The Murder of Janell Balogun

Source: Baltimore County

Janell Balogun was only 33 years-old when she was found murdered on June 10th, 2012. It was shortly before 10:30 AM when a bicyclist spotted a woman lying in a wooded area of the Oella neighborhood in Catonsville, Maryland. Police were called to the scene, and it was quickly determined that the woman was deceased.

The deceased woman did not have any identification on her when her body was found. As such, fingerprints were used to determine that the woman was Janell Erlita Balogun - a mother of 3 from Baltimore County. Investigators also noted that Janell's body did not have any immediately obvious signs of trauma. However, an autopsy later determined that Janell's death was caused by trauma to the upper body. The case was labeled a homicide.

Janell's death has been inevitably devastating and baffling to her loved ones. Shortly after the news broke, Janell's sister told reporters that the area in which her body was found was "not an area that she would be in." It seems as if Janell's body was placed there in an attempt to conceal her death, as she was found lying behind a short wall adjacent to the road. 

In that same report, a public appeal was made for anyone with information to come forward. A detective from the Baltimore County police stated, "we are reaching out to anyone in the Oella community who may have seen or heard anything unusual, and also anyone who has had contact with this victim who may be able to provide some insight into why she was killed."

Over a decade has passed, and Janell's murder remains unsolved. No persons of interest or suspects have been publicly announced, nor have there been any recent updates in the case. A monetary reward is being offered in exchange for information that could help solve Janell's case. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact Baltimore County Police at 410-887-3943 or submit a tip online. 

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Sources:
Baltimore County Police
CBS News
Metro Crime Stoppers

The Disappearance and Murder of Heather Szekeres

 

Heather Szekeres disappeared in Shawano, Wisconsin during the early morning hours of June 22nd, 2013. The then-32-year-old was last seen by family and friends at a local bar called Final Lap. Heather lived just yards away from the bar, in a downtown apartment that she shared with her husband, Rob Szekeres, and their infant daughter. 

Heather's mother, Laurie Waddell, lived with the couple as well.

Laurie was at Final Lap with Heather on the evening of June 21st but left the bar around 1:00 AM. Heather decided to stay behind. Reports state she was later seen leaving the bar around 2:00 AM - but she unfortunately never made it home. Heather's husband Rob reported her missing two days later. 

The investigation into Heather's disappearance had a slow start. Initially, the Shawano Police made it clear that they believed Heather was voluntarily missing. They cited that it was not unusual for Heather to leave home for periods of time -which is reportedly why her husband waited two days to report her missing. 

Police reiterated this belief at the six-month mark of Heather's disappearance, despite the fact that there had been absolutely no sign of Heather. After that, the case went cold. Police gave very few updates, and news about Heather's case was scarce. 

In May of 2014, human remains were found in a wooded area behind Peach Road. The remains were located in an area 2.5 miles away from Final Lap, where Heather was last seen. Due to this, many speculated that the remains belonged to her. It took nearly a year for a positive identification, but in April 2015, it was confirmed that the remains did, in fact, belong to Heather Szekeres. An autopsy was unable to determine her exact cause of death, but her manner of death was labeled a homicide.

Heather's loved ones were shocked and inevitably devastated by the news of her death. Many began to criticize the Shawano Police Department for not organizing search parties after Heather was reported missing. Many also began to speculate about who might have been responsible for Heather's death. A closer look into Heather's life around the time of her disappearance reveals a couple different theories.

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Looking into the spouse.

In 99.9% of missing persons and murder cases, investigators look into the spouse/significant other of the victim. Heather's case was no exception, even though Shawano Police initially thought that she was voluntarily missing. Just a few weeks after Heather's disappearance, Rob Szekeres posted on Facebook that he had been questioned and had cooperated with police. He also wrote that he, too, believed that Heather had left him. 

Rob Szekeres

Rob also seemingly responded to criticisms that he was not actually looking for his wife. He wrote, "I love my wife dearly and wish she would just come home. I have a very demanding job that I have to keep doing in order to support my daughter. If I could, I'd be home everyday helping everyone with locating my wife but I can't."

Rob remained adamant that he was not a suspect in Heather's case. However, the couple had faced some serious marital struggles in the months leading up to Heather's disappearance. In 2012, the couple separated amidst a pile of financial troubles. In October 2012, Heather sued Rob for child support. Court documents state that they had been separated for months by that point--but by December 2012, they were seemingly back together. 

On December 5th, 2012, Heather called 911 to report Rob for domestic violence. When an officer arrived at their apartment, Heather said that she and Rob were arguing when he grabbed a pillow and struck her in the face with the zipper on the pillowcase. Heather's injuries were minor, but she still decided to press charges. She stated that Rob had been physical with her in the past and she wanted to put an end to it. In January 2013, Rob was given a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence battery and was fined $506. 

By June 2013, it appeared that Rob and Heather's relationship was in a better place. In fact, Heather posted a picture of her and Rob to her Facebook page just hours before she vanished.

Although Rob insisted that he had nothing to do with Heather's disappearance, some still speculated that he might know more than he is letting on. Some also felt he did not seem to care that his wife was gone. By the time Heather's body was found in 2014, Rob had relocated to Indiana. 

In April 2015 - the same month that Heather's remains were identified - Rob posted on Facebook that he and his new girlfriend had moved to Michigan. Many found it odd that Rob had moved and seemingly moved on with his life during the time that his wife was believed to be missing. Despite all of this, investigators stated in 2015 that Rob is not a suspect in the case.

Rob with their daughter at Final Lap

Another person of interest.

Before Heather's disappearance, she and Rob were regular patrons at Final Lap. The bar was managed by a man named Darwin Davis. Heather was acquainted with Davis and saw him frequently while at the bar. In December 2012, Davis was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in the basement of Final Lap. He later pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges.

Darwin Davis

Heather Szekeres was on the list of potential witnesses who could have been called to testify against Davis during his trial. With this in mind, it's clear that Davis could have seen this as a motive to harm Heather. Various reports state that Davis was out on bond at the time of Heather's disappearance, which gives him opportunity as well. 

When Davis finally did go to trial, both Rob Szekeres and Heather's mother Laurie ending up testifying against him. Both stated that Davis admitted to sexually assaulting the teenager. Davis was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. 

Information from Darwin Davis's ex-wife.

Many have speculated that Davis could be involved in Heather's murder. Davis's ex-wife, Sheila, is among those who believe he is responsible. In 2023, Sheila commented on this write-up and provided more insight. 

According to Sheila's comments, Heather and Davis were having an affair prior to Heather's disappearance. As such, Sheila says, Heather actually originally planned to lie on the stand when she was due to testify against Davis. Heather later changed her mind shortly before her disappearance. 

This inevitably leads to even more suspicions against Darwin Davis. However, at this time he has not been charged with anything related to Heather's case. Still, investigators have also not publicly ruled him out.

Where the case stands today.

Investigators have told reporters that they have a suspect, but they have not revealed the suspect's identity. It's possible that Davis is, in fact, their suspect--but this remains unclear. Years passed without any media updates on Heather's case. 

In 2024, it was announced that Shawano County sheriff's officials and the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation returned to the site near Highway MMM where Heather's body was found. The search was reportedly sparked by new leads, and investigators reportedly found new evidence. At this time, there is no further information about the search.

If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Shawano Police Department at (715) 524-4545.

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Sources:

Green Bay Press Gazette

Antigo Buzz

New Media Inc

NBC 26

The Murder of Danick Adams

 

Danick Adams had a lot to look forward to during the summer of 2008. At just 18-years-old, the young girl had two jobs and was also raising a two-year-old daughter. Danick was also working to obtain her G.E.D. According to her loved ones, she hoped to eventually become a teacher or a psychologist. Danick was ready to build her future not only for herself, but for her daughter as well. Unfortunately, all of that was robbed from Danick on August 15th, 2008, when she was tragically shot to death. 

Danick was killed while leaving an Ultimate Fitness in her hometown of Jacksonville, Arkansas. She was quite familiar with the fitness center, as it was owned by her grandfather, and she also worked part-time in the center's daycare. It was shortly after midnight on August 15th when Danick went to the Ultimate Fitness with her friend Princess. As the girls walked out of the building a short time later, they were approached by a masked gunman. The man reportedly demanded that they give him their cell phones and money. 

According to Princess, Danick refused to follow his orders. The gunman then took off his mask, revealing his face, before shooting Danick multiple times. Princess ran to a nearby home to call authorities, while the gunman stole Danick's car keys and fled in her vehicle. 

Authorities immediately began their search for Danick's killer. Just hours after the shooting occurred, a man driving Danick's car returned to the crime scene and drove past. Police began to pursue the vehicle, but when the driver pulled over, he exited the car and was able to escape on foot. A female passenger reportedly remained in the car. She told police that she did not know the man, and he had picked her up just moments earlier. 

Danick's killer has never been found. Many years have passed, and her loved ones are still left with more questions than answers. There are several moving pieces in this case, all of which could play a role in finding Danick's killer.

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Before the shooting. 

As police began to investigate Danick's murder, they pieced together a timeline of events leading up to the moment she got shot. It was soon learned that August 14th, 2008, began as a seemingly normal day. Danick dropped her daughter off with her ex-boyfriend/the child's father. Then, she met up with a friend for lunch at Taco Bell.

Danick later spoke with her mother on the phone around 10:30 PM. During their phone call, Danick told her mother she was now with a different friend - Princess. The two girls planned to go to the Ultimate Fitness - which was open 24/7 - so they could use the tanning beds and put on make-up. 

It's known that Danick and Princess made it to the fitness center as planned. Unfortunately, Danick would not leave the fitness center alive. 

Princess' version of events.

There are inevitable questions about Princess' recollection of events. Both investigators and Danick's mother have stated that they found it odd that the gunman revealed his face to Danick and Princess before firing his gun. In 2020, a detective was quoted telling Dateline, "It’s just strange, because I think if you had just shown your face to someone you’re about to kill, I wouldn’t think you’d want to leave a witness."

Many have also found it odd that Princess said that the gunman was wearing a ski mask. It was incredibly hot and humid during this time of year in Arkansas, and detectives think it is unlikely that a shooter would conceal their face with such an item. 

Investigators have never stated that they have any evidence to disprove Princess' version of events. However, it appears that Princess implied that Danick was killed because she refused to give her cell phone and money to the gunman. Investigators do not believe the motive of Danick's death was robbery. In fact, they believe that Danick was targeted and that it's possible more than one person is involved in her death. 

Danick's car and phone.

As previously stated, the gunman fled the scene of the crime in Danick's vehicle. Hours later, though, the same vehicle was driven past the scene of the crime yet again. Police were never able to capture the driver of the car, nor have they ever confirmed that they believe the driver is the killer. While it is entirely possible, investigators have also acknowledged that the killer could've traded the car or abandoned it after fleeing the scene. 

Police questioned the female passenger who was also in the vehicle, but she maintained that she had only just met the driver who fled. According to detectives, the female passenger has been cooperative with the investigation. While her potential involvement has not yet been ruled out, it does not appear that she is a current person of interest. 

Investigators also later found Danick's phone in the possession of a man. He said that another man had sold him the phone for five dollars. It appears that the killer dumped the phone on someone else very shortly after the murder. 

Potential motives.

With the available information, a motive for Danick's motive remains unclear. Though investigators believe she was targeted, they have not revealed why. Danick's ex-boyfriend has a solid alibi, as he was with their daughter at the time of the shooting. Princess told police that Danick was shot during a robbery, but investigators are unsure. 

According to Danick's mother, Princess and Danick had only recently begun hanging out before Danick was killed. The two reportedly met years earlier and had recently reconnected. Though Princess' version of events has brought on a few questions, she has never been charged with anything related to Danick's murder, nor has she ever been publicly labeled as a suspect. 

Still searching for answers.

As of today, Danick's murder remains unsolved. There is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that could lead to an arrest. If you have any important information, please contact authorities at 501-533-6477.
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Sources:
AY Mag
NBC News
THV 11
Uncovered

Read more:

• Unsolved cases from Arkansas
• Unsolved cases from 2008

The Murder of Chandler Innarelli

Chandler Innarelli was only 22 years-old when he was murdered on February 19th, 2020. He lived in Manchester, New Hampshire, and he was a new father at the time of his death. 

On the evening of his murder, Chandler was sitting in his car in front of an apartment between Grove and Bell Street. He was waiting for his girlfriend and newborn son to come out of the building and meet him. As Chandler sat waiting, an unknown assailant fired shots in his direction. Witnesses recall hearing four or five gunshots. The police were called, and Chandler was transferred to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

Although there were a few witnesses who heard the gunfire, it appears that none of the witnesses actually saw the shooter(s). Due to this, investigators were unable to put together a description of any potential suspects. It is unclear if investigators believe Chandler was targeted, or if they believe his killing was random. His case remains unsolved today.

Chandler's family members have set up a Facebook page dedicated to spreading awareness on Chandler's case. His mother has also set up a GoFundMe page in hopes of raising the reward money for anyone with information that could help solve Chandler's case. If you'd like to donate, you can do so here.  If you have any information that could lead to Chandler's killer(s), please use this link to submit an anonymous tip.

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Sources:
AP News
Union Leader
WMUR

The Murder of Jeannie Quinn

Jeannie Quinn was only 20 years old when she was brutally murdered in April 2018. Jeannie lived in Levelland, Texas at the time of her death. Her family members reported her on missing on April 15th, 2018. Two days later, Jeannie's body was found hanging in a wooded area in Abilene, Texas. She had white bags tied to her hands and hard wire around her neck. Investigators labeled her death as homicide and staged hanging. 

Ricky Don Henderson has been named as a suspect in Jeannie's case. Ricky, who was 37 years older than Jeannie, was reportedly Jeannie's boyfriend. He was also the last person known to have seen her before her disappearance. Both Jeannie's family members and authorities believe it is very likely that Ricky killed Jeannie, but he has still not been charged with anything related to her death. However, investigators were able to link Ricky to an unrelated drug charge from 2016. Investigators decided to pursue this case and subsequently charged Ricky with distributing controlled substances to a minor. He pleaded guilty to those charges in December 2019 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Ricky was also linked to another drug case in Hockley County from 2007. He was sentenced to 25 years on those charges.

Ricky Don Henderson

Although Ricky remains behind bars, Jeannie's family members are still hoping that he will one day face charges for Jeannie's murder. It appears that Jeannie is not the first significant other that Ricky abused. His ex-wife, Stephanie Henderson, vanished in Hockley County back in 1993--and she remains missing today. Ricky remains the only person of interest in that case as well. District Attorney Angela Overman has described Ricky as a "continuing threat to society" and hopes that the suspicions against him will be taken into consideration when he is up for parole.

Meanwhile, Jeannie's family members continue to fight for justice in her case. In fact, Jeannie's uncle John Quinn went to visit Ricky in prison during February 2019. Ricky agreed to speak with him, and the two met for 30 minutes. John was unable to disclose the details of their talk, but afterwards he told reporters that he felt they were one step closer to gaining justice for Jeannie. Still, a significant period of time has passed since their visit and no charges have been pursued.

Investigators are hoping to gain more information that could potentially lead to murder charges in Jeannie's case. There is a $12,500 reward in place for anyone with information that could help solve her murder. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please call 806-894-3126.

The Disappearance and Death of Ethan Kazmerzak

Ethan Kazmerzak was only 22 years old when he vanished during the early morning hours of September 15th, 2013. He was last seen in Hampton, Iowa. On the evening of September 14th, Ethan was seen at a few different local pubs in the Hampton area. He later went to a party at a gravel pit pond located behind a house on 190th Street. Around 12:15am, Ethan called his mother and told her that he was on his way home. He never made it there, and was never seen or heard from again.

Ethan's vehicle vanished with him. Due to this, many theorized that Ethan might have driven his car into a body of water located in the rural area near the party. A pond near Olive Avenue was searched just days after Ethan's disappearance, but nothing was found. Divers returned to that same pond in November 2013 and still did not spot any evidence. Eventually, investigators began to separate from the that theory. In fact, during September 2019, reporters asked Hampton police Chief Bob Schaefer what he thought about the theory that Ethan had driven into water--to which he replied, "Based on what I know of that night, I don't think so."

Throughout the investigation into Ethan's disappearance, detectives chased many leads and conducted many interviews. Still, no trace of Ethan was found. Then, in October 2020, scuba diver and YouTuber Jason Leisek went diving into the pond near Olive Avenue--where searches for Ethan had previously taken place. During his dive, Leisek spotted a vehicle. The car was located about 90 feet from the edge of the water, and only approximately 8 feet from the pond's surface. All the windows on the vehicle were rolled up, but the front windshield was missing. Once the car was removed from the water, investigators discovered human remains inside. Police later announced that those remains were that of Ethan Kazmerzak.

It's unclear why the vehicle was not spotted during the professional investigative searches that occurred years earlier. The car was found relatively close to the pond's surface and was reportedly very easy for Leisek to spot. Due to this, some have theorized that the vehicle somehow entered the pond at some point after those 2013 searches were conducted. This has not been confirmed and the investigation is still ongoing. 

Investigators are encouraging anyone with information about Ethan's disappearance and death to come forward. If you have any information that could help solve the case, please go here to submit an anonymous tip. 

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[List Series: Unsolved Party Mysteries Vol. II]

The Murders of Nehemiah “Neo” Kauffman & Sydney Land

20 year-old Nehemiah “Neo” Kauffman (pictured left) and 21 year-old Sydney Land (pictured right) were just beginning a new chapter in their lives together when they were tragically murdered in late October 2016. Prior to this, the two were in a happy relationship and had just moved into an apartment together in Las Vegas, Nevada. On October 27th, 2016, a friend of the couple grew worried after not hearing from Neo and Sydney for a few days. That friend went over to their apartment and made a grim discovery: Neo was dead on their living room floor, and Sydney was dead in their bedroom. Both had been shot to death. It was estimated that they had been dead for at least 24 hours at the time they were found.

Officers who first responded to the scene found no signs of forced entry into the apartment. A murder-suicide was also ruled out. It has been theorized that Neo may have been targeted due to his “associations” with drug dealers. One of said associations is a man named Shane Valentine, who had threatened the couple in the past. In fact, roughly 20 days before the murders, on October 8th, 2016, Valentine was accused of opening fire at Neo’s family home. Fortunately, nobody was injured during that incident. After the murders, Valentine was arrested on unrelated charges, but inevitably questioned about the case. Though many believe Valentine is responsible for Neo and Sydney’s murders, authorities announced about a year after their deaths that they currently do not believe Valentine is their prime suspect. However, he has not been completely ruled out. 

Sydney and Neo’s murders currently remain unsolved. Police are seeking any person with information that may lead to a break in the case. If you have any information that may help the investigation, please contact 702-385-5555.

The Murder of Jill Behrman

Jill Behrman vanished at the age of 19 on May 31st, 2000. At the time, Jill was a student at Indiana University. On the day she vanished, Jill went for a bike ride in Bloomington and never returned home. Her family members were immediately worried and reported her missing very shortly thereafter. Just two days later, Jill's bicycle was found in a field north of town. From that point forward, it was believed that Jill had met with foul play. This sparked a extensive search for the young woman.

Unfortunately, the searches for Jill initially came up empty. Almost a year passed without any progress in the case. Then, in 2001, a woman named Wendy Owings came forward and stated she was in the car with another woman name Alisha Sowders and a man named Uriah Clouse when they hit Jill while driving around under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Wendy told authorities that Jill was not dead after she was hit, but they believed she significantly injured so the women decided to kill her. Wendy claimed they dumped Jill's body in a creek and then abandoned her bicycle on the other side of town. This confession seemed promising at first, as one of the three women lived nearby the location where Jill's bicycle was found.

Wendy's confession sparked yet another extensive search for Jill in the area where Wendy claimed she was dumped--but unfortunately nothing was found. Still, detectives continued to investigate this lead while prosecutors were considering pressing charges without a body. However, the case would soon take a few unexpected turns. 

From left to right: Wendy Owings, Alisha Sowders and Uriah Clouse

On March 9th, 2003, almost two years after Jill's disappearance, human remains were found in a remote area in Morgan County. Just days later, those remains were confirmed to be that of Jill Behrman. She was not found in the creek where Wendy claimed she had been dumped. An autopsy also revealed that Jill's injuries were not consistent with being struck by a vehicle. In fact, Jill had died of a gunshot wound to the back of her head. At that point, Wendy changed her story and denied her involvement in Jill's death. She was already incarcerated for an unrelated charge at the time she made the confession about Jill's death, so it was believed that Wendy was coerced into a false confession. She and Alisha were cleared of suspicion. However, Uriah Clouse remained a suspect. 

Clouse continuously denied his involvement in Jill's death, and eventually investigators closed in on another suspect: John Robert Myers II. Myers had reportedly made incriminating statements about the case to his friends and family members. In March 2006, a grand jury began an investigation into Jill's disappearance and death. About a month later, on April 9th, 2006, Myers was arrested and charged with Jill's murder. Little information was revealed about any direct evidence that linked Myers to the crime, and he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

John Robert Myers II

In October 2006, Myers went to trial and was ultimately found guilty of Jill's murder. He was sentenced to 65 years in prison. Myers continued to deny his guilt after his conviction. Years later, in September 2019, a District Court judge in Indianapolis took another look at the case and ultimately decided to vacate the murder conviction against Myers. The decision came after it was deemed that Myers received "ineffective assistance of counsel" during his trial, which is a violation of Sixth Amendment rights. It was also determined that Myers' attorneys made inaccurate statements to the jury during opening statements.

After years of thinking justice had been served, Jill Behrman's family is back at square one. Jill's mother still believes Myers is responsible and hopes that the State will decide to retrial him.

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Lists including this case:

[Cases Involving a Miscarriage of Justice]

[Unsolved Cases with Multiple POIs]

The Mysterious Disappearance & Death of Jeanette 'Jenny' Herum

29 year-old Jeanette “Jenny” Herum gave birth to a baby boy at the Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center in Santa Cruz, California on November 22nd, 2012. Just a few hours after the birth, Jenny walked out of the hospital without her newborn baby and never returned. There is no known explanation as to why Jenny left the hospital, and she was never heard from again after that.

Despite the fact that Jenny vanished under seemingly suspicious circumstances, her family did not report her missing until 2014—two years after she was last seen. Her family said that they were initially not concerned when Jenny first came up missing; she had disappeared for stretches at a time in the past and they were used to going a long period of time without hearing from her. When Jenny was finally reported missing, authorities classified her as voluntarily missing. News about Jenny’s disappearance was not distributed to the media until 2015.

Months later, in early 2016, a couple taking a walk spotted human remains and notified the Santa Cruz sheriff’s office. In March 2017, the remains were identified as those of Jeanette Herum. Authorities are calling Jenny’s death suspicious, and it is still being actively investigated. They are currently appealing to the public for any information about Jenny, especially information regarding how Jenny was transported off of hospital grounds the day she disappeared. If you have any information that may help the investigation, please contact the Santa Cruz police department at 831-471-1121.

Lists including this case:

[American Holiday Mysteries]
[Disappearances from Hospitals/Facilities]

[Disappearances with Reporting Gaps]
[Victims Found By Chance]

The Disappearance of Tamala Wells

Tamala Niecole Wells has been missing since August 6th, 2012. On that night, the 33-year-old mother was last seen leaving her home in Detroit, Michigan around 9:30pm. It is unclear where Tamala was headed, but she did speak with her mother, Donna Wells-Davis, on the phone later that night. Nothing of concern came up in their conversation. Unfortunately, Tamala never returned home after that and has not been seen or heard from since that phone conversation with Donna.

Donna was alerted about Tamala’s disappearance the following day, when she received a phone-call from her granddaughter/Tamala’s daughter, who was only 6 years-old at the time. The little girl told Donna that her mother never came home the previous night. Donna said that she asked her granddaughter to give the phone to Tamala’s live-in boyfriend, Rickey Tennant, but he allegedly refused to speak with her. 

Donna and her husband then immediately left their home in Florida to travel to Detroit and search for Tamala. After an unsuccessful initial search, Tamala was reported missing to the Detroit police.

Three days after her disappearance, Tamala’s car was found abandoned on just blocks away from her home. Some of her clothing items were inside the vehicle, but there was otherwise no other trace of Tamala. Investigators have apparently gotten very few leads since then, but they have looked at those closest to Tamala, including her live-in boyfriend, Rickey. 

The pair had lived together for 15 years, and Rickey reportedly had a very contentious relationship with Tamala’s family members—even prior to her disappearance. Said relationship between Tamala’s family members and Rickey did not improve once Tamala went missing, especially after Rickey began talking to the media. 

In an August 2015 interview, Rickey told reporters that the family gives him a headache, as did Tamala. He explained, “Tamala used to give me a headache, but I dealt with it, and I’m looking at it right now as ‘one headache is better than two headaches." Many felt that this was a rather insensitive comment to make about a missing loved one, as he made it seem as if he is happy that Tamala is gone. Despite this, investigators stated that Rickey has cooperated with the investigation, and they have not named him as a suspect at this time.

Tamala’s family members disagree with investigators. Tamala’s mother Donna told reporters that she is “almost positive” that Rickey had something to do with her daughter’s disappearance. Tamala allegedly told Donna that Rickey had abusive tendencies and that she wanted to leave him for good. Still, Donna does not believe that Tamala would have run away without her children or without contacting the rest of her family. 

Tamala remains missing today. If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please contact the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-5640.
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Sources:
CBS News
Charley Project
Click on Detroit
Fox 2 Detroit
HuffPost

The Mysterious Murders & Disappearances in Chicago Lawn

Kenshon Ward (top left), Shante Bohanan (top right), Joanna Wright (bottom left) and Marlo Gulley (bottom right) were all residents of the same neighborhood in the south side of Chicago, Illinois.  Kenshon (21) and Shante (20) were dating, while Joanna (33) and Marlo (26) were friends. All four of them knew each other, which makes the following tragic chain of events all the more mysterious:

On July 13th, 2016, Kenshon was tragically murdered in Marquette Park, located in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. He had been shot multiple times. A few people, including Shante, witnessed the shooting but did not see the shooter’s face. Nobody has ever been arrested in connection with Kenshon’s death and his killer remains at large. Additionally, there are very few details available about the investigation.

Eleven days later, on July 24th, 2016, Shante mysteriously vanished. She was last seen near a home in the Marquette Park area. When she failed to return home, her parents reported her missing. Just a few days later, police received an anonymous tip that there was a dead body in a “condemned” garage, located near where Shante was last seen. When police followed up, they found Shante’s body in a garbage can inside the garage. An autopsy apparently could not make a ruling on her cause of death.

A few months went by without any mainstream news on Kenshon and Shante’s cases. Then, on December 18th, 2016, Joanna Wright was taking a walk near her home in Marquette Park when she was kidnapped by a group of unidentified men in the broad daylight. A person who witnessed the event immediately called the police. The witness said that three men grabbed Joanna and started dragging her towards a vehicle. She tried to scream and fight them off, but they were still able to force her into the car and drive away. The car was described as a blue newer-model Mazda with an Ohio license plate.

After the initial reports about the kidnapping, mainstream news about Joanna’s case became scarce. However, community activists continued to share their thoughts. Many believed that Kenshon and Shante’s deaths were related, and they also did not think it was a coincidence that Joanna had been violently kidnapped from the very same neighborhood. Despite this, news about all three cases seemed to fade away due to the lack of updates in the investigations. Still, the residents of Marquette Park remained fearful that there were violent offenders on the loose in their community.

Then, on October 26th, 2017, yet another Marquette Park resident went missing: 26 year-old Marlo Gulley. He was last seen near the house where Shante was last seen before she was reported missing—located on the same street where Joanna was kidnapped. Marlo was reported missing by his girlfriend, who was pregnant with his child, after he failed to show up to their sonogram appointment. A search turned up no clues, and he still remains missing today.

While it has never been confirmed that any of these cases are related to one another, possible links are being investigated. It is quite notable that all four victims knew each other, and that Kenshon and Shante were found dead in the same neighborhood from which Joanna and Marlo vanished. Chicago Police are investigating each case. If you have any information that could lead to answers in any of the cases, please contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-747-8380.

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[Unsolved Kidnappings]

[Unsolved Connected Cases]

The Mysterious Disappearance and Death of Heather Lacey

Heather Lacey vanished at the age of 29 on November 21st, 2013. The young woman lived in Deerfield Beach, Florida at the time of her disappearance. Heather's family members last spoke with her on November 21st. After that, she was never seen or heard from again. 

Heather was reported missing by her family members, but unfortunately police were unable to locate her. Years passed without any news. Then, on February 23rd, 2019, residents of an apartment building in Hollywood, Florida reported smelling a foul odor coming from the apartment of 36-year-old Jonathan Escarzaga. Police entered Jonathan's apartment and found his body inside. He had reportedly been dead for days before his body was discovered. Coroners were unable to determine his cause of death. 

The landlord of Jonathan's building hired a company from Margate to remove and dispose of the appliances in Jonathan's apartment. The company came to remove the appliances, which included an upright freezer. The company's owner did not get around to opening the appliances until about a month later. At which point, the company's owner opened the freezer and found a mummified body on the inside. That body was later identified as that of Heather Lacey. She was identified by her fingerprints on the freezer. 

Police are unsure how long Heather's body was in the freezer or if Jonathan is involved in her death. It's possible that Heather's body would have never been found if Jonathan had not been found dead inside his apartment. However, Heather's family members have criticized police for not investigating Heather's disappearance thoroughly. According to Heather's sister, Heather had struggled with substance abuse and had several run-ins with the law in the years leading up to her disappearance. Heather's family members believe that police did not take her case seriously due to her past. 

An investigation into Heather's death is still ongoing.  If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Broward County's Sheriff's Office at 954-321-4268.

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Sources:
CBS News
Pretty Death Seller
Sun Sentinel