The Murder of Kelsey Mazzamaro

On the morning of May 6th, 2018, a motorist in Burlington, Connecticut was driving past a pond off Upson Road when something unexpected was spotted in the water: a human body. Police responded to the scene and determined that the deceased was a young adult woman. Eventually, that woman was identified as Kelsey Mazzamaro - a 26-year-old mother-of-two. 

An autopsy determined that Kelsey had been strangled. The report lists neck compression as the exact cause of death. Investigators quickly labeled Kelsey's death as a homicide and their belief that she was killed before her body was placed in the pond.

When the news about Kelsey's murder broke on local media, it was also announced that police believed there was no threat to the community. As such, many began to speculate that Kelsey likely knew her killer(s). However, police did not share any further details about the investigation.

In 2021, a $50,000 reward was announced in exchange for information about Kelsey's murder. Investigators also made an appeal to the public for anyone who saw/interacted with Kelsey on May 5th, 2018, or May 6th, 2018, to come forward. Lots of tips came through after the reward was announced, but unfortunately, investigators have yet to receive information leading to an arrest.

There is very little additional information available about Kelsey's case. It's known that she had two young children, who are now left without their mother. Various posts on social media indicate that Kelsey was involved in sex work. However, police have yet to comment on whether or not this plays a role in her death.

Kelsey's case remains unsolved today. The reward money is still available. If you have any information that could help solve the case, please contact Connecticut's Cold Case Unit at 1-866-623-8058 or email them at cold.case@ct.gov.

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Sources:

CT. gov
CT Insider
CT Missing Persons & Cold Cases
NBC Connecticut

Reddit

The Disappearance of Thomas 'TJ' Nigro

Source: Facebook

 
Thomas 'TJ' Nigro has been missing since January 5th, 2018. The then-31-year-old lived in Columbus, Georgia at the time of his disappearance. Many of TJ's personal belongings that he usually carried with him were left behind in his Columbus home - including his passport, car keys, cell phone, sunglasses, wallet, and a photograph of his daughter. TJ's loved ones have never seen or heard from him again.

After TJ was reported missing, a woman came forward, stating that she saw TJ hitchhiking in Columbus on January 23rd, 2018 - a few weeks after his disappearance. The woman explained that she picked him up and drove him to Franklin, Georgia. She dropped him off near the West Point Wildlife Management Area. 

TJ reportedly told the woman that he was meeting up with a friend in that area to go camping for a week. The woman noted that TJ had camping gear with him. She also said he had a cell phone - which indicates that he had a second phone in addition to the one that was found at his home. This encounter is the last known sighting of TJ.

Prior to disappearing, TJ was a ranger in the US Army. His training gave him the skills to survive in the woods for an extended period of time. However, TJ had also sustained head and back injuries during a previous deployment - and said injuries prevented him from traveling too far on his own. Due to this, TJ's loved ones were immediately concerned for his safety when they discovered that he had vanished.

Years have passed, and TJ still remains missing. Police in Columbus, Georgia have investigative agency in his case. If you have any information that could help solve TJ's disappearance, please contact the Columbus Police Department Special Victims Unit at (706) 653-3449.

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Sources:
ABC 9
Charley Project
Finding TJ
Missing Persons Center
Missing Persons in America
Uncovered

The Disappearance and Murder of Cheyenne Shropshire

 

Cheyenne Shropshire went missing at the age of 22 on August 24th, 2018. The young woman was last seen alive in Alcoa, Tennessee. Cheyenne was staying at a local Alcoa Inn on Airport Highway prior to her disappearance. She reportedly vanished from the hotel and was never seen or heard from again.

According to family members, Cheyenne was struggling with substance use disorder in the years leading up to her disappearance. In August 2018, she was reportedly living in active addiction. Cheyenne's sister, Savannah, explained that the family had set some boundaries with Cheyenne during this time - but they still kept in touch regularly. 

Savannah reported Cheyenne missing on September 8th, 2018. By that point, it had been weeks since anyone in the family had been in contact with Cheyenne. Despite not having custody, Cheyenne frequently kept in touch with her daughter, who was just 2 years-old at the time. Knowing it was uncharacteristic of her to stay out of touch, Cheyenne's sister contacted police. 

Certain reports about Cheyenne's disappearance stated she was seen with a man named Brandon Michael Aguirre shortly before vanishing. She had reportedly told "multiple people that she was scared of Aguirre and thought he might kill her." It seems likely that police questioned/investigated Aguirre in Cheyenne's disappearance, but nothing ever seemed to come of it. 

Over a year and a half passed without any sign of Cheyenne. Then, on March 21st, 2020, a property lessee found human remains in a field on Old Middlesettlements Road. Dental records confirmed that the remains were that of Cheyenne Shropshire. 

Authorities soon announced that Cheyenne's death was being investigated as a homicide. Monetary rewards have been offered in exchange for information leading to an arrest. Still, years have passed without any movement in the case. Investigators and Cheyenne's loved ones are both left with a big unanswered question: who killed Cheyenne Shropshire?

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More about Cheyenne.

Various information provided through news reports and online forums provide a little bit of information on Cheyenne's life in the years leading up to her disappearance. While it's known that she struggled with addiction, Cheyenne was also a seemingly kind, smart, and loving person who, like all people, battled some inner demons.

Cheyenne and her sister Savannah were born just sixteen months apart. According to Savannah, the two were very close growing up. In a 2023 report about Cheyenne's case, Savannah told reporters, "We did everything together. There's nothing that we didn't do together. Even when we got older she would tag along with me. And I would tag along with her up all the way until high school."

Other information found online about Cheyenne indicates she went to college after graduating high school but seemingly had to drop out after getting pregnant. A user on a Websleuths thread about Cheyenne's case posted about knowing Cheyenne for about a year in college, corroborating this information. 

This post was dated November 13th, 2019, and the user never posted in the thread again afterwards. However, the information in this post also seemingly corroborates the fact that Cheyenne was struggling with substance use disorder. In the same thread, another user inquired about Cheyenne's daughter. According to various Facebook pages, the daughter was in care of Cheyenne's mother. The father of the child appeared to be quite involved in the daughter's life as well. 

The battle with addiction; references to Aguirre.

Cheyenne's family members reportedly found out that she was struggling with drug addiction in 2017. Cheyenne confessed to her family that she was using. The family tried to get her help, but unfortunately Cheyenne's substance abuse disorder had a strong grip.

As noted above, Cheyenne's family had to set some boundaries with her due to the drug use. Cheyenne's sister Savannah explained, "There were times when I had to back away from our relationship because there were times that she had stolen from me and things like that. But that doesn't mean she wasn't an amazing person, and that I didn't love her. Sometimes tough love is just necessary."

It seems likely that the addiction is what led Cheyenne to staying at the Alcoa Inn. It's also possible that this is what led to her association with Brandon Aguirre - the man she had told others that she was afraid of prior to her disappearance. Aguirre has been referenced on Facebook, Websleuths, and on Charley Project in regard to Cheyenne's disappearance - however the mainstream media reports do not appear to reference him at all. 

Cheyenne's disappearance.

Savannah said that she last saw Cheyenne shortly before she vanished in August 2018. Savannah was working a shift at Bojangles, and Cheyenne came to the restaurant to ask for some food. Savannah did not give her food at the time but told her to come back when the restaurant was closing, and she would give her food then. 

When closing time came, Cheyenne never showed up. Savannah sent her a text at 11:01 PM saying, "Aren't you supposed to pick up this food, we are about to leave." Savannah received a response from Cheyenne's phone hours later, at 4:09 AM that read, "I was there at 10:40 to pick it up and nobody was there." 

That was the last known correspondence between the two sisters. However, it is unknown if Cheyenne herself is the one who sent that final message at 4:09 AM. After Cheyenne was reported missing, footage from the Bojangles restaurant was pulled. The footage does not capture Cheyenne at the restaurant at 10:40 PM, or at all that night, as the text alleges. 

Many reports state that Cheyenne was last seen at the Alcoa Inn - so it appears that there was a confirmed sighting of her at the hotel after she visited Savannah at Bojangles. Cheyenne's trail seemingly went cold after that, though - as it cannot be confirmed that she returned to Bojangles - despite the text message.

As previously noted, Cheyenne was reported missing on September 8th, 2018 - weeks after she was last seen. Searches were conducted, and appeals to the public were made, but no sign of Cheyenne was found. As weeks turned into months, Cheyenne's disappearance slipped into a cold case.

Nineteen months later: remains found.

After over a year and a half with no answers, a break was finally made in the case on March 21st, 2020, when human remains were found. The remains were discovered in a field by a property lessee on Old Middlesettlements Road; located just a few miles away from where Cheyenne was last seen. 

Within a matter of days, the remains were identified as Cheyenne. It was also quickly announced that her death was being investigated as a homicide. However, a cause of death has never been publicly released. It's unclear if an autopsy was ever able to be completed.

Who killed Cheyenne?

Several years have passed since Cheyenne's disappearance and the subsequent discovery of her remains. Unfortunately, her murder is still unsolved. Authorities have remained quiet about the status of the investigation; no suspects or persons of interest have ever been publicly announced.

There is a monetary reward available in exchange for information that leads to an arrest/prosecution of Cheyenne's killer(s). If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact Blount County authorities at 865-273-5001 or submit a tip online.

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Sources:
Justice for Cheyenne
WATE 6, (2), (3)
WBIR, (2)
Websleuths

The Murder of Trenesa Roberts

 

Trenesa Roberts was gunned down in front of her Lehigh Acres, Florida home on December 10th, 2018. Before her untimely death, the 38-year-old woman worked as a bus attendant for the Lee County Public School District. Trenesa began her day around 4:00 AM each morning to help local kids get to school. 

The morning of Trenesa's death was supposed to be no different. As usual, she woke up during the early morning hours, got ready for work, and exited her home. Before she was able to get in her car and leave, an unknown assailant approached and shot Trenesa. She was then left for dead in her yard.

Police were called to the scene on Quentin Avenue around 6:30 AM. Once there, they found Trenesa, wearing her work uniform, on the ground in front of her residence. It was clear that she had been shot. She was pronounced deceased by medics shortly after their arrival.

While investigating the shooting, detectives learned that neighbors heard gunshots between 4:00 and 4:30 AM morning. Despite this, police were not called to the scene until 6:30 AM; likely after a witness/neighbor spotted her body. It was also noted that nothing appeared to have been stolen from Trenesa - both her car and her purse were left on the scene. As such, it is not believed that robbery was a motive.

Trenesa's family members do not believe her murder was random. They believe she was targeted. However, to this day, it unknown who would have wanted Trenesa dead - or why. In a 2024 report on her case, her family shared that Trenesa "didn't do drugs, had no problem with her exes or the father of her children, and that they knew of had no enemies."

Several years have passed, and Trenesa's murder remains unsolved. Her family is still searching for justice. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (239) 477-1000 or Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS(8477).

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Sources:
Fox 4 Now
Gulf Coast News Now
The News-Press
Seeking Closure: Lee County's Cold Cases

The Murder of Blaze Bernstein

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The prosecution's case.

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

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

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

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

Woodward's defense.

Source: Orange County Register

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

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

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

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

The jury.

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

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

Woodward was later sentenced in life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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

The Disappearance and Murder of Shirley Skeek

Source: Juneau Empire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Disappearance and Death of Sebastian 'Ty' Husted

The above images are of Sebastian Tyrese Husted - known as Ty by family and friends - pictured at the age of 18. The image on the right is the last known image of Ty before he vanished. He went missing on January 22nd, 2018.

Ty posted the pictures to his Facebook page three days earlier, on January 19th. That same day, he also wrote “Feels good to be workin’ again” in a Facebook post. Ty was referring to a job he had recently gotten as a power washer at a hog farm in Mercer County, Missouri. The hog farm was over an hour’s drive away from his family’s home in Centerville Iowa. 

On the day Ty was last seen, he arranged to carpool with a coworker to the farm. However, after being driven there, Ty reportedly texted his brother and asked him to pick him up, as his coworker was acting strange and aggressive. His brother replied to ask for an address, but Ty never got back to him. He never returned home and has never been seen or heard from again. Ty was reported missing two days later.

Ty’s family members later learned that the co-worker returned to Centerville without him. Police inevitably questioned this man, but according to Ty’s family, nothing ever came of their questioning. Police looked at Ty’s cell phone records, which revealed that his final phone ping was near the hog farm on the day of his disappearance. 

Eventually, searches were conducted in that area, and pits at the hog farm were drained, but unfortunately no clues were found. These searches not conducted until weeks after his disappearance, so many believed that they were conducted too late. By this point, evidence could have potentially been destroyed by the hogs or other environmental factors on the farm.

Ty’s sister Ieesha Husted told reporters that she believes there was no urgency in the early stages of Ty’s disappearance because investigators thought he was missing on his own accord. However, Ty’s family members never believed this to be true. Ty had a child on the way and was reportedly looking forward to becoming a father. 

Ieesha also told reporters that their family has tried to reach out to the co-worker Ty was last seen with on many occasions. They have not received any replies from him. It is unclear if police are still investigating this man. He has not been identified in the public.

Years passed without any updates in Ty's case. Then, in April 2024, turkey hunters found human remains on a private property in northeast Mercer County. Days later, those remains were confirmed to be that of Sebastian Tyrese Husted. 

At this time, a cause/manner of death has not been revealed. It appears that the circumstances surrounding Ty's death are still being investigated. Ty's family is still hoping to find answers about what led to his disappearance and death. 

If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact Mercer County Sheriff’s Office at (660) 748-3165.

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Sources:
Charley Project

Des Moines Register
Iowa Department of Public Safety
News Press Now
Ottumwa Courier

People
Sebastian's Facebook

The Disappearance of David Stern

Source: wjla.com

David Stern has been missing since November 27th, 2018. The then-29-year-old was last seen in Washington, DC. At the time of his disappearance, David worked as an accountant with Center City Public Charter Schools. He had also recently gotten engaged to his live-in girlfriend.

David's fiancé last heard from him shortly before 4:30 PM on the day he vanished. He sent her a text message saying he was leaving work early to go to a doctor's appointment and would be home later. However, David never returned home, and his loved ones have never heard from him again.

The last known sighting of David occurred at a liquor store in the 3400 block of M Street. Surveillance cameras captured him buying a pint of Crown Royal shortly after 6:00 PM on the day of his disappearance. Later that evening, around 9:00 PM, David's cell phone pinged off of a tower in the Georgetown area. 

According to reports, David did not have any known connections to that area and did not go there often. It's unknown why his phone would have pinged off of a tower in that location. This appears to be the last known sign of David; his cell phone, credit cards, and bank accounts have not been used since that evening.

David's disappearance came as a shock to his family and friends. Those closest to him do not believe he was depressed or struggling with anything serious prior to vanishing. There has been very little media coverage on David's disappearance, and years have passed without any updates in his case. 

The Metropolitan Police are in charge of investigating David's disappearance. If you have any information that could lead to his whereabouts, please submit a tip by calling 202-727-9099 or texting 50411.

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Sources:
ABC 7
Charley Project
Metropolitan Police Department
WUSA 9

The Disappearance of Latrice Nelson

source: ABC 7

Latrice Nelson has been missing since July 2018. The 37-year-old woman lived in Washington, D.C. at the time of her disappearance. She was last seen in the 600 block of Edgewood Street NE. Latrice has never been seen or heard from again. 

For unclear reasons, Latrice was not reported missing until September 5th, 2018. Throughout the investigation, it was determined that she was last seen around 8:45 PM on July 16th, 2018. The circumstances surrounding Latrice's disappearance are otherwise unknown. 

There has been very little news coverage on Latrice's case. After the Metropolitan police began investigating, it was reported that they had classified Latrice as a critical missing person. Other than that, there are very few details available about Latrice's case. 

Latrice remains missing today, and her disappearance is considered a cold case. She is described by police as "a 5-foot-4, 140-pound black female with a medium complexion, long braids and brown eyes." If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please contact the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-576-6768.

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Sources:
ABC 7
Charley Project
Newsbreak

The Murder of Melissa Peskey

 

Melissa Peskey was shot to death while on a road trip with her two children on December 13th, 2018. 

Missouri State Patrol troopers were alerted around 10:30 PM that evening about a single car crash into a median on Interstate 70 near Boonville. When the troopers arrived at the scene of the crash, they found the 40-year-old woman deceased in the driver's seat. Her two children, then aged 5 and 11, were not physically harmed in the crash. 

At first glance, it appeared that Melissa had been killed as a result of a car accident. Shortly thereafter, Melissa's autopsy confirmed that she actually "died of a gunshot wound, from a weapon fired from outside the vehicle." Melissa crashed her vehicle into the median after she had been struck by the bullet.

Melissa and her children were over 450 miles away from their home in Hartford, South Dakota at the time she was killed. Detectives initially thought she might have been the victim of a random shooting, but the investigation soon led them to believe that Melissa was targeted by her killer. 

Years have passed without justice for Melissa. In December 2023, five years after the murder, it was reported that police do not have any suspects or persons of interest in the case. However, there is a lot of speculation about one person in particular: Melissa's husband/father of her children, Ryan Peskey. 

As of today, police have never publicly labeled Ryan as a person of interest. Still, there are several occurrences involving Ryan, both before and after his wife's death, that have fueled the speculation about his potential involved in her death. 

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Information from Melissa's friend.

A friend of Melissa spoke to reporters at KELOLAND six weeks after Melissa's death. According to the friend, who opted to remain anonymous, Melissa was having several issues with her husband, Ryan Peskey. Melissa reportedly asked Ryan for a divorce shortly before he was deployed with the South Dakota National Guard. 

Melissa's friend told reporters, "She told me that she had asked for a divorce from Ryan right before he went for deployment. And there were all kinds of problems from the minute she asked for the divorce, including the kids being put into the middle."

The friend also stated that Melissa was afraid of Ryan. In fact, the friend provided text messages that Melissa had sent that expressed her fears for her husband.

source: keloland.com

Melissa's friend explained that she spoke to Melissa on the phone after this text exchange. During their conversation, Melissa told her friend that Ryan had threatened her life. She then told her friend, "If anything ever happens to me, you have to promise me that you will let the police know that Ryan did this."

Ryan denies involvement.

Ryan Peskey has denied involvement in Melissa's death. While police have not publicly confirmed this, Ryan told reporters at KELOLAND in January 2019 that authorities told him that he was a person of interest. He claimed that investigators labeled him as such because he did not answer the phone at 11:00 PM on the evening of the shooting, when investigators called him to inform him about his wife's death. Ryan said that he eventually did call them back around 2:00 AM.

Many reports state that Melissa and Ryan's children were taken into foster care after Melissa's death. This was only for a short period of time as Melissa was killed in the state of Missouri, where they had no nearby relatives. The children were eventually returned to South Dakota and Ryan's custody, where it appears they still remain today. 

Melissa's life insurance money.

In 2020, it was reported that Ryan was seeking the money from Melissa's life insurance policy. Melissa reportedly had two taken out two life insurance policies years earlier, in 2003 and 2008 respectively. Both policies totaled in listed Ryan Peskey as the primary beneficiary. The two combined totaled in $550,000. 

The insurance company, New York Life, filed a complaint against Ryan Peskey on March 9th, 2020. According to the lawsuit, "South Dakota and Missouri have statutes that disqualify a beneficiary who willfully and unlawfully causes or participates with another in causing the death of the owner, or the insured individual under a life insurance policy or certificate.”

While Ryan has not been charged with anything related to Melissa's death, he has also not been ruled out completely. New York Life reportedly feared the company would be sued due to "possible conflicts of interest due to Ryan Peskey being named as the administrator of Melissa Peskey’s estate."

The judge ultimately decided to have the money paid to the U.S. District Court Clerks Office of South Dakota. 

The investigation.

As previously mentioned, investigators have never publicly named any suspects in the murder of Melissa Peskey. Hundreds of leads have been followed, but nothing has led to an arrest. There were reportedly "little to no" witnesses to the crime, which has made it even more difficult to solve. 

While there are numerous suspicions about Ryan Peskey, investigators do not appear to have any direct evidence that would warrant an arrest. It does not appear that there are any strong leads on any other potential suspects either. Investigators are still hoping that somebody with information about the murder will come forward.

Know something? Please report.

There is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for Melissa's death. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Missouri Highway Patrol at 573-751-1000.

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Sources:
Dakota News Now
KELOLAND
NWest Iowa

Oxygen

The Murders of Duong and America Nguyen

Duong and America Nguyen. (source: nguyenmurders.com)

Duong Nguyen (61) and his son America Nguyen (22) were shot to death inside their family's Bealeton, Virginia home during the early morning hours of November 8th, 2018. 

At the time of the murders, Duong's wife and daughter were in Vietnam, taking care of a sick relative. The two spoke with Duong and America every day during their trip - but on November 8th, Duong and America abruptly stopped communicating. On November 9th, Duong's wife asked a friend to go check on them. Said friend subsequently called the Fauquier County Sheriff’s to request a welfare check. 

Police arrived to conduct the welfare check around 9:30 AM. Officers were able to enter the Nguyen's house through an unlocked door. Once inside, they found the bodies of Duong and America. The father and son both had suffered several gunshot wounds to their upper torsos. 

This double homicide case has been baffling for both investigators and loved ones of Duong and America. There were reportedly no signs of forced entry, nor were there are signs of robbery at the Nguyen home. Additionally, reports state that Duong and America did not have any known enemies or people that they had been at odds with prior to their deaths. Investigators reportedly do not know if the father and son were targeted, or if their murders were completely random. 

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What is known?

Investigators have been able to establish somewhat of a timeline of events surrounding the murders of Duong and America. Reports state that the father and son's last known communication occurred on the evening of November 7th, 2018 - when America spoke to a relative via social media. 

It's believed that the father and son were killed just hours later. More specifically, investigators believe that Duong and America were killed at some point between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM on November 8th. At some point within that six-hour span, the killer(s) entered the Nguyen's home and shot both men several times.

The residence.

The Nguyen's residence, located in Bealeton, was built in a rural area an approximate 30-minute drive south of Manassas, Virginia. At the time of the murders, the subdivision where the Nguyen's lived was so new that it did not yet appear on Google Maps. Therefore, it seems likely that the killer(s) were familiar with the Nguyens and the location of the residence. 

Although Bealeton is small, major highways are located nearby. VA Rt. 17, Rt. 28, and Rt. 29 all intersect in Bealeton's downtown area. Investigators believe the killer(s) traveled along Rt. 28 on the night of the murders. In 2019, an official working the case told reporters, "We have strong reason to believe that whoever is responsible for this crime traveled this corridor Route 28 from the Nguyen residence to the Prince William County, Nokesville, Manassas area."

A website dedicated to solving the murders provides a map marking the highways and other areas around Bealeton and the Nguyen household:

source: nguyenmurders.com

Why Duong and America?

As previously noted, a motive for the murders of Duong and America remains unknown. Neither man had any known enemies or any associations with drugs. By all accounts, it appears that the Nguyen family lived a quiet, happy life in Bealeton.

Duong emigrated to the United States from Vietnam decades before his death. He loved living in the U.S. and subsequently named his children after his new home: a son named America and a daughter named Virginia. Duong also loved his family's residence in Bealeton and often spent time doing work on their 1.18 acres of land.

America enjoyed helping his father with such projects, and he also enjoyed playing guitar. He was employed at a local Wal-Mart prior to his death and was known as a reliable employee with a positive attitude. Friends of both America and Duong described both men as hard-working and kind people. 

An unsolved case.

The murders of Duong and America remain unsolved. Investigators have not publicly announced any suspects or persons of interest. Details of the investigation remain unknown. 

The FBI is involved in this case. There is a $20,000 reward in place for anyone with information that could lead to the killer(s). If you have any information that could help solve the case, please submit a tip. 

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Sources:
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Medium
NBC 4 Washington
Nguyen Murders Cold Case

The Murder of Michaela MacVilla

source: Facebook

Michaela MacVilla was tragically murdered at the age of 21 on September 25th, 2018. The young woman seemingly vanished after leaving her job at a Stewart's Shop on West Main Street in St. Johnsville, New York shortly after midnight. Michaela unfortunately never returned home and was never seen alive by her loved ones again.

Two days later, on September 27th, Michaela's cell phone was found on Mill Road - and it appeared as if the phone had been thrown from a vehicle. Data from the cell phone led authorities to a 45-year-old local, Daniel Nellis. Michaela's final phone call was made to Nellis' phone number shortly after she left her job at Stewart's. 

Police initially spoke to Nellis on September 28th. During said interview, the officers noticed that Nellis had scratches on his forearms. Nellis told police that he picked Michaela up on the morning of her disappearance. He admitted to bringing Michaela to his home in Oppenheim that morning. Nellis explained that when he was driving her back home later that day, they got into an argument and Michaela asked to be let out of the car. He claims that he never saw her again after that. 

On October 2nd, 2018, Michaela's body was found under some brush on an access road near Kringsbush Road in Oppenheim. She had been shot to death. Her pants had also been pulled down, which indicated a potential sexual assault.

A few days after Michaela's body was found, Nellis was arrested on unrelated weapons charges. While already behind bars on those charges, Nellis was charged with the murder of Michaela MacVilla just a few weeks later. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Daniel Nellis. (source: The Times Telegram)

During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence from both Michaela's Fitbit - which was found near her body - and from local surveillance footage. Cameras near Nellis's home in Oppenheim captured Michaela and Nellis entering his house around 12:45 AM on the morning of September 25th. Approximately 12 hours later, they are captured leaving the house together. 

Data from Michaela's FitBit showed that Michaela's heart rate spiked at 12:24 PM before stopping altogether just six minutes later. Just minutes later, surveillance cameras captured Nellis's car driving down the access road where Michaela's body was later found. 

Despite all of this evidence, Nellis continued to maintain his innocence and even testified in his defense at trial. However, the jury did not buy his story and ultimately convicted him for the murder of Michaela MacVilla. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison. 

However, in 2023, Daniel Nellis's conviction was overturned. It was reported that on June 8th, 2023, "a four-judge panel of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling overturning [the murder] conviction, finding that it was the result of 'prosecutorial misconduct' that went unchecked by the trial judge."

Such instances of alleged prosecutorial misconduct included the State eliciting testimony from three separate witnesses that had not been included in the pretrial motions. The testimony was regarding a prior shooting in which Nellis had allegedly been involved. The judge panel also found that certain questions asked by the prosecution during Nellis' trial were "'plainly improper,' as they didn’t relate to Nellis’ credibility but instead to his criminal propensity in such a way that it was prejudicial against his defense." 

Additionally, the judge panel noted that the trial judge did not intervene upon these instances of misconduct. The panel admonished said judge, stating that "County Court certainly must have been aware that some of the evidence introduced by the prosecutor, both on the People’s direct case and upon cross-examination of defendant, fell outside the scope of the court’s pretrial evidentiary rulings." Due to these circumstances, the judge panel ruled on overturning Nellis' murder conviction. A new trial has been ordered. At this time, it is unclear when the new trial will take place. 

Michaela's loved ones are inevitably devastated by this news. In a June 2023 interview with CBS 6, Michaela's grandmother told reporters that she is "livid, angry, to the point of beyond reason that this man gets a second chance at life and my granddaughter is dead."

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Sources:
Appellate court documents
CBS 6
The Daily Gazette
Law and Crime
Spectrum Local News
The Times Telegram