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 Murder of Marvayah Darby

 

Marvayah Darby was only 12 years-old when her life was tragically taken during the early-morning hours of June 13th, 2025. The young girl lived with her family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was shot to death at her residence on 5000 block of N. 73rd Street.

The shooting occurred at approximately 1:20 AM. At that time, according to reports, a vehicle pulled up in front of the Darby’s home.Then, a person or persons inside the vehicle fired several rounds at the residence. Some of the bullets traveled into the home and struck Marvayah as she slept in her bedroom. She did not survive and was pronounced deceased by first responders.

The Milwaukee Police Department and the FBI have been searching for Marvayah’s killer(s) since the onset of the investigation. Unfortunately, the case has quickly grown cold; as detectives have been unable to identify any suspects. Investigators have shared that they believe “a silver or gray SUV may have been involved” in the shooting. Other than that, there is no further information about a potential suspect or suspects.

Reports state that the Darby family had moved into the home just a few weeks prior to the shooting. One particular report on the case states that “detectives believe the house itself may have been the target, not Marvayah.” Relatives of the family have stated that they do not know why anyone would want to harm Marvayah or anyone in her family.

Investigators have reportedly interviewed neighbors of the Darby family, classmates of Marvayah, and “anyone listed in gang databases.” Unfortunately, nothing has led detectives to any substantial leads. The FBI has offered a $10,000 reward in exchange for information that leads to the arrest/conviction of Marvayah’s killer(s).

If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Marvayah Darby, please contact the Milwaukee Police Department at (414) 935-7360 or submit a tip online.

Sources:
The Cold Cases
FBI

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Murder of Julia Majette

 

Julia Majette was shot and killed inside her home on June 12th, 2013. At the time of her death, the 25-year-old woman lived in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband, Daunte Vance, and their three young children. Reports state that at least two of the children witnessed the shooting that claimed their mother's life.

Julia's aunt and uncle, Patricia and Mark Cherry, were also staying in the residence at the time of the shooting. That evening, the couple was sleeping in the basement of the home when they awoke to the sound of someone entering the house. Shortly thereafter, they heard the sound of gunshots followed by children screaming. 

Both Julia and her husband Daunte were shot during the incident. Daunte survived the shooting, while Julia unfortunately succumbed to her injuries. The shooter(s) reportedly fled the scene before police arrived. 

Reports state that Daunte initially refused to cooperate with investigators when they tried to speak with him the day after the shooting. However, he later agreed to speak with police. This is not Daunte's first experience with gun violence. A criminal complaint indicates he was shot during an armed burglary and robbery in Fitchburg during 2007 - the same year he married Julia. 

Over a decade has passed, and Julia's murder still remains unsolved. Her loved ones are still searching for answers. If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Julia Majette, please contact the Madison Police Department at (608) 266-4275 or submit a tip online.

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Sources:
Channel 3000
City of Madison
Project Cold Case
WI Homicide
WKOW News
WMTV News

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

The Abduction of Sophia Franklin

 

During February 2025, an AMBER Alert was issued in the states of Wisconsin, Arkansas and Missouri, for Sophia Franklin - a 16-year-old missing from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The teen girl was last seen at her family's home on the evening of February 2nd, 2025. The following morning, Sophia was gone. Her family contacted police shortly after realizing she wasn't at the residence.

It was immediately feared that Sophia left her house to meet up with Gary Day - a 40-year-old man with a history of abusing children. Sophia and Day reportedly began talking online in April 2024. On July 29th, 2024, Sophia told her parents she was going to stay with a friend in the Beaver Dam area. In reality, she was picked up by Day and driven to his residence in Austin, Arkansas. 

Gary Day. (ABC News)

Day was already on probation at this point due to a child endangerment charge from 2020. A probation officer made a routine stop by Day's home during December 2024 and noticed a young girl running out of the back of the residence. It was eventually learned that the young girl was Sophia; a 16-year-old from Wisconsin. Sophia eventually told officers that she had been there since August and planned to marry Day.

Sophia's parents were reportedly shocked to learn of their daughter's relationship with Day, as they thought she had been staying with a friend in the local area. Sophia was subsequently returned to her family's home in Wisconsin. An order of protection was put in place, forbidding Day and Sophia to have contact. 

At some point in the midst of all this, Sophia learned she was pregnant with Day's child. The child was conceived in Arkansas - where the age of consent is 16 - so Day was not charged with statutory rape. It's believed that Sophia was approximately 3 months along at the time the February 2025 AMBER alerts were issued. 

Despite the order of protection, Day and Sophia continued to have contact via text and email after her return to Wisconsin. Then, in early February 2025, the two met up in person once again. Day drove to Wisconsin and was captured by home security cameras walking by the Franklin's house on the morning of February 3rd.

Source: Beaver Dam PD

Shortly thereafter, Sophia was discovered to be missing from the home. An AMBER alert was immediately issued in the state of Wisconsin, asking the public to be on the lookout for a black 2014 Buick LaCrosse. The car had recently been seen using two different plates: Pennsylvania KGW5186 and Arkansas BBR20L.

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February 4th, 2025: Gary Day is charged.

On February 4th, 2025, the Dodge County District Attorney filed two felony charges against Gary Day: 2 counts of child enticement and one count of child abduction. The first child enticement charge count is dated as July 29th, 2024 - the first time Day picked Sophia up and brought her to Arkansas. The second enticement charge count is dated February 3rd, 2025.

February 6th-7th, 2025: The AMBER Alert is extended across states.

On February 6th, 2025, the AMBER alert for Sophia was issued in Arkansas as well - noting that Gary Day is from there, and he had traveled there with Sophia in the past.

The following day, the AMBER alert was extended to Missouri, as it was believed that the two had traveled through there. There was a potential sighting of Day's car in Springfield, but it remains unconfirmed.

February 9th, 2025: Gary Day's phone pings one final time.

On February 10th, authorities confirmed that Gary Day's phone was active in Arkansas the previous day - February 9th, 2025. However, the phone has since been shut off and has not pinged again. This gave investigators a potential lead on Sophia and Day being in Arkansas, but the possibility that they are traveling/hiding through other states remains as well.

February 12th, 2025 - April 3rd, 2025: the whereabouts of Sophia and Day are unknown.

On February 12th, 2025, a missing persons poster/flyer for Sophia was distributed across the United States. At this point, Sophia's abduction made national news. 

Click or tap to enlarge.

There were obvious concerns about Sophia being with Day - not only is he an adult and she is a minor, but he also has a history of abusing children. In 2020, he was arrested after his 4-month-old child was found to have a broken femur bone. Though Day denied the charges, it is believed that he caused said injury. 

April 3rd, 2025: Sophia is found. 

On April 3rd, 2025, it was reported that Sophia and Gary Day were both found alive in Nebraska. Reports state that a couple grew suspicious after speaking with Sophia at a truck stop and called police. Sophia and Day were eventually located, and Day was taken into custody.

Day is being charged with two counts of abduction of a child and two counts of child enticement causing mental/bodily harm. His case is pending.

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Sources:
ABC WISN 2, (2)
NCMEC

WTMJ

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 Disappearance of Joniah Walker

 

UPDATE: Joniah has been found safe. It's been reported that she was discovered alive on May 25th, 2026 - nearly four years after her disappearance. Joniah is now over the age of 18 and is legally an adult. 

At this time, no other details have been provided.

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Original story:

Joniah Walker has been missing since June 23rd, 2022. The then-15-year-old was last seen near her home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Joniah's father was supposed to pick her up from her residence around 4:00 PM that afternoon, but when he arrived, Joniah was nowhere to be found. Her family has not seen or heard from her again.

After Joniah was reported missing, it was revealed that a neighbor's Ring camera captured her leaving her home around 2:30 PM on the day of her disappearance. Phone records revealed that Joniah called her therapist at 3:27 PM. Later that evening, she sent a text to her therapist that said she ran away from home. This is the last known communication from Joniah; it appears that nobody has heard from her since this message. 

Ring footage of Joniah. (image source: cbs58.com)

There isn't any information available about why Joniah would want to run away. According to her mother, Joniah has struggled with both depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It's unclear if this plays a role in her disappearance, but it certainly has escalated concerns for her safety. Joniah's mother also said that Joniah has never run away before in the past.

The Milwaukee Police Department is appealing to the public for anyone with information that could lead to Joniah's whereabouts. She is described as a black female who stands at about 5'3" and weighs approximately 130 pounds. If you have seen Joniah, or have any information about her whereabouts, please contact the Milwaukee PD at 414-933-4444 or the National Center for Missing Children’s hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
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Sources:
CBS 58
Crime Online
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Murder of Paul Gayle

image source: uncovered.com

On the morning of July 13th, 2009, residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin awoke to news that a 40-year-old man had been found murdered in the 4700 block of N. 35th St. This report was immediately concerning to local resident Bindu Derksen - as the deceased man described in the article matched the description of her children's father, Paul Gayle. Bindu rushed to Paul's residence to look for him, only to find he was not there. Shortly thereafter, the police confirmed Bindu's fears: the man who was killed the night before was, in fact, Paul Gayle. He had been shot to death.

Paul was born in Jamaica, and he moved to the United States as a teenager. He met Bindu a few years later, and the couple went on to have two children together. The two eventually parted ways but continued to get along as co-parents. In fact, Paul called Bindu shortly before he was killed. He told her that he had to see her, but he gave no further elaboration. Bindu expected him to come over to her residence, but he never showed up. She would later learn that Paul was shot and killed a short time after their phone conversation ended.

No suspects or persons of interest have ever been publicly announced in Paul's case. A motive for his murder also remains unclear. Paul worked at various nursing homes in the area, and he also worked for a plastics company. In his spare time, he worked as a part-time DJ at a local nightclub. Paul was also a loving and supportive father to his children, who were teenagers at the time of his death. By all accounts, Paul was a well-rounded individual, and it does not appear that he had any known enemies.

Over a decade has passed since Paul's tragic murder, and the case still remains unsolved. Very few updates have been provided about the status of the investigation. If you have any information that could help solve the case, please contact the Milwaukee Police Department at (414) 933-4444.

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Sources:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Uncovered

The Disappearance & Murder of Katelyn Kelley

(source)

Katelyn Kelley vanished overnight between June 16th and June 17th of 2020. The 22-year-old mother lived on the Menominee Reservation in Keshena, Wisconsin at the time of her disappearance. The last known sighting of Katelyn occurred around 10:30 PM on June 16th. Surveillance cameras captured Katelyn near County Highway VV and Silver Canoe Road. Reports state she left the reservation after that sighting. Katelyn never returned home and was never seen by her loved ones again.

Family members reported Katelyn missing on June 18th, 2020. It was unusual for Katelyn to stay out-of-touch with her family, nor did it seem likely that she would abandon her young son. Both Tribal Police and Shawano Police began investigating the case. 

A few weeks after Katelyn's disappearance, the Tribal Police announced that they believed someone picked Katelyn up shortly after she was last seen on the evening of June 16th. They released a still image of the surveillance footage that captured Katelyn in hopes that anyone who saw her that night would come forward. It was also announced that whoever picked Katelyn up gave her a ride to Shawano.

(source)

Eventually, the FBI joined the case. Many searches were conducted, people were questioned, but seemingly nothing was found. Months later, during March 2021, it was announced that human remains had been found on the Menominee Reservation. Those remains were later positively identified as Katelyn Kelley. Her exact cause of death has not been released, but her manner of death has been labeled a homicide. 

There are many unanswered questions left in Katelyn's case. A few theories have emerged, but the main questions still remain: What happened to Katelyn? Who is responsible for her death?

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The night of June 16th.

As previously noted, Katelyn was seen near County Highway VV and Silver Canoe Road on the evening of June 16th. Police later announced that they believed someone picked Katelyn up from that area shortly after 10:30 PM. A public appeal was made for the person who picked Katelyn up to come forward.  

It is unclear if anybody ever came forward. However, it appears that Katelyn did make it to her apartment in Shawano that evening - which means whoever picked her up brought her to her desired destination.

The Black SUV.

Katelyn made a Facebook post around 3:00 AM on June 17th about a black SUV parked in front of her apartment. She seemingly dropped out of contact with her family and friends afterwards. This inevitably raises suspicions about this black SUV, but it is unknown if it has anything to do with Katelyn's disappearance.

On one hand, it's possible that the black SUV is involved. It's also possible that someone else in possession of Katelyn's phone/devices made the Facebook post about the SUV to deflect suspicion. Both scenarios are unconfirmed theories at this point. What is known is that Katelyn disappeared after/around the time that Facebook post was made.

Remains found.

As mentioned earlier, Tribal Police announced that they found Katelyn's remains on the reservation in March of 2021. An autopsy confirmed she had been murdered. However, investigators did not release her exact cause of death.

Investigators also did not disclose where on the reservation the remains were found, nor did they state how they were found. It's possible they were led to Katelyn's remains via tip, or that a random civilian stumbled upon them. This information is currently not publicly known.

An ongoing epidemic.

Katelyn's case is unfortunately one of several cases of missing and murdered indigenous women in the United States. Research conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information revealed that Indigenous women in the U.S. are three times more likely to be murdered than white women. (source)

Shortly after Katelyn's disappearance, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force would be assembled. The Green Bay Gazette reports that "the task force is seeking to uncover the causes of the epidemic and provide policy recommendations to law enforcement and to the state Legislature."

Where Katelyn's case stands today.

Katelyn Kelley's murder remains unsolved. Tribal Police and the FBI are involved in the investigation. If you have any information that could help, please submit a tip.

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Sources:
Crime Online
Green Bay Press Gazette
Uncovered

WBAY

The Murder of Brittany Zimmermann

Brittany Zimmermann

Brittany Zimmerman was only 21 years-old when she was brutally murdered inside the home she shared with her fiancé on April 2nd, 2008. The University of Wisconsin-Madison student was murdered in the middle of the day, just blocks away from the Madison Police Department. When Brittany’s fiancé returned home to their apartment that afternoon, he found Brittany slain on the floor. She had been brutally stabbed and strangled to death. 

The Madison, Wisconsin home where Brittany was murdered.

It was later revealed that Brittany actually called 911 minutes before she was murdered. The dispatchers hung up on her, claiming they did not hear any sounds of a struggle in the phone call. Once Brittany’s body was found, it became clear that she was, in fact, in danger when she called the police. Brittany’s fiancé was questioned and ruled out as a suspect, and after that, it appeared that police had very few leads about the identity of her killer. 

Finally, in 2016, investigators told Brittany’s parents that they found DNA evidence belonging to David Kahl - a man who was already behind bars for his 7th DWI charge. Police apparently confronted Kahl with this information, and he said that he was with Brittany on the day she was killed, but he denied being the killer. 

The police department advised Brittany’s family members to not publicly talk about this information, however Brittany’s mother stated that she could no longer sit back knowing that her daughter’s killer has not been apprehended. 

Later that year, police became familiar with a man named Andrew Scoles, who had previously been in prison with Kahl. Scoles stated that Kahl broke down to him and confessed to being Brittany’s killer. Scoles offered to tell the police this information in exchange for his two previous felony convictions being expunged from his record.

 

Brittany’s mother contacted Scoles via e-mail and begged him to come forward, but unfortunately nothing ever came of that. In August 2017, Scoles was killed in a motorcycle accident. Any potential information he had about Brittany’s murder died with him.

It took years, but finally, in March 2020, David Kahl was arrested and charged with Brittany's murder. The arrest came nearly four years after investigators reportedly matched Kahl's DNA to DNA evidence that was found at the crime scene. 

David Kahl mugshot

At that time, it was also revealed that Kahl was one of the people police interviewed just days after Brittany was found dead. During that 2008 interview, Kahl reportedly told investigators that he was in Brittany's neighborhood on the day of her death, going door-to-door asking residents for money so he could buy drugs. 

Despite this admission, police did not consider Kahl to be a suspect at the time. He did not resurface in the investigation until 2016, when police were finally able to identify the DNA found at the crime scene. Kahl was charged in Dane County Circuit Court with first-degree intentional homicide.

In October of 2022, he pleaded guilty to the charges. He admitted that he saw Brittany as she returned home from classes on the day of her murder. David said that he was on drugs when he forced himself into her apartment and committed the murder. 

Kahl is expected to spend his life behind bars.

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Sources:
Fox 47
Isthmus
Law and Crime
Wisconsin State Journal

The Disappearance of Kayla Berg

Kayla Berg has been missing since August 11th, 2009. The young girl was just 15 years-old at the time of her disappearance. Kayla and her mother had just moved back to Antigo, Wisconsin a little over a week before she vanished. Months earlier, Kayla's mother had moved them to Texas - but they decided to return to Antigo after they were both homesick. Upon their return, Kayla split her time between her grandparent's home and her father's home. 

On the evening Kayla vanished, she was staying with her grandparents. Around 8:45 PM, Kayla was picked up by 24-year-old Kevin Kielcheski. Kevin was a friend of her older brother, and he often drove Kayla and her friends around. After he picked her up, the two of them drove around Antigo while smoking marijuana. Around 9:30 PM, Kayla and Kevin stopped at a local McDonald's to talk with one of Kayla's friends who was working there. 

According to Kevin, after they left McDonald's Kayla asked him to drive her to her boyfriend Miguel's house. Kevin agreed, and then drove her from Antigo to Wausau - an approximate forty-minute drive. Kevin stated that the house where Kayla asked to be dropped off appeared to not have any lights on. After she was dropped off, Kayla never returned home and has never been seen or heard from again.

Due to Kayla's new living situation, it took her family a few days to notice she was missing. Kayla's mother was living with a friend until she could find a more permanent living situation, and Kayla herself was splitting her time between two households. After she did not return home, her grandparents thought that she was with her father - and her father thought she was with her mother or grandparents - and vice versa. Additionally, Kayla did not have a cell phone, which made it harder for them to keep in touch with her. After six days went by and Kayla's family members realized that nobody had heard from her, Kayla was finally reported missing.

Police interviewed Kayla's friends and felt that they were not being completely forthcoming. Due to this, Kayla was initially classified as a runaway. Kayla's friends did corroborate that she was seen with Kevin on the night of her disappearance. Kevin was inevitably questioned, and he told police that he had not seen or heard from Kayla since he dropped her off in Wausau. 

Police then spoke to Kayla's boyfriend Miguel, who denied seeing Kayla on the day of her disappearance. Police also went to the address where Kevin said that he dropped Kayla off. It was then discovered that the house was condemned, and Miguel and his family were living in a different spot until the house could be repaired. Kayla's friends were adamant that Kayla was aware of this, but Kevin insisted that she still had been asked to be dropped off at the condemned house. 

Kayla's mother did not approve of Miguel; largely due to the fact that he was four years older than Kayla. Due to this, it was briefly theorized that Kayla might be hiding out with Miguel. However, police were unable to find any evidence that she was hiding at Miguel's current residence or at the condemned house. After that, Kayla's disappearance was reclassified as an endangered missing person's case. 

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Theories.

As weeks turned into months without any sign of Kayla, rumors about what might have happened to her began to swirl. There were a few prominent theories, but none of them were favorable to Kayla's loved ones. One theory was that Kayla might have overdosed and someone - either Kevin, Miguel, or someone else -disposed of her body. 

Another prominent theory was that Kayla was harmed by either Kevin or Miguel. Police were particularly suspicious of Kevin as well, and they repeatedly tried to corroborate his timeline of events from that night. Kevin maintained that he went straight home to his mother's house after dropping Kayla off. Kevin's mother has corroborated this statement. 

Eventually, Kevin hired a lawyer and stopped cooperating with police. On October 26, 2009, Kevin was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment in relation to his actions with Kayla on the night she disappeared. Specifically, it was cited that Kevin put Kayla in danger by driving and smoking marijuana with her as a passenger.

Kevin pleaded not guilty to the charges.

More investigating the persons of interest. 

Meanwhile, police continued to investigate both Kevin and Miguel as persons of interest in Kayla's disappearance. Both of their cars were processed for forensic evidence. Cadaver dogs were used on both vehicles, and they got a hit on Kevin's car. However, there was no evidence that the scent hit was related to Kayla's disappearance. 

Kevin and Miguel's cell phone records were also subpoenaed. On the evening of Kayla's disappearance, Kevin's phone was either shut off or had a dead battery by 9:00 PM. It was not turned on again until 2:00 PM the following day.

Miguel's cell phone records reportedly corroborated what he told police, but it was later learned that Miguel had an old cell phone that pinged off a tower in Lincoln County, about 40 miles north of Wausau, on the night of Kayla’s disappearance. Police attempted to question Miguel about this, but he had grown tired of being questioned and declined to speak with them. A search was eventually conducted in the area where the old cell phone pinged, but nothing of significance was found. 

Searches were also conducted around the area where Kevin reportedly dropped Kayla off on the evening of her disappearance. It appears that nothing of interest was found during those searches either. As time stretched by, Kayla's case seemingly went cold. 

On August 8th, 2011, a judge dropped Kevin's reckless endangerment charges due to lack of evidence. Many still believed that Kevin or Miguel had something to do with Kayla's disappearance, but the search for her reached a standstill. 

The YouTube video.

Kayla's case received national attention in October 2016, after a YouTube video depicting a man holding a girl hostage in his house went viral. The video was actually published in October 2009 - just two months after Kayla's disappearance -but police did not know about the video until it went viral. Many believed that the young girl depicted in the video resembled Kayla. 

However, after further investigation, it was determined that the girl in the video was not Kayla, nor was anyone actually being held hostage. Both subjects in the video were acting. Still, the emergence of this video brought renewed attention to Kayla's disappearance and there was a new push to solve the case.

A 2019 search.

In October 2019, a professional search for Kayla was conducted across 11 square miles at Nicolet National Forest. Police stated that they were led to that area by information they had gathered throughout the investigation, but they declined to elaborate on said evidence. Nothing was found during this search, but investigators stated that they may return to the area again in the future. 

Where the case stands.

Kayla remains missing today. Both Kevin and Miguel remain persons of interest, but at this time nobody has been charged with anything related to Kayla's disappearance. There is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that could help solve the case. If you have any information, please contact the FBI here. 

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Sources:
Charley Project
CNN
The Cinemaholic
NBC 26
Wasau Daily Herald