The Disappearance of Sara Graham

Sara Graham has been missing from Fairmont, North Carolina since February 4th, 2015. That morning, the then-18-year-old Sara borrowed her father’s car to drive to her job at Wal-Mart. She never arrived at work and has never been seen or heard from again.

The car Sara was driving was later found abandoned in an open field. There were no signs of a struggle near the vehicle. According to witnesses, the car was parked there as early as 6:45 AM, but the police did not arrive on the scene until around noon.

Prior to her disappearance, Sara had recently moved to North Carolina from Texas. She moved in with her father and stepmother, who both worked for the sheriff’s department. Her stepmother, Connie Graham, was fired shortly after her disappearance for reasons that have not been released to the public. 

Years passed without any updates in Sara's case. Investigators declined to publicly name any suspects or persons of interest in Sara’s case; however, many locals have shared their own theories on social media. One local rumor is that Sara’s stepbrother was in love/infatuated with Sara and that he killed her when she rejected his advances. This rumor was never confirmed, but over the years, suspicions remained strong about both Sara's stepmother and stepbrother(s). 

Over 11 years later, in June 2026, investigators finally announced a break in the case. Sara's stepmother Connie Graham was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Connie's sons, Bobby McLellan and Luke Locklear were arrested as well; they were charged with accessory after-the-fact, felony conspiracy and alter/steal/destroy criminal evidence. 

Following Connie's arrest, it was revealed via warrants that prosecutors believe that Connie killed Sara inside her bedroom. Then, Connie destroyed and altered evidence, such as Sara's bed and the flooring at the home, in order to cover up the crime. It's been alleged that Connie's two sons helped Connie cover up the crime as well. 

In September 2026, Connie accepted a plea deal and pled guilty to second-degree murder. As part of the plea deal, the felony conspiracy and evidence tampering charges were dropped. The deal also resulted in a 20–25-year sentence. 

Connie admitted to the court that she got into an argument with Sara on the morning of Sara's disappearance. Following the argument, Connie hit Sara on the head with a hammer, causing her death. Afterwards, Connie enlisted the help of her sons to dispose of Sara's body and to remove other evidence of her death. 

The charges against Connie's two sons are still pending. Sara's remains have still not been found. If you have any information that could lead to the location of her remains, please submit a tip online.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Websleuths
WMBF News
WPDE, (2)
WRAL

Other similar cases:

• Disappearances from 2015
• Disappearances from North Carolina

The Murder of Anna Scott

 

During the early-morning hours of February 3rd, 2022, police in Washoe County, Nevada received a call about a vehicle on fire in southbound shoulder area of Interstate 580. Officers responded to the scene and found the car burning about a mile north of the Galena Creek Bridge. Inside the vehicle, police found the body of a young woman. The medical examiner later identified the victim as Anna Scott of Reno, Nevada. She was just 23 years old. 

Anna's family members describe her as a loving mother who was dedicated to raising her young children. Anna was also a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and a beloved part of the community. Her loved ones are inevitably heartbroken by her death. Anna’s family last heard from her the night before she was found deceased. Anna's stepmother said that Anna was posting on social media on the evening of February 2nd but did not post at all the following day--which was unusual. 

Around the same time, Anna's stepmother heard news about a car being found on fire with a deceased female inside. Days later, the family learned that the female inside the vehicle was, in fact, Anna. She had died from a gunshot wound to the head. It appears that Anna's killer(s) then set her car on fire in attempt to destroy evidence.

source: rdj.com

In the days that followed Anna's death, authorities stated that they were trying to an establish a timeline leading up to the murder. On February 7th, the Washoe County Sheriff's office announced that they were "trying to piece together [Anna's] movements and contacts in the hours and days before her body was found."  

Anna's stepmother said that the family heard from a friend who saw Anna that night, but the interaction was "odd". In a report from March 2022, her stepmother was quoted saying, "[The friend] did say she had seen Anna that night and that she had left Anna alone with some people that she hadn’t mentioned to us, I don’t know if she mentioned it to the detectives, but to me that was odd. How are you just going to leave your friend alone?" 

Other than that, detectives remained tight-lipped for several years about the investigation into Anna's death. An April 2022 report on the case states that the sheriff's office did not respond to the reporter's request for updates. However, Anna's family members vowed to not let Anna be forgotten. They also have made efforts to raise awareness about the numerous other missing and murdered indigenous women whose cases also remain unsolved. More information about this nationwide issue can be found here.

A little over four years passed without any updates in Anna's case. Finally, in June 2026, an arrest was finally made; Delshay Astor was indicted on second-degree murder charges. The following month, the grand jury updated those charges to first-degree murder. Additionally, an accomplice, Joel Christy, was charged with accessory after the fact.

Prosecutors allege that Astor shot Anna to death before setting her car on fire. Christy then reportedly helped Astor avoid apprehension after the crime was committed. At this time, it has not been revealed how investigators tied the two men to Anna's murder. Their charges are currently pending. 

Delshay Astor

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Sources:
2 News

KOLO TV, 2, 3

People

RDJ,2

The Murder of Irasema Chavez

Irasema Chavez (33) was found brutally murdered inside her Arlington, Texas apartment on January 20th, 2012. Her murder remains unsolved to this day.

Irasema was fairly new to that area, and to the United States in general. She had grown up in Mexico but had recently relocated to Texas after she was inspired to move by her sister and brother-in-law, who already lived there. According to Irasema’s brother-in-law, Irasema had made a ton of new friends since she moved to the Arlington area, and she loved to go to dance clubs with them. Irasema had also recently come out to her family and friends as a lesbian shortly before her death.

On the night of January 19th, 2012, Irasema called her sister and asked her and her niece, who was visiting from Mexico, to come over. They declined, as Irasema’s sister did not want to drive over to her apartment that late at night. However, Irasema’s sister planned to drop her niece off at Irasema’s apartment the following day so the two could spend the day together. 

When that time came the next morning, Irasema’s sister dropped her niece off at Irasema’s apartment complex and waited until she got inside safely before she left. However, just a minute after Irasema’s niece entered her apartment, she came running back out, screaming for somebody to call the police. According to her, Irasema was dead. She had been murdered—stabbed over 100 times.

Surveillance footage from the previous night shows an unidentified person wearing a hood approaching Irasema’s door and knocking. The person is seen standing there for about a minute before the door opens and the person is let in. For several years, investigators considered this person to be a suspect.

source: YouTube

None of Irasema’s friends or family members recognized the suspect, however they believed that this person was known to Irasema, since she let them into her apartment. A clip of the surveillance footage can be viewed here.

Nearly 15 years passed without any updates in Irasema's case. Finally, in July 2026, it was announced that an arrest had been made. A 42-year-old woman named Mayra Velazquez was taken into custody on July 17th, 2026, and charged with capital murder by terror threat.

Reports state that new DNA technology linked Velazquez to Irasema's murder. Although it appears that the two women knew each other, investigators have not commented on their connection at this time. 

Velazquez remains behind bars as her charges are pending.

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Sources:
The Dallas Morning News
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, (2), (3)

People
Savage Watch

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. 

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 passed without any arrests in Ashley's case. For nearly 15 years, no suspects were 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." However, the years continued to tick by without any updates.

That all changed in March 2026, when the West Des Moines Police announced that an arrest had finally been made in Ashley's case. On March 18th, 2026, a woman named Kristin Ramsey was arrested and charged with in connection with the killing of Ashley Okland. 

Ramsey is currently 53 years old. At this time, a connection between Ashley and Ramsey has not been revealed. The case is currently ongoing, and updates will be provided if/when they become available.

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

The Disappearance and Murder of Latania Janell Carwell

Latania Janell Carwell (pictured left) was last seen alive on the evening of April 17th, 2017—the day before her 16th birthday. The teen, who went by her middle name Janell, was last seen around 1:30 AM at her family’s home in Augusta, Georgia. According to Janell’s mother, Tanya Tripp (pictured top right), Janell left with her stepfather Leon Tripp (pictured bottom right) en route to Clarks Hill, South Carolina. 

Tanya reported that Leon apparently got a call from a friend in Clarks Hill who got his car stuck, and Leon and Janell went to help him. Per Tanya's narrative, the two the two did not return as planned. She reported them missing the next day.

On April 26th, 2017, police found Leon’s car abandoned just a mile away from their home. The car was processed, and it apparently yielded no DNA evidence or additional clues about the whereabouts of Janell and/or Leon. However, the police also investigated their cell phone data—which indicated that they never went to Clarks Hill. 

As the news about Leon and Janell’s disappearance began to spread, police began to receive tips that Leon had been seen more than a hundred miles away in Atlanta—without Janell. In fact, Leon had been spotted for the first time in Atlanta on April 21st—just a few days after he was last seen with Janell. Police discovered that Leon had ties to Atlanta and had been staying with friends in that area. 

According to Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree, Leon actually made two or three trips back and forth while authorities were actively looking for him and Janell. The numerous tips that police received about Leon indicated that Leon was alive and unharmed—but there were still no news or sightings of Janell. As a result, authorities issued kidnapping warrants for Leon on May 1st, 2017.

Meanwhile, suspicions were growing against Tanya as well. Tanya continued to express concern for her daughter in the media, however she also adamantly expressed that she did not believe Leon had harmed Janell. The day after the warrants were issued, reporters from local NewsChannel 6 asked Tanya if it was possible that Leon and Janell had secretly been in a relationship. Tanya responded, “He married to all this prettiness and he gon’ run away with our daughter? Come on now. That’s stupid!” 

That statement seemed odd and wildly inappropriate for a mother with a missing daughter to say—but the odd behavior did not end there. The events that followed revealed a harrowing amount of evidence that both Leon and Tanya had a hand in Janell's disappearance.

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Leon and Tanya are apprehended.

Once it was discovered that Leon had travelled from Atlanta to Augusta several times while there was an active search for him, many believed that Tanya knew of Leon’s whereabouts the entire time; he was never truly “missing” at all. These beliefs were only strengthened on May 23rd, 2017, when police were finally able to track Leon down. 

On that day, US marshals in Atlanta were searching for him when he was finally spotted at a local U-Haul facility. When officers cornered him there, he was not alone. Right by his side was his wife, Tanya Tripp. Both were arrested on the spot. Leon was charged with kidnapping, and Tanya was charged with hindering the apprehension of a criminal.

A changed story; upgraded charges.

After the arrests, Leon denied harming Janell. He said that he and Janell were actually heading to Atlanta the night of April 17th, instead of Clarks Hill. At some point during the trip, Leon said that he gave Janell money to take the bus back to Augusta and has not seen her since. Tanya continued to deny any involvement as well. 

Almost a year later, in March 2018, Janell’s remains were found behind a vacant lot in Richmond County, Georgia—not far from her home in Augusta. Shortly thereafter, Leon had first-degree murder added to his charges, and Tanya had second-degree murder added to hers. 

Additional evidence of premeditation.

In June 2020, it was revealed that prosecutors filed a motion to introduce evidence of additional crimes allegedly committed by Leon Tripp and Tanya Tripp. The evidence states that Leon and Tanya reportedly solicited someone to kill Latania Janell Carwell on three separate occasions prior to her disappearance in April 2017. According to documents, the couple attempted to do this in both September and December 2015, and then one other time in October 2016. 

Those solicitation attempts were obviously unsuccessful/never completed, as Janell was still alive until April 2017. However, the fact that they had attempted to solicit a hitman to kill Janell numerous times before her disappearance indicated that her disappearance and death were, in fact, premeditated by her mother and stepfather.

A slow journey to justice.

Many believed that Leon and Tanya were responsible for Janell's disappearance since the onset of the investigation. Janell's loved ones and Augusta locals alike were glad to see that the couple was facing charges related to her kidnapping and murder. However, it would take many years for the cases to move forward.

Leon and Tanya were tried together, and their trial finally began in late February 2026. During the trial, the prosecution laid out their case that the couple had conspired together to end Janell's life. Meanwhile, Leon and Tanya had their own respective defense teams who pointed the finger at one another as being responsible for Janell's death.

Guilty verdicts.

After the evidence was presented from all sides, the jury began their deliberations. They ultimately found both Leon and Tanya guilty on all counts. Leon received the following sentences for each charge:

• Count 1, malice murder - life without parole.
• Count 2, felony murder - life without parole.
• Count 3, aggravated assault-family violence - 20 years consecutive sentence.
• Count 4, concealing the death of another - 10 years (runs concurrent with the Count 3 sentence).

Tanya received the following sentences for each charge:

• Count 1, malice murder - life without parole.
• Count 2, felony murder - life without parole.
• Count 3, aggravated assault-family violence - 20 years.
• Count 4, concealing the death of another - 10 years.

The couple are likely to remain behind bars for the rest of their lives.

Rest in peace, Janell.

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Sources:
Atlanta Black Star
WJBF
WRDW

The Murder of Sandra Robinson

 

Sandra Robinson was tragically killed at her workplace on March 17th, 2010. The 32-year-old woman worked at Prepaid Superstore in Douglas, Georgia at the time of her murder. It’s believed that she was stabbed to death between 6:00 and 7:00 PM, during the store’s business hours.

Sandra is remembered as a kind person, a reliable worker, and a dedicated mother to her four children. Those children have had to grow up without their mother. Sandra’s entire circle of loved ones remains left without answers or justice. Over 15 years passed with seemingly no updates on the case.

The Prepaid Superstore where Sandra was killed is located in a decently busy area of Douglas. The store is in close proximity to PCC Probation, Walgreens, Flash Food and Rountree Park. Despite this potential for witnesses, there did not appear to be any immediate substantial tips from witnesses that lead to an arrest. There were reportedly no surveillance cameras at the store during the time of the murder. 

Reports state that Sandra was found deceased by her boyfriend, who had come to pick her up from work that evening. The boyfriend subsequently called the police. It was soon determined that Sandra had been killed by multiple stab wounds. 

Sandra’s boyfriend has never been publicly named. Investigators declined to publicly label him - or anyone else - as a person of interest for over 15 years. Family members always believed that the investigators knew more about the case than they publicly shared.

Finally, in 2026 - 16 years after Sandra's murder - a substantial update was provided. On March 4th, 2026, the GBI announced that a man named Willie James Jr. has been arrested and charged with the murder of Sandra Robinson. Investigators noted that James, now 58 years old, "was an associate of [Sandra] and could often be found at the store." Advancements in forensic testing are what finally led to his arrest.

The case against Willie James Jr. is currently pending. Updates on the case will be provided if/when they become available.

Sources:
Atlanta News First
Georgia Bureau of Investigation,
Pining Podcast
WALB, (2)

The Murder of India Kinamore

 

India Kinamore was murdered inside her Colerain Township, Ohio home during the early morning hours of March 4th, 2023. Police responded to calls about a shooting shortly after 4:30 AM at India’s apartment on Hidden Meadows Drive. Once inside, they found the 26-year-old woman in her bed, deceased from gunshot wounds.

India was nine months pregnant at the time; March 4th was actually her due date, and she was scheduled to be induced. Her unborn child also did not survive. This day was supposed to be a joyous occasion for India and her family - a day they would hopefully celebrate for years to come. Now, it’s a day that marks tragedy for India’s loved ones.

Two years passed without any arrests for the murder of India and her unborn child. Then, in August 2025, Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich announced that three men had been arrested and charged in connection to the case. Amongst those three men was 30-year-old Kayvon Warren - India’s boyfriend and father of her unborn child. 

Kayvon Warren. (Source: Colerain PD)

According to the prosecution, Warren did not want India to have his child. Not only was he facing financial hardships, but he was also involved with another woman behind India’s back. At some point, Warren reportedly urged India to get an abortion, but it was too late in her pregnancy for her to do so. The prosecution believes that Warren subsequently enlisted his cousin, Robert Ervin, and Ervin’s half-brother, Lamar Morris Suggs, to help take care of his problem by killing India on the day she was due to give birth. 

Ervin and Suggs. (Colerain PD)

It’s believed that Ervin, 20, and Suggs, 22, entered the residence that India and Warren shared shortly before 4:30 AM. Once inside, one of them shot India multiple times, while all three men participated in staging the scene to make it look like a robbery. This ruse eventually became unraveled, resulting in the August 2025 arrests of all three men.

Shortly after their arrests, it was revealed that Warren had requested bereavement leave from his job prior to India’s death. The prosecution stated that this detail “underscores the premeditated nature of the crime.” All three men have been charged with first degree murder.

The cases against Warren, Ervin, and Suggs are all currently pending. All three men have pleaded not guilty.

Sources:
Fox 19
Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office
The Independent

Similar cases:

• The Murder of Jade Benning 
• The Murder of Rochelle Stubblefield
• The Disappearance and Presumed Murder of Morgan Martin

The Murder of Blake Chappell

 

Blake Chappell's life was headed in a positive direction during the fall of 2011. The then-17-year-old was adjusting to life in a new town after his family moved to Senoia, Georgia earlier that year. Previously, Blake and his mother Melissa lived in Clayton County. 

Melissa decided to move Senoia after Blake got into a physical altercation with the stepfather of his ex-girlfriend. The incident was tough on Blake, but he was doing seemingly well in Senoia. He quickly made new friends and started dating a new girlfriend. Unfortunately, before Blake's life could continue to flourish, he was brutally murdered. His murder remains unsolved today.

Blake was last seen alive during the early morning hours of October 16th, 2011. The previous evening, Blake attended his high school homecoming dance with his girlfriend, Rion. Blake reportedly had a great time at the dance - he called his mother afterwards to tell her that he had "the best night of his life." 

That phone call was the last time Blake spoke to his mother. Hours later, he vanished. Blake's mother reported him missing that same day. Over two months later, passersby in Summer Grove spotted human remains in a local creek near East Newnan. Those remains were later identified as that of Blake Chappell. 

An autopsy revealed that Blake died from a gunshot wound to the head. His death was labeled a homicide. There are several suspicious circumstances surrounding Blake's case. How did the purported best night of this 16-year-old's life end with his disappearance and murder? This question remains unanswered, but a look at the timeline leading up to Blake's disappearance, amongst other circumstances in Blake's life, may hold the key to solving his case. 

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After the school dance.

As noted above, Blake attended his high school homecoming dance with his new girlfriend, Rion, on October 15th, 2011. The two were picked up from the dance by Rion's mother. They then went back to Rion's house where they watched a movie. Around 11:30 PM, Rion's mother drove Blake to his friend Austin's house, where he planned to spend the night. 

Once Blake got to Austin's house, he called his mother to check in. He was happy during their conversation; he told his mother he had a great time at the dance, and it was the best night of his life. 

Blake's disappearance. 

At some point between 2:00 and 3:00 AM, Blake snuck out of Austin's house and walked 3 miles back to Rion's house. He arrived there around 4:30 AM and snuck in through Rion's bedroom window. About half an hour later, one of Rion's relatives caught Blake and Rion together. Knowing he was not supposed to be there, Blake quickly left the residence and began walking back toward Austin's house. 

During his walk, Blake texted with Rion several times. Around 5:30 AM, he sent her a message saying he was stopped by a police officer who asked where he was going. He sent one final text a few minutes later before ceasing all communication. Blake never arrived back at Austin's house and was never heard from again.

Blake's mother, Melissa, was alerted about her son's disappearance around 11:00 AM, after Austin contacted her and said that Blake had left his house and never returned. Melissa reported Blake missing very shortly thereafter.

December 2011: Blake is found deceased.

Extensive searches for Blake ended unsuccessfully. Then, over two months later, passersby in Summer Grove spotted human remains in a local creek near East Newnan. Police were called, and the human remains were later identified as that of Blake Chappell. He died from a gunshot wound to the head. 

After the discovery of Blake's remains, the case shifted to a homicide investigation. 

The search for Blake's killer.

Blake's body was found wearing only underpants and an undershirt. However, when he left Rion's house on the morning of his disappearance, he was wearing black sweatpants, a white t-shirt and a jacket. None of these clothing items have ever been recovered. 

Additionally, Blake had his cell phone on him when he vanished, but investigators have never found said phone. This initially left detectives with very little to work with while investigating Blake's murder.

As previously mentioned, Blake and his mother moved to Senoia just months before his disappearance. The move was prompted by a physical altercation that occurred between Blake and his ex-girlfriend's stepfather. The ex-girlfriend had reportedly run away to Blake's house, and before Blake could bring her back home, her stepfather showed up. Blake sent a text to his friend about the incident, saying "her dad showed up wit two other guys nd guns tellin all my friends he was gunna kill me". 

Blake would later tell police that the man "punched him in the face, knocked him to the ground, and kicked him in the head." Despite this, Blake was the one who ended up arrested. He was charged with custodial interference, as his ex-girlfriend had run away with the intention of being with Blake. However, the charges were later dropped.

Blake's mother Melissa stated that she wanted to move Blake out of Clayton County after this incident because she was afraid for her son's life. Inevitably, police looked into this man after Blake was found murdered - but various reports say that the man has been cleared as a suspect.

According to uncovered.com, police cleared three other persons of interest in the case as well. In the years following Blake's murder, police continued to keep details about the investigation under wraps. In March 2024, it was announced that there some new developments in the case. 11 Alive reported that "police said they served three search warrants in the Sharpsburg area. Detectives collected new evidence, which is now in the hands of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for further testing and analysis." 

2025: An arrest is made.

In September 2025, it was reported that a man named Scotty Elliott Smith was recently identified as a person of interest in Blake's case. Smith, who had previously not been investigated for Blake's murder, was reportedly confronted by police with evidence that pointed to his involvement. At that point, Smith allegedly confessed to Blake's murder.

After his confession, Smith was taken into custody. He is being charged with "felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, concealing the death of another, and tampering with evidence."

Further details are currently unavailable. The case is still being investigated. If you have any additional information about Blake's murder, please contact authorities at (770) 254-2355.

Sources:

[Uncovered]

[Times Herald]

[11 Alive, 2]

[KHOU 11]

The Murder of Jessica Bejarano

 

Jessica Bejarano was only 25 years-old when her life was tragically taken on April 6th, 2007. 

That day, police in Frederick, Colorado responded to a 911 call at her residence on Larkspur Circle. When officers entered the home, they found Jessica unresponsive on her bathroom floor. She had suffered a single stab wound to the chest. The first responders attempted life-saving measures to no avail, and Jessica was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jessica's two children, a 4-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son, were also found in the home when police arrived. The children were reportedly distraught, but physically unharmed. According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, "it appeared that [the children] had been unkept for most of the day and may have witnessed the murder."

When the investigation into Jessica's murder began, police initially looked into several suspects, including Jessica's husband. He was eventually cleared after it was determined he was at work at the time of the stabbing. As time passed without any arrests, news about Jessica's murder began to fade. The case soon grew cold.

Nearly 18 years later, in March 2025, a major break was announced: a 72-year-old man named Darrell Burkland had been arrested and charged with Jessica's murder. According to reports, "investigators ultimately obtained DNA evidence that subsequently yielded a potential match" to Burkland. Then, on March 14th, 2025, "investigators conducted a follow-up interview with Burklund. Following the interview, Burklund was arrested and taken into custody at the York County Sheriff’s Detention Center, in York, Nebraska."

Burkland was 54 years-old at the time of the crime. He worked as a maintenance worker. At the time of Burkland's arrest, no further details about the investigation were provided. Although he was arrested in Nebraska, he will face the charges for Jessica's murder in Colorado. The case is currently pending. 

Sources:
ABC 7 Denver
Colorado Bureau of Investigation, (2)

The Disappearance and Murder of Erica Hunt

Erica Hunt vanished at the age of 20 on July 4th, 2016. The previous day, Erica attended an Independence Day celebration at her family’s home in Opelousas, Louisiana. The above photograph is from said celebration; this is one the last known images of Erica before her disappearance. 

Family members said Erica was acting normally at the celebration—she talked about applying for housing and seemed excited about her upcoming 21st birthday. They never predicted that this would be one of the last times they'd see Erica.

The morning before she vanished, Erica visited her sister and brother-in-law’s house and asked for money to buy cigarettes. It is unknown if she left their home on foot or if somebody picked her up. Erica was later seen behind a local restaurant on Hirsch Alley sometime between 11:00 PM and 1:00 PM. After that, she was never seen or heard from again.

Investigators immediately deemed Erica's disappearance as suspicious. It was not believed that she voluntarily missing—she left a two-year-old daughter behind, which was very uncharacteristic of her. Erica’s family searched for her to no avail. Unfortunately, her case quickly went cold.

Two years later, in 2018, authorities were searching for a missing boy in Evangeline Parish when another set of human remains were found. It took years to identify the remains, but on February 5th, 2021, the Louisiana State Police announced that the remains were that of Erica Hunt. They also announced that her death was a homicide.

Over three years passed without any updates in Erica's case. Then, in November 2024, a major break occurred. On November 21st, 2024, it was announced that investigators had arrested Jordan Barnes and charged him with Erica's murder. Barnes is Erica's brother-in-law; the same brother-in-law whose house she visited the day of her disappearance. 

Barnes reportedly confessed to the crime and has been charged with second-degree murder. The case is currently pending. 

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Sources:
Charley Project
Louisiana State Police
NBC News
Uncovered

The Disappearance and Murder of Suzanne Morphew

source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation

Suzanne Morphew (49) vanished on May 10th, 2020. The mother-of-two disappeared on Mother's Day. It was originally reported that she left her Maysville, Colorado home to go for a bike ride. Suzanne never returned home, and a neighbor reported her missing later that evening.

Initial searches for Suzanne ended unsuccessfully. Reports stated that search crews "of more than 100 investigators, eight tracking dogs and four drones, as well as members of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, South Ark Swiftwater Rescue and Reach Air Ambulance have been unable to find her." The only trace of Suzanne that was found was her bicycle, which was located in a nearby ravine shortly after she was reported missing. 

Suzanne's husband, Barry Morphew, put a $100,000 reward in place for anyone with information about Suzanne's whereabouts. That reward was later increased to $200,000 after a friend donated money to the case. Barry told police and loved ones that he was in Denver on the day she vanished - which is an approximate 3-hour drive away from their home in Maysville. 

However, in October 2020, new information about Barry's alleged alibi surfaced. It was originally reported that Barry was in the Denver area on the day Suzanne vanished. He said that he left the family's Maysville home during the early morning hours of May 10th, and then returned later that afternoon after learning of his wife's disappearance. Barry went to the Denver area to work on a landscaping job. He was hired by the president of the landscaping company, who also happens to be his close friend. 

However, Barry's name is reportedly not on any documentation related to this specific job. Additionally, the job was reportedly scheduled for Monday, May 11th - not Sunday, May 10th. In fact, the city did not issue a special permit for the work to be completed on a weekend, which would have been required for this particular job.

All of this information leads to many questions. Did Barry actually go to the Denver area that day? And if so, why did he go a whole a day earlier than necessary? Why did he lie about the date of the job? Suspicions had been cast on Barry since the beginning of the investigation - especially when it revealed that Suzanne was unhappy in their marriage and was having an affair with another man. She had reportedly begun a relationship with this man two years prior, while she was going through chemotherapy.

In May 2021, Barry Morphew was arrested and charged with Suzanne's murder. At that point, loved ones of Suzanne felt they were one step closer to getting answers. Unfortunately, though, this would end up being far from true.

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Barry's arrest.

source: Law and Crime

Barry's arrest came nearly a year after Suzanne's disappearance. At the time, authorities did not disclose any other details, but they revealed that Barry is facing charges of first-degree murder, attempting to influence a public servant, and tampering with evidence. 

The spy pen.

Meanwhile, more and more speculation about what happened to Suzanne began to surface. It was revealed that Suzanne had been using a spy pen prior to her disappearance. The purpose of the pen was for Suzanne to record Barry so she could potentially catch him in an affair. 

source: CBS News

However, the pen would reveal to investigators that Suzanne was actually having an affair herself. The man with whom she was having an affair was eventually located and questioned. His alibi checked out and he was cleared of suspicion.

Other speculation.

The main theories that began to surface involved Barry being responsible. Some speculated that Barry killed Suzanne after she asked for a divorce, or after he found out about her affair. Barry himself speculated that Suzanne was taken by someone else, or that she was harmed by something in nature - possibly a mountain lion. 

Additionally, during the initial investigation into Suzanne's disappearance, detectives found empty tranquilizer darts and a tranquilizer needle in the Morphew's yard. Barry told police that he often used those tranquilizers to "sedate deer and remove their antlers to sell in his hunting business."

April 2022 update: charges dropped.

Almost a year after the arrest, a judge dismissed the first-degree murder charges against Barry Morphew in April 2022. This ruling came after the prosecution filed a motion to dismiss the charges without prejudice - which means Barry can be charged again at a later date. 

The prosecutor implied that they hoped to charge Barry again once after finding Suzanne's body. At that time, authorities said that they were close to finding her remains, but the snow is preventing them from doing so. Court documents state that authorities "zeroed in on a remote and mountainous area near the Morphew's home." Said area was covered in snow at the time this was reported. It's unclear if investigators ever got to search the area.

May 2023: Barry files a lawsuit, speaks out.

source: ABC News

In May 2023, Barry filed a $15 million lawsuit claiming that he was falsely charged with his wife's murder. Shortly thereafter, Barry and his two daughters with Suzanne spoke to ABC News and proclaimed Barry's innocence. The daughters supported their father and stated that they never had a single inkling that he was involved in their mother's disappearance. 

September 2023: Remains found.

During September 2023, it was reported that authorities searched "an area of Moffat in Saguache County on an investigation not related to the Morphew investigation" when human remains were found. Days later, those remains were positively identified as that of Suzanne Morphew.

source: KRDO Newschannel 13

This area is located approximately 45 miles away from the Morphew home - which means that investigators were incorrect about their belief that Suzanne's body was hidden in a mountainous area near their home. However, her body was found in a shallow grave, and it was obvious that someone else had placed her in such location. 

April 2024: Suzanne's autopsy results are revealed.

After Suzanne's remains were discovered, investigators remained quiet about her cause and manner of death for months. Then, in April 2024, it was announced that Suzanne "died homicide by undetermined means in the setting of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine (BAM) intoxication."

BAM is often found in the tranquilizers that Barry previously admitted to using at his home. This has obviously cast even more suspicion on Barry. In fact, Suzanne's loved ones told reporters that they are not surprised to learn that she was killed in such a way - as they had believed this to be the case from the start. 

June 2025: Barry is arrested again.

Approximately 14 months after Suzanne's autopsy results were revealed, another break in the case occurred: Barry Morphew was arrested again. In June 2025, authorities announced that they had apprehended Barry in Gilbert, Arizona. He was once again charged with first-degree murder in Suzanne's case.

It appears that this time around, investigators finally found the evidence they needed to move forward with the murder charges. Not only has Suzanne's body been found, her autopsy results and other records produced even more evidence that point to Barry's involvement. As previously noted, Suzanne had BAM in her system when she died. Prescription records from the Maysville area show that Barry Morphew was the only individual in that area who accessed BAM during the timeframe in which Suzanne was murdered.

Barry is currently behind bars as the case is pending. 

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Sources:
9 News, (2)
AP News
CNN
Daily Beast
Heavy
Inside Edition