The Murder of Sade Robinson

 

Sade Robinson was only 19 years-old when she was tragically murdered following a first date on April 1st, 2024. Reports state that Sade met up with her date at a seafood restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin shortly before 5:30 PM that evening. She never returned home, nor did she show up for work the following day. A concerned friend reported Sade missing on the evening of April 2nd, 2024. 

The friend contacted the Milwaukee Police Department to report Sade missing around 9:00 PM. By this point, Milwaukee investigators had dealt with several suspicious crimes that day. Amongst those crimes was a burning vehicle found in a parking lot on the 1800 block of North 29th Street around 7:30 AM that morning. Later that evening, a severed human leg was found in Warnimont Park. 

Eventually, it was determined that both the vehicle and the human leg belonged to Sade Robinson. Investigators also learned the identity of the person Sade had been on a date with on April 1st: Maxwell Anderson, a 33-year-old man residing in the 3100 block of South 39th Street. 

Anderson was arrested and taken into custody on April 4th, 2024. That same day, a search warrant was executed at his home. During the search, investigators found blood on both the walls leading to the basement and the walls of Anderson's bedroom. They also found several containers of gasoline.

On April 6th, a severed human foot was found near the area where Sade's car was found. Days later, a human torso and arm were found washed up on a beach along Lake Michigan. Reports state that those remains are thought to be Sade as well. 

Maxwell Anderson was held behind bars for several days before prosecutors finally announced charges. Anderson is currently charged with several counts: first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, and arson of property other than a building. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

The brutality of Sade's murder has led to speculation that Anderson is not a first-time killer. This speculation intensified when it was determined that the blood found in Anderson's house does not belong to Sade. Many are left questioning if Anderson has other victims that have not been discovered yet. 

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Timeline surrounding Sade's murder.

Despite the blood in Anderson's house not belonging to Sade, there is still an abundance of other evidence that points to Anderson as her killer. A timeline built through both surveillance footage and cell phone data ultimately led to his arrest.

Maxwell Anderson in court. 

April 1st, 2024, 5:20 PM: Sade and Maxwell Anderson meet up at the Twisted Fisherman restaurant on Canal Street. 

6:30 PM - 9:06 PM: The two leave Twisted Fisherman and take Sade's car to a bar called Duke's on Water. While there, Sade sends a Snapchat to a friend.

9:24 PM: Sade's phone pings off of a tower near Anderson's home. Surveillance footage captures what appears to be two human figures arriving at Anderson's residence.

April 2nd, 2024, 12:48 - 3:02 AM: Sade's phone seemingly leaves Anderson's residence. Around 1:30 AM, the phone pinged near Pleasant Valley Park, along the Milwaukee River in the city’s Riverwest neighborhood. The phone left that area around 2:00 AM and appears to travel north.

At 2:45 PM, Sade's phone pinged near Warnimont Park - where her severed leg was found later that evening. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, surveillance cameras captured a car heading toward the pump house at Warnimont Park at 2:53 AM. At 3:02 AM, a human figure is seen headed towards the water. 

4:31 AM: Sade's car leaves the Warnimont Park area. Around the same time, her cell phone dies. 

7:31 AM: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, "surveillance cameras capture a white male walking away from a car fire burning in a parking lot on the 1800 block of North 29th Street. A witness later tells law enforcement he saw the male exit the vehicle and toss a lighter into it before walking away. The male was wearing a gray hoodie and a tan backpack."

7:32 AM: The fire department responds to the vehicle on fire. Clothing is found in the vehicle's trunk, along with pieces of a broken cell phone. It's later determined that the clothing and the phone belong to Sade; the clothing was actually part of the outfit she was wearing on her date with Anderson.

Investigators connect the dots.

As previously stated, Sade was reported missing later that evening after she did not show up for work. Eventually, investigators determined that the human remains and the burning vehicle they had already found belonged to Sade. From there, detectives learned that Sade had been on a date before her disappearance with a man named Maxwell Anderson. 

The evidence from both the phone records and the surveillance footage suggest that Anderson killed and dismembered Sade inside his house sometime between 9:30 PM and 12:48 AM. Then, it appears that Anderson used Sade's vehicle to dispose of her remains.

A question about other victims.

As also previously noted, there has been speculation about whether or not Anderson has other victims as well. Reports state that the blood found on the walls of his residence does not belong to Sade Robinson. Many are left questioning: is there another victim that has not been found yet? Is it possibly another missing young girl from Milwaukee?

There has been some online speculation about the blood possibly belonging to Joniah Walker - who vanished at the age of 16 on June 23rd, 2022. Joniah was last seen in the 400 block of West Brown Avenue. A write-up on her case can be found here. 

At this time, Anderson has not been charged with anything related to any other missing women. However, speculation about other victims remains active. 

Anderson's trial. 

Maxwell Anderson's murder trial began in late May 2025. During the court proceedings, the prosecution alleged that Anderson had been planning the murder for months. The presented evidence also indicated that, after Anderson met Sade for their date, he invited her back to his house. Once there, Anderson drugged Sade's beverage. After Sade had passed out due to being drugged, Anderson took pictures of her passed out, face down on the couch. Pictures were also taken on him groping her and taking off her clothes - all while she is unconscious. 

After assaulting, murdering, and mutilating Sade, Anderson then took a picture of himself holding her severed right breast. The prosecutors called this his "trophy". Anderson later disposed of Sade's remains and burned out her in an attempt to conceal evidence.

Anderson's defense, on the other hand, argued that the prosecution did not prove Anderson's intent to kill Sade. Despite this, it took the jury less than an hour to find Maxwell Anderson guilty on all counts. 

Anderson is expected to face a mandatory life sentence at his August 2025 sentencing.

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Sources:
CBS 58

CNN
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, (2)
TMJ 4

Timeline Series: The Disappearance and Murder of Brittanee Drexel

Source: WJBF

Brittanee Drexel was only 17 years old when she was kidnapped and murdered by register sex offender Raymond Moody on April 25th, 2009. Though the case had many twists and turns, Brittanee's fate remained a mystery for over a decade until the truth was finally revealed during 2022. Below is a timeline of all the major events in this case:

October 7th, 1991: Brittanee is born in Rochester, New York. Her parents, Dawn Pleckan and John Kahyaoglu, were teenagers at the time she was born. Dawn and John's romantic relationship had also ended by the time Brittanee was born.

1991-1997: Dawn eventually marries Chad Drexel. Chad adopts Brittanee. The family settles in Chili - a suburb of Rochester, New York.

A young Brittanee Drexel. (source: Facebook)

May 1997: Dawn and Chad's daughter, Myrissa, is born.

2003: Dawn and Chad's son, Camdyn, is born. The Drexel family continues to live in Chili.

The Drexel Family. (Source: CBS News)

2006: Brittanee enters high school at Gates Chili High School in Rochester. She eventually begins a romantic relationship with classmate John Grieco. Their relationship is on-and-off over the next two and a half years. 

Source: Find a Grave Memorial

2008-2009: Brittanee's parents, Dawn and Chad, split up. Chad moves out of the family's home. According to Dawn, Brittanee struggles a lot with her parent's divorce. 

April 2009: Brittanee's spring break from her junior year in high school begins. She asks her mother if she can go to Myrtle Beach with some new friends. Dawn does not allow Brittanee to go, as no adults were accompanying the group. This leads to a fight between the mother and daughter.

April 22nd, 2009: Brittanee asks Dawn if she can go to a friend's house in Chili for the next few days; Dawn agrees. However, unbeknownst to Dawn, Brittanee actually goes with her other group of friends to Myrtle Beach.

Brittanee in Myrtle Beach during April 2009. (source: Help Find Brittanee Drexel)

April 22nd - April 24th, 2009: Brittanee is in constant communication via text with her boyfriend, John Grieco, during her trip. She expresses that the trip is not going as planned; she's not getting along with the girls as well as she thought she would.

April 24th, 2009: Brittanee meets a guy from Illinois in Myrtle Beach. He invites her to hang out in his hotel room that evening; Brittanee accepts the invitation. While there, a brief video of Brittanee in the room is captured on a cell phone.

April 25th, 2009 (daytime): Brittanee is in touch with John, her mother, and others throughout the day via text. She is also in touch with Peter Brozowitz, a then-20-year-old acquaintance from Rochester who also happened to be in Myrtle Beach.

April 25th, 2009 (8:00 PM): Brittanee leaves the Bar Harbor hotel, where she is staying, presumably to walk towards the Blue Water Resort - where Brozowitz and his friends are staying.

April 25th, 2009 (8:15 PM): One of the girls Brittanee is on the trip with, Jennifer, texts Brittanee: "where my blk shorts,"

April 25th, 2009 (8:16 PM): Brittanee to Jennifer: "I wore them. Shit did u want to wear them,"

April 25th, 2009 (8:17 PM): Jennifer to Brittanee: "Yupp so go take em off n gimme :)"

April 25th, 2009 (8:18 PM): Brittanee to Jennifer: "Okay.. I will when i get back... Sorry .. I went for a walk but whats going on tonight"

April 25th, 2009 (8:33 PM): Surveillance cameras capture Brittanee arriving at the Blue Water Resort.

Brittanee entering Blue Water Resort. (source: WMBF)

April 25th, 2009 (8:43 PM): Brittanee texts Jennifer, in part, "im going to walk all the way back...," presumably so she can return Jennifer's shorts.

April 25th, 2009 (8:48 PM): Surveillance cameras capture Brittanee exiting the Blue Water Resort.

Source: WMBF

April 25th, 2009 (8:51 PM): While on her walk, Brittanee texts her boyfriend, John Grieco "I'm gong [sic] to ducking [sic] bug you have no idea,"

April 25th, 2009 (8:54 PM): John replies, "Why now baby,"

April 25th, 2009 (8:55 PM): Brittanee texts John, "I'll tell you later when you call me.. I'm so heated,"

April 25th, 2009 (8:57 PM): John texts Brittanee, "Are you going out tonight [sic] Don't let your last night be ruined baby Seariously [sic] for me please just try to enjoy yourself you deserve it more than anyone I know"

April 25th, 2009 (8:58 PM): Brittanee sends her last text to John Grieco: "No fuck that I'm staying in and packing and gong [sic] to sleep probably,"

April 25th, 2009 (8:59 PM): John replies, "Why baby :("

April 25th, 2009 (9:05 PM): John texts Brittanee again, "?? Why boo"

April 25th, 2009 (9:15 PM): John texts Brittanee, "Babe I'm concerned about ya let me k know [sic] what's going on okayy I don't want you out alone if your friends are being dicks, but I also don't want you to ruin your last night there"

April 25th, 2009 (9:15 PM - 10:00 PM): Brittanee receives several calls and texts from John, friends on the trip, and others inquiring about her whereabouts. During this time, Brittanee's phone pings in Surfside, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys, and Georgetown.

April 25th, 2009 (10:00 PM): John texts Brittanee, "I'm calling your mom if I don't hear from you in the next ten min". At this point, Brittanee's mother still does not know Brittanee traveled to Myrtle Beach without permission.

April 25th, 2009 (10:09 PM): Jen texts Brittanee, "ur [sic] mom calling where the fuck r u,"

April 25th, 2009 (10:11 PM - 11:57 pm): Brittanee receives several texts and calls from her friends who are looking for her. Meanwhile, her phone continues to ping throughout several areas of Georgetown and then McClellanville.

April 26th, 2009: A large search effort is launched in the Myrtle Beach area for Brittanee. That same day, Raymond Moody is pulled over for a traffic violation. At the time, police had not connected Moody to Brittanee's disappearance, and there was no sign of Brittanee when Moody was pulled over.

May 11th, 2009: Brittanee's parents and Peter Brozowitz appear on the Dr. Phil show, bringing national attention to Brittanee's disappearance.

Source: Dr. Phil YouTube

June 6th, 2009: Brittanee's case is featured on America's Most Wanted.

November 12th, 2009: Brittanee's case is featured on the cover of People Magazine.

December 2009: Campers find a pair of sunglasses near a body of water in Georgetown. Investigators announce their belief that the sunglasses could be connected to Brittanee. A search for Brittanee is launched in the area, but nothing else is found.

October 2010: Brittanee's case is featured on the ID show Disappeared.

August 1st, 2011: A hotel room where Raymond Moody lived at the time of Brittanee's disappearance is searched. Moody no longer lived there when the search took place, and by this point, over 2 years had passed since Brittanee vanished - making it difficult for investigators to find any concrete evidence.

February 2012: Investigators publicly announce that Raymond Moody, a convicted child rapist/registered sex offender, was eyed as a person of interest in Brittanee's disappearance.

February 2012

September 2012: Brittanee's mother, Dawn, sends a letter to various media outlets in Myrtle Beach. In the letter, she notes that the friends Brittanee traveled to Myrtle Beach with never looked for Brittanee, nor did they report her missing. Dawn questioned whether or not those friends told police everything they know about Brittanee's disappearance. 

October 7th, 2012: Brittanee's 21st birthday. A candlelight vigil is held for her in Myrtle Beach.

April 2013: Another vigil is held, this time in New York, on the 4th anniversary of Brittanee's disappearance. 

May 2014: Investigators state that new technology made additional cell phone data available, which prompted another search for Brittanee in a new area of South Carolina. Unfortunately, nothing new is found. 

June 2016: A press conference is held regarding new information in Brittanee's disappearance. During the conference, the FBI announces that they believe Brittanee was kidnapped, taken to McClellanville and held in a "stash house" for a few days, before ultimately being killed. When asked how the FBI knows this information, the spokesperson replied, "there has been an exhaustive amount of evidence in this case. The investigators are certain that this is what happened, and I can’t give you the exact details on that, but we are certain."

August 2016: It is revealed that investigators learned about Brittanee allegedly being held in the "stash house" by a jailhouse informant named Tequan Brown. Brown reportedly lists Timothy Da'Shaun Taylor, and his father, Shaun Taylor, as Brittanee's kidnappers. Brown told investigators that he saw Brittanee at the McClellanville stash house where she was raped, trafficked, and eventually killed. The informant also said that the Taylors disposed of Brittanee's body in an alligator pit. 

 

August 2016 (cont): Timothy Taylor is arrested on charges unrelated to Brittanee's case. While behind bars, he is interrogated about Brittanee but denies involvement in her disappearance. Investigators, however, remain adamant that Taylor is a suspect; they insist that he failed a polygraph related to Britanee's case.

Timothy Da'Shaun Taylor.

September 2016: Brittanee's father, Chad Drexel, announces that he believes the allegations about the Taylor family being responsible for Brittanee's disappearance are true. He also starts a petition asking for a grand jury to weigh in on the informant's statements. Chad requested that Timothy and Shaun Taylor be charged if the grand jury finds the informant to be truthful.

November 2016: Brittanee's mother, Dawn, starts a nonprofit organization called Brittanee's Little Angels. The organization's purpose is to help and advocate for families of missing and/or trafficked loved ones.

Source: Democrat and Chronicle

March 2017: Investigators search a private property outside of Georgetown in relation to Brittanee's case. It's noted that unspecified evidence and/or a tip sent authorities to the property - there is no further elaboration. After the search, investigators state they made "some progress" - but once again, no further information is provided.

November 2017: Timothy Taylor is arrested again after authorities' state that he violated terms of his bail by crossing state lines while out on bond for the robbery charges. Taylor continuously denies involvement in Brittanee's case.

November 2017 - April 2022: Brittanee remains missing; her case remains unsolved. The public is left with the belief that Timothy Taylor is responsible for her disappearance, though no charges are filed.

April 27th, 2022: Raymond Moody's girlfriend, Angel Vause, agrees to being interviewed by the FBI. As noted above, Moody was investigated in Brittanee's disappearance back in 2011, but he was never charged, and the investigation was eventually led in a different direction.

April 29th, 2022: A judge signs a warrant to search the home and the electronic devices of Moody and Vause.

May 4th, 2022: Moody agrees to speak with investigators. During their conversation, he admits to killing Brittanee and disposing of her remains. Moody then tells investigators where Brittanee is buried - on property near Pickerel Road. That same day, Moody is arrested and charged with obstruction of justice related to Brittanee's case.

May 11th-15th, 2022: A search is conducted in the area where Moody says he buried Brittanee. A single human bone is found first, and then over the next few days, other human remains are found. DNA analysis and dental records eventually confirm that those remains are, in fact, that of Brittanee Drexel.

May 16th, 2022: Raymond Moody is charged with kidnapping, raping, and murdering Brittanee. 

Moody's 2022 mugshot.

October 19th, 2022: Moody pleads guilty to all charges related to Brittanee's case. During the court proceedings, the prosecutors outlined what made them circle back to Moody after all these years. 

It was revealed that, in 2022, investigators reached out to Angel Vause after an informant told them that Vause has information about Brittanee's case. Vause agreed to wear a wire while talking to Moody about Brittanee. Around the same time, a search warrant was executed at Moody's home. 

According to reports, investigators did not actually find any evidence during their search. However, perhaps feeling pressure from investigators, Moody eventually agreed to talk to detectives. During their conversation in May 2022, Moody said that, on April 25th, 2009, he and Vause were driving around Myrtle Beach when they saw Brittanee walking by herself. The couple approached Brittanee and asked her if she wanted to smoke marijuana. Moody claimed that Brittanee voluntarily got into their car, and the three of them traveled to Moody's campsite in Georgetown County.

Moody continued to explain that, at some point, Angel Vause left to go take care of a family member. Then, by Moody's account, he made a sexual advance on Brittanee, which she rejected. Moody then raped her, then strangled her to cover up the crime. When Vause later returned, Moody said that Brittanee had been picked up by friends. 

Instead, Moody said he covered her body with a blanket and hid her in the bushes. Later in the night, Moody moved Brittanee's remains to a different location and buried her. After that, Brittanee remained missing for 13 years until Moody finally led investigators to her body.

October 20th, 2022: Moody is sentenced to life in prison. Many of Brittanee's family members make victim impact statements at the sentencing. They expressed that they do not believe Brittanee voluntarily got into Moody's vehicle on the night she disappeared.

March 26th, 2024: The family of Timothy Da'Shaun Taylor files to sue the US Department of Justice and demands an apology after Timothy was falsely accused of being involved in Brittanee's disappearance.

May 27th, 2024: Angel Vause is arrested on federal charges - three counts of lying to the FBI about Brittanee's kidnapping, rape, and murder. 

Angel Vause.

As it turns out, Vause had been interviewed back in 2011 - when Moody was first eyed as a person of interest. During their interview, Vause denied that her and Moody had seen Brittanee on the night of her disappearance. Evidence from the case further revealed that investigators believe Vause also lied during 2022 interviews as well.

August 27th, 2024: Angel Vause rejects a plea deal that "could have sent her to prison for 16 years on two charges of lying to the FBI during their investigation into Drexel’s disappearance and death."

September 9th, 2024: Vause ultimately pleads guilty to all three counts. 

November 13th, 2024: Investigators visit Lieber Correctional Institution in Ridgeville to interview Raymond Moody again. This time, Moody "agreed to provide the 'complete and truthful information about the abduction, rape, and murder of Brittanee' in exchange for the Drexel family's allowance of a portion of Moody's property to remain in a trust for Vause's grandchildren."

January 2025: Details about investigator's interview with Moody are revealed. It's reported that, during the interview, Moody told investigators that he and Vause were "hunting" for a girl on the night they kidnapped Brittanee. When they spotted Brittanee walking in the Myrtle Beach area that night, Vause lured her to their car by pretending that she and Moody were also tourists and could give her a ride back to her hotel.

At some point during the drive, Moody pretended to be lost. He then let Vause drive while he restrained Brittanee in the backseat. Moody said he told Brittanee not to panic, as he "kidnaps girls and demands a $5,000 ransom from the City Chamber of Commerce."

Moody then went on to explain that both he and Vause led Brittanee to a tent that they had set up at Pole Yard Boat Landing in Georgetown. Vause briefly went to go retrieve the keys to their apartment, telling Moody "not to rape [Brittanee] until she returned, as their plan from the beginning had been to rape her together."

After Vause returned with the keys, Moody said that he left Brittanee alone with Vause while he went to their apartment to retrieve sex toys. This means that Vause had the opportunity to release Brittanee while Moody was gone, and she did not do so. However, Moody maintains that he does not recall Vause taking part in sexually assaulting Brittanee, though he claims she was present. 

Moody also stated that Vause was present, but did not participate, while Moody strangled Brittanee to death and then stabbed her body with an ice pick. He claims he later disposed of Brittanee's remains alone.

February 13th, 2025: Angel Vause is sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Present day: Both Raymond Moody and Angel Vause remain behind bars. In April 2025, a judge dismissed the lawsuit filed by Taylor's family. The family has never received a public apology for the FBI and public's scrutiny of them.

Brittanee's family continues to honor her memory through Brittanee's Little Angels and by celebrating her life.

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Sources:
ABC News 4
Live 5 News (2) (3)

Rochester First (2)
WBTW (2)

WPDE

Resolved in 2024

There are six cases featured on True Case Files that were resolved in 2024. Here is a complete list of those cases, with links to the full case write-ups.

The Murder of Courtney Phillips (2015)

Courtney Phillips was found stabbed to death inside a home in San Antonio, Texas on April 5th, 2015. The 23-year-old woman had planned to meet up with a man named Isaac Estrada that afternoon, for what she thought was going to be a first date. Unbeknownst to Courtney, Estrada had other plans. 

Text messages revealed that Estrada had arranged for Courtney to meet him at a house in 200 block of Edge Avenue. While there, Estrada stabbed her in the neck and back before fleeing the scene. After Courtney's body was found, Estrada was quickly identified as the main suspect. Unfortunately, investigators were unable to locate him - as he seemingly went on the run.

Estrada evaded police for eight years before he was finally located in Eagle Pass, Texas in March 2023. He was subsequently charged with first-degree aggravated robbery and first-degree capital murder. Estrada initially pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In July 2024, Estrada accepted a plea deal and was able to plead to the lesser charge of murder rather than capital murder. Estrada sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder and an additional 5 years for aggravated robbery. He will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence.

Full story: The Murder of Courtney Phillips.

The Murder of Katelyn Markham (2011)

Katelyn Markham vanished under suspicious circumstances on August 14th, 2011. The then-21-year-old was last seen alive at her condo in Fairfield, Ohio. After Katelyn was reported missing, suspicions quick fell upon her fiancé, John Carter. Not only was he the last person known to have seen Katelyn before she vanished; Carter also told inconsistent stories about his actions that night. 

Carter denied involvement in Katelyn's disappearance. Professional searches for the young woman ended unsuccessfully. As months passed without any sign of Katelyn, her disappearance faded into a cold case. Then, almost two years later, on April 7th, 2013, human remains were found at Big Cedar Creek in Cedar Grove, Indiana - located approximately 30 miles from Katelyn's condo. Dental records later confirmed that those remains were that of Katelyn Markham.

Detectives soon shifted the investigation from a missing person to a murder case. Suspicions against John Carter had still not faded, but he continued to deny involvement in Katelyn's murder. Nearly a decade passed without any movement in the case. Then, just months away from the 10-year-mark, John Carter was finally arrested and charged with Katelyn's murder.

In June 2024, Carter accepted a plea deal that allowed him 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."

Full story: The Disappearance and Murder of Katelyn Markham.

The Murder of Ashley Smylie (2024)

The murder of Ashley Smylie is one of the most shocking murder cases from 2024 for several reasons. The 40-year-old woman was murdered by her teenage daughter, Carly Gregg, on March 19th, 2024. Carly, just 14-years-old at the time, shot her mother to death inside their Brandon, Mississippi home. 

Hours later, as Ashley's husband/Carly's stepfather, Heath Smylie, entered their home, Carly shot him, as well. Heath was struck in the shoulder by a bullet but was able to wrangle the gun away from Carly. The teen girl fled the home after that but was later found by police and taken into custody.

Despite her young age, Carly was charged as an adult with Carly was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and tampering with evidence. While many cases take years to go before a jury, Carly's defense team opted for a speedy trial - which began in September 2024. 

Carly's defense team argued that she was not guilty by reason of insanity. Professionals for the defense testified that Carly suffered from improperly treated mental illnesses and has "no memory whatsoever" of shooting her mother and stepfather. In contrast, witnesses for the prosecution argued the opposite; that she appeared to be of sound mind in the events prior to the murder.

The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution and Carly was found guilty of all charges. She was sentenced to life in prison for both the murder and attempted murder charges, with an additional 10 years for tampering with evidence.

Carly’s life sentence at the age of 15 has sparked widespread debate. Some believe that she deserves to spend the rest of her life in prison, while others argue that she can be rehabilitated and should receive a lesser sentence. This debate continues to unfold on various online forums.

Full story: The Murder of Ashley Smylie.

The Disappearance and Presumed Murder of Aranda Briones (2019)

Aranda Briones vanished on January 13th, 2019. The then-16-year-old teen left her Moreno Valley, California home that day to spend time with a male friend, Owen Skylar Shover (pictured left). Aranda never returned home and was never seen or heard from again.

After Aranda was reported missing, suspicions quickly fell upon Shover, as he was the last known person to have seen her before her disappearance. Shover told investigators he dropped Aranda off at Moreno Valley Community Park between 6:00 and 6:30 PM that evening and never saw her again. However, surveillance footage and cell phone pings both contradicted his statements.

Investigators spent the following weeks gathering evidence before arresting both Owen Skylar Shover and his brother, Gary Shover (pictured right) on February 11th, 2019. Owen Shover was charged with both conspiring to commit murder and first-degree murder. Gary Shover was charged with first-degree murder and a special-circumstance allegation of lying in wait.

In 2022, a judge dismissed the first-degree murder and lying in wait charges against Gary Shover; instead, charging him with accessory to first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty to those charges in June 2024 and sentenced to a year in jail, plus another year of probation. 

In August 2024, Owen Shover's trial began. It was then that a motive was finally revealed. Both Aranda and Owen had been expelled from their school in February 2018 - a little less than a year before Aranda's disappearance. The expulsion followed a November 2017 incident in which Aranda and Owen were both caught skipping school. As a truancy officer approached them, Owen tossed Aranda a gun, and Aranda tossed the gun into a nearby canal. The officer witnessed the entire event, leading to disciplinary action for both teens. 

The prosecution believes that Aranda's murder was revenge for the expulsion. Evidence from text messages shows Gary's involvement after-the-fact. Although Aranda's remains have never been found, it is believed the Shover brothers buried her in the San Bernandino mountains.

A jury deliberated for less than a day before finding Owen Shover guilty on all charges. In October of 2024, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Full story: The Disappearance and Presumed Murder of Aranda Briones.

The Murder of Blaze Bernstein (2018)

Blaze Bernstein was had just completed his first semester of college when he vanished on January 2nd, 2018. The then-19-year-old was in his hometown of Lake Forest, California at the time of his disappearance. Blaze left his parent's house on the evening of his disappearance after being picked up by a former high school classmate, Samuel Woodward (then 20). Blaze never returned home and was never seen alive again.

Days later, on January 9th, 2018, Blaze's body was found in Borrego Park. He had been stabbed to death. It did not take long for authorities to zero in on Samuel Woodward as a suspect. Investigators eventually found DNA at the crime scene that linked Woodward to the murder. Woodward was arrested just days after Blaze's body was found. 

Soon, it became clear that this was more than just a murder case. In fact, investigators found evidence that Blaze's killing was a hate crime. Woodward was reportedly part of a Neo-Nazi group called the Attomwaffen Division. The group is described as “relatively small, but incredibly anti-Semitic and hateful.” Additionally, evidence from Woodward's cell phone and computer that included “a large number of texts and images that spew hate at every protected group.” 

Noting that Blaze was both gay and Jewish, Woodward was charged with murder with the special circumstance of a hate crime. He pleaded not guilty, however during his 2024 trial, Woodward defense did not deny that he killed Blaze. Instead, they argued that Woodward, conflicted by his own sexuality, acted in a fit of rage - but that the crime was not premeditated or a hate crime.

The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution. After deliberating for a day, the jury found Samuel Woodward guilty of first-degree murder and a hate crime in the killing of Blaze Bernstein. He was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

Full story: The Murder of Blaze Bernstein.

The Murder of Milana Li (2022)

Milana Li was only 13 years old when she was found murdered near her family's Beaverton, Oregon home on May 10th, 2022. The young girl was reported missing 2 days earlier, after she left her family's home to go for a walk and never returned. Police initially classified Milana as a runaway, but the case quickly shifted to a murder case after her body was found in a small stream at Westside Linear Park. 

A little under two weeks later, on May 21st, 2022, it was announced that Daniel Ryan Gore had been arrested and charged with Milana's murder. Gore was only 16 years-old at the time of his arrest, but the state opted to charge him as an adult. He already had a criminal record and was on probation prior to his arrest. Gore violated said probation in February 2022 and was sent to live with his father and stepfather in Salem shortly thereafter. Two weeks later, Gore ran away. His family was unaware of his whereabouts until his arrest for Milana's murder.

Gore was charged with 3 counts total in Milana's case: murder in the first degree, rape in the first degree, and sexual abuse in the first degree. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. During his 2024 trial, it was revealed that, in May 2022, Gore was living in a tent in a wooded area near Progress Ridge. Milana, who wanted to become friends with an older crowd, had recently become acquainted with Gore. 

Milana and Gore agreed to meet up on the afternoon of May 8th, 2022. According to testimony/evidence presented at trial, the two spent that afternoon "aimlessly riding buses up and down Southwest Scholls Ferry Road" before Gore led Milana to a secluded area near his tent where he raped her and strangled her to death. 

After a two-week trial, Daniel Ryan Gore was found guilty on all charges. On December 2nd, 2024, he was sentenced to life in prison with possibility of parole after 38 years.

Full story: The Murder of Milana Li.

Thanks to everyone who continues to support True Case Files. Here's to hoping more of these cases are resolved in 2025!

Lists from previous years:

• Resolved in 2023: Part 1 & Part 2
• Resolved in 2022: Part 1 & Part 2

The Murder of Milana Li

 

Milana Li was only 13 years-old when she was found deceased near her family's Beaverton, Oregon home on May 10th, 2022. The young girl was last seen alive on May 8th. Milana left her home around 4:00 PM that afternoon to take a walk along the Westside Regional Trail to Barrows Park. Milana regularly walked this route and was typically only gone for half an hour to an hour. When she did not return for her 8:00 PM curfew, her family members began to worry. Milana was reported missing the following day.

Milana and her family are originally from Kazakhstan. The family moved to Beaverton a few years before Milana's untimely death. Milana's mother lives full time in Beaverton with their children, while Milana's father travels back and forth between Beaverton and Kazakhstan, where he runs a business. Members of the community in Beaverton described Milana and a quiet and sweet young girl. When she was first reported missing, police classified her as a runaway-despite the fact that she has no history of such behavior. 

Shortly after 2:00 PM on May 10th, police received a call about "suspicious circumstances" in a small stream at Westside Linear Park. When officers responded the scene, they found the body of a young girl in the water. A short time later, the young girl was identified as Milana Li. 

An autopsy determined that Milana died by homicide. Police initially remained quiet about the investigation but maintained that there was no threat to the community. Still, Milana's death was both devastating and shocking to the people of Beaverton. That shock was amplified days later, when it was revealed that another teenager had been arrested and charged with Milana's murder.

The suspect: Daniel Ryan Gore.

On May 21st, 2022, it was announced that Daniel Ryan Gore was arrested and charged with Milana's murder. Gore was only 16 years-old at the time of the killing, but prosecutors quickly decided to try him as an adult. Gore has a criminal history dating back to 2020. At the time he was arrested for Milana's murder, he was already facing second-degree theft, second-degree arson, and criminal mischief charges in an unrelated case.

In February 2022, Gore violated his probation. Prosecutors recommended that he be held in a juvenile detention center since he had already run away from two different shelters for minors with pending criminal charges. However, the judge ultimately decided to allow Gore to live with his father and stepmother in Salem. He ran away two weeks after this ruling.

In April 2022, Gore's father told Salem authorities that he believed his son was in Beaverton. For unclear reasons, those authorities failed to notify the Beaverton police. Gore's whereabouts remained unknown until his arrest for Milana's murder.

At the time of his arrest, police did not release information on how they tied Gore to Milana's case. Per the prosecution's request, the judge sealed the probable cause affidavit. It wasn't until Gore's 2024 trial that more details about the events leading up to Milana's murder were revealed.

November 2024: Gore's trial.

During Gore's trial, District Attorney John Gerhard told the jury that Gore was a teenage runaway who "worshipped gory music and serial killers." However, Gerhard noted the obsession with such things is not what drove Gore to kill. Instead, it was his own "dark decisions." 

“It was his choice to take a vulnerable girl who trusted him and followed him into the woods," Gerhard told the jury. It was noted that, during May of 2022, Milana was trying to become friends with an older crowd when she met Gore. As previously noted, Gore had run away from his father's home in Salem back in February of 2022. At the time Milana and Gore became acquainted, Gore was living in a tent in a wooded area near Progress Ridge.

 

Milana and Gore agreed to meet up on the afternoon of May 8th. According to testimony/evidence presented at trial, the two spent that afternoon "aimlessly riding buses up and down Southwest Scholls Ferry Road" before Gore led Milana to a secluded area near his tent where he raped her and strangled her to death. 

Gore's defense attorneys argued that Milana's sexual encounter with Gore was consensual, and there was otherwise no other evidence that Gore killed her. The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution and found him guilty of first-degree murder. 

On December 2nd, 2024, Gore was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 38 years and four months. 

Sources:

[KOIN]

[Oxygen]

[Spokesman]

[Crime Online]

[Oregon Live]

The Murder of Ashley Smylie

 

On March 19th, 2024, 40-year-old Ashley Smylie was tragically shot and killed in her home in Brandon, Mississippi. Her death has left the Rankin County community in shock and mourning, as Ashley was a beloved teacher at Northwest Rankin High School. The shock deepened when it was revealed that the person responsible for her death was her own teenage daughter, Carly Madison Gregg.

Carly, only 14 years old at the time of the incident, shot her mother in her bedroom. Later that evening, as her stepfather, Heath Smylie, entered their house, Carly shot him as well, striking him in the shoulder. Despite his injury, Heath managed to wrestle the gun away from her. Carly then fled the scene. 

Shortly thereafter, Heath found Ashley's body on the floor of Carly's bedroom. He then called 9-1-1 to report the shootings. Police later found Carly near the home and took her into custody. 

Source: WJTV

Carly was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and tampering with evidence. According to reports at the time of her arrest, she had killed her mother, attempted to kill her stepfather, and hidden the home's security cameras in an effort to conceal the crime. It was further announced that Carly would be tried as an adult on all charges.

Ashley's death has been a devastating loss for her family, friends, and students. Many were left with questions, such as: why did Carly kill her own mother? And how could such a young girl commit such horrific crime? Months later, these questions and more were addressed as Carly's trial began in Rankin County.

An insanity defense.

Source: Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

In the opening statements, Carly’s defense team didn’t dispute that she had killed her mother and wounded her stepfather. However, they argued that Carly was battling an improperly treated mental illness at the time, which clouded her judgment and actions. According to the defense, Carly never harbored any true intent to harm either her mother or stepfather.

"This is not a who-dun-it case. We know who took action on March 19 to bring about the death of Ashley Smylie and the injuries to Heath Smylie," defense attorney Bridget Todd told the courtroom. "This is a why case."

The events leading up to the murder.

The prosecution, on the other hand, presented a very different story. Prior to Todd's opening statements, Mississippi state prosecutor Kathryn White Newman told the jury that Carly was leading a "secret life" that she wanted to keep hidden from her mother and stepfather. She reportedly had begun both smoking and vaping marijuana in the weeks leading up to the murder. Carly reportedly also was using "burner phones" and texting apps that she kept hidden from her parents. 

Prosecutor Newman also noted that Carly's new behaviors had raised alarms among her friends. One friend became so concerned that he contacted Carly’s mother to share his worries. That conversation occurred on the very same day as the murder.

Further testimony revealed that Ashley and Carly returned home that afternoon at 3:54 PM, as was typical during the week. By this time, it is believed that Ashley had already confronted Carly about her suspected marijuana use. Shortly after they arrived, Ashley went into Carly’s bedroom to search for evidence and reportedly discovered vape pens hidden in the room.

Shooting heard on camera.

A security camera in the family's kitchen captured the harrowing events that followed. While Ashley was still in Carly's room, the footage, which was shown during trial, showed Carly "walking from her parent's room with a hand behind her back, towards her bedroom. Seconds later a shot is heard, followed by screams, and then two additional shots." (Source: Vicksburg News).

Carly walking past kitchen, presumably with gun behind back. Source: WAPT

Moments later, Carly is seen walking back into the kitchen with her hands behind her back. She then places the concealed item on the counter and sits down on a bar stool. Seconds later, Carly picks up a phone from the counter and begins calmly typing a message.

According to testimony from Carly's stepfather, Heath, she was using her mother’s phone in this footage. She was reportedly sending text messages to Heath, pretending to be Ashley, asking when he would be home. Heath noted that the messages appeared to match Ashley's usual texting tone, and he did not suspect anything was wrong at the time he received the messages.

Carly texting from her mother's phone moments after the murder. (Law & Crime TV)

The friend witness and the attempted murder of Heath.

Heath testified that he received the text messages from who he believed was his wife around 4:14 PM. However, he didn’t return home until shortly after 5:00 PM. During that approximate 45-minute window, Carly sent messages from her own phone to two different friends, claiming she had an emergency and needed help.

One of the friends was dropped off at Carly’s house shortly after. Upon her arrival, Carly asked if she had ever seen a dead body and if she was "squeamish" around them. Carly then led her friend into her bedroom, where her mother’s lifeless body lay on the floor. She confessed to her friend, saying, "I put three in my mom, and I got three more waiting for my stepdad."

Surveillance footage from the home's garage shows that Heath arrived back at the residence around 5:03 PM. Heath testified about the moment Carly shot him, telling the jury, "When I opened the door to the kitchen, the gun went off in my face before the door was three or four inches wide open." He then explained that the gun went off two more times, but he was able to wrestle it away from Carly after the first shot - which grazed him in the shoulder.

Carly fled the scene shortly thereafter. Heath then discovered his body of his wife on Carly's bedroom floor. He subsequently called 9-1-1.

Carly's arrest and charges.

Police located Carly approximately half a mile from her home, where she was taken into custody without incident. Following her arrest, authorities announced that Carly would be charged as an adult with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and tampering with evidence.

Carly Gregg in court. (Source: WAPT)

The news of Ashley's murder and the subsequent arrest of her teenage daughter quickly garnered nationwide attention. Many were shocked by the idea that a young girl could commit such horrific crimes against her own mother and stepfather. While it’s not uncommon for teenagers to argue with their parents, it rarely escalates to the point of a child committing murder.

Both those close to Ashley and Carly, as well as strangers, were stunned by the tragedy. Many were also surprised that Carly, only 14 years old at the time, was being charged as an adult. During the trial, Carly's attorneys argued that her age, along with her improperly treated mental illness, played a significant role in her actions.

Professional testimony from both defense and prosecution.

Carly's defense called Psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Clark to testify about Carly's "mental state at the time of the offense and her resulting level of criminal culpability under Mississippi law." Dr. Clark stated that Carly was suffering from a mental health crisis at the time of the shootings and has "no memory whatsoever" of shooting her mother and stepfather. 

Testimony during the state's rebuttal contradicts Dr. Clark's assessment of Carly's mental state. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jason C. Pickett testified that he disagreed that Carly was legally insane at the time she shot her mother and stepfather. Carly's therapist also testified that Carly appeared emotional stable and their final session, which occurred just one day before the shootings. 

A guilty verdict and an adult sentence.

After a five-day trial, the jury found Carly guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and tampering with evidence. She was sentenced to life in prison for both the murder and attempted murder charges, with an additional 10 years for tampering with evidence.

Carly’s life sentence at the age of 15 has sparked widespread debate. Some believe that she deserves to spend the rest of her life in prison, while others argue that she can be rehabilitated and should receive a lesser sentence. This debate continues to unfold on various online forums.

An appeal.

In October 2024, it was reported that Carly’s defense team filed an appeal, requesting a new trial. The defense motion cites over a dozen reasons why Carly should receive another trial, including the claim that "witnesses necessary to establish Carly’s defense were improperly excluded from testifying at the trial" and that "witnesses were improperly restricted in the testimony they could provide in Carly’s defense." This suggests that the defense still aims to prove Carly was not legally sane at the time the crimes were committed.

Carly’s biological father, Kevin Gregg, spoke out after the trial. While he continues to support Carly, he denies that she was legally insane. He told reporters, "That girl knew right from wrong. That girl is not insane. That was a very dumb defense if you asked me, but I wasn’t involved. Nobody ever called me."

Where is Carly now?

Carly is currently being housed in the Youthful Offender Unit at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. Her appeal case is currently pending. 

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