The Murder of Blake Chappell

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The Murder of Ashley Okland

Source: CBS News

Ashley Okland was only 27 years-old when she was shot to death during the broad daylight on April 8th, 2011. Her murder remains unsolved to this day.

The day of Ashley's murder began as a regular day for the young woman. She was an employee of Iowa Realty Co., and she went to work that day on Stone Creek Court in West Des Moines. Around 2:00 PM, another realty employee heard a loud commotion coming from one of the model townhomes. The employee went to investigate and found Ashley on the floor, suffering from gunshot wounds. 

Police were called to the scene, and when they arrived, they determined that Ashley had been shot twice. Ashley was subsequently transported to the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. She unfortunately succumbed to her injuries while at the hospital.

Ashley's murder has baffled her loved ones. Ashley's brother, with whom she was very close, stated that there was no indication that Ashley was afraid of anyone or that she had any fears for her safety. A motive for her murder remains unknown; she did not have any known enemies, nor was she known to be involved in any dangerous or criminal activity. 

Several years have passed since Ashley's murder, and her killer still remains unknown. No suspects have ever been publicly named. A search warrant was executed during the early stages of the murder investigation, but it was sealed and remains at that status today. After years ticked by without an arrest, Ashley's case was eventually passed to a cold case unit.

Family and friends remember Ashley as a kind, caring, and hardworking young woman. During her free time, she volunteered for Young Variety and Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Ashley was reportedly passionate about helping young children. In 2014, the Ashley Okland Star Playground - a playground adapted for children with special needs - was opened in Ashley's honor at Ewing Park. 

Over the years, a large amount of money has been raised as a monetary incentive for anyone with information about Ashley's murder to come forward. In 2021, it was reported that "investigators assigned to the case are confident that someone has crucial knowledge about the time leading up to her death and the identities of those involved." As of today, though, it appears that no substantial leads have surfaced.

If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Ashley Okland, please submit a tip online or contact authorities at 515-223-1400.

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Sources:
CBS News
Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa
The Des Moines Register
KCCI Des Moines

The Disappearance of Maria Nina Miller

Source: FBI.gov

Maria Nina Miller has been missing since February 4th, 2011. 

The last known sighting of the then-34-year-old woman occurred at her workplace, Dandy Mini Mart, in Towanda, Pennsylvania. Maria told coworkers that she was going to take the next few days off so she could go with her husband to visit his sick mother in Charleston, West Virginia. She planned to be back in Towanda by February 7th to work an overnight shift, but she never showed up. Maria has never been seen or heard from again.

Maria is originally from the Philippines. She met her husband, Kenneth Miller, while he was deployed in Philippines by the U.S. Army. The couple moved to the United States in 2005. They lived in Norfolk, Virginia for approximately five years before moving to Towanda, Pennsylvania in 2010. There, Kenneth worked as a recruiter while Maria worked at the Dandy Mini Mart.

Police were not notified about Maria's disappearance until June 10th, 2011 - over four months after she was last seen. The U.S. Army filed the report after it became known that nobody had seen or been able to get in contact with Maria for a long period of time. Throughout the investigation, it was established that the last confirmed sighting of Maria occurred at the Dandy Mini Mart on February 4th. 

When Kenneth was questioned, he said that he and Maria traveled to Charleston after her February 4th shift. He claimed that the two of them got into an argument in the parking lot of Charleston Area Medical Center, and that Maria demanded to be taken to Virginia Beach. Kenneth said that he complied with her request and ended up dropping her off at an apartment complex in the Virginia Beach area. He told police that, after that, he never saw or heard from his wife again.

There has been inevitable suspicion about Kenneth since the onset of the investigation. Not only did he not report Maria missing, but he also claimed that he drove Maria all the way from Charleston to Virginia Beach - over 400 miles away and an approximate 6-to-7-hour drive - to drop her off. This would mean that the couple had already traveled an approximate 6-to-7 hours from Towanda to Charleston, and then another 6-to-7 hours from Charleston to Virginia Beach. 

It's worth noting that investigators have not been able to confirm Kenneth's version of events. All online reports about Maria's disappearance state that she was last seen at her workplace in Towanda. As noted above, this appears to be the last sighting of her that police have been able to verify. However, Kenneth has continuously denied involvement in Maria's disappearance. Police have declined to answer whether or not they consider Kenneth a suspect.

The FBI is involved in the investigation into Maria's disappearance. There is a monetary reward available in exchange for information that could help solve the case. If you have any information that could help, please submit a tip. 

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Sources:
ABC 27
Charley Project
FBI
Star Gazette

The Disappearance and Death of Julius TaDarius Jones

Julius 'TaDarius' Jones (26) vanished on August 14th, 2011. He lived in Meridian, Mississippi at the time of his disappearance. TaDarius' loved ones last saw him on the evening he went missing. He ate dinner with his family, went out afterwards, then never returned home. TaDarius was never seen or heard from again.

Two days after he was last seen, TaDarius' car was found parked near an abandoned home on 27th Street. There was no sign of TaDarius at the scene and no additional clues were found. Investigators reportedly chased numerous leads over the years, but no suspects were ever named. His family members believed he met with foul play since the onset of the investigation. There has been a lot of online speculation about specific people being involved. It appears said people have been interviewed by police, but no arrests have been made. 

On February 19th, 2019, TaDarius was declared legally dead. It appears that this declaration was made by law enforcement, as TaDarius's mother said she did not learn that her son had been declared dead until July 2022. This news was inevitably upsetting to TaDarius' family as they still hoped for answers.

Years passed without any sign of TaDarius. Then, in August 2024, human remains were found in the 2300 block of 26th Street. In January 2025, those human remains were positively identified as Julius 'TaDarius' Jones. His death remains under investigation.

After the identification of TaDarius' remains, his father spoke to reporters about their family's ongoing search for answers. He stated, "Eventually, we’re going to find out now really what happened to our son because his body was his remains were found at one location. His vehicle found another location, so there’s no closure in that, and we just really want to know this time what happened, and my heart goes out to whoever may know who may have information. That they have lived with this for 13 going on 14 years with this information and haven’t said anything, and I’m pleading today that if you know anything, please come forward to really give us rest and closure."

If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Meridian Police Department at 601-485-1859.

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Sources:
ABC 11
Charley Project
The Meridian Star

TV One
Twin States News

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 Jessica Delgadillo

 

Jessica Delgadillo vanished on October 19th, 2011. The young girl was only 14 years old at the time of her disappearance. Jessica was last seen leaving her family's home in Amarillo, Texas to walk to Palo Duro High School - but she never arrived. Jessica never returned home either, and she has never been seen or heard from again. 

Jessica's disappearance was initially classified as a runaway case, even though she did not take any money or additional clothing/items with her when she left her home. Prior to vanishing, Jessica did not have a history of running away or leaving home without permission. Police were unable to find any evidence that she planned to leave. It is unclear what, exactly, caused Jessica to be labeled as a runaway - but she was eventually reclassified as an endangered missing person.

About six months after Jessica was reported missing, police appealed to the public for leads in the case. Amarillo police Sgt. Brent Barbee told reporters that they still believed Jessica was missing voluntarily, but they were concerned about the fact that they had no additional information. In many runaway teen cases, the teen either returns after a few days, or the family/friends/police hear rumors about the teen's whereabouts. Sgt. Barbee is quoted in an article saying, "the main difference [in Jessica's case] is she's been gone for six months, and we haven't received any new information on her."

After that, several years passed since that report, and Jessica remained missing. Various other reports stated that Jessica may still be in the local area, or she may have traveled to Lubbock or Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Police reportedly heard that information from Jessica's family - but it is unclear where that information came from, as she does not have any relatives or friends in either area. Jessica does have relatives in Mexico, but it is unknown if there is any evidence that she traveled there. 

In 2023, 13 years after her disappearance, the Amarillo Police Department's missing persons unit got a found call from a woman who identified herself as Jessica Delgadillo. She said she knew she had been reported missing. DNA later confirmed that the woman was, in fact, Jessica Delgadillo. 

Upon Jessica's request, the details of her disappearance and her current location have not been disclosed. 

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Sources:
ABC 7 Amarillo
Amarillo Globe News
Charley Project
News Channel 10
News Nation Now
Uncovered

The Disappearance of Shawn Dickerson

Source: Help Find Shawn Dickerson on Facebook

Shawn Dickerson has been missing since December 2nd, 2011. The then-23-year-old left his residence in San Francisco, California that day, presumably to go to work, but he never arrived. Shawn also never returned home and has never been seen or heard from again.

Shawn is originally from Ceres, California. He moved to San Francisco about 6 months prior to his disappearance. Shawn lived with roommates and had a job at Rolo's, a men's clothing store on Market Street. Various reports state that Shawn was trying to save money so he could move to New York. 

The day before his disappearance, Shawn went to work a shift at Rolo's, during which he was given payment. He then left to take a lunch break around 1:00 PM and never returned to finish his shift. Shawn's boss tried to contact him several times to no avail. Shawn finally responded at 11:30 PM and apologized for not returning to work. His boss replied, warning him that he could be fired if he was not a reliable employee. 

According to one of his roommates, Shawn awoke around 11:00 AM the next morning and remarked that he was late for work. He reportedly rushed to get ready and left his residence dressed in his work clothes. However, Shawn never went to Rolo's that day, nor did he ever contact his family or friends again. 

The last known sign of him occurred around 4:00 PM, when several pictures taken around San Francisco were posted to his Facebook page. After that, Shawn seemingly vanished into thin air. His loved ones reported him missing on December 6th, 2011. 

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What happened to Shawn?

Source: Help Find Shawn Dickerson on Facebook

It does not seem as if Shawn planned to leave on his own accord. His roommate noted that Shawn was dressed for work when he left his residence. He also left behind many of his personal belongings. 

Assuming that Shawn himself is the one who uploaded the pictures to his Facebook page that afternoon, it appears that he was still in the San Francisco area at 4:00 PM that day. However, his family and friends noted that it was very out of character for him to post anything - let alone several pictures - to his Facebook page. 

It's unknown why Shawn never showed up for his shift at Rolo's. Considering that he had already been reprimanded by his boss the previous day, it's possible that he assumed he would be fired if he showed up late, so he decided not to go at all. If so - it's possible that Shawn instead went to various spots in San Francisco and took pictures. Still, the question remains: what happened after that?

Potential theories.

There has been speculation that the drama surrounding Shawn's job may play a role in his disappearance. Those closest to Shawn reportedly did not know that his boss had threatened to fire him the day before he vanished until after he was reported missing. In fact, his roommates told police that Shawn stayed up until 4:00 AM chatting with them the night before his disappearance but did not mention the incident with his boss. He did, however, tell a neighbor about the incident.

Some speculate that Shawn was upset over possibly losing his job at the time of his disappearance. According to his page on Charley Project, his loved ones "do not believe him losing his job would have unduly upset him." Still, Shawn's ex-girlfriend believes he might have died by suicide. 

Another theory is that foul play is responsible in his disappearance. If so, it is unknown who, or why, anyone would harm Shawn. Was he a victim of a robbery? A random attacker? Or did he get into an altercation with someone he knew?

It's worth noting that there are no known sightings of Shawn after he left his residence on the morning of his disappearance - so there is no evidence to corroborate that Shawn encountered anyone or anything nefarious after that. Still, it appears that there is not any known evidence to rule out foul play either. 

Missing California Five.

The foul play theory segues into another theory in this case: that Shawn's disappearance is connected to the disappearances of four other young men from the San Francisco area. The men's ages range from 19 to 29, and they all disappeared between the years of 2010 and 2013. 

Source: nbcnews.com

The first of these young men to go missing is Jackson Miller, who vanished at the age of 19 on May 15th, 2010. Jackson left his family’s Cupertino, California home that day and drove his car to the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco. The car was later found abandoned with all of Jackson's personal belongings inside. Due to this, there were fears that Jackson might have died by suicide - however, there is no evidence that he jumped off the bridge.

In fact, there have been various sightings of Jackson over the years. In 2014, a Tahoe resident reported seeing him several times in the South Lake Tahoe area. The most recent sighting of Jackson occurred in 2021 at a Target in Woodland. 

The second of these young men to vanish is Cameron Remmer, who disappeared nearly a year and a half later on October 6th, 2011. The then-29-year-old vanished while staying at Fairmont Hotel on Mason Street in San Francisco. None of his accounts have been accessed since the day of his disappearance, but there have been several unconfirmed sightings of him around the San Francisco area. 

Shawn was the third of these young men to vanish. In contrast to Jackson and Cameron, there does not appear to be any reported sightings of Shawn since his disappearance. Still, this did not stop the speculation about all 3 cases potentially being connected. 

That speculation grew even further when a fourth young man, Crishtian Hughes, vanished on February 7th, 2013. Crishtian, then 20, was in San Francisco at the time of his disappearance. He was due to catch a plane home on the day he vanished, but he never made his flight. A few months later, 19-year-old Sean Sidi vanished in San Francisco on May 21st, 2013.

All five men are still classified as missing today. While there is no evidence that their disappearances are related, it appears a connection has not been ruled out, either. The families of all 5 young men have connected with each other, and they continue to spread awareness about the young men's disappearances. 

Where Shawn's case stands.

As noted, Shawn remains missing today. His family continues to search for answers. 

The San Francisco Police Department is in charge of Shawn's case. If you have any information that could lead to his whereabouts, please contact authorities at 415-558-5508.

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Sources:
California Department of Justice
Charley Project
Help Find Shawn Dickerson on Facebook
NBC News
Uncovered

The Disappearance of Cameron Hardman

source: uncovered.com

Cameron Hardman has been missing since October 31st, 2011. 

The then-31-year-old man was last seen in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. It was Halloween, and Cameron reportedly had plans to meet up with friends in the 4500 block of Carmac Street in Philadelphia. He vanished after he left a residence on Newlin Avenue in Sharon Hill; presumably headed to the Carmac Street residence. Cameron has never been seen or heard from again. 

Cameron was later reported missing by his family. On November 4th, 2011, Cameron's mother told reporters that Cameron does not have a criminal background. She also noted that Cameron had never left home without a warning before, making his sudden absence all the more baffling.

Three days after that reporting, on November 7th, 2011, Cameron's car was found abandoned at 5234 North 2nd Street in Philadelphia. The vehicle was located approximately seven blocks away from the address on Carmac Street, where Cameron was headed on the evening of his disappearance. Cameron's personal items, including his cell phone and wallet, were found inside the car, but Cameron himself was still nowhere to be found. 

Cameron remains missing today. There has been minimal reporting on his case, so details about the investigation are unknown. Cameron's disappearance is considered a cold case. 

If you have any information that could lead to Cameron's whereabouts, please contact the Darby Township Police Department at 610-583-3245.

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Sources:
The Advance-Titan
Charley Project
NamUs
NBC Philadelphia
Uncovered

The Murder of Andrae Davis

source: uncovered.com

Andrae Davis was murdered at his own home on August 17th, 2011. The 31-year-old man lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his fiancé and their young children at the time of his death. Andrae was killed after a bullet went through the front door of his residence. 

The night of the murder began as a pleasant one for Andrae. He spent the evening with his fiancé and children at a local park. What began as a nice night with family quickly took a tragic turn after they returned to their home at the Eagle Nest Condominiums on Vail Street. At some point, a fight broke out in front of Andrae's residence, causing a loud commotion right outside the door. 

As he looked through the peephole, Andrae noticed that the fight was amongst a group of men. He did not know the men, nor did he ever attempt to get involved in the altercation. Andrae continued to watch through the peephole as one of the men drew a gun and pulled the trigger. The bullet missed the intended target; instead, it went through Andrae's front door and struck him in the heart. 

Andrae's loved ones have been left without answers or justice for several years. In the days that followed the shooting, Andrae's family members were told by police that "a person involved in the shooting had escaped from UNM Hospital and fled to Mexico." Police also stated that two other persons of interest have fled the country as well. The identities of said persons have never been publicly revealed. 

In 2015, Andrae's family was awarded $12 million in a lawsuit filed against Eagle Nest Condominiums and its property management company. The lawsuit alleged that company could have done more to prevent the shooting. Screenings and background checks are reportedly required by the rules of the complex, but that rule was not being consistently followed. 

An attorney for Andrae's family told reporters that the lack of background checks is what led to a known drug dealer living in the complex. The family believes said drug dealer was involved in the shooting. A jury agreed with Andrae's family, and they were subsequently rewarded the $12 million. 

Still, Andrae's loved ones hope that those involved in his murder will be brought to justice. Unfortunately, Andrae's murder is considered a cold case. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact Albuquerque Crimestoppers at 505-843-STOP. 

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Sources:
Action News 7
KRQE News
Uncovered

The Murder of Meagan Love

source: Oklahoma Cold Cases

Meagan Love was found murdered in Tulsa, Oklahoma on August 29th, 2011. The young mother was killed inside her residence on North Troost Avenue. She was only 25 years-old at the time of her death. 

Meagan's body was found by a neighbor who had reportedly gone to her residence to check on her. Said neighbor called police around 10:30 AM after discovering that Meagan was deceased. Police quickly determined that Meagan had been the victim of a violent attack. An autopsy confirmed that she had been shot to death. 

Meagan Love's home. (source: News on 6)

Investigators believe that Meagan "was ambushed either as she was entering her home or as she answered or opened her front door." According to the Tulsa Police Homicide Unit, after Meagan was ambushed, "a struggled ensued and Meagan was fatally shot." 

Police had a person of interest in the case very early into the investigation. The man turned himself in for questioning and was eventually cleared of suspicion. Since then, no other suspects or persons of interest have been identified in Meagan's murder. 

Over a decade has passed, and Meagan's murder still remains unsolved. Reports about her case have been minimal, and there is very little information available about the investigation. Meagan's murder is considered a cold case. 

If you have any information that could lead to Meagan's killer(s), please contact the Tulsa Police Department at 918-596-9135 or at 918-798-TIPS.

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Sources:
News on 6
Oklahoma Cold Cases
Tulsa Police Department
Tulsa World

The Disappearance of Marquita Jones

source: WTNH News 8 Facebook

Marquita Lenae Jones has been missing since 2011. The then-28-year-old woman was reportedly last seen "on or near West Street" in New Haven, Connecticut. A specific timeline surrounding Marquita's disappearance is unknown; however, her NamUs page states that "she was last seen by family in the summer of 2011." Most sources list July 1st, 2011 as the date that Marquita went missing.

According to a 2019 report, Marquita struggled with substance abuse at the time of her disappearance. That report also indicates that Marquita was homeless, but she may have been staying in the Hill neighborhood of New Haven at the time she vanished. Other than that, there are very few details available about her disappearance.

Various postings on social media about Marquita's disappearance indicate that she is loved and missed. In 2017, a Reddit user posted about Marquita's case in a true crime subreddit. Another user replied, "I knew marquita and her family very well , I heard through a close relative of hers she left CT to get out of trouble she was in with probation, but its been awhile now and family still hasnt heard from her she has a tendency to go with the crowd and I believe it got her missing I hope one day we can find out what really happened."

The information from this comment has not been confirmed, and it's unknown if detectives have even looked into this theory. In fact, it was reported in 2019 that Marquita's disappearance is amongst a few other cases of missing women in Connecticut that are not being actively investigated. Acting Police Chief Otoniel Reyes told reporters via email, "Although we are not actively working these cases, they are very much open, and we welcome an opportunity to remind the public about them in hopes it will spark new information."

If you have any information that could lead to Marquita's whereabouts, please contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304.

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Sources:
Charley Project
NamUs
New Haven Independent
Reddit
Websleuths
WTNH News 8  

The Abduction & Murder of Holly Bobo

Holly Bobo was kidnapped from her family's home in Darden, Tennessee on the morning of April 13th, 2011. The then-20-year-old was a nursing student, and she spent the morning of April 13th studying for an exam. Shortly after 7:30 AM, Holly exited the house to drive to class. Before she could even get into her car, she was intercepted by a man wearing camouflage. Holly was then led into the woods by this man. She was never seen alive by her family and friends again.

Holly's abduction was witnessed by her older brother, Clint Bobo. Clint was awoken that morning by the sound of dogs barking. He looked out the window and saw Holly and the man in camouflage kneeling in the home's carport. Clint was initially not worried, as he thought the man was Holly's boyfriend, Drew Scott. It appeared that the two of them were arguing, and Clint thought that Holly and Drew were breaking up. 

A few minutes later, Clint spoke on the phone to their mother, Karen Bobo. A neighbor had called Karen at work to tell her that she had heard screams coming from their residence. Karen asked Clint if he had heard anything, and he said he hadn't. 

At that point, Holly and the man in camouflage were walking towards the woods. Clint mentioned this to Karen - to which Karen replied, "Clint, that's not Drew. Get a gun and shoot him." Confused, Clint replied, "You want me to shoot Drew?" Karen was aware that the man with Holly was not Drew because Drew had gone to Karen's mother's property that morning to hunt for turkeys. Clint, both groggy and confused, was unaware of Drew's plans that morning. 

By the time Karen and Clint hung up, Holly and the camouflaged man had disappeared into the woods. Karen immediately called 911 to report her daughter's kidnapping-but she reached a dispatcher in the wrong county because she called from her workplace. Karen then called Clint back and told him to call 911. 

Police arrived at the Bobo residence ten minutes later. It was then noticed that there was a drop of blood in the carport in the same spot where Holly and the camouflaged man were kneeling. After this discovery, it became clear that Holly had been abducted. Knowing that they were in a race against time, police immediately launched a search for Holly and her kidnapper. 

Blood found in the Bobo's carport. (source: Daily Mail)

The following day, a team of over 300 people helped search for Holly. Police sent professional teams to search the area surrounding the Bobo residence. Unfortunately, nothing was found. 

Then, on April 15th, a team of searchers found Holly's lunchbox and some other personal items in a creek. Other items such as Holly's cell phone, a card from school, and a receipt with her name and address on it were found scattered around town as well. These items unfortunately did not yield any clues to Holly's whereabouts. 

It did not take long for rumors about what happened to Holly to circulate. At first, there was a lot of suspicion about Clint. Many questioned how he could have witnessed his sister being abducted without doing anything about it. Some also wondered if Clint had possibly made the abduction story up to cover for himself. 

Many people also pointed the finger at a man named Terry Britt - a local sex offender with a rap sheet of convictions including stalking and rape. There was also speculation about a group of men that many locals referred to as the "A-Train" due to all of their last names beginning with the letter A. The group included brothers Zachary and Dylan Adams, and their friends Jason Autry and Shayne Austin. These men were known in the community to be involved with drugs and other illegal activities. 

A now-defunct website called Topix included an ever-growing message board discussing Holly's case. People began posting on the message board just hours after the news broke about Holly's kidnapping. Within days of her disappearance, there was speculation about Terry Britt and/or members of the A-Train being possible suspects. Police were also aware of these individuals as potential suspects. Despite this, it would be years before an arrest would finally be made. 

Investigating Clint & Drew.

Clint Bobo. (source: Local 3 News)

In the early stages of the investigation, detectives inevitably wanted to check and re-check Clint's story for any inconsistencies. Clint's version of events remained the same throughout, and detectives eventually eliminated him as a suspect. 

As common and many cases, police wanted to question Holly's boyfriend Drew Scott as well. It turned out that he had a solid alibi and was eliminated as well. 

Holly and Drew Scott.

Investigating Terry Britt.

After this, investigators turned their attention towards registered sex offenders in the area - namely, Terry Britt.

Terry Britt. (source: TBI)

In 2011, a man named Terry Dicus was the TBI lead investigator assigned to Holly's case. Dicus strongly suspected that Britt was responsible for Holly's disappearance. He noted that Britt matched the description of the kidnapper's height/weight - and Holly matched the description of some of Britt's previous victims. Women who had previously accused Britt of stalking also had blonde hair and blue eyes - just like Holly. 

Britt denied involvement in Holly's disappearance and said that he was at home with his wife at the time of Holly's kidnapping. Britt's wife confirmed his alibi, but Dicus questioned it; as Britt's wife had lied for him in the past during his previous criminal cases.

Britt's house was wiretapped and thoroughly searched, but detectives were unable to find any evidence linking him to Holly's kidnapping. Still, Terry Dicus was convinced of Britt's guilt. In 2013, Dicus ended up being removed from the case due to his "tunnel vision" surrounding Britt. Still, Britt was not completely ruled out as a suspect at that point.

Suspicions about the 'A-Train'.

After Dicus was removed from the case, detectives began to look again at the previously mentioned "A-Train". The men in A-Train were questioned early on into the investigation, but they denied involvement in Holly's case - and detectives turned their attention towards Britt after that. 

However, the men were also never officially ruled out. There was continuous speculation about them on the Topix website. In fact, one rumor that was consistently being posted was that Shayne Austin had stalked Holly and her friends at a local raccoon hunt just days before her kidnapping. A friend who accompanied Holly to the raccoon hunt described the man who was stalking them, and the description very closely matched Shayne.

Shayne Austin / Sketch

Dylan Adams speaks out; his brother is arrested.

In 2013, Dylan Adams was arrested on unrelated weapons charges. While in custody, Dylan told police that he had seen Holly alive at his brother Zachary's house shortly after her abduction. Following this admission, a search warrant was obtained that stated that on April 13th, 2011, "Dylan observed Holly Lynn Bobo sitting in a green chair in the living room wearing a pink t-shirt, with Jason Wayne Autry standing just a few feet away." Dylan also reportedly told police that Zachary raped Holly and videotaped it. 

Dylan's confession prompted a massive search at Zachary's property during early 2014. On March 5th, 2014, it was announced that 29-year-old Zachary was being charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and felony first degree murder in Holly's case. In between the time of Zachary's arrest and his arraignment, another charge was added: witness coercion. 

The witness coercion charge came about after Zachary allegedly tried to pass a message from his Chester County jail cell to his brother’s jail cell in Obion County. Zach told a fellow inmate, who he believed was being transferred to Obion, to "tell my brother he is the one who started all this shit and if he don’t shut his mouth, he will be in the hole beside her."

Zachary Adams. (TBI)

Zachary pleaded not guilty to all three charges. Detectives remained adamant that they had the right man behind bars. They also revealed that more arrests were possible in the future. By this point, detectives had not publicly revealed that Dylan's confession had led to Zachary's arrest - but many locals drew their own conclusions after they learned that Zachary had threatened Dylan. 

Rumors then began to spread that Dylan was possibly coerced into confessing. Dylan is reportedly developmentally delayed, making him more vulnerable to police coercion. Dylan himself would later recant his confession and state that he was coerced. 

It would later be revealed that Dylan's confession actually contradicted much of the physical evidence. Still, by this point, investigators still had enough evidence to press charges against the people implicated by Dylan.

Jason Autry arrested; Shayne Austin investigated.

In April 2014, Jason Autry was arrested and also charged with kidnapping and murdering Holly. Jason also denied harming Holly, and by this point, her remains had still not been found. 

Jason Autry. (TBI)

Between Zachary and Jason's arrests, Shayne Austin was also being investigated. Cell phone records revealed that Zachary and Shayne had been in contact several times on the day of Holly's abduction. Police believed that Shayne had helped with the disposal of Holly's body. 

In March 2014, Shayne was offered immunity in exchange for the location of Holly's remains. However, that offered was eventually rescinded after investigators believed that Shayne was lying to them. Still, Shayne never ended up being arrested in relation with Holly's case - but it was clear that he would likely be called to testify.

Pearcy brothers arrested & then released.

The next set of arrests in the case came in July 2014. At that point, two brothers named Jeff and Mark Pearcy were charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence. These arrests were prompted when Jeff's former roommate Sandra King told police that during May 2014, Jeff had shown her part of a video of Zachary Adams assaulting Holly. 

The Pearcy Brothers.

Both brothers denied that such a video existed. Detective analyzed over 20 cell phones, but they were unable to find any evidence of this video. The charges against the Pearcy brothers were eventually dropped, and investigators stopped pursuing the brothers as suspects. 

Holly's remains found.

By the time the Pearcy brothers were released, rumors began to spread that the TBI was on a "wild goose chase" and had falsely arrested their suspects because they felt pressure to solve the case. These rumors were largely due to the fact that Holly's remains had still not been found.

However, this changed in September 2014 when a ginseng hunter spotted partial human remains in a wooded area of north Decatur County. Those remains were later identified as that of Holly Bobo. An autopsy revealed that Holly had been shot in the head. The discovery of Holly's remains helped investigators continue to build their case, especially since they now had concrete physical evidence that Holly had been murdered.

Key witness/potential suspect dies by suicide.

During February 2015, Shayne Austin was found dead in a hotel room in Lexington. His death was ruled a suicide. Shayne's attorney maintained that Shayne was not involved in the abduction or murder of Holly, and that the "witch hunt" for him contributed to his deteriorated mental state. 

(cbsnews.com)

Jason Autry decides to talk.

In the months leading up to Zachary Adams' trial, Jason Autry decided to cooperate with the investigation. He disclosed the extent of his involvement in Holly's kidnapping and murder and also agreed to testify against Zachary. This was a huge win for the prosecution, as much of their evidence corroborated Jason's version of events.

Zachary's trial began in September 2017. When Jason finally took the stand, he denied being present during Holly's kidnapping. He explained that he went to Shayne Austin's house on the morning of April 13th, 2011, to buy drugs. 

Once there, Jason said that he observed Shayne, Zachary, and Dylan disposing of items into a burn barrel. Jason also noticed that Zachary had a body wrapped up in a blanket in the back of his truck. Zachary reportedly told Jason that the person in the blanket was Holly Bobo.

Jason Autry testifying at Zachary Adams' trial.

Jason testified that Zachary asked him to help dispose of Holly's body, to which he agreed. Zachary and Jason then drove to a spot by the Tennessee River underneath the Interstate 40 bridge. After removing Holly from the back of the truck, the two men reportedly noticed that Holly was still alive. Zachary then shot Holly in the back of the head, killing her. 

Jason recalled that the two of them feared that the sound of the gunshot would draw attention to them. Panicked, they placed Holly's body back into the truck and drove off. Jason then stated that Zachary dropped him off at home before disposing of Holly's body elsewhere.

Other evidence presented by the State.

Since Jason claimed he was not present during Holly's kidnapping, the prosecution had to present other evidence to prove that either Zachary, Shayne, or Dylan abducted Holly. The prosecution stated that Shayne was the person whom Clint described as Holly's kidnapper. 

Clint reportedly described the kidnapper as 5’10” to 6’ tall and between 180 and 200 pounds. This did not match the description of Zachary or Dylan Adams, who both stand well over 6 feet tall. However, the description was similar to that of Shayne Austin - who also matched the description of the man who was allegedly following Holly and her friend at the local raccoon hunt. 

After Holly was kidnapped, it is believed that she was brought to Zachary Adams' truck. A witness testified to seeing his truck driving erratically near the Bobo's street on the morning of Holly's kidnapping. It is then believed that she was driven to a nearby barn owned by Shayne and Jason's grandmother - where she was raped by Zachary, Shayne, and Dylan. 

A few other witnesses testified that Zachary implicated himself several times in the case. In addition to the threat Zachary made to put his brother Dylan "in the hole next to her", Zachary also allegedly made a similar threat to his ex-girlfriend, Rebecca Earp. Rebecca testified that during an argument, Zachary "said he would tie me up just like he did Holly Bobo and nobody would ever see me again."

Rebecca Earp on the stand. (WBBJ TV)

Convictions & sentencings for Zachary and Jason.

On September 22nd, 2017, a jury convicted Zachary Adams on the charges of first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping and rape. The following day, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. 

As a part of his plea deal, Jason Autry pleaded guilty to facilitation of especially aggravated kidnapping and solicitation to commit first-degree murder. He was sentenced to eight years but received credit for time already served. Jason finished his sentence in December 2020 and was released but has since been arrested again on unrelated charges.

Conviction & sentence for Dylan Adams.

In January 2018, Dylan Adams entered an Alford plea and was convicted for facilitating first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The Alford plea indicates that Dylan maintains his innocence but acknowledges that the prosecution had enough evidence for a jury to convict.

Dylan Adams. (source: KFSM.com)

Conflicting feelings between the family & community post-conviction.

Holly's family members were pleased with the outcome of Zachary's trial and the subsequent guilty convictions that followed. However, there are still many who believe that the wrong men are behind bars. In fact, Terry Dicus still believes that Terry Britt was the one responsible for Holly's abduction and murder. Dicus actually testified for the defense at Zachary's trial and maintained his belief that Britt is the prime suspect.

On the ten-year anniversary of Holly's abduction, her family released a statement thanking investigators, prosecutors, and the media for their dedication to solving Holly's case. The statement can be read in full here. 

A 2024 UPDATE.

In February 2024, it was announced that Jason Autry has recanted his entire testimony from Zach Adams' trial. According to court documents, Jason Autry claimed his attorney told him he was "95% sure he would be convicted" if he went to trial. As such, the documents state that Jason decided to fabricate his testimony to avoid life in prison. 

The documents also state that while on the stand, Jason recounted his day and simply "added Holly to it." At this time, it is unclear if Zachary Adams will get a new trial. Updates will be provided if/when they become available. 

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Sources:
ABC News
CBS News

Crime Online
Daily Mail

The Jackson Sun
Local 3 News
True Crime Society
Wikipedia