The Murder of Shawnna Forgus

 

Shawnna Forgus was only 22 years old when her life was taken on February 21st, 2012. At the time of her death, the young woman lived in a Valparaiso, Indiana residence with her mother, stepfather, two children, and three siblings. It was inside that home where Shawnna was brutally murdered. To this day, she has never received justice.

Shawnna was discovered to be deceased by her then-5-year-old son. The young boy went to wake his mother up and found her unresponsive in bed. Police and medics were called, but unfortunately it was too late. Shawnna was pronounced dead on the scene. 

Investigators were able to quickly determine that Shawnna's death was a homicide, as her body had obvious signs of trauma. It was later confirmed via autopsy that Shawnna was beaten and strangled. She had been murdered in her bedroom, inside a home that she shared with several other family members - but initial reports about her case stated that "no one heard anything unusual [that] night." Despite this claim, suspicions against the family inevitably began to build.

Just days later, on February 25th, 2012, those suspicions were all but confirmed. Shawnna's stepfather, Allen Warnes, was arrested by Valparaiso Police. The Porter County Prosecutor's Office charged Warnes, then 55, with the murder of his stepdaughter.

In the months that followed, investigators remained quiet about their case against Warnes. Rumors about what happened circulated both locally and on social media, but nothing was ever publicly confirmed. Then, in October 2012, it was announced that the charges against Warnes were dropped. A report citing this decision states, "The Porter County prosecutor's office said the move was taken because three individuals, who initially gave statements implicating Allen Warnes in the murder of 22-year-old Shawnna Forgus, later recanted their claims."

Since the charges were dropped, news about Shawnna's case has been scarce. Many still believe Allen Warnes is responsible. There has been social media speculation about the family or other people in Warnes' circle covering for him. Investigators have never disclosed the identities of the witnesses who recanted their statements.

Shawnna's case is classified as a cold case. The Valparaiso Police still have agency over the murder investigation. If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Shawnna Forgus, please contact investigators at (219) 462-2135.

Sources:
ABC 7 Chicago
CBS News, (2)
Justice For Shawnna
Northwest Times, (2), (3)

Project: Cold Case

Other cases with dropped charges:

• The Murder of Nishan Huff
• The Disappearance of Nadia Kersh
• The Disappearance and Murder of Phylicia Barnes

The Death of Chynelle "Pretty" Lockwood

 

Chynelle Lockwood was ready to embark on a new chapter in her life during the summer of 2017. At the time, the 19-year-old lived in a small village in Alaska called St. Michael. Chynelle, known as "Pretty" by her loved ones, had lived in that small village her whole life. She had just graduated from high school in May of 2017 and planned to move to Anchorage to study at University of Alaska in August. Unfortunately, before she was able to move on to this new phase in life, Chynelle's life was taken. 

Chynelle was last seen alive by her loved ones on July 10th, 2017. She had spent the early evening with her uncle; the two road ATVs together and then ate dinner. Afterwards, Chynelle told her uncle she was going for a walk along the beach - something she did almost every evening. This time, though, Chynelle never returned home. 

The following day, a body was found face down on the beach in St. Michael - located nearby Chynelle's family's home. Police in the village contacted the Alaska State Troopers, and the investigators began working together to piece together what had happened. The State Medical Examiner's officer soon determined that the body was that of Chynelle Lockwood. 

An investigation into Chynelle's death was immediately launched. Unfortunately, the case remains unsolved to this day. There are also many unanswered questions that have arisen throughout the investigation. These unanswered questions have led to several rumors and theories about Chynelle's case.

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Limited information, rumors and a pregnancy.

In the early stages of the investigation, it appears that very little was shared with the family and the public about Chynelle's death. In September 2017, Chynelle's mother told reporters that she still did not know if her daughter's death was being investigated as a homicide, suicide, or accident. The family did learn, however, that Chynelle had been pregnant - a fact they did not know prior to her death. 

Around the same time, social media rumors began to swirl about the case as well. According to a September 2017 article, "the names of a half-dozen young adults and teenagers from Stebbins, a village about 13 miles away, have been repeated in publicly shared social media posts as being the last people to see [Chynelle]." To this day, none of these individuals have ever been charged with anything related to Chynelle's death.

Years passed without any publicly confirmed information about Chynelle's death investigation. In 2019, family members stated that they believed Chynelle had been murdered; that she had been beaten and possibly strangled. While investigators never corroborated this, circulating social media rumors about Chynelle being murdered remained strong as well. 

A homicide with very little answers.

By 2021, the Alaska State Troopers finally confirmed that they have been investigating Chynelle's death as a homicide. They also stated that they turned the case over to prosecutors. However, no additional details were released at that time.

In 2023, a report on Chynelle's case stated that Chynelle's death was due to "drowning of undetermined etiology due to submersion in ocean water under unknown circumstances." It appears that this was confirmed years earlier via autopsy, but this was the first time that this statement had been made to the public. In the same report, it was stated that investigators generally consider Chynelle's death to be homicide, but the exact manner of her death has never been determined.

Unanswered questions and theories.

Although there a few more details available about Chynelle's case today than there were in 2017, there is still an abundance of unknown information. The lack of confirmed facts has left room for many rumors and theories to emerge. 

As noted above, several individuals were named in social media posts as the last people to have seen Chynelle before her death. There have been inevitable rumors of one or more of these individuals being responsible for Chynelle's death. There have also been rumors about drugs and/or alcohol playing a role. None of these rumors have been confirmed, nor has any person ever been publicly labeled as a person of interest or suspect.

Additionally, very little has been said about the fact that Chynelle was pregnant at the time of her death. Information about the child's father remains unknown. Due to the fact that her family was unaware that she was pregnant, it's safe to assume that she was not very far long at the time. It's unknown if anyone else knew that Chynelle was pregnant prior to her death, but if she did disclose her pregnancy to anyone, it's possible that this was a motive for her death.

It's worth noting again that none of these theories have been confirmed by investigators. Various rumors and theories have continued to arise on social media, but very little has been publicly confirmed about the investigation.

An ongoing epidemic of violence against indigenous women.

Chynelle's case is one of many cases involving a missing and/or murdered indigenous woman that remains unsolved. Violence towards indigenous women, and a lack of action to convict those responsible, has been a widespread issue amongst indigenous people throughout the country. In recent years, this has been more prevalent in Alaska. 

A 2024 report on this issue states that "Alaska Natives comprise only 20% of the state’s population, but Alaska Native women represent 54% of Alaska’s sexual assault victims. Compared to all other women in the U.S., Alaska Native women are ten times more likely to experience domestic violence." The information regarding these studies and statistics can be found here. 

An unsolved case. 

By 2025, Chynelle's case was listed as an unsolved homicide by the Alaska State Police. The case remains on that unsolved list to this day. Chynelle's loved ones have not given up their fight for answers. 

If you have any information that could help solve the case of Chynelle "Pretty" Lockwood, please contact the Alaska Bureau of Investigation (ABI) at 907-269-5611 or submit a tip online.

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Sources:

Alaska DPS
Alaska News Source
Anchorage Daily News
Justice of Chynelle Lockwood

NBC News

The Disappearance and Death of Kayla Sobczak

 

Kayla Sobczak was only 18 years-old when she was found deceased under suspicious circumstances on March 9th, 2025. The teen's family had reported her missing months earlier, during December 2024. Reports state that Kayla was last seen alive in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The last confirmed sighting of Kayla prior to her disappearance occurred on December 17th, 2024. She was reportedly in the area of 60th Street and 12th Avenue. Around 11:00 PM that evening, Kayla was seen getting into a charcoal grey sedan near the 6000 block of 12th. The car was driven by an unknown individual. Kayla never returned home, nor did she ever contact her loved ones again. Her family members reported her missing on December 23rd, 2024. 

After Kayla's missing persons' case was opened, the Kenosha Police Department reported that she was known to frequent Racine, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, and Waukegan, Illinois. The police department also reported that Kayla had a history of substance abuse and sex work. However, they declined to comment on whether they felt these things played a role in Kayla's disappearance. 

Months passed without any sign of Kayla. Then, on March 9th, 2025, a body was found in a break wall within Lake Michigan at Eichelman Park. Days later, it was confirmed that the body was that of Kayla Sobczak. When the news broke about her body being found, police stated that they were still investigating a cause and manner of death. This information remains unknown to the public to this day; it's unknown if detectives have made any progress on this part of the investigation.

Due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding Kayla's case, many have speculated that foul play is responsible for her disappearance and death. However, this has yet to be confirmed by law enforcement. Police have not shared any details about the investigation since Kayla's body was found. 

Kayla's case remains opened. If you have any information that could help provide answers about her disappearance and death, please contact Kenosha authorities at 262-605-5280. 

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Sources:
Disappeared Blog
Fox 32
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Spectrum News 1
WISN

The Disappearance and Murder of Meagan Gonzales

 

Meagan Gonzales vanished in San Antonio, Texas on November 10th, 2019. The 20-year-old woman was last seen at her father's house. Meagan left after telling her father she was going to drop off her ex-boyfriend. She said she was going to return shortly, but she never did - and she was never seen alive again.

Meagan's father said he tried to report her missing the following day, but the police initially did not take her absence seriously. Days after that, Meagan's stepmother said she saw an unidentified man driving Meagan's pick-up truck. Meagan's stepmother and father attempted to confront this man, but he drove off before they could. The truck was later found abandoned at a San Antonio apartment complex.

Police officially opened a missing persons' investigation for Meagan on November 15th, 2019. Meagan's loved ones maintained that she would never leave without contacting them - which made her sudden absence very alarming. The incident involving an unidentified man driving her truck just days later caused the concerns for her safety to escalate.

Weeks later, on December 3rd, 2019, the body of a woman was found in a field near the 12000 block of Wisdom Road in Atascosa. The body had been burned beyond recognition, so it was initially difficult to make an identification. However, authorities were eventually able to confirm that the body was that of Meagan Gonzales. Her death was labeled a homicide. 

Several years have passed, and Meagan's loved ones are still left without answers or justice. In 2024, a sketch was released of a person of interest. The sketch was created based on the description of the young man who was seen driving Meagan's vehicle after her disappearance. As of today, that man remains unidentified.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward in exchange for information that leads to felony arrest(s) in this case. If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Meagan Gonzales, please contact authorities at 210-224-7867 or submit a tip online. 

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Sources:
FOX 7 Austin
KENS 5
KSAT, (2)
SA Crime Stoppers

Other similar cases:

• The Disappearance and Murder of Miranda Rodriguez
• Other unsolved cases from Texas
• Other unsolved cases from 2019

The Disappearance and Murder of Genelle Princess Bradford

Source: Charley Project

Genelle Princess Bradford vanished in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 27th, 1999. The then-17-year-old was a senior in high school at the time of her disappearance. Like many seniors in high school, Genelle seemed excited about the upcoming events in her life: her 18th birthday, senior prom, and graduation. However, she vanished before she could experience any of these milestones with her friends and family. 

The day of Genelle's disappearance began as what appeared to be a regular day for the teen. She attended school at Wilkinsburg High, where she was an honor student. Afterwards, Genelle went to her job at the local YWCA on Ross Avenue. The last known sighting of her occurred that evening as she was leaving the YWCA to walk home. Genelle never made it and was never seen alive by her loved ones again.

Genelle's grandparents reported her missing the following day. Shortly after the case was opened, investigators theorized that Genelle had run away from home. Her grandmother, Princess Bradford, seemed to support this theory. 

Princess reportedly noticed that Genelle had changed in the months leading up to her disappearance; her grades were slipping, and she had stopped studying. Princess also told police that, although it was unlikely, Genelle might have run away with a boyfriend. She also mentioned the possibility that Genelle could have been pregnant, which may have motivated her to run away. 

Friends of Genelle, on the other hand, never believed that she ran away. They shared that she had always been consistent about doing homework and was "obsessed" with having good grades. Her friends also stated that Genelle had been discussing their plans for prom and graduation; there was no indication that she planned to miss those events. 

Decades passed without any sign of Genelle. Throughout that time, she remained classified as a runaway. The differing accounts between her family and friends brought about more questions than answers. It would take 27 years before any major updates in the case.

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More about Genelle.

Genelle was born on May 10th, 1981. During her toddler years, she lived with her mother; her father was not a part of her life. Genelle's maternal grandparents, Ira and Princess Bradford, played a huge role in her upbringing from the very beginning. Genelle's middle name, Princess, was given to her in homage to her grandmother.

When Genelle was just five years old, her mother died of cardiac arrest triggered by an asthma attack. Genelle was left in custody of her grandparents, who subsequently raised her in Pittsburgh. Despite these tough circumstances in her early life, Genelle was a reportedly a happy young girl. She excelled in school and was an honor student throughout her education. 

As Genelle grew into her teen years, she developed a love for basketball and Bible study. Genelle had a good group of friends and was not the type to get into or cause trouble. Both friends and family members described Genelle as a quiet, but happy, fun, and kind young girl.

Genelle's senior year of high school.

As noted above, Genelle was a senior at Wilkinsburg High School at the time of her disappearance. She was amongst the many high school seniors who were looking for colleges to attend after graduation. Since she was an honor student, there were likely many schools that would gladly accept her as a student. 

Genelle reportedly visited "a pair of colleges" at some point during her senior year. According to her grandmother, Genelle's behavior began to change after those visits. In a 2003 article about Genelle's disappearance, Princess Bradford was quoted saying "[Genelle] stopped studying. Her teachers called to say she was not doing her book reports. She never got those grades up and just went the other way."

Despite this, Genelle's friends state that she still seemed like her usual happy and responsible self. The group of friends were in the planning stages of their upcoming prom night before Genelle vanished. As mentioned before, Genelle was seemingly excited about this event. 

The day of Genelle's disappearance.

Genelle vanished during the evening hours of April 27th, 1999. It's known that she went to school that day. Her friends have noted that there was nothing unusual about her behavior as they chatted with her throughout the day. When the school day ended at 3:00 PM, Genelle went to her part time job at the YWCA on Ross Avenue.

After her work shift ended, Genelle left the YWCA on foot, presumably to walk home, but she never arrived. When she had still not returned the next day, Genelle's grandparents reported her missing.

The runaway classification; runaway theories.

Investigators were seemingly quick to label Genelle as a runaway after her case was opened. However, she had no prior history of running away from home. Genelle also did not have a history of worrisome behaviors, did not seem to be involved with drugs, nor had she ever gotten in trouble with the law or even at school.

Despite this, Genelle's grandmother Princess Bradford seemingly supported police's theory that she had left on her own volition. She cited Genelle's recent slipping grades as a potential indicator that she ran away. Princess also discussed the possibility of Genelle running away with a boyfriend and/or due to being pregnant - though nobody noticed Genelle having any pregnancy symptoms prior to disappearing. 

It's unknown why, exactly, police ultimately decided to classify Genelle as a runaway. Was it due to the slipping grades? And/or due to a potential boyfriend and a potential unconfirmed pregnancy? Or did police have something more tangible that indicates she left on her own accord? 

Genelle's grandmother said that her behavior changed after she visited a pair of colleges. It's possible that Genelle decided that she did not want to attend college after all. This could be an explanation for Genelle's slipping grades. However, it's also possible that the slipping grades were due to "senioritis" - a term often used to describe the lack of motivation and energy that students experience at the end of high school or college. 

It's also possible that Genelle was experiencing mental health struggles. Many high school seniors feel an intense pressure to choose the right college and build their future - which can be very stressful on a teenage brain. Still, if a mental health crisis was, in fact, responsible for Genelle's disappearance, then it appears that a runaway classification would not be correct - as the health crisis would make her endangered.

As far as the running away with boyfriend theory goes - there are many unanswered questions. It does not appear that Genelle's friends mentioned a boyfriend and/or if Genelle had plans to run away with a boyfriend. Is the boyfriend someone that existed? Or just an unsubstantiated theory? If the boyfriend did exist, and Genelle was pregnant - do investigators have evidence of this? If so - it has not been publicly shared. 

Other potential theories.

Over the years, a few other theories about Genelle's disappearance came about as well. It's known that she was last seen walking away from the YWCA on Ross Avenue. Is it possible she was kidnapped by an opportunist predator on her walk home? Did she accept a ride from someone who had nefarious plans? 

Or did someone close to Genelle hurt her? It seems likely that Genelle's family and friends were interviewed and/or investigated after her disappearance - and since she was classified as a runaway, it seems as if police ruled them out. However, due to the quick runaway label, it's possible that police overlooked this altogether. 

A cold case.

Genelle's disappearance quickly grew into a cold case, and it remained at that status for years. In the initial stages of the investigation, police stated that they believed she was still in the Pittsburgh area. As decades passed without any sign of her, it became unclear if investigators still believed that to be true. Years continued to tick by without any updates in the case.

2026: The identification of remains found in 1999.

Approximately 2 months after Genelle's disappearance, the remains of a young woman were found in the basement of a home on North Avenue in Wilkinsburg. The home had previously been vacant for about 2 years before being purchased by new homeowners. When the new homeowners entered the home, they discovered the human remains in the basement.

An autopsy confirmed that the deceased woman was between the ages of 18-20. The autopsy also confirmed that the young woman was killed by ligature strangulation. Despite the fact that Genelle was within the age range of the deceased, police seemingly overlooked the possibility that the remains could be her. At that time, it appeared that investigators still strongly suspected that she had run away. 

Finally, 27 years later, advancements in DNA technology allowed investigators to positively identify the remains as that of Genelle Bradford. Reports indicate that this sort of investigative technology was not available in 1999, when the remains were found. Still, Genelle's loved ones are left questioning why it took so long for her to be identified.

A shifted investigation.

Now that Genelle's remains have been identified, her case has now shifted into a murder investigation. It's been reported that detectives have "some leads" but have yet to identify a suspect. The investigation continues today.

The Wilkinsburg Police are the investigating agency in Genelle's case. If you have any information that could help solve the case, please contact authorities at 412-473-3056.

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Sources:
CBS News
Charley Project
Medium
Missing Genelle Bradford
Patch 
WTAE

The Disappearance and Murder of Lineida Olivera

 

Lineida Olivera vanished from Worcester, Massachusetts during 2007. The 35-year-old woman had given birth to twin girls in early January. Weeks later, she seemingly vanished without a trace. While an exact date of Lineida's disappearance is unknown, most sources state that she was last seen alive in late January 2007.

Lineida moved to Massachusetts from Puerto Rico when she was 16 years-old, after giving birth to her first child. In the years that followed, Lineida gave birth to 10 more children - the youngest two being the twins that were born shortly before her disappearance. According to reports, Lineida lost custody of six children in 1999 - when she was 26 years-old. Lineida's family members said that she had suffered with substance abuse for many years, leading to several struggles in her life. 

After giving birth to the twins, Lineida expressed a desire to get clean once and for all. Her family members hoped this was the reason that she fell out-of-touch after late January 2007. The family initially believed that she was in a detox rehabilitation center where she was not allowed to contact them. However, as weeks stretched into months without any sign of Lineida, loved ones began to fear that something had happened to her. Lineida's family reported her missing on May 4th, 2007.

Months later, on September 3rd, 2007, human remains were found in a wooded area in Rutland. The remains were spotted by a deer hunter, in a location approximately just 200 yards from Route 122. The body was later identified as that of Lineida Olivera. Her death was labeled a homicide. An exact cause of death has never been publicly revealed.

The discovery of Lineida's remains left both her loved ones and investigators with many questions. Though there are some strong theories about what might have happened, news on Lineida's case has been scarce over the years. Today, one huge question still remains unanswered: who killed Lineida Olivera?

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Serial killings in the area.

While investigating Lineida's disappearance and death, the Worcester Police looked into the possibility that the case was linked to another string of unsolved killings in the area. 

During September 2003, the bodies of Betzaida Montalvo and Carmen Rudy were found in Marlborough. Betzaida vanished in April 2003, while Carmen had vanished in September 2002. Despite vanishing at different times, the two women's remains were found just meters away from each other. Betzaida's body was found first. Days later, while the scene was still being investigated, Carmen's body was found as well.

In March of 2004, the body of Dinelia Torres was found in an area "approximately two kilometers" away from where the bodies of Carmen and Betzaida were found. Dinelia had been missing since the fall of 2003. After Dinelia's body was found, it appeared that investigators were confident that the murders of Carmen, Betzaida, and Dinelia were committed by the same person. This unidentified killer was given the name "Main South Woodsman" due to the victim's connections to the Main South area, and the fact that their bodies were found in the woods.

Another potential victim.

In September 2004, the body of another woman, Wendy Morrello, was found in a garbage can in York, Maine. Although Wendy was found in a different state, investigators in Massachusetts have pondered if her murder was committed by this suspected serial killer as well. The area where Wendy was found is located less than 100 miles away from Marlborough. Additionally, Maine investigators have stated that they do not believe Wendy was killed in their state - but that her body was brought there to be hidden. 

However, the fact that Wendy was found in Maine, and the fact that the disposal of her body seemingly differed from the way that the bodies of the other women were disposed - has given investigators pause. Although there is strong speculation that Wendy was killed by the same person who killed Betzaida, Carmen, and Dinelia, investigators still seem open to the possibility that she was killed by someone else.

The connection of the victims to Lineida Olivera.

Carmen, Betzaida, Dinelia, and Wendy all had many things in common with Lineida Olivera: all of the women struggled with substance abuse, all had a history of sex work, all frequented the Main South area, and all mysteriously vanished - only to later be found deceased. There has also been speculation at least some of these women were known to each other.

These commonalities have inevitably led to the theory/possibility that all five women were victims of the same serial killer. However, it appears that investigators are more confident about Carmen, Betzaida, and Dinelia being victims of the same killer than they are about Wendy and Lineida. 

Another theory on Lineida's murder.

In a report published shortly after Lineida's body was found, Lineida's sister Marilyn Olivera is quoted saying that she does not believe Lineida was killed by the Main South Woodsman; she believes Lineida was killed by someone she knew. The report states that Marilyn explained, "Lineida was cautious in her dealings with people. If she was going out with someone she didn't know, she'd call Marilyn and leave the license plate of the person she was going to see, just in case."

Lineida did not make such a phone call before her disappearance, leading Marilyn to believe that Lineida was with someone she knew before she vanished. Marilyn stated, "She'd give me a clue [about who she was spending time with]. But before she disappeared, she didn't call me. That's why I think she went out with someone she knew."

In that same article, a spokesperson for the Worcester County District Attorney's Office is quoted saying "We don't think the evidence we found in this particular case is the work of a serial killer." However, now that nearly two decades have passed since Lineida's death, it is unknown if investigators have changed their stance. As of today, the possibility of Lineida being a victim of the Main South Woodsman has not been completely ruled out. 

A potential suspect for the serial killings.

In 2008, investigators announced that a man named Alex Scesny, then 38-years-old, was a potential suspect for the Main South murders. Scesny had been recently arrested for the 1996 murder of Theresa Stone. Stone was also a sex worker, and she lived in Fitchburg at the time of her death. 

Throughout his adult life, Scesny displayed several concerning behaviors towards women. He was accused of rape on more than one occasion. In fact, Scesny was charged with rape in 2002 - but the charges were dropped after the victim passed away before being able to testify in court. 

There are several reasons why investigators have theorized that Scesny could be the Main South Woodsman. Scesny's history of violence towards women is inevitably one of those reasons. Additionally, Scesny's family reportedly owned a farm in Marlborough - located within walking distance from the area where the bodies of Betzaida Montalvo and Carmen Rudy were found. 

After Scesny was arrested for the murder of Theresa Stone, he was questioned extensively about the Main South murders. Scesny continuously denied involvement the murders and has never been charged in connection with any of the cases. 

In 2012, Scesny was convicted for the murder of Theresa Stone. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Still unsolved. 

As of 2026, the murder of Lineida Olivera remains unsolved. The murders of Betzaida Montalvo, Carmen Rudy, Dinelia Torres, and Wendy Morrello remain unsolved as well. The Massachusetts State Police are in charge of investigating these cases.

If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Lineida Olivera or any of the murders, please contact authorities at 508-453-7589.

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Sources:
Boston Herald
Canton Repository
Charley Project
Metro West Daily News
The State-Journal Register
Telegram & Gazette
Worcester District Attorney

Other similar cases:

• The Murder of Tonya Wales
• Unsolved murders from 2007
• Unsolved murders from Massachusetts

The Murder of Brittany Ramirez

 

Brittany Ramirez was tragically shot to death during the early-morning hours of September 21st, 2021. The young woman was only 21 years-old at the time of her passing. Brittany's killer(s) still remain unknown to this day.

Brittany was a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was raising a young daughter, who was only 2 years-old at the time of the murder. Brittany had aspirations of working in the medical field, but her life was abruptly cut short before she had the chance. 

The mystery began around 2:00 AM on the morning of Brittany's death. Employees at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque noticed that a young woman suffering from gunshot wounds had been dropped off in front of the emergency room. The individual(s) who brought the woman to the hospital had already fled the scene. Police were subsequently called to investigate the incident.

Meanwhile, the young woman, later identified as Brittany Ramirez, was transported to the hospital at UNW. Unfortunately, she died from her injuries shortly thereafter. Brittany's death was labeled a homicide.

The Albuquerque Police Department quickly appealed to the public for information/tips about Brittany's murder. However, very little information about the case has been revealed. The identity of the person(s) who dropped Brittany off at the hospital still remains unknown. No suspects or persons of interest have ever been publicly announced.

Brittany's murder remains unsolved. The Albuquerque Police Department is in charge of investigating the case. If you have any information that could help solve the case, please contact Crime Stoppers at (505) 843-STOP (7867) or submit a tip online. 

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Sources:
ABQ News
City of Albuquerque
KRQE News

The Disappearance and Death of Paige Coffey

Paige Coffey went missing on May 7th, 2019. The then-27-year-old was reportedly last seen at the Steelyard Commons shopping center in Cleveland, Ohio. She was never seen or heard from by her loved ones again.

At the time of her disappearance, Paige lived at her grandmother's home in Bratenahl. She was frequently communicating with her family members and friends, and it was not part of her usual behavior patterns to simply stop contacting them. Paige's mother stated that she last saw Paige on April 30th, 2019, when she dropped her off in Oakwood Village to visit her boyfriend. 

Paige and her mother spoke briefly on the phone the following day - and that was reportedly the last time they spoke. Paige's mother reached out via text a few days later but did not get a response. The last confirmed sighting of Paige was at the shopping center on May 7th. 

Paige's mother reached out to her boyfriend after days continued to pass without any word from her. The boyfriend told her mother that he did not know where she was. This seemed hard to believe, as Paige and her boyfriend spent most of their free time together. 

However, Paige's mother did not approve of their relationship, as she felt that her boyfriend was abusive and controlling. It also seemed unusual that the boyfriend had not reached out to the family about Paige being missing. Paige's mother finally filed a missing person's report on May 17th, 2019. 

Nine months after Paige's disappearance, the FBI and Bratenahl police held a press conference to announce a $5000 reward in exchange for information about Paige's whereabouts. During the conference, the police chief stated, "numerous investigative leads have been conducted, but to date nothing has led to the location of Paige. We strongly believe that someone in this community has a vital piece of information that law enforcement needs." 

Paige's boyfriend was never publicly labeled as a suspect in her disappearance. In 2025, he was labeled a person of interest. As years passed without any sign of Paige, her disappearance grew into a cold case. Her loved ones never gave up hope about finding answers. 

In April 2026 - nearly 7 years after Paige's disappearance - a gruesome discovery was made during a clean-up on a vacant property on East 142nd Street in Cleveland. A suspicious garbage bag, containing what appeared to be remains of some sort, was found inside the vacant home. Police were called, and it was confirmed that the remains inside the garbage bag were human. On April 29th, 2026, authorities confirmed that the remains were that of Paige Coffey.

As of today, the cause and manner of Paige's death remain under investigation. However, the fact that her remains were found in a garbage bag makes it seem likely that her death - or at least the disposal of her body - were caused by someone other than herself. 

Any updates will be provided if/when they become available.

Rest in peace, Paige. 

-
Sources:
ABC 7
Charley Project
News 5 Cleveland
WKYC

The Murder of Maria Gabrielle Rodriguez

 

, 

Maria Gabrielle Rodriguez was 31 years-old when her life was tragically taken on December 22nd, 2016. The young woman was in San Antonio, Texas at the time of her death. Maria's murder remains unsolved to this day. 

According to reports, San Antonio police were dispatched to an apartment in the 2500 block of Jackson Keller around 4:00 PM. Once officers entered the residence, they found Maria deceased in the bathroom. It was soon determined that she had been stabbed and asphyxiated. Maria's death was quickly classified as a homicide.

There has been very little information released about Maria's case and the events leading up to her death. While some early reports indicate that Maria was killed inside her own apartment, it was later reported that the apartment actually belonged to a friend. It's also been reported that Maria was spending time with a group of friends/acquaintances on the evening of December 21st, 2016. The group ended up gathering at said apartment at some point that night.

Police were not called until around 4:00 PM the following day, leaving a decent gap of time between the time Maria went to the apartment and the time she was found deceased in the bathroom. The identities of the people Maria might have been with, including the resident of the apartment, have not been publicly revealed. No suspects or persons of interest have been publicly announced as well. 

Several years have passed, and there has been very little news on Maria's case. Her murder has been classified as a cold case. San Antonio Crime Stoppers is offering a monetary reward for anyone with information that could lead to an arrest. If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Maria Rodriguez, please contact authorities at 210-224-7867 or submit a tip online. 

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Sources:
Fox San Antonio
KSAT
News 4 San Antonio
San Antonio Crime Stoppers

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 Murder of Shelley Dorsey

 

During the early-morning hours of March 24th, 2015, police in Colorado Springs, CO responded to a call about a shooting in 100 block of South Academy Boulevard. When the officers arrived, they found a young woman suffering from a gunshot wound by a vehicle. The woman was soon identified as 26-year-old Shelley Dorsey. 

Shelley unfortunately succumbed to her injuries a short time after first responders arrived. Her death was quickly ruled a murder. It was determined that Shelley had been sitting her car in front of the Mountain Country Estates apartment complex around 1:00 AM when she was shot by an unknown suspect. To this day, no arrests have been made in Shelley's case; nor have any suspects been publicly announced. 

Very few details are available about Shelley's case and the events leading up to her murder. What is known is that she has a son, loving parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews who have been left without answers or justice. Shelley's murder has been labeled as a cold case by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. 

Both the CBI and the Colorado Springs Police Department have investigative agency over this case. If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Shelley Dorsey, please contact authorities at (719) 444-7000 or (303)-239-4201.

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Sources:
Colorado Cold Case Files
Fox 21 News Colorado
KKTV

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)