support Smith's claims. It's worth noting that Smith has a history of fabricating events, so many have had reasons to doubt his story. It's also worth noting that Yasmin's loved ones do not believe that Yasmin committed suicide - but they do believe that Smith is involved in her disappearance.

In 2017, Smith was sentenced to 110 years in prison after being convicted of the unrelated rape and kidnapping charges. As of today, he has not been charged with anything related to Yasmin's disappearance. 

A struggling family and a broken system.

Rose died in 2014 after years of battling health issues. Yasmin's remaining family members are still dedicated to learning the truth about what happened to her. Many have criticized the Chicago police for not thoroughly investigating Yasmin's disappearance. Some others have questioned if Yasmin was failed by the system before she ever vanished.

As previously stated, Yasmin and her brother Damarcus spent many years in the foster system during their early childhood. Before that, they lived with their biological mother, who struggled with drug addiction. Yasmin and Damarcus spent many of their young years being shuffled between their mother's home, group homes, and foster homes. It was during those years that they experienced horrific abuse. 

At one point, they settled with a foster family where they seemed to be doing well. After being with this family for two years, Yasmin and Damarcus' biological mother declared that she wanted them to live with family. The two siblings were then subsequently sent to Chicago to live with Rose. 

Although Rose loved Yasmin and Damarcus, she struggled with their behavioral issues as well. She admits to disciplining them by whipping them and locking them in the basement. Case workers routinely visited the home - including during the time period in which Smith was living there - but this was never documented by social services. Therefore, this information was not immediately on detective's radar when Yasmin was reported missing. Still, it appears detectives also failed to properly identify people in Yasmin's life. 

Where the case stands today.

Yasmin remains missing today. No suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified. Many speculate that Smith is responsible for Yasmin's disappearance, but he has yet to be charged with anything related to her case.

There is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that could lead to Yasmin's whereabouts. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please submit a tip. 

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Sources:

ABC 7
Charley Project
Chicago Tribune
Uncovered

The Murder of Natasha Warren

 

Natasha Warren was only 23 years-old when she was murdered during August 2008. The young mother was driving to work in Richland County, South Carolina on August 22nd when her car got a flat tire. Natasha then walked to a nearby Sunoco station on Bush River Road. While there, Natasha called her boss to say she would be late to work. She then attempted to call her fiancé for assistance, but he did not answer the phone. At some point, Natasha returned to her vehicle. She never arrived at work and never returned home. 

Two days later, on August 24th, 2008, Natasha was found deceased inside her car. She had been shot in the chest. It appears that somebody shot Natasha at some point after she returned to her car after leaving the Sunoco. Police have since released surveillance footage of Natasha at the Sunoco on August 22nd in hopes that it may jog the memory of someone who saw her that day. 

In 2010, police announced that they were hoping to talk to a man who was also spotted at the Sunoco the same evening as Natasha. Police said they did not consider this man a suspect, but they wanted to interview him. Years have passed, and it is unclear if this man was ever identified by authorities. 

Natasha's murder remains unsolved today. There has been very little news about her case, especially in more recent years. If you have any information that might lead to Natasha's killer(s), please contact Richland County authorities at 803-576-3000.
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Sources:
The Deck
WACH
Richland County SD

The Disappearance of Wojciech Fudali

Wojciech Fudali vanished at the age of 22 on December 6th, 2008. Wojciech was born in Poland, but his family moved to the United States when he was young. He grew up in Massachusetts but was living in Rhode Island at the time of his disappearance. Months before he went missing, Wojciech graduated from University of Rhode Island with a degree in international business.

Wojciech decided to stay in Rhode Island after graduating. He lived with friends in an apartment in Newport. According to said friends, Wojciech began behaving strangely in the days leading up to his disappearance. He had been prescribed anti-anxiety medicine but had stopped taking the pills. 

Wojciech’s roommates also said that he had become very interested in religion and nature before his disappearance. He began reading the Bible frequently and he would also often leave the home under-dressed for the weather. About a week before his disappearance, Newport police were called after Wojciech was spotted walking along Cliff Walk with a Bible in his hand.

The officers that responded found him wearing pajamas but no shoes. However, the officers ultimately determined that Wojciech seemed fine. As such they did not direct him to a hospital or a doctor of any sort.

On the evening of December 5th, 2008, Wojciech attended a party at a friend’s home in Narragansett. He ended up staying the night at the residence. Around 5:00 AM, other partygoers were awakened by Wojciech hitting himself with the pole from a bedframe and repeatedly saying “trust me”. Wojciech’s friends attempted to calm him down and eventually went back to sleep.

When his friends woke up hours later, Wojciech was gone. The clothing he was wearing was folded neatly on the floor. His personal items, including his car keys, cell phone, debit card, and cash were all left behind. Wojciech’s friends initially thought he went for a walk and would be back soon. When he did not return by 1:30 PM, Wojciech’s friends called police.

After Wojciech was reported missing, investigators learned that he had been spotted twice after leaving his friend’s house. Around 8:30 AM that morning, neighbors saw a man matching Wojciech’s description sitting naked at a dock. Then, around 10:30 AM, a different witness saw Wojciech running naked near Galilee Bird Sanctuary. This is the last confirmed sighting of Wojciech, and he has never been seen or heard from again.

Temperatures were below freezing on the day that Wojciech disappeared. Since he was not properly attired outside, it’s unlikely that he would survive very long. However, investigators were unable to locate Wojciech--dead or alive. He remains missing today.

If you have any information that could help locate Wojciech, please contact the Narragansett Police at 401-789-1091.